Gator Tales April 2017
“The Park with A Heart”
Editor: Joice Smith
Lake Hammock Village 36106 US Hwy 27 Haines City FL 33844 863-421-5764
Board of Directors Joyce Wright President (2018) (224)545-4846
Joyce Middleton
Vice President (2018) (863) 353-5477
Maria Combs Secretary (2019) (863) 438-6643
Richard Gould Treasurer (2019) (863) 422-5902 Clark Smith Director (2018) (863) 438- 6929 Art Stanley Director (2019) (863) 353-2690 Calvin Maluchnick Director (2019) (814) 279-9966
Committee Chairs Activities Maria Combs 863-438-6643 Joanne Marko – 863-438-5011 Gator Tales Joice Smith 863-438-6929 Sunshine Carol Gould (863)422-5902 Welcome Maria Combs (863)438-6643 Marilyn Smith (863)421-1018 Memorials Dona Rawson – (863)547-9326 Debbie Bialecki- (863)422-8296
“Gator Tales” is available online at: http://floridacommunities. com/lake-hammock-newsletter.
A message from the President….
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Our busy winter months are over and we head into Spring with our “Spring Fling”. It will be on April 8th from 11 AM – 4 PM. This year we are combining the Easter Golf Cart Parade and Bonnet Contest with the “Spring Fling”. The parade will begin at the Clubhouse at 11 AM and end at the lake. We will be serving hamburgers, hot dogs, sodas, and “make your own sundae” from 11 AM until 2 PM. The lunch is free to all residents. We will again have the airboat ride from 1 – 4PM. The airboat ride is free to all residents “in good standing” (HOA dues are paid) and $5.00 for all others. Please remember to bring your membership card with you. Please come out and have a good time with friends and neighbors. We continue to work on many items from the Resident Information Forms from the Annual Meeting Packets. The new pool table light has been installed and the second Petanque court is completed and is in use. The first aid box has had all outdated items replaced. Also, benches for the shuffleboard courts are also completed. Both the poker table and the materials for the new dance floor have been ordered. So work continues. Also, with the coming of spring, many of our “snowbird” friends and neighbors will be heading to their northern homes. We wish them safe travels to their homes. We wish them a great summer with their families and friends. For those of us that remain (full-timers), we will welcome family and friends and visit all the great attractions in the area. We will also visit the great beaches and take vacations as all do in the summer. So, to one and all, have a great and safe summer. Always remember that your “heart and home”, in our great community, Lake Hammock Village, in the heart of Florida. is awaiting all to return safely. Have a great summer, Joyc1e
HOA BOARD MEETING Tuesday, April 4th 7:00pm Joyce Wright (224)545-4846 The monthly Board of Directors meeting will be held in the Clubhouse.
HOA General Meeting Tuesday, April 11th 7:00 pm The monthly HOA meeting will be in the clubhouse. Please take the time to attend the meeting to hear what is happening in YOUR park.
Make and Take Craft Day Thursday, April 6th 2:00 pm Sandy Blackman 353-9804 $2.00 fee
Dining by the Book Thursday, April 13th Carpool 4:30 pm Marilyn Smith 421-1018 La Fiesta Mexicana Resturant Main St. Haines City, Fl Meet at clubhouse 4:30pm (Deadline to sign up to attend is three days before the event).
Annual Easter Picnic and Spring Fling April 8th 11:00 – 4:00 Hosted by: Clark and Joice Smith Golf cart parade and Easter bonnet contest hosted by: Jerry Butler Decorate your golf cart and your Easter bonnet and meet at the Clubhouse at 10:30am for line up and judging and awarding of prizes for the best cart and bonnet. The parade will kick off at 11:00 and go around the community and out to the lake for hamburgers and hotdogs. Airboat rides will begin at 1:00pm till 4:00. Food is free to all residents. Air boat rides are free for all HOA members in good standing and $5.00 for guests and nonmembers of the HOA.
Birthday/Anniversary Celebration Sunday, April 9th Dona Rawson 547-9326 & Joanne Marko 438-5011 Come celebrate April birthdays and anniversaries. Hostesses for this month are Joan Landers and Terri Stump
Easter Dinner Sunday April 16th 2:00 PM B Please bring a dish enough for 8 to share. Please sign up at the Clubhouse.
Activities Meeting Tuesday, April 18th 2:00pm If you have ideas of activities, places to eat around town or other things that you would like to see LHV do, then please join us in the clubhouse as we plan our May activities. We enjoy having new ideas to explore. Ladies Lunch Wednesday, April 19th Carpool 11:30 am Pat Bergstrom Saigon Garden Winter Haven Meet at Clubhouse at 11:30 am (Deadline to sign up to attend is three days before the event).
Early Bird Dining Tuesday, April 25th Carpool 4:30 p.m. Margaret Conley (353-7640) Harbor Side Winter Haven (Deadline to sign up to attend is three days before the date of the event)
Newsletter Information All newsletters can be viewed in color on the web site at www.floridacommunities.com (click on Lake Hammock at bottom of page). Just a reminder, any information needs to be submitted to me by the 20th of every month. If you have any questions or suggestions about the Gator Tales, please contact Joice Smith by email or phone. We are always looking for ways to improve.
Monthly Potluck Friday, April 28th 5:30pm Hosted by Calvin and Dawn Maluchnick Bring a dish enough for 8 to share. Also bring your own dinner plate and silverware.
