The Cresswind Waterfall May/June 2023

HOA BOARD UPDATE FROM LINDA FERGUSON

It’s hard to believe, but in August we will celebrate our third anniversary of being a self-sufficient HOA. In 2020 we divested ourselves from our developer, Kolter, and ventured into the world of being totally reliant on ourselves as a community. Let’s review a bit (and celebrate) what we have been able to achieve since August 2020.

New residents continue to join our community. Since divesting, 162 homes have been purchased. This is a strong indicator that people are wanting to move here, and that Cresswind at Lake Lanier continues to be an active adult community of choice. We’ve also had record numbers of External Improvement Requests (EIR) submitted.

In total, over 200 EIRs have been received. This indicates that our residents want to keep our community looking great, but also pride in ownership of their homes. So basically, people want to move to Cresswind at Lake Lanier, and our residents continue to invest in their homes.

Many thanks to all involved in the EIR process including Darlene Carr of FSR who receives and processes all requests and to the volunteers on the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) and Landscape Committee (LAN) for continuing to ensure all improvements are within the guidelines established in our Rules and Regulations. Thanks for continuing to make our community look great.

Our community is now 15+ years old, and as a result we have a long “TO DO” list of repairs, improvements, and replacements. A quick refresher on some of the major responsibilities of the HOA. These include but aren’t limited to maintenance and resurfacing of all roads, repair and maintenance of the sidewalks and curbs, overall maintenance of our clubhouse including both pools, the irrigation system on common property including all the associated pumps, the tennis and pickleball courts, all retaining walls on common property, maintenance of all the retention ponds, and the perimeter fences.

This list could go on forever. Since August of 2020, we have undertaken numerous improvements and repairs, including repaving portions of Cresswind Parkway, refurbishment of our beautiful clubhouse, repairs to the

waterfall, repairs to the outdoor fireplace behind the clubhouse, and upgrades to both the Brown’s Bridge and Montgomery entrances.

Looking at our current “TO DO” list, some major efforts are scheduled for 2023. Our big budget items include significant repairs to both the indoor and outdoor pool areas. Unfortunately, they are showing their age. These repairs will help ensure the use of the pools for the future. Other improvements include evaluating trees in all common areas and repainting the exterior of the clubhouse. Going forward into 2024 and beyond, additional improvements include evaluating resurfacing the tennis and pickleball courts and covering and installing lighting in the mailbox areas in Section 3.

No matter how well we plan, we always have emergencies that crop up. Luckily our budget process includes setting aside a certain amount in a contingency fund. Since 2020 we’ve had to dip into that fund a few times to cover costs related to storm damage or make emergency repairs to equipment.

Most of our larger improvements and repairs have been, and will continue to be, funded by our Reserve Fund. Although some of these projects have a hefty price tag, our Reserve Fund continues to be well within the suggested guidelines. A brief status update on our Reserves. When Kolter left our balance was $983,000. Since that time, we have added $1,158,000 in contributions and adjustments, and have made $723,000 in capital improvements. As of February 2023, our Reserve Fund balance is $1,418,000.

Our positive financial position is due in large part to our outstanding Treasurer Sid Jacobs and the work of the Finance Committee and the HOA Board. Our HOA has received clear audit opinions and audit reviews since 2015, with the latest review results just being received earlier this year.

But our financial position is also due to our outstanding residents who continue to support our community by paying their HOA dues in a timely manner and volunteering to lend a helping hand when and where needed. Cresswind at Lake Lanier continues to thrive due to our outstanding residents and our management staff!

FROM THE DESK OF KITTI KLEINEDLER

Cresswind AT Lake Lanier. Yes, we are at the lake. There are some places in the community where one can get a view of the lake. But anyone can witness the seasons unfold from the marina. If you follow the little road on the left of the clubhouse, it will take you to a small parking lot and a beautiful view of the cove where our marina is located.

The Cresswind marina is an amenity. It boasts 70 boat slips and a kayak dock. Sixty of those slips are found on docks B, C, and D and are for the exclusive use of owners who have secured boat slip rights from the HOA. All 60 slips are currently assigned to homeowners, and there are 20 people on the waitlist to obtain a boat slip when it becomes available. If you have an interest in securing a boat slip, please contact the community manager for more information.

However, Dock A and the uncovered part of Dock D are open to all Cresswind residents. These areas are available for sunning, fishing, kayaking, and day use of a boat slip. Residents who keep a boat at another marina can reserve a slip for a day from dawn until dusk just by registering the boat at the front desk. Some residents bring their kayaks down and launch them from the kayak dock. We do have a large kayak club whose many members store their colorful kayaks at the marina too.

Finally, our marina has a pavilion with a grill. It is a perfect place for a picnic or a place to escape to enjoy the beauty that nature has to offer. Restrooms are also located at the marina for one’s convenience. Our beautiful Cresswind marina is another bonus for living in this community. All are welcome to enjoy it year around, just keep in mind there is NO SWIMMING allowed.

LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE

Here we are in the middle of spring, and Mother Nature has finally atoned for the damaging winter with a kaleidoscope of flowering trees, shrubs, and plants. You can extend the colorful array of blooms and foliage through summer and into fall by planting bulbs, perennials, shrubs, and trees now. Planting now will enable the plants to establish strong root systems before the summer heat soars into the nineties. Why not grab a glass of iced tea or a mint julep and do some planning?

If you need some inspiration, the Gainesville area is replete with resources. First, drive around Cresswind to find landscaping that appeals to you. Notice the plant varieties, color combinations, texture, and overall design. It’s OK to borrow ideas. Our own Community Garden Club is a great source of information, and the members gladly share their expertise. Check out their webpage on the Cresswind website for upcoming events and tours.

The Hall County Master Gardeners are another great resource. Twice a year, in the spring and in the fall, they hold Garden Expos with workshops, seminars, demos, and lots of vendors of everything from plants to garden art. They also host a biennial Garden Walk, a self-guided tour of public and private gardens. The next one will be in 2024. Hallcountygardeners.com or 770-535-8293.

The most spectacular local garden exhibits are in the thirty-plus acre Gainesville campus of the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The plants are largely native to Georgia and could thrive in your landscape. The gardens also feature special exhibits, indoor and outdoor event sites, and a gift shop. Atlantabg.org or 404-888-4760.

Once you have done your research and worked up a plan, perhaps with the help of a professional, it is time to involve the Landscape Committee. Do you know when you must file an application for plan approval and when you don’t?

An External Improvement Request (EIR-1) form is required in these instances:

(a) Removal of trees and/or shrubs currently existing on the property.

(b) Planting of trees and/or shrubs on the property that significantly alter the current landscape design. This includes placement of new beds and/or extension of existing beds.

Note: Installation of structures, including water features, underground drainage, boulders, or raised landscape beds (considered hardscape) requires approval of the Architecture Review Committee.

An EIR-1 is not required in these instances:

(a) Planting or replacement of either annual and/or perennial plants or shrubs that do not noticeably alter the current landscape design.

(b) Replacement of dead shrubs when they are replaced with identical or similar shrubs.

(c) Replacing previously approved pine bark nuggets or cypress mulch in any beds and/or other areas on the property.

Refer to Chapter 5 - 4.1 of the Cresswind Rules and Regulations Manual for general rules that govern adding or removing trees and shrubs. As you make your choices, remember to avoid invasive or pest plants or those with other bad habits. Remember, too, that gardens, like children, require year-round care and even discipline.

Welcome Committee News

By Maggie Carr

Cresswind at Lake Lanier would like to thank Sue Joninas for serving on the Welcome Committee since the creation of the committee. Her contribution and pioneering of the group will be passed on as the committee continues to welcome new Cresswind residents to the neighborhood. Thank you Sue for all your time on the committee!

Our Cresswind Welcome Committee has brought on many new people to be a part of the committee. We also elected new officers at our April meeting. Our members welcome our new residents to the neighborhood and offer our support. The Welcome Committee provides new residents with a tour of the

clubhouse and all the amenities as well as a chance to sit down and get all your questions answered.

Our next New Homeowner Orientation will be Tuesday, May 2nd at 4pm in the Ballroom. This is a great chance for new homeowners to meet the HOA Board, FirstService Staff, committee chairs, and several club leaders. If you are a new homeowner and have any questions or have not been contacted by a Welcome Committee Member, please contact Maggie Carr at maggie.shay@fsresidential.com

We would like to welcome our new neighbors below to Cresswind!

