WBL July 2015 by Woodbridge LIFE

W oodbridge Volume 5 ▪ Issue 47 ▪ Number 46

LIFE

Your Life. Your Community. Your News.

July ▪ 2015

July

Woodbridge LIFE was published a bit early this month so all of the hardworking staff have a chance to enjoy the Fourth of July weekend. Happy Independence Day, America! Look for highlights of June’s Garden Tour and the many beautifully landscaped yards visited by tourgoers in today’s edition. We get our news from YOU! If you know of someone or something special that happened (or will happen) in Woodbridge, let us know. The purpose of this newspaper is to celebrate residents’ accomplishments and the activities going on in our community.

THE MOON HOW'D THAT GET THERE?

Inside

Bedford and Hancock . . . 7 Bridge Scores . . . . . . . . 12 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Events and Tours . . . . . . . 8 Garden Tasks . . . . . . . . 19 Groups and Clubs . . . . . . 6 Where in the World . . . . . 38

READ WBL ONLINE : http://issuu.com/ woodbridgelife

WBLIFE2012@gmail.com

WBL photo by Volker Moerbitz. Article by Mike Spence, using sources including Natural History Museum U.K., NASA and NASA Moon Geology Report and Journal of Natural Geoscience.

ur moon, Luna as named by the Romans, has been circling earth for a good long time. How the moon arrived, was made or evolved has been the subject of many theories, guesses, superstitions and religious beliefs. As our technology increased, so did our ability to understand the moon and its history. The moon walks by our astronauts brought back many bits and pieces from the moon for study here on earth. They also made scientific measurements of everything they thought might be useful. They left instruments on the moon’s surface that continued to send data back to earth. After nearly 50 years of data collection and analysis, the origin of the moon seems a bit clearer. One theory of the moon’s origin popular in the ‘60s suggested that the earth and the moon were once just one big blob of planetary building blocks. The blob was a bit unstable and perhaps not as “round” as it should be. A piece of the blob broke off and became the moon. If you’re thinking a “lava lamp,” you’ve got the mental picture. The moon rocks were found to contain material similar to earth rocks but were richer in refractory elements, those created by high temperatures. Some moon rocks are older than the oldest rocks so far discovered on earth. The earth has an iron core, the moon does not. This theory is losing steam. Another theory from the ‘60s suggests the moon was a “rogue” planet and it was simply captured by earth’s gravity as it passed by. If this theory is correct, why do moon rocks show signs of impact fracturing? Considering gravity and the attraction of such large bodies to one another, the capture needed a perfect combination of

See

MOON page 10

www.ourwoodbridge.net

Woodbridge LIFE

Lots has been going on in Woodbridge this past month. See a follow-up story about the Woodbridge 100 Golf Cart Races on page 30 and fun photos of the Swingin’ Blue Stars by Dreanna Langdon on page 18. Dreanna also shares her photos of May’s Cinco de Mayo and Happy Hour events on page 18. Judy McNamara introduces Robert Ybarra in her Triker’s Travels column on page 29. An informative article further explains PTSD, a major problem for many veterans. I am sorry for the recent loss of resident Phil Bookman, a 40-year career journalist, founder and leader of the Woodbridge Creative Writing group. My acquaintance with Phil was brief but he left an impression on me. Bookman

Page 3 • July 2015

By Dodie Miller, Activities Director

By Carol Jo Hargreaves, WBL Editor

A second California-important event being commemorated this month is the opening of “The Happiest Place on Earth.” Yes, Disneyland® opened July 17, 1955, and is celebrating its diamond anniversary this year. I’ll bet you didn’t know our Activities Director Dodie Miller sang at the opening of the Magic Kingdom, did you?

From Dodie's Desk

From the Editor he imaginative Woodbridge LIFE Editorial Team chose “moon walking” as the theme of this month’s newspaper to commemorate the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon and the United States’ first moon landing. You will find informative articles by Jean Kavale on pages 10 and 11 detailing the moon mission and the astronauts who made it. Also moon-related is Mike Spence’s Did You Know trivia column on page 37.

W Carol Jo Hargreaves, WBL Editor was not officially part of this paper’s editorial team but I felt his influence and wanted the quality of this paper to live up to his professional standards. Upon joining the Creative Writing group, Phil, an avid reader, would provide a lengthy and intimidating reading list. To improve their writing skills, Bookman strongly encouraged his students to read all types of material, from the classics to the daily news. The topics Bookman wrote about were as eclectic as his reading interests. His writing style was tight and his subject matter intriguing. Last year Phil wrote regular columns for the Manteca Bulletin and the Lodi News-Sentinel. His articles provided insight into the man he was. He wrote about his father, travel, owning a racehorse, the joy and pride of marching in a Fourth of July parade, the good and bad sides of Germany, reveries on being Roger Federer and being able to dance the tango, the cherished freedom of voting, the media and reporters, health care, animal cruelty, the benefits of growing older, a lot about Christmas, his favorite time of year, and, as he knew his days

See

EDITOR page 4

The deadline for submission of articles and photographs for the August 2015 edition of Woodbridge LIFE is Monday, July 6, 2015. (We gave you an extra day due to the holiday weekend.) Please email your articles to wblife2012@gmail.com

e want you to join in for the first Red, White & Blue Dance that will prime us for the big Fourth of July weekend. I would like to see lots of patriotic RED, WHITE and BLUE being worn and I’m anticipating some unique ideas. There will also be a “hot dog bar” with lots of trimmings to choose from (chili, sauerkraut, cheese, chopped onions, relish, etc.) This event will be a sellout, so get your tickets early. I’ve invited Suzanne Schultz from the San Joaquin County district attorney’s office to update us on the Communities Against Senior Dodie Miller, WOA Activities Director Exploitation (CASE) program that provides information necessary to keep senior citizens from becoming victims of fraud and abuse. Suzanne hasn’t been to Woodbridge for a while and she puts on a very informative presentation. She will also have a handout for everyone who attends. Thorson Financial is hosting a wine tasting and lunch bus trip to Viaggio Winery and Estate in Lodi. They will be conducting an informative talk with a wine raffle. You’ll have lunch on Viaggio’s patio and may browse around the beautiful grounds and estate. Our Happy Hour this month will feature DJ Jerry Sauceda, a most talented entertainer. You don’t need to bring chairs and/or tables any longer. They will be provided for you.

See

DODIE page 4

Page 4 • July 2015

Woodbridge LIFE

From the Bridge J

From

www.ourwoodbridge.net

EDITOR page 3

were growing shorter, a piece titled, “Out, out, brief candle!” Bookman’s Woodbridge Creative Writing group met regularly for about a year. Articles written by students including James Cadle, Ray and Pepper Noble and Debra Ristau (former Woodbridge LIFE editor) appeared in this newspaper. Phil, we will miss you but not forget all that you taught us.

By Ramon Rivera

~Carol Jo and the Woodbridge LIFE Team

uly marks an anniversary I am very proud to celebrate. It has been two amazing years for me here at Woodbridge. I can’t imagine myself being anywhere else but here. My choice to join the association was a very tough decision at the time. There were plenty of factors I had to consider when making my choice and not a lot of time in which to do so. When I look back at it now, I’m so happy and appreciative of the opportunity to be here. The number one thing that makes Woodbridge special to me is its residents. The relationships I have built and continue to nurture give me the motivation to do my best every day. The first couple of days on the job were quite an eye opener to the lifestyle that is Woodbridge. The lifestyle wasn’t entirely foreign to me because I had worked here as a contractor. I was blown away to see the amount of activity taking place here daily. We have softball, walking group, poker, line dancing, club meetings and the list goes on! I said to myself, “Wow!” I could never have imagined all this was happening right under my nose. As contractors working on the construction site, we had an idea of what types of outdoor activities were going on because we could see them while driving by, like a softball game or a putting tournament. There are still times when I pause and think back to those days and experience the same feeling of awe.

From

Ramon Rivera, Operations Manager The activities and events are top notch but the people are what make Woodbridge a community. As my days turn to weeks, I am continuing to meet new residents daily. I have been so enamored by the people and the atmosphere. I feel all I was thinking and talking about was Woodbridge. I’ve felt like a school kid at times, wanting to run home because I couldn’t wait to talk about a new event or new residents I was meeting. My now wife, Kristie, would tease me when we were engaged and ask me if I had a change of heart and would rather marry Woodbridge since it was all I thought about! The excitement I felt through the first couple of days on the job as a part-time maintenance assistant still resonates in me today. My relationships with the residents of Woodbridge have gone beyond meeting the people who live here. They have extended to their sons, daughters and grandchildren of all ages. I feel a great sense of pride to represent Woodbridge and to be a part of something special.

�

DODIE page 3

Doctors Hospital will host their wine and cheese social and Niko Tejeda, CEO, always has updates for us on changes or additions at the facility. Assorted cheeses, fruits and wine will be provided. The hospital brings many prizes to give away as well. Our first blood drive of the year is coming this month to support Delta Blood Bank. Medical personnel from the Delta Blood Bank will take you through the entire process. There are many reasons to donate blood: Patients in our community need it and people you love may need it. One donation can save up to three lives and blood only comes from blood donors. What you can expect as a first time donor: Your name, address and identification will be taken as well as your temperature, medical history and pulse. Your hemoglobin (iron level) and blood pressure also will be checked. You will be assigned a bed where the medical personnel will prepare your arm. Your blood donation will take approximately five to 10 minutes. A piece of gauze will be placed on your arm and then you’ll go to the refreshment area. You will stay in the refreshment area for 15 minutes where you can have juice, coffee, tea and cookies. This is to replace the fluid you lost. Allow approximately 45 to 60 minutes for the entire donating process. You cannot get AIDS or any other disease by donating blood. Donors should eat a good breakfast or lunch on the day of the donation and drink plenty of fluids. We have a sign-up sheet for donors at the front desk. You may collect flyers on all of the events mentioned above at the Clubhouse.

�

www.ourwoodbridge.net

From the Boardroom

By Roger Cunning, Vice President of the Woodbridge Owners Association Board of Directors

he board of directors is reviewing comments provided to finalize some necessary changes to governing documents that require updating. Proposed changes to the Rules and Regulations document were posted for a 30-day period following the May Board Meeting for homeowners to review and provide written comment. Summarizing the recommended changes: adding amenities for Liberty Park; changing executive director to operations manager, changing the names of rooms already approved and minor administrative cleanup. Your comments are greatly appreciated. The board hopes to approve the proposed changes during the July 9 meeting.

Woodbridge LIFE

The board of directors will also be considering a change to the entry monument fountains at the July meeting. The fountains will be turned off and drought tolerant irrigation and plant materials may be used as replacements. The money provided in a Pulte settlement may provide funding for this project. Artistic landscaping options renderings are available for review in the Board Review Binder at the front desk of the Clubhouse. Thank you to all of those who provided an opinion in the survey. The board will also review Election Rules to include the schedule for upcoming elections to the board of directors. These rules are necessary as the election season begins. The board of directors requested the developer (Pulte) expedite providing written guidance regarding landscaping requirements in the face of current drought conditions. Representatives from the developer pledged to do just that. We continue to wait patiently as they are evaluating several acceptable options that meet the developer’s overall plan for our community while complying with state

Page 5 • July 2015

and local requirements of associations and residents. The range of options the developer is considering includes more of a “desertscape” appearance, drought-tolerant vegetation, and the potential of artificial turf if, and only if, proper standards are developed. More information will be provided when it becomes available. If you have any architectural questions, please feel free to ask representatives working at the Lakeview Clubhouse front desk and they will be happy to assist or refer you to an Architectural Review Committee member who will be sure to help as best as possible. If your question(s) are related to developer progress in this potential update, the staff may not know much more than you are already aware of. The board of directors continues to welcome your input and hopes residents attend its meetings. Remember, the next meeting is Thursday, July 9.

From the WOA Payment of Assessments and Online Assessment Payments By Pamela Ciapessoni

eginning August 1, 2015, Riverside will be using a new system to process owner assessments. There are several reasons for making this change. Many homeowners choose to pay their monthly assessments by logging on to the Riverside Management website to make a onetime payment either by electronic check (ACH) or credit card. Beginning August 1, that process will change because Riverside is moving its accounting to a new and improved software. To pay your August dues, you will log directly in to the accounting system portal by going to: https://myaccount. riversidemgmt.com to register. In late July, all WOA owners will receive a letter with their account number and initial password to register during their first visit to the site. Once registered, you will then set up your email address and password for future logins. Owners will still be able to see their account history and make a one-time payment, just as before, but they will have other options, including editing their contact information, mailing address and phone numbers. Later this year, board members will be able to log in to view financial reports and the treasurer will be able to view invoices

for payment. Finally, this new portal will have enhanced security. Please note that homeowners who send their assessments to the lock box or have their Pamela Ciapessoni, Riverside Management assessments automatically deducted from their checking accounts each month will have to do nothing different. We have always gone the extra mile when it comes to our clients’ money and collection of assessments. We believe this new accounting system will streamline the process even more and will benefit owners and help them manage their account information. Please look for your letter in July. We will also train the onsite staff to help answer any questions you might have during this process.

