Shell Point Life April 2020

ALSO INSIDE: Science Fair Inventors • School Supplies • Art of Retiring April 2020 Vol. 15 Issue 4

RESIDENTS BLEND HISTORY WITH EXERCISE

Children and Grandchildren of Employees Spend a Day at Shell Point

CHANGING Changing LIVES Lives Through THROUGH Storytelling STORYTELLING STORYTELLIN G

He is not here; He has risen!

Focusing on the Positive In this issue, you’ll find a number of uplifting stories about the community, as well as feature stories that will introduce you to the talented residents who call Shell Point home.

12

KidsConnect

On page 12, you’ll find a heartwarming photo essay about KidsConnect, an educational experience that allowed employees’ children to tour Shell Point and go behind the scenes to learn what their parents do each day at work.

Young Scientists

10

In January 2020, five Shell Point residents reviewed the research projects of 165 young scientists, thanks to a brandnew partnership between Shell Point and the Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Science & Engineering Fair. Turn to page 10 for these residents’ perspective on interacting with the youngsters and awarding special prizes to a select few.

Down to a Fine Art

5 On The Cover

Next, meet artist, author, and teacher Debby Topliff (Turban) on page 5. Her colorful visual interpretations of Biblical stories have been used in third-world countries to teach the Gospel story. The Village Church plans to incorporate her illustration of John 10 as a sermon illustration in the near future.

Sid Simon is a true prose pro. Passionate about the ways that storytelling can enrich the lives of others, Sid has dedicated his life to teaching others and making a difference in the world around him. Turn to page 22 to meet this friendly wordsmith.

2

Shell Point Life | April 2020

–Luke 24:6a

Shell Point Life is published monthly for the residents of Shell Point Retirement Community.

Director of Marketing & Communications Lynn Schneider Editor Sarah Nadal Creative Director Rich Cerrina Senior Designer Wendy Iverson Graphic Designer Brianna Dorsey Contributors Dawn Boren, Pat Bubb, Robyn Church, Sue Earnhardt, Claude Emler, Christina Grochowski, Janine Hammond, Craig Handel, Jonathan High, Gabriella Kelly, Erica May, Ginny Miller-Plaza, Cathy Miskell, Dave Nixon, Adrienne Prokop, Don Pullen, Ashley Robbin, Emily Rose, Laura Slack, Jami Smith, Lilli Spolar, Shirl Stringer, Monica Tison, Michelle Tompkins, Susan Uhleman, Verla Wallace, Peggy Zimmerman Do you have story ideas or photos to share?

Contact Editor Sarah Nadal by emailing sarahnadal@shellpoint.org Shell Point Life Available Online You can find the current issue as well as back issues of Shell Point Life magazine at www.shellpoint.org/shellpointlife.

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

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

Pounding Pavement on Sanibel

Adventurous Walking Club Blends Island History with Exercise

B Y J I M P L U M M E R ( PA R K W O O D ) , WA L K I N G C L U B

Walking Club excursions offer two walking routes of varying distances to suit beginners and advanced walkers.

It was a beautiful day for the Shell Point Walking Club trip to Sanibel Island on Saturday, February 8. The morning started a little chilly and windy, with the temperature hovering around 50 degrees, but it quickly warmed up on Sanibel with a bright blue sky. By the time the walk finished, residents had removed their jackets and sweaters, and the thermometer reached 70 degrees. Several commented that this type of winter weather is why they moved to Florida!

As always, there were happy, friendly and adventurous walkers enjoying one of the group’s favorite routes close to home. Residents learned a little local history from the walk leaders – Charlie McDonald (Royal Bonnet) and Jim Plummer (Parkwood) – as they slowly walked by the Bailey Homestead

along Shipley Trail and then down to the site of the original settlements on the Bayshore side of Sanibel.

The next stop was the small, private zoo located at Periwinkle Park and Campground.

They have a collection of both exotic and native birds, including toucans, macaws and swans, plus a few monkeys and ringtail lemurs. All their birds were obtained through animal rescue efforts.

The 5-mile walkers continued going southbound to the Gulf of Mexico for a short walk on the beach. It was a great day, and a fun walk with friends on Sanibel Island, one of America’s premier vacation spots.

Shell Point Life | April 2020

3

4

Shell Point Life | April 2020

Life

Drawing

from

BY VERLA WALLACE

When artist, author and teacher Debby Topliff (Turban) was asked recently how she describes her style of painting, she said, “Grandma Moses meets the Bible.”

Like that famous folk artist of the 20th century, Debby is a self-taught painter who began her work later in life.

Debby’s motivation in painting whole books of the Bible is to create teaching tools to make Scripture come alive.

Debby was born in Cheboygan, Michigan at the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula. Her great grandfather was a second-tier lumber baron, and the extended family built summer cottages on nearby Mullett Lake. At an early age, Debby moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan and found a creative outlet in playing with dolls and inventing elaborate stories—an early inkling of her desire to write fiction.

In the summers, besides spending time at the family cottage, she went to camps in Michigan, Montana and Vermont where she connected with Right: Debby produces many of her works in her Turban studio.

Facing page: One of Debby’s works called Isaiah: The Fifth Gospel, is a compilation of the imagery found throughout the 66 chapters of Isaiah.

nature and, in Vermont, fell in love with acting. “Brown Ledge Camp,” she said, “was run by an actress and had two stages, a cabin full of costumes and a roster of Greenwich Village beatniks as counselors. We put on plays every week.”