HEALTH & FITNESS COMMITTEE

Submitted by: Laurie Solomon

The Health & Fitness Committee hosted a seminar on Preventing Heart Disease on 3/15/23. Dr. Burkle, a non-invasive cardiologist, and Dr. Samady, an interventional cardiologist, from the Georgia Heart Institute presented pertinent information about taking care of your heart with a healthy eating plan together with physical activity. The resources available at the Heart Institute are on the cutting edge and we are fortunate to have them at our disposal if needed.

The seminar, Oh My Aching Back was presented on 3/28/23 by Dr. Okyere, physiatrist, and Dr. Sook Yoon, an interventional pain management specialist, from the Longstreet Clinic Pain Management & Rehabilitation Center. A physiatrist is a medical doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders and injuries.

A Skin Cancer Screening was also offered by Dr. Nathan Cleaver on 3/29/23.

Hopefully you have seen and utilized our new Pec Fly/ Rear Delt machine in the fitness center. Springtime has arrived and is a good time to refresh your exercise routine as well as participating in outdoor sports activities including golf, hiking, biking, kayaking, and racquet sports. Dynamic stretching is a great way to prepare your muscles, loosen your joints, improve your flexibility and range of motion to make the most of your activity. It involves active

movements preferably similar to the activity you are about to do. Examples of dynamic stretches are as follows:

Arm circles are a great way to warm up your shoulders. Standing with arms outstretched to the side at shoulder height, circle them forward 10X and then backward 10X.

Leg swings can warm up the leg muscles, hip flexors, hamstrings, and gluteal muscles. Holding onto something stable can assist with balance. Standing on one leg, swing the other leg forward and backward as well as side to side. Repeat on the other side.

Marching in place with high knees will warm up many muscles in your lower body.

Trunk rotations can help mobilize, stretch, and move your spine. Your trunk is the region above your hips and below your neck. Rotate gently from side to side while keeping your lower body stationary.

It is important to be cognitive of your movements during dynamic stretching so as not to overdo or injure yourself. Do not push your joints past their normal range of motion or do anything that causes pain. Dynamic stretching can help improve your exercise and athletic performance by reducing the stiffness and tightness of your muscles and joints, as well as helping to prevent injuries.

Catherine & Carl Kologinczak 4045 Cranberry Lane

Randy & Susan Graham 4038 Cranberry Lane

William “Bill” Kennemore 3704 Majestic Oak Drive SW

Architectural Review Committee (ARC) 2023 ARC ‘By

the Numbers’

Submitted By: John Stevens

Did You Know…

ALL external changes and modifications to your home and property MUST be reviewed and approved PRIOR to starting your project. ARC members are committed to preserving and elevating our individual and collective property values by enabling residents to maintain and raise the aesthetic standards that make Cresswind at Lake Lanier a “most desirable place to live.” ARC members stand ready, willing, and able to talk with you about your ideas for personalizing your home and property, before submitting an External Improvement Request form. In other words … TALK WITH US … and let us help you enhance your individual ‘space’ in a way that also elevates the overall community we live in.

TRAILS AND PATHWAYS COMMITTEE NEWS

Submitted by: Lynne

Hayden

The most frequent ARC requests from residents for Q-1 involve:

• Painting home exteriors

• Water drainage projects

• Replacing exterior light fixtures

1stQ of 2023 (Jan-Mar)

77 Approved 4 Denied

13 Under Review 2 Withdrawn

NOTES FROM | SOCIAL COMMITTEE

Your Trails and Pathways Committee has been managing, improving, and maintaining our community’s trails. Our primary responsibilities are to assist the Board of Directors with: 1) the maintenance of existing trails, trail heads, and pathways, and 2) planning the construction of future trails.

Maintenance and Improvements: Thanks to our lumberjacks and our dedicated volunteers who manage major maintenance items, you will see many improvements that were completed over the Fall/Winter:

• Bluebird Bridge (midtrail) – Step Project

• Bluebird Trailhead at Dog Park – Step Project

• Cardinal Trailhead at Marina Drive – Step Project

• Cardinal Trailhead at Pump Station – Step Project

• Cardinal Bridge – Step Repair

• Goldfinch Bridge – Post Repair

• Swallow Trail: We are working with the HOA Board to address washouts on Swallow from the heavy winter rains.

Many thanks to the Trail Leaders, who monitor and maintain each trail. Hikers can expect the trails to be cleared of leaves for summer hiking.

Our trail leaders are: Marica & Ralf Holm (Bluebird), Mike Thurmon (Cardinal), Bruce Cattanach (Goldfinch), Paula Burzotta (Hummingbird), Whit Adams (Robin), and Rosemarie Bower & Debbie Fox (Swallow).

News – New Maps: We have new online maps. They were created with GIS (global positioning) software, so they are more exact and accurate than the previous map. You’ll find them on the Cresswind website >> Lifestyle > Hiking Trail. We hope you will enjoy the trails with the new Spring growth, and the ‘cool’ part of summer hiking! Please contact David Rames at david.rames@charter.net to report maintenance issues or to volunteer to join the team.

Submitted by: Carol

Malarney

Looks like old man winter has finally decided to take a break which means spring has finally and thankfully sprung! Just in time too since the Social Committee has been busy getting some of our residents’ favorite events back on the calendar.

As April winds down and Cresswind eases into May, it’s time to gear up for a few more outdoor events. Did I hear someone mention a patio event with food and music? Well, I hope so since the Social Committee and Cooking Club have joined forces to bring you the one and only Cinco De Mayo Event on Friday, May 5th. Be sure to put this one on your calendar – you don’t want to miss out on the taco bar with all the fixings and music by none other than the Regulators!

But wait, May’s not over just yet! The awesome You’re Mimosa Favorite Mom Event is back on calendar too (Thursday, May 11th). Feeling the summer heat, don’t worry because the Pool Opening Party is happening on Friday, May 19th. Besides cooling off in the pool, we will have Sherry’s BBQ food truck available as a food option and fabulous music provided by a steel drum player.

Anyone thinking it might be time for a lawn concert –what a coincidence because we have the Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band performing at Cresswind on Friday, June 2nd. Next up will be the always popular Recycling Event on Saturday, June 10th. Saving the best to last, we are ending the month with a fabulous Pool Lau complete with a pig roast on Friday, June 16th. That’s it for now – please come join us! Don’t forget to check Maggie’s daily updates for more information on all these awesome events.

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WEBSITE COMMITTEE

Submitted by: Wilton Rooks

The Cresswind Website Committee (CWC) consists of residents and is charged by the HOA Board to maintain and enhance the community website to benefit the residents. The members of the committee are Wilton Rooks, Chair; Tim Roth, Vice Chair; Bruce Leibrecht, Secretary; Maggie Carr, Webmaster; Ernie Seymour; Bert Emma; Sue Garcia; Garon Hart.

CWC has been engaged in several projects to achieve this over the past year. Perhaps, most significantly is the resident and club leader friendly calendar system that has saved staff time and improved resident access to the many daily activities at Cresswind. In an ongoing effort, recently a QA project was started to identify problems and opportunities for improvement. This has led to numerous improvements in the organization of the web pages, navigation among various features, and clean-up of various web pages.

Here are a few tips on how to find information on the website:

1. To enter or check on Requests to any of the resources, go to the Requests/ Forms tab under the Resources menu. The Request Manager page now has an option at the top to review any Requests

tickets that you have submitted and to enter a new Request.

2. If you are interested in the workings of the Board of Directors, go to Our Community, and click on the link to their page. Here you will find lots of information on previous annual, town hall, monthly meetings, elections – and a big button to contact any of the HOA Board.

3. To find the Budget and Reserve documents, click on Resources > Documents. This will lead to a page with the Financial Statements and Reserve Studies.

4. You can view your HOA documents that are stored on the FSResidential database. Go to Resources > View HOA Documents. That will take you to a Login page for First Services Residential. If you have an account with them already, enter your login details. If not, create an

account and then you can log in to see your documents.

5. If you need a permit for overnight street parking, go to Resources > Requests/Forms. Toward the bottom is CLL-9 Overnight Street Parking Permit. Download it and follow the instructions on the form. There are other forms on that page that might be useful as well for garden club, dog park, golf cart, etc.

In general, the website contains a wealth of information for your use to contact other residents (Directories), to view the Calendar events (Calendar) to contact the HOA Board, view financial documents, make requests, and much more. Take advantage of it and use it to enjoy our amazing resources.

Resident input is beneficial to identify needed areas of improvement, enhancements, and even new functions. While we are limited by the features provided by our website hosting company, we will certainly consider functions that are identified that would benefit residents. At this point, we do not envision a re-design of the website, but we can make incremental changes that benefit all residents. If you have comments or suggestions, please forward them to the webmaster, maggie.shay@fsresidential.com.

