FUNDRAISING
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14th
5:30 p.m.
August is the HOA's annual fundraising month. Our first Hot August Nights event last year played a big part in a successful 2024 campaign. We're going to change it up this year, give it a bit more “Sonoma County Wine Country” vibe. There will not be a talent show, but there will s ll be a lot going on, so let's get to it!
First – Silent Auc on! We listened to your concerns and sugges ons and made some changes to improve this event. We will give everyone more me to review the auc on items, and we will streamline the payment process. That's our part. Your part is to donate the auc on items. We are looking for quality items you may no longer need, or services you can render—something you might be interested in bidding on yourself.
Second – Food! We will provide a large variety of “finger foods” for you. Think Sonoma County Charcuterie. You can eat what you want when you want, all while perusing (and bidding on) the Silent Auc on items, mingling with your friends and neighbors, or you can just sit and eat a plateful.
Third – Wine! A er all, what is a Sonoma County soiree without wine? We can't provide any alcohol, but we are providing all the food. How about our residents bring a bo le or two of their favorite Sonoma County wine to share? A nice variety for a li le taste of this and a li le taste of that. Not too much! Just enough to maybe loosen up those wallets!
So that's our new and improved Hot August Nights. We think it sounds like a winner! I will begin accep ng dona ons for the Silent Auc on on July 10th (you can bring them to our Summer Celebra on event). I will con nue to accept dona ons un l August 10th. All my contact informa on is below.
This is an important event. We are coun ng on everyone to con nue suppor ng our community and the benefits we enjoy. The sign-up sheet is in the clubhouse, or you can sign up any me by emailing windypond@gmail.com. Guests are welcome at $5.00 per person. Remember to bring a few dollars for the 50-50 raffle. Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.
Gail Lake; 38 Bluejay Drive; (707) 326-8356; windypond@gmail.com
RVME HOA Executive Board ROSTER
For the term starting May 1, 2025 (Rev. 5/7/2025)
PRESIDENT – Barbara Richards (707)486-8285, barb530@att.net
1ST VICE PRESIDENT - Norma Smith-Davis (707)696-2538, nsdavis2@me.com Sunshine Lady – Kimberly Sherman (707)246-8751), cherrysweet63@yahoo.com
2ND VICE PRESIDENT – Gwen Adkins (707)484-7328, gadkins33@yahoo.com Welcome Coordinator — Gale Grubb (707)236-4556, galegrubb@gmail.com
3RD VICE PRESIDENT – Gail Lake (707)326-8356, windypond@gmail.com
Social Committee Lead Co-Chair—Gail Lake Co-Chairs: Dona Mitchell (707)536-9090, donawalt@aol.com, and Martha McDonald (707)291-9169, martha.mcdonald1013@gmail.com
SECRETARY—Caitlin Downing (707)708-0718, caitdown215@gmail.com
TREASURER—Ginger Smith (707)907-0653, smithginger42@gmail.com
AUXILIARY FUNCTIONS:
Coffee & Donuts—Gwen Adkins (707)484-7328, gadkins33@yahoo.com
COPE (Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies) – Joan Lutz (707)538-2119, jrlutz5555@att.net
Friendly Connection – Belinda Riehl, Editor (805)279-4193, belinda.real@gmail.com
MANUFACTURED HOME COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS:
SRMOA (Santa Rosa Manufactured Homeowners Association) – Kathleen Needels (707)538-8688, sunshine5556@sbcglobal.net
GSMOL (Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners League) – Norma Smith-Davis (707)696-2538, nsdavis2@me.com
CARA (California Alliance for Retired Americans) – Norma Smith-Davis (707)696-2538, nsdavis2@me.com
Our HOA is one of the few that does NOT require a monthly fee. Everyone in the park is automatically a member of the Homeowners’ Association (HOA). There are NO dues; however, we depend on donations during August each year, along with the generous donations collected in the Donation Box at our Social Events, to fund these wonderful monthly activities.