At 15, when her father asked if she wanted to go to boarding school in Massachusetts (not many young people from Michigan went to prep school), she Continued on next page Shell Point Life | April 2020

5

Life

Drawing from Continued from page 5

imagined it was going to be like an extension of summer camp. “Instead, I felt isolated from my family and reacted with rebellion,” said Debby. “It was the mid-60s…”

Textbook Time

She returned to Ann Arbor for university and was funneled into a special Unified Science program. “I soon resisted the high academic workload. My father sent me to Colorado Outward Bound where the wilderness experience taught me resilience and self-reliance, but I continued to be confused about the direction of my life,” Debby recounted.

For her junior year, she attended the University of Exeter in Devon, England, hoping to gain perspective on the turbulence that was happening in the United States at the time. Instead, she felt completely lost until a friend from Mullett Lake urged her to visit a Christian study center in Switzerland called L’Abri, run by theologian Francis Schaeffer. “L’Abri means ‘shelter’ in French, and there I found the direction I needed. I always

6

Shell Point Life | April 2020

Debby realized that the Bible is a “roadmap” to help people know God and understand themselves and the world.

believed in God and wanted to do good things in the world,” she said, “but I didn’t know how.”

Debby realized that the Bible is a “roadmap” to help people know God and understand themselves and the world.

Returning to Ann Arbor with new

clarity, Debby completed her studies and enrolled in graduate school to pursue her interest in the Bible. First, she attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts. Then, after marrying her husband, John, she transferred to his school, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, located north of Chicago, where they both completed their degrees. Debby and John were original members of a group that started Sojourners magazine, which is still in publication today.

After graduation, the couple moved with friends to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to form a Christian community—their interpretation of a New Testament church. Debby played guitar and led music, finding fulfillment writing songs based on Scripture and experience.

Their three children were born during this 10-year period and John managed a Christian bookstore.

Busy with children, and as John’s work transitioned into publishing, they moved from Menominee to Ann Arbor, to San Francisco, to New York – before landing back in Michigan.

Never one to shy away from the use of color, Debby embues each artwork with layers of meaning.

Watch the complete video of this piece, Painting Revelation, by visiting Debby’s website at debbytopliff.com.

Down to a Fine Art

With the children becoming independent—and finding herself isolated in Grand Rapids, Michigan—Debby’s friend invited her to a writer’s workshop on Beaver Island.

Not considering herself a writer, much less a painter, but wanting to explore the eccentric island in the middle of Lake Michigan, Debby was surprised to discover a new avenue of expression: writing novels.

She began with a fictionalized account of her own life, She Belongs to Me. Then, to explore questions she had about family, classism and racism, she wrote Trespassing, set in 1947. Hiding, her third novel, is set in a Christian community.

To encourage his wife’s writing, John

wanted Debby to have studio space. The couple moved to the art-resort community of Saugatuck, and it was there that Debby took a first stab at painting.

She began with Revelation, the last book of the Bible and one of the most difficult to understand. “I thought that putting the images on canvas would help me see what was happening in that complex vision,” she explained.

The result was a five-foot by seven-foot painting and an accompanying 45-minute video, which was recently featured in a Shell Point Academy class and also was chosen by the American Library Association as one of the Top 10 Religious Videos of 2007.

After Revelation, Debby spent two years studying and then painting the book of Acts. “I’m a serious student and love theology, so I dig deep into the text using

commentaries and exploring the original Greek,” she said.

She developed a method of sketching each scene in a book and then laying them out on Kraft paper to determine the best way to show the flow of the story. Acts, for example, covers the first 25 years of the church so she depicted it as a journey.

Using acrylic paints she developed the painting, becoming more and more familiar with the stories. When completed, she created a “map” and numbered “key” so others can use the painting as a teaching tool and easily move from scene to scene, engaging the complete story.

After Acts, Debby painted the gospel of Mark on two five-foot by seven-foot canvases and then whole chapters from the Gospel of John on smaller three-foot Continued on page 8 Shell Point Life | April 2020

7

Life

Drawing from

Continued from page 7

by three-foot individual canvases. Senior Pastor Andy Hawkins, of The Village Church, will use this painting of John 10 to illustrate sheep holds during an upcoming sermon. All twelve of her John paintings will be on display in the near future.

Debby calls her work visual translation and is thrilled that some Pioneer Bible Translators are using fabric reproductions of Mark and Acts in their work in Papua New Guinea. “The indigenous people, who are illiterate, can learn the stories from the images and take the banners to neighboring villages to teach the Good News of the Gospel,” she explained.

The Art of Retiring

Shortly before retirement, John and Debby spent a gap year in Saint Andrews, Scotland where John worked via Skype.

During this year, Debby studied at the Institute of Theology, Imagination and the Arts, part of the University of Saint Andrews.

Instead of writing an obscure dissertation, Debby wanted to write a simple book that would teach people about her method of studying the Bible with paper, pen and paint. She called it And the Word Became Color. It is organized to be used either individually or for small group study.

Debby’s parents built a house on Sanibel in the mid-70s. She and her family were frequent visitors and fell in love with the area. “My parents and many of their friends eventually moved to Shell Point, and so this idyllic location was fully planted in my imagination as John and I spent increasing time as snowbirds on Sanibel,” said Debby.

