W oodbridge Volume 6 ▪ Issue 5 ▪ Number 56
LIFE
Your Life. Your Community. Your News.
May ▪ 2016
May
LIBERTY PARK OPENING IN JUNE! All Woodbridge residents and their guests are invited to the much-anticipated grand opening of Liberty Park, Saturday, June 11. The opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Plaza in the southeast corner of the park, then move to the Golf Chipping Course, past the tennis and pickleball courts and on to the Amphitheatre for musical entertainment by Second Chance Band. Watch the June edition of Woodbridge LIFE for more about the opening ceremony, including a map. (Those of you who had already marked your calendars for May 21, please make the correction to the June 11 date.)
Inside
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Events and Tours . . . . . . . 8 Garden Tasks . . . . . . . . 19 Groups and Clubs . . . . . . 6 Household Hints . . . . . . 16 Triker's Travels . . . . . . . 28 Where in the World . . . . . 38 Wine 101 . . . . . . . . . . 32
READ WBL ONLINE : http://issuu.com/ woodbridgelife
Contact us:
WBLIFE2012@gmail.com
Opening Day Fills Stands0 Runners at the Corners By Debby Hickey. WBL photos by Volker Moerbitz.
I
t was a day filled to the brim with patriotism, resident reunions, America’s favorite sport, music, food, festive décor and fun. There were four games showcasing our eight softball teams, our array of umpires, score booth posse and the reopening of our beloved Snack Shack, stocked with a whole new crew! No opening day jitters, it appeared, as so many great plays were made and the bats were hot! The stands were still filled with fans as the final game began around 12:45 p.m., when the White Knights took on the Purple Sharks. And just as you thought the excitement of the day was going to wind down, you heard a very young voice, shouting at the top of his little lungs, “Go, Papa Keith! Yea, Papa Keith! Hit the ball, Papa Keith! Run! Run!” What? Who was this kid? Where did this incredible fan come from? He is 4-year-old Jaxson McKee, grandson of Keith Loudermilk (White Knights) and wife Chris, in attendance with his parents, Juliette and Brian. He
was fearless in his brave cheering on of his grandpa, unable to contain his excitement, and obviously happy to be watching the live action! I just had to meet and recruit Jaxson; he injected so much life into the stands. And he had been dancing up a storm! I asked what kind of songs I could play for him. His folks advised me he likes “Black Sabbath!” Hard rock? Really? (We did find a few hard guitar rock songs to play for him.) I invited him up to the score booth and allowed him to push a few buttons on the scoreboard. He seemed honored to oblige, that is, until he heard See
SOFTBALL page 20
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
D
Oddly, this month includes the only Friday the 13th on the 2016 calendar. Mike Spence researched the history and significance in his Did You Know column, page 34. Esteemed historian Jean Kavale relates the tale of Mantecan Bill Castillo, a Purple Heart recipient pictured on Manteca’s World War II mural. In another V-E story, Volker Moerbitz visits Torgau at River Elbe, the place where American and Russian troops first met April 25, 1945, a precursor to V-E Day. Rommel Parseh recommends lunch or dinner at Fontina Ristorante in downtown Pleasanton (page 29). This eatery could be a delightful beginning (or
Page 3 • May 2016
By Dodie Miller, Activities Director
By Carol Jo Hargreaves, WBL Editor
We introduce a new feature this month: “Scene @ the Clubhouse.” One day a month Woodbridge LIFE staffers will visit Lakeview Clubhouse to check out what’s going on. This month we met residents in the Fitness Studio, the Billiards Room and the Westport (Arts and Crafts) Room. All were seriously engaged in their activities, whether striving for selfimprovement or enjoyment. See page 17 for their photos.
From Dodie's Desk
From the Editor el Webb Field was the site of softball opening day, April 2. Softball is one of Woodbridge’s most popular sports activities and our front page story this month. We field six men’s teams as well as two women’s teams for a season that runs from April through September. Judy McNamara summarizes the opening day ceremony on page 28, enhanced by photos of the fun had by players and spectators alike.
W Carol Jo Hargreaves, WBL Editor end) to a day trip when you are looking for something to do away from Woodbridge. Ellen Wootton and her team of seamstresses are celebrated for their donations to the City of Manteca Animal Shelter on page 12. The dog beds and cat mats made and donated by Wootton’s group help animals rapidly find new and loving forever homes. Thank you for your enthusiastic response to our request to feature Woodbridge resident brothers and sisters! Your eager desire to participate convinced us to change our plan and extend the photo shoot period in order to include everyone who wanted to be part of the feature page. Seven sets of brothers and sisters responded and will be colorfully introduced in the June edition of Woodbridge LIFE. Subsequently we will also feature same sex siblings as well as other family member combinations that reside in our community. Watch for announcements and join us in the fun! Happy Mother’s Day! ~ Carol Jo and the Woodbridge LIFE team
The deadline for submission of articles and photographs for the June 2016 edition of Woodbridge LIFE is Thursday, May 5, 2016. Please email your materials to wblife2012@gmail.com
e have a full month of May ahead of us and just in time for all the beautiful weather coming our way. Our talented Woodbridge Singers and Dancers will lead off the month with their Spring Concert. They have been practicing and practicing and will give us a memorable show. They always do. Speaking of beautiful weather, come out and support our softball players every Wednesday and Saturday. Our first Murphys Wine Walk is coming up the first week in May. We visit three of the wineries in Murphys including cheese tasting, lunch and Dodie Miller, WOA Activities Director free time to shop. The flowers along the way will be in bloom so it should be a very pretty ride. We have “Elvis” back by popular demand and this time he’s bringing his live band. The band will be a first for Woodbridge, which should add a new dimension to the show. Don’t miss it. The Women of Woodbridge group has been working hard on their everpopular “Sip For Scholarship” event. Local wineries will be present as will our own local chefs, Bryan and Andrew from Manteca Unified School District, and the be.cuisine academy students. This is also a “don’t miss” event. Proceeds go toward scholarships for local high school students. I have a series of comedians lined up, beginning with Doc Dixon. This performer adds magic to his comedy act. I am told he is a remarkable
See
DODIE page 5
Page 4 • May 2016
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
WOA Update By Ramon Rivera
Photo submitted by Lorraine Sommerhalder.
Flyer developed and distributed by the Woodbridge Lifestyle Committee.
Jon Ford did a great job as our DJ for the Veterans Group Happy Hour.
Farewell to Mark Bianchini Mark Bianchini, our maintenance assistant, is moving on and we wish him the very best. Mark has been outstanding during his time with the WOA. Mark’s dedication to provide our residents with the highest level of customer service was evident in every task he would take on. He will be missed and not forgotten anytime soon. Thank you, Mark, for all your best efforts during your time here with the WOA! Multipurpose Room Closure The Multipurpose Room will be closed the week of Sunday, June 26 through Saturday, July 2, 2016. The wood flooring will be screened and re-coated as a part of our effort to maintain the flooring. Announcements of the closure will be posted throughout the Clubhouse to serve as friendly reminders. Upcoming Projects The board of directors has approved recommendations for the following projects: • Interior painting of the Clubhouse • Refinishing of indoor pool deck • Chemical-free lake management plan • Additional security cameras for Liberty Park and Lake Rockwell Due to the nature of the interior painting and indoor pool deck projects, some closures may be required. Announcements will be made in advance through the portal, via email blasts, news postings and posted flyers in the Clubhouse. We will do everything possible to complete these projects with minimal inconvenience. Summer Hours Summer hours will start May 1 and be in effect through August 31. The Clubhouse will be open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Outdoor Pool and Spa As of May 1, the outdoor pool and spa are up and running. Preventive maintenance was performed for all of the heaters and filter components. The water for the spa and pool is chemically balanced. The pool will be heated at a temperature range of 84 to 86 degrees and the spa will be set at a range of 101 to 103 degrees.
WOODBRIDGE CHAIR VOLLEYBALL All games are from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Days vary – check the date on your calendar.
May
5, 10 and 24
September
1, 13 and 28
June
1, 14 and 22
October
3, 11 and 26
July
7, 13 and 25
November
3, 8 and 22
August
1, 9 and 23
December
1, 14 and 27
*** June 27 changed to June 22 as Multipurpose Room floor is being resurfaced.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
From the Boardroom
Page 5 • May 2016
By Roger Cunning, Vice President of the Woodbridge Owners Association Board of Directors
W
e are now fully into spring. Our rainy season appears past, but it provided much needed water in our state’s reservoirs and, hopefully, ground water. Please remember to comply with the city of Manteca’s guidelines regarding sprinkling and irrigation on your property. The results of the vote regarding the amendment to our bylaws were announced during the April board of directors meeting. Thank you for taking the time to vote. The bylaw amendment was approved by about 71 percent of the ballots cast. This means that one Pulte board seat will be replaced by a resident this coming October. It also means that board member terms will now be three years with a term limit of two consecutive terms. The huge benefit is that elections will be staggered so that no more that 40 percent of the board members will change in any given year, providing significant stability to our governing body. Lastly, the entire board of directors will be comprised of five homeowners by October 2017. The board of directors approved the schedule for the upcoming election. The entire process will begin in late June with opportunities to meet the candidates during the summer months and vote during September and early October. Results will be
announced during the Annual Members Meeting, October 12. The board approved a recommendation from Operations Manager Ramon Rivera to begin maintaining Lake Rockwell utilizing natural habitat rather than chemicals. In the long run, this will save the association money and the lake will become more vital and environmentally friendly. Ramon will provide more details in the future. The board also approved potential changes to WOA Rules and Regulations about fishing in Lake Rockwell. The recommended changes could benefit and enhance our catch and release policy. Comments should be submitted directly to Riverside Management within the 30-day period. John Johnson, board president, advised us Pulte will be completing most of its construction work in Liberty Park so that the park may be turned over to the association in May. However, the Icon Tower will not be complete at that time. Its construction will continue while the remainder of the park will be available for residents to enjoy. Please plan to attend our next board meeting July 6, 2016, beginning at 4 p.m. We hope to see you there.
