Casta Courier - August 2023

2023 Election Results – 51st Annual Meeting

By Jeff McCoy, Election Committee Chair,

by Kip Isbell

Annual Car and Cycle Showcase Returns

By Debra Friedman,

The highlight of Casta del Sol Homeowners Association 51st Annual Meeting on June 22 was the announcement of the 2023 Board of Directors election results by Barbara Harris, Inspector of Elections. With 1,272 (66%) homeowners casting ballots, the quorum of 964 needed to hold the annual meeting was certified. Under Barbara’s direction, 10 Inspector Designees tallied the election

votes on June 21 in the Vista Room. Observers were allowed to witness the vote tabulation process as prescribed by the California Civil Code. Balloting was closed by the Inspector of Elections at 7:09 p.m., followed by the approval of minutes from the 50th Annual Meeting and the Treasurer’s Annual Report presented by Karen Warren. The 12 committee

Continued on page 6

National Wellness Month

By Liz Rickett,

National Wellness month in August focuses on self-care, managing stress, and promoting healthy routines. Health experts also point to the key to wellness as creating wholesome habits in your lifestyle including the following eight ways:

1. Exercise, a minimum of 30 minutes a day.

2. Sipping water half your body weight

in ounces will keep you hydrated.

3. Spend time outside.

4. Practice deep breathing.

5. Get enough sleep for your body and needs.

6. Take a social media break.

7. Call a friend or family member.

8. Cut back on sugar and load up on fruits and vegetables.

Continued on page 6

The Car and Cycle Showcase in 2022 was such a triumph, that the Social Committee decided to bring back this popular event spearheaded by John Sellers. A trifecta of events (great show last year, cooler weather, and frozen treats by Debbie’s Ice Cream) accounted for the exponentially greater attendance of about 200 people on June 11.

The 34 participants included a wide

array of cars, motorcycles, recumbent bikes, a golf cart and in fact, anything that rolls was invited. That accounted for the “Chloe’s Wheels” dog stroller owned by Jayne Freed.

There were at least six Corvettes, with the newest being a bright red with black stripes owned by Bob Adams. Five vehicles were very recent, with the most unusual being an all-electric

Continued on page 15

Artist in Residence: Mary Kay Crowley

By Debra Friedman, photos by Jeff McCoy

Mary Kay Crowley is not only a fabulous artist, but she also is the originator of the “Artist in Residence” program established by the Library Committee. Mary Kay is displaying her artwork for three months for the first time since this program began in January 2018. There were 17 other artists exhibiting before her since Mary Kay’s generosity of spirit allowed others to be highlighted first.

Mary Kay was intrigued by art during childhood and inspired by her kindergarten teacher. She is self-taught and started creating as a hobby 30 years ago when she retired from her nursing career. She then launched an art business where she sold her work through a gift market via a representative. She had about 300 accounts across the country through which she sold giclee prints of her original work. She also sold original paintings at a boutique on Balboa Island for many years.

The style of art that best describes many of her paintings is folksy. She now

Continued on page 7

photo

photos by Kip Isbell

photos by Fred Lake

(L-R) Jayne Freed, Linda Silverman, Susan Ashby, John Nethercutt, David Shostak, and Karen Warren. Not pictured, Lori Gilbertson

Vern Sprankle showing his 1930 Ford Model A Hot Rod

Helen Freedman, President of the Fitness Club, tries out a new machine under the watchful eyes of trainer, Sheri Robinson

Mary Kay Crowley holds painting of Heritage Garden Rancho Building

President’s Message

Linda Silverman, President

Our community had an election on June 22 and the residents of Casta del Sol elected three Board of Directors. Newly elected Board members are John Nethercutt, Board Vice President; Susan Ashby, Board Treasurer; and Jayne Freed, Board Secretary. I want to thank the outgoing Board of Directors; Marci Taylor Smith, Joe Hachadoorian, and Matt Loftus for their years of dedicated service to our Homeowners Association. Hopefully, they will remain active and lend their very capable services and experiences to our community.

I am honored to be chosen President of the Board of Directors for Casta del Sol. My husband, our golden retriever, and I moved into this beautiful community in October 2020. In 2021, I attended many committee meetings and Board Meetings, listening and learning. I knew I wanted to become an active member of the community, so I jumped in and never looked back.

My goal is that this Board will always work for the betterment of our HOA, and work to promote and achieve a safe, harmonious, enjoyable and beautiful, flourishing community. This Board will continue to upgrade facilities, as required, and provide innovative avenues to enhance the values of our social groups and special interest organizations.

We should learn from the past to move forward to a better today and tomorrow. I urge all residents to join me in this adventure. We live in a thriving community of 1,927 homes, 480 acres of beautiful landscaping, a place where people can participate in sports, clubs and social events, forge new relationships and friendships, with boundless activities and so many opportunities to be as active as we choose.

You are invited to join a committee, attend Board Meetings, and share your thoughts and ideas. Jump in and you, too, will never look back!

Manager’s Report

Marilyn Smith, General Manager

What is a Homeowner’s Association?

Some residents think homeowner associations exist just to tell them what to do, or not do. Actually, Homeowner Associations are corporations, and thus businesses. It is, also, more like a service-delivery organization that provides three types of main services to all residents.

• Community services —these can include, but are not limited to, securing trash collection, publishing newsletters, orienting new owners, and scheduling recreational and social functions.

• Governance services —these can include, but are not limited to, ensuring compliance with the association’s governing documents, that the association is adhering to local, state, and federal statutes, enforcing community rules and policies, administering design review policies, and recruiting new volunteer leaders.

• Business services —these can include, but are not limited to, operating the common property efficiently, bidding maintenance work competitively, investing reserve funds wisely, developing long-range plans, and equitably and efficiently collecting assessments.

Providing these services requires good management, strong planning and organization, and carefully monitoring the association’s affairs. It isn’t easy, but by fairly and effectively delivering these services, homeowner associations protect and enhance the value of individual homes.

It should be noted that the Board of Directors sets the policies and procedures, and management carries out and enforces those policies and procedures. The Board of Directors also has limitations on what they can do, and they must adhere to all Federal, State and local laws that are applicable to homeowner associations. Board of Directors members cannot act by themselves individually or unilaterally, they only have the legal authority to act by a majority vote of the directors present at a duly noticed Board meeting where a quorum is present. Individual directors cannot direct management unless authorized to do so by the Board of Directors.

Thank you to the Casta Travel Committee

Casta del Sol HOA - Board of Directors -

President: Linda Silverman dirsilverman71@yahoo.com

Vice President: John Nethercutt j.nethercutt.bod@gmail.com

Treasurer: Susan Ashby traveler.1943@hotmail.com

Secretary: Jayne Freed Jaynefreed1966@gmail.com

Directors: Lori Gilbertson lori9CDS@gmail.com

David Shostak davidrshostak@gmail.com

Karen Warren kwarrencds@gmail.com

For Courier staffing contact information, please see page 26

The Casta Courier is published monthly by the Casta del Sol Homeowners Association. The mailing address is 27651 Casta del Sol Drive, Mission Viejo, Calif. 92692. Deadline for submitting material for the next month is the 6th of each month.

DISCLAIMER

CdS Homeowners Association and Farmer Publications, accept no responsibility for content, accuracy or opinion, expressed or implied, of articles, letters or advertisements. Inclusion of advertisements does not carry with it any endorsement, actual or implied, for the product or services advertised. The CdS Homeowners Association and Farmer Publications have content Rules and Restrictions that must be met, and accept no responsibility for damage occasioned through use of products or services advertised herein.

The Board of Directors recently resolved to disband the Travel Committee since they had not been active prior to COVID. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to thank the members of the Travel Committee that previously put in their time and effort to provide fun outings for the community.

Marilyn Smith, msmith@powerstonepm.com

Landscape Notes

Bill Thornton, Landscape Services Coordinator

Foundation Planting and Maintenance

Starting on page 55 of the 2023 Casta del Sol phone directory rules, it states what landscape service owners can expect to receive in the foundations. Owners should first familiarize themselves with the Rules and Regulations and CC&Rs. Powerstone employees, greenbelt members, and the landscape contractor cannot approve any changes without Board approval.

Calls to the landscape contractor are often for the foundation area for weeds or shrubs that need pruning. The foundation crew comes once every six weeks in the summer and every eight weeks in the winter. Depending on the species of plant, this may not be enough for owners.

All foundation plants are the property of the owner. Over the years current or previous owners have installed plants they enjoy. You can see roses,

bougainvillea, and many different species of plants in the 1,927 homes. These plants will require owners to maintain, weed, and water those private plantings.

Owners cannot ask the landscape contractor crew for special services; they are not gardeners. Owners can, and do, hire outside gardeners to come in to help them maintain their plants.

While owners’ gardeners can work in the foundation, they cannot go beyond that into the common area. Everything is on a schedule per the contract: mowing, tree care, foundation, and slope maintenance.

If the crew is on the opposite side of the property, they cannot leave that section and come to a house before the schedule. That is inefficient with the limited crew size and the contract because it takes them away from maintenance of other homes.

Continued on page 4

INSIDE

Pres. & Mgr. Reports 2

Association News 2- 4, 6-7

Committees of the Board

8-10

Bulletin Board 12

Clubs & Activities

10-13, 16

Calendar 14

Feature of the Month 15

Sports 17, 19

Casta Connections 19-20

People, Places and Events

.............................. 21-26

Classifieds 27

ASSOCIATION NEWS Cont’d

Board Meeting Highlights July 6 and July 20, 2023

• General Manager Marilyn Smith reported that the 2024 budget process is underway. The final budget will be presented in an open meeting in October. Casta has received information from the City of Mission Viejo about a plan for a four-story parking structure at the Oso Creek Golf Course.

• Landscape Supervisor Bill Thornton reported there were 351 landscape maintenance requests in June, bringing the total to 1,523 for the year. The Greenbelt Committee is recommending that all Acacia groundcovers between Gates 1 and 2 be replaced with fire-retardant plants.