Activities Chairs These volunteers will not be hosting all the events, but they will be the ones finding hosts for the events and planning the dates. If you have any suggestions or need more information on these activities, please contact the following Activities: Maria Combs 438-6643 / Joanne Marko 438-5011 Birthdays/Anniversaries: Joanne Marko 438-5011 Breakfast Out: Marge Love (815)978-7427 Bus Trips: Joanne Marko 438-5011 Early Bird Dinner: Margaret Conley 353-7640 Dining by the Book: Marilyn Smith 421-1018 Entertainment: Ladies’ Lunches: Pat Bergstrom – 740-624-6903 Park Breakfast: Maria Combs 438-6643 / Karen Wilson 434-248-6431 Memorial: Dona Rawson – 863-547-9326 Debbie Bialecki – 863-422-8296
C&D BUS TRIPS
April
8th
- Mystery Trip $64.00 pp April 26th – SemiLnole Casino Brighton $25.00 pp
Gator Tales Staff Joice Smith (Editor) 121 Silver crest 863-438-6929 joicesmith89@gmail.com Judy Page Andy & Nancy Belski Richard & Marion Spiegel
Get well and Sympathy Cards Margaret Swisher – home Florence Browning – home Merrill Davis – home Lloyd Larry – sympathy in the loss of his wife Betty Larry 3/16/17.
ANNIVERSARIES
12th 15th 18th 20th 23rd 24th
Vito & Via DeStefano – 64 yrs. John & Linda Bialy – 50 yrs. Glen & Judy Loy – 59 yrs. Tim & Terri Stump – 43 yrs. Herman & Jane Biba – 62 yrs. Herb & Donna Hunt – 52 yrs.
(If we have missed your anniversary, please let us know)
Thank You
BIRTHDAYS 2ND Dick Keiger nd 2 Diane Campeau 5th Terri Darwell 5th John Bialy th 5 Betsy Kuntz-Harwick 5th Vera Krause 9th Nanci Emery th 10 Cliff Holman 12th Bob Sharples th 12 Fred Blicker 13th Tom Godfrey 15th Pamela Kantner th 17 Sandy Blackman 17th Robert Falco 19th Gail Roubaud st 21 Donna Weber 22nd Edna Davidson 23rd Bruce Love th 24 Carol Boston 24th Linda VanDeman 27th David Graham th 27 Carol Hubbard 29th Karen Neugebauer th 30 Don Hinds (If we have missed your birthday please let know)
RMEMBERANCE WREATH For those not at the February HOA meeting, it was decided we would no longer have a phone bank for notification of a death in the park. In the future when one of the residents pass there will be a wreath placed on the front door of the clubhouse. The information pertaining to deceased will be on the board as you enter the clubhouse on the left. REMEMBERANCE WREATH AT CLUBHOUSE The wreath on the door is in remembrance of Mrs. Betty Larry. She passed away on March 16th, 2017. The information is inside the clubhouse on the board. She resided with her husband Lloyd Larry at #8 Silver Crest Dr. Memorial Committee Dona Rawson and Debbie Bialecki
Thank you to everyone who participated in our pancake breakfast. We hope you enjoyed yourselves. Special thanks to our helpers: Marge and Bruce Love, Jan and Norm Baczkiewicz, Clarice and Bill Klepadio, Jeanine and Bill Miller, and Wayne Bickford. Also thanks to all who pitched in to help with the cleanup at the conclusion. Lee and Nanci Emery
THANK YOU LAKE HAMMOCK VILLAGE WE HAVE SURPASSED OUR GOAL
Your Relay for Life Team would like to thank all the people that helped to set up and clean up for the Spaghetti Dinner. Thank you Bob and Brin for hosting the event and all your hard work. Also, all the people that helped with the Shuffleboard Tournament donated goods for the Silent Auction, and donated to and attended the event. An additional thank you to all those that attended and donated to our Pancake and Sausage Breakfast and a big Thank You to Sharon and K.Z. for hosting! Without all of you we could not be successful. Thank you for supporting your Relay for Life Team. SEE YOU AT LAKE EVA ON APRIL 1ST, 2017 – 12:00PM – 12:00 AM FOR THE RELAY FOR LIFE EVENT.
RELAY FOR LIFE BREAKFAST THANK YOU HOSTS: K.Z. & SHARON BOWDEN
Thank you to the Lake Hammock Village Relay for Life Team for helping us serve the breakfast on March 7th. Your donation of time and supplies for the breakfast made it a success. I was pleased to see that residents who attended didn’t just eat and leave. They stayed and visited with each other. That is one of the reasons our park is a great place to live. Team members: Calvin and Dawn Maluchnick, Hacy and Joyce Wright, Bob and Brinda McDonald, Jerry and Joan Butler, Debra Kemp, Joan Lander, Barbara Pund, and Bruce and Marge Love who contributed but were ill. Also helping with the clean-up was Edna Davidson. We have a great team and invite you to join us in future activities to fight cancer. THANK YOU VENDOR FAIR - JOYCE MIDDLETON A big thank you to all those who helped with this year’s Health and Vendor Fair. Joice and Clark for handling the food and Karen Wilson in the kitchen; Shelly Shaffer and Sheryl Nykaza for greeting the residents and handling the raffle tickets and the many guys who helped set up and tear down tables. Also our taxi drivers helping vendors park away from the clubhouse to make more room for our vendors. We tried something a bit different this year in adding household vendors, using only local companies and making it not just a health fair but a total vendor fair. If there’s someone you thought was missing, a vendor or business you’d like to see next year or any suggestions or comments to make next year’s vendor fair even better – please don’t hesitate to let me know. After all, this is your community and your Vendor Fair – we want it to truly be a beneficial event for everyone. Again, thanks for all the help. Joyce Middleton – VP LHV-HOA
SUFFLEBOARD TOURNAMENT 2017 PHOTOS BY : SHARON BOWDEN The annual Shuffleboard Tournament, hosted by
Norman and Janet Baczkiewicz was held on March 20, 2017. There were three winning teams. First Place: Wayne Bickford and Willard Davidson. Second place: Karen Patelunas and Ken Toothman. Third place: Norman Baczkiewicz and Terry Barnhart. After the tournament the players and their guests enjoyed a lunch in the clubhouse.