May 2016 Committee Meetings
From
Meeting
Day
Date
Time
ARC Inspections Policy & Procedures Committee ARC Review New Resident Orientation Property & Grounds Committee Listening Post ARC Inspections ARC Review Finance Committee
Tuesday Monday Tuesday Thursday Thursday Friday Tuesday Tuesday Thursday
5/3/16 5/9/16 5/10/16 5/12/16 5/12/16 5/13/16 5/17/16 5/24/16 TBD
9 a.m. 2 p.m. 9 a.m. 10 a.m. 2:15 p.m. 1 p.m. 9 a.m. 9 a.m. 1 p.m.
A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO WOODBRIDGE RESIDENT LYLE BENNETT FOR THE “FREE” SHRED DAY, APRIL 9. LYLE MADE ALL OF THE ARRANGEMENTS AND SAID WE HAD 150 RESIDENTS COME BY, EVEN IN THE RAIN. THANK YOU AGAIN, LYLE!
DODIE page 3
performer. He’s performed with some major stars and this looks like a “fun” evening ahead for us, something a little different. There’s also a new band coming in this month, The Rusty Rockers. I’ve heard good things about them. They play old-time rock n’ roll and country classics. We’ll look forward to hearing them play. Tickets are $6 per person. Our Drama group is performing their melodrama “Trouble at Manteca Junction” on three different days. You’ll find a flyer on page 37. Pick one of the days to come and enjoy. For those who enjoy classical music, the Bay Area Strings are performing in concert toward the end of the month. Our golf putting tournaments have begun. There’s a tournament every month. Our first happy hour on the patio kicks off a series that will continue through October, if we have good weather. Enjoy!
LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE APPLICATIONS
Applications for the 2016-2017 year of the Woodbridge Lifestyle Committee will be available at the Clubhouse front desk beginning May 16. The committee will consist of eight (8) members plus the chairperson. The completed application must be hand-delivered to the Clubhouse front desk no earlier than 8 a.m., June 1, and no later than 5 p.m., June 15. Email, faxed or early applications will not be accepted
Dodie Miller, Activities Director
Page 6 • May 2016
Woodbridge LIFE
Groups & Clubs Artists & Crafters Ballroom Dance Bocce Ball Bridge Bunco Bunco-also contact
Contact Nedra Ball Patti Barnhart Rick Hyden Don St. Lawrence Mary Braun Susan Russitano
Phone 815-9309 629-8838 824-9257 825-7137 239-0409 275-5817
Canasta
Judy Simpson
647-2901
Chair Volleyball Cooking 401 Crochet/Knitting Cribbage Drama
Dave and Jacquie Steffy Jan Spence Geri Rogers Dave Steffy Suzanne Mauck
825-4805 924-8032 824-5310 825-4805 418-9045
Pat Buxton
239-8663
Meeting Day And Time M-F. Time & Workshops vary Friday @ 4:15 p.m. SU @ 6 p.m., TH @ 8 a.m. Mondays @ 10 a.m. 3rd Monday @ 6:30 p.m. 3rd Monday @ 6:30 p.m. 2nd and 4th Friday @ 10 a.m. 5 - 6:30 p.m. Days vary. Check schedule. 3rd Tuesday @ 2 p.m. Thursdays @ 10 a.m. Tuesdays @ 7 p.m. Thursdays @ 1 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays @ 6:30 p.m.
Rick Hyden Ruth Field Suzanne Mauck Patti Barnhart Bill Goodwin Bill Goodwin Bob Hall Patti Barnhart Patti Barnhart Stan Sutfin Barbara Shapiro
824-9257 229-6977 665-5169 629-8838 823-9767 823-9767 239-5712 629-8838 629-8838 815-9735 823-3343 510-9098997 239-8235 815-9343 239-2983 239-2833 624-3549 624-3754 239-8718 624-3945 815-9476 629-8508 629-8838 815-9803
Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m. W-SA-SU @ 1 p.m. Fridays @ 1 p.m. M-W-F @ 9:15 a.m. Fridays @ 6 p.m. 2nd Monday @ 10 a.m. Patrols Tuesday @ 10 a.m. Wednesdays @ 1 p.m. Wednesdays @ 6 p.m. M-F. Time varies M @ 2:15 p.m. & TH @ 1 p.m. Wed @ 1:30 p.m. & Fri @ 5:30 p.m. Days and times vary 1st Wed @ 10:30 a.m. Various golf courses Mondays @ 2 p.m. SU - TU - TH @ 9 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
Pinochle
Robert Philis Al Sanchez Poker Joe Victoria Radio Controlled Flyers Bob Umberger Readers’ Group Patty DeRoos Senior Golf John Armstrong Strummin’ Wonders Carla Marquardt Tennis Mel Topping Trivia Eileen Hill Veterans Bill Buffington Walking Indoors Jacque Reynolds Wheels of Woodbridge Bill Barnhart Wine 101 Jon Ford Women of Woodbridge Birdie Nieri Woodbridge Senior Softball Club Vern Mendes Woodbridge Singers
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Interest Groups:
WOA Groups and Clubs:
Game Night Game Night-also contact Hand & Foot Hula Dance Line Dancing Line Dancing (Evening) Men of Woodbridge Neighborhood Watch Oil Painters Open Painting Paddle Tennis Pickleball
624-3779 3rd Wed @ 11 a.m.
823-4760 Seasonal Every other Monday @ 6:30 Elizabeth Cunning 647-4380 p.m.
Please refer to www.ourwoodbridge.net for more detailed information.
Club Christian Men's Fellowship 55er's RV Group "Just Fore Fun" Ladies' Golf Senior Bowling Women's Bible Study
Contact Dave Basehore Sue Edmiston Betty Buff Barbara Silva Carolyn Johnson
Phone 923-4905 601-9210 479-3568 824-0262 239-0936
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Reaching Out Lakeview Clubhouse: 824-7581
Board of Directors
John Johnson, President Roger Cunning, Vice President Christine Carlson, Treasurer Carl Hansen, Secretary Mike Spence, Director-at-Large
www.ourwoodbridge.net PUBLISHER
WOA
ADVERTISING
495-6803
Activities Director
Dodie Miller:
824-7927
Office Coordinator
Leilani Rodriguez:
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.”
Page 7 • May 2016
209-824-7581
Operations Manager
2401 Morning Brook Drive Manteca, CA 95336
EDITOR
Ramon Rivera:
Woodbridge LIFE
Homeowner Directors
Roger: 647-4380 / Mike: 924-8032
Woodbridge LIFE
Carol Jo Hargreaves
824-7581
823-3538
Leilani Rodriguez
WBL EDITORIAL TEAM Sharyl Burgeson, asst. editor Carol Jo Hargreaves, chair Jean Kavale Ann King Judy McNamara Dodie Miller Volker Moerbitz Pepper Noble Ramon Rivera Leilani Rodriguez Mike Spence Shelley Tate
824-7581 239-1492 823-3538 629-8571 650-464-0151 923-4718 824-7927 239-7965 239-1933 495-6803 824-7581 924-8032 479-4249
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.
Contact us:
WBLIFE2012@gmail.com
In Memoriam In tribute to a loved one who has died, Woodbridge LIFE welcomes residents to submit up to 100 words and a 2-inch x 2-inch photo (optional) for publication. Send submissions by email to wblife2012@gmail.com.
Page 8 • May 2016
Woodbridge Owners Association Committees ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW • Jacquie Alexander alexander-fox@comcast.net 925-823-2194 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
• Bill Barnhart bill.barnhart@mrbconsulting.us 629-8838
POTLUCK NIGHTS
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Coming to Woodbridge EVENTS and TOURS - May 2016 By Dodie Miller, Activities Director
WOODBRIDGE SINGERS & DANCERS SPRING CONCERT – May 2 @ 6:30 p.m. and May 3 @ 2 p.m.
and 6:30 p.m. – “The Lullaby of Broadway” is the theme for this year’s concert. Included will be show tunes, choreographed dancers and tap dancers, a concert pianist, harmonica and guitar players, actors, soloists, a big choral group and sing-along songs. Tickets are $2 per person at the front desk.
MURPHYS WINE WALK – Wednesday and Thursday,
May 4 and 5. The 18-passenger wine bus will leave the Clubhouse at 9:30 a.m. both days and will arrive in Murphys at 11 a.m. Wine tasting will begin at Val du Vino Winery where you will be dropped off, then Lavender Ridge Winery with wine and cheese tasting and lunch. The third stop is Hovey Winery which features wine tasting and shopping. The bus will leave at 4 p.m. for the ride back to Woodbridge. Cost is $45 per person, which includes the tours, bus ride, driver gratuity and lunch.
ELVIS AND HIS LIVE BAND – Saturday, May 7
@ 6 p.m. - He’s back big time with his live band! Jeremy “ELVIS” Pearce is one of the most popular Elvis tribute artists in the world and has won several Elvis impersonator contests. We’ve never had his band here in the past, so this will be a special night for Elvis fans. Tickets are $13 per person at the front desk. (This price is a bit higher because of the band’s presence.)
SIP FOR SCHOLARSHIP – Thursday, May 12 @
5 p.m. – It’s Mardi Gras – let the good times roll. There will be tastings from several area wineries, hot and cold appetizers and desserts, all prepared by Chefs Bryan and Andrew and the be.cuisine academy students from Manteca Unified School District. Proceeds fund academic scholarships at local Manteca high schools. Tickets are $25 per person and available at the front desk.
DOC DIXON COMEDY & MAGIC SHOW Saturday,
May 14 @ 6:30 p.m. - Doc Dixon is humorous and his magic leaves the audience wondering “How did he do that?” Dixon entertains nationwide. Please welcome him to Woodbridge for an entertaining night of laughs and magic. Tickets are $12 per person.
WINE 101 – Tuesday, May 17 @ 9:30 a.m. – A bus
trip to the Amador wine country. There will be wine
tasting on the beautiful grounds of Young’s Vineyard in the Shenandoah Valley. (You are to bring your own lunch for this trip). After lunch you will be going to Villa Toscana for another tasting. If you purchase any wine at this site, you will receive a $5 credit toward your purchase. Cost is $42 per person.
