talk of the colony talk of the colony
Transcription
talk of the colony talk of the colony
February 2015 Talk of the Colony THE OFFICIAL MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE FORD’S COLONY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Board of Directors Meetings 02/24/2015 – 9:30 a.m Work Session 02/26/2015 – 2 p.m. Regular Meeting BOD Agenda and Minutes are available at fchoa.org Ford’s Colony Homeowners Association 2015 Annual Meeting Saturday, February 28 at 10 a.m. Lafayette High School New Board Organizational Meeting March 3 at 9:30 a.m. Community Services Building Visit Ford's Colony Living on Facebook www.fchoa.org From THE BOARD YOUR ARC: PRESERVING AND ENHANCING BY JIM DOEBLER The Architectural Review Committee (ARC) was officially established on April 1, 2013, as a Standing Committee of the FCHOA to handle the duties and responsibilities set forth in Article VI (Architectural Control) of the Declaration of Protective Covenants (DPC). The ARC took over those functions previously performed by the Environmental Control Committee (ECC) under the developer. Its primary duty is to review all applications for new construction and additions/ modifications of existing homes for compliance with the DPC. The ARC also has the responsibility for maintaining the Purchaser’s Handbook for Single Family Homebuilding at Ford’s Colony. The Charter for the ARC states that: “The ARC shall conduct itself in the best interests of the Association and in accordance with its Committee Charter, the Declaration, the Purchaser’s Handbook, and the FCHOA Bylaws, Rules and Regulations.” All of the above documents can be viewed on the FCHOA website. With Board approval, the ARC will update the Handbook as required for new technologies and best building practices. The objectives of the ARC are to preserve the image and appearance of Ford’s Colony and, as a result, to maintain and enhance property values of homes owned by our residents. These objectives are accomplished by ensuring that proposed new construction and modifications of existing properties conform to established compliance standards for residential property in Ford’s Colony. The standards in the current ARC version of the Purchaser’s Handbook are essentially the same as those articulated in the previous ECC version of the handbook. The ARC, staffed with volunteers with extensive experience with our standards, possesses the technical expertise to identify what is or is not in compliance. The FCHOA has never had a roving “compliance enforcement patrol” searching for situations of non-compliance. Occasionally, violations have been created when residents performed a modification without obtaining prior approval. Potential covenant violations are reviewed when complaints are reported. Compliance with standards is also regularly done in conjunction with the resale of existing homes. When a purchase contract is about to be placed on a home for sale, the listing realtor requests a Disclosure Package from Community Services. At that time, an inspection is performed by the ARC to identify any noncompliance issues with the property. The owner will be notified of the items identified and given the opportunity to bring these items into compliance. If not corrected, the Disclosure Package will indicate that a violation exists. (Please note that this is not the same as a house CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 notes from THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE FEBRUARY—WHAT A GREAT MONTH! BY TERRY LOWE How many months have 28 days? All of them! Most people tend to brush by the month of February. Maybe it’s because it’s the shortest month? Perhaps because it’s often the coldest month of winter (at least in the northern hemisphere) and we’re looking desperately towards spring? The Roman month Februarius was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification, via the purification ritual Februa held on February 15 (full moon) in the old lunar Roman calendar. January and February were the last two months to be added to the Roman calendar, since the Romans originally considered winter a monthless period. They were added by Numa Pompilius about 713 BC. February remained the last month of the calendar year until the time of the decemvirs (c. 450 BC), when it became the second month. Here are a few reasons to celebrate this glorious month in Ford’s Colony: February 1 – Super Bowl XLIX. This 49th edition of the end of the National Football League season will be played in Glendale, Arizona. Americans will spend countless hours rating commercials, drinking beer, consuming party snacks, and—oh yes—watching the game! February 1 – National Freedom Day. A federal observance marking the signing of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlawing slavery, designed to promote harmony and equal opportunity. COMMITTEE MEETING CALENDAR Activities Committee Communications Committee Facilities Committee Finance Committee Roads & Project Maintenance Security Committee Strategic Planning Committee Technology Committee Volunteer Management Administration ����������������������������������� 258-4230 fax: 258-4065 [email protected] General Manager �����������������������Drew Mulhare Assistant General Manager �������������Sally Walls February 2 – Groundhog Day. Many cities highlight this folklore to determine if we will have an early spring. Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and their famous mascot Phil have “predicted” the weather each year since 1886. February 14 – Valentine’s Day. A day to celebrate romantic love has become a major marketing holiday for makers of cards, chocolate, and flowers. Cupid and his arrows can strike anywhere, anytime! February 16 – Presidents’ Day. Combining previous federal celebrations of Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays, this three-day weekend now gives us time to remember all 44 U.S. chief executives. February 17 – Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday is the last day of Carnival and the day before Ash Wednesday. Many people use this time to reflect the practice of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the season of Lent. February 19 – Chinese New Year (Year of the Goat). This weeklong celebration is normally filled with firecrackers, dragon or lion dances, cleaning of houses, and red envelopes with money. February 29 – Leap Day. Added every four years, there will not be one in 2015. However, a “leap second” will be added on June 30, 2015 to keep astronomical clocks accurate. 02/06/2015 02/11/2015 02/18/2015 02/16/2015 02/18/2015 No Meeting 02/04/2015 02/04/2015 02/11/2015 9 a.m. S&T 9 a.m. CSB 10 a.m. CSB 3 p.m. S&T 3 p.m. CSB 3:30 p.m. CSB 4 p.m. CSB 4 p.m. S&T 2 p.m. CSB The Nominating Committee, Covenants Committee, and Emergency Preparedness Committee do not hold regularly scheduled monthly meetings. The committee meeting schedule can be verified at fchoa.org. S&T is Swim and Tennis Club; CSB is Community Services Building. PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS Lee Van Voorhees, Ken Spracklin, Mandy Baldridge, Neal Robinson, Don Lehman AD REQUIREMENTS Resolution File formats Type and line art – 600 dpi at 100% printed size PDF or JPEG Photos – 300 pixels per inch at 100% printed size (maximum quality). 2 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg FCHOA MANAGEMENT & SERVICES CONTACTS To reserve space, call Jenny Holland or Jo Lilley, Advertising Managers – (757) 258-4230. Project Maintenance Manager ����������� Ryan Lee Owner Services Coordinator ������Audrey Miller Bookkeeping Administration ���������������Jo Lilley Administrative Assistant ������������� Jenny Holland Administrative Assistant ���������������� Denise Sears ARC Manager ��������������������������������Lynn Combs Recreation������������������������������������������� 258-4270 Chris Schwenker, Activities & Recreation Manager Security����������������������������������������������� 258-4080 Deb Brown����������������������������������Chief of Security BOARD OF DIRECTORS President��������������������������������������� Tom Brownlie [email protected] 206-1715 Vice President ���������������������������������Jim Doebler [email protected] 221-0749 Treasurer ��������������������������������� George Spalthoff [email protected] 258-2467 Secretary ��������������������������������� Charlie Ohlinger [email protected] 229-7568 Director-at-Large �������������������������������� Bob Lund [email protected] 645-3510 Director-at-Large ������������������������������Bob Moore [email protected] 221-0103 Director-at-Large ����������������������� Mark Mathews [email protected] 206-1073 STANDING COMMITTEES Activities Committee��������������Mary Ann Hurley [email protected] 208-0505 Architectural Review Committee ������Rick Boye [email protected] 220-8852 Communications Committee��������������Barb Plate [email protected] 345-2438 Covenants Committee������������������� Tony Annoni [email protected] 565-7272 Emergency Preparedness Committee������������������������������������������Don Alms [email protected] 220-9454 Facilities Committee ����������������������� Bill Brenner [email protected] 565-5163 Finance Committee������������������������ Rick Munro [email protected] 345-3785 Nominating Committee������������������Carol Moser [email protected] 564-0440 Roads and Project Maintenance���� Bob Moeller [email protected] 206-1276 Security Committee������������������������ Mike Kerley [email protected] 565-2573 Strategic Planning��������������������������� Pete Peterik [email protected] 345-0136 Technology���������������������������������������� Rick Chase [email protected] 645-0201 The Talk of the Colony is the official monthly magazine published by the Ford’s Colony at Williamsburg Homeowners Association. © 2015 TOC. Any commercial use of material in this magazine, in part or in whole, without the expressed written consent of the FCHOA Communications Committee, is strictly prohibited. Articles for publication must be submitted via email no later than the 10th of the previous month. Send submissions to [email protected]. All copy is subject to approval, editing and use by the Communications Committee. Concerns and questions about content should be directed to the Chair of the Communications Committee. Advertisements do not imply any endorsement by the Homeowners Association or Realtec Community Services. RESIDENT CONCERNS Any resident with a community maintenance concern should go to fchoa.org and click on Report Maintenance Issue or call RCS at 258-4230. Your message will be logged in and the concern will be tracked to its resolution. FROM THE BOARD YOUR ARC (CONT.) inspection that we are all familiar with, which is done to determine problems with electrical, plumbing, insulation, foundations, etc.) In order to avoid “surprise” requirements for noncompliance work to be done in a compressed time frame, residents who intend to list their homes for sale in the near future may request a courtesy inspection to identify any required covenants work well in advance. This permits the owner to make arrangements to have the work done in an orderly and cost-effective manner. Our HOA Governing Documents require that all residential properties in Ford’s Colony comply with the covenants and the architectural standards. Compliance is essential to protect the value and desirability of our homes. ARC January 2015 Completed Single Family 2,351 Townhomes80 Eaglescliffe Condos 24 Total:2,455 Under Construction 49 ARC Submission All construction, including additions and modifications to existing structures, must be approved by the Architectural Review Committee. Submission forms and guidelines are available at the Community Services Office. Property owners may view any house or site plan on file with the ARC at the Community Services Office. Plans for new construction will be posted on the message board at fchoa.org. The ARC meets on Tuesdays on an as-needed basis. See fchoa.org for confirmation of meetings. Website Tip Box VOTE ONLINE FOR BOARD OF DIRECTOR CANDIDATES You are invited to vote for four of the six candidates for Board of Directors: Bob Mandala, Bob Moore, Charlie Ohlinger, Pete Peterik, Steve Riddle, and George Spalthoff. If you missed their “Meet the Candidate” presentations, you can read their biographies and view New Starts Homesite 5/Section 17 - 231 Waterton Charles Ross Homes Mr. and Mrs. George Oram, Jr. Homesite 35/Section 30 - 181 Southport Blue Ridge Custom Homes Mr. and Mrs. Kasey Howe Homesite 11/Section 12 - 205 Coxmoor Coastal Construction & Development LLC Spec Homesite 6/Section 35 - 3423 Westport Stonehill Company Spec their video presentations, prepared by the Technology Committee, on our fchoa.org website. To vote online, you will need the special login and password sent with your first quarter assessment bill. Select the ‘Click Here to Vote’ icon, then log in with your assigned login and password. Please contact Community Services at [email protected] or 258-4230 if you need assistance. Talk of the Colony, February 2015 |3 THE FCHOA MANAGER What’s Ahead in 2015 DREW MULHARE FCHOA Manager It’s Election Time! The Meet the Candidates events were hosted in January. Candidate profiles were distributed. Candidate videos are posted on the website. It’s time to vote. Visit our website, www.fchoa.org, and select the tab “Click here to Vote.” If you need any assistance, please contact Audrey Miller in the Community Services office at 258-4230. Thanks to the Nominating Committee and all the candidates for volunteering their time and talents in this important process. The four elected board members will be announced at the Annual Meeting, which will be held on Saturday, February 28, at 10 a.m. in the Lafayette High School auditorium, 4460 Longhill Road. Coffee and donuts will be ready by 9:30, so come early to say hello. We are pleased with our 2014 operating results, getting much accomplished within the budget. This year will be even more exciting with Eliminate Water Deposits 1. ScaleBlaster stops and reverses scale buildup throughout your home the original scale remover-no salt. 2. Whole-house filter eliminates chlorine and other chemicals Bottled water quality or better throughout your home. 3. The only system engineered specifically for Williamsburg/JCC water “We consider this system a great investment in our family’s health and home!” Tom Womack 229-4874 4 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg VA Filtronics Fords Colony 2014.indd 1 12/9/2014 12:15:40 PM several projects planned to improve the roadways and amenities. Ryan’s article talks about the roadwork planned for St. Andrew’s Drive; this will be a major undertaking that will require everyone’s cooperation around this five-mile loop. We have been preparing for the renovation of the walking trail from the Edinburgh triangle to the Marriott. The Westbury Park pool will be updated with replacement tile lining, and the decking around both pools will be coated with a special sealant to preserve the concrete while also reducing surface temperatures; you’ll like the look and feel of the decking. The renovation of the S&T Club bathrooms was rescheduled to this summer. The S&T heating and cooling system was replaced last month. The Community Services Building now has an additional meeting room set up for committee and small club events. The room holds a couple dozen people around tables or about 50 seats in rows with a smart TV for presentations. A warehouse bay, about 30x50 feet, will be ready this spring to accommodate our exercise groups and relieve the scheduling between these groups and those that need tables and chairs at the S&T. These are just a few of the plans we have for this year. Of course we won’t forget to cut the grass, run roving patrols, set up events, and answer your questions. Our team does an amazing job. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you. SECURITY Guest Sign In & Gate Card Policy Reminders DEB BROWN Chief of Security Considerable progress has been made with organizations like MapQuest, Google, TomTom, and other direction producing services on the locations of our electronic gate entries. These points of entry into the community have been marked as closed so that vehicles are routed to the John Pott Guardhouse. Of course, that is for GPS systems that are updated periodically, which not every GPS owner does. So we’ll still have our periodic challenges in these areas with those who do not have gate cards trying to access the property this way. This emphasizes the importance of providing invited guests good directions to a manned guardhouse. Please direct guests, visitors, and contractors to a manned gate for proper entry, i.e., John Pott or Manchester guardhouses. Each guest needs to be signed in; allowing one in through an unmanned gate with your gate card is a violation of our 308 Security Violations Policy mentioned in my January article, as well as our 204 Gate Card Policy. Please remind your visitor not to follow a gate cardholder in through an unmanned entrance, as this is considered trespassing. The urge to save time does cause some to attempt this, which causes damage to their vehicle. In order to decrease everyone’s wait time at the manned gates, please notify the John Pott guardhouse in advance that you are expecting a guest, visitor, or contractor. When traffic is heavy and vehicles are “backed up” at the guardhouses causing a traffic hazard, officers will not notify residents with a phone call announcing the guest arrivals to help resolve the traffic hazard caused by the backup. USE OF GATE CARDS The following excerpts are from the Gate Card Policy that we receive the most questions about: GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Violation of FCHOA Covenants, Policies and Resolutions may result in loss of Gate Card privileges. All conditions of issuance stated in this policy assume gate card applicants are in good standing with the FCHOA or have met the requirements of their access group. ISSUANCE OF GATE CARDS. Your gate card is for your personal use. No one using a gate card should use it to circumvent the prescribed procedure for registering guests or other visitors (e.g. vendors, contractors) at a staffed gate. Failure to comply may result in the suspension and/or termination of gate card privileges. Gate Card holders who terminate their eligibility by reason of moving, completion of work, termination of employment, sale of vehicle or other such actions are required to surrender the gate card(s) to security within 15 days of such action. To read the full Gate Card & Security Violations Policies, please go to fchoa. org, select Documents, and read under the Policies heading. Be safe, Chief Brown Talk of the Colony, February 2015 |5 ROADS AND PROJECT MAINTENANCE New Life for Our Roads RYAN LEE Project Maintenance Manager 6 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg The Roads and Project Maintenance Committee (RPM) and RCS work hard to be efficient and utilize new technologies to help keep your HOA dues down. The FCHOA’s largest asset is the 50 miles of privately owned roads and in turn is our biggest opportunity to save money. Since 2009, our per ton asphalt costs have risen 25-30 percent, and despite the drop in oil prices, paving companies don’t expect they will be able to decrease their rates in 2015. With our roads being our largest asset and asphalt costs consistently rising, we needed to think outside the box. Beginning this year, the Board approved a two-year “rejuvenation” trial for our main roadways. Asphalt rejuvenation is the process of restoring pavement oils that have been lost by oxidation. Many of you have probably noticed that after we pave, the asphalt is a solid black color, but over the years it turns grey. You may have also noticed that the asphalt becomes rigid and cracks with age. What the asphalt rejuvenation does is reverse the aging process. With oils penetrating the asphalt, the asphalt becomes more flexible and durable. Asphalt rejuvenation has actually been around since the 1960s, but for the most part has only been used by airports. The reason the product isn’t used everywhere is the cure time is much longer than an asphalt overlay, sealcoat, etc. The extended cure time makes it difficult for DOTs and municipalities to use, as they can’t shut roads down for 4-24 hour periods. Community Associations on the other hand are beginning to use this product because the traffic is usually more manageable on private property. After extensive research on the product, RPM and RCS concluded that it will save the FCHOA money and improve the aesthetics of the community. Similar to the LED project, it’s a win/win. By moving forward with the project, we were able to decrease the contribution to the Capital Reserve and in turn limit the increase to your future HOA dues. In addition to a cost analysis, we contacted multiple HOAs that have used the product and even took a trip to view it ourselves. We also had a small sample done in the CSB parking lot and the results were fantastic! A Request for Qualifications was put out in 2014 and we received very favorable responses. Contractors that are licensed to use the product are eager to have the opportunity to work in Ford’s Colony. A one-page summary on rejuvenation created by Clay McEldowney (member of RPM) can be located at fchoa.org under the “Association Tabs;” click on “Documents” and go to “Reports.” More information on rejuvenation will be presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting in February. Logistics for the application will be talked about in future TOC articles and blast emails. Stay tuned! ACTIVITIES AND RECREATION Classes, Activities, and Facility Projects CHRIS SCHWENKER Activities and Recreation Manager FCHOA Annual Meeting February 28, 10 a.m. Lafayette H.S. It’s February and there is lots going on at the S&T! We will be hosting Defensive Driving classes in February and March. Saturday classes will be held February 28 and March 7 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday classes will be held March 2 and March 9 from 1 to 5 p.m. There are seats available for either class. In order to receive credit for attending, you must make BOTH classes on the day you choose. TURN TURNKEY KEY P PR ROOP PE ER RT TY Y Our December Blood Drive was super and I thank everyone who donated. Our next drive is scheduled for February 13 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Please contact me early if you want an appointment at the best times. February is just the beginning of the increased activity around here. Mark your calendar to attend the Activities Committee Club Fair on Wednesday, March 25. Many of the Clubs that we have in Ford’s Colony will be on hand to speak with you and discuss what they do. It will be a great opportunity to join new clubs and get more information about clubs you may want to join in the future. It will be an evening full of fun door prizes, lots of smiles, and no pressure chatting about the club activities. Look for the full-page pullout in the March TOC for a listing of clubs participating in the event. As Drew Mulhare mentioned in his article, there are many facility projects going on in 2015 at the S&T Club and Westbury Park (WP). We will be asking for your cooperation during the year while work is being done. I am confident that we will get through all the work without any problems and, more importantly, all of us will love P theRresults. O P Plans are moving ahead to renovate the bathrooms inside the S&T Club. The middle of June into August is the targeted time for this work. Two courts at WP will be repaired. Tennis Club and open play are expected to be minimally impacted. The S&T Club will receive an enhanced audiovisual system that will be easy to use. Thank you to all those residents who attended the Meet the Candidate meetings in January. If you were not able to attend, I urge you to view their presentations on the FCHOA website. Once you are familiar with the candidates, please vote! The new board will be announced at the FCHOA Annual Meeting on February 28 at 10 a.m. at Lafayette High School. Come early to enjoy coffee and donut holes and visit with your neighbors. Hope to see you there. TURN K Talk of the Colony, February 2015 |7 E FCHOA COMMITTEES Status of New Year’s Resolutions by the Strategic Planning Committee BY PETE PETERIK Strategic Planning Committee Chair OUR VISION To be the preferred residential community— attracting families and individuals of all ages who value an active, involved lifestyle in a gracious living environment The Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) wishes our residents a belated Happy New Year! At this time of year, many of us made resolutions or set goals for 2015. For the SPC, it is a time to mark the progress we have made over the past year and update our five-year FCHOA strategic plan. (Like the proverbial weight loss resolution, some of our goals will take longer to achieve.) In updating the strategic plan, we have solicited input from all our standing FCHOA committees, analyzed data from the recent homeowners’ survey, and reviewed other volunteer task force reports. Our mission and vision remain unchanged as noted below, as well as the general outline of goals to achieve that vision. MISSION “The Mission of the FCHOA is to promote the common interests of its members and residents of Ford’s Colony and to provide for the management, maintenance and care of our common property and facilities.” VISION “Ford’s Colony aspires to be the preferred residential community in the greater Williamsburg area, attracting families and individuals of all ages who value an active, involved lifestyle in a gracious living environment.” GOALS To achieve this vision, our HOA must focus on the following: v Preserve and enhance the natural beauty, landscaping, and architectural integrity that set us apart from other residential communities. v Continue to be recognized as a premier multigenerational community offering facilities and services that support a wide variety of clubs, activities and social functions for young families, active retirees and seniors. 8 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg v Preserve our welcoming and caring community culture where safety and security are maintained and enhanced. v Continue to promote mutually beneficial relationships, programs, and activities with the Ford’s Colony Country Club and Marriott Manor Club. v Maintain and enhance our unique culture of community and civic volunteerism that is central to many of our shared values and the ability to govern ourselves affordably. v Integrate a “green” philosophy in a practical and sustainable way into every important aspect of living in our community. v Keep our governance highly effective, fiscally responsible, and sustainable. The FCHOA Board of Directors is focused on accomplishing our mission and achieving our vision. However, given the progress we’ve already made and updating the situation analysis (opportunities and risks) on which the plan is based, we will be fine-tuning the initiatives in support of these goals. In addition, the Board will articulate its 2015 goals using our longer-term strategic plan as a reference point. The SPC will incorporate these goals and our changes into a finished product, which will help set priorities, coordinate efforts, and define accountability. Our strategic plan is a living, ever-changing blueprint for our future which reflects a balance of community consensus, volunteer effort, and the economic impact on our residents. Like all New Year’s resolutions, successful execution is what counts. For that we rely on the coordinated efforts of our FCHOA Board, Managing Agent, FCHOA volunteer committees, and homeowners. How are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions? VOLUNTEER VIEW Carol Moser: Stepping Up When Asked C arol and her husband Charlie moved to Ford’s Colony 14 years ago from Northern Virginia. For the first five years, they were weekend residents while commuting to their jobs in the DC area. Carol worked as an office manager for a busy medical practice, where she did virtually everything short of patient care. She became adept at handling people and multiple tasks while raising her son and two girls. Carol retired nine years ago and started spending more time in Ford’s Colony while Charlie continued commuting. The first thing Carol did after retiring was to join the bowling league. She was soon asked to volunteer her time and management skills to be in charge of the annual awards banquet and then as president of the Bowling Club. One of her fellow bowlers approached her about serving on the HOA Nominating Committee. Again she said “yes” although she really didn’t know anything about how the HOA committees worked. She said that when she first looked at the background, education, and experience of the board members or committee chairs, she felt that she might not be able to contribute compared to what others offered. Serving well on that committee as on others did not mean she had to be an immediate expert, but more importantly, a willing student and a worker. She learned from the experienced committee members while contributing a new perspective. Obviously Carol had enough to offer, because this past year she served as Chair of the Nominating Committee. The challenges Carol notes from her time on the committee include the difficulties getting enough residents to be involved. Not only do they claim lack of qualifications, but they feel they are retired now and ready to let someone else do the work. At times, it BY MARY ANN HURLEY is challenging to deal with the requests and demands of the residents, but the benefits are worth it. Carol likes working on details and enjoys seeing a task completed. The committee work gave her an opportunity to get to meet people she otherwise might not have encountered. She says she doesn’t need to be thanked for her job because the results are the reward, although it is always nice when someone does take the time to give positive feedback. Carol acknowledges that being a committee chair or board member takes time and energy. Certainly, being on the HOA board requires a good deal of tolerance as well. She believes that, if residents would just get their feet wet by joining any committee that interests them, they will become familiar with the governing process and probably realize that they do have talents which could benefit our community, while providing a sense of satisfaction in being an active participant. Her advice? When asked, say “Yes.” Talk of the Colony, February 2015 |9 THE BOOK REPORT Tax Assistance The Boys in the Boat The Tax-Aide Program offers help for taxpayers with low or moderate income, with special attention to those age 60 and older. Offered by the AARP Foundation in partnership with the IRS and local libraries, the program’s mission is to provide high-quality, free income tax assistance and tax form preparation. Free electronic filing will be available from February 2 through April 15, 2015, during the following hours: THE STORY OF THE U. OF WASHINGTON ROWING CREW AND HOW THEY MADE IT TO THE 1936 OLYMPICS Williamsburg Regional Library (515 Scotland St.) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. City James Country Library (7770 Croaker Rd.) Tuesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. When you come for tax assistance, be sure to bring: • Picture IDs • Social Security cards for all persons on the tax return • Tax information like W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, etc. • Bank account numbers for direct deposit • A copy of last year’s tax return, if available Details can be found on the AARP.org website under Tax-Aide. Appointments for both library sites may be scheduled by calling 259-4072 during site hours. Feel free to pass this information to non-Ford’s Colony residents who may benefit from this program. Please contact Terry Lowe, district publicity chair, at trlowe777@gmail. com if you have any questions. 10 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg BY BARB PLATE W hile rowing, or crew as it is referred to in the collegiate world, is not a well-known sport, it has all the elements of athleticism and competition. However, it takes extremely grueling practice in harsh weather conditions without many opportunities for recognition. This story touches on all the elements of the sport, but with a back story that is focused on the life on one member of the rowing team at the University of Washington in the early 1930s. Joe Rantz was one of perhaps 40 boys who worked his way into a boat, or “shell,” as a freshman. Joe had been touched by the tough times of the late 1920s and early 1930s as well as having lost his mother as a young boy, only to be left behind at age 15, when his father, step-mother, and half-siblings left the woods of Washington to strike out in Seattle for a better life. It was his determination to survive that pushed him to save enough money and enroll in the university in 1933. Joe discovers that his physical strength and mental determination are not enough. His coach moves Joe from the winning JV team to the less-experienced team, then in the boat with varsity members, but still Joe’s rowing skills fall short of the harmony needed to make the team and show Olympic quality. It is only after George Pocock, the English boatbuilder, peels away the layers and discovers Joe’s soul, much like both of them had learned to do with a piece of wood. George gives Joe the tools he needs by showing him that he can’t harmonize with the other rowers unless he has “opened his heart to them.” TRUST becomes his new goal. While this story focused on the building of an Olympic rowing team, it gives great insight into what Hitler and Nazi Germany did to build its power. There were many Americans who were questioning the stories of brutality and hatred towards many German citizens, including Jews and other religious. It was propaganda that was fed to certain Americans, such as Avery Brundage, member of the AOC, and Charles H. Sherrel, a former U.S. Ambassador, whose influence and power helped to quell American sentiments to not participate in the ’36 Olympics. And the rest is history. One of the “acid tests” I apply before recommending a book to a broad audience is: would my hubby or kids enjoy this book? And for this book, the answer is yes. There are many reasons why we choose to read a book: It was recommended by a friend; It is on the best seller list; It is about a favorite subject/ person/place or authored by a favorite writer. Many of my choices are determined by members of my book club, an unusual group, in that we are college classmates from many decades ago, who discuss our book choices online from all over the U.S. and even from foreign countries. If you belong to a book club, or share a book with a close friend or two, please consider sharing your favorite selections here in the Talk of the Colony. We would welcome your contributions. Contact Barb Plate, [email protected] DAY TRIPPER Christmas Town M any of us have enjoyed Williamsburg’s Busch Gardens over the years. It’s been voted as the “World’s Most Beautiful Park” by the National Amusement Park Historical Association every year since 1990. Six European countries (England, France, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and Italy) are highlighted with over 100 acres of gardens, walkways, and flowerbeds in a natural landscape. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Busch Gardens’ opening in 1975. Busch Entertainment Corporation, now called SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, was created as a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Companies to run the various parks in 1959. In 2009, InBev, the new owners of Anheuser-Busch, sold the amusement parks to the Blackstone Group. Busch Gardens offer more than 50 rides and attractions, live stage shows, a Sesame-themed children’s area, and a wide variety of culinary experiences and world-class shopping. Since 2009, visitors can experience the park in a whole new light with exciting attractions, dazzling shows and oneof-a-kind gift ideas that will make everyone say, “Now this is Christmas.” Gaze at more than eight million twinkling lights while enjoying hot chocolate and fresh-baked Christmas cookies. A complete Christmas Town experience includes a visit to Santa’s workshop and to the park’s 50-foot tall, light-animated Christmas tree. BY TERRY LOWE In 2014, Christmas Town opened November 21 and continued on select days through December 31. We were able to lock in the best deal of the season during their “12 Days of Christmas” special offer—a $12 singleday Christmas Town ticket compared to their regular $32 price. So we bought tickets for ourselves, our son, and his family visiting from Las Vegas. We arrived at the park shortly after its 2 p.m. opening. There was already a large crowd, but it seemed to add to the festivities. The weather was cold, so we bought some decorative hot chocolate mugs to enjoy reasonably-priced refills all night. We participated in several rides with our 8-year-old and 3-yearold granddaughters, walked through the Polar Pathway, enjoyed the musical and light shows, and took a photo with the Clydesdale horses. Dinner at an Irish pub and gliding on the Skyride through the night sky completed our festive evening. Busch Gardens is just a 20-minute drive from Ford’s Colony. Follow the signs on Route 199 past Kingsmill, turn right on Route 60, and the parking area will be on your right in about two miles. Additional information can be found on their website at seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg/christmastown. This series features sights, attractions, and events in the greater Tidewater region. We’d like to summarize interesting activities within an hour or two drive from Ford’s Colony, particularly for newer residents. If you’d like to highlight one of your favorite day trips, please email a Word document and photo(s) to [email protected]. Greenleaf Landscaping & Green Industries The #1 ORIGINAL Va Certified Drainage & Erosion Specialist • Lawn Sub-Surface French Drains & House Foundation Drain Systems • Retaining Walls • Complete Landscape Design & Installation • Patios/Walkways • Maintenance Contracts • Fine Grading • Construction Services • Slit Seed or Sod • Decks & Irrigation • Handyman Services landscapewilliamsburg.com visit greenleaflandscaping.com Dan Greenleaf 566-2322/342-8190 Talk of the Colony, February 2015 | 11 CAPTIVATING COLONISTS A Real Meeting of the Minds O ne thing that can be said for Carolyn and Larry Stowe is that, when they make up their minds to do something, they do it. They met in Philadelphia in 1967 when Carolyn was in graduate school at Penn, and Larry was working at General Electric. That meeting was actually on a double date with other people, but right away they knew they were meant for each other. Three months later they wed, and 47 years, three children, and three grandchildren later, they are still meant for each other. For 30 years, Larry worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, developing atmospheric remote-sensing techniques with data from meteorological satellites, which were used to create long-term global data sets for climate change research. Carolyn taught French until they started a family, and once the kids were in school, she went to work in a small compounding pharmacy as a pharmacist’s helper for the next 18 years. All three children worked at the pharmacy making deliveries, and as Carolyn put it, where she “could keep an eye on them.” They started visiting Williamsburg when their eldest daughter attended undergraduate school at William & Mary. “We probably visited too much,” Larry said, “but those visits made us realize we wanted to retire in Williamsburg someday.” Years later, that same daughter attended a wedding at Ford’s Colony, which included a golf outing. “Due to cart troubles, she was given two rain checks for golf from the country club, which she gave to me,” Larry said. Several months later, he and his son played Marsh Hawk, and when Larry spotted St. Andrews Village, he decided that’s where he and Carolyn would move upon retirement. Two years after that round of golf, he and Carolyn built their home here, with her full approval. “I love Colonial decorations, furniture, furnishings,” Carolyn said, so again it was meant to be. Once here, they wasted no time becoming involved in activities in Ford’s Colony and Williamsburg. They belong to Monday Morning and Round Robin bridge groups, the Theatre and Travel Clubs, and wine & dine groups. In 2003, they started a golf group, eventually numbering close to 100 couples that played 9 holes and then had dinner at the country club. That led to what is now known as the “Golf and Dine Society.” Larry, who started playing golf at age 13, still plays, but Carolyn has given it up, or she “stopped punishing people who played with me,” as she put it. Both are in the choir at Bruton Parish, and Carolyn rings in the hand bell choir, with Larry occasionally accompanying them on his clarinet. Carolyn is also actively involved with PEO, a women’s organization that provides scholarships for young women to be educated and for older women to go back to school. In addition, Carolyn has taught Italian for 22 semesters through the Christopher Wren Association. Larry is also the leader and founder of the Ford’s Colony Dance Band. He Zac’s Lawn & Landscape LLC. 757-903-9184 WINTER PROJECTS! Crepe Myrtle Pruning ~ Mulching Pruning ~ Planting OUR OUT Hardscapes: ITE! WEBS Retaining Walls ~ Paver Patios ~ Walkways NEW Debris Removal: Tree Removal ~ Storm Cleanup Drainage Solutions K CHEC As the Owner, I personally guarantee great work at a great price. I look forward to hearing from you… V/r Zachary 12 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg BY JAN YORK always had a love of music and played alto sax and clarinet, but when his instruments were stolen while attending graduate school in California, he turned to singing. When Carolyn spied an ad on the Ford’s Colony bulletin board for an alto sax and clarinet for sale, Larry bought them. He quickly contacted the Ford’s Colony resident who had led a Dixieland band here for recruits, and in 2009 the dance band had its first rehearsal with seven players. Today it has 17 members from an 8th grader to an 83 year-old. “It’s fun,” Larry said, “but you do have to have the drive to practice.” They were “bitten by the travel bug,” Carolyn said, when they lived in England for a year while Larry did postdoctoral work at Oxford University. They had one small child and another one born there, but they still managed to squeeze in trips. Before moving here, they started their own tour business called Stowe Away Tours and continued with it after coming to Williamsburg for a total of 12 years. They closed that business a year ago, so they could attend to their own bucket list of travel. Last year, they took a 46-day driving tour to Salt Lake City, where Larry grew up, to Lake Louise in Canada, on to Montreal, and then home just in time for their 46th anniversary. In all, they covered 22 states and 6 provinces. Their plan this summer is to visit the Eastern provinces of Canada with a follow-up trip to Alaska and the western provinces. But the list goes on to the Greek Islands, Scandinavia, and a South African safari. They’ve got their minds made up—and probably their bags packed too! NEWS AND AND FEATURES FEATURES NEWS LET’S GIVE SOMETHING THAT MEANS SOMETHING: FORD’S COLONY BLOOD DRIVE SEEKS DONORS According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. Chris Schwenker, Ford’s Colony (FC) Activities & Recreation Manager, was inspired by his dad—who worked for the New York Fire Department—to help the Red Cross meet its need. “My dad encouraged blood donations, and always provided a hot meal for the donors. It was his passion.” Chris is especially passionate about continuing to host blood drives in FC. “Here in FC, the goal is to meet and exceed 50 pints of blood,” Chris says. “Our groups of volunteers are also a great asset to the blood drives.” Volunteers greet the donors, assist with registration, run the canteen and provide homemade “goodies” for donors. Their help enables the Red Cross staff more time to focus on the collection process. Many of these volunteers also donate. Aurelia Michaels says, “It’s very important to donate blood because there is a critical shortage. I also like visiting with friends and neighbors who come to donate.” Barbara Cooke, a volunteer and donor says, “It’s a good cause. I have been donating for over 35 years.” Her advice is to eat a great steak or spinach beforehand so your hemoglobin will meet Red Cross criteria. Ellen Salvione is a volunteer and shares that “There is a critical need, and it’s easy and convenient to help right here at the S&T Club.” Joan Emerson says “I started donating blood when I worked at the Naval Weapons Station. I felt a special attachment to the Red Cross. I have continued to donate blood since my retirement.” Joan also contributes her famous “potato chip cookies” to each drive. Kathy Gibson says “I have volunteered for the Red Cross for many years. I am a recipient of blood and am grateful to all who donate.” If you would like to donate, watch for upcoming blood drive dates in the Talk of the Colony and call Chris Schwenker (258-4270) for an appointment. If you would like to volunteer to help or drop off a homemade “goodie,” contact Marlene Nappi 2015 PRESIDENT FCCC LGA-18 forms in the LGA-18 book and make contact with Mary Elizabeth Merriss, Membership Chair, at 258-5429 or [email protected] for questions and information about the 18 Hole Ladies Golf Association. We look forward to hearing from any lady wishing to play 18 holes with our association. BY MARY ANDERSEN Although winter is just beginning, it is not too early to begin thinking about outdoor activities for the spring. That means GOLF for many of our ladies in Ford’s Colony! The Ford’s Colony 18 Hole Ladies Golf Association will begin their golf season at the end of March, and we welcome any lady golfer who is interested in joining our great association. We are a wonderful group of friendly ladies who enjoy being out on our three beautiful golf courses, playing the game we love, and we welcome new members to join us. Membership applications are available at Ford’s Colony Country Club in the computer room directly behind Harry’s Tavern. You can find BYOB OUTING BY MANDY BALDRIDGE From left to right: Aurelia Michaels, Joan Emerson, Barbara Cook, and Ellen Salvione ([email protected]). The Ford’s Colony blood drive has been making a difference in the lives of others for 14 years now. Blood donation is a safe process and one donation can save the lives of up to three people. Thank you to all our neighbors who have donated recently, people like Bob Moeller, Dorothy Tibbetts, George Steinhauer, and Alex Froner. Let’s continue this worthy tradition! Save the Dates Active Aging Expo FEB Thursday, February 12 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Hosted by FC Aging in Place Service Group This event is free for those 55+ Ford’s Colony Country Club Registration until January 30 724-7001 Email: [email protected] 12 Activities Fair: “A Party with a