COVENANTS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS COMMITTEE

Submitted by: Bill Thaler

I would like to introduce myself as the new Chairman of the CRRC. I took over the reins of the committee in January when Mario Russo “retired”. The primary responsibility of the CRRC is to compile and produce the Cresswind Rules & Regulations Manual. Our goal is to translate the legalese in the Governing Documents into laymen’s terms. Not always an easy task.

For over a year now, the CRRC has been working hard to produce a new Rules & Regulations Manual for Cresswind homeowners. It has been an arduous task. The current update process requires proposed changes to be reviewed by the HOA Board for approval/disapproval or further editing and then sent to the CRRC to be incorporated into a new Rules & Regulations Manual. The new, revised Rules & Regulations Manual is then posted on the Cresswind website for homeowners. This is a complicated and difficult process because contributors to the Rules & Regulations Manual have independent update cycles. Each time we thought the revised manual was ready to publish, new changes arrived requiring a change to the manual. The end result for homeowners

was the “new and current” manual contained incorrect information and could not be posted to the website.

That is changing. I won’t go into the mechanics of how we fixed this because all the magic takes place behind the scenes. Once we get the new manual published, the Rules & Regulations Manual will be updated instantly when the new HOA Board-approved changes are posted to the website; and those responsible for inputs to the manual can retain their independent update cycles. The bottom line for the homeowner is that the manual seen on the Cresswind website will always be current.

We have a few “clean up” issues to complete, but we hope to have the new manual in place by mid to late April. Thank you for your support and patience as we wrap up the new Rules & Regulations Manual. If you have questions or comments about the Rules & Regulations Manual, please contact us on the Cresswind website at: OUR COMMUNITY/COMMITTEES /COVENANTS AND RULES AND REGULATIONS COMMITTEE and select Contact the Committee at the bottom of the page.

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FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).

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The Moore’s Wealth Management team is beyond proud to announce that for the seventh year in a row, we have been named the top Financial Planning/ Investment Advisor Representative Firm by the Gainesville Times’ readership as part of their “Best of the Best” awards for 2023.

Our goal and commitment to our community has always been to deliver a level of care that is equal to that of how we would advise our own family. We are very thankful to our clients and to the members of the community, that we are so proud to call home, for honoring us with this distinction for the seventh consecutive year. Your trust in us and your enthusiasm in participating in our success means the world.

As President of Moore’s Wealth Management, I founded the firm with the intention of assisting retirees and those nearing retirement in safe-guarding their financial futures and ensuring a retirement as stress-free and joyous as possible. Through independent and conservative income planning solutions aimed at prolonging our retirees’ savings in order to not outlive them, we believe we have a reputation for individualized, dependable, and gracious customer service that has, through mostly word of mouth, allowed us to grow and expand in ways I had never imagined.

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Advisory services offered through Moore’s Wealth Advisory, A Member of Advisory Services Network, LLC, Insurance products and services offered through Moore’s Wealth Management. Advisory Services Network, LLC and Moore’s Wealth Management are not affiliated. Advisory Services Network, LLC and American Retirement Institute are not affiliated.

Clubs AT CRESSWIND

Joining a club is the best way to learn more about an interest you already have or to make friends in the spirit of a common interest. Please visit the Cresswind website at https://www.cresswindatll.com/clubs/ for additional information.

Arts & Crafts Clubs

Artist’s Corner

Make & Take Crafts

Needlecraft

Quilting

Writers in the Wind

Pottery-Cone 5/6 Exchange Adv.

Book Clubs

Tuesday Club

Monday Clubs

Book Babes

Book Buds

Book Worms

Cover to Cover Book Club

Between the Stacks

Reading between the Wines

Theatre Goers Book Club

ABC Men’s

Card Game Clubs

Bridge

Bunco-Ladies

Hand & Foot Canasta

Mah Jongg

Mexican Train

Mixed Card Club

Pinochle

Pokeno

Poker Clubs

Rubber Bridge

Rummikub

Samba Club

Texas Hold ‘em - Ladies

Dance Clubs

Ballet

Ballroom Dance

Clogging – Beginner, Intermediate

Hula Dance Club

Line Dance -Beginner, Intermediate

Wendy’s Choreography

Performing Arts Clubs

Art in Motion: Dance & More

Cresswind Community Chorus

Cresswind Community Arts Club

Cresswind Neighborhood Theater

Jazz Band

Karaoke Club

Liars Club

Neighborhood Bands

Performing Arts Technical Team

Small Bands

Storytelling Club

Ukulele Club

Variety Show Club

Sports & Games Clubs

Billiards – Ladies & Men

Bocce Club

Bowling League

Fishing Club

Golf: Ladies & Men

Kayak Club

Pickleball Club

Ping Pong Club

Sports & Games

Tai Chi: For everyone, advance

Tennis Club

Travel Clubs

RV Club

Travel Club

Religious & Bible Study Clubs

Couples

Ladies Mens

Shalom Club

The Way

Special Interest Clubs

Bourbon Cabinet Club

Bourbon Tasting Club

CIC Investment Club

Community Flag Club

Cooking Club

Cresswind LL Community Fund

Dinner Club

Garden Club

Genealogy Club

Investment Club: The Falls

Ladies Luncheon Club

Living Stylishly

Martini Clubs

Missions Club

Model Railroad Club

Parkinson’s Support Group

Scotch Lovers At Cresswind

Social Singles

Spanish Club

Tequila Club

Veterans Club

Volunteer Connection

Wine Tasting

See Cresswind Website for details.

ARTISTS CORNER CLUB

The Artist Corner Club continues to produce a variety of works each week. Meeting every Tuesday from 9:00 am to noon in the Arts and Crafts room, painting and sketching are going on along with great companionship. For info call Diana Thurmon 678-481-7644.

BIBLE STUDY CLUBS

Why Study the Bible?

Reading the Bible on a regular and consistent basis has several benefits. First, the Bible shows us God’s character and provides us God’s revelation of himself to his people. In each section of the Bible, we see God’s holy, unchanging, faithful, gracious and loving character. When we study the Bible together, God promises to reveal Himself, to teach us how to obey Him, and to show us how to love one another. When we are changed to become more like Jesus, our family, workplaces and communities will be eternally impacted. If you feel led to study the Bible on a regular basis, there are many opportunities here in Cresswind. The In-Home Women’s Bible Study meets in a resident’s home.

If you feel led to study the Bible on a regular basis, there are many opportunities here in Cresswind. If you are interested in joining one of these groups, the points of contact are:

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Meets Thursdays from 4-5pm in the Savannah Room. The first Thursday of the month is devoted to Intercessory Prayer.

Diane Denniston DianeDenniston222@gmail.com and/or

Jami Dittmeier SJDittmeier@gmail.com

MEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Meets Fridays from 10-11 in the Georgia Room. They begin with a time of prayer from 9:30-10:00.

Dave Dittmeier DaDittmeier@gmail.com

THE WAY BIBLE STUDY

Meets in the Savannah Room in 6-week increments.

Meg Bohn megbohn57@gmail.com

COUPLES BIBLE STUDY

Couples Bible studies meet in private home throughout the community.

Joanne Randall joran1088@gmail.com

IN-HOME BIBLE STUDY

The In-Home Women’s Bible Study meets in a resident’s home. Jacquie Waldron rejoice2@yahoo.com

“For the word of God is alive and active…” (Heb 4:12 NIV)

BOOK CLUB

2ND MONDAY BOOK CLUB

Julie Cottingham julie.cottingham1@gmail.com

3RD MONDAY BOOK CLUB

Joyce Allen jallen8734@gmail.com

1ST TUESDAY BOOK CLUB

Lynne Tryon lynnetryon@gmail.com

1ST TUESDAY BOOK BUDS BOOK CLUB

Zona Buchen zbuchen51@charter.net

3RD WEDNESDAY ABC MEN’S BOOK CLUB

Dave Dittmeier at DaDittmeier@gmail.com

BOOK BABES BOOK CLUB

Pat Hilger patricia.hilger@outlook.com

BOOK WORMS BOOK CLUB

Cathy Koenig kckl110@gmail.com

COVER-TO-COVER BOOK CLUB

Donna Brown donnabrownga@comcast.net

IN THE STACKS BOOK CLUB

Carol Malarney carolmalarney@gmail.com

READING BETWEEN THE WINES BOOK CLUB

Janet Nelson jnotesto87@gmail.com

THEATRE GOERS BOOK CLUB

Marilyn Young mayoung517@gmail.com

CRESSWIND BOWLING LEAGUE

Submitted by Paul Capal

The Cresswind Bowling League completed the 2022-23 season on April 12, 2023.

