Parks

We recently traveled to Maine, also known as the “Pine Tree State.”

The first part of our trip was chronicled in the June 28 issue of The Laker/Lutz News.

This column covers Part Two of our trip, which picks up on June 10, when we took a two-hour cruise along the Casco Bay. It was called the “Captain’s Special,” and we went on the Captain Fish Sightseeing Tour.

We saw many lobster boats and several people fishing from private boats.

We passed many homes with piers and docks, and saw many huge boats in the water.

We also passed Fisherman’s Island, which has now been converted to a private home.

There was a full narration on this boat that took us by two lighthouses. One was the Ram Island Light and the other was the Burnt Island Lighthouse.

One thing that caught my attention was when we passed Squirrel Island. They said the name came about because of the shape of the island.

This island had more than 100 homes on it.

We also passed an observation tower which was seven stories high and is now privately owned.

There also were many osprey, seals and pups (baby seals). It was lovely to see the seals sunning themselves.

The tour also took us through the “Thread of Life,” and during the ride we heard a narration on the history, which showed us Rutherford Island. It also told us that there are a lot of seasonal residents, lobstermen and fishermen.

At the end of the trip we saw Damariscove Harbor, and we saw more seals frolicking in the water.

Back on shore, we visited the Maine State Aquarium, where we had the opportunity to observe many fish and to touch different species.

From there, we went to Big Al’s located in Wiscasset. The way I can describe Big Al’s is it is like Ollie’s (back East), but it has loads of bargains.

There were greeting cards, crackers, cookies, pots, pans, baking sheets and lots more.

We actually got to meet Big Al, and he is a nice guy.

We then went to visit with our friends, Joanne and Duane Ferrante, in Newcastle. We had a very nice visit in their lovely home.

Before we knew it, it was time for lunch and they suggested Reunion Station. Not only was the food good, but the restaurant was decorated with pictures and a lovely stained-glass window. The menu was varied and the company — more than delightful.

On our way back to their house, they took us to a landmark that we saw several years ago, but it was great to see it again.

It was a huge sign announcing that we were at “Cowshits Corner.”

We returned to their house, talked some more and then went to Freeport. Once there, we saw the Big Freeport Indian. We saw this several years ago and decided to see it once again. It was huge.

The following day, we got up early in the morning to see some attractions before we took in a ballgame.

Our first stop that morning was at the Boothbay Railway Village. You can take a train ride (we skipped this), see automobiles, several buildings and a layout of a railroad complete with HO trains.

Then there was a village that was comprised of historically significant structures that house artifacts and displays of rural Maine.

We saw such buildings as the town hall, chapels, a hardware store, homes and so much more.

After viewing this, we took a ride on the “Portland Discovery Land & Sea Tour Boat.”

On this fully narrated tour, we saw four more lighthouses.

One was called the Bug Lighthouse because it was as cute as a bug.

Another was called the Spring Point Lighthouse, as it was shaped like a spark plug.

We also saw the Portland Head Light and the Ram Light.

We took a scenic cruise through busy harbors and islands. We saw forts, lobster boats, seals and birds. It was a very informative and relaxing cruise.

Upon leaving the boat, we took a side trip to the Eastern Promenade. We saw more beautiful and breathtaking views of the water. There were benches to just sit and relax and view the surrounding areas. And, there was a small playground with swings and slides for the little ones.

Next, we went to the Maine Narrow Gauge R.R. Museum. Here we climbed aboard historic railroad cars and viewed exhibits celebrating the heyday of narrow gauge in Maine.  There was even a miniature train that was big enough for little ones to sit in. We also took a train ride and it was delightful.

Then, we went on to the ballgame. First off, the Sea Dogs won. It was a very close game and kept us in our seats. Between innings they had something going on constantly — either musical chairs, packing boxes, the entire stadium singing “Sweet Caroline,” or kids riding fake horses to see who would reach the finish line first.

It was a fun day before we traveled back to our home in Connecticut.

By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons

Published July 5, 2017

 

We left Connecticut in the early hours of June 7, looking forward to a nice leisurely trip to Maine.

Our first stop was in Stockton Springs, Maine, where we saw the Fort Point Light in a state park.

The lighthouse, established in 1836 to aid vessels bound for Bangor (a leading lumber port), was situated in the center of the park with benches for people to sit and enjoy the view.

There also were markers to explain what you were seeing, and small walking paths to explore.

The next stop was in Belfast. We stopped at Perry’s Nut House, which had lots and lots of nuts, curiosities and fudge available for purchase. The nut house has been family owned and operated since 1927. It offers travelers unusual fun for the entire family.

One cute thing they have is an outhouse that has a talking Maine fisherman when you open the door.

They have many souvenirs and Maine-made products.

Next, we were off to Camden, where we saw the Curtis Island Light.