HOW TO DONATE
One way is to place your donation check, made payable to RVME HOA, in the same envelope as your August rent check, or drop your check at the office anytime during August. Manager Debbie will pass the HOA checks along to the HOA Treasurer. Or you may deliver your check to the HOA Fundraising Chair, Gwen Adkins at 118 Cardinal Way. THANK YOU!
Sponsored
Fall/Holiday Rock Painting and Decoupage
Ornament Workshop
Thursday, September 25th, at 5:30 p.m.
RVME resident Kim Buckley is back to help us get an easy, fun, and crea ve start to the fall/holiday season. Let's take something plain and zhuzh it up! All materials will be provided. We have large wood rounds that can be made into rus c holiday ornaments. We have smaller wood rounds that could be used for package gi tags. There are lots of paints, holiday papers, and decora ons. And rocks to paint or decoupage. If you have an item that needs a makeover, bring it along. Wood, glass, plas c, metal, just about anything will work.
No food will be provided. You are welcome to bring your own food or you can bring a snack to share with the group. The sign-up sheet will be in the clubhouse, or you can sign up by emailing windypond@gmail.com. Guests are welcome for $5.00. If your plans change & you become unable to a end, please give us a courtesy no fica on.
Dona ons are always welcome. Every dollar le in the Dona on Box is used to help fund future social events. So give what you can when you can. We thank you for your generosity!
Let's get an early start on Halloween this year. Join your friends and neighbors for tricks and treats and a COSTUME PARADE. This will be your chance to work out the kinks in your ghoulish costume. You do not have to dress up to come, but there will be prizes!
This is our only full potluck event this year. That means we need our residents to bring main dishes, sides, and desserts…the whole shebang! The sign-up sheet will be in the clubhouse as we get closer to the event. Or you can sign-up any me by emailing windypond@gmail.com. Guests are welcome for $5.00 per person. Remember to bring a few dollars for the 50-50 raffle. Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. Dona ons are always welcome. Every dollar le in the Dona on Box is used to help fund future social events. So give what you can when you can. We thank you for your generosity!
If your plans change & you are no longer able to a end, please give a courtesy no fica on to windypond@gmail.com.
From the profundity file: Kindness multiplies and it enables possibility.
– Seth Godin
Today is a normal July day in Santa Rosa. Foggy morning and warming up in the a ernoon. I feel very fortunate to live in such a welcoming climate.
The HOA Board is up running. There are many planned ac vi es for the coming months. Plan on a ending and call me if you need a ride or want company.
I want to remind everyone to check your TO GO BAG. Are your flashlights working, do you have snacks (not out dated like mine), money, your medicines, clothes, a first aid kit, personal items like a toothbrush, a towel, a blanket, and what about that cord for charging your phone or paper and pencil for leaving a note? And legal documents?
Please take a few minutes and check you Bag. Doing this now will make it li le easier if there is an emergency.
Once you have completed the above task, take a li le walk and enjoy our beau ful Park.
HUGE NEWS
AUGUST IS FUNDRAISING MONTH
The Silent Auc on at Hot August Nights on August 14th looks to be a ton of fun and is a chance to help support the Social Commi ee par es and events for the coming year.
If you’d like to quietly donate, your check is welcome at the Manager’s office any me during the month of August.
Last year we raised $3000 and look at the fun we’ve had spending it this year. Let’s see if we can match or exceed last year’s successful drive.
Thank you for your generosity.
—Editor Belinda
A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM GAIL LAKE
As announced in the May 2025 issue of The Friendly Connection, effective May 1st, Belinda Riehl chose to step down as our HOA President and is no longer a member of the Executive Board. Many of you have asked me if and how we will recognize Belinda's volunteer service to RVME. Some of the ways she has enhanced our community include her three plus years as President, nearly five years as Treasurer, and several years as Secretary, all at the same time. She continues after five years as Editor of The Friendly Connection, the Resident Directory, and the RVME.HOA emails. She initiated the last two years’ Gratitude & Margarita Parties and New Year’s Eve Parties.