Since moving to Shell Point in 2018,

8

Shell Point Life | April 2020

Debby recently completed a series of 32 paintings depicting crucial episodes in the spiritual journey of her life. She put them together—along with accompanying text and the lyrics from many of her songs—into a full-color book called Rescue: A Visual Memoir.

Debby has developed a method of sketching each scene and then laying them out on Kraft paper to determine the best way to show the flow of the story.

Debby has found more time to study, paint, write and teach. She recently completed a series of 32 paintings depicting crucial episodes in the spiritual journey of her life. She put them together—along with accompanying text and the lyrics from many of her songs—into a fullcolor book called Rescue: A Visual Memoir.

John and Debby are active at Saint Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church on Sanibel. This past Advent, Debby taught a four-week series from her large painting of the Life of Abraham, which she completed in Scotland.

Today, she’s at work studying and painting the complicated imagery of Isaiah, and appreciating opportunities to teach while retreating to the quiet beauty of her Shell Point surroundings. n Left: Debby depicted various Biblical scenes in her rendition of Life of Abraham

Acts of the Apostles

Shell Point Life | April 2020

9

CELEBRATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF INVENTORS

Young Scientists Impress Resident Judges at Regional Fair While science in the United States Frank Gilbert (Parkwood), Esther is getting far more competition VanWagnen (Junonia) and Stu Baum (The from the international community, a new Estuary), judged more than 500 projects partnership recently formed between and awarded prizes to 16 students from first Shell Point and the Thomas Alva Edison grade through high school.

Kiwanis Science & Engineering Fair in support of the sciences found within the Southwest Florida Community.

Through this first-ever partnership, and with financial support from the Legacy Foundation, Shell Point residents were able to play a pivotal role in the Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Science & Engineering Fair held in January 2020.

“When we learned about the opportunity for Shell Point to join forces with the regional science and engineering fair, it seemed like a natural fit. This competition challenges thousands of students from across Southwest Florida to go beyond their classroom Eve Aron and studies and pursue independent Dick Brown project-based research, and that took notes as aligns with Shell Point’s desire to they reviewed invest in supporting both scientific student work. advancements and the next generation,” explained John Thorp, The group started on a Friday afterwho serves as the director of Connections, Shell Point’s memory care program. John noon and worked into the evening to comaccompanied the resident judges to the fair. plete preliminary judging – and then woke A team of five knowledgeable Shell early on Saturday to meet with the diverse Point residents, comprised of Eve Aron semifinalists and make final determinations (Parkwood), Dick Brown (Parkwood), about their projects.

10

Shell Point Life | April 2020

The projects ranged from edible ice cream sticks to The Role of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase and Galectin-3 in Inflammation and Cancer in the Subventricular Zone of the Brain. “Our team benefitted from talking with many of the students to get a more complete understanding of their projects. It was inspirational to see so many girls interested in scientific research,” said Esther VanWagnen.

“It amazed me how advanced many of the middle school and high school students were in their studies,” noted Eve Aron. “I learned how computer programs are available to do much of what my generation had to do tediously by hand. I also met many future scientists and medical doctors.”

While he did not judge the projects directly, John also learned a valuable lesson. “When driving five New Yorkers, never prepare to stop when approaching a yellow light. I am still having flashbacks from the drive,” laughed John. “All joking aside, while judging these projects was a first-time experience for each resident, the team agreed that this was a success – and fun!”

Organizers from the Lee County School District were delighted with the resident judges’ involvement and look forward to Shell Point’s continued partnership in the future.

Approximately 165 students participated in the Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Science & Engineering Fair, which was held at FGCU.

CAREFREE CONNECTIONS

Bribery? Esther VanWagnen sampled an idea for an edible ice cream stick designed by this pint-sized powerhouse.

Bright Minds Science Fair Presentation 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 30 King's Crown Community Room All Shell Point residents are invited to a special Carefree Connections program on Thursday, April 30, that will highlight the 16 winners of the Shell Point Residents’ Choice Award. The students will display their projects at the King’s Crown Community Room on The Island from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will be on hand to answer questions you may have.

Please watch SPTV Channel 11 for any scheduling changes.

Frank Gilbert talked to the exhibitor of the Brain Storm 3000, a concept to reduce heat-related brain injuries.

Shell Point Life | April 2020

11

Employee Chaplain Jim Clark coordinated the KidsConnect program and kicked off the first part of the day with a special activity. Ice-breaker games helped each table group get to know one another.

12

Shell Point Life | April 2020

Show & Tell Shell Point Retirement Community recently hosted 31 children and grandchildren of the community’s employees for a day of interactive activities, tours and department visits.

B Y E M I LY R O S E , P U B L I C R E L A T I O N S C O O R D I N A T O R

KIDS CONNECT More than 30 children, ages 7 to 11, recently attended Shell Point’s KidsConnect program, a daylong event created for children and grandchildren of the community’s employees. Initiated by Shell Point’s Human Resources department, this free day of fun was designed to provide the kids with a behind-the-scenes look at the job roles their family members perform each day.

“The lives of employees are very important to us and KidsConnect was an opportunity to teach the kids about the

amazing care and service that their parents provide our residents every day,” said Karen Anderson, vice president of human resources and corporate compliance officer.