Capt. John Smith arrived in Camden Harbor during the early 1600s. He arrived with a cook, and the cook mentioned that if he could have any place in the world, the small island would be the place. Captain Smith then awarded the cook ownership.

More than 200 years later, the island’s name became Curtis Island in memory of Cyrus H.K. Curtis, publisher of the Saturday Evening Post, and longtime summer resident and benefactor of Camden.

We then set our sights on Indian Island Light in Rockport. The present lighthouse is a square, brick tower attached to the original one-and-a-half story, T-shaped brick keeper’s house.

Afterward, we were off to see the Breakwater Light in Rockland.

In 1902, a permanent lighthouse was built at the breakwater’s end and a 25-foot tower was added atop the roof of the brick keeper’s house.

The lighthouse is now owned by the City of Rockland and leased to the Friends of Rockland Breakwater, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation.

We also made a stop to see the Owls Head Light in Owls Head.

The 1854 keeper’s house remains a residence for Coast Guard personnel, and the surrounding grounds are now a state park.

The bell tower is gone, but the 1895 oil house remains.

To end the day, we went on the hour-long Camden Lobstering & Lighthouse Cruise in St. George.

This was a very enjoyable ride where we saw schooners, bald eagle nests, buoys, lobster traps, islands, seals, bridges and several houses.

We got to see Cadillac Island, which had benches facing the water.

In addition to all of this, we also had a close-up view of two additional lighthouses. One was named Curtis Lighthouse and the other was Indian Island Lighthouse.

This marked the end of a hectic and long day.

We rested up for the following day where time was already planned out for us.

We started the next day by having a nice breakfast in the motel and then going to Marshall Point Light located in Port Clyde.

The lighthouse was built in 1832, and at this time, the village of Port Clyde was a major port. The structure was a 20-foot tall tower.

In 1857, the present 31-foot brick-and-granite lighthouse was built with a fifth-order Fresnel lens installed.

The lighthouse is connected to the shore by a wooden walkway.

In 1971, the light was automated, the Fresnel lens removed and a navigation station set up in the keeper’s house.

A local resident we were talking to suggested that we see Horse Point Road.

This is a scenic drive overlooking the water and houses. We were glad he recommended this spot, as it was a lovely ride.

We then went to see Pemaquid Point Light in Bristol. We saw some of the most majestic, stark and striking scenery on the Maine coast.

The lighthouse sits atop unique rock formations, and the light is visible on a clear day for 14 miles. It was the first lighthouse in Maine to be automated, which happend in 1934. The keeper’s house now houses the Fishermen’s Museum, which displays artifacts of Maine lighthouses, and the fishing and lobster industry. A park area is adjacent to the lighthouse grounds.

Stay tuned for Part Two of our trip.

By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons

Published June 28, 2017

 

A Memorial Day picnic was held at Grand Horizons on May 29. Everyone attending had a very good time. I spoke to Joyce Bell, and she gave me the following information.

They had over 125 residents at the picnic, which was hosted by Chris and Rich Fulton, Linda and Dave Tutin, Mim and Terry Gardner, Ron Gamache, and Ron and Joyce Bell. These people helped to make this event possible and special.

The social club provided the fried chicken from Publix, and residents brought a side dish or dessert to complement the meal.

In addition to a delicious meal, Jim Leitzke did a Memorial Day tribute, Bill Sarver played taps and Galen Parker said grace. It sounded to me like they went all-out on Memorial Day.

Joyce also mentioned that on June 6, the women at Grand Horizons had a lovely luncheon at Coyote Rojo III. This was a gathering of the Lunch Bunch ladies who meet at a restaurant once a month.

There were 13 ladies who attended, and that is a good number, as so many residents go elsewhere in the hot weather. The luncheon was hosted by Joyce Bell.

This was a Mexican restaurant with several dishes.

The Lunch Bunch already has next month signed up with Pat McKain as the hostess, and they plan to go to the Sunrise Eatery.

The monthly Friday Connoisseurs luncheon at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse was on June 9, hosted by Ron and Joyce Bell.

Here, the people were treated to a great lunch with great food. There was also a huge variety of dishes.

I once went to a BJ’s (in a different location) and I had trouble choosing the dish that I wanted, as there were so many.

There was a nice attendance of 37 people. And, as mentioned by Joyce, “This is a great way to try a new restaurant.”

By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons

Published June 21, 2017

As mentioned in previous stories, we have a lunch bunch for the ladies once a month. Usually, it is at a restaurant on the first Tuesday of the month, along with another outing for men that is at Hooters.

This month, the lunch bunch for women had a twist. The group met at Luella Wheeling’s new residence.

Luella used to live at Grand Horizons and recently moved, but her heart still belongs to her friends from her previous community.

I spoke to Joyce Bell, and she was good enough to give me a few of the details.

She told me that the lunch was served buffet-style. The buffet included beef stroganoff and Cajun grouper with broccoli, corn-on-the cob, kale greens, and a huge variety of desserts.

A large group of ladies joined in for this lunch, and while the meal was excellent, they also had a good time, as they then received a tour of the community. It was beautiful. Luella was very happy, rested and well.

All in all, it was a perfect event, hosted by Robbie Lockard.

Grand Horizons had an ice cream social on May 7, and the individuals that hosted this event were Ron and Joyce Bell, Rich and Chris Fulton, Mim and Terry Gardner, and Linda Tutin.

Galen Parker said the prayer, while everyone bowed their heads in silence.

After grace was said, the tables were called so they could get their ice cream.

From what Joyce Bell told me, there were several toppings, including bananas, strawberries, hot fudge, nuts, crushed Oreos, butterscotch, caramel, whipped cream, cherries, pineapple and more.

Along with the ice cream, there was a raffle with a monetary prize. According to Joyce, about 95 people attended. This sounded like a fun activity, and I am sure everyone enjoyed it.

Donna and Bill Quinn hosted the lunch connoisseurs at Piccola Italia on May 12. About 48 people attended, and they definitely did not leave hungry.

We have gone to Piccola’s in the past, and they certainly have a huge variety on the menu. Each time we went, we had a different dish, and each one was delicious. Their lasagna is very good, as well as other dishes the restaurant serves.

Published May 31, 2017

As mentioned previously, the residents were leaving Florida to go back to their summer homes.  This includes us, as we packed up to go back to Connecticut on April 24, but with a slight detour to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville, Tennessee.

It was pure delight seeing the different sites and attending the many shows. Each show that we saw had music and dancing, plus a little comedy thrown in.

The very first show that we saw was called the Smith Family Show, and it had segments that included hits from several performers such as the Statler Brothers, the Oak Ridge Boys, Alabama, the Gatlins, Marty Robbins, Dwight Yoakum and more. A cute part of the show was when Louis Armstrong was imitated by a performer along with Kermit the Frog.

There was a skit where Nat King Cole sang with Natalie, and the song was “Him and Her.”

The show (as all the other shows did, also) ended with a salute to the veterans thanking them for their courage and service. There was also a lovely rendition of “The Ragged Ole Flag.”

We still had a few hours before the next show so we decided to go to The Old Mill. This is one of the oldest, continually operating water-powered mills in the country.

They have craft shops, and it was fun to browse through the stores.

This site has 200 years of Tennessee tradition.

We then saw the Country Tonite Show in the early afternoon, and the show brought us high-energy entertainment, including singing, dancing, comedy, gospel and so much more.

This particular show is celebrating 20 years of playing in the Smokies.

At night, we saw a magic show called “Magic Beyond Belief” with Darren Romeo. In this show, we saw spectacular illusions, majestic animals, dazzling costumes, comedy, impressions, and audience participation.

This was a one-of-a-kind experience for any age. The show was absolutely thrilling, breathtaking and very inspiring.

The next day, we took a ride to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, which is a wilderness park and showcased frontier life.

Once here, we also saw waterfalls and beautiful views around every bend of the road. There were several hiking trails (we skipped those), but the scenery was breathtaking.

We then went to see a new show where Brian Hoffman did a tribute show to remembering Red Skelton. This was a one-man show that was full of comedy.

Brian performed Red’s famous characters, such as the clown and several others. He did pantomimes and one-man skits. This tribute show reminded us that Red’s clean family humor and love for the country should still have a place in today’s world.

Later that night, we went to the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud. The dinner was a four-course family style feast. It was all you can eat.

The show was excellent and had some cute moments. This was an action-packed show, where half of the audience was a Hatfield and the other half was a McCoy. So we would scream and yell when our particular family was performing.

The following day, we took a drive through Cades Cove. This is an 11-mile loop that follows many of the curves and courses that settlers forged years ago.

We saw wildlife, including wild turkeys and deer.  And, we were able to experience the tranquil beauty of the trails, wildlife and scenery once you got out of your car at one of the many turn-offs.

We left the cove after several hours, and in the early afternoon, we went to the Smoky Mountain Opry.

Here, we saw a great variety show with more comedians, jugglers and specialty acts.

The special effects added to the show, as they were magnificent. Several of the acts involved being suspended from the ceiling in the center of the venue. Many dancers performed on the stage.

Our trip was almost at a close, but we still had one more show to see. The name of the show was “Sweet Fanny Adams,” located in Gatlinburg.

The original shows are quick-witted sensations, filled with the broadest of humor and the silliest of slapstick.

There was loads of audience participation, with lively music and top-notch performers. There was a sing-a-long and, believe me, you better be singing, as everyone was being watched.

The show was two hours and was a pure delight.

Well, as they say, all good things must come to an end — so, on April 29, we took our leave.