STORY OF EASTER
bondage and slavery after 300 years. It was during Passover in 30 A.D. that Christ was crucified for being
Easter is celebrated the world over to mark the
blasphemous. The resurrection happened three days
resurrection of Jesus Christ – the Son of God. The young
later on what is today known as Easter Sunday. The early
and the old, the rich and the poor, man and woman and
Christians, many of whom were raised as Jews,
people of all races celebrate Easter. However, Easter has
considered the resurrection and Easter as a new part of
been commercialized to a large extent by companies
pascha. Thus the early celebration of Passover came to be celebrated as Good Friday and Easter.
manufacturing Easter related goods and items and the greeting card industry. It is important that in all the commercialization of this very important festival, one does not forget the history of Easter. History Of Easter Easter is one of the most celebrated festivals of the modern Christian church. According to St.Bede, an English historian of the eighteenth century, Easter owes its origin to the old Teutonic mythology. The name Easter was originally derived from the word Eostre. Eostre was the ancient Greek goddess of spring. It was believed that every year, Eostre returned to Earth after a long, cold winter and brought along with her the light and warmth of Spring. Thus, ancient Greeks held pagan festivals to welcome Eostre and herald the onset of spring. The Pagan festivals always coincided with the vernal Equinox on the 21st of March every year. Though the Greek were not fully cognizant of why and when spring comes, they believed Eostre must be pleased to ensure that she returns year after year. The festivals were lavish feasts that celebrated the booming of new flowers, the chirping of birds, butterflies, and sunshine and in general the feeling of rejuvenation that is inherent of spring. The Christian church however, changed the Pagan festival from a celebration of spring to a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. In 325 A.D. the church also changed the date of the festival. The festival was no longer held on the spring equinox. Instead, as per the Church Council of Nicaea henceforth it was to be held on the very first Sunday following the full moon on or after the vernal equinox. Thus, today Easter is celebrated on different dates every year and can occur as early as March 22nd or as late as April 25th. Some people even believe that Easter is related to the Hebrew celebration, the Jewish Passover. Passover is celebrated to mark the freedom of the Israelis from
Today grand scale events mark the celebration of Easter in the United States and across the globe. Many traditional symbols of Easter continue to dominate the scene while new traditions are being part of the festival too. Thus, Easter is a festival that denotes life, rejuvenation, renewal, rebirth and restoration of all beings on Earth.
John and Marsha Rounds Photo by: Sharon Bowden
Ken and Nancy Koenitzer Photo by: Sharon Bowden
John and Marsha moved to Lake Hammock Village from Athens, PA and Watkins Glen, NY where they still own houses. Hopefully, they can sell one of their homes, but for now they will be Snowbirds. They shopped around Florida and finally settled on LHV, purchasing their home at 28 Silver Crest in November 2015, although they didn't actually move until November 2016.
Ken and Nancy purchased their home at 154 Glen Este Court in December 2015, however, they did not officially move in until February 2017. Although they are living here, they still maintain a residence in Pocono, PA, which they are hoping to sell.
John and Marsha have been married 30 years and have four children, two boys and two girls, and six grandchildren. Marsha worked for EI DuPont Company as a Lab Technician. She enjoys water aerobics and euchre. John retired from the railroad as an engineer and enjoys landscaping. John and Marsha enjoy their new deck, which overlooks the wilderness, and was built by Jerry Sibila. When you see them around, make them feel welcome.
Submitted by: Marian Spiegel
Ken and Nancy were married in 1971 and have three children, all boys, one of which they adopted from Bolivia. The other two live up north, one in New Jersey and the other in Connecticut. They have three grandchildren and soon expect a fourth. Ken worked for AT&T as a Communication Technician for 27 ½ years and as a EMT volunteer for 50 years. As a young boy, Ken became involved with the National Weather Service and worked with this organization for 64 years. Currently, he has applied with Disney and will be working as a Bus Driver. Nancy worked as a Key Punch Operator and also with Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Claim Examiner. She also has been active in line dancing. Nancy and Ken purchased their home in Lake Hammock Village because of its proximity to Disney and for family coming to visit. They have two dogs, Charlie and Danny. Make them all feel welcome when you see them out and about.
Submitted by: Marian Spiegel
C.A.P.
PAGE
Safety Tips, Warnings, Information April 2017 Polk County Sheriff’s department has advised us that gated communities are seeing a steady rise in theft and other incidents during the daylight hours. This is the time that residents are watched for patterns as to when they leave their homes to go to the pool, a meeting, the doctors, store, walk their animals, activities, etc. This is when criminals target your space. The Sheriff’s office says that almost always the homeowner has not locked their doors, cars or sheds. PLEASE lock your doors, sheds and cars when you are away from your home.
