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VLIFE I V1

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this issue

MEET A VILLAGER

CLUB OF THE MONTH

THIS ‘N’ THAT

SOCIAL SCENE

BOOK CLUB

GOLF

HELEN WALLACE, BOB BARNES WITH PETE AND JUDY MARIANO

PHOTO FRED LOPEZ

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DIANE DEAN

MEET A VILLAGER

WRITTEN BY JAMES COMBS PHOTO FRED LOPEZ

INTERESTING COLLECTION: I have a greatly pared down collection of books. I was an antique dealer at one time and loved buying early 1900s fiction for the pretty decorative covers. The extra room in our house is called “the library,” which includes floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a couple of antique barrister bookcases filled with my favorite books or ones I have good intentions of reading.

FAVORITE AUTHOR: My favorite author these days is Jodi Picoult, who has written many books that cover both sides of an issue — often an ethical issue. Because I was a mediator, I tend to see both sides of an issue, and Picoult’s approach follows that line of thinking.

FIRST AUTOMOBILE AND WHAT IT MEANT: I received a fire-engine red, black-vinyl-topped 1967 Pontiac Le Mans. For me, it meant freedom to hit the road without asking permission to borrow the car. It was also a bribe to get me to quit school in Colorado and return home to Michigan. It worked!

FAVORITE SPICE OR GARNISH: I like maple and lime. I pour maple syrup over pork loin roasts or salmon and also use maple syrup in collard greens and some bacon. The lime is used to keep the avocado from turning brown in my guacamole. I also use it for my favorite drink: bourbon and cranberry juice.

WHAT MADE YOUR HOMETOWN GREAT: I am from Midland, Michigan. Growing up, I never said it was great. In retrospect, I see it differently. Because it was safe, kids could play outside until dark when mom called us home. I have maintained many of my high school friendships. They love coming to The Villages and reminiscing about our “growing-up” years.

V2 I VLIFE

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V4 I VLIFE

CLUB OF THE MONTH

WRITTEN BY JAMES COMBS PHOTO FRED LOPEZ

A DOGGONE FUN CLUB

IN 2001, BEV JOHNSON WAS BY HER MOTHER’S SIDE IN AN ALZHEIMER’S CARE UNIT. Her mother, who once sparkled with life and energy, was sitting in a parlor with a glazed, vacant expression. She had not uttered a word in three months.

Then, Johnson witnessed something extraordinary and heartwarming. A therapy dog entered the parlor and approached her mother, who suddenly came alive. She reached down to pet the dog, then looked at the handler and asked, “What is his name?”

“At that moment, I swore to myself when I retired I would purchase and train a dog to be a therapy dog,” Johnson says.

Johnson kept that promise. She is president of the Dynamic Dog Club of The Villages, which has 157 members who enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded dog enthusiasts. One of her favorite aspects of the club is allowing her 7-year-old miniature poodle, Tucker, to serve as a therapy dog.

The club has seventy-seven therapy dogs. In order to ensure these dogs act mannerly in public places, they undergo training and testing requirements set forth by the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen program. They also participate in a four-part training program through Therapy Dogs, Inc. Dogs that pass testing and training become registered therapy dogs.

Owners and their furry friends visit Leesburg Regional Medical Center, as well as rehabilitation centers and assisted-living facilities. Johnson says the dogs are warmly welcomed. “From a medical standpoint, therapy dogs are highly effective,” she says. “They help bring down the blood pressure of patients, and they allow family members to focus on something other than the illness of their loved one.”

Of course, the therapy dog program is only one aspect of the Dynamic Dog Club. Some members allow their pets to serve as Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.). They travel to nearby elementary schools, middle schools, and libraries, allowing children to read books aloud to the dogs. “Our dogs do not laugh at the kids while they are reading and are not judgmental,” Johnson says. “This is a great way for children to build confidence and discover the joy of reading.”

The club also has a fifteen-dog drill team that performs for various clubs and neighborhoods throughout The Villages. Members even reach out to the military by conducting fundraising efforts for Operation Shoebox Military K-9, ensuring that dogs on the front lines in Afghanistan receive special packages that include bones, toys, grooming tools, and eye protection.