• Maintenance Supervisor Ed Pedroncelli reported on projects underway. He asked residents to refrain from driving over wet asphalt. Doing so requires further repair.

• Recreation Director Valerie Hanich reported Casta will switch from DwellingLive to iGate software on August 15. All homeowners will be mailed information about setting up an account to register guests. The Board:

• Accepted the June 2023 financial report, as shown on this page.

• Accepted the delinquency report and the filing and recording of liens for the properties listed.

• Approved a list of 12 trees and a list of 10 trees from W.B. Starr for removal due to danger, damage, health, and potential sewer issues at a cost of $7,635 and $6,690 respectively.

• Approved the purchase of new microphones for the Vista Room from Sound Image for a total not to exceed amount of $17,599.68.

• Approved termite inspection and treatment of common area buildings and entering into an annual contract with Accurate Termite and Pest Control in the amount of $4,560

• Approved six landscape maintenance extra work items for a not to exceed amount of $12,215.

• Approved the final version of the Casta del Sol Traffic Rules and Regulations and authorized distribution and notification to homeowners per General Notice requirements.

• Approved tree removals and corrective pruning in all five areas by Great Scott Tree Service at a cost of $368,310.

• Approved Saddleback Fence & Vinyl Products to repair/replace the fencing at the Tennis/Pickleball courts for a total not to exceed cost of $8,024.50.

• Approved Ad Hoc Committee revised Casta del Sol Financial Policies and Procedures document as presented, deleting all references to Board Liaisons.

• Approved Casta del Sol Policy Guidelines for Board-appointed advisory committees as recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee.

• Approved extra landscape maintenance work and materials for seven items for a not to exceed cost of $6,101.89.

• Approved the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee to review the plans from the City of Mission Viejo for work on Casta del Sol Drive.

• Approved the revised 2023 Master Tree List.

• Approved plumbing repairs for 28132 Calle Casal due to common area tree root damage for a total cost of $7,668.

• Approved the appointment of Randy Thompson as Chairman of the Reserves Committee, effective immediately.

• Approved the contract matrix for the Association’s contracts as presented. The August meetings of the Board of Directors will be held August 3, 2023, at 9 a.m. in the Vista Room and on August 17 at 1 p.m. in the Vista Room

Fran Morgan, Courier staff

June Treasurer’s Report

Total HOA Assets as of June 30, 2023 are $8,558,516.

• Operating Cash: $ 2,539,289

This includes $643,233 in cash, $996,056 invested in a money market account and $900,000 invested in CDs. One CD matured at the end of June and was rolled over. There is one CD that will mature at the end of July which will be reinvested at the current highest rate possible. The rates for a six-month CD are currently in the range of 5.35 - 5.0%.

• Reserve Cash: $5,637,110

This includes $1,216,753 invested in a money market account and $4,200,000 invested in CDs. There are 5 CDs maturing in July. Three of these will be reinvested in CDs at the highest possible rate. We will need to increase the cash available starting in August to cover the costs of asphalt and tree removals. Also included in the total is interest of $64,429 and an amount due from Operating of $155,927.

• Capital Improvement Cash: $274,806

This account is funded by budgeting $8 per month per residence. This results in a monthly Capital contribution of $15,416 plus interest. The only expenditure in June was for the purchase of a Sun Pac storage container for $3,827. Potential capital projects such as a dog park, pickleball courts etc., are being reviewed by the Facilities Committee.

• Outstanding Accounts Receivable: $74,957

June’s Accounts Receivable reflects a decrease of 14% from the prior month. Correction to last month’s report: Outstanding Accounts Receivables for May was $87,204. Allowance for Bad Debts has gone down from $60,697 to $27,353. Note: Allowance for Bad Debts is an estimate of receivables that will not be paid. The Allowance is adjusted Quarterly in March, June, September, December, and is equal to outstanding receivable balances over 91 days.

The following are highlights of our Operating expenses as of June 30:

• General & Administration has a positive variance of $8,688 partly due to the adjustment in bad debt expense. Printing and postage expenditures are low, but do not reflect the recent ballot mailings. Legal Fees remain high at $26,353 over budget.

• Land Maintenance, LM, has a significant surplus of $328,000. Tree removals are over budget by $21,654 and more removals are expected. Future expenditures for LM contract are unknown at this point. Opening of the sealed bids for the new LM contract is scheduled on July 21.

• Recreation/Lifestyle has a positive variance of $17,071.

• Repairs & Maintenance has a positive variance of $15,778.

• Traffic Control has a positive variance of $2,547.

• Utilities has a positive variance of $244,396 primarily due to Water with a positive variance of $246,044 due to the significant rain this winter. We anticipate increased water usage as we move into the hotter months. Gas is over budget by $16,450.

Treasurer Comments

The year-to-date, YTD, June surplus is $805,281. The YTD budget of actual surplus from June through December is $654,497. The surplus is largely due to positive variances in Land Maintenance and Utilities.

The Budget and Finance Committee discussed whether to transfer some of the surplus funds to Reserves. Due to the emergency tree removal project and the unknown increase in the Land Maintenance contract, Budget and Finance agreed that we need more information before making a recommendation to transfer funds from Operating.

This Treasurer’s Report as of June 30, 2023, is being submitted to the Board of Directors for their review and acceptance. Once accepted by the Board, this report will be filed.

Respectfully submitted by Susan G. Ashby Casta del Sol Board of Directors, Treasurer

**For a copy of the June 2023 Treasurer’s Report, refer to castadelsol.com, Recreation Center bulletin boards, and/or eblasts.

ASSOCIATION NEWS Cont’d

Join Us In WelcomingOur

New Residents – August 2023

Landscape Notes

Continued from page 2

Trees are a violation and a problem in the foundations. Damage to the underground pipes, home siding, and roofs can occur. The HOA does not plant these trees in the foundations and any damage would be the owner’s

cost to repair. It appears that people purchase small plants, and they grow up becoming trees too large for the area. It is suggested that owners hire someone to remove the trees and plant something from the approved shrub list along with the foundation replanting application located at Rec Ctr 1.

Waddington, Gaye Lee & Bruce 23471 Villena Unlisted

Laguna Beach, CA

Williamson, Nancy 28002 Via Bonalde (949) 374-1139

Mission Viejo, CA

Directory Change

Hudson, Paul 27916 Via Granados (619) 376-9511

Maintenance Report

Ed Pedroncelli, Maintenance Services Supervisor

Reporting Broken or Malfunctioning Lights

Southern California Edison (SCE) owns and maintains most of the streetlights in our community. Any requests for repairs and/or maintenance of street lighting, such as an outage, should be directed to SCE to expedite the repair. You may contact SCE directly at (800) 611-1911, or submit an online SCE Street Light Outage Form to report an issue. For More Information: publicworks@cityofmissionviejo.org

(940) 470-3056

200 Civic Center

Mission Viejo, CA 92691 Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Maintenance Responsibilities

Defined:

• Homeowners are responsible for repairs per CC&R’s section 3.07 Exterior Maintenance and Repairs and 9.0.1 of the Architectural Rules & Guidelines: All dry rot, termite and exterior repairs must be made prior to painting of the dwelling at the owner’s expense.

• For your convenience, there are companies listed in the Casta Courier and within the Casta del Sol Homeowners Telephone Directory.

Note: The Casta del Sol HOA, or the management company, does not recommend or endorse any companies listed within the periodicals. However, please note some of these companies have performed work for fellow residents and should be able to provide you with references.

Ed Pedroncelli, Maintenance Supervisor, epedroncelli@powerstonepm.com, (949) 215-9155

Donna Duhn, Maintenance Coordinator, dduhn@powerstonepm.com, (949) 455-4671 (office)

ALERT: Medicare Fraud

by Lucille Naves

Medicare is being charged and paying a company called Gulf Coast Molecular Lab for COVID-19 tests. In my case, I discovered two billings on the summary sent out by Medicare. These were for kits in March and April which I never ordered or even received. Recently I did receive some low-grade kits, so Medicare probably is being charged again. Another Casta del Sol resident has also been charged through Medicare for five unsolicited orders from five different companies and different states.

It is important that each of us review our summaries or billings to be sure they are valid. If not, call the fraud phone number that is on your Medicare summary statement.

Continued from page 1

2023 Election Results – 51st Annual Meeting National Wellness Month

Continued from page 1

chairs then reported on their committee’s activities for the past fiscal year. Marci Smith also gave an account of her term as Board President. General Manager Marilyn Smith presented a recognition of service gift to the three Board members, Joe Hachadoorian, Matt Loftus, and Marci Smith, whose two-year term of office expired.

Barbara Harris then stepped to the podium and read the Board of Directors election results: John Nethercutt received 960 votes; Susan Ashby, 812; Jayne Freed, 664; Bob Stokesbary, 583; Matt Loftus, 560; and write-ins, 23. The three open Board positions were awarded to the top three vote recipients.

The new Board members immediately joined the returning Board members, Lori Gilbertson (on Zoom), David Shostak, Linda Silverman, and Karen Warren for an organizational meeting presided over by General Manager Marilyn Smith. The new Board elected Linda Silverman, President; John Nethercutt, Vice President; Jayne Freed, Secretary; and Susan Ashby, Treasurer. Gilbertson, Shostak, and Warren will serve as Directors for the 2023-2024 Board of Directors.

The 1,272 votes cast (with six rejected) represented the highest total of member participation in an election since 2016.

Luckily for us living in Casta del Sol, there are many ways we can exercise, whether by participating in a group activity, such as paddle tennis or pickleball, alone by swimming, working out in the Fitness Center or walking in the Heritage Garden, along the trails, or around the community. Many of these activities are done outside, giving you two benefits in one activity.

The Fitness Center, located in the former Garden Room at Rec Ctr 1, is free and open to all Casta residents and their guests. It is open daily when the Recreation Center is open. There are two new treadmills, three new bikes, a new multi-purpose machine, a new work-out bench, and new free weights. Cubbies and hooks are available for residents to store their personal belongings, and there are fans and TVs for comfort.