Purpose” Wednesday, March 25 7 to 9 p.m. Wine, Prizes, Information Swim & Tennis Club M AR 25 This was an outing of our BYOB to Café Provencal. They gave us a lovely room with fireplace. Our group has been together over ten years! Talk of the Colony, February 2015 | 13 NEWS AND AND FEATURES FEATURES NEWS CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF TECHNOLOGY COURTESY OF THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS INSTITUTE We all know about the clouds that shade the sun and carry rain. Now it’s time to get to know the other cloud—the one that delivers computing power, handy applications, and the ability to share information with others wherever and whenever you need. Like the atmospheric mass that provides its name, the technological phenomenon impacts our daily lives. Cloud computing sounds mysterious and untrustworthy, but chances are you’re already working, playing and surfing in the cloud. If you’ve purchased an iPhone, Kindle, or any smartphone, tablet or computer recently, you’re probably taking advantage of its benefits. If you’ve downloaded a song from the Internet, chatted on Skype or purchased something from Amazon.com, you’ve used the cloud. So, what does the cloud mean to you, and how can you harness its power?It 14 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg means you can pay your assessments online. You can access association documents and board meeting minutes from wherever you are. It might also mean, for the owners of second homes, that you can tune in to board meetings from the other side of the country. It means you can work from a remote office without losing a beat. You can collaborate with others on a document without having to e-mail the file back and forth. You can store photos, music and files online without taking up precious space on your computer. The cloud offers cheaper, stress-free alternatives to expensive hardware and maintenance. All you really need to take advantage of the cloud is reliable Internet access, but you should carefully consider security, privacy, the provider’s reliability and contract terms first. How secure is your data and information on the cloud? What privacy rules are you subject to? Some cloud services include clauses that allow providers to access and use a customer’s data—often for marketing purposes—and can retain that data long after you’re done using the service. What if the company providing the cloud service goes out of business? What happens to all your information? Do contact terms lock you into one program or application? These are important questions to ask. And though the cloud is relatively new, it’s here to stay and will become even more prevalent over time. To see a list of cloud computing providers, visit cloud-computing.findthebest.com WHAT’S FOR DINNER? Paul’s Deli BY GALE McCUNE T his town has changed considerably since I moved here in 1997. Back then the options for dining out were meager, to say the least. The Inn and the Lodge were there, of course ($$$), as were Trellis, Berret’s, Seafare and the chains and pancake houses along Richmond Road. Down near the Hospitality House Hotel, where many of us stayed when we popped down to check on the construction of our dream houses here in FC, were three little (how else can I describe them?) dives: Green Leafe, College Deli, and Paul’s Deli. These were frequented mostly by the W&M students, since they were within walking distance, and in the college off-season, by the townies. I tried each a time or two, but never considered becoming a regular. Then came the 21th century and all that lovely open land between Ironbound Road and the newly opened Route 199 was developed and suddenly we were awash with new places to eat. (And thus was born this column.) Most of the action started in 2005 as one new eatery after the other appeared. And as so often happens, a couple of them failed and were replaced by new ventures. Recently one of the restaurants from the Corner near the old Hospitality House opened a second location in New Town. Paul’s Deli has opened on the corner at 4345 New Town Avenue, interestingly enough in the same location its old neighbor, Green Leafe, attempted a second location. On taking over the space, Paul’s management has remodeled and changed the configuration a bit. The bar has been doubled in size; two large communal pub tables were added, with 17 craft beers on tap. They have a very imaginative cocktail list, which to my delight has a generous offering of gin specialties, unlike the usual vodkaheavy offerings. On my first visit, I was very disappointed that the proffered Lavender Martini was unavailable since they ran out of Lavender syrup. I had to settle for a French Dalliance (now there’s a name for a drink!), gin, ginger liquor, Elderflower, Chambord, topped with Prosecco—mildly sweet, served in a martini glass. I loved it. They don’t Kirby’s Irrigation & Landscaping COMPLETE LAWN MAINTENANCE Contracts Available *FREE* TIME-SAVER ESTIMATES Sign A New CUSTOM Spring Maintenance Contract NOW And Receive Early Signing Discounts!!! Ask about our FREE backflow certification program have a wine list, just the standard red and whites, by the glass (or bottle). But, they offer something I’ve not seen before—Draft Wines—two red blends, a white blend, and the Prosecco. I doubt if the Wine Society would be impressed, but an interesting concept. The first Tuesday night I was there, the place was full, loud (be warned), and buzzing. The food service was extremely prompt. In fact, my friend’s crab cake sandwich and my Greek salad arrived before my drink. Hmmm. As you can imagine, that drink was not quite the perfect accompaniment to a Greek salad. Her crab cake was generous as was my salad. In fact, I’d call it huge. I enjoyed it over two meals. Paul’s has been in business for 35 years, not always under the same ownership, but continuously operating under that name. The menu is typical bar food, burgers, sandwiches and pizza, Italian and Greek specialties, with the addition of dinner specials, five my first visit. This is where the chef gets to show off his creativity. I noted from their website that children under ten eat free, as long as an adult orders—something to keep in mind when the “grand-ones” visit. Apparently the place has been swamped since it’s “soft opening” in mid-December. They’ve yet to advertise and it’s always full. This is not the place for your next Wine & Dine, I’m afraid. All the hard surfaces contribute to a very loud place. But for a fun evening out with a small group, or maybe those grand-ones, Paul’s would be a good choice. And I’ve got to go back for that Lavender Martini! CUSTOMIZED SERVICES: n Mowing n Mulching n Pruning n Planting n Leaf Removal n Full Irrigation Services n Backflow tests & certifications n Snow Removal…and more (757) 342-0266 ** LICENSED & INSURED ** ** These services should be provided by a licensed and insured contractor Talk of the Colony, February 2015 | 15 WELLNESS Exercising in the Cold J ust because it’s cold outside does not mean outdoor activities have to come to a seasonal stop. Exercising in the cold burns calories and produces more endorphins due to the extra effort to keep the body warm. Not only are there metabolic perks, but also exposing the body to natural light and fresh air is rejuvenating. Environmental Science and Technology recently published an article stating that outdoor exercise can crank up energy while decreasing tension, frustration, and depression. Most people can safely exercise outside during the cold weather months. However, certain conditions such as asthma, heart problems, or Raynaud’s disease should require a physician’s clearance prior to the start of a program. These conditions would require special precautions to take based on the condition or medications taken. The following tips will ensure a safe and warm workout in harsh winter environments. Warm up and cool down properly. It may take longer for the body to react to colder temperatures so be sure to leave more time to warm up. Take small steps in the beginning of the winter months to allow for acclamation. The body needs to adjust to cold temperatures just as it does to heat. Warm up indoors by jumping rope or jogging in place for approximately five minutes. Once outside, allow the body to adjust to the cold air by taking breaks every minute or so during the first ten minutes. After the workout is complete, be sure to properly cool down by slowing the pace for approximately five minutes. Once inside, keep moving around for about ten minutes while slowly removing the layers of clothing to adjust to room temperature. Dress in layers. Surprisingly, there is such a thing as dressing too warm for outdoor exercise. The body warms up considerably when exercising, generating a considerable amount of heat. The evaporation of sweat, however, can allow the loss of heat from the body, making it chilled. The best solution is to dress in layers that will allow a person to remove them as soon as they start to sweat, then put them back on as needed. The first layer should be a thin, moisture wicking material unlike cotton, which will stay wet and close to the skin. The next layer should be an insulating material such as wool or fleece. Lastly, a waterproof, breathable outer layer will complete the attire. Keep extremities warm. In colder temperatures, the body centralizes blood flow to the core, leaving hands and feet exposed to frostbite. Use the layering technique for hands with thin gloves first and heavier gloves or mittens on top that are lined with wool or fleece. Try BY KELLY COX, R.N. layering socks or opt for thick thermal socks that wick sweat. Use a hat or headband for ear warmth, and consider a scarf or facemask that will warm the face and the air before it enters your lungs. Consider purchasing exercise shoes a half-size or one size larger to allow for thick socks or an extra pair. Weather conditions and wind chill. Wind chill extremes make exercising in the cold a risk even when dressed warmly. The wind easily penetrates clothing, removing the warmth held close to the body along with increasing the potential of frostbite to exposed skin. Exercising in the rain and cold is also a high risk as the body may not be able to keep warm when clothing layers are soaked. Consider taking a break when these weather conditions exist. Wear appropriate safety gear. Now that there is less sunlight, be sure to wear reflective clothing. Shoes with traction are helpful for snowy and icy conditions. If going on ice and snowpacked trails, try using yaktrax on the sole of normal workout shoes. Hydrate. The colder temperatures make it easy to forget the need for water; however, the body is still losing water from sweat, breathing, and increased urine production, so hydration is imperative. Sunscreen. High altitude or snowy conditions provide greater exposure to rays, so slather on the SPF! Don’t forget the chapstick with SPF as well. Cold weather can discourage the most motivated exercisers. These tips can safeguard a person to allow for a more enjoyable workout when the weather turns chilly. Be sure to continually monitor how you feel to prevent cold weather injuries and let someone else know the route and expected return time. Reference: Mayoclinic.org Kelly Cox lives in Ford’s Colony with her husband and three children. She holds degrees in Nursing and Kinesiology. Kelly is the Administrator of the NASA Occupational Health and Wellness Clinic as well as an Oncology Nurse. She has been a Nationally Certified Personal Trainer for 14 years. 16 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg NEWS AND FEATURES WRITER’S BLOCK Over the Years Thoughts on Valentine’s Day… BY JUNE HARDING BY VINCE ABBOTT A little girl with a Dutch boy haircut sat pensively at her desk at school. Will I receive a Valentine’s card today? Will anyone think of me? (Someone once wrote: The best and the most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, or even touched—they must be felt with the heart!) Years passed since that day that thrilled her because of so many cards and one gift, a coconut candy bar. She was so pleased despite the fact she hated coconut! She smiled. Valentine’s Day took on a different aspect as she grew up. Lovely gifts and cards with expressions of undying love. Then she married. Her husband didn’t believe in Valentine’s Day and the day went by as all others. But loving gifts, for no reason, brightened many an ordinary day. Roses, bright, beautiful and fragrant, spoke volumes. Love conquers all, they used to say, Hardly ever hear that said today. Times may change, but you know how you feel About that someone who makes your bell peal! Live life with honor, give others respect, Qualities most of us have come to expect. To those, add all the love your heart can hold. There’s nothing more beautiful, so I’m told. Love can’t be touched, yet it touches you Honor and respect are that way too! Other emotions at time fill your heart, But love gives each day a beautiful start! Those most fortunate find love lasts forever, So treasure the years that you have together. If you argue at times, make up every night. You can drop off to sleep, both thinking they’re right. Consuming your life, love’s a passion to share, “Til Death Do Us Part,” is the promise we swear. Love from the heart, when returned by another Is a beautiful thing, unlike any other. A hawk, perhaps a Harlan visiting from Canada, has been watching over the Blackheath neighborhood. It seemed especially interested in a Nerf football being tossed around in front of 130 Blackheath. Talk of the Colony, February 2015 | 25 DOWN THE GARDEN PATH Please forward ideas for articles to [email protected] Winter Interest Series BY KRIS SAUNDERS AND PAT DENNEHEY BIRD SANCTUARY, Birds and Berries: This is the final in the series. Fringe Tree – deciduous. Where In Ford’s Colony: at Manchester Guardhouse (native type); at St. Andrews gated area, 2nd island (Chinese variety); blooms in early summer, berries in later summer. We’re Bartlett Tree Experts, a 100+ year old tree and shrub company with global reach and local roots. Our services include: • Tree & Shrub Pruning • Cabling & Bracing • Fertilization & Soil Care • Insect & Disease Management FOR THE LIFE OF YOUR TREES. Call 757.234.0403 or visit BARTLETT.COM 26 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg Service Berry (also known as Shad bush) – deciduous. Where in Ford’s Colony: in front of Community Service Building; blooms mid spring, berries in summer. Washington Hawthorne – deciduous. Where in Ford’s Colony: along Edinburgh between Cypress Creek and Heritage Point, long tree stance; blooms early to mid-summer. The Hawthorn tree has a storied past that gave birth to a litany of interesting facts, including: v The Pilgrims reportedly named the Mayflower after the Hawthorn, whose nickname is “Mayflower.” v In Britain, the tree is associated with fairies. v Centuries ago, Hawthorn flowers were not allowed in Asian homes, as the blooms were associated with death. v In the 1700s, Hawthorn flowers were used as garlands and set outside English homes during May Day celebrations. v In the early Middle Ages, the fruit from the Hawthorn tree was used to make wine, which was consumed by people suffering from high blood pressure. Ford’s Colony Signature Trees Beautiful Crepe Myrtles and lovely Red Buds may be delivered and planted in your yard for just $100. Call Janice Wagner at 258-3333. DOWN THE GARDEN PATH Hidden Treasures Garden Tour from May 2014 HIDDEN TREASURES GARDEN TOUR: SAVE THE DATE Put May 16, 2015 on your calendar for the next Garden Tour. This is the end of the series on the Gardens from 2014. We hope you enjoyed the highlights from the gardens and pictures as well. Garden Tour 2014: Garden #7, Home