Club members meet on the last Wednesday of each month at Laurel Manor Recreation Center from 4–6p.m. A special program is included in each meeting. For example, a local veterinarian may provide a presentation on how to maximize a dog’s overall health.

For more information, please visit www.dynamicdogclub.com.

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V6 I VLIFE

THIS ‘N’ THAT

WRITTEN BY FRED HILTON

TO:Grand Prytanis J. Moorgjib, ExtraterrestrialPlanetary Project

FROM:Commander S. Axolokis, Away Team, Planet 3, Star#M3845BFZ

Our exploration of Planet 3 in the solar system of the insignificant Star #M3845BFZ continues well. The cloaking device is very effective and enables us to travel freely without the planet’s inhabitants seeing us. This is important since I am certain the sight of our antennae would be discomforting to the residents, and they would be terrified if they saw our exposed gorbices.

Unfortunately, the universal translator still does not work properly. This hinders our studies since we cannot understand what the inhabitants are saying. The officer in charge of the translator, Lt. Zigblatt, has been unable to repair the device. I have growing concerns about Lt. Zigblatt. There are reports that the lieutenant is consuming copious amounts of Kalocka, as well as occasionally sniffing solar adhesive. We will investigate further.

We are now visiting a population center called “The Villages.” The residents are similar to others we encountered on Planet 3. They are bipeds who come in several colors and a variety of sizes and shapes. There are apparently only two sexes. However, The Villages bipeds seem to be older, move more slowly, and be considerably friendlier than those in other locales.

As elsewhere, the bipeds have two upper and two lower extremities with five digits at the end of each extremity. Occasionally we saw a biped in The Villages raise an upper appendage and then extend the middle digit at the end of the appendage. We are still uncertain if this gesture is merely a polite greeting or some form of military salute. The gesture is seen much more frequently in other places we have visited, particularly the area called “New York City.”

As in other locations, bipeds here travel in large, four-wheeled vehicles. However, most of the bipeds in The Villages also travel in considerably smaller four-wheeled vehicles. Some of the vehicles are quite plain, and others are elaborately decorated. They come in two types: one that moves almost silently and

another that makes rude noises and emits a foul odor. Bipeds in The Villages use these smaller vehicles to engage

in an extremely peculiar practice. They gather in relatively open areas where most of the vegetation has been removed, and the landscape is dotted with pits filled with a granular form of silicon. Each biped is equipped with a large number of long sticks, which are used to strike a small white spheroid.

The assumption is that they are trying to rid themselves of the spheroid. But, no, after striking the spheroid, they hop into their small vehicles in search of it. Then, they strike it again. Finally, at some point, the spheroid falls into a small hole. When it goes into the hole, the biped makes gestures and noises, which appear to be those of great glee. If the spheroid fails to drop into the hole, the biped makes disgruntled noises and frequently smashes the stick onto the ground.

One would think the exercise ends when the spheroid goes into the hole. However, for whatever reason, the bipeds remove it from the hole and begin anew. This does not seem like a highly-intelligent use of one’s time and is further evidence that these primitive beings have poorly-developed brains.

When Planet 3 revolves and the source of light from Star #M3845BFZ disappears, many of The Villages bipeds gather in one of three common areas where they wildly gyrate to throbbing and cacophonous noises provided by other bipeds. The bipeds seem happy in these venues and are usually drinking liquids that appear similar to Kalocka. Crew members tell me that Lt. Zigblatt drank one of the biped’s liquids. We are investigating.

Surprisingly, the bipeds in The Villages are not the dominant species here. The bipeds are subservient to smaller, fur-covered quadrupeds. The quadrupeds lead the bipeds on long ropes or chains, and the bipeds follow dutifully. As an example of their intense devotion, the bipeds actually pick up the excrement of the quadrupeds. They place the excrement in small plastic bags and proudly carry it with them. The bags are taken by the bipeds into their dwellings, presumably to place in some type of shrine. We are not certain if this disgusting practice is part of a religious ceremony or a barbaric form of slavery. We may learn if Lt. Zigblatt ever repairs the translator.