The Fitness Club, headed by Helen Freedman, not only keeps an eye on equipment but also plans events to help residents use the Center wisely. An equipment company representative introduced usage of the machines to more than 50 residents when the Center opened. In June, a Women’s Fitness Presentation was held. Led by a personal trainer, and limited to 20 participants, it focused on the kinds of exercise senior women should be doing and how to use the machines without injury.

If you have ideas for other programs, contact Helen at PelicanPost123@ yahoo.com.

“That’s how to do it!” trainer Sheri Robinson exclaims

ASSOCIATION NEWS Cont’d

Artist in Residence: Mary Kay Crowley

Continued from page 1

works with acrylic paints although she began her career with pen and ink drawings. For about 20 years, Mary Kay was hired to create pen and ink drawings for homes that won landscape awards. She had a booth at ArtA-Fair about 15 years ago featuring her drawings. You can still find cards of her artwork in the Balboa Island Museum and her paintings on sale through online venues such as Etsy. Although she is very busy volunteer-

ing, she continues to paint and hopes to be more prolific in the future. Her plein air artwork of renowned Casta del Sol features are memorable.

Mary Kay is not only an established artist. She was a Casta del Sol Board member for four years, is currently the co-chair of the Architectural Committee, participates on the Neighborhood Watch program, is a member of the Library Committee and the Ad Hoc

Committee, and was a former member of the Greenbelt Committee. Mary Kay is a second generation Casta del Sol resident with her parents being original owners. Both her artistic talents and her charitable nature are inspiring and such a gem for our community.

“Mary Kay is the originator of the ‘Artist in Residence’ program established in 2018 by the Library Committee.”

Mary Kay Crowley’s interpretation of the Rose Garden

European style porch painting

A pen and ink representation of her former Lake Forest home

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

Architectural

This year, the architectural committee has processed more than 200 applications for such things as new roofs, new windows, exterior doors, driveways, patio structures, light fixtures, and foundation planter improvements. As a review for all homeowners, the steps necessary for any exterior modification to your home require the submission of the Architectural Application for Exterior Modifications form. Each project must have a separate application. This form

can be dropped off at Rec Ctr 1 where it is registered by the staff before being sent along to the committee. The committee meets every Friday to assess and approve applications for homeowners. If your project is approved, you will receive a call from the office that your approval is ready to be picked up. At that point, you can call your contractor and inform them that the project is ready to start. If we deny an application, you will receive a letter stating our reason for denial.

The day you begin your work you must post the yellow copy of the ap -

proved application in a place where it is visible from the street (either a window or door), and it must stay in place until the project is completed. You are limited to the scope of work approved on that application; any changes or deviations must go through the approval process again. Please check pages 2241 of the Casta del Sol phone directory for further information.

John Nicsinger, Chair, (818) 261-5316

Mary Kay Crowley, Co-Chair, (949) 412-8735

Courier

The Courier Committee has been especially proud of the past few issues that were abounding in great stories about our community. In our July issue, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our newsletter. It’s amazing to see its growth from a one-page, letter-size document to a 28-page tabloid size. We also noted its evolution from one member with help from the management staff to a robust 23 member committee.

The key purpose of the community newsletter is to relay important association news including recapping Board of Directors meeting high -

lights, providing treasurer’s reports, and printing reports from the Board president and management staff. But we also want to show potential buyers and new residents, as well as longtime residents, what a great place Casta del Sol is to live. Therefore, one current focus is on in-depth articles about clubs and activities. Every month the Courier publishes short articles about recent and upcoming events of clubs and activities. However, our in-depth feature articles allow us to deliver more details on the leadership and background of the group, and to provide accompanying photos. There are more than 30 clubs and regularly scheduled activities available to residents of Casta.

The Courier Committee meets every second Wednesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in the Fiesta Room to discuss the previous month’s issue and review assignments for future issues.

Debra Friedman, Chair, (949) 230-7195

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD Cont’d

Facilities

Asphalt will be complete August 17. Thanks to all residents who showed patience and understanding while their streets were being done this year. The streets being done look new and smooth.

Don’t forget: the trash bins at Rec Ctr 2 are not for personal or contractor use. Cameras have been installed for monitoring. Contact Waste Management for pickup of bulky items.

If you are looking for a driving range, check out the one on Jeronimo in Lake Forest. Please keep our residents safe by not using the Chipper area as a driving range. Golf balls need to stay within the Chipper area and not go into surrounding areas where residents are enjoying the Heritage Garden, Vegetable Garden, and Paddle Tennis amenities.

The Facilities Committee is working on a gate locking system for Rec Ctr 1, the Rec Ctr 2 Pool and pedestrian exit gates, refreshing the Rec Ctr 2 pool and spa, updating awnings, umbrella covers and picnic tables at Paddle Tennis, remodeling of Ceramics, replacing chairs, fixing and replacing chain link fencing between Gates 1 and 2, replacing wrought iron fencing at Gate 1, adding No Trespassing signs, adding audio/visual equipment to the Fiesta Room, and looking into future capital projects (Pickleball courts, a dog park, a walk path to chipper area, expansion of the vegetable garden, solar panels, and upgrade of Lawn Bowling Pavilion). Capital funds are required.

Check out the Facilities Committee. New members are always welcome. We meet monthly on the fourth Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Fiesta Room. Nancy Cunningham, Chair, (949) 350-3562

Greenbelt

The Greenbelt Committee (GBC) welcomes Cathy Weflin. By the time you read this, we may be welcoming another new member as well. Volunteers are vital to the operation of our community. As I mentioned in my annual report, “Volunteers are not paid because they are worthless, but because they are priceless!” If you have an interest in helping develop projects and resolve resident landscaping issues, the GBC welcomes you. A green thumb is not required. If you are interested, please obtain a Committee Interest Application at the

Rec Ctr 1 office.

Hopefully, August will bring the long-awaited new landscape maintenance contract. Meanwhile, we continue with a month-to-month landscape maintenance contract which prohibits long-term projects from being completed. Therefore, homeowner concerns are a priority. GBC visits about ten homes each month regarding special requests or complaints, and we are out in the community viewing homes for compliance with our rules. So if you’ve received a courtesy notice, it’s because we want to retain the first-class nature of Casta del Sol. Your cooperation is appreciated.

The GBC is tasked with planning and prioritizing projects throughout the year. We also select renovation projects to place into the reserve account for future completion. For instance, the perimeter slopes we own along Jeronimo Road and Alicia Parkway still require renovation to remove over 50 years of overgrown landscaping. We meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. in the Fiesta Room at Rec Ctr 1.

June Anderson, Chair, juanders2004@yahoo.com

Library

The Library Committee is happy to continue offering free books to residents. These books are donated by residents or pulled off our shelves to make room for newer books. We do want to emphasize that only the books, puzzles, and DVDs on the free cart are available to take and keep. The books on the shelves are to be checked out and returned in three weeks so that other residents can enjoy them. The small paperbacks and DVDs do not need to be checked out, but please return them when you are finished with them.

Our committee members are still discussing how to handle the growing number of books that should have been checked out but were not (47 last month), or should have been returned when due but were not (20 last month). We will let you know the outcome of these discussions. In the meantime, listed below are books that should be on the library shelves but are not: Wild Card by Stuart Woods, Skin Game also by Stuart Woods, The Partner by John Grisham, The Affair by Lee Child, and Look For Me by Lisa Gardner. Are they on your personal bookshelves? Maybe they are in the

back seat of your car. Could you check your house/car one last time? Thanks.

New Additions to the Library

Regular Print:

All the Sinners Bleed, S. A. Cosby Blue Skies, T. C. Boyle Central Park West, James Comey

Genealogy of a Murder, Lisa Belkin

Good Night, Irene, Luis Alberto Urrea

Killingly, Katherine Beutner

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, Lisa See

Loot, Tania James

Speak of the Devil, Rose Wilding

The Five-Star Weekend, Elin Hilderbrand

The Quiet Tenant, Clemence Michallon

The Spectacular, Fiona Davis

The Wind Knows My Name, Isabel Allende

Welcome to Beach Town, Susan Wiggs

Zero Days, Ruth Ware

Large Print:

A Sinister Revenge, Deanna Raybourn

Bad Summer People, Emma Rosenblum

Clive Cussler Fire Strike, Mike Maden

Sam, Allegra Goodman

The Celebrants, Steven Rowley

The Little Italian Hotel, Phaedra Patrick

Well Traveled, Jen DeLuca

Audio:

The East Indian, Brinda Charry

The Paris Deception, Bryn Turnbull Pat Vitti, Chair, (949) 457-9194

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD Cont’d

Social

The glorious California sunshine is finally upon us allowing fellow residents of Casta del Sol to go outside and get a dose of much needed Vitamin D. The Social Committee hosted a Fiesta Tuesday on June 11, which was a fabulous opportunity to socialize with neighbors, enjoy the heat, eat delicious food, and drink those amazing margaritas with or without salt. Thank you to Kip Isbell for providing the wonderful entertainment, Martinez for providing the scrumptious food, Valerie Hanich for her overwhelming support and assistance in our events, and the entire Social Committee for their time and effort in bringing these parties to our Casta friends.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 5 from 1-3 p.m., at Rec. Ctr 1. The Social Committee, in conjunction with the Welcome Committee, will be hosting our annual Newcomers Welcome and Community Fair. This is a terrific chance to see all that Casta del Sol has to offer. In attendance will be representatives from all the committees, clubs, and activities that make up the Casta family, so whether you are new to Casta and want more information on a particular activity or a seasoned resident who would like to

CLUBS & ACTIVITIES

meet some new friends, come join us. This event is free to all residents. Light refreshments will be available. I’m looking forward to seeing you there.

Amy Lake, Chair, Arlake225@gmail.com, (526) 263-7941

Welcome

Welcome as always to newcomers in the community. We would like to meet you. Members of the Welcome Committee contact new residents to arrange a meeting and provide a packet of information about the many activities, clubs, and committees in Casta del Sol and to answer your questions. If you have not yet been contacted by one of our members and wish to meet, you may email me to arrange a time and place to get together with one or two of us.