Correction to the March/April issue of the Waterfall, the first half winners were: the King Pins and not the Pin Pals. The King Pin team members are Dan Skeels, Paul Lubeck, Bob Bobkowski, Jack Williamson, and Janice Miles. The King Pins rolled off against the second half winners on April 12, 2023, to determine the overall season champion. We had our 2022-23 season wrap up meeting on Wednesday April 19th. At this meeting we handed out prize money and discussed the season as well as the 2023 summer season. We encourage anyone who would like to join the Cresswind Bowling League for this summer league starting on May 24th or next year’s 2023-24 season, as either a fulltime bowler on a team or as a sub to please contact any of the board members. We are a handicap league, no need to worry about having not bowled for many years or having a low average. Information can be found on the Cresswindatll.com web page, under Clubs. Click on the Cresswind Bowling League and in the upper left-hand corner scroll down for detailed information.

CIC INVESTMENT CLUB

Submitted By:

Louise Dunn

Twenty twenty-three continues to be a year with surprises and a market marked by volatility. Talk of recession continues as businesses struggle with growth and earnings. Despite economic and political challenges, some stocks may have bottomed out, and some sectors of the stock market may offer opportunities. Inflation is tempering yet the effects on the economy and the stock market will likely continue throughout the year. Predictions about the economy and stocks abound, however, how does one decide which stocks to buy, hold, or perhaps sell?

Many of us struggle with questions about how to maintain and promote income growth. The CIC Investment Club members share their expertise and experiences to help make informed decisions about investments through monthly presentations. There are several long-term members as well as newer members. All CIC members take part in offering suggestions for stocks and in voting on stocks for the club. Club membership is limited to 30. A wait list is available for inter-

ested residents if there are no openings. We invite you to join us as a guest to learn more about the Cresswind Investment Club. Meetings are on the first Monday of the month at 1:00 p.m. in the Clubhouse kitchen. Please contact Len Greco at lengreco1104@aol.com or Cathy Hoskinson at cathy.hoskinson@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

THE COOKING CLUB

Submitted by: GR Foster

The Cooking School hosted an Elegant Hors d’oeuvres event on February 15th. Resident leaders for that event were Rosemary Smith and Debbie Fox, along with the owner and chef of Cucina Milano, Lori Ruzek. Resident guests viewed a preparation demonstration by Lori and then sampled the tasty appetizers, such as Beef Wellington, Shrimp Kabobs, Pesto Ravioli, and Lemon Drop Martinis, in the ballroom for a more social setting. Thank you to Lori for providing her expertise, providing our member guests with delectable appetizers.

Cooking Club hosted a very spirited Mardi Gras event on February 25th. A menu of delicious jambalaya, muffaletta sandwiches, and authentic New Orleans King Cake was served to 150 member guests. Many guests came decked out in festive Mardi Gras masks, face paint, and full costumes. Best Costume awards went to Phyllis Solgere and Michael Aslaksen. Thank you to Kathy Zeranski who provided a mask decorating class prior to the event. Guests were entertained by one of our fabulous resident bands - Out Past Nine. The dance floor was packed, and dancing continued right up to the end of the event. Thank you to Out Past Nine, to all of the volunteers who made this event possible, and to the members who came to celebrate. Volunteers were invited to a Mardi Gras appreciation wine and cheese event on March 5 to thank them for their time and efforts. None of the events would happen without our member volunteers.

Cooking Club will be partnering with Lifestyle for a Cinco de Mayo event on Friday, May 5. The Cooking Club will be providing the meal which will include a taco bar, chips and salsa, and cupcakes.

The June Fish Fry will be June 10th. We will be looking for volunteers to help with this event. Hosts for this event will be Andrea Marra and Carol Mason. Be on the lookout for more information.

A club social was held April 12th. Opportunities for volunteer signups for Cinco de Mayo and Fish Fry were made available.

Our Cooking School will host a field trip to the Green Box Mushroom Farm on April 29th, and a May 23rd trip to the Mountain Fresh Dairy Farm is planned. A Tools and Techniques class is planned for June 15th. This class will instruct guests on the use of Instapots with a Mexican theme. Also coming will be a 5 Guys Brunch and an informative demonstration from Plant Based Trace, a local organic chef who offers prepared meals from her website. From a fun twist on

date night to an enjoy-at-home session, to a robust culinary experience there is a Cooking School experience for every cook.

Please consider volunteering for one of your club’s events or cooking school class. They cannot happen without you.

CRESSWIND GENEOLOGY CLUB

Submitted by: Dave Dittmeier

The Practical Side of Genealogical Research

Below are some of the main practical triggers as to why people search for their ancestors:

• Validate Family Stories – To determine if family stories about their ancestors are true.

• Famous People – To find out if they are related to someone famous.

• Historical Event – To gain a better understanding of an ancestor’s involvement in a famous historical event.

• Trace Medical Conditions –To assess the risk of getting certain medical conditions that tend to run in families.

• Trace a Family Inheritance –To determine genealogical proof of a family connection for potential heirs.

• Trace Land Ownership - To settle questions of land ownership by providing proof of descent.

• Trace a Family Portrait - To see why someone bears a strong resemblance to an ancestor in an old family portrait.

• Find Birth Parents – To determine the birth parents of an adopted child. Alternatively, to find children given up for adoption.

• Proof of Paternity – To determine the biological father of a child.

• Religious Tenet –To satisfy the tenets of the religion. The most notable example is the Mormon Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

• Community History – To document a community history by understanding the families that founded and influenced the community.

• Historic Studies – To provide insight into history through the scholarly study of a famous family, such as a royal family.

The Genealogy Club meets the 4th Wednesday of every other month February – October at 7:00 pm in the Georgia Room. Want more information? Contact one of the facilitators: Howie Mueller, accudart556@yahoo.com or Dave Dittmeier, DaDittmeier@gmail.com.

You might be a genealogist if ….you feel inclined to share your family tree with everyone.

CRESSWIND LADIES LUNCHEON CLUB (CLLC)

Ladies Tea on April 20th in the ballroom. Everyone looked very stylish in their colorful hats and spring outfits. The ladies brought their special teacups and enjoyed some wonderful brewed teas. Delicate finger sandwiches and desserts were also a hit. Cresswind’s

special “Tea Reader” added some fun and laughter to our luncheon. It truly was a terrific spring event!

DINNER CLUB

Submitted by: Karen Silverthorn - Coordinator

After a couple of years on hold due to Covid, Cresswind’s Dinner Club is returning! Previously known as “Adventures in Dining”, this group is now officially a “Club” and will be in our 9th year of functioning. Do you like to cook, try different ingredients, make regional and international dishes, and especially meet new neighbors? Read on!!

Our first dinner is planned for Saturday, April 15th (not March 4th as previously announced). If you are on the Dinner Club member list, you will receive an evite in early March for the April 15th dinner.

Members gather four times a year in different Cresswind homes to enjoy great multi-course meals. The menu and recipes are predetermined and sent to participants in advance of each dinner. There are always a total of 4 couples/pairs at each host home all using the same recipes and making the same courses. Singles are welcomed provided they find another single to pair with. Each couple/pair is assigned part of the meal to shop for and prepare. All food and beverage costs (average $45 - $65 per pair/couple) are shared equally among participants at each house.

If you are interested in joining or getting more info, email the Dinner Club Coordinator directly - Karen Silverthorn, silk3349@charter.net. Our mission is a simple one - to enjoy a delicious gourmet meal while meeting new neighbors around an elegant dinner table. Every meal is an adventure!

CRESSWIND PERFORMING ARTS CLUB

The clubs of CPAC are busy preparing various events to entertain the community over the next few months. As usual, you can always go to www.cresswindpa.com/upcomingevents to see what we are working on!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• May 18-20: The Cresswind Neighborhood Theatre will be presenting “THE ALTO’S: LIKE THE SOPRANOS ONLY LOWER”. This murder mystery dinner theatre will take place May 18-20 at 6PM.

• MAY 26: we have invited THE SOUTHERN JOURNEY BIG BAND back to the community for one (1) show at 7PM. They play many jazz favorites as well as many songs to get you up and dancing.

• SAVE THE DATE OF MAY 31ST as our neighborhood band, OUT PAST NINE will be performing on the square in Gainesville for a LUNCH concert. Come out and support them from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm and grab some lunch downtown while you are at it!

• June 17: OUT PAST NINE will be performing at Cresswind Twin Lakes with another concert of songs to get you dancing all night long!!

