C8 the country by MHBgroup

October2025

Fall is in the air! We started this new Social Club season with an awesome, well-attended Welcome Back BBQ! Thanks to each of you who came together with friends and neighbors to socialize. We missed you over the summer break.

President’sMessage

Our membership drive began on August 1st and by the end of August we had 106 members. We are inspired by your decision to join, come out, and have fun! There is still time to sign up to be a SC member and take advantage of all our activities.

BRUNCH COOKS: I’m still beating the cook drum. If we are to have brunches, we need volunteer cooks. Is that you? The signup sheet is on the bulletin board in the clubhouse. If you have never hosted a brunch, our experienced cooks will show you how. You will be reimbursed for the food purchased and you and two helpers get that meal free. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Choose a month and get on the board. Thanks!

THINGS TO COME:

• Chili Cook-off this month – October 18th. Have you signed up? See the cook-off procedure elsewhere in this month’s magazine;

• Halloween costume party with Sing-a-long Karaoke on October 25th

• Thanksgiving dinner in November hosted by Heyford Circle;

• Holiday Crafts Fair on December 6th – Sign up now. $10 for the long 8 foot table and $5.00 for the card table (*this is a price correction from last month’s message);

• Traditional Christmas ham dinner in December;

• New Year’s Eve Happy Hour with a live swing band on Dec 31st!

Have you signed up for the Crafts Fair? Check to see if tables are still available. The Crafts Fair will be held on December 6th in the clubhouse. We’ve already started marketing the Crafts Fair to the general public.

DONATING BAKE GOODS

Do you love to bake? Cakes, cookies, banana bread, etc.? We are looking for donations of baked goods to sell at the Crafts Fair to participants and attendees. We’ll be providing complimentary coffee. Proceeds will benefit the Social Club. There’s a signup sheet on the bulletin board in the club house.

CARE COMMITTEE: Our CARE committee remains available to help you in times of need: taking your trash out, giving you a ride to the store or doctor, providing a hot meal if you’re sick; collecting your mail if you’re out of town, dinner-on-us certificates if you are low on cash and can’t afford a dinner that you want to attend. REACH OUT! We keep the requested help confidential. Cathie Anderson: 707-978-1540.

Do you have a suggestion for the Board? A compliment? A complaint? We appreciate your feedback. Place them (signed) in the Social Club comment box in the Clubhouse.

Board Meetings: All are welcome to attend our board meetings held on the first Monday of each month. Join us on October 6th.

Sincerely,

Linda Bello-Ruiz

Social Club Board President

THE COUNTRY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION IS BACK!!!

Hello everyone, I am very excited to announce that after a year and a half of waiting we finally have two qualified candidates who are willing to step into the role of president and vice president of The Country HOA. They are married to each other and were nominated by the board on August 23rd, so they just need to be voted in by the general membership at the next meeting on October 25th. Kurt Webb moved to the Country last November and announced his candidacy for president. Kurt’s background is engineering and land surveying in Texas where he started his own business. He has also been an expert witness in three different court cases, and testified several times before various planning commissions and city councils for projects he was involved in.

Mary Hewlett has served in the district office for Willits Unified School District for ten years as a Human Resource Specialist / Executive Secretary. She is experienced in working with the public and state agencies concerning local education policies. Mary and Kurt are looking forward to using their combined talent, knowledge and experiences to lead the Country HOA and assist the residents.

Please join us at our next Country HOA meeting.

Where: In the Clubhouse

When: Saturday, October 25th

Time: 10:00 – 11:00 AM. Refreshments Provided

Agenda Topics:

• Senior Mobile Home Overlay District

• AB 635 Attorney General Support Letters

• New Santa Rosa Designated Flood Zones (What to Do)

Hope to see you all there,

Jo Ann Jones/ Past President

Still looking for cooks for The Country’s 2nd Annual CHILI COOK OFF!

We’re looking for FIVE Social Club members to make chili – 15 cups of chili per each entry. Those who participate with a chili entry will not pay the $6.00 dinner fee and receive $40 (with receipts) to put toward their out-of-pocket costs.

Here’s how it works:

Sign up in the Clubhouse to enter your chili in the Chili Cook-off by October 8th; if there are more than five people wanting to enter and compete, we’ll hold a lottery to select the five.

Cooks will be anonymous during the competition: Each entry will be assigned a number. Each entry will have a 5x7 card placed by each crockpot listing the main ingredients.

