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F e at u r i n g
10 The Faces of The Villages The Faces of The Villages reflect various cultures and styles Plus
2 Water Aerobics Splish, splash for exercise, health, and fun
6 Book Club ‘Alas, Babylon,’ a classic novel with a contemporary message
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Happy birthdays to me Villager who was ‘born twice’ adopts a grateful attitude.
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All her relatives came to visit her, and nobody ever knew her baby was adopted. — HELENEA KESKIN
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elenea Keskin of The Villages lays claim to something very few others can—being born twice. A native of Australia, she was officially born Feb. 25, 1950, to a 15-year-old Jewish girl who fell in love with an American man. “He was very handsome, and she loved him,” Helenea says. “They went boom, boom, boom and she was pregnant. He sent her money for an abortion but [she] never heard from him again.” Poor and uneducated, Helenea’s birth mother decided to allow the baby to be adopted. Fortunately, a wealthy couple in Sydney wanted to adopt after five years of infertility. However, in those days, prominent families frowned upon adoption. “[The wife’s] mother said
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she would disown and disinherit her if she adopted,” Helenea says. The wife and her doctor hatched a plan to convince everyone she was pregnant. In the weeks leading to the adoption, the doctor padded her stomach for appearances and arranged a four-day hospital stay when the adoption was final. The woman gave “birth” to Helenea March 14, 1950. “All her relatives came to visit her, and nobody ever knew her baby was adopted,” Helenea says. “In fact, relatives commented on how much I looked like my adopted father.” Helenea refers to her adoptive mother as her “real mother” and her other mother as her “birth mother,” and she celebrates her birthday March 14. In 2000, Helenea tracked down her birth mother her in Australia. Producers of the ABC show “20/20” caught wind and wanted to televise the reunion. However, a private person, her birth mother declined. “I spent four days with her, and she told me never a day went by that she didn’t pray for me,” Helenea says. “She was very nice, but we had little in common. I’m very outgoing; she’s reserved. She is uneducated, while I attended a wonderful school in Sydney.” Helenea lived in seven countries during her career in the hotel business before moving to sales in Silicon Valley. Today, she works weekends in concierge services at Harbor Hills Country Club in Lady Lake. “Harbor Hills is so beautiful, and I absolutely love the people there.”
Photo: Fred Lopez
STORY: JAMES COMBS
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MEET SALES MANAGER TOM PETERSON We are pleased to introduce Tom Peterson, sales manager at our Wildwood location. Tom has extensive sales, sales management, and finance experience and is overseeing day-to-day operation of the sales department. Tom grew up in Jamestown, New York, and has always worked in sales— starting his career in the motorcycle industry. Working in both sales and finance, Tom advanced to the position of sales manager. After excelling in that capacity, he spent several years moving from store to store, helping sales departments that fell short of their goals improve performance. After moving to Florida in 2004, Tom left the motorcycle industry and began working with RVs, discovering quickly that the RV business was a lot more fun. We are glad to have Tom on board at Alliance Coach. He has the knowledge and experience to lead our sales department to the next level. Stop and talk with him the next time you visit our Wildwood store. Tom would be happy to have the opportunity to meet and talk with you!
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Reinvent yourself In The Villages, you can make it happen. STORY: JOE ANGIONE
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Many of us have the urge to become something new…to exhibit some new talent… to be part of something we never dreamed possible.
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ecome a singer or an actor performing onstage. Win awards as an artist…a quilter…an accomplished bridge player. Lead a group that aids the poor or disadvantaged. The Villages makes it easy to be almost anything your heart desires. Many of us have the urge to become something new…to exhibit some new talent…to be part of something we never dreamed possible. The Villages is all about making that happen. I know. My wife and I are now much more than we used to be. We moved here 20 years ago, and from the start we became involved in things we never did before. I love to sing. After many nights singing karaoke, I found lots of singers good enough to be onstage performing before large audiences. We formed a musical revue called “Sentimental Journey” that performed twice a year for nine years at the Savannah Center in front of thousands, with the proceeds going to benefit charitable organizations. I also became an opinion page columnist for the local newspaper and a speaker at various Villages events. At the same time, my wife developed into an accomplished bridge player, a quilter, and quilting teacher who’s won dozens of awards at local and state competitions. You can be as active here or as sedentary as you like. But The Villages will entice you to get moving toward an exciting new you. For openers, The Villages has 2,690 clubs or resident
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lifestyle groups open for membership. They run the gamut of virtually everything you might ever want to do: book clubs, bridge clubs, discussion groups, ladies clubs, neighborhood associations; clubs for gardeners, chess players, computer buffs, budding theatrical performers, gym rats, and stock market investors. And if that isn’t enough to entice you to do something new, you can create your own club. Just call The Villages Recreation Department (352.674.1800) and request an application to provide details about your proposed club, list organizers, and obtain a time and location for meetings. Based on availability of a meeting space, your chances of getting a club approved are excellent. Join an existing club and you’ll have an opportunity someday to run it. Form your own club and you’re automatically the person in charge. If leadership is your goal, The Villages lets you “run the show” right from the start. Travel for free! Ocean cruises are a big draw for Villagers. You can cruise at no cost by organizing small groups of 16 passengers (eight cabins), and cruise lines will reward you with one cabin entirely free or ask you to cover only the small cost of port fees and taxes. Don’t wait. Start reinventing yourself today!
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THE
OF THE VILLAGES People in The Villages come from all over the country and from many other countries. Villages Style is happy to introduce six people who now call The Villages their home. STORY: CHRIS GERBASI // PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ
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John Horwath
ATHLETE The phrase “better with age” certainly applies to archer John Horwath, even at age 95. In June, John set a record in his age group at the National Senior Games in Alabama, totaling 1,566 points of a possible 1,800 in target shooting. He shattered the previous mark by 477 points and now holds three national records. He also holds five state records and earned Male Athlete of the Year honors at the 2016 Florida Senior Games. John learned with a straight bow in the 1950s in Michigan. Today, he uses a physically demanding 40-pound compound bow. “It’s something I have loved all my life,” he says. “And I don’t go just to shoot. I go to shoot to try to beat records. And that takes determination.” Born and raised on a farm, John uses a barn analogy as advice to young archers. “If you shoot at the keyhole in the lock on the barn door, you may be lucky enough to hit the barn,” he says.
Susie Hu Ingerick
“Only in this country, if you’re willing to work, you will be successful.”
CLUB PRESIDENT
As communists took over China in 1949, educator Hu Fu-Cheng led his family to Taiwan, where he raised six children to be independent and contributors to society. Decades later, daughter Susie Hu Ingerick still lives by those values. “I do my best to help people,” she says. “My goal is to help people.” Susie is president of the new Chinese Social Club, appealing to what she describes as a fairly large Chinese population in The Villages. She has worked as a translator in the community and sometimes
introduces other Villagers to traditional Chinese philosophy and values. “I take it as something I ought to do and I’m proud to do that,” Susie says. After 10 years in Taiwan, Susie came to the United States, became a biochemistry technician, and married. She and her husband later owned several businesses. Today, Susie says she and her family have everything they could want. “I appreciate this country, too,” Susie says. “Only in this country, if you’re willing to work, you will be successful.”
Petrina
ENTERTAINER Since arriving in The Villages in 2008, Petrina has been a one-woman British Invasion. The English singer performs multimedia shows in many personas, most notably as Pink, for social clubs and private parties. Charity events inspired her to pursue a cause of her own, iSparkle, an anti-bullying program. iSparkle stands for inclusion, support, protect, act, respect, kindness, lift spirits, and encourage. “Throughout my years of working here, I was always asked to give my time to charity, which I did, as most performers probably do and should do,” Petrina says. “So, I thought why not create something that I feel more passionate about and something that is needed.” Along with friend Jane Bloom, she created a scholarship awarded to any qualified U.S. high school senior related to a Villages homeowner (see petrina.biz/iSparkle.html). They raise money through sports tournaments and talent shows, and Petrina donates a portion of her ticket sales. “In time, I’d like to offer programs not just for children but adults, too, on how to deal with bullying and what we can do about it,” Petrina says. “We all sit in silence because no one knows how to deal with these things. There is help out there, but it’s something I’m learning on the way, too.”
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“Book” Booker
CLUB PRESIDENT “Book” Booker is a self-described “country boy” from Virginia who has lived in big cities all over the U.S. When he moved in 2012 to The Villages, he was looking for a place where he could make friends when he got a tip about the AfricanAmerican Club. Five years later, he’s the leader of the 300-member club. “It’s a social club, No. 1. We hold lots of events, and we promote goodwill and friendship. That’s what I like about the club,” Book says. “You meet new people coming in to The Villages, and it’s excellent for getting to know folks.” The club also has awarded six $1,000 scholarships to underprivileged tri-county students each of the past two years, in tandem with the Sophisticated Gents of Florida, another social club primarily for African-Americans. Both clubs are open to anyone, however. Book immerses himself in the community through scuba diving, travel, and Segway clubs. He believes clubs are important to help Villagers connect. “The things we tend to like as individuals, we find a club that pertains to that enjoyment and we join up,” he says. “You like to meet people who share similar backgrounds. That helps us survive in the community and in general.”