8 STEPS FOR STAYING SAFE AT ATM’S Consider how vulnerable you are when you stop to withdraw cash from an ATM. Whether you’re in your car at a drive-up machine, on the street or in a building’s lobby, you may be marked as a target by a criminal – a target with cash in hand. Follow these simple steps each time you head to the ATM and reduce your risks: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Try to plan your visits to automatic teller during the day rather than after dark. Choose an ATM location in a busy public place. If possible, take along a friend who can watch the surroundings while you are conducting your transaction Pre-plan your transactions carefully and don’t spend too much time at the machine. When you make a withdrawal, quickly place the money in your purse or wallet and leave as soon as you finish your transaction. 6. Watch out for suspicious-looking people waiting around an ATM – they may not really be customers. If someone offers to let you go ahead of them, decline politely and leave. 7. When visiting a drive-through ATM, keep your doors locked and be prepared to drive away quickly. If anyone approaches your car on foot, roll up your window and drive off. 8. If you have not finished your transaction, and a suspicious character approaches you, press the CANCEL button, retrieve your card and leave quickly.
PURSE IN THE GROCERY CART SCAM A lady went grocery-shopping at a local store and left her purse sitting in the children's seat of the cart while she reached something off a shelf... wait till you read the WHOLE story! Her wallet was stolen, and she reported it to the store personnel. After returning home, she received a phone call from the Store Security to say that they had her wallet and that although there was no money in it, it did still hold her personal papers. She immediately went to pick up her wallet, only to be told by Store Security that they had not called her. By the time she returned home again, her house had been broken into and burglarized. The thieves knew that by calling and saying they were Store Security, they could lure her out of her house long enough for them to burglarize it.
CELL PHONES I never thought of this....... This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her cell phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet, etc., was stolen. Twenty minutes later when she called her husband, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, her husband says, "I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago." When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text "husband" in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.
Moral of the lesson:
a. Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc.... b. And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back before giving information out in a text. c. Also, when you're being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet "family and friends" who text you.
C.A.P. RESIDENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM April 2017
Soon our winter residents some of whom are also part of our C.A.P. volunteer program will be heading to their Northern home for the summer. We look forward to their return and on behalf of all residents we thank you for your time and dedication to our C.A.P. program. Through the summer months many of our C.A.P. volunteers (residents who are trained and participate in our C.A.P. program) are less in volume as many will take vacations, etc. But the C.A.P. program volunteers will continue to patrol our village (day and night) as a deterrent to solicitors, crime and for the safety and well being of our residents. ***** Each month I attend a C.A.P. Coordinator meeting where we are advised of any current crime activities in Polk County as well as safety tips and warnings of activity to watch out for. The C.A.P. volunteer members have suggested that we have a C.A.P. Page in our newsletter each month in which we will post ‘safety tips’ and other information for you the resident. The first C.A.P. Page is on a following page. Some of the things that residents have seen or have concerns about and have told our C.A.P. members about include but are not limited to:
Cars piggy back driving in thru the gates when they are closed If you see these actions by an unknown person/vehicle take note of the vehicle description, license plate number and description of person. A picture was also suggested. We will include this in our reports and keep this information as a reference if an incident happens in our park and an investigation is started.
Speeding in the park This is not an issue that C.A.P. members have authority or the responsibility to address as C.A.P. members. Our suggestion is that you take note of the vehicle/driver/time of day and report this information to LHV management.
Various LHV Rules & Regulations that are being ignored and/or not abided by C.A.P. members have no authority or responsibility to address and/or enforce LHV Rules & Regulations violations and/or LHV Rules & Regulations not being abiding by. This is a LHV management’s responsibility and we suggest you report such violations, etc. to LHV management verbally and/or in writing.
C.A.P. RESIDENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM April 2017 Page 2
LAKE HAMMOCK VILLAGE C.A.P. VOLUNTEERS: Norm & Jan Baczkiewicz, Andy Belski, Jerry Butler, Terry & Renee DeJane, Dick Gould, Jeff Hunt, Lori Johnsen, Joe & Nancy Kifus, Chuck Kluxdal, Chuck & Bee Koenig, Pam Leland, Calvin & Dawn Maluchnick , Bob & Brin McDonald, Jim Middleton, Bill & Karen Patelunas, George & Pat Robertson, Paul Rubel, Richard Spiegel and Joyce Wright Renee DeJane – Coordinator
Bill Patelunas – Assistant Coordinator
Citizen’s Assisted Patrol (C.A.P.) program is a very effective crime prevention tool for our park. The presence of our C.A.P. Golf Cart/Volunteers on patrol acts as a deterrent to solicitors and crime. Having a patrol sends a strong message that our residents care about their community and are united. By volunteering in our C.A.P. program you can actively improve and maintain safety in our park. Your presence as a C.A.P. volunteer discourages solicitors, vandalism, and other criminal activity. As a member of Lake Hammock Village/Polk County Sheriff’s Office C.A.P. program you will have a direct positive impact on Lake Hammock Village’s residents and our community.
Are you interested in becoming a volunteer member of the LHV C.A.P. program? Your only requirement for participation is to complete the Polk County Sheriff’s office C.A.P. program application. Upon acceptance by the Sheriff’s department you will be notified of acceptance after which you will be required to complete a seven (7) hour training class conducted by the Polk County Sheriffs’ C.A.P. Department. If you are interested….please see Renee or Bill for an application to join the Polk County Sheriff’s Citizen’s Assisted Patrol program.