SPEAKER SERIES – Wednesday, May 18 @ 2 p.m. –
Keeping your home shipshape by Bill Barnhart. Please sign up at the front desk.
THE RUSTY ROCKERS BAND – Wednesday, May 18 @ 6 p.m. - This award-winning band plays old-time rock n’ roll and classic country music. You may bring your beverage of choice and snacks. Tickets are $6 per person and available at the front desk.
DRAMA GROUP PLAY – Thursday, May 19 @
6:30 p.m. and Sunday Matinee, May 22 @ 2 p.m. and Wednesday, May 25 @ 6:30 p.m. – “Trouble at Manteca Junction.” Tickets are $5 per person.
GOLF PUTTING TOURNAMENT – Saturday, May
21 @ 1:30 p.m. - The golf putting tournaments are limited to 72 players. You may form your own foursome or be assigned to one. Check-in is at 1:30 p.m. and play starts at 2 p.m. Results and social follow on the patio. Bring your beverage of choice and an appetizer to share. Entry fee is $5. CASH ONLY.
BAY AREA STRINGS TRIO – Monday, May 23 @ 6
p.m. - A classical concert with a wide variety of music. Tickets are $8 per person.
HAPPY HOUR – Friday, May 27 @ 5:30 p.m. – The first happy hour of the spring/ summer series. Bring your beverage of choice and an appetizer to share at your table. Tables and chairs will be provided and we have the duo “Back 2 Back” getting the season started with lively music on the patio. One of the members of “Back 2 Back” is a Woodbridge resident. Tickets are $5 per person at the front desk. STRUMMIN’ WONDERS UKULELE PATRIOTIC CONCERT – Monday, May 30 @ 6:30 p.m. – A special
tribute by Major General Eldon Regua. You are invited to bring goodies to share after the concert. Free admission. Sign-ups taken at the front desk.
MAY 31 - MEXICAN THEME JULY 26 – PASTA & PIZZA
Important Notice About Cancellations
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 waiting list, the front desk can fill the vacancy from the list. Thank you.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
May Activities Sunday 1
Page 9 • May 2016
Summer Clubhouse Hours (5/1 through 8/31) – Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
2
3
4
5
6:30 p.m. – Woodbridge
9 a.m. – ARC Inspections
9:30 a.m. – Murphys
9:30 a.m. – Murphys
Singers & Dancers
2 p.m. – Woodbridge
Spring Concert
Singers & Dancers Spring
Friday
Saturday
7
6
6 p.m. – Elvis and his
Wine Walk Bus Trip
Wine Walk Bus Trip
11
12
13
14
1 p.m. – Listening Post
6:30 p.m. – Doc Dixon
band
Concert 6:30 p.m. – Woodbridge Singers & Dancers Spring Concert
8
9
10
2 p.m. – Policy &
9 a.m. – Architectural
10 a.m. – New Resident
Procedures Committee
Review Committee Mtg.
Orientation
Mtg.
Comedy & Magic Show
2:15 p.m. – Property & Grounds Committee Mtg. 5 p.m. – Sip for Scholarship
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
9 a.m. – ARC
2 p.m. – Speaker Series
6:30 p.m. – Drama
1:30 p.m. – Golf Putting
Inspections
6 p.m. – The Rusty
Group Play “Trouble at
Tournament
9:30 a.m. – Wine 101
Rockers Band
Manteca Junction”
25
26
bus trip to the Amador wine country
22
23
24
2 p.m. – Drama Group
6 p.m. – Bay Area
9 a.m. – Architectural
6:30 p.m. – Drama
Play “Trouble at
Strings Trio
Review Committee Mtg.
Group Play “Trouble at
Manteca Junction”
29
27 Woodbridge LIFE
28
distributed 5:30 p.m. – Happy Hour
Manteca Junction”
30 MEMORIAL DAY
NOTE:
31
1 p.m. – Finance
6:30 p.m. – Strummin’
Committee Meeting (Date
Wonders Ukulele
to be determined)
Patriotic Concert
► 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. This calendar was last updated 4/25/16. Refer to flyers or the Woodbridge portal for additional information.
Comin
s t n e v gE
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. See
EVENTS page 10
Woodbridge LIFE
Page 10 • May 2016
At the Clubhouse
Arts
BRIDGE
ARTISTS & CRAFTERS Classes?
By Don St. Lawrence
The Bridge group meets Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Oxford Room.
Bridge Scores APRIL 4:
Don St. Lawrence Cherie Ford Marilyn Larson Barbara Kreps Bruce Inlow Robi Cornelius Betty Buff Don Harris
APRIL 11:
Jon Crowley Cherie Ford Shirley Lopes Don St. Lawrence Kathy Comden Betty Buff Phyllis Tindell Inger Hammer Robi Cornelius Barbara Kreps
www.ourwoodbridge.net
By Penny Dauler
3870 2920 2850 2790 2710 2520 2300 830 3660 3380 3080 2890 2590 2540 2350 2130 1950 1890
APRIL 18:
Letha Watson Robi Cornelius Don Harris Kathy Comden Betty Buff Cherie Ford
3390 3120 2870 2640 2520 2160
APRIL 25:
Letha Watson Betty Buff Cherie Ford Don Harris Inger Hammer Robi Cornelius Kathy Comden Mariyln Larson Barbara Kreps Shirley Lopes Jon Crowley Phyllis Tindell
4250 4250 4160 4040 3770 3430 3110 2360 2350 2210 1790 1060
Coming Events From
EVENTS page 9
Name of Event
Event Date
Purchase Tickets Starting:
Spring Garden Tour
6/4/16
5/12/16
Dave Bass Quartet
6/8/16
5/9/16
'50s Dance - In-N-Out Burger Night
6/11/16
5/12/16
Jesse Adams Technology Night
6/15/16
none
Golf Putting Tournament
6/18/16
sign up
Decades Band
6/23/16
5/24/16
Happy Hour
6/24/16
5/27/16
Luau Dinner & Show
6/30/16
5/27/16
The Doctors Hospital Healthcare Forum for May has been cancelled. Beginning in June, forums will begin at 10:30 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m.
I
had been hoping to never write an article like this … SHAME ON YOU! Problem: Arts and Crafts tries to offer special classes each month that might catch your interest. Dates are set, teachers are lined up and sign-up sheets are posted. Teachers buy supplies based on the number of sign-ups. Wait lists are created once a class is full. Often more people want in to the class than we have room for. Day of class … materials are set out for the number of sign-ups … half the people show up! Now the teachers are out the money for the supplies they bought for those no shows and it is too late to call those on the waitlist. Options: 1. Pay for class supplies when you sign up, including $1 class fee? 2. Buy all class supplies yourself (it might be difficult to purchase one plastic spoon). 3. Stop offering classes? 4. Take sign-ups and payments only at the general meeting? Solution: Class fee and supply fee (if any) will be due at time of registering for the class. This money is to be paid in cash and is nonrefundable. See the yellow communication board for May’s calendar and class signup sheets or, better yet, come to the General Meeting, Friday, May 6, at 10 a.m.
WOODBRIDGE READERS GROUP By Marie Evans
T
he book club met the first Wednesday of the month. We had 10 or 11 in attendance (unsure if I counted myself!) and everyone really enjoyed reading this month’s book, Maisie Dobbs, written by Jacqueline Winspear and published in 2003. The heroine, Maisie Dobbs, is a modern woman in post World War I England, learning to live in a changed world, to become an independent woman, and to trust and like her “new” self and make use of her potential in ways that weren't always quite acceptable in that time. Maisie herself was a victim of that war, carrying her own inner scars. The way she was able to make a new life for
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herself, gain self-confidence and accomplish what she set out to do while entering an unfamiliar postwar world, makes the story. It tells us of her past and builds her into a “real” person. It was an easy-to-read book considering it’s actually quite a deep book, often leaving much to think about and certainly giving us a lot to discuss. We all agreed that we enjoyed the read and a lot of discussion ensued. One of us was surprised to learn the author was born in 1955 (her grandfather had been in WWI), because it seemed to all that she understood the era so well and that the book must have been written shortly after the war – a believable story. See
READERS page 11
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READERS page 10
Woodbridge LIFE
The author was born in Kent, England, and probably heard stories about the war from her grandfather. The theme “strong women” came up several times during our discussion and that era must have required strong women since most of the young men either died or were severely injured during the war. To me, this book differed from other war stories in that it was more hopeful and less violent. Maisie is a resourceful character who learns fast and rises to the occasion, taking care of both herself and others. It is worth the read and it captures the reader's interest until the last word is read. Even then, it is comforting to know that, if you want, there are 12 more books in the series! The book for discussion at our May meeting, suggested by Ann Barden, is Hidden In Plain View, by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard, Ph.D.
ARTISTS & CRAFTERS Work Retreat & Hidden Talent Display By Betty Grandt and Penny Dauler
Retreat date is Saturday, July 9 Last April we held our second annual all-day crafters/artists work retreat and created a display of the many hidden talents found throughout our community. We want to extend an invitation to our new and not so new residents who would like to display their creativity to our community. It was amazing last year to once again see all the talent we have here. Your projects will be showcased in the Multipurpose Room. This is an exciting event and I encourage all artists/crafters to display their work or at least drop by July 9 and visit with us. Watch the yellow communication board outside the Westport Room and the June edition of Woodbridge LIFE for more information and the date of a mandatory meeting for all those wishing to showcase their talent.