The day’s agenda began with Shell Point’s Director of Employee Ministry Jim Clark, who offered a kid-friendly overview of Shell Point and explained the different types of job roles it takes to run this large-scale operation. Following the brief introduction, the kids divided into groups for a day of interactive activities, tours and department visits – allowing them to be immersed in all the areas that a career in senior care has to offer.

Memorable moments from the day included boat rides on the community’s pontoon boat, the Suzy Q, where the children were able to enjoy views of the

Caloosahatchee and see manatees and dolphins. Another popular activity was visiting Shell Point’s television studio and marketing department for a firsthand look at the components of producing a daily television show and monthly magazine.

The day concluded with a special stop at Shell Point’s assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.

“By far, the most rewarding part of the day was watching the interaction between the children and the residents,” said Karen. “Laughter and love between them along with experienced advice to the children from the residents was heartwarming.

What a wonderful way to share our mission with the younger generation!”

Enjoy more photos from KidsConnect on the following pages.

CHECK OUT THE SOCIAL SCENE FOR MORE GREAT PHOTOS! www.shellpoint.net/socialscene Shell Point Life | April 2020

13

Shell Point’s television studio was bustling with excitement for one group of enthusiastic kids ready to learn all of the ins and outs of making the community’s daily television show, Shell Point Today.

14

Shell Point Life | April 2020

Show & Tell

The drone always steals the show!

A visit to King's Crown gave kids a chance to play Noodle Madness with residents.

Shell Point Life | April 2020

15

For their photo challenge, each kid was treated to a personal photo shoot and learned how graphic designers use Photoshop to make creative images like those used in advertising and marketing.

16

Shell Point Life | April 2020

Show & Tell

The kids learned about boating and water safety on a Suzy Q cruise.

A group of kids from Shell Point’s KidsConnect program played chef for the day as they helped Shell Point’s culinary team prepare a variety of desserts for lunch.

Shell Point Life | April 2020

17

The kids, between second and sixth grade, were divided into groups by age and followed staff liaisons throughout the day.

18

Shell Point Life | April 2020

Show & Tell

KidsConnect lunch time was held in The Crystal. Everyone dined together and shared their experiences.

Shell Point Life | March 2020

19

Playing It

Cool

The relationship between Shell Point and the Iona-McGregor Fire Department is stronger than ever after a surprise internal safety drill was conducted at the Larsen Pavilion skilled nursing center.

Volunteers led by Fire & Safety Officer Stephen Hanson and Education Coordinator Dawn Gahabka simulated the disappearance of a Shell Point memory care resident from the Pavilion’s third floor.

“The exercise tested the nursing staff, in that they were responsible for noticing the disappearance, reacting in a timely fashion and following the established procedures for this type of situation,” said Stephen. “It also offered an opportunity for the Iona-McGregor Fire Department to measure its response time to a crisis.”

The exercise went off without a hitch, thanks to the professionalism of the fire-rescue crew, as well as the Shell Point healthcare team’s great observational skills and execution of their emergency plan.

20

Shell Point Life | April 2020

Search crews worked together by air, water, and on foot to run through a practice drill. Afterwards the team met and shared observations about what was learned.

Back to School Supplies Help Kids You Can Participate in the Fund Drive Monday, April 20 – Sunday, May 3 B Y C O - C H A I R S C A R O L A N D DAV I D K R A F F T ( T H E E S T U A R Y )

The annual School Supply Fund Drive, approved by the Shell Point Residents’ Council, will begin on Monday, April 20 and continue through Sunday, May 3. The donated funds will be used to purchase school supplies to be distributed in July to employees who have school-aged children and/or grandchildren in grades K-5.

Items are chosen based on the supply lists from the Lee County School System, and purchased through a partnership between the Shell Point Purchasing Department and Marco Office Supply.

In July, a team of Shell Point volunteers will gather for two days to

unpack, sort and re-pack 30 items into every bag. The bags, kindly donated

by Marco Office Supply, will then be distributed to grateful employees on Friday, July 10. Last year, volunteers were able to fill 725 bags after raising more than $14,000.

We hope you will contribute to this worthwhile project. It is another way to thank our employees for all that they do for us throughout the year. Use campus mail and address an envelope containing your donation to Shell Point Accounting. Please make checks payable to Shell Point Retirement Community, and include “School Supplies” on the memo line.

Shell Point Life | April 2020

21

THE

WRITE STUFF WRITER, POET AND FORMER PROFESSOR, SID SIMON IS THE ULTIMATE STORY TELLER

BY VERLA WALLACE Dr. Sid Simon (Nautilus) loves to teach and loves to tell a good story – and he’s been doing it for more than seven decades.

Sid caught the teaching bug at Pennsylvania State University where he was fortunate to study under several professors who loved their profession. “They asked great questions that made their students think – even those students who weren’t thrilled about school,” said Sid. His first teaching job was in 1950 at a high school in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

“I was teaching English to three classes of kids who weren’t going to college, and two classes of vocational boys. Then I was forced to squeeze them into a single letter of the alphabet every three months for their report card,” Sid said. “It made no sense to 22

Shell Point Life | April 2020

me. I fought against letter grades and marks from then on; I stayed two years.”

Sid deemed his second teaching job at a high school in Long Island, New York, to be a “step up, and financially easier. There, I taught college entrance students and we wrote story after story based on the books we read together,” recalled Sid. “One lucky day, teachers had a day off to go observe others teach, and a few of us took a field trip to The New Lincoln School in New York City. It was a private, experimental co-ed school based on John Dewey’s ideas, which were considered highly progressive for that day. The part I loved best was that New Lincoln did not give students grades.”

