Shell Point Life August 2007 by Shell Point Retirement Community

August 2007 Vol. 2 Issue 8

Travel Takes Off! ARE WE THERE YET? By Lynn Schneider, Editor It’s August, a perfect month Or, perhaps you’d like to to enjoy a summer vacation! explore the world with your This edition of Shell Point Life taste buds? Resort Services has features the exciting way to planned a variety of outings expand your world — by travel! that serve up menus of internaOne of the most exciting tional fare including Greek, aspects of travel is the sense of Mexican, Italian and more. destination; the idea that we These are described in the have “arrived.” monthly Happenings section I’m sure none of us knew Lynn and her husband and you can start signing up for Craig paused for a photo years ago that we would arrive these trips on August 1 at either on a trip to Ruby Falls in here at Shell Point one day, Chattanooga, Tennessee. service desk on the Island or in but aren’t we glad we did? The Woodlands. Whether as a resident or a staff memOr better still – plan a visit to the ber, we all share the common benefit of Crystal Dining Room or the Palm Grill having arrived at a truly wonderful destithis month for their exciting dining events nation. But, while we enjoy an exceptionthat include among other things, an al home base, there are still many more Evening in Paris! places to see in the world and this month And what would summer travel be we are going to explore several. without good old fashioned road trips? Come along with me as we sit back Almost every family has at least one story and read about several exciting trips some about the time they packed a suitcase and of our residents have recently made startjumped into the station wagon for a week ing on page 3. Marco Polo would be proud on the open road enjoying the sights and of our intrepid world travelers who share sounds of America. From the weird to the their stories with us. World cruises, treks wacky, we’ve summed up some places that I through the rain forest, gondolas on the bet you’ll recognize on page 8. canals of Venice, and bird watching in So, thanks for joining us this month Scotland are just a few of the adventures as we explore the world of travel. Enjoy we will enjoy in our “armchair” travels. the trip!

BY ELIZABETH BROWN, PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Exciting travel opportunities are on the horizon! After a few meetings with those interested in traveling, we have complied a “buddy list” of residents who have an all-around interest in travel. We are working on planning trips throughout the season to such places as Amelia Island, Savannah and other special places and event destinations in Florida. Our hope is that these trips will allow residents with common interests to meet and eventually plan adventures together. Watch your mailbox for a questionnaire that will narrow down our exciting trip options and thanks to those who have already shared their ideas. Please let me know if you have anything you’d like to share, by calling 454-2239.

Shell Point Life is published monthly for the residents of Shell Point Retirement Community. Editor Lynn Schneider Art Director Rich Cerrina Graphic Designer Wendy Iverson Staff Contributors Gene McGonigle, Teri Kollath, Millie Kuehn, Linda Rakos, Randy Woods, Robyn Church, Rachael Dula, Carol Cooper, Tom Frackenpohl, Carol Clark, Mary Franklin, Elizabeth Brown, Sarah Patten, Ted Yeatts, Steve Morton, Chris Bright, McKenzie Boren, Ginny Ficker, Chrysten Burzio, Casey Francis, Kristin Winberry Resident Contributors Chuck Durrell, Bill Saunders, Peggy Holton, Don Rogowskey, Guy McMillan

15101 Shell Point Boulevard • Fort Myers , FL 33908 (239) 466-1131 • www.shellpoint.org Shell Point is a non-profit ministry of The Christian and Missionary Alliance Foundation, Inc.

ON THE COVER Road trips are as American as apple pie! Everyone gets a sense of nostalgia when they recall summer vacations spent in the family automobile driving to interesting sites around the county.

Shell Point Life | August 2007

Correction: In July’s Shell Point Life, the photo of Robert and Alma Johnson was incorrectly captioned as Maxine and William Brooks.

When we went looking for travelers here at Shell Point, we

found many that opt for cruises. The following tales tell of trips by plane, train and ship to see distant corners of the world, so step aboard and take a look at some of the trips your neighbors have recently embarked upon!

Cruising the Continents Two Shell Point Couples End Up on the Same World Cruise Around the Southern Hemisphere

with Virtuoso, a travel network that can be found through various travel agencies, means of traveling the world including Geraci Travel. All agreed that because of its convenience and all-inclusive Virtuoso is the best network because of its nature. This spring, two Shell Point couples, amenities and optional day trips. Excursions Lessie and Dayton Slater (Sand Dollar) and are offered at every port stop; however, sometimes guests simply choose to wander around Pat and Sam Marcus (Oakmont), returned the port for the day. At Cairo the Slaters from a 105-day cruise around the world on the visited the Pyramids of Giza while the Holland American liner MS Amsterdam. Marcuses, who had seen the pyramids on previous world cruises, stayed On their grand world voyin Alexandria to explore the age that circled the southern local culture. hemisphere, the 1,300 cruisers The Slaters have been takstopped in over 40 ports, ing cruises since 1955, when including mysterious Easter they embarked on their first Island and the city of Dubai cruise out of Miami aboard the (UAE) — famed as an engiSS Evangeline. That was a long neering masterpiece because Lessie and Dayton Slater time ago but Lessie and Dayton the city is entirely built upon (Sand Dollar) in Easter have continued to cruise for fifty sand. The consensual favorite Island years. This was their first world stop among the travelers was the island of Bora Bora in French Polynesia — cruise, and they said they would definitely be the most mythical of the Pacific Isles — interested in going on one again. When asked renowned for its white sand beaches, crystal what her favorite excursion was, Lessie clear water and colorful reefs. They also replied, “It was the tropical rainforest in agreed that the harbor of Sydney, Australia, Cairns, Australia.” On the other hand, Pat and Sam Marcus was unmatchable with its grand Opera are world cruise veterans. They have taken House visible from several other world cruises and simply love the cruising experience. After three and a miles away. The Slaters and half months aboard a ship with the same Marcuses booked group of people, they explained, you really their cruise packages can build friendships with other cruisers. Perhaps the most unusual detail about the Sam and Pat Marcus (Oakmont). trip is the fact that the Slaters and Marcuses ruising is an exceptional

Sam and Pat Marcus (Oakmont)

Lessie and Dayton Slater (Sand Dollar) in the Tropics.

had not ever met until the weekend prior to their departure! Lessie tracked down something she “heard through the grapevine” and found to her delight that Shell Point would be doubly represented aboard the MS Amsterdam as it sailed the globe. Lessie and Dayton called this cruise a fabulous trip and that they could not have been more pleased. The Marcuses also reported that this time, just as their previous cruises proved to be, was a great time on the high seas. So now that you know it is possible, why not grab a neighbor and set up your first trip around the world? Shell Point Life | August 2007

The Saunders took a two-week surf-and-turf vacation, one week on land in the Scotland highlands area, and one week at sea in the Scottish Isles.

ather than taking a trip on the high seas that lasts

for months, Turban residents Bill Saunders (known around Shell Point as the “Bird Man”) and his wife, Jane, chose another option. The Saunders took a two-week vacation, one week on land and one week at sea. Although birding and bird watching are very similar, avid birders consider themselves to be a bit more knowledgeable about the creatures regarding habits, identifying factors, moulting, migration timing, and colorings. Bill describes his hobby, which began in 1985, as “like an onion;” meaning that there are many levels that one can uncover in birding, diving in as deep as you choose. For Bill, “it is a form of relaxation.” Birding is a world-wide leisure pursuit that has become very popular. Bill and his wife, Jane, have taken several trips for the express purpose of birding, though there is always more to explore than just birds. They have visited Jamaica; the Galapagos Islands; Siberia, Russia; the Arctic and the Antarctic — and that’s not all! Many of the trips were cruises, and recently Bill and Jane returned from another wonderful two-week excursion. They took a birding cruise and tour of Scotland through Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (a group that specializes in birding trips to over 100 locations around the globe). The group spent the first week of the trip

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on land. Twenty bird-loving tourists flew into Inverness, Scotland, and drove east to the Glenlivet House, located in the Cairngorms National Park. The Glenlivet House not only has a great view of the Banffshire countryside but is also home to a famous distillery, acclaimed for its ancient Single Malt Scotch Whiskey. The touring group made the Lodge at the Glenlivet House their launching pad for a week of day trips and excursions around the highlands area. Bill and Jane stayed on their toes spotting plenty of native birds, including the Scottish crossbill, black grouse, Capercaillie and more! At week’s end the group headed even further east to Aberdeen, located on the Scottish coast, where they boarded a ship, the Russian MV Grigoriy Mikheev for a tour of the

Scottish Isles. They visited Shetland, Fair Isle, the Orkneys, the towering 1,000-foot sea cliffs and pinnacles of Hoy, and the Hebridean islands of Harris and Lewis. The tour explored many of the wonders of the Scottish Isles but always maintained focus on the special birds. Jane thoroughly enjoyed the second week because of the incredible sights. She, too, has an interest in birds but is not quite as enthusiastic as Bill. Once a history teacher, Jane is especially keen on the Neolithic villages in the Orkneys. Another highlight for her was the incredible Standing Stones of Callanish in the Hebridian Islands. The group also visited the St. Kilda Archipelago. Throughout the cruise birdwatchers spotted a myriad of shorebirds, loon, and wildfowl, notably the Manx Shearwater. The cruise finished up in the port of Oban, having circled the entire northern part of Scotland. Bill and Jane had a truly wonderful time in Scotland, discovering many new and exciting birds, and seeing a beautiful and historically rich area of Scotland, taking advantage of their summer vacation by flying all the way across the sea!