WOMEN OF WOODBRIDGE SPEAKER SERIES Household Hints By Linda Little
H
ave you always wanted to be a DIY person when it comes to regular household maintenance but don’t have the experience or the confidence? Bill Barnhart, Woodbridge resident and “goto guy” for household repairs, will share some household hints when he speaks to Woodbridge residents, May 18 at 2 p.m., as part of the continuing Speaker Series sponsored by the Women of Woodbridge. Bill’s presentation will include how-to’s on basic household tasks such as changing out batteries throughout your house, cleaning faucet filters and refrigerator coils, proper drying of showers and shower doors after use, landscape watering times and more. Hand-outs with photos and step-by-step instructions will be provided. The session will close with a question and answer period. Those wishing to attend this presentation must sign up at the front desk in the Lakeview Clubhouse. There is no fee; however, a count is needed for set-up and preparation of materials.
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WOODBRIDGE CRAFTERS TO THE RESCUES By Bill Barnhart, Ellen Wootton and Kay Armstrong
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hen TLC Real Estate (founded as The Lori’s & Co.) put out the request to help local animal shelters, the crafters of Woodbridge responded in a big way. The talented ladies hand-crafted 105 dog beds and 42 cat mats. Along with a pickup load of other donated items, the beds and mats were presented to the Manteca Animal Shelter Friday, March 25, 2016. In response to the overwhelming donation, Crystal Vandykhuizen, Animal Services Supervisor for Manteca, said, “We’re grateful for all the donations for our cats and dogs. These items really help to get them adopted.” At any given time, the Manteca shelter houses up to 60 cats and has 29 dog kennels. Hoping for a loving home, these animals are owner-surrendered, rescued from abusive environments or picked up on the streets by Animal Services, a division of the Manteca Police Department. During March, TLC asked local residents and businesses to donate much-needed items to the Manteca and/or Ripon shelters and the response was overwhelming. Leading the charge was The Lori’s & Co. co-founder, Lori Adams, who said, “We are so thankful to work in communities like Manteca and Ripon, especially Woodbridge. Our personal livelihood comes from the community, so it is our responsibility to give back and share our gratitude. We love our
pets and hope every dog and cat in the area is well cared for. We were so thankful for the generous donation of time and love from the Woodbridge crafters.” This wasn’t the first contribution from the Woodbridge crafters. In fact, so far in 2016, the ladies have made 162 dog beds and 121 cat liners, which equals about half of their 2015 donations. Ellen Lee Wootton heads up the dog and cat bed efforts, and about 15 ladies participate in making the beds every two months. Ellen says she does this because, “While I don’t have a dog anymore, I want to help animals in the community, especially those that need it most. I am a quilter and found that throw-away scraps can be better used to make the beds.” Ellen and the other ladies use donated scraps and look for bargains on fabric with colorful and fun animal prints. Then they use donated bed pillows and other stuffing to fill the beds. If you would like to join the crafters, or have fabric to donate or stuffing that’s not feathers or foam, please call Ellen. Her number is in the Woodbridge Community Directory. The next dog bed/cat liner-making day is Thursday, May 19, at 12:30 p.m. in the Westport Room of the Clubhouse. Seamstresses with sewing machines are needed as well as people to help stuff. No experience necessary.
Photo contributed.
Front row (L to R): From TLC Real Estate Lori Little, Lori Adams and Summer Ramirez. Back row (L to R): Crystal Vandykhuizen, from Animal Services; Andi Hyden, Carol Silva, Martha Harman, Ellie Engstrom and Ellen Lee Wootton of Woodbridge. In addition to those pictured, the following Woodbridge crafters participated in hand-crafting the most recent donation of dog beds and cat liners: Becky Jenkins, Jan Spence, Marian Pistochini, Sherry Lee, Carol Silva, Irene Criswell, Patti Barnhart, Lorna Hickman, Penny Schenken, Therese de Bord, Kim Pella, Olga Barbuscia and Geri Rogers.
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Woodbridge LIFE
Page 13 • May 2016
OUR WOODBRIDGE LIBRARY By Jacque Reynolds
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esidents are welcome to borrow books from our community library at the Lakeview Clubhouse. Books are shelved alphabetically by author’s last name, with paperback books located inside the cabinets. Our volunteer librarian, Jacque Reynolds, reminds us to please return books to the BOOK CART located in the library on the right side wall. From there, she will return the books to their proper places on the shelves. If you would like to donate books, please leave them on the cart in the library with a note. “Self-help,” history, cooking and garden books are not accepted because there is not enough room to display them. For book donations of 20 or more, please call Jacque Reynolds at 209-629-8508.
WBL photo by Sharyl Burgeson.
Craig Hoyer enjoys reading the newspaper in the community library.
WOODBRIDGE SINGERS Last Call for the Woodbridge Singers & Dancers Spring Concert By Elizabeth Cunning.
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ome see what all the fun is about as our own Woodbridge Singers and Dancers pull out all the stops to bring you a jam-packed fun event with Broadway flair! Your choice of three performances: May 2 at 6:30 p.m. and May 3 at 2 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $2 each at the Clubhouse front desk. You may bring a dessert to share after the performance and visit with the cast!
Photo by Roger Cunning.
Six passionate sailors (L to R): Jon Ford, Dave Steffy, Richard Lanzon, Kirby Brown, Jack Dauler and Roger Goodnow.
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Woodbridge LIFE
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WOODBRIDGE DRAMA GROUP Behind the Scenes of Woodbridge Drama By Michelle Paradis
J
im Mavridis, a retired lawyer who had run a similar group in a community in Los Angeles, started the Woodbridge Drama Group back in 2008. Initially it was meant to be a Reader's Theater, where people just sat and read lines from a script. We learned a lot from that experience. We also had the advantage of not needing to remember lines. However, to be honest, just sitting and reading lines was somewhat boring. After a few months, when Jim moved away from Woodbridge, we decided to be more adventurous and produce stage plays. In June 2009 we put up our first two plays: "The Committee" and "Gin and Tonic.” Does anyone remember those? Back then we had no stage and no microphones and we “bribed” the audience by providing free snacks and drinks, accepting only voluntary donations. Somehow, I have a feeling that the free drinks did help the audience laugh more at the punch lines. In the photo are some of our early players from the production of “Carmen Geddit,” our acclaimed performance of 2010. Since then, as Woodbridge has evolved, so has our group. We have used the proceeds of our ticket sales toward the purchase of the stage, the individual lapel microphones, our new stage light,
Photo contributed.
Front row (L to R): Arlene Fagala, Nick Music, Dolores Hickey, Karla Hoyer, Arlene Lopez and Shirley Smith Back Row (L to R): Kay Sanchez, Bob Naquin, Christine Riggs, Michelle Paradis, Suzanne Mauck, Paul Webb, Anne Madrid, Nadine Cimoli, Liz Olivares, Ray Olivares, Terry St. Hillaire and Bob St. Hillaire See
DRAMA page 37
WOMEN OF WOODBRIDGE WOW is Growing By Birdie Nieri
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he March 16 membership drive brought many new members to visit and hear what the Women of Woodbridge is all about. We celebrated this meeting with a brunch prepared by our members which included fresh fruits, coffee cakes, a vegetable tray, coffee, and, of course, orange juice. Champagne was an optional addition to the orange juice. Some lovely ladies were in attendance and seemed eager to give a helping hand to the events planned for this year. All events are held for charities that benefit the women and children of Manteca without political or religious affiliation. Coming up in May is the annual “Sip for Scholarship” event with local wineries and food prepared at stations in the Multipurpose Room. Each year we have tastings from local wineries and the high school be.tech students for samplings of their culinary creations. This year’s theme is “Mardi Gras.” You can expect Cajun cuisine to go with your wine. October will bring a new fall event. If you enjoyed the 1940s dinner
show last year, you will have a great time at our “Roaring ‘20s” dinner show to be held two nights. Once again there will be wonderful entertainment and a fabulous catered dinner served in “Fernando’s Hideaway Ballroom.” These events take a lot of woman-power to make them successful and beautiful. Many hands will be needed to create these fun-packed evenings. We are pleased that so many more of you want to become involved. We are excited about the diversity and experience of new members. Your ideas keep the club fresh. Women of Woodbridge meets the third Wednesday of each month, except during the summer hiatus when most of us are busy with family, vacation, softball and many other interests. Our last meeting will be May 18 and we will resume meetings September 21. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend these very informative gatherings. We would love to meet you. Bring a neighboring friend with you, too.
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Woodbridge LIFE
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Woodbridge LIFE
Household Hints Reducing Household Dust
Excerpts from "The Family Handyman" website edited by Bill Barnhart
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tudies show the average sixroom home in the United States collects about 40 Bill Barnhart pounds of dust each year. For the most part though, that is not due to poor housekeeping. It is actually a combination of dead skin, animal fur, dander, decomposing insects, dust mites, food debris, lint, fabric fibers, drywall particles, tracked-in soil, soot and pollen. Dust also contains hazardous chemicals that migrate from home products and enter through open doors, windows and on the soles of your shoes. Household dust can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms. While it’s impossible to get rid of dust completely, here are some inexpensive do-ityourself tips to help keep dust at a minimum so you can stay healthier. Cleaning Products: Microfiber products and disposable sheet products attract and hold dust with an electrostatic charge. Dry rags and feather dusters just spread the dust around. Machine washable products can also save you money over disposable brands. After washing, always let them air dry to stay soft and don’t use fabric softener which degrades their ability to attract and hold dust. Easy Cleaning Closets: Closets are dust reservoirs with tiny fibers from numerous sources. You cannot prevent clothes and bedding from shedding these fibers but you can take steps to contain them: • Bag your hanging items that are out of season or seldom worn using large garbage bags or clothes cleaner bags. • Box clothing or bedding, preferably in clear plastic containers that are easy to clean and easy to see what they contain. • Keep closet floors clear so you are more inclined to vacuum or clean those areas you usually bypass.