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WOA Groups and Clubs: Groups & Clubs

Woodbridge LIFE

Contact

Phone

Meeting Day And Time

Artists & Crafters Ballroom Dance

Nedra Ball Patti Barnhart

815-9309 629-8838

Bocce Ball Bridge Bridge Groupies Bunco Bunco-also contact

Rick Hyden Don St. Lawrence Jeanne Thomas Mary Braun Susan Russitano

824-9257 825-7137 823-3545 239-0409 275-5817

M-F. Time & Workshops vary Thursdays @ 4:15 p.m. TH at 8 a.m. and SU at 6 p.m., effective 6/11/2015 Mondays @ 10 a.m. Thursdays @ 4 p.m. 3rd Monday @ 6:30 p.m. 3rd Monday @ 6:30 p.m. Various Mondays and

Chair Volleyball Cooking 401

Jacquie Steffy Mike Spence Renée St. Lawrence Dave Steffy Dona Eberhardt

825-4805 924-8032

Tuesdays. 3rd Tuesday @ 2 p.m.

825-7137 825-4805 629-8069

Thursdays @ 10 a.m. Tuesdays @ 7 p.m. Thursdays @ 12:30 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays @ 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m. W-SA-SU @ 1 p.m. Thursdays @ 7 p.m. M-W-F @ 9:15 a.m. Fridays @ 6 p.m. 2nd Monday @ 10 a.m. Patrols Mondays @ 6 p.m. 3rd Thursday @ 6 p.m. (some

Crochet/Knitting Cribbage Drama

Game Night Pat Buxton Game Night-also contact Rick Hyden

239-8663 824-9257

Hand & Foot Line Dancing Line Dancing (Evening) Men of Woodbridge Neighborhood Watch Paddle Tennis

Ruth Field Patti Barnhart Bill Goodwin Bill Goodwin Bob Hall Stan Sutfin

229-6977 629-8838 823-9767 823-9767 239-5712 815-9735

Photography Pickleball Pinochle

Janet Smyers Bob Hall Robert Philis

647-4636 239-5712 825-3053

Poker

Al Sanchez

239-8235

exceptions) M-F. Time varies M @ 2:15pm & TH @ 1 p.m. Wed @ 1:30 p.m. & Fri @ 5:30 p.m.

Poker - also contact Radio Controlled Flyers

Joe Victoria Bob Umberger Renée St. Lawrence John Green Chuck Gary Butch Larson Carla Marquardt Mel Topping Eileen Hill Jack Dauler Jacque Reynolds Bill Barnhart Jon Ford Birdie Nieri Elizabeth Cunning

815-9343 239-2983

Wed @ 1:30 p.m. & Fri @ 5:30 p.m. Days and times vary

825-7137 239-5256 834-6795 824-2062 624-3754 239-8718 624-3945 629-8575 629-8508 629-8838 815-9803 624-3779 647-4380

1st Wed @ 10:30 a.m. Days and times vary Various golf courses Seasonal Mondays @ 2:15 p.m. SU - TU - TH @ 8:30 a.m. 3rd Tuesday @ 7 p.m. 2nd Monday @ 4 p.m. M-W-F @ 8:30 a.m. 1st Tuesday @ 10:45 a.m. Days vary 3rd Wed @ 11 a.m. Every other Monday @ 7 p.m.

Readers’ Group Second Chance Band Senior Golf Silver Sluggers Softball Strummin’ Wonders Tennis Trivia Veterans Walking Indoors Wheels of Woodbridge Wine 101 Women of Woodbridge Woodbridge Singers

Non-WOA Sanctioned Clubs: Club

Christian Men 55er's RV Group "Just Fore Fun" Ladies' Golf Red Hat Ladies Senior Bowling Women's Bible Study

Contact

Phone

Mel Reynolds Sue Edmiston Betty Buff Claudia Watkins Barbara Silva Carolyn Johnson

624-3768 601-9210 479-3568 823-8678 824-0262 239-0936

Please refer to www.ourwoodbridge.net for more detailed information

www.ourwoodbridge.net

Reaching Out Lakeview Clubhouse: 824-7581

Board of Directors

John Johnson, President Roger Cunning, Vice President Christine Carlson, Treasurer Garry Dudley, Secretary Carl Hansen, Director at Large

Resident Directors

Roger: 647-4380 / Garry: 648-4868

Operations Manager

Ramon Rivera:

495-6803

Activities Director

Dodie Miller:

Lifestyle Manager

Erika Smith:

824-7927 824-7581

Management

Riverside Management PO BOX 697 Roseville, CA 9566 916-740-2462

The opinions expressed in Woodbridge LIFE’s feature articles, paid advertisements and editorial content do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper or the Woodbridge Owners Association.

WOODBRIDGE LIFE MISSION STATEMENT: “Woodbridge LIFE is a celebration of the diversified residents of Woodbridge by Del Webb in Manteca – a look at their accomplishments, an exploration of their hopes and dreams, a place to share joy, announce activities and bring neighbors together. Woodbridge LIFE strives to enhance the lives of all residents and exceed expectations with informative articles, lively features, a calendar of events and more.”

Woodbridge LIFE

2401 Morning Brook Drive Manteca, CA 95336

209-824-7581

www.ourwoodbridge.net PUBLISHER

WOA

EDITOR

Carol Jo Hargreaves

824-7581

823-3538

ADVERTISING Erika Smith

WBL EDITORIAL TEAM Bill Barnhart Sharyl Burgeson Carol Jo Hargreaves, chair Jean Kavale Ann King Judy McNamara Dodie Miller Volker Moerbitz Pepper Noble Ramon Rivera Erika Smith Mike Spence

824-7581 629-8838 239-1492 823-3538 629-8571 650-464-0151 923-4718 824-7927 239-7965 239-1933 495-6803 824-7581 924-8032

Woodbridge LIFE is a free monthly publication of the Woodbridge Owners Association, a nonprofit organization serving the residents of the Woodbridge by Del Webb community in Manteca, CA. Woodbridge LIFE invites stories, photographs, comments, cartoons, jokes and any other information that would be of interest to residents. We reserve the right to accept or refuse submissions and edit for content and length. We also reserve the right to refuse advertising or articles that in our opinion do not reflect the standards of the newspaper. The opinions expressed, whether by paid advertisement or editorial content, do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper or the Woodbridge Owners Association. Content submitted may be edited, reprinted and acknowledged without consent unless specifically requested. Woodbridge LIFE proofreaders use the Associated Press Stylebook, “the journalist’s bible,” as a writing and editing reference. The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. Materials submitted with a self-addressed, stamped envelope will be returned. Contents copyright © 2015 by Woodbridge Owners Association. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

WBLIFE2012@gmail.com

Page 7 • July 2015

Page 8 • July 2015

Woodbridge Owners Association Committees ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW • Carl Hansen, Chair carl.hansen@pultegroup.com 925-249-3213 FINANCE • April Oakland, Chair april@riversidemgmt.com LIFESTYLE • Dodie Miller, Chair millerdodie@gmail.com 824-7927 POLICY & PROCEDURES • Chuck Gary, Chair cgaryjr@sbcglobal.net 834-6795 PROPERTY & GROUNDS • Ramon Rivera, Chair rrivera@ourwoodbridge.net 495-6803 COMMUNICATION • Carol Jo Hargreaves, Chair, Woodbridge LIFE Editor and Directory Chair cjohargreaves@gmail.com 823-3538 WELCOMING COMMITTEE • Diana Clements, Co-Chair tenor4@comcast.net 665-4353 •

Jeanne Tebbutt, Co-Chair jltebbutt@gmail.com 923-4356 NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

Woodbridge LIFE

www.ourwoodbridge.net

Coming to Woodbridge EVENTS and TOURS - July 2015 By Dodie Miller, Activities Director SPEAKER SERIES – Thursday, July 2 @ 2 p.m. – Stroll down memory lane with the Giants featuring speaker Matt Johanson, author of Giants: Where Have You Gone? and Game of My Life: San Francisco Giants. Multipurpose Room. Sign up at the front desk. RED, WHITE & BLUE DANCE – Thursday, July 2 @ 5:30 p.m. – Crystal Image Band will play our favorite dance songs as we begin the Fourth of July weekend. There will be a hot dog bar with lots of different toppings. The band will begin at 6:30 p.m. You may bring your beverage of choice. Tickets are $10 per person and available at the front desk. LADIES’ LUNCHEON – Wednesday, July 8 @ Noon – July's luncheon will be at Midgley’s Public House at Lincoln Center in Stockton (Michael Midgley is the chef from Manteca’s Ernie’s). Fried chicken sandwich or Fish, Shrimp and Fries or Steak Salad. (See the flyer for ingredients.) Cost is $21 per person - CASH ONLY - to either Jacqueline Andrews (823-9241) or Jacque Reynolds (629-8508). Call to make your reservation. There are only 36 spots. Price does not include drinks. There are no refunds. OREGON AND THE COAST – Sunday - Friday, July 12 - 17 – 7 a.m. departure. Experience Oregon’s treasures from pristine Crater Lake

• Bill Barnhart bill.barnhart@mrbconsulting.us 629-8838

Important Notice About Cancellations

to the spectacular Oregon Coast. Ride a jet boat on the Rogue River, a giant dune buggy on the Oregon sand dunes, and learn about sea life on a naturalist-led cruise from Newport. Reservations are made through Setness Tours at 209-476-8486. Tour prices: $1,389 double occupancy and $1,759 single occupancy. (**Waiting list) SUZANNE SCHULTZ, SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE – Wednesday, July 15 @ 6:30 p.m. - Ms. Schultz will inform us of the CASE program which provides critical information to keep senior citizens from becoming victims of fraud and abuse. There will also be a handout. Please sign up at the front desk. WINE 101 – Thursday, July 16 @ 6 p.m. – "Which White is Which?" is the theme for July. See Jon Ford's article on page 32 for more information. WINE TASTING & LUNCH BUS TRIP – Thursday, July 23 @ 11 a.m. - You’ll visit the Viaggio Estate and Winery in Lodi and have lunch of assorted pizzas on the patio. Wine tasting, a wine raffle and exploration of the beautiful estate grounds are also trip features. This event is sponsored by Thorson Financial. Sign up at the front desk.

Bring your beverage of choice and an appetizer. No need to bring chairs or tables – these will be provided. Ticket cost has gone up to $5 per person. Tickets are available at the front desk. POTLUCK NIGHT – Tuesday, July 28 @ 5:30 p.m. - Hearty appetizers, salads and desserts. You may bring your beverage of choice. Coffee and water will be provided. Sign up at the front desk. DOCTORS HOSPITAL WINE & CHEESE SOCIAL – Wednesday, July 29 @ 5:30 p.m. – Join your neighbors and enjoy wine and cheese. Doctors Hospital will present updates from the hospital. There are also prizes to be given away. Please sign up at the front desk. DELTA BLOOD BANK DRIVE – Thursday, July 30 @ 2 p.m. – A blood donation can save up to three lives. There are many reasons to donate: Every two seconds someone needs blood – blood has a shelf life of 42 days – blood is needed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – there is absolutely no health risk from donating blood. Medical personnel will take you through the process in the Multipurpose Room. A sign-up sheet is at the Clubhouse front desk. Please sign up before July 30.

HAPPY HOUR – Friday, July 24 @ 6 p.m. - Dance music by Jerry Sauceda.

When you have signed up for an event, activity or tour and you find you are unable to attend, please, as a courtesy to others, call the Clubhouse front desk (824-7581) to cancel. If the event has a wait list, the front desk can fill the vacancy from the list. Thank you.

www.ourwoodbridge.net

Woodbridge LIFE

July Activities Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Page 9 • July 2015

Friday

Saturday

2 p.m. – Speaker Series

FOURTH OF JULY

5:30 p.m. – Red, White &

Clubhouse Open

Blue Dance

9 a.m. – Architectural

12 p.m. – Ladies’

9:30 a.m. – Doctors

1 p.m. – Listening Post

Review Committee

Luncheon

Hospital Healthcare

Forum 10 a.m. – New Resident Orientation 1:30 p.m. – Board Meeting

7:30 a.m. – Oregon & the Coast – returning

2 p.m. – Policy &

6:30 p.m. – Suzanne

6 p.m. – Wine 101

Procedures Committee

Schultz, San Joaquin

July 17. (Setness Tours)

County District

(**Waiting list)

Attorney's Office (CASE

program)

9 a.m. – Architectural

11 a.m. – Wine Tasting

6 p.m. – Happy Hour

Review Committee

& Lunch Bus w/Thorson Financial

5:30 p.m. – Potluck

5:30 p.m. – Doctors

Night

Hospital Wine & Cheese

2 p.m. – Delta Blood Bank Drive

Social

This calendar was last updated 6/22/15 - refer to flyers or the Woodbridge portal for additional information.

► Events and activities are listed on page 8.

