The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Green thumbs keep resort looking splendid

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We have been so blessed to have retired landscapers, Andy and Diane Schmied from Portland, Oregon, in our resort for the past three years. Just entering Rainbow Village, you see their talented work on display — through the flowers and shrubs that they have planted and nourished all over the resort. They have installed a timed irrigation system that helps to keep the plants watered.

They are such a blessing!

Diane and Andy Schmied in front of their home in Rainbow Village. (Photos courtesy of Sandra Gilbert-Abel)
Diane and Andy Schmied in front of their home in Rainbow Village.
(Photos courtesy of Sandra Gilbert-Abel)

Diane has been a landscaper since she was 3 years old. Her dad had an acre of land that had a quarter-acre in fruit trees, a quarter-acre in a garden, and half-acre with their house and landscaping around it. She graduated from Oregon State University. She had a landscape design and maintenance business until she had some health problems with her feet and had to quit her business.

Meanwhile, Andy was in the Navy for four years, and also the United States Army for 18 years. He retired from the U.S. service and did some schooling for landscaping. He worked for Klaber Landscaping. While doing some landscaping work where Diane volunteered, they were introduced and eventually married.

The Schmieds will place some of this shrubbery around the park.
The Schmieds will place some of this shrubbery around the park.

After a period of time, Andy decided to retire and buy a trailer, and they traveled to Texas and stayed for nine months. The winters were too cold for Diane, and they decided to head to Florida. They traveled around Florida, until they arrived at Rainbow Village and made their home here.

Andy needs his knees replaced before they head off to Port Charlotte and buy a boat, so they can go fishing. Meanwhile, we are enjoying their beautiful landscaping of our resort. A big thank you to Andy and Diane!

By Sandra Gilbert-Abel

Published December 16, 2015

Rainbow Village readies itself for Christmas

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Rainbow Village’s first yard sale of our new season was a big success. It was one way of getting out to meet your neighbors. Thanks to great planning from our security, the traffic flowed great through our resort. Everyone was greeted as they entered, and directed to where the goods were being sold. We look forward to our next yard sale.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus surprised two young helpers, Alaina and Daina, with gifts. The girls’ mother, Wendy Bako-Wagner, joined in. (Photos courtesy of Sandra Gilbert-Abel)
Mr. and Mrs. Claus surprised two young helpers, Alaina and Daina, with gifts. The girls’ mother, Wendy Bako-Wagner, joined in.
(Photos courtesy of Sandra Gilbert-Abel)

Several of our ladies have taken up “Painting with a Twist” and have painted some nice paintings. They have two hours to compete their project, and claim they have so much fun they want to go back, and do some more painting.

Doug Jones, Harry and Judy Hersey, and Fred Darrow prepared Thanksgiving dinner. They did a great job of cooking the turkeys, preparing the dressing and making the gravy.

Each table of 12 residents prepared a dish to complete the turkey, dressing and gravy meal at their table.

The tables were beautifully decorated with fall flowers and decorations. It was a great time to be thankful for all our blessings!

Ladies from Rainbow Village took a ‘Painting with a Twist’ class and show off their artwork. Front row, from left, are Carolyn Laub, Jeannie Liggett and Sandy Fitzpatrick. Back row, from left, are Nancy Newton, Linda Bower and Sue Flynn.
Ladies from Rainbow Village took a ‘Painting with a Twist’ class and show off their artwork. Front row, from left, are Carolyn Laub, Jeannie Liggett and Sandy Fitzpatrick. Back row, from left, are Nancy Newton, Linda Bower and Sue Flynn.

Our manager, Sue Flynn, had two young girls, Alaina and Daina, Glenna Simpco’s granddaughters, decorate the placemats and fill the little cups with assorted candies to put at each place setting. They did a wonderful job decorating the table. We completed the day with delicious desserts, then home to relax and count more blessings.

At our ice cream social, the two young girls, Alaina and Daina, were given the pleasure of turning on the Christmas tree lights.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrived and surprised the girls with presents.