Sid immediately applied for a teaching job and got it. Once settled into his new post, he spent summers at New York

University taking courses from educator Louis Raths, who was becoming famous in education circles for his theory of values clarification. It addressed issues of how to motivate people who were failing in school and in life. Sid felt the theory gave him the tools to make a difference in the classroom.

Sid soon became Raths’ protégé, sharing the power of the values clarification theory. “We would isolate problem kids who were just lazy, ornery or badly confused. Those were the ones we wanted to work with,” explained Sid. “We gave them a series of small exercises. One was to think about what you want, ask yourself what you might have to do to get it and then think about what gets in the way of getting it.’”

Continued on next page

Shell Point Life | April 2020

23

THE WRITE STUFF Continued from page 23 At that point, Raths wanted the students to make three considerations which, they involved choosing, prizing and acting.

In other words, they were to choose from the various alternatives they wanted. They were to ask themselves, “How much do I prize this?” Finally, they had to act on what they chose – not just once, but repeatedly.

“I would ask students, ‘What did you do the last three Saturdays?’ They would often say they got drunk. We would talk about better alternatives, like serving in a homeless shelter, trying folk dancing or taking a date to the local college observatory to look through a telescope at the night sky,” said Sid. “One student asked me, ‘What do you do on a Saturday, Dr. Simon?’ I told them about one Saturday in autumn when some friends came and we planted daffodils in a state park. We went back together six months later to see them in bloom.”

The goal was to teach students how to make better choices, which increased their confidence and self-respect and set them

books, Henry the Uncatchable Mouse and The Armadillo Who Had No Shell. “I’m currently working on another children’s book with my granddaughter, Sophia,” Sid said proudly. “It’s about phone dialogues between a grandpa and his granddaughter.

It will have lots of stories.”

SHOW AND TELL

As Sid reflects on his career, he’s especially proud of his appearances on The Phil Donahue Show. “The Phil Donahue Show was memorable because I appeared with my son John. A producer had heard about our father-son workshops, which we hosted around the country, and asked us to appear and talk about them,” recalled Sid. True to his teacher and storyteller roots – and to demonstrate how he helped people develop their own action plans for success – Sid asked Phil Donahue to draw a stick figure of his father that had four hands. “I asked him to put something in his father’s hands that would have been representative of his father. Phil played along, and said his

“Students would come back to see me years later, …to let me know they now lived a life they respected. That’s what it’s all about.”

—SID SIMON on a path to success in school and in life.

It worked! Sid and his mentor went on to write a book about values clarification that eventually sold 600,000 copies. “It’s still in print,” Sid said, “and has been translated into four or five languages.”

He considers a greater measure of his success to be the dozens of students who went on to become teachers themselves, including all four of his own children. Over the years, many have written glowing letters or come back to see him to tell Sid how deeply his teaching changed their lives.

Sid has written or co-authored 16 books on a range of topics that include Values Clarification and Forgiveness to Getting Unstuck: Breaking Through Your Barriers to Change. The latter is the book which landed him a spot on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

He has also written two children’s 24

Shell Point Life | April 2020

dad would have had a cigarette in one hand and a shot of liquor in the other hand. “In class, my students did the same exercise in a trio while talking about themselves and what their picture taught them. Those students who admitted they drank too much, for example, often decided they would like something more in their hand on Saturday night other than liquor,” Sid explained.

“This opened the door for follow-up discussions about prizing other life choices, and acting on them over and over, thus reorganizing their values.”

Ultimately, the exercise was aimed at taking responsibility for their actions. “If I had a student who said he hated himself, I would give him an assignment to write down five things he respected about himself. The next week he had to write five more things until, over several weeks, he wrote 50 things he respected about himself.

Students would come back to see me years later,” Sid said, “to let me know they now lived a life they respected. That’s what it’s all about.”

Beyond the sample lesson, Sid’s son also performed a sing-along song that he wrote about his dad. “It was the first time Phil Donahue ever had a song sung in his program. There was not a dry eye in any of the offstage light and sound staff,” said Sid.

ALWAYS THE STORYTELLER

Sid has continued to use his teaching and storytelling skills in workshops or during presentations around the country.

Most recently, he presented at two venues on Sanibel: the Sanibel Community House and the Sanibel Library. “I talk about everything from legacy, child-rearing, grandparenting, what teachers face and more. I make them laugh and make them cry. It’s great fun.”

Since moving to Shell Point, Sid has kept busy; he especially likes going to concerts and theatre events with his fellow residents. He also talks to his daughter every day and shares a weekly meal with one of his sons and his family who live in town. Sid also spends six months a year at his home in Hadley, Massachusetts, where he remains active telling stories, riding his bicycle and being in a local writers’ group where he usually brings first drafts of his new stories.

“I’m 92, but I haven’t slowed down. I exercise. I wear the same pant size I wore in 1950. I cook my own meals and watch what I put in my mouth. And I try to show gratitude to those who serve me. I make eye contact with the checkout person at the grocery store and let them know they’re important. I do the same thing with anyone who helps me—the barber, the massage therapist or anyone else,” said Sid. “I love taking pictures of people I meet, and people who have helped me in any way. Then, I send them a copy of their picture with a thank-you note. I keep a copy for myself in a Shell Point photo album to remind me of what a fortunate man I am,” he added.