More information about these as well as Woodbridge Clubs and Groups may be found on the Woodbridge portal and at the Lakeview Clubhouse.

s t n e v E g n i Com Name of Event

As a courtesy to Woodbridge residents, we are providing the following event information to assist in planning and obtaining tickets. Please note: This information is subject to change. Contact the Clubhouse front desk if you have questions.

Event Date

Purchase Tickets Starting:

Resident Painters Art Show

8/1/2015

No Ticket

Canadian Rockies (Setness)

8/8-8/16/2015

Now

Hot August Nights Dance (Jerry Sauceda)

8/15/2015

7/17/2015

Actor, Comedian & Master Hypnotist

8/20/2015

7/23/2015

Stanford & Space (Setness)

8/26/2015

Now

Happy Hour (Natalia)

8/28/2015

7/24/2015

Second Chance Band Dance

8/29/2015

7/31/2015

Salad & Baked Potato Bar

9/3/2015

8/10/2015

Elvis "Live"

9/12/2015

8/17/2015

9/20-9/26/2015

Now

Chili/Baked Potato Feed (MOW)

9/23/2015

8/20/2015

Happy Hour

9/25/2015

8/28/2015

Canyon Country (Setness)

POTLUCK NIGHT TUESDAYS 2015 JULY 28 - HEARTY APPETIZERS AUGUST 25 - CASSEROLES SEPTEMBER 29 - YOUR FAVORITE DISH OCTOBER 27 - SOUPS & SALADS

Page 10 • July 2015 From

Woodbridge LIFE

MOON page 1

distance and speed to have occurred. If earth captured the moon, why is the moon moving away from the earth about one inch a year? Intriguing theory. Yet another theory suggests the moon and earth were formed on the same planetary plane. The moon was/is a bit older but made of the same general stuff as the earth. The two planets were racing around the same racetrack; one was faster than the other. The collision would account for the observed refractory elements and the impact fractures. The earth’s

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axis is tilted about 23 degrees off from the plane of her orbit. If this collision occurred, we’re back to the lava lamp design or something like stacking the third scoop on an ice cream cone just a bit off center and it falls. In either case, the moon splits off from the earth and continues to move away. There’s a lot of traction for this theory. Did the moon impact the earth or visa versa? Nobody knows for sure, but if it did happen I have a question. Did the collision make a super ginormous loud “bang” sound or was it just a long “squish” into the still molten earth?

Mission to the Moon By Jean Kavale

ccasionally when I look at the moon shining brightly in the heard him on their radios as he spoke or watched images of him sky above Manteca, I think about the days when Americans walking on the lunar surface. It was a proud moment for America. not only traveled there but also walked on its surface. It was Buzz Aldrin was the second man to set foot on the moon. He and a remarkable achievement and the result of a step-by-step process Neil Armstrong spent about two-and-a-half hours doing various tasks that took place over several years. One major step occurred in 1958, such as planting an American flag in the moon’s dirt, performing when President Eisenhower founded the National Aeronautics and experiments, taking pictures and collecting more than 45 pounds of Space Administration (NASA), a government agency designed to lead lunar material. Michael Collins, meanwhile, orbited around the moon space exploration. It has done so ever since. in Columbia, the command module. The idea of lunar travel was conceived in 1960, also during Eagle was on the moon for 21 hours before it roared back to Eisenhower’s administration. Called the Apollo program, it was a Columbia, carrying Neil and Buzz. Remaining behind was a stainless follow-up to the Mercury program. Unlike the Mercury capsule, which steel plaque they brought with them, which they had signed. It also could support just one astronaut and could only orbit the earth, the had the signatures of Michael Collins and President Nixon. It read: Apollo spacecraft was designed to carry three astronauts and be able “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July to orbit the moon. 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.” All three astronauts, When President Kennedy took office in January 1961, he wanted now together again, left the moon’s orbit on July 22 and returned the United States to have superiority over the Soviet Union in space safely to Earth. exploration. A Russian, however, was the first person to fly in space. Yuri Gagarin accomplished that feat in April 1961, although the U.S. wasn’t far behind. In May of that year, astronaut Alan Shepherd became the second person and the first American to fly in space. A forward-looking President Kennedy was spurred into action by the foregoing events. He asked Vice President Johnson to look into the status of America's space program and into programs that could enable the U.S. to catch up with the Soviets. As a result of extensive research into the technical details, it was determined that the United States could be the first country to reach the moon. On May 25, 1961, Kennedy proposed the moon landing to a joint session of Congress. Some of his words follow: “ . . . Since early in my term, our efforts in space have been under review. With the advice of the vice president, who is chairman of the National Space Council, we have examined where we are strong and where we are not . . . Now it is time to take longer strides, time for a great new American enterprise . . .” John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth, another step toward the objective of traveling to the moon. This happened February 20, 1962. Further steps were the launchings of test flights Apollo 2 through 10. Sadly, there was a fire in the cabin of the first proposed test flight, Apollo 1, which resulted in the deaths of the three astronauts who were inside: Gus Grissom, Edward H. White II and Roger B. Chaffee. President Kennedy’s dream of putting an American on the moon came true in 1969. Neil Armstrong, serving as Apollo 11 commander, Photo by NASA. piloted the lunar module that landed on the moon’s surface July 20. Astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin joined Armstrong. The third man The moon rises over the University of California's Lick Observatory. on this mission, astronaut Michael Collins, stayed in the command module. Due to an assassin’s bullet, it was too late for President Kennedy to hear Neil Armstrong’s words as he left the lunar module, called Eagle, and stepped onto the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Millions of people all over the world

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Page 11 • July 2015

THE APOLLO 11 ASTRONAUTS Article by Jean Kavale and photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

eil Armstrong, born in Ohio August 5, 1930, was fascinated by airplanes in his teenage years. He took flying lessons and earned a pilot’s license when he was 17. After studying for two years at Purdue, he was called to active duty with the U.S. Navy and sent to Pensacola Naval Air Station. There he happily earned his wings. Neil completed three years of active duty as a navy officer and flew 78 combat missions during the Korean War. After the war, Armstrong finished his bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering at Purdue and became a test pilot, at which he excelled. At Edwards Air Force Base, he made test flights of more than 50 types of aircraft and then joined NASA. In 1966 he made his first flight in space as the command pilot of Gemini 8. Neil was NASA’s first civilian astronaut to fly in space, and Apollo 11 was his last space flight. After retiring in 1971, he became a spokesman for several businesses. He also earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from USC. For eight years, until 1979, he was a professor in aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati. Armstrong’s wife Janet stood by his side during his years of flying and beyond, and they were married 38 years before divorcing. They had two sons and a daughter. Sadly, their daughter succumbed to a malignant brain tumor at two years of age. Neil married Carol, his second wife, in 1994. Due to blocked coronary arteries, Armstrong had bypass surgery August 7, 2012. He seemed to be recovering well but developed complications at the hospital and died August 25. Afterward, a White House statement said Neil was among the greatest American heroes, “not just of his time, but of all time.” Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin was born January 20, 1930, in New Jersey. An excellent student who sought a military career, he earned a B.S. degree in 1951 from West Point, graduating third in his class. During the Korean War, Buzz flew 66 combat missions as a U.S. Air Force jet fighter pilot and shot down two MiG-15s. Some of Aldrin’s other assignments included aerial-gunner instructor, aide to the dean of faculty at the Air Force Academy, pilot

of F-100 planes, and flight commander of F-100 Super Sabre planes at a U.S. air base in Germany. Buzz attended MIT as a graduate student and earned a Ph.D. in rocket science. He was then assigned to the Gemini program and spent five-and-a-half hours outside the Gemini 12 spacecraft, setting a new record. Next came the 1969 Apollo 11 moonwalk, then retirement from NASA in 1971. One year later, Buzz retired from the Air Force as a colonel after completing 21 years of service. Aldrin has enjoyed many activities since then, such as lecturing throughout the world about the future of space, writing his autobiography and other books, appearing as a guest on TV shows, and managing a California company called Starcraft Enterprise. He has been married and divorced three times and has three children. Michael Collins, born October 31, 1930, was the son of a career Army officer. His family moved frequently, which explains why his birthplace was Italy. Because he wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps, Collins attended West Point and graduated in 1952 with a B.S. degree. One of Michael’s favorite assignments after training as a test pilot was at Edwards Air Force Base, where he tested the performance, stability and control features of jet fighter planes. He then joined NASA and trained as an astronaut. While serving as a pilot for the Gemini X mission in 1966, he orbited the earth and completed two space walks. He retired from NASA in 1970, one year after the Apollo 11 moon flight. Michael then became Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, later serving as director of the National Air & Space Museum and as the Smithsonian’s undersecretary. His last job was president of the LTV Aerospace and Defense Company, which he left in 1985 to start his own company. Michael has written several books, including his memoir Carrying the Fire. Patricia, his wife of 57 years, died in 2014. They raised three children. All three Apollo 11 astronauts have received numerous awards and medals.

CLUBHOUSE CARPET By Bekke Hess and Irene McHenry, P&GC

emember the folks who were instrumental in getting the MPR floor refinished? Well, they're at it again! A small sub-committee of the Property & Grounds Committee was tasked with researching options to replace all the yellow carpet in the Clubhouse. They called four contractors and met with three of them, one from Modesto and two from Manteca. All three of the contractors had different ideas and brought different samples. Carpet options such as cork and tile were discussed and vetoed. Broadloom carpet and carpet tiles were the best options; carpet tile was selected as the most appropriate for our needs in the Clubhouse, due to ease of maintenance. After asking several contractors for suggestions for the front of the coffee bar in the Library, it was agreed that a path of vinyl from the hallway to the end of the cabinet would be most suitable, due to the ability to easily clean up any spills. The “path” will curve to follow the lines of the coffee bar. The committee members spent some time crawling around on the floor looking at samples in different light and alongside different finishes (floor tiles, fireplace, parquet floor, furniture). Any product selected also needed to be the correct height and to lie flush with the existing ceramic tile. The sub-committee also consulted several times

with a resident who was a decorator in her previous life, getting input on pattern and color. Some were too dark, some were too light, some had too much pattern, but just like with "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," one was just right. Many of the residents who were passing through the Clubhouse were asked their opinion of the several carpet tiles being considered in the final running. Some didn’t think the carpet needed to be changed, some didn’t like the tiles concept, but, overall, the consensus was that new carpet was needed and tiles were the way to go. Several of the committee members looked at work that was done locally by one contractor; the other hadn’t done any local projects. They sought and consulted references from all respondents. Bids were received from the two Manteca contractors. Based on input from the references and the prices quoted, Accent Carpet One was selected as the contractor who would provide and install the carpet tiles. Overall, the process worked well – appointments made, information and samples provided, due diligence done to ascertain the best products and contractor for our needs, pricing given, discussion by the P&GC, and a final decision made by our operations manager and the board, based on the committee’s input.

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Woodbridge LIFE

At the Clubhouse The Bridge group meets Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Oxford Room.

JUN 8:

Phil McCallion Phyllis Tindell Kathy Comden Don Harris Lee Stern Letha Watson Betty Buff Marilyn Larson Robi Cornelius Marcia Laird

JUN 15:

Don Harris Cherie Ford Phyllis Tindell David Lopes

4620 4430 4370 3920 3840 3800 3780 3750 3470 3380 2690 2660 2340

Don St. Lawrence Marilyn Larson Phil McCallion Lee Stern Robi Cornelius Shirley Lopes Betty Buff

JUN 22:

Don Harris Lee Stern Letha Watson Phil McCallion Phyllis Tindell Cherie Ford Betty Buff Marcia Laird Robi Cornelius Don St. Lawrence

3130 2540 2530 2380 2270 2260 1520

5000 4740 3400 3200 2940 2870 2650 2540 2000 1590

5840 4280 4260 4170 3950 3720 3490 3380 3310 1990

Submitted by Penny Dauler

repare yourself mentally for sewing. Think about what you are going to do … never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically. Good results are difficult when indifference predominates. Never try to sew with a sink full of dirty dishes

re you a Triple Threat … to your own life? This article is written in loving memory of my lifetime friend Paul, my BFF, the kids would say. Instead of planning his 60th birthday party, Paul’s kids and grandkids are now planning his funeral. Paul was the true Triple Threat – he was overweight (obese), inactive and a cigarette smoker. He told me his blood pressure was under control with medication. Well, he still had a heart attack and died. Despite my best efforts to get him to do something for his health, he would not. He had some mechanical issues that made it more difficult to work out, but 80 percent of weight loss is not in the gym. I know the big cigarette companies put

www.ourwoodbridge.net chemicals in cigarettes to make them more addictive, but with today’s modern medicine and behavioral intervention, Paul would not have been the first to quit smoking. Paul did nothing to help himself. I know that some say I look at life too simplistically, but people tell me that it’s hard to lose weight, it’s hard to quit smoking and it’s hard to exercise. So I guess it is easier to not do anything in regard to your health than to tackle the difficulties of lifestyle changes. So are you going to be able to stand at the pearly gates and say, “YES, I took good care of the precious gift of life and the gift of love of family and friends.” If we have to answer for how we treated others, then we will have to answer for how we treated ourselves. Watching Paul’s mother, son, daughters and grandchildren weep for their loss, it begs the question – What are YOU doing to take better care of yourself?