Welcome to Casta once again, and we hope you enjoy exploring and finding your way around the community. We look forward to meeting each one of you.

Priscilla Tripp, Chair, ptripp1@gmail.com

Bible Study

Any resident of Casta del Sol who has an interest in participating in the study of the Bible is welcome to join us. This is an active group of folks from different churches. Our studies are varied, but always Bible-oriented. We examine and/or question the study of the day, but always keep the discussion on topics from the Bible.

The club meets at Rec Ctr 2 every Tuesday morning from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for study and prayer. Come and join us as we sing the old hymns.

We are a no-dues club. All are welcome. For more information, please contact Peter Filakouridis at (949) 305-1935.

Kay Reed, dentist2cali@gmail.com, (949) 354-1460

Billiards

Looking for an enjoyable way to spend time with friends while mastering a new sport? Billiards may be the place for you. The Billiards Room is a beautiful all-weather room located in Rec Ctr 1. We are fortunate to have classic 9-foot, high-quality tables, a step above those found in most homes, bars, and pool halls. It is a sport requiring more brain power than brawn power. With the need for precision, use of physics principles,

and strategic maneuvering, billiards is another vehicle to keep the mind alert and functioning which makes it ideal and accessible for nearly all residents of Casta. If you are interested in lessons, contact me and we will set a time to get you started and help you develop your skills.

Come on down, bring a friend and say hello to the men, women, and families you will find enjoying the sport in a welcoming environment.

Fred Wilmott, BilliardsCdS@cox.net, (949) 367-6671

Canine Companions

Summer has arrived and so has the hot pavement and warm cars. Along those same lines, be mindful of your pets walking in the heat of the day.

Like many clubs, the dogs are the reason, but the owners are the purpose. Our membership is made up of all varieties of both. Some like walking, some like talking, but we all like eating. And Linda likes providing a monthly excuse for our getting together at Rec Ctr 2. It’s become our reason. Perhaps we lack variety in activities you might enjoy. We are open to any suggestions and ask that those of you with an interest in participating please become involved in new events. We

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CLUBS & ACTIVITIES

Canine Companions Ceramics

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would be appreciative.

We had a tremendous turn out for Tom’s Burger feast in July and this month will be Linda’s Taco Salad on August 19. Please RSVP.

Tom Brockmiller, lindabrock@cox.net, (949)

412-1083

Casta Creatives

Calling all artists! Join us on Wednesdays and Thursdays for Open Studio from 3 - 6 p.m. in the Arts and Crafts Room at Rec Ctr 1. Bring a piece that you are working on. Get help, ideas, and inspiration from the artists in Casta del Sol. All media and levels welcome, from aspiring to advanced artists.

The Wine and Paint Night was a great success! The participants enjoyed sipping wine and listening to music while creating their own version of Maribeth McFaul’s abstract flower. We will be conducting another Wine and Paint Night on September 29. Sign-ups open on August 28. There will be limited space for this event. The cost for members is $30 and non-members $35.

For more information contact Jodie Trainer.

Jodie Trainer,

jodietrainer@hotmail.com

The Ceramics Club is pouring molds, spinning on the wheel, and hand building beautiful one-of-akind items every day. In July, Claudia taught slip trailing which was a great class and we had a Bingo Party just for fun. In August, we will have a hand building class by Kelly. Come see what we are doing or better yet, join us.

We welcomed four new members this month: Parizad, Seth, Kay, and Jill. We are in Ceramics every day of the week and our meetings are on the first Friday of the month at 10 a.m. in the Ceramics Room.

Shelly Lethiot, Shelly2casta@gmail.com, (949) 533-3316

Crafts For Charity

The Craft Ladies of Casta del Sol delivered journals and summer-themed table centerpieces to Laura’s House for the enjoyment and use of their residents. We also delivered 100 thank you cards to the City of Mission Viejo to be sent to the deployed members of the military that the city sponsors. In addition, 85 Fourth of July tray favors were delivered to Meals on Wheels’ recipients.

We will be continuing to make a variety of handmade items on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon in Rec Ctr 2. Club meetings will be on August 2 and August 16.

Stop by when you can and lend a hand. All materials will be supplied, and you’ll be shown what to do. Come and join us. It’s a great way to meet your neighbors and make new friends while helping others.

Jessica Hollowell, (310) 480-9093

Cribbage

We play cribbage each Thursday in the Heritage Room at Rec Ctr 2 from

6:30 until about 8:45 p.m. If you are interested in learning to play this old English card game, any of our members would be willing to teach you on a one-to-one basis, or we can do it on a Thursday evening; it’s really not that complicated. You just need to be able to count to 31. If you have ever played in the past, the rules will quickly come flooding back; just come on down for a few games and a general social evening. There is no sign-up or commitment. If you want more information, contact Susan Herrning. Susan

Herrning, susanherrning@aol.com

CLUBS & ACTIVITIES Cont’d Democrats

The Casta del Sol Democrats Club is on hiatus during August and our next meeting will be September 10 at 3 p.m. Please mark your calendar. Generally, the meetings will be on the third Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. in the Vista Room, but in September there is a holiday on the third Sunday.

The officers are meeting during the summer to plan agendas for the next few months. At the Democrats Club meetings, we have guest speakers discuss local, statewide, and national topics followed by a Q and A. We also talk about action plans and coordinating with other Democratic Clubs. Building camaraderie among members is an important aspect of our meetings.

We are working on expanding our membership, so please encourage your friends and neighbors to join. Currently, we are a no-dues club, and we have a potluck at meetings. If you would like to add your name to the list, please let me know.

Debra Friedman, debrafriedman0@gmail.com, (949) 230-7195

Health & Fitness

Our Women’s Fitness Presentation in June was a great success; we had

a waiting list of 38 residents on top of our 20 maximum attendees. No question, we will be continuing these kinds of events. And we are discussing offering drop-in fitness classes as well. We’d love your input on the kinds of classes, and topics we could be covering, including all aspects of fitness, and health in general. Contact me if you’d like to be added to an email list for advance notice of upcoming events

Helen Freedman, PelicanPost123@yahoo.com, (646) 662-7325

Heritage Garden

Nothing is more energizing as a mid-summer stroll through our blooming and lush Heritage Garden. Check out the Matilija poppies aka “fried eggs” in bloom. The Palo Verde trees are bursting with flowers and the purple carpet under the flowering Jacaranda trees makes for beautiful harmony of colors in the garden. With longer days, the landscapes in the garden at sunset are just awesome. Take a seat at sunset on the bench overlooking the garden on Calle Valdes and you will be amazed how familiar vistas have a new look with plants backlit by the dazzling colors

of the sunset. With birds chirping as they fly to their roosts, it makes for a perfect end to another beautiful day in our Heritage Garden. Our deep appreciation to the garden volunteers and our many thanks to our donors and all those who recycle. You make a difference.

Parizad Sethna, parizad9@outlook.com, (949) 298-0076

Italian American

Our next Italian American Bingo will be on Thursday, August 10 at 6 p.m. at Rec Ctr 1 in the Vista Room. The cost is $5. Bingo cards are $1 each. We will be serving a light dessert, coffee, and water. BYOB. As usual, the last game will have a payout of $100. For more ways to be a winner, we will have a Pot of Gold drawing. Be sure to sign up in the office.

Lucille Naves, neilnaves@cox.net, (949) 600-5887

Las Damas

Las Damas Club is looking forward to resuming our fall Luncheon Meetings beginning Wednesday, September 13. Please note that this is a correction of the date announced earlier. Sign-ups will begin on August 13 at

Rec Ctr 1 and will continue through September 10.

Ticket prices remain the same at $25 for members, and $30 for non-members. Checks are payable to Las Damas Club. If you are new to Casta del Sol, and/or would like to join our club, you are most welcome! Annual dues are $15, which will reduce the cost of luncheon reservations.

Details of the luncheon menus and entertainment will be featured in the September Courier. The board members have scheduled delicious new menus by Martinez Catering and fabulous new fall entertainment, including CdS favorite Tony O’Dell in September.

Pat Crowley, (949) 305-0582

Mah Jongg Mavens

Join our group any Saturday morning from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room at Rec Ctr 2.

For lessons contact our experienced instructor, Lani Wolff, and she will schedule a series of four weeks, two hours each session on Mondays. Email Lani at lanilobo40@gmail.com for further details and to register.

Mah Jongg Mavens hold a tourna-

CLUBS & ACTIVITIES Cont’d

Mah Jongg Mavens

Continued from previous page

ment and potluck lunch on the first Saturday of every month. Winners on July 1: Most Mah Jonggs, Helen Freedman and Linda Clark; Quints, Ann Loranger; Concealed Hands, Jayne Freed; Jokerless, Ann Loranger; Singles and Pairs, Liz Rickett.

No reservations are needed to play. Bring the 2023 card and $3 to play any Saturday morning.

Jean VanDerford, abutterflylady@cox.net

Military Veterans

Since the start of 2023, the Veterans Club has added seven new members. Greetings to all new members; we welcome you and your significant other. The officers and I are already looking to 2024 with anticipation. We will incorporate new club activities and, hopefully, even more new members. The club’s existence relies on member participation, i.e., attending formal meetings, social events, and your input.

I am thankful for our members, and I trust other senior members will attend future events. No pun intended. The club’s next meeting is August 21

at 1830 hours in the Vista Room. We hope to see you there!

Rod Jordan, roddy@roddyjordan.com, (714) 746-1158

Ping Pong

Now you can have twice as much fun with Ping Pong. We are adding another day. Sunday mornings are now available for playtime in the Garden Room. Tables will be set and ready for play on both Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9 - 10:30 a.m. All skill levels are welcome. On Saturday mornings at 10 a.m., a table is available for newcomers and/or those who need a refresher. We look forward to seeing you there. For more information contact Sherry Hargrove.