Be on the lookout for these other events happening later this year:

• JULY 21: CRESSWIND NEIGHBORHOOD THEATRE will be performing during Grandparents Weekend

• AUGUST 19: CPAC PERFORMING ARTS FAIR from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in the ballroom.

• AUGUST 24 & 25: THE SUMMER HUMMERS return for two shows this year.

ALSO do not forget that we have monthly things for you to take advantage of including:

• KARAOKE: The third Monday of every month

• STORYTELLERS: The third Thursday of every month

• THEATRE-GOERS BOOK CLUB on May 16, July 18, Sept 19 and Nov 21

You can always see everything CPAC by going to www. cresswindpa.com. We can always be contacted at performingartscresswind@gmail.com

SUMMER HUMMERS 2023

The Cresswind Community Chorus will be presenting once again the Summer Hummers, a men’s chorus singing lots of familiar fun songs accompanied by a seven-piece jazz band.

Last summer they presented their world premiere to a sold-out in the ballroom and received rave reviews from the overflow crowd. So, this year there will be two performances on Thursday and Friday, August 24 & 25.

Rehearsals will begin on Monday, June 5 at 3:00 pm. The group includes many of the men from the Cresswind Chorus, but any other men is welcomed to join us. There is no audition. The Summer Hummers will be directed by Richard Petty who will be assisted by Chuck Bridwell.

CRESSWIND NEIGHBORHOOD THEATRE

The Cresswind Neighborhood Theatre has been busy rehearsing for their Spring production of THE ALTO’S: LIKE THE SOPRANO’S ONLY LOWER.

An interactive musical comedy mystery spoof of the famous HBO series. Meet the family that inspired it all, the Altos. It’s Tony’s funeral (Or is it?) and his wife Toffee has invited you to the wake. Chris wants you to check your weapons at the door (and if you don’t have any, he’s got extras!)

Uncle Senior has a rigged dice game going and Tony’s Ma is - well just nuts. Tony’s shrink Dr. Malaise is giving free analysis and the Father isn’t sure what he is doing! But one thing is for sure, almost no one seems sad that Tony is gone, and they certainly don’t seem happy once he is discovered alive. Be prepared to dodge bullets, eat great Italian food, laugh

out loud and see if you can figure out who put a contract out on Tony!

The show is directed by our very own Scott Larson assisted by Joyce Plawecki. The cast includes Rob Plawecki, Laurie Schussler, Scott Anderson, Betsy Robertson, Jim Kalina, Carol Kruskamp, and Bruce Leyton. There will be a special appearance by Bill Kruskamp (shhh…it’s a secret so don’t tell him).

The show is May 18-20 at 6:00 pm in the ballroom and tickets will go on sale April 24. The price for this dinner theatre show is $45 per person and you can purchase them at www.cresswindpa.com/upcoming-events. We can always be contacted with any questions at cresswindtheatre@gmail. com.

STORYTELLING CLUB

Submitted by: Bert Emma

Our guiding theme for April will be “An Important Life Lesson Learned (or Taught!)”. All of us have learned and taught some great lessons - so pick one and tell everyone about it. We all need to keep learning. Or come listen to the stories of others. The guiding theme is only a suggestion, and you can tell any story you would like to.

THANKS to all who attend our monthly meetings - your support is greatly appreciated. Our monthly Storytelling sessions are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 3:00 pm in the Ballroom and usually include eight stories and as many or more members just listening. These sessions are mini storytelling events. We would love for you to join our sessions to listen to or tell a story, (there are no dues). Please come to the next sessions of the Cresswind Storytellers on Thursday April 20th and May 18th at 3:00 pm in the Ballroom. You will have FUN!

NEIGHBORHOOD BANDS

Submitted by: Wayne Blum

Your Cresswind Band “Out Past 9” has been very busy this year. We played on First Friday here in Cresswind in mid-January and then again in February for the Cooking Club’s annual Mardi Gras event! Both events were successful thanks to all of our neighbors who attended the events.

We have two new gigs planned for May and June. On Wednesday, May 31st we are privileged to have been invited to play on Gainesville Square as part of the free Blue Sky Concert series. We will be playing from 11:30 am – 1:30pm. We would love to have our Cresswind neighbors come out to support us! Here is the link with all concert details:

https://www.exploregainesville.org/blue-sky-concerts/. Our second gig will be at Twin Lakes on Saturday, June 17th at 7:00 PM. It will be held in their newly opened clubhouse.

We also would like to welcome the newest member of our band … Rich St George. Yes the same Rich St George who is largely responsible for all those wonderful theatrical events that you have seen here at Cresswind. Rich plays keyboard (who knew?) and we are looking forward to some great fun! Out Past 9 would like to thank the Cresswind community for their enthusiastic support!

Dr. Ben Martin and Dr. Mike Martin

dds

10TH ANNUAL VARIETY SHOW

Submitted by: Nancy Evans

SAVE THE DATE!!! September 21 & 22, 2023 for the 10th Annual Variety Show which makes it the longest running show put on by a club. There is SO much talent in our neighborhood and this show always provides an evening of unsurpassed entertainment. For those of you who would like to participate in the show, there will be announcements in early June to give you details. We encourage any of you who sing, dance, juggle, play an instrument, act or whatever--- to watch carefully for the announcement of the details. In order to keep the show in a manageable timeframe, we limit the number of 3-minute acts, so don’t procrastinate if you wish to be in the show. Contact Nancy Evans at naevans50@gmail. com for more information.

CRESSWIND COMMUNITY GARDEN CLUB

Submitted by: Lance Haney

Spring is here and the Cresswind Community Garden is alive with brilliant color! Cresswind residents are always invited and encouraged to stroll through the Community Garden and the adjacent Serenity Garden to enjoy the colors, sounds, and smells of the garden and nature! It’s therapeutic!

The early spring project of laying crushed shale on all of the pathways inside the garden is now complete. In all, 43 tons of shale were installed. It looks great, feels great, drains great, and should last a long time. Special thanks to all of our volunteers and to our HOA Board for their help in making it possible.

Here are a few dates and events to be on the watch for during May and June: Monthly meetings with guest speakers: Wednesday, May 24th, 10:00 am and Wednesday, June 21st, 10:00 am, in the Clubhouse ballroom.

In June, the Garden blooms will be at their peak. What better time to have an Open House for all Cresswind residents to come and enjoy? Date and Time TBA.

What’s blooming in the garden? May - Iris and Gladioli* June - Daylilies and Gladioli* *plus lots of others.

In-Garden Workshops (Date/Times TBA): May - “Perennial Plants for Year-Round Blooms”, June - “Pest Controls for Vegetables”.

Upcoming projects: Planting annuals, container planting and Serenity Garden Planting/Maintenance.

Get Cresswind Community Garden Club news and helpful tips for home gardening also. Become a Friend-of-theGarden. You can volunteer, donate, and be invited to take part in all Garden Club activities and events. Just email us at cresswind.garden.club@gmail.com to be added to the contact list. Want to rent a garden box at the Community Garden? Contact Susan Dodd at susan8405@comcast.net to get on the waiting list. Join us on Facebook at Cresswind at LL Community Garden.

HULA CLUB

Submitted by: Mary McDonald

The new Hula Club would love for you to join us! We

are starting out by learning basic hula steps and some easy hula dances. This is a fun and relaxing dance style, and a nice way to add some activity to your day. The dances are being taught by Mary Ramatowski and Kathie Zeranski and the class meets on Thursday afternoons from 3:00 to 3:45 in the Georgia Room.

LIVING STYLISHLY CLUB

The Living Stylishly Club is up and running for 2023 with both new and returning members to the Board which include:

President: Jackie Edginton

Vice President: Flo Swartz

Treasurer: Carol Marlarney

Secretary: Sue Joninas

WebMaster: Deena Demchak

Members at Large: Abby Saccamanno, Arlene Teare, Debbie Cox, Diane Jaseckas, Mary Jo Smith, Sandra Nelson, and Susan Nix

Our Living Stylishly Club is pleased to announce that our membership has grown to 270 members. The club’s goal is to provide residents with fun events that enhance and encourage a stylish lifestyle while also giving back to the community. “These Shoes Are Made for Walking” was a smashing success that enabled us to collect and distribute gently used shoes and socks to the homeless shelters at Good News at Noon and St. Vincent DePaul. As always, our residents responded with great generosity as we reached out to women who need our help. Plants in the Pavilion were held on Tuesday, April 18th and featured Nathan Wilson from Lanier Nurseries. We learned how to put together container gardens that we can use throughout our homes for decorating and enjoyment throughout the year. The club’s annual fashion show is coming May 9th to the ballroom. The theme is traveling like a fashionista! Clothes and commentary will be provided by Chico’s at the Collection. Cresswind’s resident travel agent, Mimi Szutz will share tips for stress free traveling. Yummy lunch and friends will round out a great event. Don’t miss this sellout event. Be sure to watch for up-and-coming fun events in the daily update – there is a lot of fun to come!