The residents at Rainbow just love when there are young people around. It ignites memories of their children and grandchildren.

The girls were full of smiles and giggles with Santa.

Carol Baker directed traffic at the recent park-wide yard sale at Rainbow Village.
Carol Baker directed traffic at the recent park-wide yard sale at Rainbow Village.

It is starting to look like Christmas at Rainbow Village, residents are decorating their homes and some of the upcoming Christmas events will be happening in the next couple of weeks.

We are looking forward to strolling up and down the lanes to see the decorations.

By Sandra Gilbert-Abel

Published December 9, 2015

Happy Ho Ho Days

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Do you hear that? The faint, jingle, jingle in the distance?

Can it be?

The calendar clearly says December, but not that week.

The Thanksgiving holiday is behind us, and all the stores and malls strained the senses with repetitive carols, flashing lights on trees, Christmas shoppers, and a sense of urgency.

Bridget Marwick, Lana Hanes and Paula Cosmo bring the Happy Days’ tree to life. (Photos courtesy of Ian Marwick)
Bridget Marwick, Lana Hanes and Paula Cosmo bring the Happy Days’ tree to life.
(Photos courtesy of Ian Marwick)

But, a quiet calm has settled in the park the past weeks.

Still, there is that jingling.

There is a hum as everyone begins to add color to their unit — the red of flowers and berries, the greens of pine and fir, and the rainbow colors of lights on the eaves and windows.

Even the odd ugly sweater sporting winter themes is showing up on our evening walkers. Yes, maybe we should hear that faint jingle.

Thanksgiving capped the November festivities as usual in our rec hall. Our stalwart, Toni Fisher, who always seems to be anyplace where volunteering is needed, again did a fantastic job with her crew. Decorating, preparation, cooking, carving and cleanup was shared by Eleanor Rajewski, Linda Jenkins, Joann Bowers, June Blackman, Fran Boetcher, Carmen, and Rick Carrey and Bill.               .

The only complaint was they ran out of mashed potatoes, “again.” Bill Wellivere suggested everyone next year bring two potatoes, unmashed, in their pocket just in case.

Our first “Christmas Sale” of crafts and other items, which is open to the public, will be at the rec hall off Allen Road, on Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also on that evening, our annual “Christmas Party,” with Santa sneaking out on Mrs. Claus for a little Christmas cheer, will help our residents do the same.

Nature celebrates Christmas at the home of Carol Chapman in the form of a vibrant poinsettia bush.
Nature celebrates Christmas at the home of Carol Chapman in the form of a vibrant poinsettia bush.

In the past, some hilarious moments and gifts kept the party rolling. Expect the same this year, especially if you are lucky enough to pull a great gift out of the anonymous gift bag or maybe even more amusing, if you’re unlucky.

Neighborhood parties spring up, open houses, smiling faces and warm greetings fill the air. The annual “Carol Sing” always brings this warm feeling to our residents while they roam the park on the evening of Dec. 19. This ad hoc choir always consists of members of the Happy Days church choir, sundry amateur divas, sing-in-the-shower tenors, and yes, even frog-throated amateurs.

This almost brings us to the special week — Christmas week. We will all be preparing in our own way as this draws near. May the joy of the coming weeks fill you with the love of family and friends.

And, of course, may the batteries on all your iPads and phones hold their charge!

by Ian Marwick (the happy scribe)

Published December 9, 2015

 

 

 

Russian politics played a role in San Antonio train depot

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The history of a train depot building in San Antonio is rooted in political uncertainty in Russia roughly 135 years ago.

On Feb. 17, 1880, a second assassination attempt on Emperor Alexander II occurred in the imperial dining room of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Terrorists blew up the dining room, killing or maiming 67 people – but the emperor wasn’t present during the attempt on his life.