We considered many options to honor her, but I decided to ask her what she would like. She said parties, speeches, and luncheons are nice, but what has meant the most to her are the individual acknowledgments she has received from you, the residents. So, if Belinda has impressed you, please take a few moments to send a text message or an email, give her a call, or jot a quick note to:
Belinda Riehl 112 Cardinal Way (805) 279-4193 belinda.real@gmail.com
Belinda has definitely touched my life, both as a mentor and a friend. Please take this opportunity to reach out to her to express your sincere appreciation.
Respectfully,
Gail Lake Social Committee Co-chair
SOCIAL EVENTS REPORT
By Gail Lake
A great me was had by all at the annual Luau on June 14th. The turn out was smaller than usual this year. Hey…. we were compe ng with Father’s Day weekend and the Santa Rosa coali on of the na onwide “No Kings” rally. Fortunately, those who a ended our luau fully immersed themselves in the Aloha spirit. Our best dressed winners were Pat Larsen, Patricia Gregory, and Sheila Hirsch. (Is there an Hawaiian saying for our favorite “mensch”?) While the food was great, the music was the highlight of the evening. I must say that Deb Wright and her crew outdid themselves this year. People were singing and dancing, totally par cipa ng. So, a big THANK YOU to Deb, Jerry and Karen Wagner, Gary and Becky Sugiyama and Jeff Rodarmel. And to our resident dancers, I say “Bravo" and leave you with these Hawaiian words to live by: A'a i ka hula, waiho i ka maka'u i ka hale -- Dare to dance, leave shame at home.
We have a very important event coming up this month on August 14th. Since all residents are automa cally members of our Homeowners Associa on, the Hot August Nights Fundraising and Silent Auc on evening will benefit us all. You will find event specific informa on elsewhere in this newsle er. However, I am specifically appealing to our residents for dona ons of quality items or services that you can provide for our Silent Auc on. We have totally revamped the process and are coun ng on you to make it a success. With your par cipa on, I believe it will be something that we look forward to every year. I will be accep ng dona ons between July 10th and August 10th. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any ques ons.
And please remember to recognize and ac vely engage new residents and first- me a endees at our events.
Thank you for your help and support,
Gail Lake
Social Commi ee Lead Co-chair (707) 326-8356
windypond@gmail.com
FIRE SEASON NOTES Provided by JOAN LUTZ COPE COORDINATOR
(Ci zens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies)
Is your yard providing kindling for a fire?
In 2020, the fire line may have been Calistoga Road, but embers from that fire were landing in our park. Foot-tall dry grass and or dead dried-up weeds (yes, you sprayed them to kill them, but you didn’t remove them) are kindling for a fire! If you love your grass, fine, just keep it trimmed down and remove the trimmings.
Landscaping mulches (aka bark) can be another fire starter. The following are some ou akes from a study by the University of Nevada (firesafesdcounty.org) to show the differences in two types of bark:
Based on the cumula ve values of flame height, rate of spread, and temperature, shredded rubber, pine needles, and western red cedar demonstrated the most hazardous fire behavior. Shredded rubber mulch burned at the ho est average maximum temperature (in excess of 630°F measured at 4 inches above the mulch) and produced the greatest flame heights, averaging over 3 feet. It ignited easily and burned intensely for a prolonged period.
The most rapid rate of fire spread came from shredded we stern red cedar, traveling at a rate of 47.9 feet per minute, with temperatures averaging 380°F and an average flame height of 11.4 inches.
The only restric ons regarding mulch by the City of Santa Rosa are in WUI (Wildland Urban Interface) areas. Our park is not within a WUI. The above informa on on mulch is intended to inform you and, hopefully, encourage you to consider alterna ves such as stone or rock.
Consider your space. What other objects, piles of clu er, do you have that are, in actuality, kindling for a fire? Oh, and don’t overlook those piles of leaves at the base of your house from last fall.
Please do what you can to make your area wild fire safe. If you need help to clear weeds or grass, give me a call. 707-538-2119 or jrlutz5555@a .net
ANNUAL HOA LUAU
June 14, 2025
LIBRARY NOTES for JULY 2025
LIBRARY NOTES
Titles of possible interest from our shelves:
American History
“The Day the World Came to Town” - 911 in Gander, Newfoundland – Jim Defede –When 38 jetliners bound for the U.S. were forced to land in Gander airport on September 11, 2001, the community's response was truly extraordinary.