This is a popular vote chili cook-off: Each dinner attendee will receive a red ticket along with their name tag. After tasting the different chilis they will mark the number of their favorite one on the back of the ticket and place it in a container provided. Two board members will count the votes.

We will award cash prizes: 1st place - $30 2nd place - $20 3rd place - $10

4th & 5th place – $5.00 in Country Cash

· We reimburse up to $40 for each cook, so keep your receipts.

Vegan or meatless chili entry welcomed!

More specific info/details will be shared with the cooks once they sign up.

Birthdays...

2nd Cathie Anderson

2nd Craig Navratil

2nd Dawn Arkin

3rd Gerry Mercuri

5th Paula Mairel

October andAnniversaries!

8th Carrie Moug

9th Rebecca Burmahl

10th Barbara Markham

19th Ken Markham

26th Sharon Elliot

28th Joyce Amos

28th Lynn Ford

29th Nicholette Hart

31st Eamon Sharkey

17th Eamon & Lisa Marie Sharkey

20th Bruce & Kathy Alexander

THE COUNTRY SOCIAL CLUB

INVITES YOU TO OUR HAPPY HOURS!

Hello neighbors. Here at The Country Mobile Home Park, we hold a monthly Happy Hour from September thru May, usually on the last Saturday of the month (date may change due to holidays). The Social Club board of directors invite YOU to join us. The more the merrier! We gather from 5 pm to 7 pm, socialize, have a drink or two, share some great food brought by each attendee, and play games. Most of our games are played in randomly chosen teams so we can meet and have fun with new people.

Here’s our upcoming schedule 2025-2026:

October 25th – Halloween party and sing-along Karaoke (Prizes for best costumes!)

November 29th – Happy hour/no game

December 31st - New Year’s Eve Potluck, with a live Swing Band (7 pm – 9 pm)

January 31st – Poker Run *

February 28th – Name That Tune *

March 28th – Trivia *

April 25th – Sing-along Karaoke

May 30rd – Poker Run *

* Country Cash given as prices

Country Cash can be exchanged for drink tickets

Brunch

Hosted by Ruth Syfert & Irene Badaglia

Sunday, October 5 at 11:30AM

Egg and Cheese Strata Sausage Muffins Fruit Mimosas, Coffee & Tea

$6.00 for all attendees

Sign-up in the Clubhouse Don’t forget your utensils!

Hosted by

The Country Social Club Saturday, October 18th

Drinks @ 5PM Dinner @ 6PM

Social Club Members: $6.00

Residents: $8.00

Out of Park Guests: $10.00

Drink tickets: $1.00 each

Mixed drinks & large wines: 2 tickets

Beer, small wine & soft drinks: 1 ticket

Raffle tickets: 4 for $1.00

Wear your best Western duds and don’t forget your utensils, pardner!

MeetTheNeighbors!

A reoccurring feature by Barbara Goodman, Welcome Committee Writer

Rick Fell

Rick moved into the Country on Winchester three years ago. He lived in South San Francisco and grew up in the city, but he is very familiar with Sonoma County, the Russian River, Occidental and specifically this immediate area.

Both sets of Rick’s grandparents had a ranch—on his mom’s side the ranch was off Occidental Rd and his paternal grandparents ranch was off West College. His dad and eight siblings grew up and worked the Santa Rosa ranch. His mom’s side of the family worked and played on the Occidental ranch. Between all of Rick’s aunts and uncles, as a young boy, Rick and his fiftyplus cousins created many memories and stories to tell

about spending time on his Grandparent’s ranches. Every July 4th the whole clan would gather and celebrate Grandma’s birthday.

He is proud to speak of four generations.

Rick has a long standing employment with Nordstrom’s and transferred to the Nordstroms Rack in Coddingtown when he moved here because he is not ready to retire. When he does retire, his plan is to travel to many places — Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, Mexico, Hawaii to name a few and sees himself in Palm Springs in his 80’s. In the mean time, his goal is to have fun, meeting with friends, listening to music and dancing. He has his own portable disco ball to make life festive.

“

I do enjoy living in The Country” he says. “Coming home from work, I know that it will be quiet! I like all the neighbors I’ve met so far.”

Welcome to the Country, Rick!

HaveaPunderfulDay!

By Pat Swanson

YayforOctober!Fallismyfavoriteseason.Maybethat’s becauseI’ maNovemberbaby.TheSocialClubwillhavetheir annualHalloweensocialhour.Hopewehavealotof attendeescomeintheirbestcostumes.ThisPunderful articlewillbemyfinalone.I’ veenjoyedsharingtheseand hopeyouhaveenjoyedthem,too.