Sherry Hargrove, (858) 336-5369

Pinochle

If you play Pinochle, plan to join us on Friday evenings at 6:30 p.m. sharp in the Heritage Room at Rec Ctr 2. June had five Fridays. We voted to play partners on the first two Fridays. Linda Owen and Cathie Joy were the winning pair with three Double Pinochles in six games for a score of 7930 on June 2, and Alice McNany

and Cathie Joy took first place on June 9 scoring 6650.

Jane Knesel returned from a cruise in top Pinochle-playing form earning a high six-game score of 4040 and a high total of all games for the month at 11,180. Congratulations to all our winners.

Dawn Hibbs, idglass@cox.net, (949) 455-9826

Republican

The Republican Club hopes everyone had a safe and happy Fourth of July. We are blessed to live in the greatest country in the world and should celebrate every year.

Our next event will be held on Sunday, August 13 in the Vista Room from 3-5 p.m. Let’s try a Potluck Dinner. We have not done this before so this will be a new adventure. Everyone, bring your favorite main dish, salad or dessert, and we should have a great array of goodies. The guest speaker will be Karen Sewell from the Orange County GOP and will be discussing Election Integrity.

We will send out an email blast and one will be sent from the office as well in plenty of time to make your plans.

Cost for dues is $10 for an individual and $15 for a couple.

Betty Houston, consultantbetty@gmail.com, (626) 422-0771

Defibrillators at Both Recreation Centers

Casta has automated external defibrillators, AEDs, located at both Rec Ctrs 1 and 2 near the pool areas. AEDs are devices that give an electric shock to a person’s heart in order to make it beat normally again, especially after a heart attack. AEDs are designed for use by untrained or briefly trained people. They contain technology for analysis of heart rhythm. Casta also has emergency phones at each pool area. The phones are red and for emergency use only. Any questions, please call the Rec Ctr 1 office at (949) 455-4681.

August 2023

Note: All meetings are subject to a change of location or being on Zoom.

Daily/Weekly Activities Schedule - August 2023 (All activities are subject to change.)

Shuffle League Play TH, 9 AM, SBP

Shuffle Training F, 10 AM, SBP

Shuffle Super 2nd Su, 1 PM, SBP

Strummers M, 1 PM, H Support Group 1st & 3rd TH,10:30 AM, G Tennis T, TH, 6:30 PM, TC; M, W, S, 8 AM, TC Texas Hold’em W, 12:45 PM, G Water Exercise M, T, W, TH, F, 9 AM, P1 Wood Workers M, TH, 12 PM, AR

Car and Cycle Showcase Returns FEATURE OF THE MONTH

Continued from page 1

Rivian, a new company manufacturing only 25,000 cars. Jacob Wasser’s version, a three row SUV, is capable of off-roading, has 835 horsepower, and contains 7,777 cells.

At the other end is the oldest car—a 1930 Model A Ford, built by Vern Sprankle. The majestic 1949 Packard is owned by George Heer who said Packards have been in his family all his life.

Speed and horsepower were clearly factors in the choice of muscle and sports cars. Mike Bond said his 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder is “like a rocket ship.” A true race car, a 1997 BMW M3 owned by Alex Likhterman, has been in Formula 1 races. The winning trophies were atop the car.

Linda Silverman adores her 2006 Lexus, with its predecessor having been an anniversary present from her husband. She puts the top down because “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” There were other convertibles including Stewart Bernstein’s 1968 Porsche Targa, Jesse Hunt’s 1963 yellow Corvette, Tony DeRosa’s 1999 Jaguar XK8, and Becky Funder’s 1956 Mercedes 190 SL. Becky’s husband, Jim, wanted a Corvette, but Becky prevailed by acquiring the Mercedes.

Sparkling motorcycles included three Harley Davidsons and one BMW. Rick Hall’s 1997 HD Heritage Springer has been driven across 15 western states, down to Mexico, and up to Canada.

The lovingly owned vehicles, and the stories of the partnerships, were the stars of the show. The extras that added to the festivities were the car-themed oldies music played by resident DJ, Kip Isbell, and the frozen treats.

“The 34 participants presented a wide array of cars, motorcycles, recumbent bikes . . .anything that rolls was invited.”

Jesse Hunt’s bright yellow 2004 Honda S2000 is a fun ride

Bob Adams acquired his 2023 Corvette a few months ago

Ms. Debbie’s Ice Cream truck serves frozen novelties

Alex Likhterman competes in races in his 1997 BMW M3

1993 Harley Davidson Eletraguide Sport MC owned by George Upegui

Mike Bond and daughter with 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo Spider

John Sellers, the mastermind, with his recently acquired Tesla

CLUBS & ACTIVITIES Cont’d

Social Singles

If you are a Casta del Sol resident who is single, you are invited to join our singles group. We have no membership dues. In August, we will be meeting for lunch on Thursday, August 10 at 1 p.m. at Lulu’s Caafe in Rancho Santa Margarita. To reserve your seat at the table, please RSVP to Carol Kowalsky only (cekewpie1@ cox.net) by Monday, August 7. To join the group and get on our email list, or

for more information, please contact Mary Carlson.

Mary Carlson, marycarlson28@gmail.com, (949) 380-0744

Sol Rock ‘n Rollers

Many thanks to those who joined in the fun at our Caribbean Night event in July. We are currently working on an event for early fall. Watch for a flyer in an eblast from Valerie when we get it finalized.

The officers of the Sol Rock ‘n Rollers would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has attended, those who have volunteered to help at our events, and for the support that we have received from the community in our first year of operation. We are having fun and are looking forward to putting on more fun-filled events in the future.

For more information or to get more involved with our club, email Donna Farris.

Donna Farris, dbfarris117@gmail.com, (949) 378-6158

Support Group

If you experience grief because of losing a loved one, losing independence due to illness, aging, or caring for a loved one, this is a place for emotional support, sharing experiences and hearing similar situations. You are not alone on your journey. Come and meet others in similar seasons and situations. We meet twice a month. For more information, contact Kathy Wu.

Kathy Wu, Kathywu.mv@gmail.com, (818) 590-8009

Variety Club

The Variety Club Gong Show had a packed audience and drew lots of laughs. The cast and crew had a well-deserved celebration watching the video.

We do not have a firm date for the next performance, but are hoping to do a show before the end of 2023.

The Variety Club is a group of performers and crew members who enjoy being together, laughing, and learning a lot about self-confidence and theater skills. If you are interested in joining us for any future shows, please contact Barb Turino at (951) 858-7350.

Debra Friedman, debrafriedman0@gmail.com, (949)230-7195

Vegetable Garden

Warning! The dumpsters in the Rec Ctr 2 parking lot near the Vegetable Garden are for the Rec 2 area and the Vegetable Garden only. Do not deposit your household items in these containers. Cameras have been posted around the dumpsters to record violators, including your contractors, and you will be fined !

An abundance of vegetables and fruits are ripening now. It is great to

see such bountiful crops, which are shared with the local food bank. The next big event happening in the Vegetable Garden will be on Saturday, August 26. Margaritas with a little salt and lime, and it is Salsa Party time. Grab your sombreros and join the Casta del Sol Vegetable Garden folks for a fun afternoon. Check your email for an eblast with details and a save the date reminder. At this writing, 23 people are waiting for a garden. Happy Gardening.

Michael Schlesinger, mikeschles123@gmail.com, (914) 815-1002

Woodworkers

Woodworkers Club members have joined the Orange County Woodworkers Association where we can meet with other area woodworkers and benefit from their woodworking experiences, as well as view some new project ideas. Periodically, the Woodworkers Association sponsors a special theme contest among members. Recently, the theme was to make a wood project using one 2 x 4, which resulted in some very interesting projects.

Woodworkers Club members have added the Shaper Origin Router, a tool that will enhance our ability to produce more accurate cuts when making projects that have connecting joints or inlays, plus it has many other features. Its use involves creating a computer design and downloading it into the machine, which makes the clean and precise wood cut.

The Club meets each Monday at 2 p.m. in the Rec Ctr 1 Arts and Crafts Room. Drop by if you have a wood project request or are interested in our activities.

Steve

Vallely,

(714) 595-5766

Water Exercise

Finally, we are now back to our everyday sunny mornings! Experts agree that the best way to start a day is with exercise, and we will add lots of fun conversations and many laughs. Join us every weekday morning in the pool, exercise starts at 9 a.m., and we all love it. Sign up in the office, only $10 for the entire year, and we will welcome you with our variety of music that accompanies our water routines! See you in the pool.

Nan Rednall, nrednall@gmail.com, (949) 584-4321

SPORTS

Away Golf

Our next tournament will be held on Tuesday, August 8 at Shorecliffs Golf Course in San Clemente. Consecutive tee times will start at 9 a.m. Cost for golf, cart, and prizes is $70. Sign up at Casta del Sol Rec Ctr 1 by August 2. Make checks out to CdS Away Golf Club. Mark your calendar, get your foursome together, and sign up ASAP! You don’t want to miss this opportunity to play a fun and beautiful, newly-renovated course with your friends and neighbors.

Jim Peterson, (949) 770-1253

Joyce Parlin, (949) 588-0337

Bocce Ball

Guess what? We have changed our evening hours to play Bocce on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. Please remember that on the second and fourth Friday, we will play only one game at 6:30 p.m., so cards can begin at 7 p.m. Come on down!

We will be having our Hawaiian Buffet Bingo Party along with the Shuffleboard Club on Thursday, August 3 at 6 p.m. in the Vista Room. Costs will be $22 for members and $26 for guests. Hopefully you have all signed up by now. Hawaiian attire is welcome.

We will be having our Annual Potluck Labor Day Party on Monday, September 4 at 5 p.m. at the Lawn Bowling Pavilion. Paper products will be provided by the club, but it will be BYOB for drinks. There will be no formal meetings in August and September.

Carol Zinsmeister, (949) 305-9890

Bowling

Calling all bowlers: plans are underway for the 2023/2024 Bowling League. The Casta del Sol league starts on September 14 and ends on April 25. We bowl on Thursdays at 1 p.m. at Saddleback Lanes in Mission Viejo. We usually finish by 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join. It is good exercise, lots of laughs, and a great way to visit with friends and meet new people.