Polk County Alert Polk County officials now use a critical communications system shared with most public safety operations across the State of Florida to inform county residents about public safety threats and concerns. During situations which may affect the health, safety and welfare of Polk County residents, designated officials send out messages to telephone numbers and email addresses within the affected geographic area. When the message is sent, you will be notified, giving specific information about the current announcement.
Emergency notifications include: • Tornadoes/Severe Weather • Mandatory Evacuations • Boil Water Orders • Gas Leaks • Sexual Predator Relocation Notices • Critical Law Enforcement Notifications • Hurricanes • Hurricane Recovery Information Receive vital updates when severe weather is threatening our county or about crime trends in your neighborhood. When you subscribe for emergency notifications, you'll also have the option of receiving community informational alerts.
To sign up go to PolkAlert.com
EASTER SYMBOLS AND TRADITIONS
choclate and marshmallow and supported by an internal steel frame.
Easter Bunny
Easter Eggs
The Bible makes no mention of a long-eared, short-tailed creature who delivers decorated eggs to well-behaved children on Easter Sunday; nevertheless, the Easter bunny has become a prominent symbol of Christianity’s most important holiday. The exact origins of this mythical mammal are unclear, but rabbits, known to be prolific procreators, are an ancient symbol of fertility and new life. According to some sources, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs. Eventually, the custom spread across the U.S. and the fabled rabbit’s Easter morning deliveries expanded to include chocolate and other types of candy and gifts, while decorated baskets replaced nests. Additionally, children often left out carrots for the bunny in case he got hungry from all his hopping.
Easter is a religious holiday, but some of its customs, such as Easter eggs, are likely linked to pagan traditions. The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and resurrection. Decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century, according to some sources. One explanation for this custom is that eggs were formerly a forbidden food during the Lenten season, so people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of the period of penance and fasting, then eat them on Easter as a celebration.
Did You Know?
The largest Easter egg ever made was over 25 feet high and weighed over 8,000 pounds. It was built out of
Easter egg hunts and egg rolling are two popular egg-related traditions. In the U.S., the White House Easter Egg Roll, a race in which children push decorated, hard-boiled eggs across the White House lawn, is an annual event held the Monday after Easter. The first official White House egg roll occurred in 1878, when Rutherford B. Hayes was president. The event has no religious significance, although some people have considered egg rolling symbolic of the stone blocking Jesus’ tomb being rolled away, leading to his resurrection.
Easter Candy Easter is the second best-selling candy holiday in America, after Halloween. Among the most popular sweet treats associated with this day are chocolate eggs, which date back to early 19th century Europe. Eggs have long been associated with Easter as a symbol of new life and Jesus’s resurrection. Another eggshaped candy, the jelly bean, became associated with Easter in the 1930s (although the jelly bean’s origins reportedly date all the way back to a Biblical-era concoction called a Turkish Delight). According to the National Confectioners Association, over 16 billion jelly beans are made in the U.S. each year for Easter, enough to fill a giant egg measuring 89 feet high and 60 feet wide. For the past decade, the topselling non-chocolate Easter candy has been the marshmallow Peep, a sugary, pastel-colored confection. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based candy manufacturer Just Born (founded by Russian immigrant Sam Born in 1923) began selling Peeps in the 1950s. The original Peeps were handmade, marshmallow-flavored yellow chicks, but other shapes and flavors were later introduced, including chocolate mousse bunnies.
Easter Parade In New York City, the Easter Parade tradition dates back to the mid-1800s, when the upper crust of society would attend Easter services at various Fifth Avenue churches then stroll outside afterward, showing off their new spring outfits and hats. Average citizens started showing up along Fifth Avenue to check out the action. The tradition reached its peak by the mid-20th century, and in 1948, the popular film Easter Parade was released, starring Fred Astaire and Judy Garland and featuring the music of Irving Berlin. The title song includes the lyrics: “In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it/You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade.” The Easter Parade tradition lives on in Manhattan, with Fifth Avenue from 49th Street to 57th Street being shut down during the day to traffic. Participants often sport elaborately decorated bonnets and hats. The event has no religious significance, but sources note that Easter processions have been a part of Christianity since its earliest days. Today, other cities across America also have their own parades.
A Brief History of the White House Easter Egg Roll
On Easter Monday in 1876, upwards of 10,000 children with the day off from school marched toward the newly completed castiron dome of the U.S Capitol toting baskets abounding in a rainbow of colorfully dyed eggs. They had come to carry on a peculiar holiday tradition that had arisen in the nation’s capital during the 1800s in which young revelers rolled hard-boiled eggs down the hills of Washington, D.C., to see which ones traveled the farthest without breaking. And nowhere in the District of Columbia was the egg-rolling any finer than on Capitol Hill. All day long, screaming children rolled their eggs—and themselves—down the grassy embankment on the west side of the Capitol grounds. “The noise was so great that in the House and Senate Chambers it drowned all other sounds,” reported the St. Louis GlobeDemocrat. The business of the country ground to a halt as congressmen exited the building to witness the commotion and, even worse to them, the ensuing destruction. The throng of frolicking children wore the grass completely bare and left the terrain more scrambled than scrambled eggs.