The Orange Belt No. 203 was the primary locomotive that was used for the tourist line between San Antonio and Blanton in 1976. It was built in 1925 for the Washington & Lincolnton railroad that ran out of Lincolnton, Georgia. When it had mechanical problems, the railroad was able to lease Orange Belt No. 11. (Courtesy Jack Bejna/railroadpictures.net)
The Orange Belt No. 203 was the primary locomotive that was used for the tourist line between San Antonio and Blanton in 1976. It was built in 1925 for the Washington & Lincolnton railroad that ran out of Lincolnton, Georgia. When it had mechanical problems, the railroad was able to lease Orange Belt No. 11.
(Courtesy Jack Bejna/railroadpictures.net)

The previous year, nitroglycerine was used in a failed effort to destroy Alexander II’s train. And, there was the unsuccessful mission to blow up the Kamenny Bridge in St. Petersburg as the tsar was passing over it.

These events, and the political uncertainty that followed them, prompted Piotr Alexandrovitch Dementieff, a Russian nobleman, to flee to Florida as a Russian exile.

Dementieff, who later shortened his name to Peter A. Demens, would go on to become a co-founder of St. Petersburg, Florida.

And, the city would become home to the southern terminus for one of the longest narrow gauge railroads in the United States at the time of its completion in 1888.

The decision to locate a railway line in St. Petersburg was made during the same time that Henry B. Plant was opening up a rail line near Port Tampa, which had a depth of 5 feet.

St. Petersburg, by comparison, had a harbor with a depth of 18 feet, enabling it to import and export more cargo.

With dozens of railroads competing in Florida, Demens saw an advantage in running a railroad north from St. Petersburg to transport the area’s abundant long-leaf yellow pine and its citrus.

Known as the Orange Belt Railway, the mainline was 152 miles long.

It was the first to cross central Pasco County diagonally — through Trilby, San Antonio, Ehren, Drexel and Odessa.

The Orange Belt Railway also played a role in the development of other towns along its route including Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Clearwater and Largo.

San Antonio’s historic depot is the last one remaining on the Orange Belt Railway. The railway crossed Pasco County for 80 years, connecting northern markets in the St. Johns River area with St. Petersburg. The depot was completely restored in 1996 with a $15,600 preservation grant from the state, plus a $25,000 contribution from Pasco County and countless hours of volunteer help. The depot currently serves as railroad museum, a community building and a voting precinct location. (Doug Sanders/Photo)
San Antonio’s historic depot is the last one remaining on the Orange Belt Railway. The railway crossed Pasco County for 80 years, connecting northern markets in the St. Johns River area with St. Petersburg. The depot was completely restored in 1996 with a $15,600 preservation grant from the state, plus a $25,000 contribution from Pasco County and countless hours of volunteer help. The depot currently serves as railroad museum, a community building and a voting precinct location.
(Doug Sanders/Photo)

As a narrow gauge (3 feet) railway company, Demens had arranged for some incredible financing — which left him in debt with angry capitalists in Philadelphia.

“At one time, his creditors chained his locomotives to the tracks,” writes Glen Dill for The Suncoast News in August 1988. “At another time, his unpaid track-laying crew stormed after him on a hand car, planning to lynch him.”

The Orange Belt faced many hardships in its early years due to debt run up during various phases of construction.

Frigid temperatures during the Great Freeze of 1894-1895 killed many citrus groves in Florida.

The freeze also ended Demens’ ownership of the Orange Belt.

Within weeks, he sold the Orange Belt Railway to railroad tycoon Henry B. Plant.

Plant converted most of the railway to standard gauge (4 feet 8 1⁄2 inches), which made it more profitable.

In 1902, the Plant system became part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Passengers would later ride on that railroad in luxury Pullman railcars with sleeper berths during Florida’s land boom in the 1920s.

As cars, buses and planes took more passengers, the Atlantic Coast Line discontinued its train service in 1970.

The depot in San Antonio was left abandoned and forgotten until 1976, when a group of Tampa residents organized under the name of Robert Most and Associates. They took passengers on a round-trip railroad excursion, typically a 90-minute trip, from San Antonio to Blanton on weekends and holidays.