Arts  ARTISTS & CRAFTERS Welcome to the Arts & Crafts Corner

4660 3650 3350 3240

 ARTISTS & CRAFTERS Advice from a 1949 Singer Sewing Manual

By Paul E. Serpa, Senior Fitness Specialist

By Don St. Lawrence

Don Harris Grace Pasion Phyllis Tindell Betty Buff Marcia Laird Robi Cornelius Kathy Comden Lee Stern Jim Laird Phil McCallion Marilyn Larson Cherie Ford Letha Watson

 FITNESS Triple Threat

 BRIDGE

Bridge Scores JUN 1:

By Penny Dauler

or beds unmade. When there are urgent housekeeping chores, do these first so your mind is free to enjoy your sewing … When you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible. Put on a clean dress. Keep a little bag full of French chalk near your sewing machine to dust your fingers at intervals. Have your hair in order, powder and lipstick put on … (If) you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband will come home and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy your sewing as you should. You can stop laughing now, ladies!

elcome to the Arts and Crafts Corner. My name is Penny Dauler and I am the vice president of the Artists and Crafters group. My main responsibility is communications. I am responsible for writing this article every month, coordinating the events calendar for the Arts and Crafts portion of the Westport Room and for weekly email updates. A couple of things in regard to what I just wrote: 1) This article is turned in a month before you receive the paper, so some events may have changed. It is best to check the calendar in the Westport Room or, better yet, come to our monthly meeting the first Friday of the month. 2) If you would like to receive my weekly email, simply log on to the portal, click on Discussion

Groups (under the Stay Connected tab), scroll down to Arts and Crafts and click on the word “Subscribe.” This will put you on the master email list. By the same token, if you are on the list and wish to be removed, click “Unsubscribe.” While everyone else is celebrating the Fourth of July, we will also be celebrating Christmas in July. What this means is that every class taught this month will have a Christmas theme. But before I tell you about the special classes, you should know that this month our General Meeting is moving to Friday, July 7, at 10 a.m. All other classes and workshops remain at their normal times. Now for those special Christmas classes: Thursday, July 9, at 12:30 p.m., Martha Harman will teach us how to make a Poinsettia Pillow. Thursday, July 16, at 12:30 p.m., Nedra Ball and Penny Dauler will conduct a class to make a Holiday Gathered Wreath. Wednesday, July 22, we are offering “Moving Christmas Cards” with Debbie Cosetto. She will be See

ARTISTS page 13

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ARTISTS page 12

teaching sliding cards, pop-up cards and more. Join us at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 23, at 12:30 p.m. brings Martha Savage and her Table Topper Class. Friday, July 24, at 10 a.m., Kathy Dezotte will help us make a Snowman on a Wine Bottle. Thursday, July 30, at 12:30 p.m., Lorna Powell continues our quilt block class with a Heart Block. And to finish the month, on Friday, July 31, at 10 a.m., Bonnie

 ARTISTS & CRAFTERS It's Coming ... the Holiday Boutique By Penny Dauler

es, it’s this topic again, and it’s only July!

This year the holiday craft boutique will be held November 14 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. There are a few changes in the upcoming boutique, hence the need for this article to be repeated. • Change #1: You will need to set up beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday. There will be no setting up Friday. I’m sorry. You’ll have to set your alarms. • Change #2 (and this one should make you all happy): There is NO, I repeat, NO dollar cap on how much you can sell. • Change #3 (and here is where the fun begins): You will be in charge of your own sales. What does this mean? For us, it means no cashier and no checkout lines. For you, it means staging

 WOODBRIDGE READERS' GROUP By Marie Evans

oodbridge's Book Nook reading club met the first Wednesday of June at 10:30 a.m. in the Oxford Room at the Clubhouse. All Woodbridge residents with an interest in reading are welcome to join in. Our book for discussion was The Boys in the Boat written by Daniel James Brown, suggested and led by Sally Collins. I was unable to read the book before our meeting and can only go by what the other members who HAD read it had to say. (However, I am going to read it now because of the glowing reviews I heard). The book is about young American men who went to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and won the gold medal for rowing. According to the members who read this book, it is a great story and a great read – very uplifting, almost a rags to riches story with the added success of winning the gold medal right under Hitler's nose! Attendees were excited to discuss the book and amazed at the will, stamina, fortitude and, yes, luck, hard-won luck, that caused these young men of the depression years to try so hard, work so diligently and practice so

Page 13 • July 2015

Buckman will teach a Decomesh Wreath class. Examples of all these classes and sign-up sheets for each class may be found in the Westport Room. Come have fun and join us for Christmas in July. My quilt is calling, so that is all for now. Come by and see us. We have a welcoming hello reserved for you.

and displaying your sale items in your space, writing your own receipts, taking care of your own sales tax, both during and after the boutique (the state wants its cut), making your own change and bagging your own items. • Change #4: We will be charging you a $25 entrance fee for the boutique. • Change #5 (and this is the most important change): Every person in the boutique will need a Temporary Seller’s Permit or a Resale Certificate. Information about these is available online at the California State Board of Equalization website: (http://www.boe. ca.gov/permits_licenses.htm) We are hoping these changes make this boutique an exciting day for everyone. There will be a meeting Monday, August 3, at 10 a.m. for ALL interested in participating in the boutique. More detailed information and some additional forms will be given out at this time. It is imperative that you try your darndest to attend this meeting. If you think you want to participate but cannot make the meeting, contact either Penny Dauler or Nedra Ball.

single-mindedly that they won the gold medal against the odds. Everyone was excited about having read the story and encouraged for our future. Few knew at the 1936 Olympics what was in store for them and what a monster Hitler and his minions would be; few knew that the free world would defeat this enemy using, in my opinion, the values and desire to win and ability to survive the odds that these young men had and that had made them improbable winners. Some of what was said about this book included: “It is an outstanding and very uplifting book and illustrates what these young men, while under great adversity, accomplished.” “It is an inspiring book.” “The theme was one of teamwork.” Author Daniel James Brown was born in 1951. He grew up in the Bay Area and was educated at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, U.C., Berkeley and UCLA. He taught at San Jose State and Stanford University. He began as a technical writer and moved on to fiction and fiction based on true stories. He wrote Under a Flaming Sky, The Great Firestorm of 1894 in Hinckley, Minnesota, The Indifferent Stars Above and The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride before writing The Boys in the Boat, which was published in 2013. Our book for July is The Ginger Tree, written by Oswald Wynd and presented by Marie Evans. For August we will be reading The Unexpected Mrs. Polifax by Dorothy Gilman and presented by Ruth Field. In October we will read The Book Thief, written by Marcus Zusak.

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 WOMEN OF WOODBRIDGE Scholarships Awarded to Local Students By Linda Little

s a result of the very successful Sip for Scholarship held in May, the Women of Woodbridge awarded $6,500 in scholarships to local high schools students. WOW members Carol Edgren, Linda Little and Marybeth Saari took turns attending the senior awards evenings for be.tech, East Union, Manteca and Sierra high schools as well as Calla High’s graduation and awarded the following scholarships: Calla High School: Amanda Covarrubias received a $1,000 scholarship. She will be attending Delta Community College, majoring in health services with a career goal of becoming an ultrasound technician. East Union: Leslie Chavez received a $1,000 scholarship. She will be attending Las Positas Community College, majoring in criminal justice with a career goal of becoming a homicide detective or FBI agent. Manteca: Karina Solorzano received a $1,000 scholarship. She will be attending Delta Community College majoring in health services with a career goal of becoming an ultrasound technician. Yulissa Ochoa received a $500 scholarship. She will be attending Delta Community College, majoring in health services with a career goal of becoming an ultrasound technician. Sierra: Shelby Owensby received a $1,000 scholarship. She will be attending Delta Community College, majoring in kinesiology and minoring in psychology with a career goal of becoming a physical trainer. Amelia Teicheira received a $500 scholarship. She will be attending Modesto Junior College, majoring in business with a career goal of sales/customer service. be.tech (career academies): Sean Murray received a $1,000 scholarship. He will be attending Butte Community College, majoring in business with a career goal of becoming a fabrication business owner. Candice Whitlock received a $500 scholarship. She will be attending Delta Community College, majoring in culinary arts with a career goal of becoming a pastry chef and bakery owner. Thank you to all who attended the Sip for Scholarship as well as those who planned and worked at this event. The funds generated from this event are further proof of the generosity of the Woodbridge community.

Photo submitted by Linda Little.

Marybeth Saari (center) with Manteca High School scholarship winners Karina Solorzano and Yulissa Ochoa.

Photo submitted by Linda Little.

Linda Little (left) and Carol Edgren (second from right) with be.tech scholarship winners Sean Murray and Candice Whitlock.

Photo submitted by Linda Little.

Linda Little (right) with Calla High School scholarship winner Amanda Covarrubias.

Photo submitted by Linda Little.

Carol Edgren (left) with Sierra High School scholarship winners Amelia Teicheira and Shelby Owensby.

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Woodbridge LIFE

Household Hints By Bill Barnhart

Home Security Measures With things being stolen from backyards lately, I thought an Bill Barnhart article covering things we’ve done to our home to increase security at night when we want to have the windows open to catch the Delta breeze would be informational. In addition to wanting to enjoy the Delta breeze, we still want to be secure by having our alarm system set and operating, even with the windows open. Pricing below reflects current Arvin Home Systems pricing inclusive of installation. To be able to enjoy both the Delta breeze and have your home alarm operable at those windows and doors you want to leave open, additional magnetic contacts need to be installed (prewired/$35, wireless/$50). We’ve done this on our kitchen windows that slide horizontally, and on our bedroom and toilet area windows that slide vertically. As an added degree of security, we use window locks that clamp onto the guide rail for the window. You can see both the extra magnetic contact and the window lock in the picture of the kitchen window. A similar magnetic contact has been added to our sliding glass door along with a plunger type Photo by Bill Barnhart. lock (not shown in picture) that locks downward into Use window locks that clamp onto the window's guide rails as an added the door frame. A piece of PVC pipe or dowel cut to degree of security. the correct length would perform the same function as the plunger lock. With a security screen door also in place, we are able to get a lot of Delta breeze and still have the slider door alarmed. Many residents don’t use their security systems, possibly because the control keypads are inconveniently located in the utility room. The solution is to have additional control keypads installed ($135).

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We have an additional keypad in the master bedroom and one at the front door. We set our alarm system to the STAY mode every night, which deactivates the motion sensors but keeps all window and door contacts fully activated. If you’ve heard the siren in your home that is up in the A/C return vent, you know it might wake you at night but no one outside the home will ever hear it. We solved this by having an old-fashioned alarm bell and a very loud siren installed. My intention is to fully wake up my neighbors should something untoward be happening within my home. Another thing we’ve added are pressure sensitive switches installed behind the flat wall covers on the side of the garage under the breaker box. These covers can easily be removed providing access to anyone wanting to cut the connection to your phone, alarm system, etc. The solution here is to have pressure sensitive switches ($50) installed behind these covers and then activated so they operate 24/7. While you’re at it, you might also have your alarm company install a smoke/carbon monoxide detector ($135) and/or heat detector ($90) connected to your alarm system. This is usually worth a discount on your homeowner’s insurance with an approximate three- to four-year pay back. Each of us also needs to think about securing our exterior gates. An old-fashioned hasp or sliding bolt mounted low on the inside of the gate is the perfect solution. Either with or without a padlock, the hasp or bolt can easily be opened from the inside in an emergency but still keep potential bad guys out of your yard. If you purchase either a hasp or sliding bolt and the necessary mounting screws, I’m quite sure Neighbors Helping Neighbors could install it for you. Keep in mind that if we make it difficult for the bad guys, they will go elsewhere but it will take an effort on all of our parts to make this happen.

Photo by Bill Barnhart.

You can see both the extra magnetic contact and the window lock in this photo of the kitchen window.

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Woodbridge LIFE

 WOMEN OF WOODBRIDGE Woodbridge School Supplies Drive By Linda Little

s part of their focus on children, the Women of Woodbridge group is once again sponsoring a drive to collect school supplies for Neil Hafley, George McParland and French Camp schools. Budget cuts have made it more difficult each year for the schools to purchase adequate supplies. The list below reflects the schools’ greatest needs. Beginning July 15, you can help by taking an apple(s) off the tree located in the Clubhouse, purchase the school supply(ies) listed on the apple, and return the supplies and apple to the bin provided in the Club Room. Please return your donations by August 1 so that all supplies can be delivered during the first two weeks of the new school year. Thank you in advance for your donations. Questions can be directed to Linda Little, teachalittle26@yahoo.com.