Visiting Egypt This past spring Robert Clark cruised through the Indian Ocean and Red Sea to discover Egypt

here are 194 countries in the world and it is likely that at least one

Shell Point resident has visited each one. Dr. Robert Clark (Sundial) is a dedicated worldtraveler who has visited almost every one of those 194 nations. Robert is a European history buff, having achieved his Doctorate and Masters Degrees from the University of Pennsylvania; needless to say, he truly enjoys the historical value of his time abroad. He began traveling with his wife about forty years

The Great Nile River

Robert explored the incredible Cairo Museum in Alexandria and later traveled along the Nile River south to the actual city of Cairo which, Robert reports, is magnificent—full of ruins and close access to the pyramids of Giza. From there the tourists continued southward on the Nile to Luxor, site of the ancient city of Thebes. Interesting to note, the Nile River is the only river in the world that flows from south to north rather than north to south. Luxor is just across the river from the Valley of the Kings, making it a favorite among historians seeking to view ancient ruins and study the rich history of the country. Robert said that because Egypt is so rich historically, he found it to be one of the most intriguing places in the world, “even though my degree was in European history,” he chuckled. “This trip was a highlight of my traveling career.” Favorite Places from Past Travels

ago and since her passing, Robert moved to Shell Point. He continues to take solo journeys every two months, meeting new friends along the way and making check marks country by country on his list. Suez Canal

This past spring Robert cruised aboard the Crystal Serenity to some marvelous spots around the southern hemisphere, venturing all the way to Egypt, sailing through the Indian Ocean into the Red Sea. As part of a 12-ship convoy passing through the incredibly secure Suez Canal, which is equipped with highly powerful military artillery, the cruiser docked in the port and commercial center of Alexandria, Egypt.

When asked to name the most magnificent event he has ever beheld, Dr. Clark reported that it would surely be the famed Carnival of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — a fantastic 4-day showcase leading up to Lent, complete with ornate floats, created sans technology, equipped with droves of musicians, dancers, and people dressed in glitzy costumes. “It is truly magnificent,” Robert said. As for stand-out cities, Dubai City of the United Arab Emirates on the eastern Arabian Peninsula is the one that Robert holds in the highest regard. This city is a monumental

Robert Clark with Dorothy Hamill, 1976 Olympic Gold Medal figure skating champion. Dorothy was the ship’s celebrity activities director, during Robert’s cruise.

engineering feat. It takes the most skilled engineers to keep up with the city’s expansion, with the world’s tallest building and skyscrapers that look like space ships, all built on a base of sand! Paris, France, is the city that Robert holds closest to his heart, having lived within walking distance from the Musee d’Orsay. He fondly remembers strolling along the Seine River and taking history classes at the Sorbonne. Robert and his wife once took a wonderful wine-trail trip through the south of France, an experience that he will never forget. In America Robert enjoys visiting the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, as well as Manhattan, where he lived with his wife for forty years before moving to Florida.

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Exploring Europe

Ginny and long time friend Kaili Kailipose posefor foraa picture on a bridge in Venice, Italy. The water level in the city of Venice is so high that canals are the streets—taxis are boats and gondolas are actually practical!

hen I waved goodbye to Shell Point last summer after

finishing my internship, instead of returning to James Madison University in Virginia, I packed up my bags and caught a flight bound for Europe. On August 21, 2006, I embarked on a two-week backpacking excursion, going from Paris, France, to parts of Switzerland and Austria via planes, trains, and automobiles, followed by a three-and-a-half-month stay in Siena, Italy, where I completed university courses in Italian language, culture and history. In the good company of two old friends, I explored the illuminated city of Paris, the Swiss Alps, the cities of Lausanne and Bern, the Austrian village of Salzburg — famous setting of The Sound of Music — and Vienna,

just south of Firenze (Florence), the city of Siena once served as the last stop for travelers going south toward Rome on the pilgrimage route from Canterbury. Living in Siena allowed me a myriad of unparalleled experiences —from a cooking class with an Italian mama, to tours of the graves of saints. I spent a week in the busy

During her second year of college, Ginny Ficker headed to Italy to study abroad. Before classes started, she backpacked in Europe for two weeks. Roman metropolis, with a day in the Vatican City, and three days in Venice — the sleepy city of lovers. I explored the vineyards that spilled over the sides of green and gold hills with my camera in one hand and my journal in the other and tasted the most delicious wines and pizzas fired in great brick ovens. I learned to love pasta con pomodoro, pasta that is like spaghetti from heaven made with the freshest ingredients; I even ate wild boar and rabbit meat! Right in the center of the city, my apartment was small and a bit shabby but perfectly quaint and ideally located. I hung my drying laundry from the windows just across the alley from a tailor who nodded to me each morning from his window. Truly, I was able to experience another culture in the most excellent way. I walked five minutes to school every day to take classes taught by Peeking out of a grand green door in Paris, France. Ginny and Italian natives, friends Megan and Kaili backpacked for two weeks, including a four day stay in the bright city of Paris. speaking of Italy as if “the city of music.” I traveled country to country with only a backpack full of a few pairs of jeans, one dress, a toothbrush and my passport. The supplies were slim. After the two-week journey, we landed securely in the medieval city of Siena. Nestled in the hills of Toscana (Tuscany)

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In Siena, Italy, when it rains, it pours. Siena is known for it’s famous Piazza del Campo (pictured here) which is the very center point of the city. In medieval times when the city was built, all water drained into the center of this shell-shaped piazza.

it were a fine jewel from an age-old treasure chest. The knowledge I gained from the perspectives of seasoned Italians is of infinite value to me — priceless, because it is something I could never manufacture. It was the salt of Italy’s earth. As I look back on those months, I realize that my life is truly on a different course than it was before I left. I have gained a new understanding of the world and life from this entirely different culture that will season my life and the choices I make now and forever. Cheers to traveling, because what Marcel Proust said is true — “the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

Burma Shave signs provided a roadside diversion

Long before folks drove on concrete superhighways and visited concrete theme parks, Mom and Dad would load the kids in the family car and head for places unknown to see sights never seen before: strange plants and animals not found in their home state — mountains and oceans, rivers and caves — and exercise was hiking in state parks. It wasn’t a theme park; it was the real America. For entertainment the kids would take turns selecting a free tumbler from the glass case between the gas pumps — a premium for buying at that station. In the car you’d play license plate bingo or watch for the next set of BurmaShave signs.

The whale Put Jonah Down the hatch But coughed him up Because he scratched Burma-Shave Way back in the 20s, Clinton Odell developed a brushless shaving cream which he called Burma-Shave. At a time when folks were really starting to travel America by automobile, the brushless shave cream eliminated the problem of packing a wet shaving brush and cup. Odell had an excellent product; all he lacked was a marketing plan. When young Allan Odell pitched a great sales idea to his dad, he got $200 to give it a try. What happened is one of America’s most

successful advertising plans ever! The kid bought some materials to construct highway signs and in 1926, using recycled lumber, Allan fabricated the first Burma-Shave verses. He erected one set of signs along Route 35 between Albert Lea and Minneapolis, Minnesota. It didn’t take long for sales to soar. Orders poured in, and sales for the year hit $68,000. Soon Allan and his brother, Leonard, were putting up signs all over the place. Although Allan wrote many of the early jingles himself, what made the sign campaign so successful was that ordinary folks were encouraged to write the jingles and were awarded cash prizes of up to $100. The signs cheered folks up during the Depression and during the dark days of World War II. Some homesick GIs even erected Burma-Shave look-alike signs in Alaska, Germany, and Antarctica!

His cheek Was rough His chick vamoosed And now she won’t Come home to roost Burma-Shave At their height of popularity there were 7,000 Burma-Shave signs stretching across America. The familiar white-on-red signs, grouped by fours, fives, or sixes, were as much a part of a family trip as was irritating your kid brother in the back seat of the

car. You’d read first one, then the next, always anticipating the punch line, and the familiar Burma-Shave on the last sign.