If you have a group of four who want to be on the same team, call me with your team members’ names. If you have two or three people who want to bowl together, call either Donna Miller at (949) 395-8958 or me and we will let you know who is still available to complete your team. Others interested in bowling can call Donna to be

added to the list of available bowlers. All bowlers not listed on a team by September 15 will be set up on teams at that time.

Van Quinn, (949) 842-9151

Fishing

It is now summer. Our fishing has concentrated on Calico Bass in shallow water. This is fun fishing on light tackle. Light weight spinning rods and reels and 10, 12 or 15 pound test lines are all that is required. Small plastic lures and swimbaits are also effective. Bonito and large mackerel can often be found; they are fun to catch on light tackle. There are two charters every month on the first and third Mondays. There is also an overnight tuna trip scheduled for September 12 if anyone is interested. Newcomers are welcome; contact Nick Morenc for details. Until next month, tight lines for all.

Nick Morenc, (949) 588-6223

Golf Chippers

All Casta del Sol residents are welcome to play in the Golf Chippers event at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 5 at the Rec Ctr 2 golf practice area. Admission is $5 and includes an opportunity to win a raffle gift. Adult guests are welcome.

Our raffle table needs white elephant items from a garage, golf bag, or office near you. Please consider providing something that another participant might want to take home.

The Heritage Garden has more volunteers and visitors than ever before. Please be aware that too many stray golf balls are found outside the golf area. This safety issue needs cooperation from everyone who uses the area, so please use only short chip shots and take great care. Thank you. Questions? Just call.

Bob Hrad, (949) 290-0366

Lawn Bowling

Our Red, White, and Blue Tournament in June was a lot of fun. Four teams bowled in the bright sunlight with summer finally arriving. Like all our events, the food and snacks were eaten fast. Cash prizes were given to the top two bowling teams.

For the edification of all, we now bowl at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We have actually been training a few of our new prospective members on an as-needed basis after finishing our M-W-F games at about 11:15 a.m. Free personal instruction is also available by calling Mr. Shuman

Chan at (626) 428-0250. Times are flexible for both your and Mr. Chan’s convenience. Our next major function occurs on Wednesday, August 23 with BBQ at 3 p.m. followed by bowling at 5 p.m. This is our Hot August Nights party for all members, old and new. There will be a sign-up sheet at the courts.

Roman Swystun, (818) 669-9970

Men’s Golf

The Men’s Golf Club is in the final month of our annual tournament for the Club Championships. Competition requires a member to submit his first posted score for June, July, and August to qualify. Once the Low Gross Champion and Low Net Champions are identified, winners will be honored at an Awards Banquet to be held October 18. This is always a fun-filled evening for all. Look for more information on the Awards Banquet coming soon.

The August games are: 8/2, Individual Low Net; 8/9, Team Twosome Total; 8/16, Individual Best Ball (week 1); 8/23, Individual Best Ball (week 2); 8/30, Team Scramble. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact our membership chairman Al Arnott at (714) 425-4320.

Merl Barrett, (949) 770-5024

Paddle Tennis

The Paddle Tennis and Pickleball Clubs are combining to host a members-only Pizza Olympics on August 12. Olympic style events include bocce ball, shuffleboard, billiards, ping pong, and more. If it is not sold out, please sign up by August 8. It will definitely be an exciting event, as it was last year.

Our last tournament of the calendar year is the Back-to-School Tournament on September 16 at 9 a.m. Start practicing for this event.

Open Court times are 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Every Paddle Tennis Club member is welcome to come to any of these open play sessions. Our friendly regulars will help new players. Other times require sign-ups on the whiteboard.

If you have any questions, please contact Trish Jacobs at patriciajacobs123@gmail.com.

Debra Friedman, debrafriedman0@gmail.com, (949) 230-7195

CASTA CONNECTIONS SPORTS Cont’d

Pickleball

On July 5, we enjoyed our first Ice Cream Social fundraiser of the summer. We will hold another one on Wednesday, August 2. Stop by the Lawn Bowling Pavilion between 4 and 6 p.m. to enjoy delicious ice cream sundaes and root beer floats. A crockpot barbeque with assorted salads and dessert was held July 19.

Because of the summer heat, many of us are attending open play on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. If you are interested in checking out pickleball at Casta del Sol, stop by to watch and/or give playing a try. And be sure to stop by the Pickleball table at the newcomers’ event on August 5 for more information about this fun sport.

If you have questions about pickleball, please contact Metty Thomason at (714) 325-3526 or Donna Guild. Donna Guild, (949) 446-0005

Shuffleboard

In June, the Sunday Super Shuffle had the following winners: first place: Stan Krauson and Susan Herrning; second place; Howard Reafsnyder and Cathy McCoy; and third place: Jeff McCoy and Mary Ellen Marcus. The Sunday Super Shuffle will not be held during the summer, so September 10 is the next event.

The Sunday Potluck Social Shuffle in June had the following winners: first place: Jayne Freed and Debra Friedman; second place: Ann Loranger and Nevin Valentine; and third place, Barbara Harris. The next Sunday Potluck Social Shuffle is August 27 at 1 p.m. Note the time change.

The Shuffleboard leagues are on hiatus during the summer months. The Wednesday Friendly Shufflers meet at 10 a.m. Lessons with practice led by Bob and Mo Caywood are Fridays at 10 a.m. These practices have encouraged new players to join the upcoming fall leagues.

For further information, contact Jim Kinney at dothemath99@yahoo.com

Debra Friedman, debrafriedman0@gmail.com, (949) 230-7195

Tennis

The annual Casta del Sol Tennis Club Summer Soiree is fast approaching on August 18. The event will be poolside at Rec Ctr 1. Sign-up information is available at the Rec Ctr 1 office. This year’s event will feature music by crowd favorite Ortega Highway for your listening and dancing pleasure. A delectable array of Mexican food will be served to tickle your palate.

The Tennis Club offers a variety of on-court activities for all player levels. These activities provide terrific opportunities to develop your skills, get some fun exercise, and enjoy some stimulating conversation. The court activities include round robin events on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m., as well as informal group events on most Tuesday and Thursday evenings. On the first Saturday morning of each month, the program includes fabulous coffee, delicious donuts, and an informal tennis clinic. Newcomers are graciously welcomed Roger Gyger, (949) 430-9045

On the Road Again Sony Pictures Studio

New to SoCal, too busy to explore, or perhaps time to revisit? Debra offers suggestions

Debra Friedman

In the heart of Culver City, lies a working movie studio – Sony Pictures Studios. The first building built in 1915 was Triangle Studios, and by 1936 it expanded to a 435-acre MGM. As expected, there were various iterations on this site, including representation from United Artists, Turner Broadcasting, Lorimar, and Columbia Pictures until the 1990 purchase by Sony. Now at 45 acres, it packs in quite a bit with 19 sound stages, a museum, gift shop, production offices, a costume stage, after effects studios, and more. Due to the limited size, there are no large back

lots. Rather, some of the offices were designed to double as exterior shots, such as a courthouse and a New York tenement complete with fire escapes. Many buildings are named after stars of the early screen such as Jimmy Stewart, Judy Garland, Clark Gable, and Joan Crawford.

The most active sound stages are for Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Our group saw the Jeopardy set up close and personal, although not during filming. The post-production foley room was a highlight, with a multitude of props used for after effects.

The start of the tour was inspiring with an exceptionally edited film about the history of the Sony studios with clips of famous movie scenes. A prominent feature is the Sony water tower that contains 16,000 gallons of water.

Now that I have visited Universal, Warner Bros., Paramount, and Sony it’s difficult to pick my favorite. They each offer unique elements, and I’m always a fan of informative videos, props, museums, and gift shops

Age Well Senior Services Lunch Program

To qualify for this program, Orange County participants must be 60 or older and be homebound because of illness, disability or lack of mobility. This usually means you have difficulty shopping and/or preparing meals and do not have family or friends you can depend on for regular meal support. Find out more at agewellseniorservices.org/senior-cuisine-delivered, or by calling Age Well at (949) 470-3063 for more information.

This program also provides hot, nutritious lunches for older adults in South Orange County at the Norman P. Murray Center Monday through Friday for $5.50. You must call the number listed above by noon, two business days in advance to make or cancel your request. More Information can be found at mealsonwheelsoc.org. Click on Lunch Café.

CASTA CONNECTIONS Cont’d

Small Talk Jingles from the Past

A freelance writer’s humorous spin on the ups and downs of life

Dorothy Frances

Remember those catchy 50s and 60s product jingles? Following are a few that might jog your memory.

Colgate: This is when toothpaste was called dental cream.

“Brush your teeth with Colgate, Colgate dental cream, it cleans your breath . . . what a toothpaste. . . while it cleans your teeth.”

Nestles Quick: Remember that yummy chocolate powder that we added to our milk? The Nestles Quick Bunny graced the front of the can.

“N-E-S-T-L-E-S Nestles makes the very best…choooocolate.”

Brylcreem: This one made big promises to men about attracting women.

“Brylcreem, a little dab will do ‘ya. Brylcreem, you’ll look so debonair. Brylcreem, the gals will all pursue

‘ya. They’ll love to get their fingers in your hair.”

Winston Cigarettes: The first lines of this jingle included hand claps.

“Winston tastes good like a cigarette should. Winston tastes good like a (clap clap) cigarette should.”

Alka-Seltzer: Remember the cute “Plop plop, fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is.”

Chevrolet: Who could forget Dinah Shore singing this jingle? There’s much more to it, but this first part is best remembered . . . and, of course, Dinah throwing America a big kiss!

“See the USA in your Chevrolet, America is asking you to call. Drive through the USA in your Chevrolet, America’s the greatest land of all.”

This stroll down memory lane was fun, but it begs the following question: Why do I remember those old jingles but can’t remember what I ate for dinner last night?