Already strapped for cash to properly maintain the Capitol grounds and with the country’s big centennial bash less than three months away, Congress was so outraged at the damage caused by the egg-rollers that it essentially told the kids to get off its lawn. Proving as hard-boiled as the eggs that tumbled down Capitol Hill, Congress passed the Turf Protection Law “to prevent any portion of the Capitol grounds and terraces from being used as play-grounds or otherwise, so far as may be necessary to protect the public property, turf, and grass from destruction and injury.” Less than two weeks after Easter, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the measure into law on April 29, 1876. Rain washed out Easter festivities in 1877, but when the egg-rollers tried to return to Capitol Hill the following year, the police turned them away. The District of Columbia’s disappointed children, however, found a warm welcome on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue where President Rutherford B. Hayes instructed his guards to allow the popular pastime to continue on the hillocks in the White House’s backyard. According to the White House Historical Association, some historians credit first lady Dolley Madison with first proposing the idea of a public egg roll around 1810, and there are accounts of informal egg rolls staged by the children of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. The 1878 event hosted by Hayes on the South Lawn, however, stands as the first official White House Easter Egg Roll.
The tradition quickly grew in popularity. Presidents regularly watched from the South Portico as families ate picnic lunches on blankets and children played games such as “toss and catch” and “egg picking,” in which they knocked eggs together to see which would crack first. In 1887 President Grover Cleveland personally shook hands with each of the children in the East Room, which afterwards was left littered with crushed eggshells. Two years later, President Benjamin Harrison recruited the United States Marine Band, conducted by John Phillip Sousa, to provide rousing marches as a soundtrack to the event. Crowds swelled each year until more than 50,000 people poured across the South Lawn in 1937. Not every White House occupant looked forward to the rite of spring, however. According to historian C.L. Arbelbide in a piece he wrote for the National Archives, first lady Edith Roosevelt complained about the odor from the broken eggs and the “needless destruction of the lovely grass.” Only wartime could interfere with the Easter tradition. After being cancelled during World War I, the egg roll was again postponed after the United States entered World War II. (Congress, however, permitted bygones to be bygones and agreed to host the event on Capitol Hill in 1942.) Post-war food rationing measures and the subsequent renovation of the White House under President Harry Truman resulted in further cancellations. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower revived the tradition after a 12-year hiatus.
The Easter Bunny made his first appearance at the egg roll in 1969 when a member of first lady Pat Nixon’s staff donned a fleecy white costume, and he quickly proved a bigger star than the president in the eyes of some of the children. Five years later, organizers raided the White House kitchen for silverware to stage the first egg-rolling races in which children used spoons to push their eggs in marked lanes. Jimmy Carter added a three-ring circus and a menagerie that included a 1,200-pound steer named “Big Red.” Four years later, President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan added Broadway show performances and balloons from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Reagans also staged a hunt for wooden eggs that were autographed by Hollywood stars, famous politicians and sporting greats. Since then, wooden eggs inscribed with the signatures of the president and first lady have been handed out as official keepsakes to all eggrollers 13 years and younger. The Easter Egg Roll has come a long way from the times of President Hayes. Demand to attend is so great that more than 35,000 tickets are distributed by a public lottery. 2016’s event will feature a musical performance by Idina Menzel, cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, sports clinics, a yoga garden and the first-ever White House Fun Run. Although the South Lawn promises to get trampled, the kids will certainly be invited back in 2017.
HISTORY OF THE DIAMOND AS THE APRIL BIRTHSTONE Natural diamonds are a rare and unique ultimate gift for a loved one. Thought to be one of the hardest substances on the globe, diamonds date back billions of years. The diamond is the traditional birthstone of April and holds significant meaning for those born in that month, thought to provide the wearer with better relationships and an increase in inner strength. Wearing diamonds is purported to bring other benefits such as balance, clarity and abundance. It's also symbolic of eternal love, and those fortunate to call April the month of their birth will enjoy the following history behind this rare gem. Diamond Gemstones Adopted from the Greek work adamas, meaning “invincible,” diamonds come in a wide range of colors such as black, blue, green, pink, red, purple, orange and yellow. The color is dependent upon the type of impurities that are present in the stone. For instance, yellow stones have minuscule traces of nitrogen while blue ones contain boron. The Origin of Birthstones It’s uncertain how the specific months became connected with the various stones. However, some speculate that the origins of birthstones dates back to biblical times when the breastplate belonging to a priest was decorated with 12 assorted colored gems. As time wore on, the 12 gems became associated with the zodiac and the months connected to it. This started the tradition of wearing a colored stone each month as a sort of good luck charm. Initially people wore all twelve stones, rotating according to the month of the year to derive the greatest benefit of each stone.
Believing that the various gems held magical powers for the individual born within a given month, people started to wear the stone associated with their birth month for the entire year. In 1912, the American National Association of Jewelers designed a list dedicating different gems to various months. What was once thought to be controversial based on its commercialism is now widely accepted as the official birthstone list. The History and Beliefs Surrounding the Diamond As told through the Encarta, Sanskrit texts dating back before 400 B.C. found that people associated significant value and wonderment with crystals. There is also significant research dating back to 1330 showing diamond cutting in Venice. The diamond trading business flourished towards the 15th century with the opening of Eastern trade routes. Ancient theories touting the magical powers of diamonds were prevalent: some thought lightning bolts formed diamonds, while other theories asserted that diamonds were the tears of god. The Healing Powers of Diamonds During the Middle Ages, diamonds were thought to hold healing powers and to cure ailments stemming from the pituitary gland and brain. By heating the crystal and taking it to bed, it was thought to draw out the harmful toxins that were crippling the body. It was also believed that diamonds could have an effect on an individual’s balance and clarity and could boost their energy when combined with other crystals like amethyst. The diamond as the April gemstone has garnered the hearts of many and is the most coveted crystal to date. Deemed as the “King of all Birthstones,” diamonds make the ideal choice for an April birthday gift. (She’ll love you for it!)