Travel Memoir
“We'll Always Have Paris” - John Baxter – Humorous and delightful account of falling in love with a Parisian and being transported to total immersion in Paris.
Personal Development
“Frequency” - The Power of Personal Vibration – Penney Peirce –exploring the dynamics of energy and personal resonance.
Humorous Essays
“You Can Fool All of the People All the Time” - Art Buchwald – a treasure of tongue-in-cheek observations of American politics during the Reagan administration.
Popular Mystery
“The Lying Game” - Ruth Ware – four friends find out that tall tales have consequences.
American History 1933
“A Secret Gift” - Ted Gup – truly poignant and uplifting account of one man's kindness and his grandson's search into the hidden life of his hero.
Your Library Contacts
Kathleen 707 799-5088, Gale 707 236-4556, Curtis 707 521-9134
Kathleen Needels
SANTA ROSA MANUFACTURED-HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION
NEXT MEETING DATE:
SATURDAY – AUGUST 9th, 2025 The Country Park 1180 Fulton Rd. 1:30pm
Come for updates on status of current State and City legislation affecting Mobile Home Parks
Hope to see you there! Kathleen Needels – SRMOA Board Sunshine5556@sbcglobal.net
UPCOMING Events
Hot August Nights Silent Auction, Thursday, August 14th, 5:30
Fall/Holiday Decoupage & Rock Painting, Sept. 25th, 5:30
Halloween Party & Costume Contest Potluck, Oct. 23rd, 5:30
Pie Palooza, November 13th, 5:30
RINCONSLIST
To post on Rinconslist, email your ad and picture to belinda.real@gmail.com by the 10th of the month for the next issue.
For sale: Go-Go Elite Traveler $1000 or best offer
Comes with:
Cover, charger, 2 keys, owner’s manual, and a set of colored plates to change the color from red (pictured) to blue.
Only ridden around the block once—couldn’t find anyone willing to race.
French Sites
BASTILLE CATACOMBS
CHAMBORD
CASTLE
DDAY BEACHES
EIFFEL TOWER
LASCAUX CAVES
LES INVALIDS
LOUVRE
NIMES ARENA
NOTRE DAME
OMAHA BEACH
PONT DU GARD
SACRE COEUR
SAINT MALO
SAINTE CHAPELLE
VERSAILLES
Across
1.“What ___ is new?”
5.Any doctrine
Expecting an answer
8. Greek earth goddess: Var.
9.On the ocean
10.Jobs
11.Responded in court
12.Con man
14.Souvenir
20.Wise one
21.Eagle’s nest
23.Early video game
24.Flower holder
25.“A Chorus Line” number
26.Greek god of love
Down
1.Breakfast fare
2.Secular
3.Sound of relief
4.Facilitate
5.Part of an archipelago
6.Soothsayer
7.“Spy vs. Spy” magazine
9.Likely
13.“___ we there yet?”
14.Atomic particle
15.Sea eagle
16.Coffee holder
17.Church section
18.Eye drop
19.About
20. U.S. document publisher
22.“I agree”
The headline is a clue to the answer in the diagonal.
August 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
Sunny Side Up
1. Sonny Crockett and Rico Tubbs were cops on what TV series? a-Miami Vice, b-Hill Street Blues, c-NYPD Blue, d-The Streets of San Francisco.
2.Who defeated Sonny Liston in 1964 to become the world heavyweight boxing champion? a-George Foreman, b-Muhammad Ali, c-Ingemar Johanssen, d-Rocky Graziano.
3. What TV show's theme song includes the lyrics "Sunny day, chasing the clouds away, on my way to where the air is sweet?" a-The Jeffersons, b-Good Times, c-Sesame Street, d-The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
4.Singer Sonny Bono served as the mayor of what California city? a-Oakland, b-Beverly Hills, c-Palm Springs, d-Pasadena.