The last ride took place on Feb. 21, 1978.

Sections of the Orange Belt rail line are now part of the Pinellas Trail in Pinellas County, the South Lake Minneola Scenic Trail in Lake County and the West Orange Trail in Orange County.

The depot in San Antonio is a reminder of the vibrant role that railroads played during the early days of Florida’s development.

The historic depot is the last one remaining on the Orange Belt Railway, which crossed Pasco County for 80 years, connecting northern markets in the St. Johns River area with St. Petersburg.

The depot was completely restored in 1996 with a $15,600 preservation grant from the state, plus a $25,000 contribution from Pasco County and countless hours of volunteer help.

With a history that had its roots in politics, the San Antonio depot also has a connection to political life today.

Besides serving as a railroad museum and community building, it’s a voting precinct, too.

Peter Demens won a coin toss, according to a local legend, and named St. Petersburg, Florida, after his hometown in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Demens was selected as a Great Floridian in 2000 by the Florida Department of State and the Florida League of Cities.

By Doug Sanders

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at .

Published December 9, 2015

Around the links and other things

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That first day you swing the big driver in 90-degree heat and Florida sunshine, you know

you are back in your winter home. It does not matter that your game was as rusty as you feel. Your foursome of cronies from years past smile knowingly as you slash and smash your way through your first round of the season. Yep, he sure is not going to be any better this year!

You know there is an old adage, “the older golfer has the lowest score,” and some of us wonder if we have enough time.

A group of ‘billiard boys’ enjoys a game in the pool hall. (Photos courtesy of Ian Marwick)
A group of ‘billiard boys’ enjoys a game in the pool hall.
(Photos courtesy of Ian Marwick)

With the wide-open spaces at the airport and only a few water hazards to drown your balls in, it makes an enjoyable day out with your friends. Every week, another foursome or so makes it back to add to the competitive spirit. Thanks to Ron Graham, our golf chairman, for organizing another great year, we hope, on the links. The real benefit of this, of course, is the friendships that you build up and nurture over the seasons in the park.

Shuffleboard courts were refinished over the summer and are waiting for the first competition rocks. The league is starting this week with players anxious to test the new surfaces and improve their game. Games are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. Stay tuned for postings of monthly Turkey Shoot and hot dog lunch days.

The pool hall is busy nightly with the sharks. Hey, I finally get the association! Sharks – pool — but really, anyone with some skill that signs up will play. In reality, ‘sharks’ does not truly describe these players. Maybe ‘groupers!’ I will catch it for that. Games run seven days a week from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Heather Graham helps out during a bingo night.
Heather Graham helps out during a bingo night.

Speaking of sharks, Bill Wellivere, our president, bemoaned at our last coffee hour that the bag of nickels he saved over the summer was dwindling quickly at the weekly poker games. Luckily, they are all friendly games, or he may have had to hock the Presidential Seal. Maybe switch to penny bingo, Bill.

Hey, good segue! Speaking of bingo, Bridget Marwick has the biweekly bingo off and running for the season. Not only are the gals hot, but also a few of our diehard guys are also fired up and dabbing. Wow, I never realized how exciting bingo sounded before. Anyway, thanks to our volunteers that signed up to date. As usual, they are always looking for extra hands to keep the balls going. If you are interested, see Bridget. The games are on Mondays and Fridays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Well, here comes one of the pickup vans for another game. Maybe everyone will break their previous score, or maybe not, but all will have fun. Do not expect scorecards to be published!

By Ian Marwick (the happy scribe)

Published December 2, 2015

Lose Weight And Live Longer

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Medi Weight Loss 1-6When people come to Medi-Weightloss in Lutz for help losing weight, many are surprised by the clinic’s focus on health.

“Losing weight is all about your health. It’s the most important reason to lose weight,” said Gerri Willett, owner and manager of the clinic on SR 54 and Oak Grove Boulevard. “For every 10 pounds someone loses, it increases their life by one-and-a-half years.”