Unless Your face Is stinger free You’d better let Your honey be Burma-Shave But all good things come to an end. In the late 50s cars got faster and superhighways were built to accommodate them. The fun little signs were being replaced by huge, unsightly billboards. Although the tiny Burma-Shave company eventually grew to $3 million in annual sales, the Odell Family sold their company to Gillette, which in turn became part of American Safety Razor and Phillip Morris. 1963 was the last year for new Burma Shave signs and by 1966, every last sign disappeared from America’s highways. No more red and white nuggets of roadside humor to ease the journey. But, as befits such an important part of American culture, one set is preserved by the Smithsonian Institution. It reads:

Shaving brushes You’ll soon see ‘em On a shelf In some museum Burma-Shave

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Weird,Wacky & Wonderful There are some strange and wonderful things to be seen when traveling around the good old USA, so for a quick tour of the odd, read on. where in Wisconsin. Would I string you along? Perhaps you’d like to see all four! Corn Palace

South of the Border

If string isn’t your thing, then how about corn? The Corn Palace, with its mad mix of onion domes and minarets, looks like it was drop-kicked out of czarist Russia. It was originally built to show off the fertility of South Dakota soil — and it’s remained on the job, standing in downtown Mitchell for over 75 years.

Where I-95 crosses between North Carolina and South Carolina, South of the Border is nowhere near Mexico. You’ll see it advertised for miles, so you gotta stop. It has just about anything a traveler could want, if you don’t mind it being heavy on the “Kitsch” and the gas costing at least 20¢ more per gallon than in the surrounding countryside. South of the Border makes this border crossing memorable. All Tied Up

In the Midwest, there seems to be a contest over who has the honor of being home of the World’s Largest Ball of Twine. Currently there are four balls, located in Darwin, Minnesota; Cawker City, Kansas; Branson, Missouri; and another one rolling up some-

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E.T. Phone Home

Heading back east, the intrepid traveler will not want to miss Roswell, New Mexico, home of 1947’s infamous Roswell Incident — superbly tacky, even for tourists from Mars! Nature’s Wonder

The Corn Palace in South Dakota Fill ’er Up

Well-known to I-80 travelers as The World’s Largest Gas Station, Little America, Wyoming, was named after Admiral Byrd’s camp on the South Pole. Opened in 1932, the rest stop grew to include scores of gas pumps, a hotel, restaurants, and a post office. The owners wanted a penguin as a live mascot, but it died on the way from Antarctica. Making the best of a bad deal, Little America has Emperor stuffed and proudly on display in the rest stop. Stop here only if you need refueling! Desert Attractions

World’s Biggest Ball of Twine in Kansas

the stuff. Imagine an ashtray – or maybe a giant litter box – that’s 30 miles square. Maybe it could be used to fill in the next attraction — the Meteor Crater, near Flagstaff, Arizona. About 50,000 years ago a small asteroid, reckoned to be 80 feet in diameter, impacted the Earth and formed the crater. Feel free to make a stop, but it’s just another big hole in the ground!

Heading south to Alamosa, Colorado, the Great Sand Dunes National Monument is a big pile of sand – a colossal mountain of

Now if you don’t have a hankering to drive too far, get on down to Bonita Springs for a stop at the Everglades Wonder Gardens. The Gardens have been open since the 50s — before “Southwest Florida was ruined by developers and crushed by an ever-expanding human population,” as their website says. Visiting the Gardens today is surely like stepping back into the 50s – and a great way to get the flavor of some of the other oddities mentioned in this print odyssey.

Alien spaceships in Roswell, New Mexico and The Everglades Wonder Gardens in Southwest Florida

Rock City

Wall Drug

Do you remember the old “See Rock City” barns? If you traveled anywhere in the southeastern United States in the 1950s or 60s, chances are you’ve seen hundreds of the barns, each with the roof or sides painted with in big, bold white letters. It all began in the 1920s, when Garnet and Frieda Carter developed a garden walkway in their estate atop Lookout Mountain in northern Georgia. America was in the Great Depression when the Carters opened their gardens, “Overlooking Seven States,” to the public in 1932. In what would become one of the most unique advertising gimmicks ever, Carter hired Clark Byers to paint “See Rock City” on hundreds of barns located along highways leading to Chattanooga. From 1937 until his retirement in 1969, Byers painted over 900 barns in 19 southern states. Most of the original barns are but a memory, but you still may see one on America’s back roads!

For kids who grew up “out West,” the name Wall Drug strikes a familiar note with anyone who’s driven the interstate system west of the Appalachians or east of the Rockies. Wall Drug is a sprawling tourist mall that occupies the majority of downtown Wall, South Dakota. Wall used to be

known by locals as “the geographical center of nowhere.” That was before Ted Hustead came along. Ted was a Nebraska native who moved to Wall and opened a tiny drug store in 1931. Five years later it was still a tiny drug store. Ted’s wife thought that the travelers driving

past their store must be thirsty and suggested they put up a sign outside of town advertising free ice water at Wall Drug. Ted thought it was a silly idea, but he was desperate and put up the sign. By the time he got back, thirsty tourists were already lining up for their free ice water. They’ve been stopping ever since. In fact, over a million people stop at Wall Drug every year — 20,000 on a good summer day. But Wall Drug’s days of billboard glory ended in 1965, when Lady Bird Johnson bulldozed her nationwide Highway Beautification Act through Congress. After publicly proclaiming that road signs were “junk,” she began a one-woman campaign of billboardrazing that continues to this day. Wall Drug’s lovable signs have been among her most notable victims. Today, a fifty-ton, 80-foot-long dinosaur stands next to the freeway, reminding travelers that Wall Drug is still open, and business is better than ever. The free ice water is as cool and sweet as ever, and the coffee is only five cents.

Located atop Lookout Mountain, near Chattanooga, Tennessee is Rock City Gardens, a collection of natural caverns, rock formations and a rock outcropping with spectacular views. From there, a visitor can gaze in the direction of seven states including Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, all from one scenic overlook.

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Smile!

BY CASEY FRANCIS, MARKETING INTERN

L-R: Herman Bips (King’s Crown), Helen Remington (Lakewood), John Williams (Harbor Court), Leighton Brown (Turban), Bobbi Brown (Nautilus)

Let’s play a game. Can you think of an action that takes very little thought, effort, and time — yet has the power to change someone’s mood? Need another hint? This action is hands free and only takes 14 muscles to perform. It also has health benefits!

For example, it can boost your immune system because you are more relaxed. Can you guess what it is yet? What if you knew that doing this draws people together and makes you appear younger? Take your best guess. If you guessed a smile, then you are

correct! Smiling is something that the residents of Shell Point do in abundance! Try walking around Shell Point and note how many people smile at you. But be careful, those smiles are contagious!

Teamwork Brings Beautiful Stained Glass Windows to Saugatuck Congregational Church B

O N

O G O W S K E Y

Jan and Don Rogowskey (Lucina) came to Shell Point in 2002 from Westport, Connecticut, where they lived for over 30 years. Don and Jan were dedicated members of the Saugatuck Congregational Church. The 175-year old church is considered one of the most beautiful meeting houses in America. As is typical of the architectural style of these churches, there are no stained glass windows.

U C I N A

)

Jody Marie Toelken, a member of a 12step program sponsored by the church, wanted to express her appreciation to the church for their support of these programs, of which the church hosts more than 50 each week. She offered to craft and donate a stained glass window for the church. Ted Hoskins, senior minister, was very receptive to the idea. Jody did not feel capable of designing the window, so Ted asked Don Rogowskey, an administra-

The Saugatuck Congregational Church, built in 1832, is noteworthy as the site of Westport's first town meeting in 1835. In 1950 the church was moved to a new location, 600 yards diagonally across the Post Road. In 2002 the eight new stained glass windows were installed.

Shown here are three of the eight stained glass windows Don helped to create. Some of the other scenes depicted a pilgrim ship, a seashell, the birth of Christ, congregation, and the Bible.

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tor at the church, to get involved. Though Don has never had any formal training in art, he has always been interested in it. Here at Shell Point, Don is involved in painting with watercolor and oil, as well as with framing for the art studio. You may recall that Don took first place in a Bonita Springs art show last year for an oil painting of pottery from New Mexico. The chapel was the logical location for the window, but with four windows to do – the plan quadrupled twice – each window had two panes. To preserve the traditional look of the meeting house, the stained glass windows were mounted on the inside of the existing windows. Thus the colors can be seen in their full glory from the inside, but the exterior look of the church remains unchanged. Jody and Don met with the pastor of the church, Ted Haskins, to brainstorm ideas for the windows. Ted came up with the themes which Don developed into the focal points of the design. Then Jody crafted the stained glass windows and Jon Bromer a carpenter, created the wooden frames for the glass panes. Don cherishes his involvement with this project because he knows, as he says, “how often does one get a chance to create something that will outlive you.” And for that, the entire congregation of the Saugatuck Congregational Church will always be grateful.