5.Sonny Jurgensen played most of his NFL career as a quarterback for what team? a-Dallas Cowboys, b-San Francisco 49ers, c-St. Louis Cardinals, d-Washington Redskins.
6.In TV commercials, Sonny the bird is "cuckoo" about what breakfast cereal? a-Cocoa Puffs, b-Froot Loops, c-Corn Flakes, d-Honeycomb.
7.What mystery writer's creations included a fashion-conscious private eye named Sunny Randall? a-John D. MacDonald, b-Janet Evanovich, c-Robert B.Parker, d-Martin Cruz Smith.
8.What singer won a 1997 Grammy for Record of the Year for "Sunny Came Home"? a-Alison Krauss, b-Alanis Morissette, c-Shawn Colvin, d-Paula Cole.
9.What TV series was set in fictional Sunnydale, California? a-Gilmore Girls, b-Buffy the Vampire Slayer, c-One Tree Hill, d-Gossip Girl.
10. Which songwriter earned a total of 37 cents in royalties from his first published effort, "Marie From Sunny Italy"? a-Cole Porter, b-Irving Berlin, c-Woody Guthrie, d-Pete Seeger.
QUOTES
A salary is the drug they give you to forget your dreams.
Kevin O'Leary
I would visualize things coming to me. It would just make me feel better. Visualization works if you work hard. That's the thing. You can't just visualize and go eat a sandwich."
Jim Carrey
When we forget to use visualization and imagination, it is like not using our minds.
Jose Silva
You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.
Mahatma Gandhi
The start is what stops most people. Don Shula
I realized early on that success was tied to not giving up. Most people in this business gave up and went on to other things. If you simply didn't give up, you would outlast the people who came in on the bus with you.
Harrison Ford
Want of foresight, unwillingness to act when action would be simple and effective, lack of clear thinking, confusion of counsel until the emergency comes, until self-preservation strikes its jarring gong, these are the features which constitute the endless repetition of history.
Winston Churchill
The difference between try and triumph is a little "umph."
Author Unknown
The pessimist worries about the wind; the optimist thinks it will change; the realist adjusts the sails.
William Arthur Ward
Progress equals happiness.
Tony Robbins
The Lighter Side
Careful
A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband.
Suddenly, her husband burst into the kitchen. "Careful," he said, "CAREFUL! Put in some more butter!
Oh my gosh! You're cooking too many at once. Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter.
Oh my gosh! They're going to STICK! Careful. I said CAREFUL!
You NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt!"
The wife stared at him. "What in the world is wrong with you? You think I don't know how to fry a couple of eggs?"
The husband calmly replied, "I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm driving!"
GI Insurance
Airman Jones was assigned to the induction center to sell recruits GI insurance benefits.
Captain Smith noticed that Jones had a 100% record for insurance sales. It had never happened before.
The Captain then sat in the room and listened to Jones's sales pitch. Jones explained the basics of the insurance.
"If you have GI Insurance and get killed in battle, the government has to pay $200,000 to your beneficiaries. If you don't have GI insurance, and get killed in battle, the government only has to pay $6,000. Now, who do you think they send into battle first?"
Answers to 'Sunny Side Up'
1-a, Miami Vice
2-b, Muhammad Ali
3-c, Sesame Street
4-c, Palm Springs
5-d, Washington Redskins
6-a, Cocoa Puffs
7-c, Robert B. Parker
8-c, Shawn Colvin
9-b, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
10-b, Irving Berlin
August 2025 Calendar
1-17, Indiana State Fair at Indianapolis, IN. Livestock exhibition, top entertainment, giant midway, more, 900,000 attend.
1-7, International Clown Week. Recognizing clowns for entertaining and supporting good causes worldwide.
1-10, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally at Sturgis, SD. World’s largest motorcycle rally with races, concerts, and street food, 500,000+ attend.
1-31, National Immunization Awareness Month. Promoting vaccinations to prevent life-threatening diseases for all ages.
1, National Girlfriends Day. Celebrating the bond of friendship among women with shared activities.