• A doctor is always calm because he has lots of patients.

• My friend was fired from his lumberjack job after failing to cut down a tree eight times. He had exceeded the maximum number of loggin’ attempts.

• The boy who sat next to me at school ate his crayons. He had a colorful personality.

• Patient: “I keep thinking I’m Mickey Mouse one minute and Pluto the next”. Doctor: “How long have you been having these Disney spells.”

• Where are your Arnold Schwarzenegger action figures? Aisle B, back.

• There’s something shady about trees.

• My clothes are so wrinkly people think I’m iron deficient.

• I tried to draw a circle, but it was a pointless endeavor. Andthisonefitsmy“I’ mnotamorningperson”personality:

• I hate when funerals are before noon. I’m not really a mourning person.

“Honorwherehonorisdue…”

Roger McConnell

and his now deceased wife Nancy moved into The Country twenty-five years ago, in May of 2000. He’s counted among a very few neighbors with that amount of years living here. He has witnessed and been instrumental in an abundance of changes in our community.

Prior to retirement, Roger was a Union Carpenter, and active in that organization. That experience primed him for being active in The Country. In 2000 there was no HOA, no rent control, and our mobile home park was up for sale. The owner was looking to convert The Country and Sequoia into a Condo Conversion community. Residents would own their homes, a portion of each 178 spaces, pay for electricity, water, garbage, street repairs, the Clubhouse, etc.

The grand majority of The Country residents were not in favor of this. Roger joined in with his neighbors to fight the Condo Conversion. People like Louise and Larry Martin and Dick and Bee Root (to name only a few) raised money, and took busloads of residents to the State Capitol in Sacramento (several times) to fight the conversion. Six and a half years later and $80,000 raised to pay attorney fees, they won – and because of this we have the community we have and we have rent control.

Roger did not stop advocating for The Country. He became President of the Social Club, Vice President of our newly created HOA, later he was President of the HOA and

V.P. of the Social Club while on the board of the SRMOA, and was zoning V.P. for GSMOL (Golden State Mobilehome Owners League). He is now “retired” from his very active life – a life reflected in part by the eleven certificates of honor on his office wall. He is still Chairman Emeritus for the SRMOA and a “Member for Life” in recognition of his much appreciated work for The Country and other mobile home parks in California. He says his father taught him, “If you’re going to do something, you better be good at it or you’ll never enjoy it.” His dad also engrained in him, “If you’re going to do something, do it right!”

When asked what he misses most, he says, “working with the politicians in Sonoma County (City, County and State) who were so instrumental in passing legislation to protect mobile home owners.“

Roger is 87 years old, soon to be 88 and says he is “still ticking albeit with a few new body parts.” His beloved wife Nancy died in 2012. Many years later he was gifted a second chance of love and companionship with Dani Kaye, who he met right here in The Country. They had ten great years together before her sudden death two years ago.

Roger remains active in his home and yard and consulting with the SRMOA board as needed. His current goal is to resolve a couple of medical issues and then travel to La Paz, Mexico to sit on the beach again and drink a few margaritas.

On behalf of The Country Mobile Home Park, I’d like to say, “GOOD JOB ROGER.” We appreciate you.

Written by: Linda Bello-Ruiz

Writer’ s Corner

Please enjoy these poems by resident Carla Lockwood

year resident of The Country, passed away on August 8, 2025 at the age of 77. He is now at peace after some medical struggles and reunited with his wife, Phyllis.

Bill and Phyllis moved into The Country MHP in 2009. Being the friendly couple they were, they quickly became a great neighbor to many in the park. Bill served on the HOA board and the Social Club board. He was also a block captain for the Emergency Response Team and a member of “the kitchen guys” who served up some pretty great dinners for the Social Club. “He was the Social Club bartender for many years, serving up the best margaritas in Sonoma County,” says his best friends, Rich and Karen. “We spent many hours sitting on our deck having a beer or a margarita and discussing everything from family fun to the problems of the world.”

According to his family, Bill’s

ones. He especially treasured his time at Family Camp and the Petersen Ranch where he enjoyed riding around in his side-by-side and playing dominoes.

A wonderful father, a proud grandfather, a beloved uncle and a fierce friend to many, Bill will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

RIP, Bill

Latin Lingo Dutch Brush Master

ALMA MATER

CARPE DIEM

CAVEAT EMPTOR

DE FACTO

E.G.