SATURDAY APRIL 8TH, 2017 EASTER GOLF CART PARADE AND EASTER BONNET CONTEST 10:30 AM- AT THE CLUBHOUSE PARADE LINE-UP EASTER BONNET JUDGING DECORATED GOLF CART JUDGING PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN FOR THE BEST GOLF CART AND BEST BONNET. 11:00 AM - PARADE KICKS OFF FROM CLUBHOUSE AND PROCEEDS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY TO THE LAKE FOR HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS, ICE CREAM SUNDAES AND AIR BOAT RIDES. WATCH FROM YOUR DRIVEWAY OR PORCH. WATCH OUT FOR THE EASTER BUNNY
Cookout and Social
Ice Cream
EASTER GOLF CART PARADE AND EASTER BONNET CONTEST PARADE STARTS FROM THE CLUBHOUSE @ 11:00 AM Saturday April 8th 2017 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM Featuring: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Soft Drinks “Make your own sundaes”
1:00 PM – 4:00 pm Airboat Rides provided by Alligators Unlimited out of Camp Lester with Captain Wormy at the controls. Free for HOA members in “good standing Guests and Non HOA members are $5.00 pp
(Please have your HOA Membership Card available)
Come join us for our monthly “Potluck Dinner� When: Friday, April 28th Time: 5:30 PM
Where: Lake Hammock Village Clubhouse Hosted by: Calvin and Dawn Maluchnick
Please bring your favorite dish (enough for 8) to share with your friends and neighbors! Also bring your own dinnerware and silverware.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE ANNUAL EASTER DINNER APRIL 16TH, 2017 TIME: 2:00 PM
DOORS OPEN AT 1:30PM WHERE: LHV CLUBHOUSE HOSTED BY: NORM AND JAN BACZKIEWICZ AND TERRI AND TIM STUMP PLEASE BRING A DISH FOR 8 TO SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. BRING YOUR OWN PLACE SETTING AND SILVERWARE PLEASE SIGN UP AT THE CLUBHOUSE SO THEY CAN GET AN ACCURATE COUNT.
MARCH ANNIVERSARIES AND BIRTHDAYS
MARCH ANNIVERSARIES
MARCH BIRTHDAYS – JANES WHITLEY CELEBRATING 90TH BIRTHDAY
SUDOKU 6
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Helpful kitchen tip: When carrots, tomatoes or tomato sauce leave a stain, before washing, take a paper towel and wipe with vegetable oil until stain is gone.
Thank you Hacy and I would like to thank all who attended the St. Patrick’s Day Potato Bar make it such a success! We would also like to thank the ticket sellers, potato bakers, ticket taker, servers, dessert bakers, and the clean-up crew. We appreciate each and every one of you. We could not have hosted this event without you. Again, thank you very much. Hacy and Joyce Wright
LHV Residents Corner SHELLY'S CLEANING SERVICE I am a resident in Lake Hammock Village. I take pride in my work. Call or drop me an email or just stop by my house and we can schedule an appointment.
A Place for our Residents’ Services
Driver Ron Smith 187 Glen Este Blvd. 407-319-6698 Now you can GO!! any place, any time I will drive you. I will use my car or your car. I am a safe driver and reliable.
shelly.shaffer81@yahoo.com 910-624-8925 58 Sargent St.
* I bring my own supplies and vacuum.
Handy Man at your Service Jerry Sibila Cell Phone: 910-876-7221 No job too small!! Give me a call and we can discuss what you need done. OR stop by my house and see what we’ve done inside. 58 Sargent Street Floors – Plumbing – Ceiling Fans – Painting – Landscaping – Household Repairs – ETC.
Household Handy Man Bruce Lemay 863-353-1108 33 Silver Crest Dr. General maintenance and home repair. No job too small; call or stop by for estimate
LHV Residents Corner Randy Bergstrom 42 Sargent Street 740-454-2819 DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS, THAT, OR THE OTHER THING?
A Place for our Residents’ Services
Donna Barkley Bonded Notary Public 863-232-9837 $10.00 per signing
Well maybe I can help. I was a plumber by trade for nearly 40 years and ended my career as a Building and Plumbing Inspector for the state of Illinois. If you have a question about plumbing or electric, feel free to give me a call. I am not able to physically do the work but I can guide and advise you in the right direction before you spend your money.
Fabulous Skin Care
Clarice Klepadlo Independent Beauty Consultant 52 Sargent Street 363-438-2309 or 315-271-9702 CATALOGES AVAILABLE IN CLUBLUHOUSE ALWAYS A 20% DISCOUNT
Are you interested in moving towards a more Holistic approach to health and wellness? Are you wondering what the craze about essential oils is all about? I would love to share this information with you. Please contact me at: Gloria Bitner, RN, BSN Wellness Advocate 160 Glen Este Ct. 989-992-6949 CATALOGS AND BUSINESS CARDS AVAILABLE IN CLUBHOUSE. 25% DISCOUNT.