2, National Ice Cream Sandwich Day. Enjoying the sweet treat of ice cream between two cookies.
2-3, Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire at Bonney Lake, WA. Also August 9-10, and August 16-17.
3, National Watermelon Day. Savoring the juicy, refreshing fruit popular in summer.
4, National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. Baking or eating the classic American cookie favorite.
5, National Oyster Day. Indulging in fresh or cooked oysters, a coastal delicacy.
6, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony at Hiroshima, Japan. Commemorating the 1945 atomic bombing with calls for peace (80th anniversary).
7, National Lighthouse Day. Honoring lighthouses and their role in maritime safety.
7-17, Iowa State Fair at Des Moines, IA. Agriculture, entertainment, and food on a stick draw over 1 million annually.
8, International Cat Day. Celebrating feline companions and promoting their welfare.
9, August Full Moon reaches peak illumination. Viewing the Sturgeon Moon, named for abundant fish in North America.
10, National S’mores Day. Toasting marshmallows and chocolate between graham crackers by a campfire.
11, National Son and Daughter Day. Appreciating the joy and love of children in families.
12-13, Perseids Meteor Shower peaks. Observing up to 100 meteors per hour in clear night skies.
13, International Left-Handers Day. Recognizing the unique experiences of lefthanded individuals.
14, National Navajo Code Talkers Day. Honoring Navajo servicemen’s WWII contributions using their language as code.
15, Assumption of Mary. Observing the Christian feast of Mary’s ascent into heaven, a holy day in some communities.
16, National Rum Day. Sipping or mixing cocktails with the versatile spirit.
17, National Nonprofit Day. Recognizing the impact of nonprofit organizations on communities.
18, National Fajita Day. Grilling and enjoying sizzling fajitas with peppers and onions.
19, National Aviation Day. Celebrating the history and innovation of flight, established for Orville Wright’s birthday.
20, National Radio Day. Honoring the invention and impact of radio broadcasting (100 years since first U.S. radio network, 1925).
21-Sept. 1, Minnesota State Fair at St. Paul, MN. Massive fair with food, rides, and entertainment, attracts over 2 million.
21, National Senior Citizens Day. Recognizing the contributions and wisdom of older adults.
21-31, Wisconsin State Fair at West Allis, WI. Agriculture, music, and cream puffs draw over 1 million annually.
22, National Tooth Fairy Day. Celebrating the mythical figure who rewards kids for lost teeth.
23, International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. Reflecting on the history and legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.
24, National Waffle Day. Enjoying crispy waffles with sweet or savory toppings.
25, National Park Service Founders Day at Yellowstone, WY. Managing parks for 109 years.
26, Women’s Equality Day. Commemorating the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment granting women’s suffrage (105th anniversary).
27, National Just Because Day. Doing something spontaneous or kind for no particular reason.
28, National Red Wine Day.
29, National Lemon Juice Day.
30, National Grief Awareness Day. Raising awareness about coping with loss and supporting others.
31, International Overdose Awareness Day. Honoring those lost to drug overdoses and promoting prevention.
Tips to guard against one common infection
About one in 10 women aged 65 or older who report having at least one Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) every year.
Common during warm weather, a UTI can cause pain and burning when passing urine. It can cause frequent urination, fever, fatigue, nausea, and pressure or pain bellow the belly button, according to Johns Hopkins.
Sometimes another symptom can be strange and scary: Confusion and even delirium. One woman who experienced this began seeing common objects loom before her in giant size. Suddenly, she couldn't find her way home on very familiar streets. She thought she was going crazy, but a trip to the doctor solved the problem in one day.
It's crucial to get treated for UTIs, which can be diagnosed with a simple urine test. Untreated UTIs are very dangerous and can spread infection from the bladder to kidneys, or to the bloodstream.
If you have had a UTI before, focus on prevention by drinking lots of water.
Eat high-probiotic food such as pickles, sourdough bread, cottage cheese, peas, sauerkraut, or kimchi.
Take showers instead of baths.
Wear cotton underwear.