That translates into living an additional five years for the average Medi-Weightloss patient, who typically loses 35 pounds while on the program.

“We tell our patients to forget about losing weight because of their appearance. We want them to think first about losing weight to improve their health,” said Gerri.

The Lutz Medi-Weightloss clinic, which is owned by Gerri, her husband Tom, and Mark and Ronda Willett, is celebrating its 10th year. Their clinic has helped hundreds of area people regain their health by losing weight with Medi-Weightloss’ proven three-step program:

“We understand that losing weight is very difficult — perhaps one of the most difficult things one can do,” said Gerri. “We’re here to guide our patients through all three phases of weight loss, and then continue supporting them so they don’t gain their weight back.”

When meeting the staff at Medi-Weightloss, the first thing many people notice is their empathy and sincere support. The medical doctors, who focus is on weight loss, and their health care assistants view being overweight as a medical problem that can be just as serious as diabetes and other chronic conditions.

“People who have never been overweight don’t understand that losing weight is very difficult, and often mistakenly believe it’s a lack of discipline,” said Gerri. “Our staff truly understands the challenges of losing weight, because most of them were our patients before they became employees.”

Studies show that obese people are more impulsive, are procrastinators and falsely believe they can lose weight by themselves, Gerri said.

“So many people come to us caught up in a negative circle, where they lose a few pounds, only to gain it back because they eat out of stress or frustration,” said Gerri.

Most of the patients at Medi-Weightloss are women, and most have between 30 and 50 lbs. to lose. But, many men also are clients and do very well on the program.

“Anyone who does our program correctly, will lose weight,” said Gerri, who said most clients lose their weight in three to four months. “Patients usually see a weight loss of 8 to 10 pounds in the first week, and then 2 to 3 pounds a week after that. It really does work!”

As a patient’s body adjusts to their new weight, it becomes healthier, and the person feels the best they have in years with more energy, and fewer aches and pains.

“The longer a patient maintains their goal weight, the easier it gets to keep it off,” said Gerri. “If our program didn’t work, we would not still be in operation 10 years after we opened our Lutz clinic.”

24420 State Road 54, Lutz

(813) 909-1700

www.mediweightlossclinics.com

 

Pat Weaver WILL teach you how to paint

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IMG_3058If you want to learn how to paint, you must meet Pat Weaver — one of Pasco County’s best-kept secrets.

A nationally recognized watercolor artist, Pat teaches workshops in cities across the U.S. and has taught internationally in France, Italy, Spain, England, The Bahamas and Mexico.

Pat also conducts workshops at her Dade City studio several times a year, drawing students from throughout Florida, as well as Texas, Minnesota, New York, Chicago, Georgia, Indiana and Ireland. Workshops focus on a particular subject, such as animals, landscapes, drawings and portraits, and are open to students of all levels of experience.

“I am a dedicated artist and absolutely love teaching people how to paint. And when I’m home, I enjoy opening up my studio to students and sharing my knowledge,” said Pat.

For beginners, Pat offers a series of four classes on Monday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m. The series covers the basics of painting — drawing, mixing colors, design and composition.

The next beginner classes are January 4, 11, 18 and 25. Pat keeps the class size small to allow for personalized instructions. Cost is $150 for all four classes.

“My beginner classes are a tremendous value,” said Pat. “If a student sincerely wants to learn, I will teach them how to paint in this workshop.”

The beginner Monday workshops are so popular with area residents that Pat now offers them January through June, and again September through November.

“My classes are educational and are not intended to be a social event,” Pat said. “They are for people who are serious about learning how to paint, and those wanting to improve their painting techniques.”

Workshops are held on Pat’s 36-acre farm in her custom-designed studio, located a few miles west of Dade City on Blanton Road. Students enjoy peaceful views of rich pastureland surrounded by rolling hills.

Pat has been painting for 40 years. She trained as an oil painter at the prestigious Scottsdale Artists’ School in Arizona, and studied with some of the best-known artists in the world, including Robert Bateman, John Seery Lester and Daniel Green.