of Mitzi and Alan Balma Colors in Unique Trees. The whole garden was perfumed by the fragrance of peony blossoms—and everywhere there was color! A red Horse chestnut tree held its candles high. The tri-colored birch contrasted dramatically with the lime-green Golden Spirit Smoke trees. And, then, there were the reds of Japanese Maples and a delicate Forest Pansy Redbud with its “purple tones.” A garden bench was sheltered under a towering Yoshino, and finally, a delightful bronze statue of a young girl holding aloft a wind-spun pinwheel. Garden Tour 2014: Garden #8, home of Barbara and Fred Kurasiewicz Pond Views: Naturalistic plantings of grasses, hollies, junipers, and hydrangeas enhance the serenity of the water views. The slate path leading to the pond showcases moisture-loving species of shrubs and trees such as Itea Virginica and Hakuro Nishiki Willow. Colorful roses and ‘wine and roses’ Weigela grow along the brick foundation walls at the back of the home. The garden beautifully illustrates the opportunities available when designing landscapes that include a Resource Protection Area. My Favorite Ornamental Grasses BY ELYSE LEHMAN Pink Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) was voted 2012 plant of the year by the Garden Club of America. This eastern U.S. native is a perennial that forms a three-to-four foot tall mound topped with puffy purplish pink flower plumes in early Fall. The plants prefer full sun and do best in moist, well-drained soil. They attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs and provide wildlife cover for native birds. Spring Is Coming BY KRIS SAUNDERS Japanese Forest grass or Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra) is a perennial from Japan that thrives in shade and evenly moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. The plants grow oneto-three feet tall with gracefully arching leaves that look like flowing water when planted en masse on a hillside. They spread slowly by underground runners, but are not invasive. Gardeners especially value the cultivars with golden or variegated leaves to provide color in shady gardens. The cultivar ‘Aureola’ was, in fact, selected as the Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association in 2009. As we approach spring, articles will be appearing in this column to help with planning a garden, refurbishing a space, or just having some new ideas for gardens. Is your garden shady or sunny, does it have wet areas or other problem areas? We will revisit the Cast Iron Plants for the Williamsburg area. Note that a series on groundcovers will be coming too! A short article on planning for color in the garden is also in the planning stages. Another school garden will be featured. Keep reading! William & Mary School of Education on Monticello Avenue Talk of the Colony, February 2015 | 27 ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE Chair Mary Ann Hurley [email protected] Vice Chair Steve Bay [email protected] Treasurer Annelle Landefeld [email protected] Secretary Debbie Abrams [email protected] Aging In Place/Special Services Ted Juraschek [email protected] Artists League Elaine Napoda [email protected] Bid Whist Bob Sumlin [email protected] Bosom Buddies Lois Nervitt [email protected] Bowling Cameron Place [email protected] Caring Neighbors Nancy Ohlinger [email protected] CERT Bill McCabe [email protected] Chess Club Dick Gantzler [email protected] Colony Auto Enthusiasts Larry Emmons [email protected] Colony BYOB Jennifer Rairigh/ Randolph Brown [email protected] Colony Kids TBD Colony Wine & Cheese Sally Frazer [email protected] Bob Brennan [email protected] Computer & Technology Club Bob Zornetzer [email protected] Craft Club Susan Brooks [email protected] Dance Band Larry Stowe [email protected] Dance Club Chiricotti/Murawski [email protected] Activities Dog Owner’s Interest Group Peggy Peterson [email protected] Duplicate Bridge Tom [email protected] Fit for Life Joan Emerson [email protected] Fly Fishing Richard Anderson [email protected] Ford’s Colony Archery Jeff, Brian and Bob [email protected] Ford’s Colony Softball League Joe DiNuzzo [email protected] Ford’s Colony Volunteers for Education Muriel Slaughter [email protected] Friends and Neighbors Bob Bradfield [email protected] Garden Club Debbie Abrams [email protected] Terry Sisto [email protected] Genealogy Club Joe Sell [email protected] Golf Around Mike Hand [email protected] Golf & Dine Society George Spalthoff [email protected] Healthy Cooking Robert Burns [email protected] Home Brewers Interest Group Walter Maginnis [email protected] Hospitality Bobby Sue Silvey [email protected] Lisa Brickey [email protected] Mah Jongg Dorothy Fischer [email protected] Men’s Bible Study Dan Gaske [email protected] Model Railroad Club Phil Brooks [email protected] Monday Morning Bridge Charlie Skillman [email protected] Marshall Atkins [email protected] CARING NEIGHBORS CONTACT INFORMATION Cares and Concerns Mandy Baldridge....................... 645-4039 [email protected] Nancy Obadal .......................... 258-2838 [email protected] Caring Neighbors Transportation Service Kit Ober ................................... 345-0169 [email protected] Dave Westfall ............................ 645-2073 [email protected] Cook’s Pantry Karen Crowley, Chair ............... 345-6512 [email protected] Roseanne Brennan .... Co-Chair 258-3228 [email protected] Peggy Peterson .......................... 345-5411 [email protected] Georgia Lowe ........................... 603-6229 [email protected] Ann Wasko ............................... 229-7568 [email protected] Georgia Treiber ......................... 645-2423 [email protected] 28 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg Granny’s Attic Ora Avery ................................. 220-0343 [email protected] Pat Archer ................................. 259-9937 [email protected] Handymen Kent Kipling ............................. 208-0218 [email protected] Bob Bott ................................... 565-3577 [email protected] Ned Cooke ............................... 345-6669 [email protected] Don Harper .............................. 565-7855 [email protected] Bruce Landefeld ........................ 229-0637 [email protected] Dale Walter ............................... 229-2026 [email protected] Phil Klein .................................. 220-3949 [email protected] Ralph Spohn ............................. 253-5794 [email protected] Jeff Canon ................................ 291-7003 [email protected] Newcomers Linda Mathews [email protected] Pickleball Roger Allen [email protected] Pilates Club Nelia Heide [email protected] Pilates for Seniors/Golfers Wilhelmina White [email protected] Pinochle Bill Loscalzo [email protected] Round Robin Bridge Ida MacNamara [email protected] Debbie Boggio [email protected] Silver Sneakers Charlene Newstrom [email protected] Solitaires Harold Hall [email protected] Roy [email protected] Swim Team Kelly Arne [email protected] Tai Chi Elmer May [email protected] Tennis Club Rich Gingerich [email protected] Theatre Club Tom Damon [email protected] Trailblazers Tom Thompson [email protected] Travel Club Al Ashley [email protected] W&M Fan Club Van Voorhees [email protected] Water Aerobics Interest Group Janet Pohl [email protected] Women’s Bible Study Stephi Fisher [email protected] Woodworkers Club Ralph Spohn [email protected] Yoga Tricia Kiley [email protected] Barbara Gilman [email protected] Nurse’s Closet Betty Moeller ............................ 206-1276 [email protected] Helen VanCott .......................... 565-1750 [email protected] Stork Club Ida McNamara ......................... 645-3763 [email protected] Lise Murer ................................ 253-2361 [email protected] For general information or to join Caring Neighbors as a volunteer contact Nancy Ohlinger 229-7568 or Nancy.Ohlinger@ outlook.com CARING NEIGHBORS ACTIVITIES AGING IN PLACE The Aging in Place Service Group meets on a monthly basis to identify opportunities for Ford’s Colony homeowners to more safely and comfortably live in their homes as they age. The Group has developed the “Aging Services” web page as part of the Ford’s Colony internet site (fchoa. org). The page is designed to be easily used by residents and/or individuals who may be caring for them in times of need. The web page does not include medical or health care practices or services, but it has links to providers who may be of assistance. If you want additional information or would like to participate, please contact Ted Juraschek at theo_ [email protected] or 565-6165. ARTISTS LEAGUE The Artists League meets every Tuesday afternoon from noon to 3 p.m. at the S&T Club at the back of the large room on the right side. We have artists working in different mediums and at different levels of accomplishment, from beginners to more experienced artists. You will see people using oils, acrylics, watercolors, pencils, and pastels. We work at tables with our own supplies as we enjoy each other’s company and conversation. Some of our artists exhibit and sell their paintings at Harry’s Tavern. We change our paintings four times a year, in January, April, July, and October. Many of us belong to This Century Art Gallery down the street from the library on North Boundary Street and exhibit there also. Members of the gallery show their work on the upper level and there is usually some kind of unifying theme. We occasionally have an art show at the S&T Club and all these activities provide inspiration and purpose. We welcome new members and have much to offer in the way of information, advice, and direction. If you are an artist or would like to try experimenting in art, stop by some Tuesday afternoon and see what’s cooking, or should we say, “Coloring.” BID WHIST The Bid Whist Club meets on the second Thursday of the month at the S&T Club at 7 p.m. (except in July and August). Residents of Ford’s Colony are welcome to join or participate. For information, contact Bob Sumlin at 229-8841. BOSOM BUDDIES The Breast Cancer Support Group, “Bosom Buddies,” meets on the third Thursday of each month at 2 p.m. in members’ homes. Those with newly diagnosed breast cancer, as well as all breast cancer survivors, are invited to participate. Other cancer survivors are also welcome. For details, contact Lois Nervitt at 258-9669 or lsnervitt@cox. net. BOWLING 2014 ended with a bang and set the stage for a promising 2015 as indicated by the performances of the first two weeks in December and the first week in January. For the American Division, Len Shartzer, Ward Grant (3), Clarence Wilson, Vic Miller (2), Tony Nappi, Dennis Shea (2) and Dale Schoenberger bowled 200 games. Bowling a 500 series were Len Shartzer, John Roberts (2), Charlie Ohlinger, Dennis Shea (2), Ward Grant, Vic Miller (2), Tony Nappi (2), Tom Damon (2), Dennis Shea, Tom Collis, Jim Burow, and Dale Schoenberger. Ward Grant bowled a 600 series helped by bowling six strikes in a row. The subs’ top bowling performances included 200 games by Bob Sumlin (2), Jim Beilstein, who incidentally had seven strikes in a row, Annette Sumlin, Robin Johnson, and Cam Place. Subs with 500 series were Jim Beilstein, Cam Place, Bob Iwaszko, Annette Sumlin, George Spalthoff, and Bob Sumlin had a 600 series. Tied for first place with 19 wins apiece are the 4 Slingers-Karen DiNuzzo, Alan Belstock, Anne Rankin, & Joe Sosnicki-and Spare Us-Marie Colclough, Ronald Foy, Mary Barbera, & Pete Webster. National Division 200 bowlers include Jan Berkowitz (7), John Tinker (3), Joe McNamara (2), Bob Iwaszko (2), Lee Van Voorhees, Bob Sumlin, and Jim Beilstein. Bowlers with a 500 series are John Tinker (2), Joe McNamara (2), Jim Beilstein (2), Terry Beck, Bob Iwaszko (3), Bob Sumlin (3), Walt Maginnis (2), Fred Blake, Craig Cronce, Cam Place, Dave Jarman, Ray Van Cott, John Tinker, Dave Olson, Bob Rogers, and Clay Wilcox. 600 series bowlers are Jan Berkowitz (3), Vic Miller and John Tinker. The subs helping out the National League included 200 games from Vic Miller (3), Ward Grant, Bob Brennan, Tony Nappi, Dennis Shea, and Nathan Hill. Subs bowling 500 series were Vic Miller, Ward Grant, Bob Brennan, Tony Nappi, Dave Olson, and Dennis Shea. The number one team as of January 6 was Mystery Lane-Joanne Giesen, Philip Giles, Marilyn Watson, and Bob Iwaszko-with a 3-win lead. Finally, due to an underwhelming response, the Sunday evening bowling idea has been put back on the shelf…. CARING NEIGHBORS One of the delights in any community is the arrival of a new baby! Caring Neighbor’s Stork Club exists to provide assistance to the families of our newest residents. Ida McNamara (645-3763) and Lise Murer (253-2361) are here to connect you with other new parents and provide you with helpful information. Caring Neighbors can provide assistance in many aspects of Ford’s Colony life. As you read our contact information, you can see the wide range of services that are available. You can also contact Caring Neighbors through fchoa.org. Log onto the website, and then select “Contact Us.” In the dropdown menu, chose Caring Neighbors and submit Talk of the Colony, February 2015 | 29 ACTIVITIES information about a neighbor who needs help. See page 28 for contacts. FORD’S COLONY COMMUNITY CERT EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM Following a major disaster such as Hurricane Sandy, first responders who provide fire, rescue, and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. People may have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate lifesaving and life sustaining needs. The James City County Ford’s Colony Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) organization has been in place since 2004, working to prepare our community -- and to help residents prepare -- to respond to and cope with the aftermath of disasters such as hurricanes, ice storms, floods, nor’easters, and more. James City County provides training for CERT volunteers, at no charge, to prepare residents to help themselves, their families, and their neighborhoods in the event of such an emergency. Don’t become a victim; become empowered! The team meets at 3 p.m. on the first Wednesday of January, April, July and October at the S&T Club. In a disaster situation, everyone can do something to help themselves and others. For more information, contact Don Alms at [email protected] or at 645-7925. CHESS CLUB The Chess Club meets on the first and third Mondays of each month from 2:30 to 5 p.m. in the S&T Club. Contact Dick Gantzler at dgantzler@ cox.net if you have any questions. COLONY AUTO ENTHUSIASTS The February 4 meeting of the Colony Auto Enthusiasts is a “Road Trip” to visit the new restoration and maintenance facilities at Auto Haus’s 30 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg new location on Second Avenue. Auto Haus has committed half of its shop space and mechanics to the restoration of foreign cars. On any given day, you can find Jaguars, Porsches, Mercedes, and perhaps even a DeLoren being restored to their former glory. We will tour their modern facility and look at some of the vehicles currently in their care. We will meet at the Auto Haus facility, just a short way past the Second Street Grill, at 7 p.m. New members are always welcome, and membership costs $10. For further information, contact Ray Van Cott at 746-6999. COLONY KIDS Colony Kids, the Ford’s Colony service group that hosts fun, familyfriendly events for the children and grandchildren (age 12 and under) of FC residents, is looking for a new team leader, new members, and new ideas. The continued success of this group depends on volunteers from our community to lead the way! Colony Kids has four set events established over the last several years: The Spring Fling & Egg Hunt, July 4th Parade, Trunk