Page 17 • July 2015

Backpacks Binder Paper Colored Construction Paper Copy Paper Crayons Dry Erase Markers File Folders Glue Sticks Granola Bars (individually wrapped) Jump Ropes Markers Paper Towels Pencil Boxes Pencils Scissors Single Subject Spiral Notebooks Tissue Wet Wipes

 MEN OF WOODBRIDGE Come for Coffee and Doughnuts By Jon Ford

he Men of Woodbridge invites all Woodbridge residents to attend our next meeting, Monday, July 13, at 10 a.m. in the Quincy Room of the Clubhouse. Join us for coffee and doughnuts and learn more about our club. Men of Woodbridge exists solely to give back to our community. We frequently work with other Woodbridge clubs like Women of Woodbridge and Wheels of Woodbridge to assist with functions such as the Holiday Home Tour, Woodbridge 100 Golf Cart Races and spring tea. We serve five fundraising dinners each year. Funds raised have assisted the Manteca Police K-9 Corps, the culinary students of Manteca Unified School District’s be.cuisine classes, Second Harvest Food Bank, the women’s shelter and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.

Closer to home, we raised funds to install more automated openers to assist those who have difficulty opening the large Clubhouse doors. At the recent Wheels of Woodbridge event, the Men of Woodbridge manned the raffle booth and raised more than $900 toward the next automated door opener. We have crews of men who participate in the Caltrans Highway Volunteer Trash Pickup program. We patrol the on- and off-ramps of Airport Road leading to and from the Highway 120 bypass. We do this one Tuesday every month. Men of Woodbridge is a service organization that pays it forward for the benefit of our community. We hope you will join us at our July 13 meeting.

 BEST IN CLASS HEALTH CARE July 9 Doctors Hospital Forum By Dr. Simran Sethi, Director of Clinical Quality Improvement, Doctors Hospital of Manteca

ospitals are intricate organizations that strive to deliver safe, effective and high quality care. While they do this, they have to stay abreast with rapidly evolving medical practices and technology. How do they ensure that their providers are applying the best available research evidence when making clinical decisions? How do they develop and implement mechanisms to optimize patient safety? Dr. Simran Sethi, Director of Clinical Quality Improvement at Doctors Hospital of Manteca, will provide you insights on how health care organizations provide 'best in class' care for its patients. Come listen to Dr. Sethi and learn how quality of care is being applied at Doctors Hospital at 9:30 a.m., July 9, at the Woodbridge Clubhouse.

Dr. Sethi graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2005 and began her career in internal medicine. Due to her keen interest in hospital management, she decided to pursue a master’s in business administration at the Wharton School of Business in 2012. After completing her MBA, she has been actively involved with multiple hospital committees and performance improvement projects while practicing at Doctors Hospital of Manteca. More recently, she has taken on the role of Director of Clinical Quality Improvement at DHM.

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CINCO DE MAYO

Woodbridge LIFE

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WBL photos by Dreanna Langdon.

Louise Rodriguez dances to Mariachi music.

Caterers keep the corn chips coming at the Cinco de Mayo celebration.

SWINGIN' BLUE STARS

Nancy sings a solo to the audience.

The Swingin' Blue Stars of the USS Hornet entertain Woodbridge residents.

FIRST 2015 HAPPY HOUR

The patio was filled with residents at the first Happy Hour of the summer.

George Moffat (in ball cap) dances with Caroline Gibson at the first Happy Hour.

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Woodbridge LIFE

Garden Tasks for July By Sandi Larson, Master Gardener

’m sure by now you are all feeling the effects of our diminished water usage here Sandi Larson in Manteca. We are still permitted to water three days a week but I wouldn’t be surprised if we go down to two days before the end of summer. The Weather Channel talks about El Niño, but it’s anyone’s guess as to what will happen this fall. Meanwhile we are all going to need to continue to be diligent about our water usage. I’ve started to notice some of our trees are dropping their leaves. One resident had a mow strip redone and is using rocks as mulch. It looks to me like the tree is starting to go into shock. I just don’t understand the concept of using rocks as mulch. You are drawing the heat into your plant/tree, heating it up even more than just soil. Instead of insulating the plant from the sun by mulching it with three inches of bark or plant material, you are actually heating up the area around the roots. If you’ve been here more than three or four years, you should start checking your drip irrigation for hard water clogging. Even though the hard water didn’t start in 2007, it’s been here now for maybe three years and I’ve noticed some of my emitters are clogged by hard water. The best thing to do is to swap the old emitters out with new ones when that happens. Last month’s winds dried out much of our plant material. One way to keep moisture in is to mulch around your plants (but not up to the base). The right mulch can keep plant roots warm in winter and cool in summer. Do not cover the entire base of the plant as your drip irrigation may not penetrate the mulch. Perennials in bloom in July are Shasta daisy, agapanthus, fuchsia and coreopsis. Annuals blooming are plants such as impatiens, zinnia, lobelia, petunia and tuberous begonias. Trees include crape myrtle and silk trees. Your roses should be blooming now, too, without the nasty hoplia beetle around. If you’ve been reading the Manteca Bulletin recently, you are probably as confused as I am about what the new dictate from the city is actually telling us to do in our front yards. I do know if you go to the city of Manteca website and search ‘Lawn to Garden Turf Replacement’ program, you can find out about the front yard landscaping rebate. You can receive up to $1 a square foot in the form of a rebate from the city of Manteca when you replace your grass and put in other drought tolerant landscaping. The maximum you can receive is $500. Funds are limited so it’s first-come firstserved. If you are serious about trying to redo your front yard and you’d like to have less turf, the Master Gardeners of San Joaquin County is having a seminar Saturday, July 18, on ‘Rethinking your Lawn,’ perfect for our current drought conditions! The meeting will be held at the Manteca Public Library on Center Street in the McFall Room. The door is on Center Street. The program is from 10:30 a.m. to noon. To reserve your spot, please call 209-953-6100 by Wednesday, July 15.

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This month there are things to do in your vegetable/fruit garden: Cover your grapes, if needed, with netting to keep the birds out; thin your vegetables if they are too crowded, as production will suffer. Keep an eye out for tomato worm on tomatoes. Continue to plant corn and you can also plant Brussels sprouts in July. Peppers, eggplant and cucumber are ripening now. Carrots, potatoes and chard also will be ripening this month. If you have extra vegetables, consider sharing with your neighbors. The San Joaquin Master Gardeners website (http://sjmastergardeners.ucanr.edu/files/186742. pdf) also shows what vegetables to plant in containers if you don’t have a large enough yard in which to plant vegetables in the ground. It’s very informative. Be sure to keep your spent fruit and vegetables off the ground to help avoid pests such as slugs, whiteflies and yellow jackets. Here are some of my favorite tools/gadgets for gardening: 1. Small hand-held rake. Perfect for getting under shrubs or raking just a small area. 2. Oversized hand trowel. I love this tool when I’m pulling out soil to use in a pot. 3. Long armed gloves. These are perfect when you’re pruning thorny plants such as roses or digging around plants like pomegranates. They even work wonderfully when transplanting plants like feathered asparagus fern (Asparagus plumosus), which has thorny stems and is invasive but I keep it in a pot. 4. Small garden cart. Wonderful for moving large potted plants or soil from one part of the yard to the other! See

GARDEN page 32

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Woodbridge LIFE

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GARDEN TOUR, JUNE 6 WBL photos by Volker Moerbitz and Sandi Larson.

SPECIAL THANKS TO The Woodbridge homeowners who graciously shared their gardens Garden Tour Committee members: • Sue Price and the Raffle Committee - raffle prizes • Sandi Larson and Denise Sullivan - brochure descriptions and photos • Lynn Heagney and Cindy Bolin - brochure • Volker Moerbitz - brochure cover photo • Debbie Burke and Lynn Heagney - event desk • Pam Larussa and the Lunch Committee members - Cindy Bolin, Tamy Supremo, Judy Goodnow, Debbie Burke and Lynn Heagney • Our go-to guys - Sam Larussa, Dave Heagney and Bill Bolin Activities Director Dodie Miller and the Woodbridge Lifestyle Committee Vendors: Denise’s Farmers' Market and Rain Forest Nursery Woodbridge Staff: Coordination of ticket sales Proceeds from the Garden Tour were donated to Haven of Peace, a shelter for women and children who are usually victims of abuse.  Haven of Peace offers transitional housing and support services and programs to assist women in becoming self-sufficient and to give them a good start on a new life.

Pam Larussa (far right) and her lunch crew.

Connie Reed helps bag fresh produce at Denise's Farmers' Market.

Jeannie and Bryan Tebbutt: 1282 Maple Valley.

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Lynda and Jim Branco: 2684 Steeple Run.

Christine and Keith Loudermilk: 1344 Maple Valley.

Fran and Mike Hutchings: 1987 Shady Oak.

Woodbridge LIFE

Linda and Jacob Lewis: 2682 Roseberry.

Rose and Rich Froisness: 2475 Ashbridge.

Barbara Little: 1408 Carriage House.

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Woodbridge LIFE

Softball This Month By Roger Gibson

NO SILVER SLUGGER OR DIAMOND GALS GAMES IN JULY There is no Silver Sluggers or Diamond Gals softball schedule during July. It’s a time for rest, vacations, escaping the heat and for healing all of the injuries incurred during the past three months of games. The fall schedule for August-October is available on the portal or through your coaches. Thank you to all who have helped to make our spring season so enjoyable. This extends to the groundskeepers, snack shack volunteers, umpires, announcing and record-keeping crew, fans and players. For all of the current and prospective players, Wednesdays in July from 9 to 11 a.m. will be open practices on the field. Come with your gear and enjoy sharpening your skills and enjoying the time. A NEW SEASON BEGINS AUGUST 1 The kick-off for the fall season will feature a unique (for us) arrangement of games. The Diamond Gals will play the first game August 1 at 8:30 a.m., followed by two games pitting the current and ex-coaches against volunteer teams of players. If you are interested in playing on the volunteer teams (one for each game), please let either Butch Larson (wblarson@comcast.net) or Perry Gibson (p.gibson32@sbcglobal.net) know. Also, for the newer residents of Woodbridge or the inactive former players who would like to play softball during the second half of the season, this is the time to complete a registration form available at the Clubhouse. We always encourage more people to participate in the highly fun and minimally competitive action at Del Webb field.

MINOR LEAGUE CAP CHALLENGE

dentify the name, location and major league affiliate of the minor league team indicated on the baseball cap shown here. The first five people to correctly identify the three items will win a voucher for a Combo Lunch at our Snack Shack (hot dog, hamburger or salad with chips and a drink). Just send your picks to me at WBLarson@comcast.net. You can’t win if you don’t play. Good luck, baseball fans!

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FEATURED SOFTBALL SPONSOR: ANTIQUE AVENUE By Butch Larson

ntique Avenue is one of the largest antique malls in San Joaquin County. The store opened in 1987 with 50 dealers at 915 E. Yosemite, the old Big Boy Market. They moved out of that location into their current location in the Target Shopping Center, 1327 Historical Plaza Way, behind Applebee’s. They still have 50 dealers presenting a variety of items: furniture, jewelry, glassware, pottery, books, advertising items, old linens, garden items, country primitives, Pyrex, kitchen collectibles, holiday items and toys. The owner, Betty Nichols, has been a resident of Manteca for 48 years and a collector and dealer for 40 years. Betty invites you to visit the Antique mall. The store is open every day except Monday. Antique Avenue enjoys a customer rating of “The Best in Northern California” and has customers from all over the country. They claim to bring more business into Manteca than any other small business in town. Please visit our newest softball sponsor and let Betty know how much you appreciate her support for our Woodbridge softball program.

THE BINKLEY GENES By Roger Gibson

ome of us have great athletic genes and some of us just don’t. Here is a personal interest story connected with one of our Woodbridge residents who has those genes and is a player on the Red Heat softball team—Larry Binkley. Larry is proud to say that his father, Frank, was inducted into the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame in 1972 as a great fast-pitch softball player. I interviewed Larry and his wife, Sue, in their home and learned more about the story. Here is what Larry had to say about his father’s career in softball. “Frank Binkley started playing fast-pitch softball when he was nine years old. He then played in a men’s league at the age of fifteen, mostly at first base. He moved to Peoria, Illinois, at the age of 18 and was with the Caterpillar Diesels for nine years, playing the outfield. Frank moved to Bloomington, Illinois, to join the State Farm Chiefs and the Budweiser Chiefs and later moved to Columbia, Missouri, to be a part of the Nowells Bombers and Johnson Chiefs teams. While playing for the State Farm Chiefs, Frank hit what is considered to be the longest home run ever hit in the State Farm field—over the center field fence. That team played in the World Softball Tournament in 1955, and Frank was named to the First Team and the All Star Team for which he played right field.” Larry also told me the following story about attending some of his father’s games when Larry was a child. “When my dad played fast-pitch softball for the State Farm Chiefs in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1955, I was nine See

BINKLEY page 23

www.ourwoodbridge.net From

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BINKLEY page 22

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years old. The team hired three boys to retrieve foul and home run balls. The Chiefs usually played a double header each night, and I would receive two dollars for the two games. After one of the games, I was sitting in the bleachers with my mother, waiting for my dad to come out of the showers. Tyne Mecherle, brother of G. J. Mecherle See

BINKLEY page 33

Photo contributed by Larry Binkley....