Dust with Your Dryer: Blankets, pillows, slipcovers, drapes and other textiles create, trap and shed household dust. Curtains and drapes, in particular, absorb chemicals and dirt from outside and act as a landing pad for dust from ceiling fans and vents. Washable items should be laundered at least once a year. Non-washable items may be thrown with a damp towel into the dryer on the air-fluff
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setting without any heat for 20 minutes. The damp towel attracts pet hair and the tumbling will remove the smaller dust particles. Clean the Air While You Clean the House: Your vacuum whips up a lot of dust that eventually settles on surfaces you’ve just cleaned. Filter out some of that dust by switching your thermostat to “Fan” while cleaning and for up to 15 minutes afterward. This allows your HVAC system to operate without any heating or cooling, filtering all that dust raised from your zealous cleaning efforts. Purify the Air: Here are four ways to cleanse dusty air in your home: • Use an air purifier in the most-used room to suck up dust before it settles. Select a unit with a true HEPA filter rather than ionic cleaners which can cause respiratory irritation. • Add a plant to every room. Plants absorb indoor pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde. Best plants, according to NASA, to absorb these chemicals are aloes, palms and ferns which can absorb up to 80 percent of these chemicals within 24 hours. • Keep humidity in your home between 40 and 50 percent to lower static electricity which causes dust to stick to surfaces and makes it harder to clean. Leafy indoor plants help to increase humidity levels. Fifty percent humidity is the highest, though, because a higher level promotes growth of mold, a far more dangerous condition. • Keep your windows and doors closed on windy days.
Rotate Bedding Weekly: That cozy bed of yours is a major dust distributor. Your bedding collects skin flakes, sheds its own fibers and sends out puffs of dust every time you sit on it or roll over. To minimize this problem, wash sheets and pillowcases weekly. When changing bedding, don’t whip up a dust storm. Gently roll up the dirty sheets and gently spread out the new ones, even clean sheets shed fibers. Take items that are not machine washable outside and shake or put in the dryer and tumble as described above. Ban Shoes inside the House: More than half of household dust enters through windows, doors, vents and on the soles of shoes. Think about where those shoes have walked all daylong – restrooms, city streets, etc., – and all the bacteria and debris they collect. An EPA study showed a 60 percent reduction of lead dust and other contaminants in the home and a significant reduction of allergens and bacteria at homes where a doormat was used at the entrance and shoes were banned indoors. Let’s live the healthiest lives we can so that we may enjoy the many activities and pleasures we have at Woodbridge.
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Woodbridge LIFE
Page 17 • May 2016
SCENE @ the CLUBHOUSE Photos and captions by Sharyl Burgeson and Carol Jo Hargreaves
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oodbridge LIFE staffers visited Lakeview Clubhouse Friday, April 8, to see what was going on.
Margo Flanagan (seated) demonstrates technique in her watercolor class, “Pansies on a Card.”
Bob Peterson carefully takes aim at the billiards table.
STRUMMIN' WONDERS Patriotic Ukulele Concert and Sing-Along, May 30 By Carla Marquardt
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alling all veterans! Make sure to sign up at the front desk to attend the Patriotic Ukulele Concert and Sing-Along, Monday, May 30, at 6:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room. Make your Memorial Day holiday special by planning to sing along to your favorite patriotic songs with the Strummin' Wonders of Woodbridge. All veterans will be honored and our own Major General Eldon Regua will provide a special Memorial Day tribute. It is a free concert and you are invited to bring goodies to share. See you there!
Photo by Carla Marquardt.
Strummin' Wonders also entertained the audience between innings on Softball Opening Day. Back row from left: Peggy Hames, Janet Connor, Paul Hanz, Janet Webster, Kirby Brown. Front row from left: Cres Anton, Carolyn Johnson, Margo Flanagan, Eunice Olson, Joyce Salzmann
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Woodbridge LIFE
Garden Tasks for May Article and photos by Sandi Larson, Master Gardener
Page 19 • May 2016
second reason to buy small is that you might not have a lot of space in the ground. This happens when roots of trees or large shrubs begin to spread out. Pretty soon you have very little space to plant anything! By now you should have gotten your spring vegetables in the ground and planted any bulbs for summer. Roses are in full bloom
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don’t know about you but April brings me out of my gardening slump! Everything has new Sandi Larson growth; it seems like all of nature awakens within a very short time. That’s pretty obvious if you’ve been to your local big box store or neighborhood garden center over the last month. With the onslaught of spring weather my mind turns to the renewal and exploration of new and exciting perennials and annuals. My first project last month was cleaning out a few overgrown container pots and putting in new soil and plants. I have to admit they hadn’t been touched in five years (at least!) while I lived with the status quo. That meant the plants were barely growing, were overrun with groundcover that reroots rapidly and were very pot bound. It was a good feeling to know they are now clean for another couple of years and ready to receive some new summer color. Have you ever gone down to the nursery and thought to yourself, “I need to try a new vine or new shrub”? It’s easy to be drawn into plants that are full grown and in full bloom. Instant flowers! The problem is that we don’t always have the time to
"Double Delight," a hybrid tea rose, is a fragrant favorite. It can be affected by Hoplia beetles in April and May. and the Hoplia beetle is out eating our light-colored plants. I know of some gardeners who cut off all of the first blooms in order to bring them indoors and enjoy them without the beetle drilling holes in all the flowers. Pretty drastic but makes sense! As you know, there is no cure for the Hoplia beetle. The only thing you can do is handpick the beetles and throw them in a bucket of soapy water. Another method is to place white buckets of soapy water around your garden in several locations to attract the beetles and, hopefully, they’ll fall into the water and drown. Their rapid life cycle means they only emerge once a year in late March and are back in the ground by late April or early May. You may plant darker colored roses if the beetles bother you. They are attracted to white, yellow and peach-colored roses and even other varieties of plants such as snowball bush. Make sure you put some kind of systemic insecticide/fertilizer on your plants this month as aphids and other insects are out eating new growth. There are some systemics that last 30 days, 90 days or 12 months. Aphids will eat anything from roses to azaleas and gardenias as well as many other plants. Check your lawn for crabgrass which shows up when the weather warms up. Cut your lawn a little bit higher if you want to save water during the summer.
Hydrangeas come into bloom from May to June and are great for dried flowers into the fall. baby the new plant along to make sure it gets the right amount of sunlight and water. Sometimes, within a short period of time, the new plant is dead. I’m guilty of this myself. This time I decided to find the smallest pots I could of the new plants I had in mind. I saw it in a large pot, a medium pot and, after hitting a couple of stores, I found it in a 4-inch pot. I don’t mind purchasing a small plant because it gives the plant a chance to adjust to its environment and I haven’t wasted $25 to $30. A
Tomatoes always do better with deeper water rather than frequent watering as it causes roots to go deeper. Whether you plant tomatoes in a pot or in the ground, it is best to put in good support around the tomatoes from the beginning. It’s harder to put in the support after the plant has started growing. If you have azaleas, it is best to lightly prune the plants after they bloom. Also, after blooming is a good time to fertilize your acid-loving flowering plants. Check your drip irrigation for adequate coverage. I went outside one morning around 6 a.m. and noticed one of my 1-inch lines had See
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Page 20 • May 2016
PLAY From
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BALL!!
SOFTBALL page 1
Caroline Gibson announcing. One look at her, and I was history. Jaxson jumped down and ran over to Caroline, and she let him announce a few plays. His favorite was “runners at the corners” (which he repeated several times!). It was so adorable! He also got to announce when Keith was up to bat. I don’t know who beamed the most, Jaxson, or all of us fans who were so taken with this little tyke! That seemed like the perfect way to end such a fun day; it always warms my heart to see proud grandparents showcasing for the proud grandkids. (I’ll bet Jaxson had a lot to tell his pre-school friends!) Well, this is just the beginning of the season. Come out, bring the kids and grandkids, eat some great food, and cheer for your team! See you there!
WBL photo by Volk
Honorary "Booth Posse" member Jaxson McKee assists Debby Hickey, Janet Smyers an Caroline Gibson in the announcer's booth.
WBL photo by Volker Moerbitz WBL photo by Volker Moerbitz.
Umpires lined up to be introduced.
The second pitch was thrown by Manteca firefighter Tom Solorzano.
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Woodbridge LIFE
Page 21 • May 2016
WBL photo by Volker Moerbitz.
Operations manager Ramon Rivera throws out the opening pitch.
WBL photo by Volker Moerbitz.
Louise Rodriguez, Diamond Gals catcher, also pitches for the "Red" team.
ker Moerbitz.
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z. WBL photo by Volker Moerbitz.
Karen Mower, one of the Diamond Gals coaches, sprints along the baseline.
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Woodbridge LIFE
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WBL photo by Volker Moerbitz.
Bill Barnhart organized a car show to enjoy following the Softball Opening Day Ceremony. Seen above, at the far left, is a small portion of the well-sculpted nose of Ken Beaty's 1934 Ford Tudor. In the middle is Dan Bogue's BBF (Best Bear Friend) watching over his 1929 Ford Roadster. On the far right is Bill Barnhart's 1957 Ford T-Bird in its original livery.
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Woodbridge 8th Annual Garden Tour Saturday, June 4, 2016, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets $15 per person including lunch
Woodbridge LIFE
By Sandi Larson
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nticipation is always high for our Annual Woodbridge Garden Tour.
This, our 8th Annual Garden Tour, will include at least six beautiful backyards of Woodbridge residents. This event always draws residents, guests and potential residents to get a glimpse of other folks’ backyards. We always have an assortment of small and large yards to view. It’s also a great chance to view the creativity of some of the landscapers who have designed yards here. On some occasions, the landscaper will be available at the homeowner’s yard to answer questions about his/her design. We have wonderful soil in Manteca and if you are a new resident, you’re going to be amazed at how well things grow in our community! Besides softscapes, our residents have installed a variety of patio covers, built-in barbeques, arbors, trellises, ponds, waterfalls, raised beds, hot tubs and extended stamped concrete areas. The hours of the tour are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the Clubhouse. The $15 admission price includes a lunch in the Multipurpose Room to be served from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Denise’s Farmers’ Market will again bring fresh vegetables and fruits for purchase. Also, P and L Concrete and Nursery will have a booth and will be selling plants. Tickets for raffle prizes may be purchased on the day of the garden tour. Money raised from this event will benefit a local charity in our community. The deadline to purchase tickets is May 30.
Visitors gather in the backyard of Lynda and James Branco's home on Steeple Run Lane.