MEN’S GOLF LEAGUE

Submitted by: Dave McIntee

The Men’s Golf League of Cresswind held its pre-season meeting in early March, hosted by perennial Commissioner Rod Quisenberry (“Q”). As we enter our 9th year, our roster includes 107 golfers. On any given week we have between 25 to 50 golfers. We have six new players this year. New players are always welcome!

Again this year we will call Chicopee Golf Club home. The green fees for our Tuesday league are $45.00. Our format is an 18-hole shotgun beginning at 9:00 am sharp, being ready to play at 8:45. We play by “Q’s Rules” which offer ~slight modifications~ from the R&A/USGA Rules of Golf. Q Rules are intended to speed play and keep it fun. Winter rules apply all year. We have an optional annual tournament. Our 2022 Cresswind Gold Champion was Ferris McElreath.

The last Tuesday of each week we play at a different course in the area. Q drives a hard bargain and tries to keep the greens - cart fee under $60.00. Each week there is an optional $5 game. We use a “quota” scoring system. Points are accumulated for scoring. Eagles to a single bogey accumulate points. Winners are generally the top 6-8 players that beat their quota. Plus, we have four closest to the pin winners each week. Triple bogey is the maximum score on any hole. If you have a double bogey and you are not in hold, you pick up to keep up the pace of play. The course expects us to play our round in 4 ½ hours. Normal scoring is reported and tracked throughout the season by Dave Wilson. The current Quotas and Handicaps are found on our website.

We use the Sign-Up Genius mobile app to register for each week’s play. Contact Q at rrq826@gmail.com to receive an invitation to the app.

IMPORTANT CHANGES: all registrations must be in by Saturday midnight. We must submit our player list to the course by Sunday. Please do not be a no-show. If something prevents you from playing, please text Q as soon as you know you cannot make it, including the morning of play. Tee times are at a premium. Q’s cell is 680-770-0397. Our website — https://genebram.wixsite.com/cllmensgolf/about-3 The top priority of our league is to HAVE FUN!

MODEL RAILROAD CLUB

It’s been a wonderful 1st quarter 2023 for our Railroad Club here in Cresswind. We started the year with our first “in person” club meeting in quite a while and enjoyed another in March hosted by Brian Olson (wonderful host and expert modeler!). Each one of these meetings held at members’ homes has been a great fellowship experience and a productive learning experience. Photos of Brian’s layout are shown below.

As we move into April and May, we are preparing for our next exhibit in the Clubhouse. July 21-22-23 will be our Grandkids and Grandparents weekend at Cresswind, with lots of events and activities planned at the pool and event lawn. We will be setting up our layout in the Lanier Room on Friday, and will run trains all day on Saturday, July 22. Weather permitting, we will have the exterior doors to the

Lanier Room open so the attendees can easily enter from the lawn/pool events and observe our operations throughout the day. “Praying for great weather”.

Our next club general meeting will be Tuesday, May 16, at 2:00 pm, at Bob Edmond’s house. Watch your club emails for further details later. Keep SAFE. “ALL ABOARD!”

NEEDLECRAFT CLUB

Submitted by: Pam Gonzalez

We are a social club that meets every Thursday from 10:00 AM in the Arts and Crafts room. Participants bring their own work in progress in knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, beading, needlepoint, etc. We welcome all skill levels and can assist in techniques, “tips and tricks”, and help when assistance is needed.

In addition to personal projects, participants also create various crafts for the community such as hats and scarfs for the homeless, lap blankets for hospice and veterans, and hats for preemie babies. For the past several years we have knitted and crocheted baby doll blankets that are used to wrap small dolls and placed in shoe boxes with other small gifts for Operation Christmas Child.

New participants are always welcome. No cost – just bring your work in progress and be prepared to fill 2 hours with community news, stories, and laughter.

PICKLEBALL CLUB NEWS

Submitted by: Cassie Caton

“We didn’t realize we were making memories; we were just having fun.” Winnie-the-Pooh. We are truly making memories and having lots of pickleball fun on the courts of Cresswind. Since February, we have held two very successful scrambles. The Polar Express took place on February 4th and St. Patrick’s Day scrambles on March 17th. Sep Khameneh conducted drills on Thursdays and Jim Snell led novice training whenever the weather cooperated. Stay tuned for future start dates for drill sessions and more “learn to play” training. The club membership is growing to over 300 and it is exciting to see so many new players participating in the club’s events. If you are not a member, the dues are $10, and you can join directly on the website.

At the time of this writing, we are expecting to have the 7th Annual Clay Myers Tournament on April 15th. If all went as scheduled with no rain out, the results and details with photos will be in the July/August issue of the WATERFALL.

Club members please watch for emails with important notices of all events, scrambles, tournaments, and ways to volunteer, as well as log onto the website www.cresswindpickleball.com and join the Cresswind at LL Pickleball Club Facebook page to connect with our members and check out timely posts.

To facilitate filling your calendar, listed here are a few of the upcoming events/tournaments to be aware of: (May 20th ) The Tri-Cresswind Club Tournament between CWTL, CWLL, CW Peachtree City to be held at CWTL and lunch provided by Dr. Krynetskiy of Specialty Orthopedics; (June 3rd) NGHS Scrambles with lunch provided and members of the staff of NGHS to meet and greet; (Sept. 9th) the annual REED FINANCIAL Tournament and dinner. The mixed doubles FLEX League started in mid- April and continues through mid-June. Discussions are on-going about a 55+ inter-community league. It is exciting to offer so many events to look forward to as well as our daily “open play” schedules which have been very well attended. Stay tuned. The friendships and camaraderie cultivated by club members enhance the overall experience of living here and playing this great sport.

Just an FYI, we hope you noticed that April was National Pickleball Month and made it the best April ever. To showcase this forever growing sport was the Pickleball Slam on April 2nd with tennis greats, Roddick, Agassi, McEnroe, and Chang on ESPN/ABC. Hope you did not miss it.

Be sure to check out our club’s website store where you can purchase CWLL Pickleball Club logo attire and items. Remember to use the club’s discount code CRCresswind for 5% discount when ordering from PickleballCentral.com. The club receives 5% as well on each purchase.

“Pickleball Rocks” and it is definitely rocking here in Cresswind. See you on the courts!

PINOCHLE CLUB

Submitted by: Alex Ford

The Pinochle Club is always looking for more people to play Double Deck Pinochle with us. If you don’t know how to play the game, we will teach you. If you haven’t played in a long time, we will refresh your memory. If you are a seasoned player, jump right in with us.

We meet every Saturday at 1:00 pm in the Card Room on the second floor of the Clubhouse. You can stop by any time. If you have any questions, feel free to call or text Alex Ford at 908-938-0662.

PING PONG CLUB

Submitted By: Gregg Pike

The Cresswind Ping Pong Club continues Open Play on Tuesday’s from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm and Thursday’s from 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm in the Lanier Room. We also have a time slot on Monday’s from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm for people who still work. Everyone is invited to come try your hand at Ping Pong. There are no fees required to become a member of the Ping Pong Club. Tables are stored in the Lanier Room and paddles and balls are kept in the back closet in a storage bin. Look for announcements about upcoming events such as instructional clinics and drop-in tournaments. Congratulations to Randy Garcia who won the first drop-in tournament of 2023. Contact Gregg Pike or Kim Miller for information or questions about the Ping Pong Club.

POKER CLUB

Submitted by: Jerry Worlock

A great BIG happy announcement, in late March the Hold’em Poker tables were relocated to the Fitness Center in the tile floor area for a 30-day trial. This was the original location of the Hold’em Poker tables granted by the HOA Board, so we anticipate being able to stay here for the long term. We appreciate the HOA Board and Kitti, Cresswind Manager, took the time and research to arrive at the best possible decision for the residents of Cresswind. The Poker Club plays from 6:00 – 9:00 pm three nights a week. On Monday & Tuesday we play Texas Hold’em and Thursday we play Omaha. If you are interested in joining us, please let us know jerryworlock@gmail.com.