or Treat, and the Holiday Brunch with Santa. Commitments of time and energy are not highly demanding, with the details of these events having already been established (although any/all changes are welcomed!). Meetings are set at your convenience and do not need to occur monthly. Please email [email protected] with your contact info if you are able to lend your time and leadership. Or contact Chris Schwenker at cschwenker@fchoa. net. We look forward to keeping our community’s children engaged and highlighted through these activities, so please consider volunteering! COLONY WINE & CHEESE The cold weather is upon us. It is time to come inside and join us for our February Wine and Cheese event. The Trebellas are once again inviting us to their home for a Mardi Gras party. The fun will take place on February 8. Mark your calendar and RSVP by February 2! If you haven’t joined us before, Colony Wine & Cheese is a series of social gatherings held in the homes of Ford’s Colony residents on designated Sunday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. No membership is required, and each is a stand- alone event. There are a number of regular attendees, but we always welcome new faces. Come join us for an evening of wine, appetizers and good conversation. These social events are open to all Ford’s Colony residents. We ask that you bring a “heavy” hors d’oeuvre for 8 to 10 people and $5 per person to cover the cost of beverages and paper products. If you are interested, please contact Sally Frazer, sfrazer219@aol. com or Bob Brennan, rbrennan6@cox. net by February 2. Looking forward to seeing you in your Mardi Gras beads! COMPUTER & TECHNOLOGY CLUB The Computer & Technology Club meets every third Monday of the month. Our next meeting is on February 20 at 7 p.m. in the S&T Club Ballroom. Another year has flown by and with it we are fast approaching April 15 and (ugh) tax time! It’s an unpleasant thought, but it has to be faced up to. If you need tax help, you can go to a CPA, but that will potentially cost you a lot of money. You can go to a flyby-night tax store, but they may miss a big deduction for you (try finding them on April 16 to complain!). Or you can come to the February 20 meeting where your intelligent and friendly C&T Club colleague, Honest Bob Berg, will tell you all about what the Turbo Tax application (and perhaps others) can do for you to make sure you have just the right return, at the right time, in the right format, and how you can submit your filing on-line and with that, expedite your refund. What more could you want in February? Come to the meeting, and you will be ready in April! ACTIVITIES We welcome new members. Come to join the Club and attend this and other many other interesting and informative topics. Our dues are $10 annually. For additional details about our Club, check out our website: www.fccug.org. CRAFT CLUB Craft Club meetings are held every Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the S&T Club. Take part in one of our workshops, bring a project you are working on, gather inspiration, or just come for a chat. If you are looking for a project to work on, we can always use help on our group efforts to benefit the local community. We are a friendly and multi-talented group of crafters, ranging from beginners to award-winning artists, who love to meet new friends. Dues for the year are $10. If you have any questions, please contact Annie Shepherd at [email protected] or 220-4752. DANCE BAND We have begun plans for our next Outdoor Picnic/Concert, which is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, June 7. Also, in collaboration with the Dance Club, we will be providing the music for a Colony-Wide Dance Party on Saturday, October 10. More details to follow about both performances in future TOC articles. Check out our web page within the Clubs and Activities section of the FCHOA web site. There you will find photos and sound bites from some of our past performances. We are always in search of more musicians to add to our roster, so if you’re interested in playing with us, or know of someone who is, please let us know. We rehearse on the first and third Thursdays of each month, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the S&T Club. If you’d like to have us play at one of your club functions, or at a neighborhood party, or at a wedding reception, or at a community fundraiser, we’re just a phone call or e-mail away. Please contact Larry Stowe at 564-8550 or at FCDB@cox. net. DANCE CLUB The Dance Club meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the S&T Club at 7 p.m. Ballroom dance instruction is on the first Tuesday and line dancing is on the third Tuesday. On February 3, we will be starting a new dance and have our first lesson in Foxtrot with our professional instructor, Marilen Crump. Foxtrot is a very popular smooth dance and many Foxtrot steps can also be performed in Waltz. We will stay focused on Foxtrot through June, so that will allow sufficient time to learn both the basics of the dance as well as time to practice a usable routine. We used this new five-lesson dance studio approach with our last dance, Hustle, and it was very successful. Since we are beginning a new dance in February, this would be an excellent time to join the Club. Both singles and couples are welcome and you need not be an experienced dancer to participate. On February 17, we will be led in line dancing by our own Micki Decker, an experienced line dance instructor. The first 45 minutes will focus on less complex line dances, and the second 45 minutes will focus on more difficult line dances and patterns. Everyone is welcome to attend both sessions. Please wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle. Club dues are $20 per year or $5 per session. For more information about the Dance Club, contact John Chiricotti at [email protected] or 239-354-2658. DOG OWNERS The Ford’s Colony Dog Owners Interest Club will have a very special duo this month. On February 23, the hearts of those in the Dog Owners Interest Club will turn to…bombs! State Trooper Robert Clements and his ordinance sniffing dog “Max” will be at the S&T Club to talk about training dogs to be explosives experts and give a demonstration (outside if weather permits). The club meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month. No dog ownership required, just a love for, and interest in, all things canine! Please join us! DUPLICATE BRIDGE The Duplicate Bridge Club meets each Wednesday at noon at the S&T Club. These are sanctioned duplicate games, and master points are awarded. It’s not necessary to come with a partner or to be a member of the ACBL. All levels of players are welcome. Table fees are $6 per person. Contact Tom Dunck at 208-0548, [email protected] for further information. Information on other duplicate games in Ford’s Colony may be obtained at bridgewebs.com/colonial/. FIT FOR LIFE Fit for Life is a program of strength and flexibility exercises to help you maintain a healthy body regardless of your age, ability or physical condition. The exercises we perform are not strenuous; both men and women can perform them. Everyone accomplishes the movements according to his/her own capabilities. Our exercises stress balance, coordination, flexibility and, muscle control. Physical activities include: walking, stretching, ball and bungee sequences, mat and chair work, and movements to music. The only equipment needed is a floor mat and a sense of humor. Fit for Life is an adaptation of the national program Body Recall, which has been a leader in fall prevention and fall recovery. Body Recall was recently designated by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services as a Tier 1 provider for improving the health and well-being among older adults. Fit for Talk of the Colony, February 2015 | 31 ACTIVITIES Life’s mission is to provide a program of exercise and education to get participants moving and keeping them physically active to maintain a healthy body and improved quality of life. Our group meets at 8 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, for one hour at the S&T Club. Domenica Jernigan is the instructor and a Registered Nurse. She can be contacted at 784-7682. FORD’S COLONY SOFTBALL LEAGUE We’re off-season, but always available to welcome new players, at all levels. Ford’s Colony Softball is a slowpitch, recreational softball group, consisting of men and woman over 40. (Guest players under 40 are also welcome.) We play one game per week on the field at the Westbury Park recreational area. Our split season goes from April through June and again from September through November. We also have practice/training sessions during the pre-season and throughout the season. In a few months, we’ll have the ribbon cutting for our new field and backstop! Please contact Joe DiNuzzo ([email protected]) for more information and to sign up. FORD’S COLONY VOLUNTEERS FOR EDUCATION If you are looking for a new, rewarding, community service opportunity, please consider helping our local school children by joining Volunteers for Education. You can make a big difference in our students’ lives just by spending a small amount of time with them. Residents volunteer at any level of commitment: as little as one hour once a week to as much as they would like. No previous experience as a professional educator required. Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) teachers, guidance counselors, and subject specialists will provide an orientation to the school, training, and on-going assistance. Each volunteer is partnered with a child who needs additional 32 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg individualized attention that will help them on their way to literacy and learning success. Our program has been recognized by the WJCC public schools as a needed and valued community partner because of the enriched learning experience our residents provide for the children. For further information on becoming a Volunteer for Education, contact Muriel Slaughter at 221-8232 or [email protected]. FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS The Friends and Neighbors group kicked off the new year with a presentation by General Anthony Zinni to a sell-out crowd. He is an outstanding speaker with unique experiences relating to the US’s friends and foes. Hope you were there to enjoy the performance by this long-time Ford’s Colony resident. Some 29 new/returning members turned out to hear the general’s comments. Welcome! We hope you will continue to attend our meetings and events, first Friday of the month, 6:45 p.m. at the S&T Club. For more information, see our website at fcfan. org. At our February 6 meeting, Williamsburg Winery will host a wine tasting paired with cheese, crackers, grapes, and chocolate truffles. We will taste five wines, one of which is the “Adagio” Malbec/Petit Verdot red wine ($65/bottle). Your ticket, priced at $10, includes a chance to win a Tour, Reserve Wine Tasting and Luncheon for Two at the Gabriel Archer Tavern valued at $130, as well as one of five tickets for a Wine Tour and Tasting for Two (a $20 value). At press time, registration for this Valentine’s event has ended. Please contact Kathy Smith [email protected] for waiting list possibilities. On March 6, Christina Westenberger of DeWitt Wallace will present “The Restoration of Colonial Williamsburg.” Christina is the Assistant Manager of Museums Education at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, and is responsible for tours and programs for groups of all ages. 2015 marks her 20th year with the Foundation. Through her tenure, she has enjoyed giving tours at The Raleigh Tavern, singing at the Governor’s Palace and playing at Witch at the Capitol. Recently she has written two books available for sale at many CW retail locations: Down On The Farm and The Art-Full Tree. Many of us have been visiting the old town since we were kiddies. It may seem like it has never changed, but it has. Come and learn how much. GARDEN CLUB Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s a little early, but love is in the air, starting with our program on February 11 entitled “Love Your Crepe Myrtle.” Plan on coming at 9 a.m. to the S&T Club to hear Andrew Koenig, boardcertified master arborist, talk about these beautiful trees and how to care for them. We don’t want anyone committing crepe murder! You can still join the Garden Club and what a bargain, half price starting this month, and we still meet through June! So contact Vicki Trainor at [email protected] for more information. We are starting to rev up for the wonderful Hidden Treasures Garden Tour. Please mark your calendars for May 16. Tickets will go on sale at our February meeting and more information will be published later. Club members and friends: the Garden Tour co-chairs can always use your help. So please feel free to contact Janice DiSanto at [email protected] or Sally Stubert at [email protected]. We have established a Nominating Committee to find members who are willing to come on board and help fill positions for the 2015-2016 session. The new board year starts in June. Please contact Linda James at linda. [email protected], Sandy May at [email protected], or Laureen Bolstad at [email protected] if you are interested in being a part of this wonderful group and want to keep this club “growing in friendship”. ACTIVITIES If you have any questions, please contact Terry Sisto at [email protected] or Debbie Abrams at dabramshome@ hotmail.com. GENEALOGY CLUB The Genealogy Club is comprised of people whose ancestors came from many other states and a variety of foreign lands, just like yours. Club membership offers the opportunity to talk with other members about similar research challenges, and to learn the resources available online and in the community and how to make the best use of them. We meet at the S&T Club on the third Thursday of the month starting at 7 p.m. and finish at 8:30 or 9, depending on the program and other activities. We learned many new techniques in our January meeting, when Cassandra Farrell, Map Specialist and Senior Archivist at Library of Virginia in Richmond, discussed, “Using Historic Maps in your Family Searches.” Our program schedule for the next few months promises to be equally interesting and helpful for our “mission” to document our personal family history: February 19 – Michael Straus, noted historian from Virginia Beach will present “Descendency Research: Another Pathway to Genealogy” March 19 – George King, renowned local genealogist and CWA instructor: “Making the most of the U.S. Census” April 16 – Dr. George Schweitzer, famed family historian (video); “Tracing Ancestors Across the Atlantic” New members are welcome at any meeting. Be sure to look for our club at the Colony website: fchoa.org. Annual dues are just $10 per family and are due now. GOLFAROUND Welcome to a new year of Golfaround. Our first event will take place on Thursday, March 26 at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Course with a 12 o’clock shotgun. Future events include Kiskiack (April 23), Viniterra (June 11), Williamsburg National (July 16), and Golden Horseshoe – Green Course (October 2). Other events are being planned for May and August. We currently have about 350 members, but usually get between 60 and 100 for each event. If you are interested in either signing up or learning more about Golfaround, please contact Mike Hand at [email protected]. Please note that with the size of the group, all contacts are done via e-mail. GOLF & DINE SOCIETY The GDS is busily planning its 2015 schedule of events. We will begin in April, and have events through October. Each month, we play golf on a Williamsburg area course and then find a great place to have dinner together. At