After all, wherever Sid goes, a story will soon follow.

A Page-Turning Trip

Assisted Living Residents Bring Storytime to Summit School

BY M C K E N Z I E M I L L I S , K I N G ’ S C R OW N ASS I ST E D L I V I N G D I R E C TO R

Every year, the National Education Association raises awareness about the importance, value and fun of reading during National Read Across America Day, observed on Monday, March 2.

As part of the Shell Point Assisted Living Gives Back program, residents traveled to Summit Christian School in Fort Myers to take part in this national awareness effort. Residents volunteered their time and talents by serving as guest readers at Summit Christian School.

“We were so excited to be able to partner with a local school in hope of motivating children to read more and we are happy to give back to our community in a meaningful way,” said King’s Crown resident Nan Sprague.

One major highlight of the trip came from King’s Crown resident Marlene Skidmore, who is the author of Wesley’s SwooFoo and In Trouble Again. Marlene was delighted to have the opportunity to read her books with the children.

“When people take the time out of their busy schedules to come into our classrooms to read to the children, they begin to understand how important reading is,” said Summit Christian School teacher Lincoln Rus.” In all, the outing was a great success. Shell Point residents concluded their visit by donating books that can be enjoyed by the students during the rest of the school year.

Marlene Skidmore of King's Crown was delighted to read two books she authored herself to the young children.

Nan Sprague-Holtje of King's Crown.

Shell Point assisted living residents enjoyed reading books to children at Summit Christian School.

Shell Point Life | April 2020

25

TRIB NOTES

What’s New with Tribby Arts Center

Do you have a musical instrument that you long to play but lack a good place to do so? Let’s face it: No matter how skilled a musician you may be, most neighbors are not anxious to hear a Sousa march played 10 times in one hour!

Well, musicians of Shell Point, take heart; help is near! Tribby Arts Center will offer Shell Point’s first spaces specifically designed for and dedicated to the practice of music.

You’ll find these spaces on the second level of The Trib. There are three rooms for individual practice, and one large room where ensembles of up to 25 musicians can gather to play or sing together.

All spaces have been specially designed with soundproofing to guarantee the best practice experience possible, for both the musician and those in the rooms next to him or her.

Spaces devoted to performing arts in Tribby Arts Center also include The Dance and Theatre Arts Studio, on the first floor.

All sorts of dance classes will take place 26

Shell Point Life | April 2020

here. We also hope to have a Yamaha Disklavier piano for this room, which will provide live piano music, in all genres, on demand, any time of the day, for your dancing or listening pleasure.

With just seven months left until opening, we still need to raise the money for that piano and the nine-foot Steinway piano for the stage of Connie Brown Hall.

Providing the funding for such a significant piano is a meaningful way to honor a loved one who enjoys or enjoyed music.

Can you help? Please contact the Legacy Foundation at (239) 466-8484, if so.

BY MARGE LEE (LUCINA)

Moving from the performing arts to the visual arts, we extend a heartfelt thanks to the 118 resident artists who took a chance and submitted 460 artworks for the jury process for SPARKLE!, the series of exhibitions that will open Tribby Arts Center beginning in November 2020.

On Wednesday, April 15, we will announce the works that the jury, from the Bower School of Music & the Arts of Florida Gulf Coast University, has selected for the series. Regardless of whether they have an artwork selected, all residents who entered deserve a sparkling round of applause.

The Power of the Word B Y R E V. A N D R E W H A W K I N S , P H . D. , S E N I O R PA S TO R , THE VILLAGE CHURCH

We were taught very early that “sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you.”

It wasn’t long before we learned that was false. Words can hurt. Words have power. The book of James says that “no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:8-10, ESV).

James recognizes that words have power – for good or ill. Our words can bless or our words can curse. What we say (or write!) matters.

Why do our words matter? Probably because they are an expression of our hearts – our inner thoughts, dispositions and attitudes. Jesus said, “...Out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45, ESV). When we misspeak and say, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it,” we probably really did mean it at some level!

God speaks. That is the critical conviction of Christians through the ages. It is Scripture’s testimony about itself. And it is thoroughly rational. Why would humans be created as linguistic, literal, communicative

Why do our words matter? They are an expression of our hearts – our inner thoughts. beings and their Creator be silent?

Our words have power – for good or ill.

And if our words have power, how much more do God’s words have? He said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God’s word comes with power. Jesus cries out, “Lazarus, come forth!” and Lazarus is raised.

God raised Jesus from the dead, presumably

by His word. God says through the prophet, “... so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

This month we celebrate the word of

God. Certainly Easter, or Resurrection Day, is a celebration of God’s word. The resurrection of Christ was prophesied in the Old Testament (Psalm 16:10), predicted by Jesus (Luke 24:7) and affirmed by Christ to others following his resurrection (Luke 24:45-46).

Each week, I seek to proclaim and explain the word of God. That’s my job!

It’s a great privilege and responsibility. But there’s nothing like the simple proclamation of scripture on its own, without commentary. It’s powerful; it’s compelling.

Whether it is in church or on Shell Point Television, join us as we discover the power of the word of God.

THANK YOU from

the Shell Point Library

B Y LY N N E C A S T E L L A N O

Library patron Gerry DiPizza (Rosemont) enjoys reading the Wall Street Journal.