Reflections of a Casta Newbie

A new resident explores the adventures of Casta

Nevin Valentine

Throughout our lifetimes, we repeatedly go through cycles of development. A new job, beginning or ending a relationship, or moving to a new home can trigger one. I am in the completion of a cycle of development in my life that started when I moved to Casta del Sol.

The cycle begins with a smooth, functioning order. Darrell and I were quite happy in our previous home until construction began across the street that was estimated to last at least three years. When we started looking at new neighborhoods, we entered the stage of transition. Transition is a time for letting go of the old and moving toward the new, but not being there yet.

When we found our lovely home in Casta, we entered the next stage, information gathering. This is the question/answer time as we learned all about our new community. I

What’s Cooking at Casta

Want help in the kitchen? Linda shares her favorite recipes.

Linda Brockmiller

Cream butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Add sour cream and mix well. Add dry ingredients mixing well.

Bake in loaf pan at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. Reduce heat to 300 degrees for an additional 10 minutes.

studied each issue of the Courier as if studying for a graduate exam. We asked our neighbors and new friends and Casta staff about the ins and outs of Casta del Sol.

The next stage of the cycle is called “inwardizing”. This can be a time of anxiety, indecision, powerlessness, and lack of confidence. We might question our decision and want to go back to what was familiar.

Committing to what is new leads to the joyful step of expansion. Here growth and development occur, and we feel powerful, competent, and confident. At this stage, Darrell and I started attending parties and club meetings. We were invited to social events and to serve on committees.

The final stage is sorting out, where we make sense of all that has gone on before. What do we like or not like about our daily life in this new community? It is a time to integrate and, with this task completed, we are back at the top of the cycle and the smooth, functioning order.

Where are you in the many cycles of development? I hope you find understanding the predictable stages of our cycles to be empowering and comforting.

Ingredients

1 cup butter

4 eggs room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 lemon, zested juice from 1/2 lemon

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

Topping:

3 Tbsp. lemon juice

1/2 cup sugar

zest from 1/2 lemon

Remove from oven and poke with a chopstick all over the top. Pour topping, allowing it to penetrate the holes. I like to use smaller loaf pans and freeze some. It should make about 3 smaller pans baking about 30 minutes.

New iGate Software

Casta del Sol will be switching from dwellingLive to iGate software on August 16. All homeowners will be mailed information ahead of that date about setting up an account to register guests for gate access.

Lemon Loaf

PEOPLE, PLACES & EVENTS

Getting to Know Our Neighbors: Pat Haun

By Liz Rickett, photo by Darrell Holdaway

Pat Haun is a tradition follower. Her mom married at age 17 as did both her sisters. So, it was only natural that Pat married at 17 as well. This was precipitated by her husband, Jim Haun, being drafted to serve in the Korean War.

Jim was a singer. As a child, he did shows to promote the sale of War Bonds during World War II. He also sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. After receiving a Bronze Star for his service as an infantry member on the front lines, he sang in Korea with a group while waiting to return home.

While her husband Jim was deployed, Pat worked as a secretary. When he came home, they moved to Los Angeles so he could pursue his singing career. She worked in the secretarial pool at Paramount Studios where she had lunch with Elvis Presley at the commissary and worked with many famous people including Cary Grant and Jerry Lewis.

Changing his name from Jim Haun to Rouvaun, he opened in Las Vegas and signed a contract with RCA Records. He performed for five years, two shows a day, seven days a week, including a six month residency in Las Vegas. He would have a break of six months, during which he traveled. By now, they had three children. With the help of a nanny, Pat attended every one of his shows. Rouvaun was known for his incredible voice, still available to hear on YouTube.

After Jim’s death in 1975, Pat resumed her career as a legal secretary. Her two sons inherited Jim’s musical talent. Jimmy is a guitarist and composer, performing with Arc of Life, while Chandler is also a singer and guitarist and has written and collaborated with his brother on scores for movies. Her granddaughter, Lindsey, is also a singer and actress.

Pat’s daughter followed her mom’s lead. She also married at age 17 and is a legal secretary.

These days, Pat keeps busy with her family that includes a great-great-grand-

son. She also enjoys gardening and dogs. In addition to her dog, she will often walk or sit dogs for friends.

PEOPLE, PLACES & EVENTS Cont’d Learning to Live with the Urban Coyote

By Linda Brockmiller, photos by Tom Brockmiller

offensive. The advice given is to throw rocks, make noise and appear “large and loud.” The guidance is to never run away. Dog owners should always walk their dogs on a leash, preferably not the retractable style. Residents should also avoid leaving food or water outside or permitting household animals to be unattended. Fences are not a deterrent, and ironically Casta del Sol’s beautiful landscape provides a degree of seclusion.

Too often there are notices of lost dogs and cats within our community that were sometimes forcefully removed from back patios. Coyotes are very smart and are survivalists. They follow patterns of behavior by humans

with regard to pets. Awareness is key to avoiding unwanted attacks.

There were many comments at the conclusion of the presentation displaying a change in attitude. This understanding can lead to a comfortable co-existence. That, as well as being “large and loud” should do the trick.

The Mission Viejo Animal Shelter provided small blow horns as well as fully descriptive brochures to the attendees. The Canine Club also has blow horns available for residents. If you would like one, please contact Tom Brockmiller at ferrariracer@ cox.net or (949) 584-8061.

More information may be found online at www.cityofmissionviejo.org by searching “Local Wildlife.”

On May 24, Casta del Sol’s Canine Companions Club provided a chance for residents to attend a presentation entitled Learning to Live with the Urban Coyote. Thanks to Officers J.R. Stewart and Nick Ross and the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter volunteers for this very informative meeting that was attended by more than 100 interested people.

There are many theories and beliefs by those who fear and/or are uninformed about this wily creature. The coyote is here to stay. Learning

to understand them, as well as not be fearful, is a requisite of our comfortable existence, especially for those who have pets. There is no law or prejudice to eradicate the coyotes. They are scavengers and provide a degree of clean up. The rabbit population is somewhat controlled and would be rampant otherwise.

The facts are well researched. There are very few known attacks on humans by coyotes, as they prefer avoidance. Coyotes are shy and the best defense for humans is to be

Officers J.R. Stewart, Nick Ross and Mission Viejo Animal Shelter Volunteers

Officer J.R. Stewart showing presentation to residents

PEOPLE, PLACES & EVENTS Cont’d

Paint, Wine, and Bonding

By Debra Friedman, photos by Debra Friedman, Jeff McCoy, and Jodie Trainer

For years, residents of Casta del Sol have been clamoring for a “Paint and Wine” experience on our doorstep. These types of events that have been popular for years, take place in dedicated studios, or in restaurants and clubhouses that were rented for the event by a specialized company.

There are many benefits to this type of experience. It is, of course, always enjoyable to have an environment where friendships are formed or strengthened during the process. The subject of the painting is selected for successful completion in the time frame of the event. Also, the outcome

Ping Pong: A Sport for All Ages

By Parizad Sethna, photos by Jeff McCoy

Want to try a new sport? Try Ping Pong. Ping pong, whiff-whaff, or table tennis, whatever you call it, is a low impact sport and is playable at the pace you choose, thereby making it more accessible to seniors. It had its humble beginnings as a parlor game in England in the 1880s. Taking inspiration from lawn tennis, it used a champagne cork as a ball, cigar boxes as bats, and books for the net. An Olympic sport since 1988, it is now played in more than 200 countries worldwide and is steadily gaining followers.

The set up and rules are similar to those of tennis. Just like tennis, you can play solo or in pairs. It offers moderate-intensity activity, which is good for your heart, and you will find that your hand-eye coordination improves the more you play. Your arms, core, and shoulders get a good workout as you swipe for and direct the ball. Played indoors or outdoors, this

weather resilient sport improves your reflexes and sharpens reaction times which is helpful as we age. And most importantly, you will meet and make new friends. Ping Pong can be a great game to play with grandkids. Don’t know where to start or need a refresher? Why not stop by the Garden Room at Rec Ctr 1 on any Saturday at 9 a.m. and check it out for yourself. Don’t have a bat (or paddle)? No worries, the group will provide you with one. The Casta del Sol Ping Pong group is not a club and has no dues. Check the Courier’s sport section for contact information and play joyfully.

“Beginning as an English parlor game in the 1880s, players used a champagne cork for a ball, cigar boxes as bats, and books for a net.”

gives the participants bragging rights to say they’ve created an original painting.

On June 23, the Casta del Sol Paint and Wine event was a sold-out activity hosted by the Casta Creatives Club with Maribeth McFaul leading the artistic endeavor. Maribeth McFaul has lived in CdS for about four years and for the past two has been the President of the Casta Creatives Club. The Club has open studio opportunities weekly, brings in experts for demonstrations, has hands-on workshops, and most recently was featured during the Heritage Garden Open House.

The attendance for the June 23 event was limited to 36 people. Due to the long waiting list and interest expressed, this event will be repeated at intervals.

The painting created was abstract and the subject was a starburst. Mari-

beth gave a brief description of color theory, the color wheel, and how to create the sample painting that she completed in advance. Then she led the participants through a step-by-step demonstration. She stressed the individual nature and preferences of each artist and the offered choices. She also emphasized returning to the painting to enhance it, since acrylic paint allows for painting over the undesirable elements. Her memorable quote was: “Creativity is making mistakes. Art is knowing which to keep.”

While a few experienced artists ventured off in different directions, the rest of the novice painters followed the starburst pattern in their own fashion. Feedback was offered by Maribeth, as well as the other assistants and tablemates. Both the process and the results were enjoyable. The finished painting photos reflect the happy participants.

Sherry Hargrove (in purple shirt) leading the group with others gathered for a morning of Ping Pong

Maribeth McFaul during demonstration.

Photo by Debra Friedman

All participants displaying their paintings. Photo by Jodie Trainer

De Wiley and Kathleen Galindo show their creations. Photo by Jeff McCoy

Table of happy artists at work.