dinner, we divide up the “huge” money prizes and provide golf balls to those who do miraculous things. The GDS is now aligning itself as best possible to avoid conflicts with other golfing organizations. Over the years, we have assembled a list of about 200 names that participate in our outings, and blast emails will begin in early March with details and sign up information for our first outing. In the meantime, if you are planning to participate in 2015, please send your annual, family, dues of $5 to our treasurer Bill Farwell at 113 Killington. There will be a brief organization meeting in February, which will be announced by email. If you would like to help out at one of the outings, this would be a great time to show up and find out how “more hands make the work much easier.” To be added to the master roster email list, please send an email to: [email protected] Talk of the Colony, February 2015 | 33 ACTIVITIES HOSPITALITY The Hospitality Committee has 26 enthusiastic volunteers who visit new Ford’s Colony residents. They deliver a welcome bag filled with valuable information about Ford’s Colony and the Historic Triangle and answer any questions newcomers may have concerning their new community. If you are a new resident, whether you rent or own, and would like a visit from a Hospitality Committee volunteer, please notify Crystal Bowers at Ford’s Colony Security Office at [email protected] or 258-4080. The Hospitality Committee is always looking for new members. Volunteers usually only have to make two or three visits a year. It is not a big commitment, but it is a very important one. If you are interested in joining the Committee, please contact Bobby Sue Silvey at [email protected] or 258-4703 or Lisa Brickey at [email protected] or 645-3421. MAH JONGG Are you a member of the National Mah Jongg League (nationalmahjonggleague. org)? If you are, you’ve probably received their yearly newsletter announcing that they’re taking orders for the 2015 card. Most of us are anxious to see if they’ve included hands that we’ve loved in the past or ones that are totally new and exciting. We can arrange free lessons for new or returning players, or people who play Wright Patterson (WP) and want to learn American Mah Jongg, at a mutually convenient time (not during weekly games). We recently taught several people who played WP, and it was a very easy transition. If you have friends who play, but don’t live in Ford’s Colony, they are welcome to join us. If you have any questions about our game, please contact Dorothy Fischer at [email protected] or 345-6663. Or, come any Wednesday at 1 to 4 p.m. and try us out! Hope to see you there! 34 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg MENS’ BIBLE STUDY Ford’s Colony Men’s Bible Study is continuing its study of Matthew during February, likely in vicinity of chapters 16 and 17. The Bible study meets the second and fourth Thursdays (February 12 and 26), starting at 9:30 a.m., in the Library at the S&T Club, and we hope to see some new faces. For further information, contact Dan Gaske at 903-2793 or [email protected]. MODEL RAILROAD CLUB Thanks to all who joined us at Rocco’s Smokehouse Grill on January 24 for the Move the Caboose fundraiser for the Norge Depot Museum. Our club continues development of the HO-Scale layout at the Depot on Croaker Road (adjacent to the library). Stop in during regular weekend museum hours to view our progress. The Model Railroad Club has been gathering steam since December and will pick up new passengers (members) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 5 at the S&T Club. After a short business meeting to recognize the club’s 10th Anniversary, we will split into two groups to visit two home layouts here in the Colony, both in the classic Lionel O-Scale. On Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22, there will be a large Train and Toy show at the Virginia Beach Convention Center where you can see (and buy) many examples of the World’s Greatest Hobby. For more information, please contact Dean Risseeuw at 258-4887 or [email protected]. Visit our webpage at fchoa.org for more. MONDAY MORNING BRIDGE Come join us for the Monday Morning Bridge group at the S&T Club. We look forward to seeing you no matter what level of bridge you play. Besides signing up on the next weekly roster(s) on Monday mornings, you may call one of the hosts below for the week you would like to play or if you have to cancel. We start at 9:15 a.m. by announcing the last week’s winners; please plan to sign-in a bit earlier to get your coffee and be ready to play. We aim to be done by noon so folks can make it on time to their next activity of the day. The cost to play is only $1 each week. Feb 2 Feb 9 Feb 16 Feb 23 Mar 2 Barbara Blake Carolyn Stowe Morag Essery Donna Whittaker Debbie Boggio 258-4950 564-8550 258-3442 258-2622 603-6719 We don’t often see scores at 7,000 or over for the 24 hands, but that feat was accomplished twice in 2014: Joan Trainor did it with a 7070 on April 28 and Madge Spitteler did it with a 7270 on October 6. Congratulations to you both! NEWCOMERS Once the Super Bowl is over and Valentine’s Day is done, what can we do? Come to the Newcomers February Meeting, of course! This is a great way to meet others new to Ford’s Colony, get information about your community and join some fun club activities. The fun will begin on Friday, February 20 at 6:45 p.m. at the S&T Club. We will begin with some time for you to socialize, have a few refreshments and sign up for activities. Our Program this month will feature Terry Buntrock, Arts Coordinator for the Williamsburg Fall Arts and Spring Arts Programs. Come so you can get the first peek into the events planned for the 2015 spring and Fall Arts seasons. We already know that Williamsburg area is well known for its world-class historic sites, living history museums and modern day attractions, which include Busch Gardens and Water Country. Terry will help us discover and appreciate the area in a whole new way. It doesn’t matter if your preference in the arts is traditional or contemporary, cutting edge or classic, there will be ACTIVITIES many opportunities for something to enjoy at the Williamsburg Arts events. If you aren’t a member, you can fix that quickly by contacting our membership correspondent, Lauretta Oelerich, at [email protected]. She will send you all the information you need to join. Or just come to our meeting and you can join there! If you have any questions about the Ford’s Colony Newcomers Club, feel free to contact Linda Mathews, president at [email protected] or 206-1073. We can’t wait to meet you! PICKLEBALL Pickleball, a game often described as “Un-Tennis,” offer healthy outdoor exercise and friendly competition to all ages. Our group plays twice weekly; times are dependent on the weather for a while. Please contact Roger Allen at 229-2271 or [email protected] for the current schedule. PILATES CLUB The Pilates Club meets Monday and Friday at 8 a.m. and Wednesday at 9:15 a.m. at the S&T Club. Contact Missy at [email protected] with any questions. PILATES FOR SENIORS/GOLFERS Ladies and Gentlemen, join us on Mondays, Wednesdays (4 p.m.) and / or Tuesdays and Thursdays (2:30 p.m.) for Pilates at the S&T Club. The opportunity to improve flexibility, core muscle strength and general well-being is available in four different class sessions. We invite you to join us either day to meet Alona Casanave, a certified Body Art and Science International and Stott Pilates Instructor. Monday and Wednesday classes: the focus is Pilates for Golfers seeking to improve their physical condition, learn techniques that will enhance their performance on the golf course. Strength, Breathe, Repeat! Highlighting the importance of stretching for sports, working out and every flexibility. Tuesday and Thursday classes: The focus is on Mat Pilates for those who seek greater strength, flexibility, coordination and range of motion. Standing Pilates, a combination of Pilates and Yoga, which has an additional focus on cardiovascular workout. We encourage you to come and check us out, we are sure you will find some activity that will benefit you. Contact Wilhelmina White at [email protected] or 645-2519. PINOCHLE CLUB Do you like playing cards, having fun and meeting new people? Whether you are an old hand or just learning to play, why not join us for a few rounds of pinochle? We play double deck pinochle every Thursday from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the S&T Club. We will be playing February 5, 12, 19, and 26 if you would like to get to know us. The rules have never changed, but a set of rules is available to refresh old minds if you would like. If you would like to know more about the Pinochle Club or would like to try us out, contact Bill Loscalzo at 564-7447 or [email protected]. Please let us know in advance so we can reserve a seat at one of the tables. ROUND ROBIN BRIDGE The Round Robin Bridge Group will meet at the S&T Club on Thursday, February 12 at 7 p.m. Round Robin Bridge meets at the S&T Club on the second Thursday of each month. We play 5 rounds of 4 hands each for a total of 20 hands of casual bridge. Monthly scores will count toward the yearly cash awards given at the June 2015 banquet dinner. We do not play in the summer. If interested in joining and signing up through June, please contact Ida McNamara at [email protected] or on 645-3763, or Margaret/Bill Bunnell at [email protected] or on 206-1434. Please arrive on time as we will start promptly at 7 p.m. Round Robin Bridge hosts for February 12: Jim and Fran Lockard lockard1@aol. com or 645-2578 Walt Culhane [email protected] or 645-4350 If you want to play, please let one of the hosts know by February 3. SILVER SNEAKERS® Silver Sneakers® is designed to improve well-being thru fitness education involving strength training, balance, and flexibility, as well as the importance of drinking water while exercising. It is the nation’s leading exercise program for active older adults with nearly two million participants. The goal is to improve physical and mental health, minimize age-related physical degeneration as well improve cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and body composition, flexibility, speed, power, agility balance and coordination. Participants are encouraged to become more aware of their personal health status including the importance of fall prevention. Our certified instructor is Sonya Thomas. The class consists of group exercise that encourages fitness, fun, and friends for maximum peer socialization and an increase in each individual’s sense of well-being. Exercises are done while either sitting in a chair or standing, keeping one foot on the floor at all times. Weights, stretch bands, and a ball are provided. Participants must wear sneakers and clothing appropriate for exercising, and bring a bottle of water to drink throughout the session. Our group meets at the S&T Club at 11 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, for one hour and is open to both men and women. The class is limited to 30 participants. To register for the class, you must contact Sonya at 254-4917. For general information, please contact Charlene Newstrom at 220-9339 or [email protected]. Talk of the Colony, February 2015 | 35 ACTIVITIES SOLITAIRES You are always welcome to join Solitaires and make some new friends. Solitaires is a social group open to anyone who is single or single again. We organize a variety of outings to many places in and around the Williamsburg area. Our next event is our potluck supper scheduled for Monday, February 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the S&T Club. Trish Barner, Volunteer Coordinator for Colonial Williamsburg (CW), will speak about the many opportunities to volunteer for CW. The Solitaires club will provide fried chicken and we request that you either bring a side dish, dessert or drinks. Please notify Sue Ruhle by Sunday, January 25 if you plan to attend and what food item you will bring. Her contact information is [email protected] or 565-2245. Also at this event, Solitaires will be collecting non-perishable food items to donate to FISH, an all-volunteer not-for-profit agency providing help to residents of the greater Williamsburg area. Our monthly social at Harry’s is scheduled for February 19 at 6 p.m. Contact Joan Emerson at 229-4703 or [email protected] by February 15 if you plan to attend. Mark your calendars for Monday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m. We are going to the movies at the S&T Club. Come watch a classic movie with friends; popcorn and soft drinks will be provided. For more information on Solitaires, contact Roy Rolph at 258-9016, Harold Hall at 345-5726, or Janice Svendsen at 258-0244. “Anyone would be lying if they said they didn’t get lonely at times.” — George Clooney TAI CHI Nhi Hao: “Hello” The Ford’s Colony Tai Chi Club is now in the midst of an additional ten-week Tai Chi course running from Wednesday, January 7, to Wednesday, March 11, titled “Tai Chi for Health” 36 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg from 4:30 to 5:30/6 p.m. each Wednesday at the S&T Club. This course is being taught by Instructor Stan Rockwell (253-1462) and stresses “Healthful Living Aspects of Tai Chi.” The Tai Chi Club will conduct their Spring Semester for ten weeks from March 18 to May 20, each Wednesday from 4:30 to 5:30/6 p.m. at the S&T Club. The instructor is Bill Hansell (5660040). Each session features breathing drills, walking, balance, movement drills and Yang-style form movements or fan drills and simplified 24 form drills. Tai Chi training is conducted in loose fitting clothing and flat-soled shoes. Tai Chi is termed the “Gentle Art” and is acceptable to most adults. Present Tai Chi Club members, interested Ford’s Colony residents, and interested non-residents are all invited to participate in Tai Chi training, which is conducted at a minimal cost. Tai Chi training has been “tailored” to fit the interests and needs of participants. Since the Talk Of The Colony is not distributed outside of Ford’s Colony, we are dependent on “word of mouth” advertising to “spread the word” about the availability of Tai Chi training. Questions: Elmer May, President, 2599905; Linda Thomson, VP, 229-3195; Susan Deane, Treasurer, 849-2404. Zhai Jian: “Goodbye” TENNIS CLUB The colder, wet weather is upon us, but tennis groups are still scheduled to play. A call to Security (258-4080) will advise you as to court conditions at Westbury Park, which may be closed if the courts are frozen. Please direct any questions about maintenance of our tennis facilities to Tom Duke, our Tennis Club Facilities Director (537-9035 or tomduke@cox. net). He can then direct the concern to the Ford’s Colony staff. In midDecember, the original contractor for the Har-Tru courts dug two holes on Westbury Park, Court 2, down to the bladder to determine the cause of several problem spots. It is speculated that the problem is caused by a fungus or mold/mildew and not an issue of layers of gravel on top. Further work will be done in July when the bladders are turned back on and more fungicide can be applied, but the initial work seems to have helped. In March, as usual, the contractor will redo the lines and apply more Har-Tru. The Tennis Club is looking for volunteers. In March, several board members will have served their two-year term, and we are asking for your help in filling these positions: Membership, Women’s Activities and Communications. There are minimal demands on your time, and you will be making valuable contributions to our tennis community. Please seriously consider volunteering! Those interested in serving on the Tennis Club Board should contact Rich Gingerich, President at [email protected]. Tennis