Four Generations There’s nothing better than reconnecting with family, and Frances Kennedy of King’s Crown was blessed with three generations, as her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter all came to visit this last month. Her tenth great-grandchild, 3-month-old Kayla, and her mom Karla Frazier hail from Detroit, Michigan, as does Frances’ daughter, Jane Strand. “It is so wonderful seeing my mom again, now that she is settled in King’s Crown,” Jane explained. The four generations spent time at the beach and enjoyed the sightseeing around the area.

Four generations of girls gathered for a special family photo. Clockwise from left: Frances Kennedy (King’s Crown); her daughter, Jane Strand; granddaughter Karla Frazier; and great-granddaughter Kayla Frazier.

Many Shell Point Volunteers Provide Year-Round Service B Y T E R I K O L L AT H , A C A D E M Y

Some volunteer services continue year-round at Shell Point, and we are certainly glad they do! Though individual volunteers in these groups may take vacation time away, the rest of the group often stretches to cover. We thank them and the other residents who give some of their extra summer time to help out. Our hats are off to the following groups: Lap Robes; Stamp Project; Recorders; Tone Chimes; Academy Instructors; Library and Library Book Talk and Genealogy; Huggie Hearts; Adopt-A-Road; King’s Crown and Arbor and Pavilion Auxiliary volunteers; Rose Garden Volunteers; Pharmacy; Welcome Center; Computer Lab; Volunteer Drivers; Gift Shop; Hope Hospice at Shell Point; Hospitality; Meals on Wheels; Morning Callers; Orchid House; Resident Activity Center Greeters; Salon Greeters and UPS. Thank you volunteers! Your dedication makes this community a great place to live. New Opportunities to Volunteer As our community grows, so does the opportunity to make a difference. Currently we are seeking active residents who enjoy combining physical fitness opportunities with their volunteer service.

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V O L U N T E E R S E RV I C E S M A N A G E R

Every month there are residents who pick-up new issues of Shell Point Life from the service desk and deliver them to residents at their court. Volunteer opportunities are available to do the same for Oakmont, Rosemont, Lakewood and the buildings of Eagles Preserve. Transporters are needed throughout the Larsen Pavilion to help get residents to programs, activities and services. This is a wonderful chance to visit with a resident while pushing their wheelchair or holding out a friendly arm to accompany or assist them. The few minutes required with each transport is much appreciated and quite rewarding on a personal level. Other volunteer opportunities exist that perhaps make good use of your lifetime of experience. Or, if technology has been a passion of yours, you could sign on to assist fellow residents with technology as they provide programs and classes or help with SPTV-11. If leadership and organization are your strong suits, there are several Shell Point activities that are seeking leaders. The Academy at Shell Point provides all sorts of opportunities, like offering your special talents or sharing your interesting experiences. If any of these volunteer services appeal to you, contact Teri Kollath at 454-2254 for more information on these and other volunteer opportunities.

Start the Season with a Song Join One of the Shell Point Choirs All singers are encouraged to begin the season singing together. There are two significant groups to consider. The Village Church Choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 5:45 p.m. beginning August 1 and sings each week during the worship services and for special occasions with many guest artists. The Shell Point Singers is our community choir which will present 3 seasonal concerts this year. They rehearse on Mondays at 3:15 p.m., beginning August 20. Both groups rehearse in the choir room, located backstage of the church and are led by Randy Woods, minister of worship and music at the Village Church. Come join the The Village Church Choir and/or the Shell Point Singers and start the season with a song!

Shell Point Life | August 2007

Organ Concert with Claire Faasse & Crawford Wiley

Tuesday, August 7 — 7:15 p.m. Church Auditorium/IS

Dinner at Dwyer’s

Thursday, August 9 3:30 p.m. Court pickup 7:30 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $5.00 (dinner on your own) This impressive eatery has great ambiance and attentive service. The menu features a mix of Irish and American favorites including salads, hamburgers, Irish egg rolls, and of course, the traditional corned beef and cabbage.

Piano Concert with Gail Smith

Claire Faasse is currently the organist at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers. She has played master classics with many well-known organists and teachers. Eighteen-year-old Crawford Wiley began piano studies at age 4 and has been studying organ with Faasse for five years. Crawford played the organ for National Public Radio’s popular “From the Top” program, which was recorded here at Shell Point last year. They have also played in the Festival of Great Organ Music at the Naples Philharmonic. They will present popular classical selections, as well as some favorite hymns.

An Evening in Paris

Wednesday, August 8 Crystal Room/IS The menu will feature such savory sensations as lamb shanks with garlic, baked scallops in Gruyere cream sauce, and a tantalizing crepe station. All are invited to this truly special occasion.

Shell Point Life | August 2007

Friday, August 10 — 3:00 p.m. Grand Cypress Room/WDL Gail Smith is absolutely “The First Lady of Piano.” This talented entertainer will present a variety of popular and classic piano music, as well as songs inspired by American cities and states such as “Carolina in the Morning”, “Tennessee Waltz”, and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” You won’t want to miss this enthusiastic performer!

Saturday DVD: The Pursuit of Happyness

Saturday, August 11 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Grand Cypress Room/WDL Will Smith (in an Oscar-nominated role) and his real-life son, Jaden, star in this tale about a struggling single parent determined to build a better life for himself and his child. Chris Gardner is smart and talented, but his dead-end salesman job barely pays the bills. When he and his 5-year-old son are evicted from their apartment, they face trying times, as Chris takes on an unpaid internship at a stock brokerage firm with hopes of some day getting rich.

EVENTS

•

PROGRAMS • PARTIES • MOVIES

Thankful Hearts

Sunday, August 12 10:15 a.m. & 6:15 p.m. Village Church/IS Listen to a trio of lovely ladies voices during Sunday service. The trio is Dotty Morrison, Jeanell Walker and Debbie Sullins. All three are members of the First Baptist Church of Plano; the group formed in 2005.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Monday, August 13 8:30 a.m. Court Pickup 3:00 p.m. Approximate return Cost: 20.00 (lunch on your own) Marie Selby donated her Sarasota Bay home and grounds “to provide enjoyment for all who visit the Gardens.” Take this opportunity to explore the oasis of tropical beauty, left so kindly by Mrs. Selby. The Gardens showcase over 20,000 plants from 214 plant families, including 6,000 live orchids in outdoor and display house gardens. Come along for an enjoyable day trip to this very special place. Please bring a snack. We will stop for lunch at Cracker Barrel on the return trip.

Beach Day

Thursday, August 16 Crystal Dining Room Not only are they delicious, but these sweet treats are actually good for you! Berries that is! Join us in the Crystal Room for some berry special desserts.

The Not-So-Newlywed Game

Thursday, August 16 6:45 p.m. Resident Activity Center/IS How well do you know your spouse’s preferences and idiosyncrasies? Let’s enjoy finding out, in this fun-packed Shell Point version of the popular 1970s game show. The show’s host will ask the questions and you provide the answers. Join in to participate or go just for the laughs! Light refreshments will be provided.

Lunch at Cantina Laredo

Women’s Ministries Global Outreach Wednesday, August 15 10:15 a.m. Village Church/IS

Berry Dessert Night

Saturday Excursion: Bell Tower

Wednesday, August 15 9:00 a.m. Bocce Ball Court/WDL One of last summer’s most popular parties is back! Join your friends and neighbors on The Woodlands lawn for a fun morning that’s gone to the dogs. Compete in a doggy parade and participate in the judging of the best doggy costume, most talented pup, and which dog most resembles their owner. Refreshments for man and beast will be served. Dogs, their owners, and people who just want to join in the fun are welcome to attend.

OUTINGS • EXCURSIONS

Sara King of the Village Church will share her amazing story of 20 years of living in Hong Kong, China, and doing missions work for the C&MA. She just recently returned from Hong Kong fresh with stories to tell. This is sure to be a fascinating talk.

Tuesday, August 14 8:30 a.m. Court pickup 3:30 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $13.00 Spend the day at one of our favorite sandy spots for shelling, swimming, and relaxing – Delnor-Wiggins Pass in Naples. Remember to take along your beach gear. As always, a picnic lunch will be provided.

Dog Days of Summer Party

•

Saturday, August 18 1:00 p.m. Court pickup 5:00 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $5.00 Enjoy the afternoon at one of the best shopping destinations in town, Bell Tower Mall. Participants will have plenty of time to catch a movie, browse the shops, or have a late lunch at one of the many eateries. The choice is up to you!

Monday, August 20 10:30 a.m. Court pickup 1:30 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $5.00 (lunch on your own) Celebrate the taste of the Southwest at this unique Bell Tower eating establishment. Enjoy fajitas, sopa de tortilla, and top-shelf guacamole, made to your liking at tableside. Typical lunch entreés range from $7.00 to $9.00.

Adventures in Africa with Mark Quinn

Tuesday, August 21 — 4:00 p.m. Grand Cypress Room/WDL Welcome back Mark Quinn, son of a

renowned zoologist, as he shares stories and pictures of his many adventures on safari in Africa. To both educate and entertain his audience, Mark combines natural humor, knowledge of animal behavior, and his more than thirty years of experience with the animal kingdom. Mark’s goal is to foster awareness of and compassion for our natural world through education and unique wilderness encounters.

All-American Steak Out Night

Wednesday, August 22 Dining: 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Entertainment: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Palm Grill/WDL It’s all about steaks on this special evening at the Palm Grill. The menu will feature a special selection of steaks for beef lovers as well as seafood choices such as swordfish and tuna steaks. Diners will also enjoy some great music from performer Dennis Reilly, who will be playing guitar and singing light country favorites. This evening will be a treat for your palate, as well as your ears! No reservations needed.

Beach Bowl

Thursday, August 23 12:15 p.m. Court pickup 4:00 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $12.00 (includes shoe rental & two games) A game or two at the cool Beach Bowl is an option for those of you who want to have your fun out of the sun! Experienced and novice bowlers alike are invited for this afternoon at the lanes. Grab your friends and join us; no sunscreen required.

Movie Night: The Teahouse of the August Moon

Monday, August 27 — 7:15 p.m. Social Center /IS American Col. Purdy (Paul Ford) is determined to infuse postwar Okinawans with Western culture, and assigns the hapless Capt. Fisby (Glenn Ford) to make it so. Instead, pushover Fisby is convinced by the natives to help them build a geisha teahouse and enlists the help of interpreter Sakima (Marlon Brando) for the project. Make sure to enjoy the Asian-themed dining experience in the Crystal Room before you spend a few hours at the Teahouse.

Shell Point Life | August 2007

HAPPENINGS PLACES Lunch Outing: Plaka II

TO GO,

PEOPLE

Sign-up required for this activity. Call Island (454-2282) or Woodlands (454-2054 or 454-2057)

MEET, & THINGS

Tuesday, August 28 — 3:45 p.m. Social Center/IS Rev. David Sageser of the Arbor will discuss Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy Tyson, a true personal meditation on the costs of America’s historical racial divide. All are welcome and refreshments will be served.

Fishing on the Great Getaway

Tuesday, August 28 11:00 a.m. Court pickup 2:00 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $4.00 (lunch on your own) Enjoy authentic Greek cuisine at this restaurant on McGregor. Gyros, moussaka, baklava, and all of your Greek favorites are on the menu. It will have you declaring, “It’s all Greek to me”!

Book Talk

Walking up and down stairs

Friday, August 31 7:45 a.m. Court pickup 4:00 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $50.00 includes rod, reel, bait, tackle, license (food on your own)

Darts Tournament

Thursday, August 30 10:15 a.m. Tarpon Room/IS Darts in America is a fun game that can be traced back to the Pilgrims, who were reputed to have played on the Mayflower as it made its ocean crossing. Now all Shell Point residents are invited to enter a darts tournament for a chance to win prizes and bragging rights! Competitors will play a standard darts game, with individual winners advancing to the next round. Signups for this event close on August 24, so call today!

Beginning and experienced anglers will enjoy a great time on the water catching grouper, snapper, mackerel, and cobia. This 90-foot fishing boat will keep you comfortable, with an enclosed air-conditioned lounge, a full galley serving breakfast, lunch, and beverages, and restrooms. Quit wishin’ and go fishin’!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR The following activities are planned by a variety of groups. All Shell Point residents are welcome to attend. Check your current Weekly Reminder or watch SPTV for locations and/or changes.

Sunday

Tuesday

Thursday

9:00 Christian Life Studies (WDL) 9:15 Christian Life Studies (VC) 10:15 Morning Worship Broadcast live on CH12 1:15 Mixed Golf League 6:15 Evening Service

8:36 Women’s Golf League 9:15 Painting Class 9:15 Stamp Project 12:45 Intro to Duplicate Bridge 1:00 Mixed Progressive Pairs Bridge 1:45 The Rollicking Recorderists 3:45 Library Book Talk (August 28) 6:45 Hymn Sing (August 7)

8:00 Men’s Golf League 9:30 Current Events Group 2:15 Handwork (August 9, 23) 7:00 Trailblazers Bible Study

Monday 9:15 Billiards 9:15 Pottery 1:00 Mah-jongg 1:15 Advanced Table Tennis 1:15 Intro to Resident Life (Aug. 27) 1:15 Scrabble 1:15 Shuffleboard 1:15 Tone Chimes 2:00 Beading Club 3:00 Bible Study (Arbor) 7:00 Pinochle 7:00 Duplicate Bridge

Shell Point Life | August 2007

Wednesday 9:00-12:00 Geraci Travel 9:15 Watercolor Group 9:45 Ladies Bible Study 1:00 Chess 1:15 Beginner/Intermediate Table Tennis 2:15 Huggie Hearts 2:30 Jazz ‘n Stuff (August 8, 15, 22, 29) 5:45 Village Church Choir Rehearsal 7:15 Bible Study & Prayer

Friday 8:00 Intrepid Breakfast Bikers (Aug. 10, 24) 9:15 Stamp Project 10:00 Genealogy (Aug. 10) 1:00 Mixed Progressive Pairs Bridge 1:15 Quilters 1:15 Table Tennis 1:30 Vespers (Arbor) 2:45 Vespers (KC) 6:45 Game Night

Saturday 8:00 Adopt-a-Road (Aug. 18) 9:00 Coffee Social 9:45 Bridge Supervised Play 1:00 Chess 7:00 Duplicate Bridge

The New 7

Wonders of the World

On July 7, 2007, the New Seven World Wonders, which had been chosen by a world-wide online vote, of which 100 million ballots were cast, were announced in a ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal. Making the top of the list is a manmade structure, so immense it can be viewed from outer space — the over 4,000 miles long Great Wall of China.

The Great Wall, China

Winding its way from the east to the west of China, over mountains and plateaus, snaking its way down through valleys and low lands, the great wall stretches for a distance of about 4,163 miles. It was originally built for defensive purposes, and its construction continued through several generations of Chinese dynasties. Finally, after China was unified, Emperor Qin Shihuang had the segmented wall joined together as one long fortification in order to fend off the invading Northern Huns. The most enduring wall presently hails from the Ming dynasty, standing at an average height of ten meters and width of five. Petra, Jordan

This city carved out of rocks dates back to the B.C. era and is the capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). When it was excavated by archeologists who uncovered the massive architecture and ingenious maze of dams and water channels surrounding the great temple, archaeologists were delighted to find a great historical treasure chest. The Nabataeans were an industrious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan over 2000 years ago.

Statue of Christ Redeemer, Brazil

Atop Corcovadao, one of Rio de Janeiro’s great mountains, this statue depicts Jesus Christ standing with arms stretched wide in a welcoming gesture. The statue is 38 meters in height, though it stands much higher than that atop the mountain that juts up into the sky; in fact, you can see the statue for miles around. The statue’s construction, which took 5 years to complete, was finished in 1931. The monument was inaugurated on October 12, 1931, by the then President of Brazil, Getúlio Vargas. At the base of the statue stands a small chapel that can hold about 150 people.

of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners where courts were used to settle disputes or make offerings to the gods. Many believe losers were put to death. Each structure can still be seen today, and the pyramid itself is the last and, arguably, the most fantastic of all Mayan temples. A large Mayan community probably lived here between 700 and 900 A.D. The Roman Colosseum, Italy

Now famous as a backdrop behind many modern movies about gladiators, the Colosseum was built between 70 and 82 A.D. by an unknown architect. This monumental structure’s purpose was to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Begun by Vespasian and inaugurated by Titus in 80 A.D., and finally completed by Domitian, the Colosseum’s walls and tiers of seats were meant to hold up to 50,000 spectators. Now, 2,000 years later, virtually every modern sports stadium is built in the image of the original Colosseum.

Machu Picchu, Peru

The Taj Mahal, India

Found deep in the heart of the Amazon jungle above the Urubamba River, this excavated settlement was uncovered by Yale professor Hiram Bingham in 1911. The community was built in the 15th century by Incan Emperor Pachacútec. Machu Picchu meaning “manly peak,” is believed to have been a royal estate and religious retreat for 1,200 people (mostly women, children and priests). The architecture is unique in the way it is built into the side of the mountain itself and also because of the way the stone blocks fit together perfectly without mortar, though none of the blocks are the same size. One block has as many as 30 corners. The joints are so tight that even the thinnest knife blade cannot fit between the cracks!

This decadent mausoleum was built by order of the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, Shah Jahan, in honor of his late wife, whom he loved very much. It was constructed among lush gardens in 1630 A.D. from pure white marble. Later, he was imprisoned, and it was said that he could only see the Taj Mahal from the barred window in his jail cell. Construction lasted 22 years and employed twenty thousand workers.

Chichén Itzá, Mexico

This is the most famous of known Mayan temple cities, containing the pyramid

Shell Point Life | August 2007

August Events Guest Sammye Vore enjoying sparklers outside by the Arbor fountain with residents David and Rosemary Sageser (Arbor)

KING’S CROWN

THE ARBOR

WED ....1 ....Fiddlin’ Bill, entertainer (A) ......................1:00 p.m. SAT ......4 ....Leslie Gregory, harpist (A) ........................1:00 p.m. MON ....6 ....Movie: Miss Potter (MP)..............................1:00 p.m.

TUE ......7 ....Craft Corner: Potpourri II (4CR) ..........2:00 p.m. TUE ......7 ....Golden Road Band (CMR) ......................6:30 p.m.

MON ....6 ....Golden Road Quartet (A) ..........................7:00 p.m.

FRI........10....Shopping & Lunch Trip to: Best of Everything & EVOO w/King’s Crown (1FL) ..........10:00 a.m.

WED ....8 ....Tom Cannon, entertainer (A) ....................1:00 p.m.

TUE......14....Tommy Barr (CMR) ................................2:00 p.m.

THUR ..9 ....Tune Toppers, jazz trio (A) ........................2:00 p.m.

WED ....15....Vicki Lei, keyboards (1FL/1DR) ..............4:00 p.m.

FRI ......10 ....Trip to Best of Everything & Lunch at EVOO w/Arbor (L) ..........................9:45 a.m.

THUR ..16....Tune Toppers (CMR)................................2:00 p.m.

MON ..13 ....Carol Driscoll, entertainer (A) ..................6:00 p.m.

MON....20....Vivian Aiello, violin (1DR) ......................4:30 p.m.

TUES ..14 ....Laugh Along with Millie (MP) ..................2:00 p.m.

TUES ..21....Mid-Day Movie: Animals Are Beautiful People (1SR)......2:00 p.m.

SAT......18 ....Tommy Barr, guitarist (A) ..........................2:00 p.m.

THUR ..23....Laugh Along w/ Millie (CMR) ................2:30 p.m.

MON ..20 ....Movie: An American in Paris (MP)..............1:00 p.m.

MON....27....Lunch Trip to Olive Garden w/King’s Crown (1FL) ........................11:15 a.m.

MON ..27 ....Lunch Trip to Olive Garden w/Arbor (L)..........................................10:15 a.m.

WED ....29....Guide Dog Demonstration (CMR)..........2:30 p.m.

MON ..27 ....Vicki Lei, singer (A) ..................................1:00 p.m.

LARSEN PAVILION

Jean Peacock (Arbor) and Henry Peacock (Pavilion) wave the red, white and blue.

MON ....6 ....Carol Driscoll, keyboards (2DR)..............10:00 a.m. MON ....6 ....Music Trio (3AR) ....................................10:30 a.m. TUES ....7 ....Ruth Rodgers, piano ( 3AR)......................9:30 a.m. WED ......8 ....Tommy Barr, guitar (3AR) ......................10:00 a.m. FRI ........10....Fiddlin’ Bill, fiddle (2DR) ........................10:00 a.m. TUES....14....Ruth Rodgers, piano (3AR) ......................9:30 a.m. THUR ..16....Sock Hop (MD) Reservations required by August 13 ......4:15 p.m. MON ....20....Music Trio (3AR) ....................................10:30 a.m. TUES....21....Ruth Rodgers, piano (3AR) ......................9:30 a.m. THUR ..23....Tom Cannon, piano (2DR) ......................10:00 a.m. TUES....28....Ruth Rodgers, piano (3AR) ......................9:30 a.m.

Shell Point Life | August 2007

War of the Weeds S

T O R Y

A N D

H O T O S

B Y

T E V E

As in the Orson Welles classic radio broadcast The War of the Worlds, our enemy is insidious. They creep and they crawl; they infiltrate and overwhelm; they are opportunists that will exploit every chance they get. Using devious natural strategies, they will try to consume us and destroy our beautiful community. Ladies and gentlemen, fierce battles are going on every day in the trenches, and although you may not notice, we are engaged in a mighty conflict known as the “War of the Weeds.”

R T O N

A N D S C A P E

A N A G E R

Doug Sharer and Albert Rodriguez, Integrated Pest Management Specialists, get ready to wage war.

and stealing the nutrients it needs to grow and flourish. Like an infantry man, Doug crawls on his belly beneath the unsuspecting Bougainvillea to find the marauder, and with a single deadly accurate shot of the herbicide RoundUp™, the enemy is dispatched. This battle was won but not without sacrifice. After the heat of the clash, Doug notices that his arm has been scratched by the Bougainvillea he was protecting, as blood trickles down his wrist.

Doug Sharer begins his day early at 7:00 a.m. in preparation for a skirmish. Despite the extreme heat, he stoically dons his protective gear and assembles his weapons: hats, goggles, gloves, and long sleeve shirt… Check. Spray gun, chemical ammo, assault cart… Check. Doug’s enemy has dug in and gained a foothold in the berm along the perimeter of the Shell Point Golf Course. Using the natural defenses of a very sharp and thorny Bougainvillea bush, the menacing weed has begun an evil assault on the shrub. Left alone, this invader would quickly cover the Bougainvillea, smothering it from the light

Albert Rodriguez is on dawn patrol at the front line of the war. Albert is seeking targets of opportunity: weeds that make incursions into sidewalk cracks, weeds in flower beds, and weeds in mulch beds.

Albert efficiently hikes a grid pattern and eliminates with amazing rapidity the enemy where they live. The days pass in succession as Albert methodically clears a sector, then moves on to the next, and finally back to where he started. Vigilance, discerning eyes, and situational awareness equate to success in a protracted war of attrition. With the help of outside coalition forces, Doug and Albert also battle weeds in turf. But the turf front requires specialized weapons that kill the weeds and not the grass. These weapons require training, and like all good soldiers, they rely upon their experience and training to be successful. These two elite warriors have years of experience at area golf courses and are licensed by the State of Florida to perform herbicide and pesticide applications. With the potent combination of experience and training, Doug and Albert are holding the line against the weeds through their quiet persistence and steely determination.

Se Habla Espanol? Spanish Classes Return to Shell Point How would you like to speak Spanish? The Spanish Club at Shell Point will offer two classes on Thursday afternoons this fall, one for beginners and one for those who have studied Spanish before. Elizabeth Nolan, the instructor for these courses, is a native speaker of Spanish and holds excellent teaching credentials. She will be back, by popular demand, for her third year of teaching at Shell Point. The class will use the text Spanish Is Fun, Book I. Classes will be held for ten weeks each for one hour per week from September 13 until November 15, finishing

Shell Point Life | August 2007

the week before Thanksgiving. The fee per course, per person, is a modest $60, anticipating an enrollment of 10 per class. The benefits of studying Spanish are many. At home you will be able to watch Spanish TV on Channel 8 and foreign films with more understanding. Students will also get to know other Shell Pointers who are interested in learning or speaking Spanish. Travelers abroad will tour more knowledgeably in the Spanish speaking world. More importantly, students will sharpen their wits by learning new skills, and flex-

ing the brain with a new or reactivated language. Enjoy visits to local Mexican and Cuban restaurants and understand more of the Spanish spoken by immigrant speakers in Fort Myers. With other Shell Point residents, the classroom experience will expand your understanding of a new language in a conversational setting right here at Shell Point. Come and join us. To sign up or if you have questions, phone or email Pat Daley (Parkwood) 454-0440, email: ilsapp@juno.com or Connie Curtin (Lakewood), email: dycurtin@earthlink.net.

August Dining Events Evening in Paris Wednesday, August 8

Summer Court Luncheons The month of August will be a conclusion to the 2007 Court Lunches. Residents may choose to order from the regular lunch menu or enjoy the featured special: Asian citrus chicken breast salad, tropical sorbet, and beverage, all for just $8.20 inclusive. All Court Luncheons begin at 11:30 a.m. Transportation from The Island has been arranged. Court pickup will take place at 11:15 a.m. on the day of your court’s luncheon. To reserve your place at this special event, call 454-2054

Come dine in the shadow of the glowing Eiffel Tower as Café de Crystal celebrates French Night. The restaurant will be featuring some of the best French cuisine, inspired by the culinary creativity of famous French chefs. The menu will feature such savory sensations as lamb shanks with garlic, baked scallops in Gruyere cream sauce, and a tantalizing crepe station. All are invited to this truly special occasion.

Wild Berry Dessert Night Thursday, August 16 Not only are they delicious, but these sweet treats are actually good for you! Berries that is! Join us in the Crystal Room for some berry special desserts

Steak Out at the Palm Grill Wednesday, August 22, 4 - 8

August Luncheons

It’s all about steaks on this special evening at the Palm Grill. The menu will feature a special selection of steaks for beef lovers, as well as seafood choices, such as swordfish and tuna steaks. From 5:30 - 7:30 diners will also enjoy some great music from performer Dennis Reilly, who will be playing guitar and singing light country favorites. This evening will be a treat for your palate, as well as your ears! Doors open at 4 p.m.