The residents of Shell Point have clearly expressed their appreciation of the materials and services offered by the Shell Point Library, proven through their generosity in the recent Library Fund Drive by donating almost $30,000.

The volunteer staff of more than 60 people who work in the library are most appreciative of this generosity. It allows the staff to maintain and improve the library’s resources of books, DVDs, CDs, audio-books and newspapers at the main library on The Island, the Genealogy Library at the Woodlands Commons, and the library and reading centers at King’s Crown, The Arbor and The Springs assisted living residences.

Thank you to all donors for your generosity in giving and supporting these libraries.

Shell Point Life | April 2020

27

Q&A

FineMark National Bank & Trust Answers Your Personal Banking Questions

B Y A N N A S M I T H , M A N A G I N G E X E C U T I V E O F F I N E M A R K N AT I O N A L B A N K & T R U S T

QUESTION: How can I detect telemarketing fraud and get telemarketers to stop calling me?

ANSWER: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) defines telemarketing as a plan, program or campaign to sell goods or services over the phone. Most telemarketing companies abide by guidelines set forth by the FTC and Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

However, there are telemarketers who are out to defraud consumers by using unfair and/or deceptive trade practices.

You can protect yourself against telemarketing fraud by following these guidelines: 1. Ask questions about the company or the products or services offered.

Legitimate companies should not hesitate to give you the requested information.

2. Understand the offer completely.

If an offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

3. Beware of free prizes – particularly if you have to pay a fee, prepay taxes or respond immediately.

4. Don’t be afraid to say no. Ask the company to call back if you want time to think about it.

5. Don’t give out personal information (e.g., account numbers, Social Security number, etc.).

6. If you do buy something over the phone, never send cash. Instead, send a check or a money order.

If you have been contacted by a telemarketer whom you suspect may be engaging in fraudulent activity, call the National Fraud Information Center at 1-800-876-7060 for information about how to report fraud and which regulatory agency to contact.

The "do not call” registry If want to put a stop to all telemarketing calls, you can place your phone numbers on a national “do not call” registry.

Once you register your phone number, most, but not all telemarketing calls should stop within 31 days. You may continue to receive calls from political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors, as well as calls from companies with which you have a business relationship. You can register for free online at www.donotcall.gov

or call 1-888-382-1222. To verify a number on the Do Not Call Registry, log onto www.ftc.gov/donotcall and click “Verify a Registration.”

If you have questions about this article or any financial matter, please feel free to stop by the FineMark National Bank & Trust office on The Island, or call (239) 461-5999.

Made-to-Order at The Crystal

Healthy Bowls Made Easy Healthy dining at The Crystal has never been easier with new LifeQuest menus.

Become your own chef as you choose from a variety of customizable options to create your own LifeQuest Bowl for $9.

Customize your vegetables, grain, protein and flavorful sauce. You can either visit the LifeQuest station and tell the chef what you want, or fill out a ticket at your table and hand it to your server. The 28

Shell Point Life | April 2020

chef will prepare your custom LifeQuest Bowl and deliver it right to the table. Choose from fresh cut cabbage, green and red bell pepper, kale, spinach, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, chickpeas, onion, tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, shrimp, chicken, farro, and quinoa. If you wish, add a sauce such as teriyaki, mango, or peanut.

For a change of pace, be sure to give a LifeQuest Bowl a try!

Caregiver College Educational Series on Dementia

BY M I C H E L L E TO M P K I N S , W E L L N E SS M A N AG E R

There’s no doubt that Shell Point residents make their health and wellness a priority. Often, the first thing that comes to mind when hearing the word wellness is fitness or exercise.

However, LifeQuest embodies a combination of dimensions that cohesively promote a balanced wellness lifestyle: physical, educational, spiritual, social, environmental and emotional.

Taking care of your health through physical activity and eating healthfully are all important; however, keeping your brain sharp and continuing to be educationally engaged through various activities such as attending Academy classes to expand your knowledge are equally important.

Brain and memory health topics have been on the forefront recently at Shell Point and residents are invited to attend a three-part series which begins this month focusing on dementia education. Amy Schnek, BSN, MSEd, Program Manager of the Southwest Florida Alzheimer’s Association, will lead three presentations that are part of the Association’s Caregiver College.

Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s The first part of the series will take place on Wednesday, April 22, at 10:30 a.m. and will provide education about the Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s. You will learn ten common warning signs and what to look for in yourself and others, typical age-related changes, how to approach someone about memory concerns and the importance of early detection.

Healthy Living for the Brain and Body

Amy Schnek, BSN, MSEd, Program Manager of the Southwest Florida Alzheimer’s Association will lead the three-part educational series.

The series will continue with Healthy Living for the Brain and Body on Tuesday, May 5, at 1 p.m. This presentation will highlight tips from the latest research as to how lifestyle choices may help you keep your brain and body healthy through diet, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement. Those attending will receive hands-on tools to help incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging.

Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia The third and final piece of the series Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia will take place on Tuesday, May 19, at 1 p.m. Residents attending will learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s disease, the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, its stages and risk factors, as well as current research data.

All three Caregiver College presentations will be held in the Grand Cypress Room and will include time for questions and answers. It is not required to attend all three presentations although it is highly beneficial. Sign up for the ones that interest you the most. At the conclusion of the series, you will have information and resources to connect with a local Alzheimer’s Association representative for further support and education.