After 20 years of painting in oils, Pat moved into watercolor and began her career as a teacher. A past president and a signature life member of the Florida Watercolor Society, Pat has received numerous awards for her artwork in state and national competitions. She is especially known for her watercolors of dogs, and is currently accepting commissions for dogs and cats.

Pat is the author “Watercolor Simplified” and has been featured in many magazine articles. Her work has graced the covers of several publications, including School of Veterinary Medicine, The New Barker and Tampa Bay Metro.

Pat’s instructional videos can be found on You Tube, and “Pet Portraits with Pat Weaver” is available on Craftsy.com.

In addition to her significant accomplishments as an artist, Pat has also served her community exceptionally well. She was a Dade City councilwoman from 1987-92, Dade City mayor from 1990-92, founder of Main Street Dade City in 1987 and is a past president of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

Pat’s upcoming workshops, and galleries of her paintings, can be found on www.patweaver.net

(352) 206-0638

36641 Blanton Rd • Dade City, Fl 33526

Email: • www.patweaver.net

Big Taste at Big Dog’s NYC Pizza in Lutz

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IMG_3054There’s a new pizzeria in Lutz that’s already the talk of the town — both for its unusual name and its excellent pizza.

Big Dog’s NYC Pizza, located in Sunset Plaza in downtown Lutz, opened this summer under the management of Kelly Lamplugh. The restaurant’s unique name honors her husband, Al, who is known as “Big Dog” to family members.

“My husband was a huge supporter of me starting this new venture,” said Kelly. “Plus, the name “Big Dog” was memorable and set us apart from other pizza places.”

Kelly is having fun with the “Big Dog” theme. Al built the front of an oversized dog house between the customer counter and the kitchen. When guests come into the restaurant, it’s the first thing they see.

“Everybody comments on the dog house when they come into the restaurant,” said Kelly.

Kelly is proud that most first-time customers become regular customers, coming back for great pizza that is fairly priced.

“We make everything from scratch, beginning with our pizza dough and pizza sauce.” said Kelly. “I buy fresh ingredients for toppings every day. Everything is fresh — nothing is canned or frozen.”

Big Dog’s NYC Pizza is the second pizzeria Kelly has operated. Before moving two years ago from Philadelphia to Wesley Chapel, she owned Broomall Pizza, a popular neighborhood restaurant in a suburb close to the city.

“I loved running Broomall Pizza,” said Kelly. “I was very sad to close the store after my husband’s company transferred him to Wesley Chapel.”

After working in the restaurant business for 20 years, Kelly changed careers when she moved to Florida and became a nurse. While she enjoyed nursing, she never got over her love of running a restaurant.

So when the opportunity arose to manage this Lutz restaurant, she jumped at the chance.

Kelly knew she wanted another pizzeria, and wanted to price her pizzas so families could afford them.

“When we moved to Florida, we thought Pizza here was very expensive,” said Kelly. “I really wanted to target a more affordable pizza for families like mine.”

Big Dog’s most popular pizza is The Carnivore, which Kelly says has 50 percent more meat than most meat-lover pizzas. Also popular are its meatball subs and Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches, both which come on Amorosco’s bread, a favorite Philadelphia bakery.

Other best sellers are the restaurant’s everyday family specials: $20 Family (Large, 16” cheese pizza, 6 garlic knots and 12 zeppoles); $22 Pup (Large 16” cheese pizza, 10 wings and salad); and $29 Big Dog (Large cheese pizza, 20 wings, 6 garlic knots and 2 liter soda).

813-803-7223 • 18421 Hwy. 41, Lutz

11-8 Mon – Thurs • 11-9 Fri – Sat • Closed Sundays

www.BigDogsPizzaLutz.com

The start of a great season at Rainbow Village

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“Welcome Back” is on the sign that greets us to a new season at Rainbow Village. The first thing I spotted was the green light in the resort office. The second thing I noticed was the beautiful flowers and shrubbery, thanks to Andy and Diane Schmied, full-timers in our resort.