ET CETERA

ET TU BRUTE

EX NIHILO

IN MEDIAS RES IN VINO VERITAS

IPSO FACTO MAGNUM OPUS

NON SEQUITUR

PER CAPITA

PER SE

POST MORTEM

PRIMA FACIE

PRO BONO

QUID PRO QUO

STATUS QUO

Across

1. Shaggy Scandinavian rug

4. Colgate rival

9. Common Market inits.

10. Sled dog

11. “Casablanca” pianist

12. Ms. Williams in aquamusicals

13. Ancient rival of Athens

15. First word of the Constitution

16. Aleppo’s land

18. Word in a simile

20. Quantum theory pioneer Max

23. Wet lowland

25. “Smoking or ___?”

26. Gauchos’ weapons

27. Big deal

28. Doesn’t ignore

29. Tennis match part

Down

1. Remainder

2. “Awright!”

3. High points

4. Dark

5. “From ___ with Love”

6. “C’___ la vie!”

7. Bias

8. Phoenician trading center

14. Action on the side

17. Kournikova and Karenina

18. Court order against antisocial behaviour

19. Mop up, naut.

21. The “C” in U.P.C.

22. Masseur’s target

24. Bass, e.g.

The headline is a clue to the answer in the diagonal.

October 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

T Time

1. What company is represented on the New York Stock Exchange ticker by the letter T? a-Target, b-Radio Shack, c-AT&T, d-Kodak.

2. Who played the title character on the TV cop show "T.J. Hooker"? a-Jack Lord, b-William Shatner, c-Erik Estrada, d-Burt Reynolds.

3. In what city could you ride the commuter rail service known as the T? a-San Francisco, b-San Antonio, c-Boston, dMiami.

4. What is the middle name of Captain James T. Kirk on "Star Trek"? a-Taylor, b-Thomas, c-Timothy, d-Tiberius.

5. In what country would you find the headquarters for the T-Mobile telecommunications service? a-Germany, b-Norway, c-Canada, d-South Korea.

6. White blood cells known as T-cells get their name because they mature in what part of the human body? a-Teeth, b-Thalamus, c-Thymus, d-Tegument.

7. One way of investing your money is with the purchase of T-bills. What does the T in T-bill stand for? a-Tax, b-Tangible, c-Transaction, d-Treasury.

8. What 1962 instrumental hit with an edible title was the highest-ranking song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart by Booker T. and the MGs? a-"Bread and Butter," b-"Cotton Candy," c-"Green Onions," d-"Sugar and Spice."

9. T-Bag was the nickname of a villain played by Robert Knepper on what Fox TV drama series? a-"Oz," b-"24," c-"Touch," d-"Prison Break."

10. What did the T stand for in the names of T.E. Lawrence and T.S. Eliot? aThomas, b-Theodore, c-Tyler, d-Terrell.

QUOTES

Riches don't make a man rich, they only make him busier. Christopher Columbus, discoverer of America in 1492.

By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination. Christopher Columbus, discovered the new world in 1492

Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear.

George Addair, Founder of the Omega Vector, a self knowledge program

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.

Francis Bacon: English philosopher, statesman, scientist and author

When you forgive, you in no way change the past -- but you sure do change the future.

Bernard Meltzer, radio host of "What's Your Problem" in Philadelphia

He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty.

Lao Tzu: philosopher of ancient China

You have a clean slate every day you wake up. You have a chance every single morning to make that change and be the person you want to be. You just have to decide to do it. Decide today's the day. Say it: this is going to be my day.

Brendon Burchard, author, of The Millionaire Messenger.

Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, but a thing to be achieved.

William Jennings Bryan: American politician from the 1890s

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.

Edward Everett Hale, editor and author of 60 books

The Lighter Side

Leather

When a woman wears leather clothing, a man's heart beats faster. His throat gets dry. He gets weak in the knees and begins to think irrationally.

Ever wonder why?

She smells like a new truck!

Old man

He was eating lunch at a truck stop when three bikers walked in. The first pushed his cigarette into the old man's pie, then took a seat at the counter.

The second spit in the old man's milk, then took a seat at the counter. The third turned his plate over and then took a seat at the counter.

The old man left without a word. One of the bikers said to the waitress, "Humph, not much of a man is he?"

The waitress replied: "Not much of a truck driver either. He just backed his truck over three motorcycles."