Holiday plans were in full swing at Gem Estates.
The Christmas displays and lights show the Christmas spirit some of us have. We really should bring back judging of the decorations here in the park like we had several years ago when we brought in some outsiders to be judges.
(Courtesy of Lee Heffelfinger)
Marilyn Gober always has a beautifully decorated house, and it’s amazing how Wayne Macomber strings lights up on that high pole. Tell us your secret, Wayne.
The lighted golf cart and bicycle parade was a terrific success. Didn’t foresee all the ideas people had for decorating. Tom Greenwood even had a lighted Christmas tree on top of his golf cart, and the little sled on wheels that Gary Coons had attached and pulled by his bicycle was too cute.
So many great ideas. At least 40 golf carts and a dozen bicycles were worthy of lots of pictures and compliments.
Plus the dogs. We had some of the cutest dogs dressed up with their holiday finery. That’s another idea for a contest.
Our coffee and doughnut socials had come to an apparent halt due to our socials being on Thursday morning — as does Christmas and New Year this year — but we always accomplished a lot when we do get together.
So many of the residents have had the “crud,” which is our version of the cold, flu or allergies. Get well prayers were said for Richard Wright, Ernest and Beverly Martin, Bill and Linda Files, John Phillips, Pat Heister, Neva Roy, Randall Smith, and Betty Wilson. Betty happens to be our oldest resident in our park, and is now in rehab, wanting to come home.
We really hope everyone is on the road to recovery because anytime is not good to be sick, but over the holidays it’s worse.
Several people were taken to the hospital on Christmas Day, including Jean Winkleman, Esther Scott and Audrey Greene.
We celebrated several anniversaries in December, including Bill and Tess Stacy, Tom and Barbara Clevenger (48 years), and Randall and Lee Smith (67 years). Randall has recently come home after being in rehab.
Our park-wide sale usually scheduled for the first Saturday of the New Year was rescheduled for Dec. 13. Not usually as productive as normal, but you never know the end result unless you try it. Hopefully next year it will be at the usual time.
Our clubhouse yard sale is scheduled for Jan. 17, and Loretta Green is once again heading this project and announced she needs volunteers to help price, display and sell the goodies you have to donate.
The lunch she is planning sounds like it consists of some good food. So come out, donate and support the clubhouse yard sale.
Sandy Mann is currently working on collecting dues and also constructing our new telephone directory. She has informed all to make any changes or corrections now, before the directory goes to print.
Jim Nagle and his breakfast crew put on a pancake supper and served at least 110 people. Jim also is working on the renovation for our upgraded kitchen, which includes a new sink, countertops and stove, and we certainly will meet health inspection standards.
Our new addition to the clubhouse has met building inspection approval, and will provide us with extra storage and office-like storage for club records and equipment, plus small groups can have a more private area for meetings.
Birthdays for the month of December were Al Bennett, Carolyn Mayer, Ernest Martin, Wayne Macomber, Richard Burgess, Brent Slipp, Walter Kissel, John Szilagyi, Bruce Hudson, Carolyn Babbitt, Bill Temple, Russ Heffelfinger, Tom Galvani and Opal Armstrong. Happy Birthday to all.
Mary Kay Lynch informed us that bingo will begin the second Wednesday of January. Be sure to put this bingo night on your calendar every Wednesday night starting Jan. 14.
Many people enjoyed the wonderful Christmas dinner cooked and served by so many of our volunteers. Al Bennett and wife Deanie were instrumental in ensuring our residents a good home-cooked Christmas dinner. Plus Al says there always is plenty of good help available.
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday and happy New Year.
By Lee Heffelfinger
Published January 7, 2015