Please note the dates printed below are correct, (there was a misprint on the Parkwood invitations.)

Tuesday, August, 7 Oakmont Thursday, August, 9 Periwinkle Saturday, August, 11 Sand Dollar Tuesday, August, 14 Parkwood Thursday, August, 16 Tellidora Saturday, August, 18 Royal Bonnet

Ode to the 5:30 Woodlands Bus to the Crystal Room B

The Promenade Café will be closed September 3 though September 17.

U Y

I L L A N

A K M O N T

If the day has been long And you’re feeling blue, Have I got a deal That’s just right for you! The 8-minute ride is just about right To send those blues off into flight. The menu varies – but always is great. If you pick carefully, you’ll be glad that you ate!

The Crystal Room will be closed each Saturday through September 29. Please enjoy the Palm Grill or Island Café in the interim.

The desserts are from Heaven – man, what a sight. Selection is varied – Bananas Foster last night! Do yourself a big favor and treat your cook right – Take him or her with you on the 5:30 tonight!

Shell Point Life | August 2007

Money Week

August 6-10 and 13

Money Week One-On-One Slots Still Available B

N N

R A N C I S

You still have time to make an appointment for a free, 30-minute consultation with Fort Myers’ leading legal, tax, and financial experts during Money Week, August 6-10 and 13. Call the Legacy Foundation at 466-8484 to make you appointment, or stop by the Legacy Foundation’s office on the Island. Each day of Money Week features experts in a different field for personal and confidential consultations. August 6 — Will & Trust Review Has it been a while since you had your estate plan reviewed by an attorney? Are you a new Florida resident? Do you have a question about durable powers of attorney or health care directives? Review your documents on this day. August 7 — Tax Review Do you need a check up on your income tax planning or want to learn tips on saving more money next year? Talk with a CPA on this day. August 8 — Investment Review Does the stock market have you wor-

ried? Maybe it’s time to have your portfolio reviewed. Investment advisors will be here to help you. August 9 — Life Insurance, Annuity, & Retirement Plan Review Do you have a question about life insurance, your annuity policy, interest rates, etc.? Has it been a while since you reviewed the investments in your retirement plan? Learn from a retirement plan and insurance specialist. August 10 — Will & Trust Review This is a very popular subject among Shell Point residents; therefore, we have added another day for you to get the answers you need. August 13 — Advanced Planning There are always questions regarding funeral arrangements, burial, cremation, veteran services, payment options, and more. These professionals will be able to answer all of your questions. The opinions expressed by individuals participating in this program may not necessarily be shared or endorsed by The Legacy Foundation at Shell Point. Please consult with your professional advisors before making any legal or financial decisions.

One Call STILL Does It All! B

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, M

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Summer is here and with the hot and humid weather, so comes the heavy use of Shell Point’s air-conditioning systems. As the unit cools the air and removes humidity in your home, it forms a lot of condensate water that is created by the coil. This water gathers in the unit’s pan and travels down the drain into the plumbing system. Shell Point presently utilizes the engineering services staff to spray down the coils in each unit every six months. This spray not only helps to maintain a level of cleanliness but also keeps the pan and drain line clear and flowing well. The product used to accomplish this task is a 180-day biocide that kills and disrupts the formation of sludge that can form in those areas. It was designed and registered with the EPA to eradicate that particular problem and is a very safe and useful tool. The use of any other product is discouraged, so please refrain from pouring anything else down the a/c drain lines. Because of heavy usage this

Shell Point Life | August 2007

O F

N G I N E E R I N G

E R V I C E S

summer a drain line may clog now and then, but residents should report the problem to the One Call Does It All Hotline, 454-2190. Shell Point is also responsible for your unit’s air conditioning duct work. Newspaper or TV advertisements about duct cleaning and mold are designed to alarm you and garner your money. If you have any concerns regarding your home’s ductwork, Engineering Services should always be your first call. Simply allow our staff to visit you to review the situation. You can trust that the Shell Point staff has your best interests at heart. The majority of residences in the community have great filtration that is constantly improved upon as technology dictates. In the past six years the majority of problems found were in the grills and the units, rather than the ducting. Following a few simple guidelines, such as proper filter replacement, (provided by the Shell Point maintenance staff) keeping doors and windows closed

A Shell Point maintenance staff member replaces the air filter in a typical air handler.

while operating the a/c unit, and keeping the fan on Auto, your system should provide you with years of good service. As Shell Point continues to grow, the Engineering Services staff is challenged to grow with it to provide our residents with the best air quality possible, utilizing proper maintenance and service. As always, if you have questions or are in need of service, please call Property Management at 4542190 first. The One Call Does It All Hotline is here to serve you.

Educational Seminar is All About C , S M Pampering R OBYN

Last month Gail Johnson, massage therapist and skin care specialist with The Salon at Shell Point, entertained and educated attendees at the Summer Seminar Series hosted by Women’s Ministries. Gail spoke on the importance of nutrition, the power of touch in massage therapy and the many benefits of skin care. Darlene (Cookie) Biltz maintained a steady waiting line for complimentary chair massage while Gail continued to wow us with her knowledge and 43 years of experience.

HURCH

ALON

Super Summer Savings at The Salons

ANAGER

gentle stroking and kneading movements. Reflexology is the application of pressure to specific points on the feet and hands — this is good for every one! Reflexology points are connected to other parts of the body. You find relief by applying pressure at precisely the right spot on a hand or foot. Many times, a massage therapist will combine these different types of massage to achieve the most beneficial outcome.

The Salons at Shell Point are offering some extra special savings August and September for our residents who brave the summer heat and keep The Salon hopping! We really appreciate your business. Quality hair, nail and skin care products really do make a difference when taking care of your self. In an effort to make these great products more affordable for our customers, we have discounted our hair and nail care products 10% and our skin care products an extraordinary 25%! No coupon is necessary for retail purchases.

Skincare

Gail concluded the seminar with the advantages of Benefits of Massage proper skin care and facials. Massage is not only magDarlene Biltz (Cookie) Exfoliating the skin keeps ical for sore and achy musdemonstrates chair the skin looking fresh by cles and joints; it is extrememassage to the attendees removing the dry, dead surly beneficial to a person’s of the Women’s Ministries face skin cells. Moisturizing mental and emotional well Summer Seminar and massaging the face being. Massage helps muscles to relax so they can heal, it aids in the keeps the skin looking hydrated and release of toxins that accumulate in the increases the flow of blood and oxygen, muscles, helps to reduce blood pressure, giving a healthy glow. A skin care specialimproves posture, is effective in treating ist knows just what to do to keep you lookheadaches, reduces anxiety, and increases ing your best. Facials are recommended the flow of oxygen in the body which once a month. Now we have taken care of the skin improves ones mental awareness. on our faces, let’s not forget our bodies! Common Types of Massage The three most common types of mas- Body wraps and body polishes are wondersage are deep tissue massage, Swedish mas- ful treatments for the skin. A body wrap sage and reflexology. Your massage therapist helps to detoxify the skin with the use of will help you choose which kind of massage essential oils and dry herbs in water. The herbal oil is applied to the body and is is right for you. A deep tissue massage is effective in then wrapped in blankets to create heat to treating chronic patterns of tension and help the skin glow and increase circuladispersing scar tissue. When muscles are tion. A body polish is done to exfoliate in pain they become tense and can block the skin and remove the dry, dead skin the flow of oxygen, nutrients and disburse- cells. After a shower, the skin is massaged with a deep moisturizer to hydrate. As a ment of toxins. Swedish massage is ideal for relaxation general rule, body treatments should be and to “de-stress.”Swedish massage involves done four times a year.

“I enjoy visiting the Island Salon. Jim does a great job with my hair. He is very meticulous and takes great pride in his work. The Salon staff is friendly, courteous and a pleasure to talk with.” — Ruth Deuber (Periwinkle)

Take advantage of this month’s Salon specials!

Super Summer Savings

10% OFF any Facial Service

Super Summer Savings

Salon employees may accept gratuities

10% OFF MASSAGE THERAPY & REFLEXOLOGY with Darlene Biltz Salon employees may accept gratuities

Expires 8-30-07

Super Summer Savings

10% OFF any Body Wrap & Polish Salon employees may accept gratuities

Expires 8-30-07

Shell Point Life | August 2007

Three dollars, four dollars, five dollars…

Sand Dollars!