SUNCREST SALES CORPORATION At Lake Hammock Village 36106 U.S. Highway 27 Haines City, Florida (863) 421-5764 or (866) 741-1239 www.lakehammock.com Email: phil@lakehammock.com
Lake Hammock Village Residents – Bring us a buying customer on any resale and receive $100.00. Receive $400 if they purchase a new home or build a new home.
Office Hours
Monday thru Friday * 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday * 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Sunday by Appointment Closed Holidays
Sales Staff
Phil Nespeca * Cell (863) 307-9686
@ExclusiveCrPl
ExclusiveCruisePlanners
Winter Residents Pre-Departure Checklist Item (Note: All items are recommendations)
Comments
Be sure a landscaper is in place to maintain the trimming &
Landscaper
edging of your lawn on a weekly basis.
Be sure a landscaper is in place to maintain your shrubs and
weed flower beds at least once per month
Have a vendor set-up in the event your home needs to be
Power Washer
Turn OFF Hot Water Heater Turn Off
the water to your home* *but leave the
sprinkler system on
Sprinkler System
pressure washed. If you choose to do this, you MUST turn the power off to your Hot Water Heater or you could damage your hot water heater. This could prevent broken pipes inside of your home Set to water only ___ times per week and no more than ___
hour per zone. Do not set the system to water between _am & _pm
Check to ensure the Sprinkler Rain Sensor is working to prevent over-
watering during rainy periods.
Remove and store away any birdbaths or feeders
Secure Items Outside of your home
Note: In the event of a severe storm, the main-
Remove and store away any patio furniture
tenance staff will not be able to secure items
Remove and store away any trash containers
at your home as they will have other duties to
Remove and store any wind chimes or ornaments
perform to secure the community.
Remove any other items outside of the home that are not
secure as they could become damaging flying objects
Secure hurricane shutters prior to departure or make arrangements with
someone to close them in the event of any potentially damaging storms.
Items Inside of your home
Be sure that food items that can “Go Bad� while you are away have
been disposed of. Be sure your washer & dryer are empty
Be sure your dish washer is empty.
Be sure all doors and windows are securely locked
Talk to a friend/neighbor about checking your home on a regular basis
while you are away.
Leave the Air-Conditioner on to prevent mold growth (80-85 recommended)
Please leave a set of keys to your home with a friend or neighbor
Notification
in case access is needed in an emergency. Please notify the office as to
who may have the keys.
Please notify the office of your departure date, probable return date &
information as to how we can contact you in an emergency
We wish you a Safe, Healthy an Happy Summer! See you soon... Well be waiting for you!
Rev. 02/2014
Sunday
2
9 PALM SUNDAY Birthdays and Anniversaries
16 EASTER SUNDAY EASTER DINNER 2:00PM CLUBHOUSE
23
Monday 2
3 9:30 Water Aerobics 10:30- Shuffleboard 1:00 - Hand & Foot 1:00 - Scrabble 7:00 - Euchre
10
17
9:30 - Water Aerobics 10:30 - Shuffleboard 1:00 - Hand & Foot 1:00 - Scrabble 7:00 - Euchre 9:30 Water Aerobics 10:30 -Suffleboard 1:00 - Scrabble 1:00 - Hand & Foot 7:00 - Euchre
24 9:30 - Water Aerobics 10:30 - Shuffleboard 1:00 - Hand & Foot 1:00 - Scrabble 7:00 - Euchre
Tuesday
4
Thursday
6
13
8:00 - Mens Breakfast 10:30- Shuffleboard 1:00 - Line Dance 2:00 - Craft Day 2:00 - Billards 7:00 - Dominoes
APRIL 2017 Wednesday
5
29 26
8:15 - Coffee/Donuts 9:30 - Water Aerobics 11:30 Ladies Lunch 6:30 - Bingo
19
8:00 Mens Breakfast 10:30 - Shuffleboard 2:00 - Billards 7:00 - Dominoes
30 27 26
8:00 Mens Breakfast 10:30 - Shuffleboard 2:00 - Billards 7:00 - Dominoes
26 20
8:15 am - Coffee/Donuts 8:00 Mens Breakfast 9:30 - Water Aerobics 10:30 Shuffleboard 6:30 - Bingo 2:00 - Billards 4:30 - Dine by Book 7:00 - Dominoes
12
8:15 - Coffee/Donuts 1:00 - Petanque 9:30 - Water Aerobics 7:00 - HOA Board Mtg. 6:30 - Bingo
11 8:00 - 12:00 Pool closed for Maint. 1:00 - Petanque 7:00 - HOA Gen.Mtg.
18 1:00 Petanque 2:00- Activities Mtg
25
1:00 Petanque 8:15 - Coffee/Donuts 4:30- Early Bird Dinning 9:30 - Water Aerobics 6:30 - Bingo
Friday
13 7
9:30 - Water Aerobics 1:00 Pokeno 7:00 CLR
14
9:30 - Water Aerobics 1:00 - Pokeno 7:00 - CLR
21
28
9:30 - Water Aerobics 1:00 - Pokeno 7:00 - CLR
5:30 - Potluck
9:30 - Water Aerobics 1:00 - Pokeno 7:00 - CLR
Saturday
1
12:00pm - 12:00 am RELAY FOR LIFE Lake Eva - Haines City 6:30 pm Ladies Poker
8
11:00 - 4:00 Easter Picnic and Spring Fling
6:30 - Ladies Poker
15
8:30 Breakfast Out R-eatery
22
6:30 - Ladies Poker
6:30 - Ladies Poker
29-30
6:30 Ladies Poker