Photo by Sandi Larson.
Woodbridge resident Connie Reed assists with set-up of Denise's Farmers' Market produce stand.
Photo by Sandi Larson.
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Woodbridge LIFE
Softball This Month WOODBRIDGE SOFTBALL THANKS ITS 2016 SPONSORS • TLC, The Lori’s & Co., • • • • •
PMZ Real Estate Arvin Home Systems AHS Valero Gasoline/Cruisers Minimart Environmental Creations Landscape Manteca Lighting Denise’s Farmers’ Market
Sandi Larson Real Estate Precision Auto Ultimate Furniture Mother Packers/Carole Tayo • Center Appliance • Old McGowan’s Feed • vivint.SmartHome
• • • •
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MAY SOFTBALL SCHEDULE Date
Time
Game
Wednesday
9 a.m.
5 vs. 6
10:30 a.m.
1 vs. 3
12 p.m. 9 a.m.
2 vs. 4 D-Gals
10:30 a.m.
4 vs. 1
12 p.m.
2 vs. 3
Byes 9 a.m.
Teams 5 and 6 1 vs. 2
10:30 a.m.
4 vs. 5
12 p.m. 9 a.m.
6 vs. 3 D-Gals
10:30 a.m.
6 vs. 1
12 p.m.
5 vs. 2
Byes 9 a.m.
Teams 3 and 4 4 vs. 3
10:30 a.m.
6 vs. 1
12 p.m. 9 a.m.
2 vs. 5 D-Gals
10:30 a.m.
5 vs. 3
12 p.m.
6 vs. 4
Byes 9 a.m.
Teams 1 and 2 4 vs. 6
10:30 a.m.
2 vs. 3
12 p.m. 9 a.m.
5 vs. 1 D-Gals
May 4 Saturday May 7
Wednesday May 11 Saturday May 14
Wednesday May 18 Saturday May 21
Wednesday May 25 Saturday May 28
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Woodbridge LIFE
Page 25 • May 2016
WOODBRIDGE SENIORS GOLF CLUB SCHEDULE 2016 Date May 23
June 20 July 25
Aug 29
Sept 26 Oct 24
Location Lockeford Springs Lockeford Elkhorn
Stockton
Reserve at Spanos Park Stockton
Micki Grove Lodi
Diablo Grande Patterson
Swenson Park Stockton
Time 9 a.m.
Fee * $30*
9 a.m.
$40*
9 a.m.
$35*
9 a.m.
9 a.m.
9 a.m.
$40
$25*
$34
Date Due May 2
W/C 200 Points
July 5
100 Points
September 5
200 Points
June 1
August 8
October 3
F/T
X
100 Points
X
W/C = Woodbridge Cup F/T = Fun Tournament
*Please include $2 for W/C tournaments if you want to participate in closest to the pin contest. Fun Tournament fees listed include a $5 prize fund.
Make all checks payable to WSGC and list the golf course on the memo section. Leave the checks at the front desk to be given to Dodie Miller. Any tournament questions, call John Armstrong 209-200-7302.
Page 26 • May 2016
Woodbridge LIFE
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WOODBRIDGE RESIDENTS ATTEND DECISION AMERICA TOUR Forty-six Woodbridge residents joined 7,500 other participants at the Franklin Graham "Decision America Tour" held on the Capitol steps in Sacramento, March 31. The bus trip was arranged by the Woodbridge Christian Men's Fellowship. During the inspiring day, Christians of all denominations and ages were encouraged to return to Godly principles, to be informed voters and to exercise their right to vote. Since January 2016, more than 70,800 people in 16 states have attended the Photo contributed. tour.
CONGRATULATIONS! Regua Appointed to Governor’s Military Council Submitted by Cirella Regua
O
ne of our own at Woodbridge, Eldon P. Regua, Major General (Retired), U.S. Army, has been appointed to the Governor's Military Council.
Created by the governor in 2013, the Military Council strengthens California's support for all the armed services as well as of companies associated with the defense industry in our state. Council members include retired admirals and generals from all branches of the U.S. military, elected bipartisan leadership from the state legislature and leaders with significant experience in the defense industry. The council emphasizes the value of the more than 30 military installations in California. Not only vital to national security, these bases and land, air and sea ranges also enable critical training and technology development for the U.S. military and they strengthen California communities. Regua’s newly appointed position does not require California Senate confirmation and there is no compensation for attending quarterly meetings in different locations throughout the state. Regua served as deputy commanding general (wartime) in the Eighth U.S. Army in Seoul, Korea, from 2011 to 2013 and as commanding general for the 104th Training Division, Vancouver, WA, and the 75th Mission Command Division, Houston, TX, in the U.S. Army Reserve from 2007 to 2011. He holds a Master of Science degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Chapman University.
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Woodbridge LIFE
THE MAKING OF THE KOREAN MEMORIAL MURAL By By Bill Barnhart, former SSgt, USAF
T
he Korean War mural will be completed and mounted on the wall of the Bedquarters building the week of May 15 with the dedication ceremony occurring May 21. The Korean conflict, often referred to as the “Forgotten War,” will stand (hang) with the other murals representing our continuing fight for those ideals on which our nation was created, the foremost being freedom. Many Woodbridge veterans will be involved in the mounting of this mural beside the two prior war memorial murals. The picture accompanying this article shows better than words how an artist creates a 16’ x 20’ mural and puts heart and soul into the story he is telling through his painting. In addition to the volunteer labor many of us will put into mounting this mural, the funding support from clubs at Woodbridge has been phenomenal. The Men of Woodbridge and the Woodbridge Veterans have each donated $1,000. The Women of Woodbridge, through their Butter Braid fundraiser, expects to raise a similar amount. These donations, along with the donations made in memory of Warren Atherton, have met 15 to 20 percent of the total cost of completing this mural. For this, each and every one in the Woodbridge community can be proud. Continuing contributions are always welcome and all monies raised that are not used for the Korean mural will be put toward the Vietnam and WWI murals. There is never anything like the special feeling you get when you’ve made a personal contribution to a very worthy cause. If you would still like to do so, make your tax deductible donation payable to the Manteca Mural Society and either get it to me or mail it to: Manteca Mural Society, P.O. Box 1666, Manteca, CA 95336 If you would like to take your own personal mural tour of Manteca, enter the following link on your computer and check out the history of each of the 28 murals currently in place around town: http://mantecamurals.com/
Photo contributed.
The mural artist works on one section of the Korean War mural at a time.
Page 27 • May 2016
WHEELS OF WOODBRIDGE What The Wheels Have Been Up To By Bill Barnhart, Head Lugnut
I
t’s been awhile since the Wheels of Woodbridge Car Club has placed an article in Woodbridge LIFE so I thought perhaps some folks might like an update on the club’s recent activities. Before I go into that though, a quick reminder that the car club meets regularly on the first Tuesday of every month at 10:45 a.m. in the Clubhouse. We are starting something new, meeting in individual member’s garages, so if you want to know in advance where we are meeting, send me your email address and I’ll add you to the email group. Going back to last Christmas, we had a car or two participating in the Lathrop City Christmas Parade. In February we took our wives to Surla’s in Modesto for a Valentine’s Day brunch and had a fantastic meal and service. In March many members car-pooled to Pleasanton and Livermore to check out the classic and muscle cars for sale on consignment. In April we had a car or two participating in the Manteca High School victory parade honoring our state champion high school basketball team. Club members and wives travelled to Ironstone Winery and Murphys for lunch later in April. The JROTC car show will be held at East Union High School tomorrow, April 30, and several Woodbridge Lugnuts will be showing their cars. Everyone is welcome to go by the high school to check out all the beautiful cars. The car show season is now upon us and many of the Lugnuts will be showing their cars and trucks at these shows. Our own car show is scheduled for October 8, near the end of the season. Much more information will be coming out in a few months. Mixed in with all the above activities, we also find time to take our wives out to lunch or breakfast nearly every month. This month’s trip to Murphys will be our first out of town lunch date and we’re hoping it goes well. Past Woodbridge residents, Nick and Kathleen Music are going to meet us there and seeing them will be a high point for the trip. Anyone with an interest in cars is always welcome to attend our meetings and participate in our various events. We enjoy a lot of camaraderie and shared interests.
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Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Triker's Travels Softball Opening Day By Judy McNamara
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hat a day it was! April 2, the Opening Day of the Woodbridge softball season. The weather was perfect, the enthusiasm of the large crowd and all the pre-planning on target, thanks to Polly Smith. Without her expertise, it wouldn't have come off as well as it did. For many of us volunteers, the morning began at 7 a.m. with the inflation of helium balloons and their recapture as they floated to the ceiling. Thank you to Denise Armstrong, Sandy Jimenez, Lynda Beaty and a couple of others who formed an assembly line. Then there was the crew who put out the clappers and other goodies on the bleachers and tied streamers on the fence. Bill Barnhart organized fantastic old cars in the parking lot for everyone to admire. The day began with Bill Kistner's CD songs, “Silver Sluggers” and “Diamond Gals,” the Strummin' Wonders (who were in the announcer's booth) and the coffee, doughnuts and fruit set out by the great gals who ran the snack shack. Caroline Gibson announced the ceremony and asked all participants to line up in their respective staging areas. By 9 a.m. we were ready to get the show on the road with the Veterans of Woodbridge leading out the players with a flag for each of the six men’s teams. Vern Mendez and Ron Kackley helped line up the Silver Sluggers and Karen Mower helped with the Diamond Gals. The Woodbridge Singers, led by talented choir director Elizabeth
Cunning, entered and lined up on the pitcher's mound to sing three songs. The JROTC color guard marched out and posted the colors with the umpires lined up on both sides. Caroline then introduced the coaches, assistant coaches, umpires and council members for both the Diamond Gals and the Silver Sluggers. The first pitch was thrown by operations manager Ramon Rivera and caught by Silver Sluggers player Horace Ellis. The second pitch was thrown by Manteca Fire Department firefighter Tom Solorzano and caught by Diamond Judy McNamara Gals player Dottie Aubrey. Let the games begin! The Diamond Gals took to the field for a one-hour game after which the men’s teams began the rest of the day’s games. There are countless people to thank for their contributions in making this a most memorable day. They include, but are not limited to, Roger Gibson, Vern Mendez, Bill Buffington, Mark Bianchini, our wonderful maintenance guy who made sure everything was in ship-shape order, Charm Mathis who tried to get the Blue Angels to fly over but had to settle for a golf cart pulling a balsa plane complete with sound effects, and, of course, Polly Smith for her tireless energy at pulling this ceremony all together so successfully.