This is our 13th year coming to Rainbow Village, and we noticed how many new residents bought homes since last year. Thirteen years ago, we were the young ones, and now we are the older ones. That’s life!

A new addition to our indoor heated pool was a chair lift to assist the handicapped to enter the pool easier. The main hall has beautiful new floors, its walls were painted and the kitchen has had some remodeling. A lot of trees were trimmed, a new drainage system was installed, a new fence was put up and there’s a new gaming area in the main hall. Our manager, Sue Flynn, does a great job for all of us.

Elyssa Simko, the resort’s young Army guest, dances with disc jockey Gerry Ide. (Courtesy of Sandra Gilbert-Abel)
Elyssa Simko, the resort’s young Army guest, dances with disc jockey Gerry Ide.
(Courtesy of Sandra Gilbert-Abel)

A “Welcome Back” party took place on Halloween. It was a fun night with a dinner prepared by Doug Jones and helpers, and music for dancing for those attending. A big thanks to Doug Jones.

I found out what the green light stands for — that so many of our residents had turned on at their homes. It is to honor all the veterans in our resort. We were asked to wear red, white and blue to show our appreciation for all the veterans that served our country. Thank you for your service.

Gerry Ide was our disc jockey for our November dance. Close to 50 residents attended and had a wonderful time dancing to some of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s music. We were honored to have a young lady, Elyssa Simko, who just got back from serving the Army in Cuba, and visiting her grandmother Glenna Simko, join us at our dance. We all thanked her for her service. Great job, Gerry.

On our fifth day arriving at Rainbow Village, we received a phone call telling us that we had a fire in our manufactured home park in York, Pennsylvania. The fire destroyed the home and gave the neighbors a scare that lived close-by. Lots of fire engines were there to stop the fire from spreading to other homes. Our neighbors have a concern that we don’t have any fire hydrants in our park. They are going to make our owner of the park aware of this and hope to correct the situation.

Walking through Rainbow Village, I observed that we do have fire hydrants that I hadn’t seen before. Why does it take a tragedy to make us aware of our surroundings and to check out if we had the hydrants? I guess we think it won’t happen to our park.

We’re looking forward to the start of a great season at Rainbow Village.

By Sandra Gilbert-Abel

Published November 25, 2015

A time of giving and thanks

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It is, by the calendar, Thanksgiving.

Funny how this one word brings many different visions to mind.

Traditional early memories usually cover the same thoughts — the Mayflower, pilgrims, Native Americans, feast, coexistence and peace.

Religious intolerance drove the pilgrims to a new land. They were filled with fear but also wondered what awaited them. They also were hopeful for a better life for their children and for freedom of worship.

Memories also center on home, the magnet that generates travel plans, warm memories of parents, siblings and relatives.

Home is where the family table is loaded with turkey, mounds of sides and seasonal specials and desserts galore.

It is a place of happy faces, the din of conversation and roars of laughter filling the room.

Home is also where family members move after the feast to the family room to watch a football game, or maybe some favorite seasonal holiday movies.

We recall, too, such novelties as ceramic gourds and pumpkins, maple leaf style serving dishes, real leaves scattered over the table, generational family settings and linens, and maybe the all-time vote favorite: the pilgrim couple salt and pepper shakers.

These decorations are cherished for a day, but then lead a lonely existence. They adorn our table for a brief few hours a year and then are placed, in what must seem to them, in purgatory. They are hidden all year in little corners of cupboards, only occasionally exposed to light when we rummage around.

At Happy Days, the tradition continues of our Thanksgiving dinner in the hall at 4 p.m. In a way, all of the above plays out, with the Happy Days family supplanting the ones at home.

In your own way, have a wonderful Thanksgiving from all of us at Happy Days, management, staff and residents.

By Ian Marwick (the happy scribe)
Happy Days RV Park

Published November 25, 2015