Larry Binkley has great athletic genes for playing on Woodbridge's Red Heat softball team.

Photo contributed by Larry Binkley.

Larry's father, Frank Binkley, was inducted into the Illinois Hall of Fame in 1972.

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Woodbridge LIFE

SOFTBALL WINNERS FOR JUNE Name the Minor League Team By Butch Larson

ue to publication cutoff dates, I was unable to report to you all winners of the May Minor League Cap Challenge. LaVerne Cortesi and Vern Edgren both responded with correct identification of the mystery minor league cap for May and have received their Lunch Vouchers. Congratulations, LaVerne and Vern. Now for our most current month, June, we have all five winners correctly guessing the Orem Owlz of Orem, Utah, playing in the Pioneer League as an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Our winners of a Lunch Voucher redeemable at our Snack Shack are Jacque Reynolds, Caroline Gibson, Carol Edgren, Ron Saari and Mel Topping. Congratulations, winners. Please see if you can identify July’s mystery Minor League team. The Orem Owlz History – In 2001, the state of Utah got its first professional baseball organization, the Provo Angels. The same year, in the nearby town of Orem, Utah Valley University (UVU) made a decision to jump up to NCAA Division I sports. UVU determined they would need a new baseball facility to match the new level of competition. The new stadium, Bent Brown Ballpark, was completed in 2005 in time for the UVU Wolverines to begin playing in Division I. The Provo Angels (2001-2004) moved into the new stadium and were renamed the Orem Owlz by new owners at the start of their 2005 season. The festive opening day saw players escorted into their new park on Harley Davidson motorcycles. Unfortunately, the Owlz were defeated by the Ogden Raptors (LA Dodgers), 7-0. Owner Jeff Katofsky (Sherman Oaks, California) chose to name them the Owlz because he felt “Owls were nocturnal, which is good for baseball, and the ‘z’ is very Utah, very Minor League and works great in a logo.” He also wanted the second name to start with an “O” and have only four letters like Orem. He chose the name after considering 600 ideas including those submitted by his wife’s book club and his Little League team. Thus the Orem Owlz were named. Orem, Utah, is located on the eastern shore of Utah Lake and

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borders Provo, Utah, on the east and south and is at the base of Mount Timpanagos (a name Mr. Katofsky considered for the team but rejected). The Owlz have won three Pioneer League titles and consistently rank in the top half of the league attendance, topping 100,000 a season three times (probably the same years they took league titles). Mascot - The Owlz family of mascots originated with Hootz and Holly. Both were created as Red Owls with heads resembling baseballs and wearing baseball attire. Hootz is a male owl and Holly a female. They were happily married in an “on field” ceremony at Bent Brown Ballpark in 2009. Wouldn’t you know that in 2013 they had a little addition to the family when Rowly was born? Owner Katofsky is pleased the Orem area is very family-oriented and has made sure the Owlz family reflects the community spirit. Hootz is quite the comedian and shows that through his favorite joke, “How do you know that owls are smarter than chickens?” Answer: “Have you ever heard of Kentucky Fried owl?” (Not yet but … ) The fans are very enthusiastic and at the Owlz home field will “hoot” their approval when a good play occurs or a big hit is made. The Owlz have reciprocated by offering the fans a Denny’s coupon when an Owlz batter smacks a double and with each subsequent double the value of the coupon increases. Alumni – You may recognize Pedro Liriano, Evin Santana, Erich Aybar, Howie Kendrick, Mark Trumbo, Michael Morin, Dallas McPherson or Jake Woods. Charity – In addition to the Denny’s coupons offered to their patrons for doubles hit by their Owlz team players, Orem is a strong supporter of the Roger Clemens Foundation, an entity dedicated to helping children who are underprivileged, at-risk or with special needs. Roger and Debbie Clemens established the foundation in 1992. You can learn more about the foundation at their website: rogerclemensfoundation. org. Money raised from the sale of the new Owlz American Jersey debuting on opening day and on holidays will be donated to the foundation. Roger Clemens threw out the first pitch at the Owlz home opener, June 20. The first 500 Owlz fans to enter the stadium received a Roger Clemens bobblehead doll. I hope you enjoyed learning more about the Orem Owlz. See if you can identify this month’s Minor League Cap Challenge and win a combo voucher for lunch at our Snack Shack.

2015 SPONSORS Softball Sponsors (in alphabetical order): Alhambra Water Antique Avenue Arvin Home Systems Center Appliance Cruisers (Boyett Petroleum) Delicato Family Vineyards Denise's Farmers’ Market Environmental Creations Fagundes Meats & Catering Farmington Fresh Manteca Lighting Manteca Optical Old McGowan’s Feed Store Precision Auto of Manteca

Sandi Larson (Re/Max) Second Chance Band Svenhard's Swedish Bakery The Lori's (PMZ Real Estate) Ultimate Furniture Uncle Frank's (Chez Shari) Walgreens

 WOODBRIDGE REMOTE CONTROLLED FLYERS GROUP By Bob Umberger.

hursday evening, July 16, the Woodbridge Flyers Group will be demonstrating their flying skills by using lighted airplanes. The flying will begin at about 8 p.m. over the softball field. Many residents have been asking when we were going to fly again. This is it! Spread the word to your neighbors and join us. Feel free to bring your chairs or you can sit on the bleachers. Mark your calendar and come out to see the skies light up. If you have any questions, call Bob Umberger at 239-2983. See you at the field.

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FEATURED SOFTBALL SPONSOR: PRECISION AUTO OF MANTECA By Butch Larson

ood friends and Woodbridge neighbors, this softball season we are providing our faithful financial sponsors with a feature article designed to give you more background and information about their businesses. It was my pleasure to meet and interview Chris Kohl, owner of Precision Auto of Manteca located at 475 Moffat Avenue, just down the street from the new Manteca Transportation Center. Chris is the third generation of his family to run an auto repair and services business, following both his father and grandfather. A graduate of Los Gatos High School, Chris jumped into the business in 1973 by helping around his father’s shop and working his way up until he was able to become co-owner of Kohl and Kohl on Almaden Road in Los Gatos. In 1988 Chris moved the business to Manteca, beginning his operation with a single auto service bay. His successful business approach and personalized customer service allowed Precision Auto to grow to six service bays and six full-time employees and to achieve rankings as Best in Manteca (2006-2012) and tops in Readers’ Choice voting (2013—2015). His desire to maintain high standards toward customers continued from his early Los Gatos business success with K & K that resulted in recognition as being one of 10 top auto shops in three counties. Chris is married with four children (two daughters, two sons) and five beloved grandkids (three boys, two girls). Since playing some football in high school, Chris has been involved in many sporting roles from

coaching youth T-ball and soccer to organizing adult coed soccer. He has even played a little softball here and there. Chris currently attends New Hope Church in Manteca. Precision Auto has been a long time sponsor of various Manteca youth sports teams and, of course, our Woodbridge Senior Softball. Chris also has a special program for free oil changes for single moms and widows. Chris and his wife Shelley have organized “The Giving Tree” for the Manteca Rehab on Eastwood Street in Manteca for the past nine years, which supplies the entire center with gifts for all of its residents every year. Chris’ sports passion is readily noticeable when you enter his office. He has fishing mementos galore including pictures, lures, fish and even an old fishing pole owned by his grandfather. He was surprised to hear that we had a lake at Woodbridge and was pleased to see the great fishing article we published in our June edition of Woodbridge LIFE. He has been intending to join us on a Wednesday or Saturday to watch our softball games. I just might invite him to bring his fishing gear along. Stop in on Chris and the good folks at Precision Auto of Manteca and say hello and thank you for being a supporter of our program. If you have a fish story or two, Chris will be glad to listen.

 WHO IS THAT LADY?

Photo by Butch Larson.

Super softball fan Shirley Smith clacks her clacker behind home plate screen. (Shirley was featured in a story by Roger Gibson in the June edition of WoodbridgeLIFE.

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 WOODBRIDGE PICKLEBALL GROUP Pickleball Corner

Woodbridge LIFE

Article by Marcia Umberger and WBL photo by Volker Moerbitz

he pickleball group held a round robin play date on Monday, June 8. There were 10 women and 12 men participating. The format was for the women to play against one another and the men to play each other. At the end of play, the two top scoring women and men played a championship mixeddoubles match. It was the hottest day of the year which made it especially challenging. Early morning temperatures were in the eighties and by the end of play at noon, it was approaching 100 degrees. The playoff match participants were Cres Anton and Bob Hall versus Dorothy Pace and Steve Oliver. The winners of this match were Cres Anton and Bob

Hall. It was a terrific match up and everyone enjoyed watching it. Congratulations to all the players. Following the round robin, our group bid a fond farewell to a longtime pickleball player, Sharad Deshmane. He is moving from Del Webb to Pleasanton to be closer to his son and family. We will miss his smiling face. Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. If you would like to learn this game and become part of our fun group, call Valerie Shoot at 923-3807. Valerie is available to give lessons Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 11 a.m. Come out to the courts most every day. Mixed doubles are played Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m. The women play Tuesday and Thursday from 8 to 10 a.m. with mixed doubles beginning at 10 a.m. Our group numbers 48 active players and we welcome and encourage new players. There are now three courts available, so there is very little wait time. Come join us!

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 GOLF

Submitted by Dodie Miller

Results of the putting tournament held May 31, 2015.

LADIES:

Margaret Kimura 41 Karen Perrin 43 Brenda Just 43 Mary Braun 44 Robin Blevins 44 Sharon Sgro 47 Jane Kerr 47 Cindy Bolin 47 Joann Alvarez 48 Jackie Rudy 48 Gale Serpa 49 Shirley McCarthy 49 Sue Price 51 Vicki Muellerleile 51 Marilyn Armstrong 51 HM Judy Goodnow 51 HM 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

MEN:

Pickleball players can be found on the courts almost every day.

MEET OUR NEIGHBORS — THREE RIVERS INDIAN LODGE By Volker Moerbitz.

f you live in the north section of Woodbridge, you may have noticed our neighbors. You may not have seen them because of the wall separating the properties, but you may have heard the drums and you may have noticed a scent of sage, sweet grass or cedar in the air. Our neighbors have been here for quite a while. Some of them can trace their roots back 8,000 years – to the time when the first people, the Yokut, came into the Central Valley. Three Rivers Indian Lodge — our neighbor — is not quite that old, but it has a proud history of 41 years of service for California’s Native American community. Founded in 1974 and managed by Native Directions, Inc., the lodge lends a helping hand to Native Americans struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. Over the years, more than 2,000 men from dozens of Native American nations have found help getting their

lives back on track and many of them have stayed in touch with the place that once saved their lives, passing their experience on to others who are still struggling. Three Rivers does more than just counseling. It serves as a community center for a community that traditionally does not know any geographical boundaries. Although the property is neither a reservation nor a Native American Heritage Site, it has developed into a central gathering place for Native Americans throughout the Central Valley – from Grindstone Creek in the north to Tule River in the south. Once every year, the Three Rivers Pow Wow calls thousands of Native Americans to meet for a weekend to dance, sing, socialize and honor their heritage, their culture and their ancestors. The annual Pow Wow may have caught your eye before, but between Pow Wows, there are smaller meetings taking place almost every day. When you hear the drums and smell the sage, you hear and smell a gathering of like-minded souls – clients, alumni and See

RIVERS page 36

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

Ben Kimura Mike Wedlake John Peterson Craig Hoyer Dave Heagney Tom Ravazza Paul Lawerence Ar Hogan Art Blevins Dick Turner Garry Kerr Mike Tandy Ray Foxworth Rudy Salvador

38 38 41 42 42 43 43 43 44 44 44 44 44 45

LADIES CLOSEST TO THE HOLE: 1. Barbara Tandy

6 1/2"

2. Karen Plummer

1. Dave Heagney

MEN CLOSEST TO THE HOLE: 2. Bob Hall

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Woodbridge LIFE

Triker's Travels One of Many Heroes Among Us By Judy McNamara

successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with bricks others have thrown at him." This quote by David Brinkley so aptly sums up the character and valor of Robert Ybarra. Judy McNamara From an early age, life was a succession of trials and tribulations for Robert. He was born in French Camp, one of nine children, and then the family moved to Stockton. He describes his family as being dysfunctional. School was difficult for him and by the time he was 18, he was given a choice of either going to jail for offenses or going into the Army. The choice was clear. After his introduction into the Army, he was sent to Vietnam and thrust into the worst year of the war, 1968, following the TET Offensive. Young soldiers just beginning their adult lives were thrown into the most stressful situation of their lifetimes. The combat Robert and so many other young men found themselves involved in was strange, lonely and terrifying. To be fighting an enemy they could not comprehend caused them to question, "Why are we here? What are we fighting for? Does my country care about me?” And to conclude, “I have no choice but to fight an unknown enemy." Having the experiences of what seemed to be a senseless war and the horrors of combat, coming home was, in itself, difficult. Soldiers came home to a country where civilians seemed like aliens who were incapable of understanding what combat was like. Veterans were