POKENO CARD CLUB

Submitted by: Sheran Connolly

Pokeno is played every Sunday night at 5:30 pm in the Crow’s Nest. Pokeno is an easy poker/keno type game. We play with pennies and nickels. Come and watch, you will want to play. Contact Sheran Connolly or Lois Worlock for additional information.

QUILTING CLUB

Submitted by: Sheran Connolly

The Quilt Group meets every Thursday at 1:00 pm in the Arts and Crafts room. Come join us and see what fun we have. You do not need to sew, just sit, and give us some inspiration. Our current project is a Quilt of Valor that will be donated to a Veterans group. We hope to have it finished in a few weeks and give quilt to Jonnie to quilt. Our next project is the Raffle Quilt that we make every year to be presented at the November Holiday Marketplace.

RUMMIKUB

Submitted by: Laura Martin

All residents are invited to come to play Rummikub every Friday at 12:30 in the Crow’s Nest. Rummikub is an easy tile game based on the card game Rummy. Don’t worry if you do not know how to play — we will teach you! So come join us! If you have any questions, contact Laura Martin at qnmartin118@gmail.com.

SAMBA CARD GROUP

Have you recently moved here and would like to learn to play cards? What a great way to make new friends! Whether you are new to Cresswind or have lived here a long time, we’d like to invite you to join in the fun we’re having playing Samba. If you’ve ever played Canasta or especially Hand and Foot, you will catch onto Samba fairly easily. However, even if you are new to cards, come join us. I can email you a sheet explaining the game, then you can sit in with us, and we’ll teach you to play. No commitments, just show up in the Billiards Room on Fridays before 12:30 to meet everyone. We play three games and are usually through by around 3:00. Friendly competition done with laughter and conversation. We draw cards to see who plays with who, so we can play with different people each week. Questions? Email Mary Ann Hoyle mam44p@yahoo.com.

SHALOM CLUB

Submitted by: Miriam Rosenberg

In March, The Shalom Club enjoyed our second annual hamantaschen bake. Hamantaschen are three cornered fruit-filled cookies that are eaten on this holiday. Purim commemorates the defeat of Haman, the advisor to the Persian king, and his plot to massacre the Jewish people, 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the biblical book of Esther.

We look forward to our next program, our Shavuot luncheon on Sunday, May 21st at 12:30 pm in the Clubhouse kitchen. Shavuot is one of the holidays where the Jewish people made a pilgrimage to the Temple. This holiday commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai.

In April, we will be holding a Planning Committee to plan programs for the next year. Hope to see many members join and share new ideas and enthusiasm for upcoming

programs. If you would like to join the Shalom Club or want more information about the Club, please reach out to Miriam Rosenberg (grammycooks716@gmail.com) 954-501-9249 or Karen Walters (karsuew@gmail.com) 301-461-1900.

CRESSWIND SOCIAL SINGLES

Submitted By: Barbara Hillick

Spring is here! It is time for you to get out of your house and join other Social Singles for some fun. Whether your idea of a good time is just meeting new people to talk or participating in activities with other singles, this is the club for you.

At the last Social Singles Mingle, snacks were served as brainstorming and a discussion of possible future events and activities took place with the members. This was followed by a variety of games for the rest of the evening.

The next Social Single Mingle will be in April with food followed by Bingo. Bowling, group lunches and dinners, movie and theatre going are enjoyed by members. For those interested in more active pursuits, many members participate in kayaking and hiking. Social Singles also gives back to the community by members volunteering with charities and donating proceeds from various activities to food banks.

There are many special events already in the works, so don’t miss them! If you are ready to join or just want more information about the club, please access the link on the Cresswind website and share your contact information. We are looking forward to meeting you!

SPORTS AND GAMES CLUB

Submitted by: Dan Skeel

Sports and Games held their first Bingo night of 2023 on March 7th at 7:00PM. We had our largest group of players in the past 5 years. As always it was a fun-filled evening with fabulous prizes and snacks. We gave restaurant gift cards to Bingo winners. Also, had raffle drawings for the fabulous prizes. We had a Grand Prize drawing for a restaurant gift card.

Our next Bingo will be June 6 at 7:00PM. Tickets will go on sale 1 to 2 weeks before in the Clubhouse lobby. Dates and times will be in Daily Update.

TENNIS CLUB

Submitted by: Danny Brown

The cold and winter rains finally gave way to spring weather and allowed us to heat up the tennis courts with lots of active play. We are looking forward to the warm weather of May and June before the stifling heat of summer sets in.

There has been lots of competitive play on our tennis courts. Our men’s Silverball league, captained by Dan Skeels, plays against other local communities on Monday mornings. Also on Monday mornings, you will find our ladies USTA 55+ 3.0 league, co-captained by Debbie Cortjens and Cindy Halperin, playing their home matches on our courts. Cresswind Men’s USTA Competitive 55+ Team will play this Spring Season in May-June. Five matches will be in May on Wednesday 10:00 am, either at Cresswind or other team venues in Hall County. Playoffs will be in the first two weeks of June. ALTA NEWS - Cresswind will also field at least one Men’s ALTA (Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association) team starting this fall. The “new” ALTA boundary guideline extends to include Hall County (also North Forsyth and Cherokee). There is much to look forward to in 2023! For information or questions, and to express your interest in playing Men’s USTA or ALTA, please contact Bill Papciak billpapciak@ gmail.com. Thanks to Roger Otto, with the help of Martha Roberts, Shirley Osterloh and Newt (Jasper) Keith, we once again had our mixed doubles resident league playing on Friday mornings during March and April. It’s always a fun time to get out and play with different partners for some friendly competition. If you aren’t playing, we invite you to come out and cheer for our teams.

Lots of other plays are taking place on our courts. Our

evening men’s doubles play, which provides an opportunity for our working guys to participate, will begin in May. If you would like to be on the list to play, you can contact either Roger Otto, raotto1@yahoo.com, or Danny Brown, dannybrown58@comcast.net. The evening and time will be determined by the preference of the participants. Thanks to the efforts of Judy Mota, jandjmota@msn.com, we have a lady’s round robin on Thursday mornings at 9:00. To sign up to play please contact Judy. Of course, we also have open play several times a week. Just check our website, or the bulletin board outside of Court 1, for the days and times. It’s a great time to get out and play and meet new people. Our social chairs, Jane and Ed Erkes, are busy planning several social events for the future. Our first Round Robin mixed doubles social will be on Saturday morning, May 6th. Watch our website for more details.

The Tennis Club sponsors clinics 3 times a month for anyone who is interested in returning to tennis or sharpening their skills. Bill Papciak and his team of talented instructors conduct the clinics. All 3 courts are used so the group is divided by skill level. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn strategy and improve your game. These are promoted in the Daily Update. All Cresswind residents are invited and no sign up is necessary; just show up.

For more information on Tennis Club events, be sure to check out our website, https://cresswindll.wixsite.com/ cwtennis. You may also contact our Club President, dannybrown58@comcast.net, if you have questions or want to get involved. We hope to see you on the courts.

COMMUNITY TRAVEL CLUB (CTC)

Submitted by: Debbie Aery

Let’s recap trips we have completed in the first quarter and plans for the second quarter:

• January was a trip to the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour.

• February was lunch at the Smith House and then the Holly Theatre Shakespeare Play in Dahlonega.

• March was a “Taste of Gainesville” tour in which we visited the Visitor’s Center, History Center, Quinlan Art Museum,

Elachee Science Center, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, and to finish our day LNB for beer sampling. The lunch was catered by Hop’s Kitchen, for which I highly recommend it to Clubs/ Committees should you need catering. It was a long but yet fun, educational day for all.

• April will include a trip to Dahlonega for the “Bear in the Park” festival.

• May we travel to watch a Gwinnett Stripers game. This is a special occasion as we celebrate “Salute our Veterans” night. Fireworks are after the game.

• June we are hearing a lot of chatter about our June overnight trip to Jekyll Island trip. You will enjoy the Barrier Islands and we will stay at the historic Jekyll Island Resort. Please go

WHAT’S HAPPENING

to the Travel Website to sign up.

Membership dues are open 24/7 to join the Travel Club. It is only $5.00 for the year. Questions/concerns can be addressed to any one of our loyal, fun-loving Board Members. Our General Meetings are held at 4 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month in the Ballroom. We will continue drawing four (4) $50.00 Gift Certificates each month. Our April General Meeting is April 6th. Come travel with us!!!