Joe Elliott
Betty Cunningham
Many people want to kick back in retirement, but canoeing and pickleball just didn’t cut it for Joe Elliott. “There was something significant missing in the activities I was involved in,” he says. Instead, he decided to attend Villages community development district board meetings and learned all he could about how the Villages administration works. These endeavors reawakened experiences he had while working at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., and interacting with government leaders and agencies. Joe became a CDD supervisor and discovered parallels between his former industry and local government, with the common denominator being people. He enjoyed talking to residents and doing background work to understand issues. “It was a reservoir that resonated with me. It was a perfect match,” he says. Then he ratcheted up his activities another notch. After he and Barbara, his wife of 48 years, moved to Antrim Dells Villas in Wildwood, Joe successfully campaigned for a four-year term on the City Commission. It’s a demanding job but one he loves. “If you’re serious about yourself, if you’re serious about life and the community you live in, you really ought to give serious consideration to contributing to that community, including running for office,” he says.
Making a positive difference in a person’s life is Betty Cunningham’s expressed goal. As a volunteer since 2003 for SHINE, or Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders, Betty has made a positive difference in the lives of literally thousands of people. She serves as SHINE area coordinator in Lake and Sumter counties and The Villages, overseeing volunteers and helping residents understand Medicare through community presentations. “I enjoy speaking to groups about Medicare and what is available and the changes that come each year,” she says. Betty, who worked at Westinghouse Electric Corp. for 31 years, has received state and local awards for outstanding volunteer service. “I love SHINE because it gives me a chance to help others, and mostly seniors. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for seniors and now I am one,” she says. “If I can help one person, I feel that I have done a good job.”
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Splashing your way to good health
EISENHOWER SPORTS POOL
Exercising in the water not only makes workouts more enjoyable, it’s also easier on joints and gives you the added benefit of being outdoors STORY: LEIGH NEELY // PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ
W
ater exercises are a great way for older adults to get the aerobic movement they need along with less impact on the joints. When you exercise in water, you feel about 90 percent lighter, according to the American Council on Exercise. Whether you’re water walking, doing aerobics, or playing volleyball, your body doesn’t feel the same impact it would on land or on a floor. This is good news for those with arthritis, back problems, foot or leg injuries, and knee conditions. It’s also a benefit for those who are obese. And it’s just plain fun to be in the water. The Villages offers an extraordinary number of classes in its many recreational pools. The full weekly
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schedule for each pool is listed in The Villages Recreation and Parks Guide. Activities in pools include combo swim, women’s water exercise, men’s water exercise, as well as coed classes, so you can go wherever you feel comfortable. Water volleyball is very popular and offers players a chance to move around a lot, enjoy the challenge of competition, and help their bodies at the same time. There are different levels of play so you don’t have to fear you may be “out of your league” if you wish to join in. Many people enjoy lap swimming, which is an individual exercise done at your own pace. Times are available for these swimmers, too, along with open exercise, where you exercise on your own.
The benefits of water exercise are especially relevant for older adults, who may have balance issues or loss of muscle strength. The resistance of the body in the water increases muscle strength—much greater than air. That means your body is getting a rigid workout that increases strength, flexibility, and agility. Working out in water helps you build endurance as the water offers natural resistance because your body strains through the water rather than against it. Flexibility is important as you age. Joints tend to get stiff, slowing your gait and causing pain if you sit or stand too long in one position. Because movement in the water takes your body in various directions, flexibility comes more easily. Barbara Qualls and her husband, Mills, lead a coed water aerobics class, High Nooners, that meets at noon Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at Savannah Center sports pool in The Villages. “There are some 40 exercises that we do, and they involve everything from your eyes down to your toes,” Barbara says. “The exercises are designed mostly for stretching, flexibility, and muscle toning.” She says the exercises are designed for everyone to be able to do water aerobics at their own pace. They can do the movements extra strenuously if they wish, or in slower motions. “People always tell us how much they benefit from the exercises,” she says. “After every class we hear, ‘Thank
you so much. This is just exactly what I needed.’” Those with arthritis are often cautioned to keep moving, but if movement causes great pain, they’re tempted to resist doing it. The Arthritis Foundation of Florida estimates almost 5 million people in the state have some form of arthritis, and says exercise is a key component to good health. Movement in the water takes the pressure off those painful joints, making it easier to move with less stress. Water doesn’t just make your body healthier, however, it also works on your stress level and anxiety. Water is always soothing, and working out in water can be one of the best stress relievers. A 2007 study in Poland found depression was significantly decreased and anxiety lowered for women who did regular aquatic exercise. Best of all—water exercise burns calories. Your body gets a full workout, whether you’re swimming or doing aerobics, so you burn 400 to 500 calories an hour. Many people don’t enjoy the sweat that comes from working out in a gym, so water exercise alleviates that problem, too. Having the cool water around you means you work out just as hard but you don’t get too hot. It’s great to live in Florida, where you can enjoy water activities year-round. Taking time out of your busy schedule to do exercises in water can help you feel better, look better, and have more energy to do all the activities you love to do in The Villages.