Stay well!

Shell Point Life | April 2020

29

Out & About

Shell Point is a bustling community, and it’s common to see relatives, friends and firsttime visitors strolling around campus, dining in Shell Point’s six restaurants, and attending concerts and educational programs.

Hands-On Education Third-grade students, from Evangelical Christian School (ECS) in Fort Myers, visited Shell Point in early spring for an educational field trip to supplement their lessons. The children explored the Butterfly Habitat, admired potted plants at the Orchid House and took a ride on the Gulf Coast Model Railroad train display before heading back to class.

Cute As A Button At Community Thrift Store, the boutique displays are dressed to impress. Whether it’s a curated collection of artwork or stylish outfits, resident volunteers work hard to make the storefront look welcoming and inviting for bargain hunters.

Pictured here is a meticulously decorated mannequin, the handiwork of volunteer Cathy Ihle (Lakewood).

30

Shell Point Life | April 2020

How Does Your Garden Grow?

While “April showers” are only just now beginning, the resident gardens on The Island have already been bursting with blooms for some time! Here’s a spring snapshot from Goz Gosselin’s (Cameo) garden, which is just one of the many beautifully tended plots that border the mangrove-lined canals of The Island.

A Primer on Lifecare When moving to Shell Point, residents have the comfort of knowing that their needs will be taken care of now and in the years to come. However, it can be easy to forget some of the minute details regarding each type of lifecare contract and what is covered. That’s why key staff from multiple Shell Point departments hosted a Lifecare Refresher Course in February for residents who expressed interest in an update about what services and features are included in the Shell Point contract. The panel presentation also offered a Q-and-A session.

Shell Point Life | April 2020

31

Natu re’s Noteb ook

BY ST E V E M O RTO N , D I R E C TO R O F L A N D S C A P E O P E R AT I O N S

American Beauty

We gathered around the headstone with both my mother and grandmother quietly weeping. I could see their tears falling as Easter lilies tumbled onto the grave. A seven-year-old boy knows enough to remain silent around crying.

As a distraction, I read the writing on the stone:

Maggie Olive Shell Nov. 10, 1890 Sept. 18, 1955 Calculations revealed she died well before I had been born. Later as we walked to the car, I asked, “Who was that lady named Mrs. Shell?”

My grandmother exclaimed rather loudly, “She was a Devenport.”

My mother softly added, “She was your great-grandmother and I loved her.”

After Easter service and the potluck meal at Maggie Olive’s Missouri farmhouse, my mother turned me loose to play.

I made a beeline to Crooked Creek, for which the country township was named.

This tiny river of dreams ran clear with gravel shoals that sparkled in the sunlight like a ripple in still water. Scrambling down the bank to reach the liquid paradise, I grasped onto a strange plant with bright purple berries tightly affixed to the stem. I was nearly tempted to eat the berries, because they looked like those candy dots that came on rolls of receipt paper from city stores of that era.

The waves of a lifetime can sometimes reverberate back to a starting point. After my mother’s funeral, I placed the Bible of Devenport genealogy into her steamer trunk of memories, 32

Shell Point Life | April 2020

packed away along with the mementos of relatives I didn’t know.

Twenty-five years later, my great-uncle appeared at my door with gifts. They were oval, gilt-framed wedding pictures of his parents. There, staring me in the face, was Margaret Olivia Devenport. Hers were the eyes of my mother looking directly back at me. Shivering, I traced the cut of Maggie’s jaw with my finger as if it were my own flesh. She was a Scots-Irish beauty and for me, Maggie Olive returned to life at that very moment.

Finally, I had questions. Who was she?

Where did they come from? When did the Devenports immigrate? With contrasting emotions, I opened the old trunk. While not exactly Pandora’s, it was a box of rain against a sapphire sky among a torrent of memories.

I opened the three-ring binder that contained the answers, starting in the back, starting at the beginning. I was amused to find Lancelot Devenport living in 1596 Scotland. It is unclear when Lancelot’s son Oliver immigrated to the colonies, but by 1680 George Devenport was born on the banks of the James River

in Prince George County, Virginia. As a boy, George gathered the small purple fruits of a plant that the colonists named French mulberry, for use in sweet pies.

I followed the generations of Devenport on their familial Manifest Destiny to the West. Around 1770, William Ray Devenport moved the family to central North Carolina. Next, John Devenport summited the Cumberland Gap around 1790 and settled briefly near Chattanooga on the Tennessee River. The children of the family collected the small purple berries of the Sourbush plant found along the river to make jelly.

Finally, the Devenports settled in the farmlands of Bollinger County, Missouri, along Crooked Creek shortly after the Louisiana Purchase. Accompanying my family each step of the journey was callicarpa americana. Today, we call the native plant that ranges throughout the Southeastern United States, the American beautyberry. Those remarkable purple berries are now sought by wildlife rather than humans, but are no less spectacular than they were 350 years ago.

At Shell Point, the American beautyberry is found in an environment that would seem natural to my ancestors.

To discover the shrub, the only gaps we need to cross are those between the sections of a concrete sidewalk.

In a journey significantly less arduous than the Devenport’s, simply walk out the back door of the Woodlands Commons. Stroll across the wooden bridge to the small, covered shelter on the south side of the lake and look between the shelter and the sidewalk for a true American beauty.