If you have ever ventured down the Gulfshore coastline during low tide, you may have encountered an amazing beach blanket of living sand dollars. If you haven’t seen this wonder of nature, may I suggest taking a short trip to Fort Myers Beach about an hour before low tide to check out these fascinating sea dwellers. Sand dollars are usually found lying in a bed, buried under a layer of sand but may be washed up on shore where they can be examined at low tide. Sand dollars are echinoderms (which means spiny skin) and are related to sea

THE WHITE IBIS

urchins and sea stars. Sand dollars have 5part radial symmetry in a hard skin, made of calcium carbonate plates. If a sand dollar is found alive, it will appear to have a dark layer of very fine hair on its body. The bottom surface contains the mouth, many black spines (which trap food), and the cilia (small hairs) that help direct food into the mouth. The sand dollar’s mouth has a jaw with five teeth like sections to grind up tiny plants and animals. Sometimes a sand dollar “chews” its food for fifteen minutes before swallowing. Sand dollars have tiny tube feet that are used as gills. Lucky shellers are probably more familiar with the dead skeleton of a sand dollar, called a test, washed up on sandy beaches. The test is often bleached white by the sun and if you break it open, you will find many hard, loose, pieces inside; these were the teeth of the sand dollar. Not only have sand dollars achieved a

R I S T I N

I N B E R R Y

distinction to collectors along Florida’s coastline, but they were also a vital necessity for early settlers. The Calusa civilization used these shells as tools, weapons, and adornments. Even today Sand dollars are used as jewelry, home décor, holiday crafts, or just admired as a great wonderment of God’s creation. While enjoying this wonderful creature in its native environment, please remember that it is illegal to remove live sand dollars and other living shells from the beach.

BY BILL SAUNDERS, TURBAN

This is the eighth in a series of articles profiling the birds selected for each building name at Eagles Preserve.

The Ibis is an ancient bird whose fossil records have been recorded going back some 60 million years. Around 5,000 years ago, ancient Egyptians venerated the Ibis and made it an integral part of their religion. Carvings of the sacred ibis are found in many Egyptian monuments and tombs, and they were also mummified and buried in temples with the pharaohs, although they are no longer found there. There are three species of Ibis found in the United States today, the most common being the White Ibis. This bird resides along the Gulf coast but is also slowly expanding

Shell Point Life | August 2007

north. As a partial migrant (some migrate and some don’t), numerous ibis can be seen year-round in our neighborhood. The bird can also be found throughout the Caribbean and into northern South America. The Ibis is a relative of the flamingo and spoonbill and can be seen flying in a large V shape, showing off the dark underside wing tips. Most distinctive because of its long, thin, down-turned pink bill, this mediumsized white aquatic wader with long legs and a long neck uses the bill to probe as much as

three to eight inches below the surface of shallow water, mud, or grass for prey. The Ibis’ spring breeding plumage is spectacular – the legs and bill turn bright scarlet while seeking a mate. A very gregarious bird, you’ll see small flocks of Ibis feeding together in fields, swamps, and even in front yards. In the latter case they may be looking for one of their favorite foods – mole crickets. Since these critters can be highly destructive to lawns, it’s good to hope the Ibis finds their dinner before the damage has been done!

During the Worship Services on Sunday, August 12, special music will be presented by a ladies trio, called Thankful Hearts BY RANDY WOODS,

MINISTER

Thankful Hearts trio has been singing together since the fall of 2005, all three women are members of the adult choir at First Baptist Church of Plano, TX. Each had faced some type of crisis during the previous year, including loss of job or loss of a spouse, so they chose their name to reflect the many blessings God had given them as He brought them through those difficult circumstances. Dotty Morrison, daughter of Coquina residents, Harold and Ruth Greenlee, has been singing in church and school choirs since the age of five. At Greenville College she sang in the a cappella choir and small ensemble. She has sung in choirs and ensembles in three Baptist churches in the Dallas area and on mission trips to England and Latvia. Jeanell Walker, raised in a Texas minister’s home, sang her first solo at age two!

Women’s Ministries:

MUSIC

AND

WORSHIP

THE

Jeanell Walker, Dotty Morrison, and Debbie Sullins comprise the trio known as “Thankful Hearts”. You can hear them during both church services on August 12.

During high school she sang in a ladies’ quartet and church choir and served as church pianist. While attending Bible college, she sang in a ladies’ trio. After college she worked side-by-side with her husband, a minister of music for the Assemblies of God Church. She has held various positions, including church accompanist, director of

VILLAGE

CHURCH

children’s and youth choirs, and full-time children’s minister. Debbie Sullins was born in Midland, Texas, then moved to Caspter, Wyoming, when she was fourteen. She started singing duets with her sister in the small choir there and has been in choirs continuously since that time. She sang in the a cappella choir while a student at Baylor. Since graduating from college, she has directed a preschool choir and has sung in five church choirs and several ensembles. The music of Thankful Hearts blends old-style trio harmony with traditional and contemporary arrangements to lead worshippers in praise and thanks to God. Be sure to attend the 10:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. Worship Services at The Village Church on Sunday, August 12. You will be blessed and encouraged by the music ministry of Thankful Hearts.

Welcomes a Familiar Face to Discuss Global Outreach in China

years. It began in Hong Kong where they Shell Point residents who come to the lived and worked for 20 years. As missionarWomen’s Ministries August Global ies with The Christian and Missionary Outreach program may be surprised to be Alliance, Sara and David were instrumental greeted by a familiar face, Sara King. in starting five Chinese churches and Some will know her as the daughter-inencouraging ministries in law of former residents, existing churches. In addiDr. Louis and Esther King. tion they both taught at the Others will identify her as Alliance Seminary in Hong the mother-in-law to Ron Kong. While husband David and Judy Munson’s taught Bible, English and (Junonia residents) son PE, it was Sara who taught Bill. Still others have Music. Following their work interacted with Sara in David and Sara King. The in Hong Kong, Sara and her role as the Financial King’s lived and worked in David moved to Malaysia, Administrator at The Hong Kong for 20 years as where they worked at the Village Church. Many missionaries for the C&MA. Dalat School for missionary have enjoyed her musical Hear Sara give a talk about children. talents in programs at The China on August 15 at 10:15 a.m. in the Village Church Two King daughters, Village Church. Hospitality Room. Stacy and Lisa, were raised Behind Sara’s familiar during this exciting period face is an amazing story in Sara’s life. Stacy and her husband live that she will be sharing on Wednesday, here in Fort Myers. Lisa and her husband August 15 at 10:15 a.m. in The Village have returned to Penang, Malaysia to teach Church Hospitality Room. at the Dalat International School. In 1993 Ask Sara King and her husband David Sara and David came to Ft. Myers and what some of their interests are and they will began the first Chinese church in respond, “All things Chinese!” They love Southwest Florida. That church has now Chinese food, Chinese culture, Chinese grown into two churches, one meeting in décor but most of all Chinese people. Their Fort Myers and one in Naples. Many of the love for Chinese people dates back almost 40

members of these congregations are recent immigrants from China. Both David and Sara speak fluent Cantonese (the dominant dialect in Hong Kong and South China). Their language skills were invaluable in a November 2006 trip that a number of Shell Point residents made to China with the Kings. Just this past month, Sara and David made a trip to Hong Kong. Sara will be well equipped to share with us about the awesome changes going on in China and the effect China has on the world. Interesting stories of Chinese immigrants living in Florida will also be a part of this interesting presentation.

A Chinese church that David and Sara worked with in Hong Kong.

Shell Point Life | August 2007

Shell Point Celebrates Independence Day B

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O O R D I N A T O R

Shell Point residents and guests gathered on July 4th with friends and neighbors to celebrate our nation’s 231st birthday. This year’s event in the church auditorium began with an ice cream social served by the Crystal Room’s Debbie Dalrymple and her competent staff. After enjoying the delicious and cooling sundaes, Resort Services Manager, Mary Franklin, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and introduced the afternoon’s

performers — the Fort Myers Mastersingers. Under the leadership of Jeff Fox, the singers encouraged the audience to join in the singing of our national anthem. Their concert delighted the crowd with an array of patriotic numbers such as Freedom Land and God Bless America, as well as songs written by other great American artists. One of the highlights of the program was their compilation of the songs of all United States service branches. Veterans

A Relaxing Beach Day This past month residents enjoyed a day at Vanderbilt Beach in the beautiful Delnor-Wiggins State Park. Although the waves sometimes were a bit too large for swimming, everyone enjoyed the sun, cool breezes, and great conversation. A delicious picnic lunch, packed by the resort services staff was which served in the shade just a few steps from the waves, making it another perfect way to relax this summer.

who served in each branch stood and proudly sang along, as others in the audience clapped and cheered. The Mastersingers closed the show with a moving rendition of the quintessential American chorus, Battle Hymn of the Republic. Everyone left with smiles on their faces, a feeling of national pride and gratitude towards those who have fought to keep our country free. It was truly a wonderful way to celebrate our nation’s independence.