Page 29 • July 2015

left to their own isolation and, in many cases, were disrespected and hated by their own countrymen. For many, the nightmares of war remained and to this day, many vets are still struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (commonly known as PTSD). Robert struggled for years after coming home in 1969. He Photo submitted by Donna Ybarra. remembers being Robert Ybarra helps veterans and addicts who suffer yelled at and spit upon, called “baby killer” and rejected from PTSD. by his family. Is it any wonder he turned to alcohol and drugs, not only using but also selling to support his habit? Multitudes of veterans were left homeless and unemployed due to the drugs and alcohol they used to quiet the nightmares of war. Robert was fortunate enough to find a job at Sharp Army Depot but continued to use drugs. Robert met Donna and the two were married in 1980. Feeling that their lives were destructive, they knew something had to be done. It wasn't until 1987 that Robert and Donna turned their lives around. Realizing he did have the power to control his life, he and Donna See

TRIKERS page 33

WHAT IS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER? Compiled by Carol Jo Hargreaves from two popular, reliable and helpful websites: webmd. com and vietnow.com

TSD was first identified and given its name after the Vietnam War. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is one of a few mental illnesses triggered by a disturbing outside event. With PTSD you "can't stop remembering" (a car or airplane accident, sexual assault, domestic violence, natural disaster or combat). Causes Although a mental health professional must diagnose the disorder, causes of PTSD are clearly defined: • You must have been in a situation that placed you at risk for death, serious injury or sexual violation. • You must have witnessed or experienced the traumatic, lifethreatening events leading to PTSD in person and not through media, pictures, television or movies. Those most severely affected by PTSD may have trouble working, maintaining relationships and being effective parents. When you are afraid, your body activates the "fight or flight" response. In reaction, your body releases adrenaline that increases blood pressure and heart rate as well as glucose to muscles (to allow you to run away quickly in the face of immediate danger). Once the immediate danger (which may or may not have actually existed) is gone, the body begins to shut down the stress response and releases another hormone, cortisol.

Photo from vietnow.com. If your body does not generate enough cortisol to shut down the flight or stress reaction, you may continue to feel the stress effects of the adrenaline. Trauma victims who develop post-traumatic stress disorder often have higher levels of other stimulating hormones under normal conditions in which the threat of trauma is not present. These same hormones kick in when they are reminded of their trauma. Interesting Facts • More than half of all Vietnam veterans, about 1.7 million, have experienced symptoms of PTSD. Although 60 percent of war See

PTSD page 35

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Woodbridge LIFE

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 WHEELS OF WOODBRIDGE Woodbridge 100 - May 30 ~ Take Me Out to the Ballgame ~ By Bill Barnhart, President and Head Lugnut, Wheels of Woodbridge

uccess is spelled $3,058 net proceeds from the 2015 Woodbridge 100 Golf Cart Races! That’s enough to automate a door from the Clubhouse Community Living Room going out to the patio. Thank you, everyone, for your contributions; it was a total community effort. Special thanks go to several groups and clubs at Woodbridge: The great effort by the Men of Woodbridge, coordinated by Jon Ford, bringing in the raffle gifts and then handling the raffle which brought in $950; food preparation and sales handled by the Softball Club, led by Butch and Sandi Larson who donated the chips, brought in $420 with soft drinks donated by Second Harvest Food Bank; members of the Veterans group and Neighborhood Watch stood out in the blazing sun doing tasks such as starter, timer and bottle setter upper and anything else that needed doing and Wheels of Woodbridge whose members did all the course setup and takedown, check-in and registration of all drivers and carts, and solicitation of sponsors. And, where would we have been without our extraordinary sponsors? • The Lori’s at PMZ Real Estate – Platinum Sponsor, having a display booth and sponsoring the ‘Best Turned Out’ 1st Place Trophy AND root beer floats! • JJ’s Golf Carts of Modesto – Platinum Sponsor, having a display

• • • • • •

booth with golf carts and accessories on display, sponsoring 1st Place Trophies for the ‘100-foot Sprint’ and the ‘Twist & Turn’ races, and providing many raffle gifts. Steve’s Mobile Sun Screens – Platinum Sponsor with many raffle gift certificates Doctors Hospital of Manteca – Gold Sponsor and sponsoring the ‘Survivor Race’ 1st Place Trophy Thorson Financial – A second year Silver Sponsor Susan Russitano of PMZ Real Estate – A multiyear Silver Sponsor Dominic Martos of Farmers Insurance – A second year Silver Sponsor Golf Cart Pros – A last minute addition and Gold Sponsor

Door automation provides many of our residents far greater independence when using the Clubhouse and it gives all of us that really good feeling deep down every time we see someone independently going in and out of various Clubhouse areas who would have otherwise needed assistance. Thank you!

Photo by Nadia of JJ's Golf Carts.

(L to R) Garth Porter, Dave Reed and Andrew Price work the raffle table that brought in $950.

Photo by Julie Vehrs.

Best Turned Out winners Laura and Brian Conway run the Survivor Race.

TROPHY WINNERS: Twist & Turn: 1st Place - Rich Sgro 2nd Place - Carl Cummings 3rd Place - John Ochoa

100-foot Sprint: 1st Place - Janet Smyers 2nd Place - Ron Plummer 3rd Place - Carl Cummings

Survivor Race: 1st Place - Ron and Karan Plummer 2nd Place - Terry and Carl Cummings 3rd Place - Janet Smyers

Best Turned Out: 1st Place - Brian Conway 2nd Place - John Ochoa 3rd Place - Janet Smyers

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 WHEELS OF WOODBRIDGE Annual Car Show Date Change By Bill Barnhart, President and Head Lugnut, Wheels of Woodbridge

Photo by Terry Ochoa.

John Ochoa won second prize in Best Turned Out category.

Photo by Nadia of JJ's Golf Carts.

Debby Hickey and Janet Smyers patiently wait in line to run the Twist & Turn.

ey, all you car show enthusiasts and officiators, the Wheels of Woodbridge Car Club wants to let you know that we’ve shifted the date of this year’s car show to October 3. Put the new date on your calendar now and scratch the July 11 date you’ve already got entered. We are pretty sure it will be a bit cooler in October than it will be in July. We are just hoping we don’t get a fickle rainstorm instead. The annual car show will be at the same place on the street just north and west of the softball field and all of your favorite clubs, Men of Woodbridge, Veterans, Women of Woodbridge and Wheels of Woodbridge, will be there making this a team effort to raise funds for Second Harvest Food Bank. By the time this article goes to print, there should be new flyers/registration forms available in the Clubhouse and/or I can email a copy to anyone who wishes. Thanks for your continued support for what I believe to be one of the best charitable and satisfying purposes around.

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Woodbridge LIFE

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 WINE 101 By Jon Ford

LUD C N O C

D NCLU

e had a great trip to Bent Creek Vineyards in Livermore in May.  The Delta Charter bus carried 54 enthusiastic participants into the Livermore Valley on a cool, crisp morning.  Upon arrival we were greeted by the Bent Creek team, owners Tom and Pat Heinemann, event manager Cynthia Ross and assistant winemaker Mike Machado (also a Woodbridge resident). We arrived around noon, settled in under the pergola and everyone broke out their lunches as Tom and Pat told us the story of their preretirement plans and the evolution of the Bent Creek Winery 12 years ago.  The interesting thing is that Tom and Pat did not have winery plans in their initial retirement ideas.  Shortly after the presentation, Mike Machado told us about each wine the winery produces and we got to sip along with his introductions.  We were treated to 11 different wines, starting with sauvignon blanc and ending with a luscious vintage port. Wine by the glass was sold for those craving a little more of their favorite and the tasting room was opened for purchases at a 15 percent discount.  Wine 101 classmates came home around 3 p.m. with many fine wines. In the June class we learned about "Wines of Oregon."  Each participant brought a bottle of Oregon wine for the group to try.  Many brought another bottle of wine to share with their tables.  A small donation was collected to help defray the costs of tablecloths, napkins, utensils, water and other items.   July's class will be "Which White is Which?" and will be held Thursday, July 16, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.  Registration for this class begins Friday, June 26.  You may bring any wine to share at this event.  The format will be four stations of unknown white wines that you will be required to taste and then try to identify the varietal, with some hints. Any Del Webb Woodbridge resident is invited to attend any of the Wine 101 classes or events. No wine knowledge is required, just a desire to learn something new about wine and to meet old friends and make new ones. We're in the process of trying to put together another field trip to the Lodi area for October. Wine 101 wishes to thank those participants on the Bent Creek trip that sent in a critique.  I'm always striving to improve the events and the feedback was well received. I hope to see you all at a future event. If you have any questions you may contact me at jluvswine@aol. com or 815-9803. SO MANY WINES, SO LITTLE TIME! From

GARDEN page 19

5. Large bypass lopper. Works great for pruning branches that are a little too thick for bypass pruners or other hand pruners. They really get the job done! 6. Small metal garbage can. It is wonderful for storing soil. Forget those small black plastic containers; they rot in our Manteca sun. I’ve gone through two in two years. Remember the Master Gardeners of San Joaquin County seminar on ‘Rethinking your Lawn,’ Saturday, July 18, in the McFall Room of the Manteca Public Library on Center Street, 10:30 to noon.

Happy gardening!

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From

Woodbridge LIFE

TRIKERS page 29

turned to God and became involved in the church. Robert decided to take courses to become a minister and in 2007, he became a minister for the Assembly of God church. This was no easy feat since Robert considered himself illiterate. By some miracle, he learned to read and completed the necessary steps to become a minister. He continued to be plagued with PTSD and in 2012 spent 90 days in the VA hospital in Palo Alto. Upon returning home, he began conducting workshops and counseling drug addicts and vets suffering with PTSD. He conducts recovery programs through the Christian Worship Center and is asked to speak at many functions related to PTSD and drug abuse. Recently Robert and Glen Jenkins made a trip back to Vietnam that proved to be very cathartic. While traveling and revisiting several cities, the two experienced a welcoming Vietnam. Robert has nothing but good things to say about the people – they were loving, caring and ever so welcoming. Forty years have passed since the war ended with North Vietnam victorious over South Vietnam. The countries are now one Vietnam with a Communist government that rules with an iron fist. The economy, however, is capitalistic which is somewhat of a contradiction. With old demons put to rest, Robert is going on with his life, helping vets and addicts who have suffered. In the words of Aldous Huxley, "Experience is not what happens to you, it's what you do with what happens to you." Robert is proof of this quote. He has masterfully risen above his past and is a true inspiration to others in their troubled times.

From

BINKLEY page 23 (the founder of State Farm), came up to talk to my mother. He said he noticed I was chasing foul and home run balls and asked how much I made each night. I answered, ‘Two dollars.’ He then asked about why I was saving the money, and I told him I wanted a three-speed Schwinn bicycle. He asked how much money I had and how much the bicycle cost. I watched as Mr. Mecherle reached into his wallet and pulled out a one hundred dollar bill and told me to go buy the bicycle. I grabbed the money, saying, ‘Thanks.’ My mother said that I could not accept the money and that I had to buy the Schwinn bicycle with my own earned money. As a young boy, my heart was broken. I saved and saved my money and finally got to buy my red three-speed Schwinn bicycle. All good lessons come to a happy ending.”

When I talked to Larry, I asked him about the location of this Hall of Fame in Illinois, but he wasn’t sure just where it was located. We finally found out that it is situated in a very small town named “Casey” and just happens to be about 16 miles from the little town in which I grew up. I checked it out! It’s in a small building in a city park there and is managed by one of my high school classmates. In September I will be going back to Illinois for the 60th reunion of my graduating class, and you can be sure that I will be visiting the place to see the display of Frank Binkley—Hall of Famer.

Page 33 • July 2015

Page 34 • July 2015

Woodbridge LIFE

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SAN FRANCISCO SPIRIT - ANNUAL OPENING DAY CRUISE OF HORNBLOWER YACHT By Ruth and Bruce Whitten

unday, April 26, 21 Snow Flakes, Del Webbers and friends joined us on the 98th Annual Opening Day Cruise of the Hornblower Yacht, San Francisco Spirit. She provided spectacular front row views of the Parade of Boats and beautiful San Francisco Bay. This year’s theme was “Youth in Boating.” The parade featured over 100 historic workboats, fireboats and towboats, classic and contemporary craft decorated to theme. We boarded Hornblower’s “San Francisco Spirit,” a sleek luxury yacht that is one of the newer vessels in the Hornblower’s fleet, at 9:15 a.m. with about 125 other guests and were treated to a light breakfast. After breakfast we spent time on the observation deck enjoying the view of the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, the water front, Palace of Fine Arts, Transamerica Building, Presidio, Sausalito and Golden Gate Bridge. We took a little side trip all the way around Angel Island to Richardson Bay and Tiburon. The weather was glorious, warm and not a whisper of wind – and what a beautiful city! There were sailboats and regatta boats everywhere. It was the kind of day when you are happy to be alive! After a two-hour cruise around the Bay, we adjourned to the main salon for lunch – wine, champagne, entree, vegetables, breads and about a dozen different kinds of yummy desserts –then on to the judging of the boats by category. The Commander of Coast Guard Island joined us as one of the judges. After the judging, we sailed past AT&T Park and under the new span of the Bay Bridge before we returned to Pier 3.