There are reports that Lt. Zigblatt brought a strange leafy plant on board from the surface of Planet 3. A pungent smelling smoke has been noted in the lieutenant’s quarters. A court-martial may be in order. I will advise you later.

OBSERVING THE

STRANGE BIPEDS

IN THE VILLAGES

ON PLANET 3

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SOCIAL SCENE

PHOTOS RON VANDEVANDER

CHASE

BANK

GRAND

OPENING

Heather Bright and Steven Marcucilli Alex Senerpida Jr. and Phyllis Sokol-Wood

Deroop Ramtahal, Penny Johnson Solis, Ellen Ward, Alex Senerpida Jr., Christine Fagello, and Phil Cambers

Aileen Skinner and Yaw Frempong

Mike and Jean Gentile

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Paul HannanDon Turcotte and Phil Cambers

Peggy HayesRuth Kussard

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SENIOR SUNSHINE

DEAF GOLFERS

ASSOCIATION

FASHION SHOW

Richard and Kathleen McElwain Front: Nancy Bashore, Dru Movizzo, and Jan Coleman. Back: Richard McElwain and Maddy Hauth

Shirley Zimmerman Debbie Zimmerman and Maude Hall

Jack Wilson, Beth Holst, and Louis Schwarz

SOCIAL SCENE

PHOTOS RON VANDEVANDER

VLIFE I V11

Angie Bourke, Gerry Boglivi, and Anne LoganVicki and Andy Saltzman

Diane Tucker, Cindy Warner, and Lynn Stirling (back)Bernie and Valeta Brown

Jean and Tom PowellCheryl and Steven Rhodes

V12 I VLIFE

BOOK CLUB

WRITTEN BY MARIE LEBLANC

THE NEXT MEETINGThe Bookworm Book Club will meet December 18th to discuss The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. Club chair Kathy Porter can be contacted by phone at 352.259.8196 or by email at kathymporter@comcast.net.

V12 I VLIFE

Sixty-eight members of the Bookworm Book Club met on November 20th to discuss Erick Larson’s extraordinary book, In the Garden of Beasts. The book chronicles the experiences of our first American ambassador to Nazi Germany, William E. Dodd, and his family, beginning with his appointment by President Roosevelt in 1933 through Dodd’s recall in 1937.

Veteran facilitator Darlene Funkhouser deftly led the group through the multitude of historical personalities and the layers of socioeconomic forces at play, both in Germany and in the U.S. Focusing first on Dodd, a University of Chicago history professor, the group discussed his abilities to be the ambassador. Some members felt Dodd was an ivory-tower intellectual who was naïve and ill-prepared for the position. They expressed puzzlement at his appointment. Others praised Dodd for his ability to see the changes that were taking place as the Nazis accelerated their reign of terror and persecution of not just Jews but against foreign residents and German citizens. Most of his warnings went unheeded.

The group went on to discuss Dodd’s daughter Martha, who figures prominently in the book. The group was quite incredulous of her rose-colored opinion of Germany and promiscuous lifestyle with high-ranking Nazis and Russians. Many wondered how her parents gave her such free reign to live this lifestyle, which was clearly to the detriment of her father’s reputation.

IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS

LOVE, TERROR AND AN AMERICAN FAMILY IN HITLER’S BERLIN

VLIFE I V13

I really enjoyed this book after I finished it. While reading it I

was often saddened and frustrated by events both in Germany

and at home. This was a complex time.”

—Dot Green

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“I enjoyed this very detailed historical book as history is my favorite topic. It explained how Hitler and his mad men came to power in pre-World War II Germany. For me, it was a fast read.”

Andrea Joy El Cortez

“Although it was hard to put aside the knowledge of what happened later, the book showed us how Hitler rose to power and how he was perceived in the beginning. It shows how people were deceived or chose to look the other way. It makes you think about how it could happen again today.”