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Woodbridge LIFE
Page 29 • May 2016
ROMMEL RECOMMENDS: Fontina Ristorante Article and photo by Rommel Parseh
I
f your trip is taking you to the East Bay and you are near the Tri-Valley area wondering where to go for lunch or dinner, try Fontina Ristorante in downtown Pleasanton. This authentic Italian restaurant opened in 2004 and changed ownership in 2007 to the Choi family. The Choi family has been in the restaurant business for 25 years and sold the Toscana, an Italian restaurant in Concord, before acquiring the Fontina Ristorante. The restaurant has a classy ambiance, full bar and outdoor seating. Clothing is casual. We were seated right away and someone served us water, fresh bread and the garlic/olive oil dip. The server took our drink orders. We ordered a raspberry iced tea and a glass of Chianti Riserva that had a nice aroma and taste. Their wine list shows a vast selection of white and red wines from Italy and Northern California. If you bring your own bottle, the corkage fee is $15. They serve seven different appetizers and a soup of the day. We ordered Prawns Pesto with jumbo prawns perfectly sautĂŠed in garlic, white wine and pesto sauce. Tender prawns were very well balanced with the sauce and tasted delicious. They have a variety of salads you can make a meal by adding chicken, salmon, jumbo prawns or New York steak. We each ordered the house green salad made with organic spring mix, kalamata olives See
ROMMEL page 36
There is room for outside dining at Fontina Ristorante.
Page 30 • May 2016
Woodbridge LIFE
V-E DAY
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Europe (from my book "A Salute to Patriotism"). Other Americans who had heavy hearts on V-E Day were the relatives of badly wounded military personnel. Many had loved ones who were still lying bedridden in overseas hospitals. Bill Castillo, a longtime Mantecan, was one of those hospitalized soldiers. Before being wounded, he had been a machine-gunner on the front lines in France, Belgium and Germany.
By Jean Kavale
O
n May 8, 1945, joyful celebrations erupted throughout a war-fatigued world. That’s when the Allies learned the good news that Germany had been defeated, thus bringing about the end of World War II in Europe. Speaking from the Radio Room of the White House that day, President Truman began a speech with these words: “This is a solemn but glorious hour.” Later in his speech he reminded Americans of the terrible price that was paid:
During one of the final conflicts of the war, Bill refused to give up his dangerous post as a machine-gunner, in spite of being under sniper fire from the advancing enemy. He bravely continued fighting in miserable fields that were wooded and covered with snow, and he even tried to help a friend who was hit. Unfortunately, he was struck by incoming small-arms fire and artillery bursts.
“Let us not forget, my fellow Americans, the sorrow and the heartache which today abide in the homes of so many of our neighbors—neighbors whose most priceless possession has been rendered as a sacrifice to redeem our liberty.” More than half the American casualties of World War II occurred in the European Theater. Until 1947, the deceased heroes about whom the president spoke were resting in 37 temporary American cemeteries in
Photo contributed.
"The Spirit of America" mural in downtown Manteca honors local men and women who served in WWII.
After being rescued, Bill spent a year in a hospital, where he was given medical treatment for his painful wounds. He was then sent back to the United States for further hospitalization. Not all of Bill’s battle scars disappeared. Some of them, including a noticeable limp, stayed with him to the end of his life. Bill was awarded a Purple Heart, the Silver Star and three combat stars for his World War II wounds and gallantry. Later he received the See
V-E page 35
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Woodbridge LIFE
Page 31 • May 2016
MEETING AT RIVER ELBE – PAVING THE WAY TO VICTORY A DIFFERENT LOOK AT V–E DAY By Volker Moerbitz
D
uring my wife’s and my most recent visit to Germany, we stopped at the remains of an old bridge across River Elbe in Torgau, in the very east part of Germany. We went there to commemorate one of the most decisive moments of World War II – and one of the most emotional ones, too. It wasn’t a battlefield, rather the opposite: Torgau at River Elbe was the place where the Americans and Russians first met on April 25, 1945, later known as “Elbe Day.” The handshake between American Second Lieutenant William Robertson and Soviet Lieutenant Alexander Silvashko symbolized the beginning of the final act of the war in Europe and only 13 days later, Berlin fell and Germany surrendered. The soldiers who met in Torgau came a long way. The American 69th Infantry Division was formed in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, was deployed to England and then fought its way through France and western Germany. The Russian 58th Guards Rifle Division was forged in the battle of Stalingrad and moved forward, fighting through Russia, Belarus, Poland and eastern Germany. Battle-weary soldiers both, they had been fighting German troops for two years. There were still more battles to come, but on April 25, 1945, there was no longer See
VICTORY page 32
Photo submitted by Volker Moerbitz.
Woodbridge resident Volker Moerbitz sits in front of the monument at Torgau.
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Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
WINE 101 By Jon Ford
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ant to make new community friends? Want to rub elbows with your favorite neighbors? Want to meet interesting guest speakers? Want to learn more about the wines you love to drink? Want to go on interesting trips to various wine appellations? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then perhaps the Wine 101 class is just right for you. Wine 101 meets once a month at the Clubhouse from 6 to 8:30 p.m. No knowledge of wine is necessary to become part of this activity. You will leave each class knowing more about wine than you did when you came. Each participant is asked to bring a wine to share based on the evening’s theme. We also ask that participants bring wineglasses and an appetizer to share. Our April class welcomed Chad Londry, a key account specialist for American Wines, a division of Southern Wine and Spirits. Chad indoctrinated our class on the trials and tribulations of the wholesaler in moving product from winery to retailer. We have now heard stories from several winemakers from Livermore Valley and Lodi as well as a wine grower from Lodi. I will be working toward landing a big wine retailer to talk about their end of the journey of the grape. Generally, we have a full class of 120 participants eager to hear our guest speakers or to taste from surrounding vineyards. Sign-ups are taken at the front desk at the Clubhouse. On May 17, a full bus of Wine 101ers will be going to Amador County. We will depart by 9:30 a.m. and will be returning by 5 p.m. We will first visit Young's Vineyards who will open their doors on a usually closed day to host us in a VIP wine tasting. They have beautiful grounds with a lovely pond surrounded by serene areas to sit and relax. Participants are to bring their own lunches to enjoy in this peaceful setting. After lunch we will board the bus and head to Villa Toscana where we will be hosted for another VIP wine tasting. Starting in June, we are changing our class format and will charge $2 per participant with the nonrefundable fee payable at the front desk at the Clubhouse. We will use tickets for these functions so they may be passed on or sold to someone else in the event of a schedule conflict. You now must pay in person to receive your tickets. It is my understanding that you may purchase a second set of tickets for a neighbor if you wish. As before, a maximum of 120 participants will be allowed to attend.
This will eliminate the donation jar and will allow the Wine 101 class to build a fund for future purchases. I am envisioning a time where Wine 101 will be able to purchase wines from various appellations or a particular varietal so that all participants will get a chance to taste wines that we normally wouldn't be able to enjoy. Our second change is that we have eliminated the community wine table and are asking participants to bring a wine to share with their table and neighbors. I'm currently contacting several individuals to set up future classes. I am planning a bus trip in October for 54 individuals to go to Lucca Winery in Ripon for a day on the green, a catered lunch and a wine tasting. Particulars have not all been ironed out. I post all Wine 101 events on the Woodbridge portal, on other social media, via flyers in the Clubhouse and on a Wine 101 hotline via email. If you wish to be put on that email, simply contact me at jluvswine@aol.com. I also send articles from time to time via email. If you have any questions, I can be reached at jluvswine@aol. com SO MANY WINES, SO LITTLE TIME!
From
VICTORY page 31
an enemy between them. At the time of the meeting, this was the "American" side of the river but, according to the Yalta Conference, Torgau later became part of the Soviet Zone. The Russian Army erected a monument crowned by two granite flags, Soviet and American. For all we know, throughout the entire Cold War, that was probably the only American flag flown anywhere in the Eastern Block between the Berlin Wall and the Great Wall of China.
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From
Woodbridge LIFE
GARDEN page 19
a hole in it and water was squirting against a fence. If you are traveling for more than a week, consider installing a battery-operated portable sprinkler system. I planted a few too many pots this spring and needed to temporarily water about five of them. I purchased portable irrigation systems at a local hardware store and I’m hoping they’re easy to install! I’ve always watered houseplants very well before leaving on a trip, then pop them into glass containers (like Corelle casserole dishes) and add a couple of inches of water. I have never lost a plant doing this although it won’t work for every day use as plants don’t like having their roots in water! If you are short of yard space, consider purchasing pots with lattice on the back or some kind of support. Those are particularly good for vining vegetables such as cucumbers, pole beans or summer squash such as zucchini, crookneck or patty pan. There are some great pots now with the trellis already attached. I’m also seeing some great wooden raised beds this year that aren’t too hard to put together. As we age, it’s nice to have things off the ground to harvest! Citrus continues to need feeding this time of year. A neighbor brought over a bucket of Meyer lemons this week. They’re wonderful! It inspired me to purchase an “Improved Meyer lemon” dwarf plant to try on the patio. Even though it’s a dwarf, it says up to 10 feet tall. I’d say I need to keep it pruned as I don’t have room for a 10-foot lemon tree. If you want to see a healthy lemon take a look at Robi and Ray Cornelius’ 35+ year-old lemon tree on their patio. It looks great this year and I’m sure all of the rain has benefited many of our plants. It’s amazing to keep a lemon tree alive that long! On Sunday, May 1, the San Joaquin Master Gardeners are having their semiannual Garden Tour. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 the day of the event. The gardens are in the central Stockton area and near the University of the Pacific. For tickets and more information, go to www.sjmastergardeners.ucanr.edu. There will be demonstrations, educational displays and handouts as well as light refreshments. The tour is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Manteca Garden Club Tour is Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $15. Tickets are available at Delicato Winery, Ed’s Rockery, Silverado Nursery, Park Greenhouse and German Glas Werks, to name a few. You can purchase tickets at those locations up through the day of the tour or go directly to the first yard, which is 545 N. Powers Avenue.