What a wonderful way to spend the day. We look forward to this event every year. We hope you can join us next year.

Photo by Rich Froisness.

Rose Froisness, Ron Havill, Don and Gwen Burghardt, Joe and Susie Blair, Deb and Dave Pursey, Dave and Betty Basehore, Ruth and Bruce Whitten, Pat Green, Mary Claire Sites and Ron and Marianne Dedore.

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Page 35 • July 2015

PTSD page 29

veterans with PTSD have had serious medical problems, only 6 percent of them have a problem due to injury in combat. • Some 88 percent of men and 79 percent of women with PTSD also have another psychiatric disorder. Nearly half suffer from major depression, 16 percent from other types of anxiety disorders besides PTSD, and 28 percent from social phobia. They also are more likely to have risky health behaviors such as alcohol abuse, which affects 52 percent of men with PTSD and 28 percent of women, while drug abuse is seen in 35 percent of men and 27 percent of women with PTSD. PTSD and Brain Function MRI and PET scans show changes in the way memories are stored in the brain. PTSD is an environmental shock that changes the brain. Scientists do not know if the changes can be reversed. For war veterans, quiet moments of the day or night are not necessarily peaceful. Brain scans show that when a veteran is involved with a physical or mental task, the brain stem and limbic system (fight, flight, freeze or combat-ready brain) are calm. Quiet times (like while watching TV) with no focused mental or physical activity are quite different. In this case, brain scans reveal that the “combat-ready” parts of the brain are lit up like neon lights. During the early retirement years, when the body is beginning to wear out, old distractions are not as available as they once were, and many vets struggle to keep busy. Symptoms Flashbacks: Imagine experiencing the most terrifying horror movie you’ve ever seen playing over and over in your mind. You can’t make the images go away. These are the flashbacks commonly associated with PTSD and usually are thought of in connection with combat veterans in war. Flashbacks take the person out of reality. The person is truly living the experience over again. Emotional detachment: The person’s emotional system is in overdrive. They have a hard time being a loving family member. They avoid activities, places and people associated with the traumatic event. They are simply drained emotionally and have trouble functioning every day. Jumpiness: For someone with PTSD, a slight noise might make them practically "jump out of their skin" (known as hyperactive startle reflex). They might overreact to small things and have difficulty concentrating. They may always be looking around as if searching their environment for danger (known as hypervigilance). Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep in this high state of arousal is also common. When to Seek Medical Care When the symptoms start weeks, months or years after the experience and last longer than a month, it is considered PTSD. Some World War II veterans developed PTSD 50 years after the war and only after they retired. They didn’t talk about their war experiences. They came home from war, went to work and built families. It wasn’t until their retirement, when they were no longer responsible for keeping it together for their families, that flashbacks from combat began. Treatment Talk about it: • Cognitive therapy (sometimes called cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT) is based on the concept that the way we

think about things affects how we feel emotionally. It focuses on present thinking, behavior and communication rather than on past experiences and is oriented toward problem solving. Cognitive therapy can help veterans understand their symptoms, decrease their reactivity, and learn coping skills. • Group therapy (or a veterans’ support group) offers camaraderie and an opportunity to openly share locked-up experiences with other veterans who truly understand and listen without judgment. The groups also validate the fact that symptomatic behavior – exaggerated startle response, nightmares, trust issues, emotional numbness, irritability, isolation, avoidance of crowds and avoidance of social events – is a normal response to the untreated trauma caused by the combat experience. During confidential group sessions, domestic and other unresolved issues can be discussed without guilt or shame. For many veterans, listening to “brothers” in the group is the first time they have created an authentic kinship since combat. • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a therapy founded by Diane Shapiro, uses cognitive treatment and imagery to create resolution for intruding silent statements such as, “I’m not safe,” or “Don’t trust anyone.” EMDR is a complex process involving eight treatment phases and requires an experienced licensed clinician specifically trained in this area. • Somatic Experiencing, created by Peter Levine, uses relaxation, breathing techniques and imagery to create resolution within the nervous system. By using these techniques, veterans can learn to cope with stress and bring resolution to their combat experience. Treatment takes time but the time it takes to actually heal this trauma is very short compared to how long it has been going on. Medication: Two drugs, sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil), have been approved for the treatment of post-traumatic stress. Volunteer: Being of service can be a pathway toward balance and well-being, away from depression and anxiety. Several studies have shown that older adults who volunteer regularly tend to be happier as a group than those who don’t volunteer. There is also evidence that older volunteers are not just happier but also physically healthier than non-volunteers. Better yet, there’s a mounting body of research indicating that those who volunteer or participate in similar activities live longer. What partners of PTSD sufferers can do: • Participate in individual and/or group therapy. • Realize your partner has a disability that needs to be treated with kindness and compassion. • Read about Vietnam and about PTSD. • Blow off steam to a close, trusted friend. • Learn effective communication techniques – take a parenting class or attend a meditation seminar. • Join a support group. If you can’t find a group that knows about war trauma, join any group that supports your growth. • Write your feelings in a journal. Read the journal aloud or into a tape recorder and listen to it with compassion. • Be good to yourself. Take a long, hot bath, read some fiction or poetry, call a friend on the phone, meet a friend for coffee, get a manicure – anything that elevates your mood. • Walk or exercise daily. • Stay present. Focus on the things that are working in your life.

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Woodbridge LIFE

WHAT THE FOURTH OF JULY MEANS TO ME By MG(R) Eldon Regua, U.S. Army

wo hundred thirty-nine years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, what does the Fourth of July, Independence Day, mean to us as Americans? To me, it is not only a day of celebration of freedom but of liberty and a day on which we can thank God for all He has done for us.  For the Army and our soldiers, this day is an affirmation of their Call to Duty and a reminder of why they risk life and limb to preserve freedom throughout the world. The Army was born June 14, 1775, more than a year before the Declaration was signed in Philadelphia and officially formed for General George Washington to lead. For 239 years, the United States Army has played a vital role in the growth and development of our nation. Soldiers have fought in more than 10 wars, from the American Revolution through the Cold War, the Gulf War, to the current Global War on Terrorism. In other words, throughout the history of this great nation, America’s men and women have answered the Call to Duty, serving their fellow citizens to ensure their defense and the preservation of our liberty and way of life. It is this monumental legacy that all Americans honor and celebrate on Independence Day. Our soldiers, both active and reserve, are the heart of the Army. Imbued with the Warrior Ethos, our soldiers are "warriors of character" whose seriousness and sense of urgency are characteristic of an Army at war. Our soldiers will always place the mission first, never accept defeat, never quit and never leave a fallen comrade, a principle that easily adapts to Americans in all walks of life. Call to Duty in Action This kind of courage and heroism under fire continues to be the hallmark of America’s soldiers, especially Sergeant First Class Paul Smith, a member of the 3rd Infantry Division, who received the first Medal of Honor in the Global War on Terrorism. Smith demonstrated the ultimate in heroism and sacrifice, April 4, 2003, when he died while protecting his fellow soldiers in a fierce ambush gun battle outside Baghdad airport. Even though he was outnumbered, Sergeant Smith stayed at his post, returning fire that enabled many of his fellow soldiers to move to safety—until he was killed. From

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In June 2005, another soldier in Iraq was presented with the Silver Star, the Soldier’s Medal and the Bronze Star for valor for his actions on three separate occasions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. First Lieutenant Karl Gregory, a platoon leader in the 1st Infantry Division, was presented with the Silver Star for his gallant action while outnumbered during an insurgent uprising in June 2004. In a fierce fight to dislodge insurgents, Gregory stood his ground until his wounded fellow soldiers were evacuated and both of his Bradley’s turrets were disabled. Even after being wounded himself, he refused to leave a fallen comrade and returned to make sure no one was left behind. That is the Warrior Ethos in action, answering the Call to Duty, placing the mission first; America’s soldiers answer another Call to Duty off the battlefields as well, performing countless acts of sacrifice and humanity every day—helping bring freedom and improve the everyday lives of the people in Iraq and Afghanistan. All Americans All Americans can answer their Call to Duty by celebrating their freedom and becoming involved in welcoming home our returning soldiers. Nothing is more valued by a selfless patriot who has given up the pleasures of home and family and life in this great nation, for the hardship of life in Iraq and Afghanistan in service to democracy and freedom. Often just a simple “thank you” is a rich reward. Make their homecomings extend beyond the plane-side arrival and welcome-home parties. I urge you to invite a soldier to speak at a community event as a way to understand and appreciate their experiences, as well as to honor or recognize a soldier at a local event. Always remember to say “thank you” when you see a soldier in your community. I can’t tell you how much it means. Our soldiers continue to bring freedom throughout the world. Independence Day—let us celebrate this great day in their honor and in the honor of the people they are helping to free. Theirs is the noblest of service. The Warrior Ethos and Army Values are central to their lives. Soldiers who answer the Call to Duty are engaged in the noblest work of life. They are America’s sons and daughters, protecting our nation and enabling others to live free.  Happy Fourth to all!

RIVERS page 26

friends — who meet in a drum circle or in a sweat lodge ceremony to help each other in ways passed on to them by their ancestors for thousands of years. At the northeast corner of Woodbridge at the end of Mill Run Way, there is a fire pit – now hidden behind a wall. That fire has been burning for 40 years and the sweat lodge next to it has been a sacred place of gathering and spiritual healing for as long as Three Rivers has been around. The new wall erected between the two properties is mutually beneficial. However, this author, who has been friends with our neighbors for almost a decade, hopes that the spirit of friendship, respect and neighborly love will not be stopped by a simple brick wall. Every once in a while you may hear songs in an unfamiliar language. Here is a translation of one of them: "Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me. I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people. Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. I seek strength, not to be superior to my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy – myself. Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes, so when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit will come to you without shame.

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Woodbridge LIFE

Page 37 • July 2015

DID YOU KNOW... Compiled by Mike Spence from sources including NASA, Natural History Museum - UK, Journal of Geoscience and NASA (Moon) Mineralogy report. •

In 1969, President Richard Nixon made the longest phone call in history — from the Oval Office to the moon.

•

The impact theory of how the moon evolved refers to “Planet Theia” impacting earth. The name comes from a moon goddess of ancient Greek mythology.

•

In 2003, Pulte estimated that the average evaporation rate for our Lake Rockwell would be 50 inches a year.

•

During the 1969 moon walk, the astronauts discovered at least three new minerals: •

Tranquillityite – Named for the Sea of Tranquility where the Eagle landed.

•

Pyroxferroite – Named for the Greek word for fire and Latin word for iron.

•

Armalcolite – Named after the Apollo astronauts: Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins.

•

The Apollo missions left seismometers on the moon; there are “moonquakes.”

•

If the Apollo astronauts had landed at a national park, the rangers would be very upset:

•

They did not have a reservation.

•

They made a great deal of commotion setting up camp.

•

They did not stay on the trails, leaving footprints everywhere.

•

They collected minerals without a permit.

•

They left without paying, leaving the campsite a mess with gadgets scattered about; they even left their spaceship trailer.

•

In the proposed city of Manteca budget, there is funding for two new firefighters. If approved, both may be assigned to Station #4 on Lathrop Road.

•

The fission or impact theory of how the moon evolved was first proposed by Charles Darwin, the son of astronomer George Darwin.

•

For comparison, the moon would fit nicely in the Pacific Ocean basin.

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1. Carolyn Cruz visited Muskegon, Michigan, to see the USS Silversides submarine her father, Art Clark, was stationed on for eight War Patrols (1941-1944) in the South Pacific during WWII. 2. Mike and Claudette Conklin took a well-deserved vacation in Cancun after their son's wedding. 3. Nelson and Janet Conner (L) and Linda and Bill Jack in Rothenburg, Germany, as part of a May Viking River Cruise. 4. (L to R) Rick Hyden, Andra Hyden, Sandi Palomarres, Marg Doyal, Benny Doyal, Connie Torgrimson and Pete Coyle traveled to Yellowstone National Park in May. 5. Ray and Pepper Noble began their vacation in Venice, cruised the Mediterranean on the MS Nieuw Amsterdam, stayed a time in Barcelona, Spain, land toured southern Spain, then ended in New York. 6. Tom and Terry Heath (L) and Mo and Jerry Price enjoy beautiful Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay in Mazatlan.

Where in the world ? Wow! Woodbridge LIFE has been circling the globe with our wandering residents! We will do our best to include ALL travel photographs, but space and clarity will dictate. Preference will go to those not featured in previous editions and, yes, to those in exotic locales and interesting photo ops! Send images electronically to wblife2012@gmail.com using high resolution or actual size. Thank you for your contributions. We're happy that you continue to enjoy Woodbridge LIFE. If your picture isn't here, look for it in the coming months and keep sending them in! Sorry, we can no longer accept print photos.

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