Club members, please mark your calendars for the March 21 annual meeting. It will be held at the S&T Club at 9 a.m. to review the year, approve the budget, and elect the new FCTC Board. Dues for the next year ($10) will be due at that time. Check your “Tennis Tiding” emails for more information. If you are interested in joining the club, please contact Peter Eastman at peter_ [email protected]. THEATRE CLUB It’s time to put on your dancing shoes and prepare to enjoy the music of the “Mellowtones.” Ted Zlydaszek and his merry Mellowtones will entertain the audience with songs to remember and melodies to hum. This is the second time we’ve been lucky to have them perform for your entertainment and bring back memories from former days. Adding to the fun, the evening will be a cabaret, so remember, BYOB. March will test your memory as we play “Name That Tune” with the Theatre Club singers in full swing. Those who remember the game show introduced in 1952, which ran in various iterations to 1981, can start listening to your collection of songs through the decades. You’ll have fun joining the merriment with songs from the 60s, 70s, and beyond. Shush! Don’t ACTIVITIES try to bribe singers ahead of time. Our lips are sealed. TRAILBLAZERS The Great Allegheny Passage Trail is a rail-trail that runs 150 miles from Cumberland, MD to downtown Pittsburgh. Trailblazer member Ted Hanson and local Williamsburg resident Neal Robinson biked this trail in 2013. In 2014, six friends were invited to join the trek. Our February Trailblazer meeting presentation will be the chronicle with pictures of the 2014 trek, which included four days of trail riding, with a day in Ohiopyle, PA to visit two Frank Lloyd Wright homes and engage in whitewater rafting and hiking. Prince Butler will also outline our Spring Adventure Outings. We’ll have our usual drinks and snacks, and we’ll be collecting the annual $5 dues from our members. As always, we remind you that you don’t have to belong to Trailblazers to come to our meeting. We invite all our Ford’s Colony friends and neighbors to join us. TRAVEL CLUB April 26: bus trip to Norfolk for the Tattoo. This trip is full, but contact Paula Tenenbaum (paulatenenbaum@ cox.net) to be added to her wait list. June 1-6: Santa Fe, Taos, and Albuquerque. Travel will be from Norfolk airport, with transportation from Ford’s Colony included. The trip including airfare, tours and some meals, is $2,190 per person, double occupancy. The trip is fully subscribed at this time, but please contact Alissa Neidhart if you are interested and want to be on her standby list ([email protected] ). October 2-12: a fully-guided tour of Italy! Enjoy the splendors of Rome including the Vatican, Florence, and Tuscany with its quirky towns and beautiful vistas. Muriel and Al Ashley will lead this tour. Those who have traveled with them before know it will be a rewarding experience. $4,295, land only; $5,250 including air fare from Washington, DC. Contact Al Ashley for a full brochure or to register at [email protected]. Other trips in discussion include Iceland in summer 2016; Costa Rica; New Orleans; and Boston. Contact Al Ashley or a VP - Paula, Vanessa, Alissa or Kim Humphrey (jimkimhk@ msn.com)—if you want to express interest. Better yet, come to the February meeting and learn more about what is in planning and how you can participate! Remember the three steps to participation are: pay your dues, contact a trip planner, and then leave your payment (or deposit) in an envelope marked “Travel Club” at the John Pott gate. WILLIAM & MARY FAN CLUB offensively and defensively. Omar Pruitt does a fine job as does center Sean Sheldon. The Tribe has capable reserves: Greg Malinowski, Michael Schlotman, and Jack Whitman see the bulk of the action. They will be fine players, but they are freshman. Coach Shaver says that patience is the key word and that the team will be seasoned and much better by February. January and February is conference rivalry time. Both the women and men will be exciting to watch at Kaplan Arena. Each team started their conference schedules on January 3 after compiling identical non-conference records of 6-5. (While the women have yet to play as of this writing, the men have had convincing wins over Drexel and The College of Charleston to push their record to 8-5.) FC Fans: Joe McNamara & Lee Van Voorhees WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY FC Fans: Bob Zaeh and Tom Dignan The basketball pre-season is over. The Tribe has been experiencing difficulty with consistency with regard to winning and finishing games. Why should they not? With only one senior —Marcus Thornton—in the starting lineup, the Tribe has had lulls in their offense and so far, cannot rebound with their quality opponents. Marcus steps up big time each game, and gets terrific support from Dan Dixon and Terry Tarpy. Each of this trio leads the team in one category or another, We are continuing our study of the Names of God in the Old and New Testaments: what the Bible reveals about who/what God is! The Bible says that if you seek God, you will find Him. God reveals Himself to us through His names. It is a wonderful study for any woman, regardless of her knowledge of the Bible…a great introduction to the Bible! This is a very comfortable, inviting environment. There is no homework, though we will tell you each week what we will study next, so you can do some reading on your own if you wish. Many of us have busy travel schedules so each lesson will stand on its own. We meet on Tuesday mornings, 9:30-11 a.m. at the Swim & Tennis Talk of the Colony, February 2015 | 37 ACTIVITIES Club. Please contact Stephi at 291-4888 / [email protected] or Leisa Schultz at 345-5623 if you want further information. We look forward to seeing you! WOODWORKERS The FC Woodworkers had a very interesting meeting at a members shop during January. Dave Hess described then demonstrated a device to shape wood in any fashion a woodworker could desire. Some members tested it with great success. In addition, Dave demonstrated the use of Kreg fasteners for quickly building cabinets without the need for glue. Several other techniques were also demonstrated. There will be no Woodworkers Club meeting during February. However, meetings will resume in March. Anyone interested in joining the Woodworkers Club should email Ralph Spohn at [email protected]. Class A Contractor VA Lic. 2705 139166A Licensed & Insured Tree Removal Class A Contractor Pruning & Stump Grinding Over 15 Years Experience (8733) Commercial & Residential Dependable Service & Commitment to Quality Tree Removal, Pruning & Stump Grinding 757-634-TREE 38 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg YOGA February is Healthy Heart Month. My response to this is, “perfect!” At the end of our yoga classes, we observe how we feel “to see the light shining from our heart.” That’s actually what I, as the teacher, say. To understand how we come to that, I have to bring you to the beginning of our classes. Picture a group of students lying on the floor, relaxed, quiet, breathing. They are taking a moment, and yes, the very first moments of class, to tap into themselves. How they feel, what is going on in their lives, what they may want to accomplish in this class. We spend the class practicing a sequence of poses both familiar and challenging. There is that vibe of “I’ve got this” combined with, “wow, I really just did that.” A wonderful mix that keeps our bodies spacious and keeps are minds sharp. So that brings us to the final rest, a chance to let your body save all of the good work of the practice. Students are back to resting pose similar to the beginning of class. After a nice repose, they come to sitting, tap into their breath, and begin to look, look for the glow from within. And that, my fellow neighbors, is how you see the light shining from your heart. Our Tuesday/Thursday morning, all-level yoga classes continue from 9:15-10:30; all yoga classes are in the main room of the S&T Club. Payment for all classes is by suggested donation. No signups, just come as you can. Everyone is welcome. Please contact me, Tricia Kiley Killiany, at yogaclasses@ cox.net with any inquiries. Always check with your healthcare provider for before beginning any exercise program. CLASSIFIEDS ELECTRONICS 60" Smart HDTV - $400 or best offer Sharp AQUOS Quattron. Black Thin Line Design. SPECS: 60" Class (60-1/32" Diagonal), Full HD 1080p Resolution Smart TV with Vudu™, CinemaNow & Netflix, UltraBrilliant LED System. Email or Call for many more details. Please Email: [email protected] or Call: 757-259-7326 Red Nikon J1 Digital Camera with 2 Lens - $200 One is 10-30 and the other is 30-110. Battery charger, camera strap, case I used, original box and manuals. Seldom used great condition. Please Call: 757-903-4249 HOUSEHOLD IKEA Malm twin bed with mattress and topper - $100 Good condition; matching 6-drawer chest also available for $75. Please Email: [email protected] Eureka Vacuum Cleaner - $50 Almost-new, bagless with Hepa filter. Nested attachments include stair and upholstery brush. Great as your primary, main-floor vacuum or as a spare to keep on another level of your home. Owner's manual is included. Please Call: 757-345-0985 or Email: [email protected] Liberty Rectangular Leg Table - $400 Includes 4 Napoleon Side Chairs and 1 Bench. 38x60 with leaf that extends to another 18". Off white base with cherry veneer table, chair, and bench tops. Please Call: 757-345-0215 Antique Mahogany Duncan Phyfe Double Pedestal Dining Table - $600 Includes 6 chairs and matching Buffet. Table pads included. Table has self- storing leaf. Please Call: 757-253-1890 Oriental Machine-Made Rugs - $200 (7 rugs) Odyssey Red, size 4x6, 2x4 (5), 8x11 Pads of various sizes included Please Call: 757-345-0215 3' 6'' x 5' 6" Oriental Wool Rug - $100 100% deep pile wool. Sage, pale gold, tan muted colors. Professionally cleaned. Non-smoking home. Please Call: 978-808-9508 or Email: [email protected] Aubusson Wool Rug 7'10 x 9'10" 100% Wool - $400 Posted On: 12/29/2014 "Pratap" pattern, pale green, tan, rose colors. Non-smoking home. Good condition. Please Call: 978-808-9508 MISCELLANEOUS Female German Shepard/Akita mix Free to a loving family 4 year old female, 25" tall, 85 pounds, lively personality, some training, all shots are current; she comes with her crate, pillow, leash and toys. Please Call: 757-784-5840 or 757-784-0067 RECREATIONAL /SPORTS New Golf Hybrid Clubs - $66 each Will sell for half price I paid. Used a couple times. Problem is me, not the clubs. Please Call: 757-229-5444 TRAV-A-LITE 12 (Brand New) - $100 Travel golf bag and case all in one. Under 4 lbs. Holds 14 clubs, has wheels for easy handling removable accessory pouch and shoulder strap. Has never been used. Please Call: 757-903-4249 Smooth Fitness 5.15P Treadmill – Give Away – You must pickup Manuals and safety keys included. Not used much. Takes two people to move. Please Call: 757-259-0463 RENTAL House for Rent - $2,000/mo 3 or 4 bed, 2 bath, corner lot, brick home. 2,300 sq. ft. Great floor plan with all living areas on the main level. Screened in porch. Please Email: [email protected] Missing Cat SERVICES Missing Watch - $300 Reward I live in Ford’s Colony. I'm available all day to walk your dog. I love to walk & love dogs. Would love to walk your dog during these winter months. Please Call: 757-235-2694 or Email: [email protected] Have you seen me? I got lost somewhere around Stratton and Edinburgh. I thought I was going to a New Year’s Eve party, now I don’t know where I am. If you saw me recently, please email my boss: [email protected]. I think he misses me... Please Email: [email protected] Lost women’s silver and rose gold plated watch; engraved. Please Call: 757-258-9241 Terry Rose Enhanced Framed Ski Poster - $100 Poster is enhanced by hand in chalk on the mats. Double matted in a black wooden frame. Total size is 39.5 x 31 inches. Originally sold by Memories of Vail Art Gallery. Free delivery within Ford’s Colony. Please Call: 757-220-3978 AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS WATERFORD DOWNS Dog Walking Service Pet Care Dog walks and pet care in your home. House sitting, pick up mail, water plants, run errands. References, Licensed and Bonded. Please Call: 757-593-4424 or Email: [email protected] VEHICLE 2000 Jaguar XJ8 - $6,000 or Bro. British Racing Green, tan leather in beautiful condition. Excellent mechanicals and only 47,000 miles. Great Parkway car. Garage kept. Can e-mail pictures. Please Call: 757-220-0599 or 508-414-9664 denotes photos of the item are available at fchoa.org To submit your classified ad, please go to fchoa. org and click on “Classifieds” and then click on “Submit your Classified Ad,” fill in the appropriate information. Ads must be 40 words or less. Two items may be featured. Classified ads are free to FC residents. There is a $20 fee for non-residents. All classified ads also appear on the fchoa.org website. All ads must be received by the 15th of each month for the following month. Printed ads are based on space availability. Waterford Downs neighbors met on January 9 at the Ford’s Colony Country Club for their fifth annual Holiday Dinner. Although we meet frequently at each other’s homes for BYOBs, we enjoy welcoming in the New Year with each other at this festive dinner. Talk of the Colony, February 2015 | 39 Give us a spin with a free 7-day pass Stay active at our 25,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art health club and spa, just minutes away from your home. Open to Williamsburg residents 62+, our resort-style facility provides personalized wellness programs and guidance of a registered dietician. Your complimentary 7-day pass* gives you access to: • Variety of fitness and aquatic group classes, including water aerobics, yoga, spinning and Zumba • Indoor heated pool and hot tub • Spa services specializing in LaStone massages charges apply THE HEALTH CLUB & SPA AT WILLIAMSBURG If you like it, join withLANDING a Good Neighbor Membership starting at $49 per month. (Limited time offer) Call for your free 7-day pass (757) 565-6545 *Expires on 01-31-2015 THE HEALTH CLUB & SPA AT WILLIAMSBURG LANDING A Explanation COMPASSIONATE CARE - Simple Presented by Ed Golden, President Home Care Services • Companionship • Conversation • Meal Preparation • Laundry • Light Housekeeping • Grocery Shopping • Errands • Incidental Transportation • Medication Reminders Typically, there comes a time when seniors who have decided to “age in place” require assistance with non-medical care. This encompasses help with daily activities, allowing those seniors to remain living safely and independently. Professional caregivers can provide such attention. Some seniors need only a few hours per week of this care while others may require daily assistance. Non-medical care includes help with bathing and dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, medication reminders, and companionship. A host of other non-medical options are also available, meeting the individualized needs and desires of senior clients. To learn more, or to obtain these services for you or a loved one, contact your home healthcare provider. Living alone at home in later years can be a real challenge. At COMFORT KEEPERS, our knowledgeable staff will help you in selecting the best solution for your needs. We can provide a wide range of home care and personal. Our many services also include light housekeeping, errands and shopping, and meal planning and preparation. We also provide home care to loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. For More Information Call (757) 229-2777 • Grooming Guidance • Personal Care • Specialized Care www.comfortkeepers.com 40 | Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg