kdavis@havenms.com
Millennium Memo
The way you’re being billed for electricity is about to change. Due to a law passed in 2022—AB 205—you’ll see a new “Base Services Charge” of $24.15. The goal: “to make it more affordable to use electric technologies and clean, sustainable energy.”
We’re told that, as a trade-off, the cost of your actual usage will go down, possibly by 10%. The result: low electricity users might pay more, “medium” users about the same, but high electric users might save money. That’s how I understand it, anyway.
Folks on the CARE or FERA Programs get a discount on this new charge, so it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re enrolled, if you qualify. You can find out about that at the PG & E website. As usual, we’re just the messenger here.
More News
Did You Know?
The Nobel Prizes were established from the will of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, in 1895. The Nobel Prize ceremonies take place annually on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
• After a LONG battle, we’ve finally managed to terminate the contract with the Laundry service provider and have installed our first set of Park-owned washers & Dryers. We can’t do any worse than the prior company, can we? Why not stop by and take the new machines for a spin?
• This month’s Kudos go to Dave (Sp. 50) & Maria (Sp. 57), for alerting us to another leak outside the Laundry Room, so Rebecca could get it fixed promptly.
Unkudos to whoever tampered with the irrigation along the railroad track. That wasn’t very helpful and created quite a mess. Please don’t do that again.
• You know you need approval to make changes to your home or homesite, but you also need to talk to Rebecca before removing a tree yours or your neighbor’s.
If the tree is a problem, you’ll likely get approval, but you do need to ask first.
• Speaking of trees: we hired a service to remove a large Cypress that was damaging the sidewalk…but they removed the wrong tree! We lost 2 trees, not just the one that was the hazard. Rebecca will replace those trees in the Spring.
Out of curiousity, I asked Rebecca how many trees she’s had to remove. Her answer: “I wouldn’t know. I never keep a log.”
Remember This From 6 Years Ago?
Q. What was the Snowman doing at the market, rummaging through the carrots? A. He was picking his nose.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a fun New Year!
George Turk
Manager’s Corner
was deemed overfilled and We had to hire a private trash service to repersonnel and equipment. driver is authorized to decline collection
To ensure uninterrupted service, WM kindly ask's that all waste materials be placed securely within the designated containers, with lids fully closed. Please see the "Garbage" flyer for proper items that are disposable in the dumpster. Please note only 3 types of yard waste are permitted. All other yard waste is compostable and must be disposed of in your personal Green cart.
Holiday Tree pick up schedule & details:
Natural & artificial tree must be in increments of 6ft or less. Tess must be completely bare. Non flocked and without decorations stand & tinsel. Pick up will be first 3 weeks of 2026 onregular pickup days. Do not dispose tree in park dumpster.
Truly, Rebecca Mendez On-Site Property Manager Castle Mobilehome Estates
For a Peppermint Version of the truffles:
Mix 1 1/2 tsp of peppermint extract with the cream cheese in a stand mixer first, then add the Oreo crumbs and continue as directed.
Dip chocolates then immediately sprinkle tops with peppermint bits crushed candy canes or crushed starlight mints (instead of more crushed Oreos).
Oreo Truffle Balls
Makes: 24
Ingredients:
• One 16-ounce package Oreo cookies (about 30)
• 6 ounces cream cheese
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening or refined coconut oil
• 2 cups white chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pulse the cookies in a food processor to fine crumbs. Remove 2 tablespoons of crumbs to a small bowl and reserve. Add the cream cheese and pulse until it just comes together. Transfer to a large bowl and knead a few times until completely combined.
2. Roll into 24 balls, each about 2 heaping tablespoons. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
3. Put the semisweet chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl with 1 tablespoon oil. Put the white chocolate chips in another medium heatproof bowl with the remaining tablespoon of oil. Melt the chocolate mixtures one at a time, stirring occasionally, over a double boiler until smooth.
4. Drop one truffle at a time into the semisweet chocolate mixture, using two forks to evenly coat. Tap any excess chocolate off, then return to the baking sheet. Drizzle with the white chocolate mixture, then quickly sprinkle with the reserved cookie crumbs. You may also coat some truffles in the white chocolate and decorate with the semisweet. Get creative. Continue until all the truffles are coated and decorated. Return to the refrigerator to set, about 5 minutes.
5. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.
6. Can be frozen in airtight container up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge overnight before serving.
Puzzles and Word Games you can
Net Fraud
BLACKMAIL BOTNET CHARITY
CHECKING CRYPTOCURRENCY
DATING
EXTORTION
FBI
GOLD
IMPERSONATION
INVESTMENT
JOB OFFERS
LOTTERY MALWARE PHISHING PROPERTY REANSOMWARE SCAM
SHOPPING SPOOFING
TAX
TRAVEL VIRUS
Across 1.Similar
5.Chap
8.Celebes ox 9.Opening time, maybe
10.___ cheese
11.Cutlass, e.g.
12.From one side only
14.“C’___ la vie!”
15.Narcotic
18.Kind of store
19.Enormous birds of myth
21.“Idylls of the King” character
22.“Beetle Bailey” dog
23.“Wanna ___?”
24.Hail Mary, e.g.
Down
1.Ed.’s request 2.Sabotage
3.Cajole
4.Impeded
5.Gold-plated
Quick Pic
6.Restrained stage performances
7.“Absolutely!”
9.A chemistry
Nobelist: 1946
13.Death on the Nile cause, perhaps
16.Leave out
17.Bit
18.Center of a ball?
20.“Help!”
The headline is a clue to the answer in the diagonal.
December Sudoku
How to solve sudoku puzzles
No math is required to solve a sudoku. You only need logic and patience.
Simply make sure that each 3x3 square region has only one instance of the numbers 1-9. Similarly, each number can only
appear once in a column or row in the larger grid. The difficulty on this puzzle is easy.
TRIVIA TEASER
Clark Bar
1.Clark Gregg stars as the leader of a government team of heroes on what TV series? a-"The Champions," b-"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," c-"Misfits of Science," d-"Heroes."
2. Who starred as family head Clark Griswold in the 1983 film comedy "National Lampoon's Vacation"? a-Dick Van Patten, b-Chevy Chase, c-Bill Murray, d-Harold Ramis.
3.Marcia Clark was a lead prosecuting attorney in whose murder trial? a-Oscar Pistorius, b-O.J. Simpson, c-Phil Spector, d-Lyle and Erik Menendez.
4.Dick Clark was the longtime host of which TV game show? a-"Concentration," b-"What's My Line?," c-"The $10,000 Pyramid," d-"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."
5. Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark, are authors in what literary genre? a-Romance, b-Science fiction, c-Young adult, d-Mystery.
6.Which U.S. President had Clark as a middle name? a-Herbert Hoover, b-Calvin Coolidge, c-Abraham Lincoln, d-James Garfield.
7.Claudine Clark was the singer and composer of what top ten hit from 1962? a-"I Can't Stop Loving You," b-"Party Lights," c-"Let Me In," d-"Break It To Me Gently."
8. George Clark, Dutch Clark, and Monte Clark were all head coaches for which NFL team? a-Detroit Lions, b-New England Patriots, c-St. Louis Cardinals, d-New Orleans Saints.
9.The Lewis and Clark Expedition was commissioned by which US President, shortly after the Louisiana Purchase? a-John Adams, b-Thomas Jefferson, cJames Monroe, d-James Madison.
10.According to a 1967 Petula Clark hit song, where shouldn't you sleep? a-Under the apple tree, c-In the hallway, c-On the stairs, d-In the subway.
QUOTES
Christmas Quotes
Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given, when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.
Joan Windmill Brown, American author and editor
My idea of Christmas, whether oldfashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?
Bob Hope, American film actor and comedian
Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
Washington Irving, American short-story writer and essayist.
Were I a philosopher, I should write a philosophy of toys, showing that nothing else in life need to be taken seriously, and that Christmas Day in the company of children is one of the few occasions on which men become entirely alive.
Robert Lynd, American sociologist.
This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone.
Taylor Caldwell, English novelist
Answer to 'Clark Bar'
1-b, "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
2-b, Chevy Chase
3-b, O.J. Simpson
4-c, "The $10,000 Pyramid"
5-d, Mystery
6-a, Herbert Hoover
7-b, "Party Lights"
8-a, Detroit Lions
9-b, Thomas Jefferson
10-d, In the subway
The Lighter Side Germs
Four-year-old Johnny was eating a hot dog when he dropped it on the floor. He quickly picked it up and was about to take another bite when his mom said, "No, Johnny, you can't eat that now it has germs."
Johnny pondered the thought a moment and replied, "Jesus, germs, and Santa Claus - that's all I ever hear about and I haven't seen one of 'em yet!"
Postcard
A man writing at the post office desk was approached by an older fellow with a post card in his hand. The old man said, "Sir, I'm sorry to bother you but could you address this post card for me? My arthritis is acting up and I can't even hold a pen."
"Certainly, sir," said the younger man. He wrote out the address and also agreed to write a short message and sign the card for the man. Finally, the younger man asked, "Now, is there anything else I can do for you?"
The old fellow glanced at the card a moment and said, "Yes, at the end could you just add, 'PS: Please excuse the sloppy hand-writing.'"
Butcher Shop
A lady goes into the butcher shop and as she is walking around the store, she spies a beef tongue in the butcher's counter. The lady asks, "What in the world is that?"
"Beef tongue," replies the butcher.
The lady gives a little involuntary shudder, "No way would I put anything in my mouth that came out of an animal's mouth!"
The butcher nods sympathetically while peeking into the woman's shopping cart, "I see you're buying a dozen eggs!"
Grandpa said ...
*I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.
*The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
*The bonds of matrimony are a good investment if the interest is kept up.
*Trouble starts when a man is so busy earnin' his salt he forgets his sugar.
December 2025 Calendar
GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT M0NTH
NATIONAL IMPAIRED DRIVING PREVENTION MONTH.
Holidays and Special Days
1, Cyber Monday. The Monday after Thanksgiving, marked by shopping promotions.
1, World AIDS Day.
3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
3, Package Protection Day. Reminds us of the importance of securing packages from porch thefts.
6, St. Nicholas Day. Christian observance commemorating Saint Nicholas, known for his generosity.
7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Honors American lives lost in the 1941 attack that drew the US into World War II.
8, Bodhi Day. Buddhist observance celebrating the day Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
9, Christmas Card Day. Day to send or create greeting cards.
10, International Animal Rights Day. Protects animals from harm, cruelty, and neglect.
12, Our Lady of Guadalupe Day. Commemorates the 1531 appearance of the Virgin Mary.
12, Gingerbread House Day.
12, National Poinsettia Day.
13, National Cocoa Day. Cozy up with rich, creamy hot cocoa topped with marshmallows.
14-22, Hanukkah. Jewish Festival of Lights celebrating the Maccabees' victory and temple rededication in 165 BC.
16, Las Posadas. Nine-day Christian observance reenacting Mary and Joseph's search for shelter.
17, Wright Brothers Day. Honors aviation pioneers who defied gravity and inspired flight.
19, National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.
21, December Solstice. Marks the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
21, National Coquito Day. Festive Puerto Rican elixir of coconut, rum, and spices.
22, Mathematics Day. Explores patterns, puzzles, and the world through numbers.
24, Christmas Eve. Christian day before Christmas with family gatherings and traditions.
24, National Eggnog Day.
25, Christmas Day.
25, National Pumpkin Pie Day.
26, National Candy Cane Day.
27, National Fruitcake Day.
31, New Year's Eve. Last day of the year with parties and countdowns.
Events
1-4, Old Town Christmas in the Desert at Old Town, La Quinta, CA.
4-7, ChristmasVille at Old Town, Rock Hill, SC. Victorian-themed festival with parades, crafts, and live performances through December 7.
4-5, Winterfest at Henderson, NV. Holiday festival with live entertainment, family activities through December.
5-7, Saint Olaf Christmas Festival at Saint Olaf College, Northfield, MN. Held since 1912; 600 musicians and 500 singers.
13, Santa Lucia Festival at various Scandinavian communities, MN and WI.
1-24, Leavenworth Christmas Lighting Festival at Leavenworth, WA. Bavarianstyle village. Several weekends.
31, Times Square New Year’s Eve at New York, NY. Iconic ball drop with live performances and global broadcast.