Photo by Debra Friedman

PEOPLE, PLACES & EVENTS Cont’d Trajectory of Tennis Club

By Debra Friedman, photos by Fred Lake

Tennis at Casta del Sol is making a comeback after facing various factors. During the pandemic, some players ventured over to the Marguerite Tennis Center and were slow returning to Casta. Then pickleball became the hottest sport sweeping the U.S. and some tennis players turned to pickleball. In addition, the pickleball lines etched onto the tennis court at Casta make it challenging for tennis players.

But for the past few years, the Ten-

nis Club has held steady at nearly 80 players and the open play is always well attended. The open play is on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. There is also ball machine practice on Mondays from 8 to 10 a.m. A fun event is the Clarity, Coffee, and Donuts on the first Saturday of the month at 8 a.m. run by expert player, John Clarity.

In addition to these regular times,

the Tennis Club also hosts tournaments and social events. In 2023, tournaments were scheduled for June and October. Tournaments are mixed doubles with partners randomly selected and changed throughout play. President, Bruce Greenberg; Vice President, Lori Franklin; Secretary, Roger Gyger; Treasurer, Tony Lawrence; Social Chair, Judy Gyger; Marketing, Tom McMahan; Sunshine, Rochelle Lawrence; and Tournament Director, Jodie Trainer have worked to bring tennis back to its glory days.

The Tennis Club is also renowned for their social events, some of which include large bands and lots of dancing. Live music and great food are keystones of their events, with the holiday party always a big hit.

The Club is open to all members of the community at all levels of play, including first time players. In fact, there are several people playing regularly now who had never played before the pandemic. There are also several players who have been regulars in leagues. Recently, a new player showed up who

was a totally novice player and the club members have been cheering him on and helping him figure it out. What a welcoming sight!

John Clarity leading the ball machine practice

Winners of June 3 Tournament (left to right) Tom McMahan, Betsy Malloy, Nary Kanoor, and Mary Anne Neis

PEOPLE, PLACES & EVENTS Cont’d

Conversations in Casta

By Sara Henninger

Thinking back on my youth, I thought it might be fun to talk to folks in Casta del Sol about their first job and first car. My first job was at Ritter’s Drive-In in Clyde, Ohio where we made hamburgers, seven for $1, and soft-serve ice cream. I made a whopping .75 cents per hour and I have never worked harder. My first car was a 1964 Chevy Chevette Convertible.

In my conversations, I asked residents to give me information about their first job, excluding babysitting and paper routes. In other words, their first real job. The response has been glorious. Here we go with our first set of Conversations in Casta

Dave Huber - First job was pumping gas for $5 per day and he had a 1964 Ford Falcon

Arline Chenarides - Worked on Surfer Magazine subscriptions for $45 per week and drove a 1952 Volkswagen Beatle

Kip Isbell - Worked at Big T Supermarket for $95 per week and drove a 1950 Oldsmobile

Phil Naideth - Was an usher at Los Angeles Dodger Stadium for $8 per game and drove a 1961 Studebaker

Melanie Delgado - Packaged vitamins for $1.65 per hour and drove a 1960 Volkswagen Beatle

Nancy Ruff - Worked for Pronto Pup for .50 cents per hour and drove a 1962 Dodge Dart

Michele Cronim - Worked for the Forest Service at $1.25 per hour and she drove a 1965 Chevrolet El Camino

Mike Balzer - Stocked shelves at a grocery store and drove a 1956 Plymouth Savoy

Mike Bakula - Was employed at Mikel Foundry for $2.75 per hour and drove a 1964 Rambler Station Wagon.

Where in the World: Louisiana Swamp Tour

By Evelyn Rothert

My daughter and I were in front of the hotel in New Orleans at 8 a.m. in the morning to wait for the tour bus that would take us on a Louisiana swamp tour. The bus came quickly. The tour company had told us we would be picked up between 8 and 8:30. It was only 8:05. After picking up people from other hotels, we were on our way. It took about an hour to get to the swamp area. It wasn’t until we got off the bus, and they didn’t have our reservation, that I realized we took the wrong bus. “Oh no, what now?” I didn’t say anything, and they took our money. I had to pay in cash. That was what made me realize we were in the wrong place. Between the two tour brochures I had looked at, one accepted credit cards and that is the one I picked. Now, I had to pay in cash and oops, wrong place.

When we got on the swamp boat, the tour guide muttered to himself that there were too many people, he didn’t understand it! My daughter and I never said a word. The tour

Restaurant Review: The Lumberyard

By Debra Friedman

There are many great restaurants in Laguna Beach but only a few within walking distance from the summer art festivals and Laguna Playhouse. Since I’ve had season tickets to the Laguna Playhouse for over ten years, we often search for convenient restaurants.

The Lumberyard Restaurant is at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Forest Avenue. It is a relatively small restaurant with quite a bit of ambience. It is reminiscent of an English pub with dark, solid-wood tables, and mood lighting. The vintage brick on the ex-

terior and unique signage set the tone for the European vibe of small-town Laguna Beach. For those choosing to stroll down Forest Avenue for all the eateries and shops, The Lumberyard is a good anchor location.

Our group of nine friends had different entrees and everyone was happy with their choices. Several took home leftovers. There is an impressive array of appetizers and sides – enough to make a full meal. The menu is varied and includes soups, salads, fish, several meat entrees, pasta, and even hamburgers. It is essentially a surf

guide was really good. He pointed out turtles, birds, and even alligators. He would go into streams that are off the main river, called bayous. I enjoyed the scenery; we saw some water lilies and a lot of Spanish moss hanging from the trees. It was so exciting when we saw an alligator. He was a big one and you could only see the top of his head and eyes. He didn’t budge from his spot and just watched us. The guide threw a marshmallow, but he didn’t go for it. We also saw some younger alligators that did go for the marshmallows. They swim much faster than I thought. It was a fun tour, and I really enjoyed the river.

Back at the hotel, we had a message on the room phone from the other tour company. Did we want to reschedule?

Do you have a Where in the World story? If so, contact Evelyn Rothert at erothert@sbcglobal.net

PEOPLE, PLACES & EVENTS Cont’d

Restaurant Review: The Lumberyard

Continued from page 25 and turf type menu that is expanded to meet many tastes. The bar section is impressively large and there is a separate bar menu.

The staff was very accommodating and available to all requests. We were served in a timely manner and had no

Courier Committee Members and Staff

Courier Chair Debra Friedman debrafriedman0@gmail.com

problem being on time for the play.

It is open for lunch and dinner. You can make reservations on Open Table which is advised since it is a popular dining establishment.

Do you have a restaurant review to share? Send to fmorgan17@cox.net

In Memoriam Ed Swartz Susan

Swartz

Courier Associate Chair Kip Isbell kipisbell@live.com

Editor-in-Chief Charlotte Lassos charlottelassos@gmail.com

Secretary Fran Morgan fmorgan17@cox.net

Section Editors:

Association News April Wilsey aprilincal@gmail.com

Bulletin Board Al Guild alguild@earthlink.net

Casta Connections Donna Guild donnaguild@earthlink.net

Clubs Kip Isbell kipisbell@live.com

Committees Bob Destino bobdestino@outlook.com

People, Places & Events Fran Morgan fmorgan17@cox.net

Sports Bob Destino bobdestino@outlook.com

Columnists:

On the Road Again Debra Friedman debrafriedman0@gmail.com

Reflections of a Casta Newbie Nevin Valentine nevinvalentine@gmail.com

Small Talk Dorothy Frances dfranceswrites@yahoo.com

What’s Cooking Linda Brockmiller LindaBrock@cox.net

Feature Writers: Debra Friedman debrafriedman0@gmail.com

Sara Henninger saracly@gmail.comt

Jeff McCoy jmactr1@gmail.com

Fran Morgan fmorgan17@cox.net

Liz Rickett LizRickett@me.com

Parizad Sethna sethna7@hotmail.com

Staff Photographers: Darrell Holdaway holdaway@gmail.com

Fred Lake lakebcbc@gmail.com

Jeff McCoy jmactr1@gmail.com

Photo Coordinator: Kip Isbell kipisbell@live.com

Proofreaders:

Judy Barrett lvbarretts20@gmail.com

Darrell Holdaway holdaway@gmail.com

Kip Isbell kipisbell@live.com

Dottie Lewis dottielewis19@gmail.com

Suzanne Moore Jsmoore830@gmail.com

Claire Readey csreadey@gmail.com

Evelyn Rothert erothert@sbcglobal.net

Nevin Valentine nevinvalentine@gmail.com

Delivery Preparations: David Ankeny candyman803@gmail.com

Courier Volunteers

Calling All Stuffers!

We will meet on Thursday, August 31 at 10:30 a.m. in the Vista Room to prepare the Courier for delivery. Please contact David Ankeny at candyman803@gmail.com if you are interested in helping.

Pat Ahadyar

David Ankeny

Judy Barrett

Nancy Blumenthal

Rich Blumenthal

Barbara Brantley

Connie Campanile

Kathie Carr

Mike Carr

Joan Corbin

Jayne Freed

Debra Friedman

Barbara Harris

Judy Horner

Elaine Isbell

Kip Isbell

Jerry Jankowski

Nancy Jankowski

Nancy Johnson

Sue Johnson

Eliana Jordan

Daphne Kohls

Roni L’Angelle

Fred Lake

Karen Legome

Shelly Lethiot

Mary Ellen Marcus

Cathy McCoy

Deb McCoy

Jeff McCoy

Brian McDonald

Audrey Michaels

John Nethercutt

Jenni Nonemaker

Marsha Rasmussen

Pam Rhoades

Liz Rickett

Retha Roberts

Kathy Schinas

Richard Scott

Margaret Sebold

Hormuzd Sethna

Parizad Sethna

Barry Silverman

Linda Silverman

Myrna Smith

Randy Smith

Marlene Solem

Don Stoddard

Dolores Thompson

Randy Thompson

Pam Townsend

Jean VanDerford

Debra Wagner

John Wagner

Sarah Waldman

Linda Walters

Elizabeth Wing

Lani Wolff