Carol Southfield Glenbrook

“I did not enjoy reading the book. It was very dark and depressing. The author did a good job in showing us how Hitler rose to power and controlled the country of Germany.”

Betty Anne KolodnyAshland

“An interesting read of the rise of Nazi Germany through the eyes of William E. Dodd, U.S. Ambassador to the country from 1933-1938. He was, as depicted by Erik Larson, “… exactly what Roosevelt had wanted, a lone beacon of American freedom and hope in a land of gathering darkness.” Enlightening, informative, and scandal-ridden.”

Gail FeindPennecamp

WHAT CLUB MEMBERS THOUGHT

Two questions haunted the discussion. Why did the German people not see what was happening, and how did Hitler amass such power? Several members recounted their experiences or those of family members who were in Germany during those years and post-World War II. Their portrayals served to shed some light on the questions. The group went further to draw parallels between Hitler’s youth organization and the gangs of today. Members lamented the fact that ethnic cleansing is still taking place and how brutality and cruelty feed on themselves.

Considered a complex book by members, who often had to pause reading it because of the pervading darkness, they nevertheless felt it was an unbiased look at those years. The group felt that Dodd’s quote upon his recall is still relevant today: “Mankind is in grave danger, but democratic governments seem not to know what to do. If they do nothing, Western civilization, religious, personal and economic freedom are in grave danger.”

ABOUT THE AUTHORErik Larson was raised in the suburbs of New York City, graduated summa cum laude

from the University of Pennsylvania, and received his master’s in journalism from Columbia University. He worked for The Wall Street Journal and has written for TIME magazine, The Atlantic, Harper’s, and The New Yorker. He is the best-selling author of the award winning Devil in the White City, as well as two other acclaimed novels: Thunderstruck and Isaac’s Storm. Larson resides in Seattle with his wife and three daughters but is currently living in Paris doing research for his next book, the details of which he never divulges.

V14 I VLIFE

GOLF

STORY STEVE WRESH PHOTOS FRED LOPEZPGA PROFESSIONAL CONTINENTAL COUNTRY CLUBDIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION STEVE WRESH GOLF ACADEMY

IMMOVABLE

OBSTRUCTION

According to the Rules of Golf, an obstruction is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and side of roads and paths and manufactured ice.

The Rules of Golf gives some exceptions to the above definition. The following artificial items are not considered to be obstructions:

a. Objects defining Out of Bounds including walls, fences, stakes, and railings.

b. Any part of an immovable artificial object that is located Out of Bounds.

c. Any construction declared by the committee to be an integral part of the course.

An example of “c” would be a wooden bulkhead used to support the side of a bunker.

A player is entitled to relief, without penalty, when their golf ball comes to rest on or their swing and/or stance is impeded by an immovable obstruction.

a

b

c

VLIFE I V15

An obstruction is defined as either movable or immovable. It is basically self-explanatory, but the Rules of Golf defines each to ensure clarity. An immovable obstruction is an artificial object that can’t be moved, such as a building, or can’t be readily moved, such as a firmly embedded directional post.

This month’s article will explain a player’s options when his ball comes to rest on or his swing and/or stance is impeded by an immovable obstruction.

Except when the ball is in a water hazard or lateral water hazard, the player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer

to the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief is defined by the Rules of Golf as:

The point on the course nearest to where the ball lies that is not nearer to the hole, and where, if the ball were so positioned, no interference by the condition from which relief is sought would exist.

In the picture where the golf ball is lying on the center of the cart path, the nearest point of relief would be different for a right-handed golfer than for a left-handed golfer.

The nearest point of relief does not guarantee a clear shot.

If the ball is in a bunker and an immovable obstruction causes interference, the nearest point of relief must be in the bunker to receive free relief. If such a point can’t be found,

the player, under penalty of one stroke, may drop the ball outside of the bunker keeping the point where the ball was located in the bunker between where he drops the ball and the hole.

One final thought: The player has the option of playing his ball from where it lies when the immovable obstruction causes interference. Sometimes this option lends itself to an easier shot when compared to the nearest point of relief.

Right handed golfer Left hand golfer

Immovableobstruction

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