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Movement in the water takes the pressure off those painful joints, making it easier to move with less stress.
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* BVOSOtK yR lE VeI E W
“Alas, Babylon” By Pat Frank. It’s the height of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union when Randy Bragg receives a dire warning from his brother Mark, an officer in the U.S. Air Force. STORY: LEIGH NEELY
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The message of this little book is as relevant today as it was when it was written in 1959. In fact, it was a little chilling listening to it in light of today’s headlines.
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heard about this book when I moved to Florida many years ago. It is said that the small town of Fort Repose is based on Mount Dora since the author lived for many years in Central Florida. When I saw Will Patton read the audio book, I couldn’t resist. The message of this little book is as relevant today as it was when it was written in 1959. In fact, it was a little chilling listening to it in light of today’s headlines. Randy Bragg enjoys a quiet life as an attorney in the small town of Fort Repose. He is shocked to receive a telegram from his brother Mark with the two words, “Alas, Babylon.” As young boys, the two had used the phrase from a biblical passage to indicate something bad had happened. The phrase comes from Revelation 18:10, “Standing afar off for the fear of her torment saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city of Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is thy judgment come.’” After listening to news of rising tension around the world, Randy has a brief meeting with his brother at Fort McCoy. Randy learns the armed forces fear a nuclear attack is imminent. Mark
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Fiction Bestsellers As of August 22
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is sending his family to Randy because he feels they’ll be safer there than in Omaha, Nebraska, where he is stationed with the Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base. Randy begins stocking supplies and preparing for life during war. Like anyone else in this situation, he can’t keep himself from talking with several close friends about his news. Like him, they have no problem believing what his brother says. The day after everyone is settled and there is a heavy air of waiting, the horrible prediction becomes reality. From their area of Central Florida, Randy and his family and friends can see and feel the effects of these horrific nuclear blasts at strategic Florida sites—Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Orlando. When Orlando is hit, the devastation truly begins for Fort Repose. There’s no phone service or power. Since most of their groceries, pharmaceutical supplies,
gasoline, and heating oil was delivered from Orlando, the town reverts to a long-ago time that they are ill-equipped to accept. They are forced to become a self-sustaining community. Once the chaos and confusion settle down, Randy and his small band of survivors realize they are safe because of the fortunate direction of an eastward wind. Fort Repose is not polluted. This is a gripping story that made me want to keep listening. In fact, a couple of evenings I left the television off and listened to the book for two hours. I was also drawn in by mention of familiar places like Tavares and other towns in our area, which certainly made it easy to picture the scenes in the book. Pat Frank was very knowledgeable about the government and military operations, which added authenticity to the story. I’m sure both men and women will enjoy this book, especially, as I said, with the headlines we have today.
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About the author Harry Hart Frank (1908-1964), a journalist and government consultant, wrote his novels as Pat Frank. He grew up in Chicago but spent most of his adult life in Florida. His journalism career included working for the Office of War Information during World War II and the Korean War. The fear of a nuclear war was an obvious concern; it was the subject of his first novel, “Mr. Adam.” When he moved to science fiction, “Forbidden Area,” the story was about fighting a nuclear war in the distant future. After an assignment that took him to the headquarters of the Strategic Air Command, Harry began contemplating what people would do in the event of a nuclear attack. “Alas, Babylon” came from those thoughts. The book’s realistic depiction is why it’s still avidly read today.
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9 Glass Houses BY LOUISE PENNY
10 Enigma BY CATHERINE COULTER
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