CRESSWIND VETERANS CLUB

Submitted by: Amy DeVillez

The Veterans Club had two big events, our Annual Fundraising and Prisoner of War (POW) guest speaker in February 2023. We would like to thank Rick & Diane Johnson for graciously offering their beautiful mountain home in Big Canoe, GA for our annual fundraiser. Because of their generosity, we raised a total of $5,405 in raffle ticket sales, which will help fund our programs that support our Veterans in need. Congratulations to this year’s lucky winner, Betty Wages! The winning raffle ticket was drawn on February 10, by our donors Rick & Diane. We also would like to thank our Cresswind residents for their support, by either buying raffles tickets or donating to the fundraiser.

What an opportunity to hear a firsthand account of a POW that was in captivity for 7 years 8 months during the Vietnam War. Truly inspirational in every respect! Our guest speaker, Porter Alexander Halyburton, came to Cresswind from Greensboro, NC. The ballroom was packed for his presentation. Absolutely received 5-star comments and such positive feedback - “Best event in 10 years in the Clubhouse”.

It’s What We Do: The Veterans Club (attended by Amy & John DeVillez and Rosemarie Bower) were honored to present a $2K scholarship to University North Georgia (UNG) ROTC

Cadet PFC Justin Tamburo at a Corp of Cadets award ceremony held at the UNG Convocation Center in Dahlonega, on March 30th. This is the first of three scholarship presentations this school year. Two more scholarships will be awarded very soon to two Veterans attending UNG, Gainesville campus.

Another program we are involved with is Habitat for Humanity. We had 13 volunteers, both Veterans & non-Veterans, participating in a project in Gainesville on April 15. Thank you to these volunteers.

Near & dear to our hearts is our Hospice Program. It is an honor to give back to our Veterans in hospice care. April 18th general meeting, our guest speaker was Karen Golden from NGHS Hospice. Our members had the chance to view the Branch of Service Blankets and Certificate & Challenge Coin presented to the Hospice patients during our Team visits. We are in critical need of more volunteers in our Hospice program, even our own club President, Amy, is now volunteering. If interested, please contact our lead, Ron Micuch at ronmicuch@gmail.com.

The Veterans Club is like the energizer bunny, it keeps going and going. For the first time in Veterans Club history, we are cutting two checks to two food banks in the Gainesville area each quarter (as long as our funds permits).

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Veterans Club Membership Appreciation Day is on August 1st on the Clubhouse green. Hotdogs/Burgers, drinks, other goodies, and entertainment (DJ

/ Cornhole) will be provided. Watch for more information in the daily updates and Veterans Club emails.

Cresswind Veterans is not just a club, it’s an adventure and a 501(c)(3), helping Veterans and Families in need in Hall County. REMINDER, you do not have to be a Veteran to be a member – supporters of Veterans are truly welcome. Annual dues are just $10 per household, cash or check (payable to Cresswind LL Veterans, Inc). Just place your dues in an envelope with your name(s) & email address and drop it into our lockbox in the Clubhouse. Thank you for your continued support! Check out Veterans Club at www.cresswindveterans.org.

WRITERS IN THE WIND: CRESSWIND CREATIVE WRITING GROUP

Submitted by: Laurie Homa

We are all looking forward to some warmer weather that will hopefully melt our frozen brains and reinvigorate our imaginations as we venture into the unchartered world of the creative mind. So, Jack Frost get lost.

Writers in the Wind is a small group of enthusiastic people who love to write. We have published authors, poets, beginners, and people whose careers had them writing for business and now want to try their hand at creative writing. We help each other through creative critiques, helpful hints, and plenty of friendly encouragement.

Are you interested in learning more about SelfPublishing? Would you like to know more about getting your stories or poems published online? Do you have an idea for a book but just can’t get it started? Do you ask yourself, “How do I put my life’s story on paper for my children and grandchildren?” Do you want to broaden your vocabulary, understand how to set a descriptive scene that will grab the readers’ interest? We have the answers to many of these questions.

Writers In the Wind meets the last Thursday of the month in the Savannah Room from 1 to 3 p.m. If you love to write and want to improve your writing skills, please join us. For more information, contact Laurie Homa at m2old4this@aol.com

GAINESVILLE SENIOR CENTER

Submitted by Cheryl Vassiliadis

The Cresswind Ballet Group performs at the Gainesville Senior Center and the other shows the Advanced Tai Chi Fan group perform there as well. These groups frequently take the opportunity to perform at the Gainesville Senior Center as a way to entertain and gain more experience demonstrating their expertise in front of a crowd.

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP

Submitted by:

Bob Goldmann, Parkinson’s Support Group – Chair

The Parkinson’s Support Group (PSG) provides a place for learning, exchange of information, and support for group members dealing with Parkinson’s issues. Membership is open not only to Parkinson’s patients and their caregivers, but also to anyone interested in learning more about this challenging disease. Since its inception in July of 2022, the membership has grown to 36.

The PSG regularly meets on the second Wednesday of each month in the Clubhouse ballroom at 2:00 pm.

On alternate months, the program features guest speakers who are professionals in the field of Parkinson’s research and treat -

ment.

For example, Annie Long, Associate Director of Community Programs at the Parkinson’s Foundation, recently gave an excellent presentation on breakthroughs in Parkinson research and clinical trials.

Physical therapists and exercise instructors have spoken on the importance of exercise for Parkinson’s patients.

At our meeting on May 10, a speaker will discuss Deep Brain Stimulation, a treatment option for some cases of Parkinson’s. On nonspeaker months, the program focuses on informal member-led discussions and activities. Please feel free to join us at any of our meetings.

BOOKS & PUZZLES

Submitted By: Eleanor Whalen

The Cresswind Library is a “lending library”, no library card, no check-out, no time limits on borrowed books, and no late fees! You may take home as many books as you can carry and when you return the books just place them on the library cart and a member of the library staff will shelve them for you.

Donations are always welcome; FICTION books need to have a copyright date of 2016 or newer. NON-FICTION categories are Biographies, Social Science, Politics, Religion, Philosophy and History. Please, no reference books, periodicals, or magazines.

The library also offers a quiet place to sit, relax or work on one of the jigsaw puzzles. Walk down the hall toward the Lanier Room and take a look at the newly organized Jigsaw Puzzle Collection. There is a wide selection of beautiful puzzles, they are now easy to access and arranged in order of sizes from 300 pieces to 1,000+ pieces.

PATIENT TRAVELS FROM MINNESOTA FOR GEORGIA HEART INSTITUTE’S FIRST ROBOTIC HEART SURGERY.

Heart surgeries that used to require long incisions and months of recovery can now be performed in Gainesville through tiny 8-millimeter incisions – about the diameter of an ink pen – with much faster recovery times. Georgia Heart Institute’s surgeons at Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery are now offering minimally-invasive, robotic heart surgery, giving patients in the area more access to much-needed, state-ofthe-art procedures.

“I’m excited to announce that we performed our first robotic heart surgery last week at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) in Gainesville,” said T. Sloane Guy, MD, a robotic heart surgeon and the director of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Heart Surgery at NGPG.

“The surgery went so well that Bill was able to leave the hospital just two days after the surgery, and he’ll be able to fly home to Minnesota after his follow-up appointment this week.”

Bill Mayfield and his wife originally traveled to Georgia last month to visit their son, but Bill started to feel ill. He stopped by NGPG Urgent Care in Dahlonega, where the care team discovered a heart murmur. They quickly referred him to Dr. Guy at NGPG Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery.

Dr. Guy explained Bill needed heart surgery, there was a less invasive robotic surgery option and he was an excellent candidate. Bill and his wife were optimistic, but wanted to go back home to Minnesota to do a little research.

“I read that Dr. Guy was one of the best robotic heart surgeons in the country,” recalled Bill. “It made the most sense for us to make the trip back down from Minnesota, and it was definitely worth it. Just two days after the surgery, I was leaving the hospital and feeling great. I can’t believe what the team was able to do through these tiny incisions. I remember when my brother had open heart surgery, and this is a totally different experience.”

“Robotic surgery patients can have a significantly shorter recovery period,” said Dr. Guy. “This means they can get back to their normal activities sooner than open heart surgery patients.”

NGPG Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery is an integral part of Georgia Heart Institute, Northeast Georgia Health System’s (NGHS) comprehensive heart and vascular service line.

“Whether the surgery is done using a minimally invasive approach or an open approach, our primary goal is providing the best possible treatment plan and outcome for each individual patient,” said Clifton Hastings, MD, medical director of NGPG Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery. “We’re collaborating with the cardiologists of Georgia Heart Institute to coordinate care across specialties, providing patients a more seamless patient experience.”

To schedule an appointment with NGPG Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, call 770-219-7099. To schedule an appointment with one of Georgia Heart Institute’s cardiologists, visit georgiaheartinstitute.org or call 770-534-2020.