By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons

Published May 24, 2017

While the season is starting to dwindle down, Grand Horizons still has some activities going on.

One such activity is the lunch connoisseurs which is held once a month. So many of us look forward to it. This is when some residents and/or guests get together the second Friday of the month and go to a specific restaurant that someone chooses. This month, we all gathered at the Fresh Country Café in Zephyrhills on April 14. We had 36 people at the restaurant, and we were given a separate room.

The waitresses were very nice and helped out if someone had a question. Marty and I hosted the luncheon, and we all had a delightful time.

There was much conversation, and pictures were taken.

Before the orders were taken, Galen Parker was nice enough to say grace, while a moment of silence was observed by the rest of the attendees.

The menu consisted of a variety of foods, including appetizers, salads, sandwiches, seafood and Cuban specialties. There was also a dessert at the end of the meal of ice cream or pudding.

We then took our leave and made the short trip home, as the restaurant wasn’t too far from our development. All in all, it was a nice afternoon.

There was entertainment at Grand Horizons on April 15. It was hosted by Gary Wilcox, and it was a bon voyage/tax day dance in the community center.

There was a very good turnout of residents and friends.

The Double Density Band performed for three hours with a wonderful variety of music.

Ralph and Sandra McCarthy are two very talented performers who have been entertaining people since 1996. Ralph is a professional guitar player and performed hit songs from B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Carlo Santana. Sandra handled the keyboards and many of the vocals from rock and roll, bluegrass, country and standards.

This was the final entertainment function at Grand Horizons until October.

Since we were not there, Gary was nice enough to supply the above information.

There were close to 50 people who enjoyed the dance, and we look forward to going in the future.

I spoke to Eileen Goldstein and she added that the place was decorated in pastel tablecloths with centerpieces. She mentioned that everyone had a great time, and the band played until 10 p.m. From what she also said, the band ended the evening with a Connie Francis song.

Now, we just wait until the next season starts.

By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons

Published April 26, 2017

Several women attended a luncheon April 4 at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse that was hosted by June Weinle. This was a nice gathering considering that many people have already left for their winter homes.

We all sat at a long table. There were 16 of us, it was a lively group and we all had a great time.

The menu was varied, and everyone had a tempting dish. There was much conversation going on and friendly bantering.

Pictures were taken, and there were two women who were celebrating their birthdays the following week.

The restaurant was lovely. Some women had desserts, and they sure looked yummy.

Our thanks go to June who organized this luncheon.

At our community center, we had a coffee/doughnut hour on April 5. There was a crowd gathered for this and conversation was heard throughout the center.

We also heard the highlights of the week to come and any birthdays and/or anniversaries that were coming up.

After the meeting, the social club met and discussed the activities that we can expect for the summer, like ice cream socials, which are always fun. It sounds like everyone will have a fun time, and we will be with them in spirit, as we are going to Tennessee for a week and then home to Connecticut.

Residents gathered in the community center on April 10 for a weekly game of dominoes. We had quite a crowd there on Monday night. There were several tables of either four or five players.

Again, there was much discussion, and at times, when we accidentally knocked the train over, we mentioned that our train was out of commission.

We always have fun at Mexican train, and this day was no exception.

By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons

Published April 19, 2017

The time has come! Do you recall me saying that we have an “Egg in a Bag” (formerly Egg N’ Bag) once a month? Well, this was the last one of the season. I guess all good things must come to an end.

Because of the fact that the season is starting to wind down, and many of our residents have already returned to their summer homes or have taken extended getaways, the attendance is starting to dwindle. Still, for the last “Egg in a Bag” on April 1, more than 80 people were served.

It started with Galen Parker saying grace, while the rest of the people bowed their heads and observed a moment of silence.

Tables were then called to make their omelets from various ingredients on the table. There was bacon, ham, cheese, onions, mushrooms, green peppers and Jalapeno peppers.

The breakfast also included sausage gravy, biscuits and hash-brown potatoes, plus coffee and orange juice.

The ingredients that you chose were added to the eggs or egg beaters already in a cup.

At the end of the line, the entire contents of the cup were put in a bag, and the bag was then sealed, and you took it to the cooks to prepare it.

Several minutes later, a delicious omelet was presented to you.

The helpers and kitchen helpers included Sue and Galen Parker, Clayton and Carol George, Jim and Judie Leitzke, and Doris Sutfin.

Our sincere thanks go out to all of them. They did a wonderful job on this particular day, and the entire season.

Ten residents met at the community center April 3 to play a game of Mexican Train.

It may have been a relatively small group, but we all had loads of fun and, as usual, we had a nice conversation among us.

We had two tables of five, and it was a nice little group.

We always have fun at dominoes, which is held once a week on Mondays.

This particular game was introduced by Eugene and Nancy Martin, and it is one of our favorite activities at Grand Horizons.

By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons

Published April 12, 2017