Gather your dragons and bams, it's time for mahjong
You are going to need a pung of 7 bams.
If you know what we mean here, you are a mahjong player. Mahjong is a 19th century Chinese social game, with over 40 game variations. In America, it has a lively following of players who have their own rules. It even has its own national society, The National Mah Jongg League, founded in 1937.
While once mahjong was the favorite of Chinese and Jewish grandmothers, today it reaches people of all ages and has been surging in popularity. Actress Julia Roberts once said she plays regularly. There are even mahjong tutors these days.
If you have never played mahjong or American Mah Jongg, you might be thinking of those little game apps that let you match pairs of identical tiles stacked on top of each other. This is a sort of new mahjong solitaire, but
this isn't like the authentic mahjong game of any variation.
American Mah Jongg (note the unique spelling) is played by four people, using 144 tiles, a special language, and a lot of luck. While it is a game of skill, some players estimate that 60 percent of the game is luck.
The idea is to form a winning hand by drawing, discarding, and exchanging tiles to form various combinations, kind of like rummy. Mahjong has numbered tiles grouped as suits (dots, bamboo, characters), honors (winds and dragons), and Bonus (flowers and seasons).
In American Mah Jongg, the league prints an annual card of winning combinations. In 2025, it had a misprint, causing consternation among its many fans and sparking a story in The Wall Street Journal. Just when you think you need a pung of 7 bams, this happens.
Improving the safety of your bathroom
By now, you have probably installed non-slip mats in your shower and grab bars where you need them. And, if you haven't, you should!
But there are other ways to improve the safety of your bathroom.
One of the easiest ways is to install a night light. Many varieties light when they detect movement.
Consider re-painting an all-white bathroom. An all-white bathroom with shiny fixtures, bright lights and mirrors can cause glare that make people disoriented. They can even be blinded by the brightness, especially if their vision isn't perfect. Reduce the glare by using frosted bulbs. Consider painting the walls a contrasting color, which can help you and your guests keep their balance.
Don't try to make the bathroom
warmer by using a space heater. They are a risk of electrocution. Propane heaters also don't work. They need more ventilation than a bathroom provides. Install a permanently wired heating unit instead.
*Check your shower doors for cracks, chips or the glass rubbing against metal. Shower doors have been known to shatter. In one recent year, the Consumer Products Safety Commission received 2,000 such reports. Of course, doors will also break if someone falls into them.
Shower doors are made of tempered glass, which means they shatter into hundreds of pieces and shards. Anyone present can be injured by falling into the pieces. If it ever happens, throw one or more towels over the broken pieces so you and others can walk out safely.
info@mobilehomeboard.com www.mobilehomeparkmagazines.com 1240-C Mtn. View/Alviso Rd. • Sunnyvale, CA 94089 (408) 744-1011 or (800) 828-8242
Anna Harris & Berni Baxter
Serving Sonoma County since 2001
Specializing in
Manufactured/Mobile Homes in 55+ and Family Parks
Thinking About Selling…Call Today!
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Anna Harris, Realtor®
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707-321- 9021
BaxterHarrisRE @gmail.com
Berni Baxter, Realtor®
BRE License #01353119 707-695- 8121
BaxterHarrisRE@gmail.com
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Reader Response
From time to time we like to reach out to readers to gather feedback. This time we are looking to learn more about what advertisers or services you would like to see in your magazine.
You could let us know any of the following: A specific business (we would need their name and contact info), a type of business that you would like or a company you have used.
We do all of this to make sure we are providing you with access to companies that can help you in any number of ways. This is critical to the success of the magazine for both readers and advertisers. That is the partnership that has worked for over 40 years and still works today.
We would like to offer an incentive to any new advertiser you help us to get to advertise. For any new advertiser who wants to come on board we can offer a 10% discount on all 6 and 12 month ad contracts. The only condition is that they have never advertised before. We want new companies who can learn the benefits of advertising in your magazines.
We can be reached by email at readerresponse@mobilehomeparkmagazines.com or via phone (800)-828-8242 x3107.