Happy gardening!
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Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
DID YOU KNOW... Friday the 13th Or is it the 17th of Tuesday Compiled by Mike Spence from sources including National Bureau of Economic Research (nber.org), Smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/1907_panic, u-s-history.com, nationalgeographic.com
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The fear of the number 13 seems rooted in da Vinci’s depiction of 13 individuals at the Last Supper.
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On Friday, October 13, 1307, Philip IV of France arrested hundreds of the Knights Templar.
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There is only one Friday the 13th in 2016; it’s in May.
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The next Friday the 13th in the month of May will be in 2022.
In many Spanish speaking cultures and early Greek culture, Tuesday was considered a day of bad luck, especially Tuesday the 13th.
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Fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia (that’s a mouthful).
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If a month begins on a Sunday, it will have a Friday the 13th.
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In Italian culture, Friday the 17th is considered a day of bad luck tracing its origin to the Roman numeral XVII.
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The 1907 Wall Street panic, a “Rich Man’s Panic,” occurred on a Friday the 13th.
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The 2000 film "Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth" was released in Italy with the day changed to the Seventeenth.
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The British Medical Journal concluded there is a “significant level of traffic-related incidents on Friday the 13th as opposed to a random day…”
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The Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute estimates 20 percent of Americans fear Friday the 13th.
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The longest time between Fridays the 13th is 14 months but there is at least one every year – go figure.
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In Finland, National Accident Day (hopefully avoiding) is Friday the 13th.
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From
Woodbridge LIFE
Page 35 • May 2016
V-E page 30
French Legion of Honor medal for courage and selfless acts in the war, which had benefited France. The Manteca Bulletin describes the medal ceremony that took place at the U.S. Army’s Presidio in San Francisco on Memorial Day 2013, wherein French Consul General Romain Serman appointed Bill to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor. After settling down in his hometown of Manteca, Bill raised a family, started his own real estate company, and became an active parishioner at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. Not only did he have a strong love for his church and country, but also for his wife and seven children. In recent years he was included in an Honor Flight from Northern California to Washington, D.C., where he felt privileged and moved by a visit to the World War II Memorial. Soon after his death in 2014, a friend wrote the following words about him, which were published in the Bulletin: “Bill had spent many years selling real estate in Manteca, putting many families into their new homes and making more friends in the process. A kind and genuine
individual, I for one will miss seeing Bill walk through the front door of the Manteca Bulletin to place an ad in the paper, waving to me at my desk ... He is just one more of the many fine Manteca old-timers who continue to live in spirit in our minds and hearts.” When you drive to the intersection of Main Street and Yosemite, you can view the World War II mural on the Bedquarters building to your right. It is the second of five murals that are part of the Veterans Mural Project called “The Spirit of America.” Pictured are veterans from Manteca, all of whom wear the uniform of the branch in which they served. Bill Castillo appears on the far left in the first row. At the top of the mural is a gold star symbolizing the 35 Mantecans who lost their lives while serving in World War II. If they died in the European Theater, their families were similar to the grieving ones President Truman described in his V-E Day speech, quoted above. Truman was correct to say it was a glorious day, but he was wise to remind Americans that it was also very solemn.
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Woodbridge LIFE
WOODBRIDGE SENIORS GOLF CLUB
From
By John Armstrong
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e had our second tournament of the year at Manteca Park Golf Course on March 21. We played a team format for our first “Fun Tournament” of the year and had 44 players. We were favored with fine weather in the morning and had a great time. The results are listed below. Tournament Results:
• 1st Place: Hamilton, Shamp, Rea, Wiertel. Score (69). Prize $80
• 2nd Place: Raxter, Leslie, Theal, D. Armstrong. Score (69). Prize - $60
• 3rd Place: Anello, Dauler, Becker, Chandler. Score (70). Prize - $40
• 3rd Place: Gary, Howe, Jenson, Rosman. Score (70). Lost in a Tie Breaker.
• • • • • • •
4th Place: Han, Pangilinan, Gannon, Gigilotta. Score (73) 4th Place: J. Armstrong, Cacace, Bolle, Dezotte. Score (73) 4th Place: Salvador, Lopez, Telles, Housley. Score (73) 5th Place: Gotelli, Marable, McKillip, Lawrence. Score (74) 5th Place: Gattuso, Nelson, Martinez, Mini. Score (74) 6th Place: Edwards, Schab, Goodwin, Branco. Score (76) 7th Place: Snyder, Blevins, Swanson, Heath. Score (78)
Closest to the Pin Winners:
• • • •
#5
D. Armstrong (37’) $15
Marable (43’-6”)
$10
#8
Hamilton (12’-8”) $15
Theal (13’-9”)
$10
#14
Goodwin (8’-6”) $15
Blevins (21’-2”)
$10
#17
Hamilton (10’-3”) $15
Gotelli (14’-9”)
$10
Our May tournament will be at Lockeford Springs. We are hoping for a good turn out and another great time.
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ROMMEL page 29
and cherry tomatoes topped with red onion; one salad had raspberry walnut vinaigrette and the other featured Italian vinaigrette dressing. For a main course, Fontina Ristorante serves pasta entrees, house specialties and vegetarian dishes. We chose the Blackberry Salmon and the Lamb Shank. The salmon was perfectly grilled and served with a very light and tasty polenta cake and sundried tomatoes, topped with a blackberry sauce reduction, and served with seasonal vegetables flawlessly prepared. This dish was presented beautifully and had a delectable taste. The lamb shank was braised in red wine, garlic and fresh herbs and served with saffron-infused mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, topped with gremolata sauce. The lamb was very tender, easily falling off the bone and had a wonderful flavor. The vegetables and potatoes complemented the lamb with the gremolata citrus/herbs sauce, balancing the dish. They serve tiramisu, spumoni ice cream, sorbet and crème brulèe with different coffees for dessert. They open at 11:30 a.m. daily and close at 9 p.m. from Monday through Thursday and at 9:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. For reservations call 925-462-9299 and their website is www.fontinas-ristorante.com. They are located at 349 Main Street, Suite 150, in Pleasanton, about 45 miles from Del Webb.
If you have any questions about the Woodbridge Seniors Golf Club, please contact John Armstrong at 209-200-7302.
PICKLEBALL CORNER By Marcia Umberger
T
he beautiful spring weather has brought out many pickleball players. It sure is nice seeing all three pickleball courts being used and still having people sitting on the bench waiting to play. We have also seen some new faces and hope, as new residents move in, there are even more. Everyone’s skill level is improving which is giving us some very fast-paced playing. Newcomers are welcome and players always take the time to help them get started. Lessons are available on Thursdays at 10 a.m. or by calling Joe Victoria at 815-9343 to arrange another time.
We all anxiously await the opening of Liberty Park when we will have four pickleball courts available. A schedule will soon be posted announcing the times for mixed doubles and ladiesonly play. Currently the ladies play on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. Mixed doubles are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. Come join us. The rules are few and you can be playing in a very short time. It is a great way to meet new friends, get some exercise and have a good time all at the same time! See you on the courts.
www.ourwoodbridge.net From
Woodbridge LIFE
DRAMA page 14
script royalties, props and costumes. We also donated the proceeds of our 2015 Christmas play to Haven of Peace. Our scripts are either bought from Senior Theater, the provider of plays written specifically for seniors, or sometimes written by our residents. We are so lucky to have our own Bob Naquin write the funniest plays for us. Senior Theater has even purchased several of his plays, which are now being performed nationwide. We produce plays on an average of twice a year. We alternate directing the plays and each season our actors come and go according to their free time. We are always looking for new talent. No previous experience is necessary, just a desire to have fun. We are very flexible and creative in making props that will cue us to our lines. It takes a lot of work to produce these plays and we are very grateful to all the players who have participated throughout these years, whether acting, making props or helping as stagehands. Here is a little tidbit from behind the
scenes. We like to make our props as realistic as possible to assist our actors to get into character for their roles. For instance, in our new play, we have someone who is somewhat sick. We made sure to make her prescription medicines for each of her illnesses. The audience will not be able to see it, but we have our giggles every time we set the stage up. This month, our new performance is another masterpiece by Bob Naquin – a play in three acts. We have three performances scheduled to make sure no one misses this fun event, Thursday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, May 22, at 2 p.m. and Wednesday, May 25, at 6:30 p.m. We hope to see you there and since it is a melodrama, you are encouraged to participate by booing and cheering. You might also want to consider having a glass of wine with your meal before you come. For more information about the Drama group, contact Suzanne Mauck at 4189045.
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Woodbridge LIFE
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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1. John and Connie Gannon paused at the southernmost spot in the U.S., Key
West, FL. From Key West it is 90 miles to Cuba and 137 miles to the nearest Walmart. 2. Patty and Jim DeRoos recently spent a week in a friend’s timeshare in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Their lodging overlooked Banderas Bay, the third largest bay in Mexico. 3. Bob and Marcia Umberger (L) and Cheryl and Dick Juarez (R), cruised from San Francisco to Hawaii and back. The foursome toured four islands after spending four long days at sea. 4. Carol Jo Hargreaves and husband Larry Schneider watched the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox in a Spring Training game at Camelback Ranch stadium in Glendale, AZ.
Send travel photos to WBLIFE2012@gmail.com
Please use highest resolution and type WB TRAVEL in the subject line. All travel photos MUST be submitted electronically.