Between Palms THE
Staying Connected
JANE BREISCH, EDITOR CVGOLFERS@GMAIL.COM
Between the Palms has a new contributing writer: Mark Carter! He joined both the Finance Committee and Communications Committee this spring. Given his strong financial background, he’s agreed to write a monthly column titled Between the Numbers as another way to keep our members informed about HP’s finances. See page 14 for his inaugural column.
For all of you who have travel plans … especially overseas ... please see my article Cyber Security: Travel Safely on page 19. It contains tips to make your travel less subject to cyber criminals. It also contains some important things to consider when planning any trip—especially when traveling to an international destination.
In case you missed it, for overall cyber security advice, check out my article Cyber Security … Take Steps NOW which appeared in the March BTP. Here’s the link: https://btp.seabreezecommunications. com/2025/02/18/cyber-security-takesteps-now/ ***********
On June 6, 1944, General Eisenhower gave the go-ahead for the largest amphibious military operation in history: Operation Overlord, code named D-Day, the Allied invasion of northern France. In commemoration of that event, I have updated Interesting World War II Facts , which originally appeared in BTP in November 2023. The timeline is quite sobering … See page 24. ***********
It bears repeating: please know there’s an option for you to download this issue (or any prior issue) of BTP as a PDF (Adobe) for viewing, rather than using a web browser. When BTP is first opened, scroll down to the bottom of page 1. When there, simply click the downward arrow icon (see sample #3 below) to download the magazine as a PDF on your laptop, iPad, or cell phone. The PDF version shows one page at a time (vs the two pages you see side by side “on line”). Plus, if you download the issue, you can print any page you like, and also store any current or prior issue on your laptop. It’s easy-peasy!
Should you have an article to submit for the next issue, please email it to cvgolfers@gmail. com. Post Cards are welcome!
2025 HPCO Golf Outing A Success
ALLAN POTECHIN, HPCO PRESIDENT
The Heritage Palms Charitable Organization (HPCO) was founded to provide financial support to our valued employees during times of unexpected hardship—whether it’s medical emergencies, hurricane damage, or other life-altering events. Our mission is simple: to show our employees that they matter and they are part of a community which truly cares.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our members and local businesses, HPCO has distributed nearly $90,000 to employees in need. This would not be possible without your continued support.
Our two major fundraisers— Night at the Disco (save the date: January 31, 2026 ) and the annual Golf Outing (held Sunday, April 13, 2025)—continue to be the cornerstone of our fundraising efforts. And what a Golf Outing it was!
A huge thank you goes out to Bob Kelly and his team , as well as all the volunteers who sold raffle tickets, organized the ball drop, packed gift bags, and kept things running smoothly on the Par-3s.
Next, I’d like to applaud the bravery of the team putting on #6 Royal when a couple of spectator alligators walked up to the green to check out the action. I sure hope they didn’t miss their putts! Even with that excitement, fun was had by all.
UNEXPECTED VISITORS ON HOLE #6 ROYAL.
All in all, it was a day filled with fun, laughter, and community spirit. From all of us at HPCO: thank you for making it such a success!
The big raffle ticket winners were:
$10,000: Melissa Scully
$2,500: Barbara Derocher
$1,000 each: Steve Moorman, Karen Shandelson, and Brian Phelps.
STEVE MOORMAN RECEIVING HIS CHECK FROM MIRIAM SHOOK, HPCO TREASURER.
The Helicopter Ball drop winners were:
$330 each to Kelly Vecere, Melissa Scully (yes it was a good day for her), Lynne Gerstner, and Jim Wenke.
Thanks to our major sponsors with our deep appreciation: Dave Brennan, Dominion Eagle Advisor Group; Douglas Beck, Star Financial; Stuart Draper; David Lionett; Gerald and Patricia Schuetzenhofer; The Hole-in-One Sponsors and Hole Sponsors. Also, thanks to all the members who purchased multiple tickets and ball drops.
LUNCH SPONSORS.
THE BALL DROP.
WGA 2025 Closing Cocktail Party and Awards Ceremony Photos
THE 2024-25 WGA BOARD MEMBERS
(L-R): GEORGETTA MCCABE, BARB HABERER, TERRI ANDERSON, KATHY BLAGOUE, MARY LOU REID, JOAN MCIVOR, SHIRLEY FIREBAUGH, MARY PRIVITE, AND SUSAN KLIMAS.
2ND FLIGHT MATCH PLAY RESULTS (L-R): WINNERS SUSAN ALLISON & CATHY VESCIO (NOT PICTURED), RUNNERS-UP SUE HIBBERD & COLLEEN LIESMAN
1ST FLIGHT MATCH PLAY RESULTS (L-R): RUNNERS-UP TRACY RUPP & KITSY BAUMGARTNER, AND WINNERS CHARLOTTE FENNELL & KATHY MOORE (NOT PICTURED).
3RD FLIGHT MATCH PLAY RESULTS (L-R): RUNNERS-UP KATHY BULTEMEIER & ANNIE KAJANDER, AND WINNERS WILLA BELCHER & BETH CALLOWHILL FOR MORE PHOTOS SEE PAGE 56 OR CLICK HERE
Move…Your life depends on it!
LISA SCHNECK, CPT, CNC, TPI WELLNESS AND ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR LSCHNECK@HPGCC.COM
While advancing age does affect our health, our daily habits are more indicative of our quality of life and longevity than the number of candles we blew out on our last birthday.
Every day, I work with members who, using simple lifestyle changes, report increased bone density, decreased or even cessation of Type II Diabetes treatment, and avoided knee or hip replacement, all through consistent, impactful habits.
If we were to distill all the ways to positively impact our health, we would yield the “Five Superpowers of Wellness:” nutrition, sleep/ rest, movement, mindset, and connection.
Today, we will be talking about movement! Notice I didn’t say “exercise.” While it is essential to move our bodies in various ways, research is clear that it need not be long or complicated. Simply moving our bodies 150 minutes a week can mitigate much of the disease and dysfunction that a sedentary lifestyle brings.
company of others is also great for your emotional and cognitive health!
Move your joints through their full range of motion every day.
You can achieve even more benefits by being strategic and knowledgeable with these 150 minutes per week—or 20 to 30 minutes daily. As is often the case, the solution is not complicated, nor does it require a hefty investment of time. Always remember that movement in the
Our joint health is vital. Each day, we want to move each joint in a full range of motion. If you begin at the foot, you’ll notice that as we proceed up the body, we encounter stable joints (like those in the foot) followed by a moveable joint (such as the ankle). The stable joints move in one direction (like the hinging of the knee or elbow), while the moveable joints (like the ball and socket joints of the
hips and shoulders) allow movement in all directions. When we move our joints, the motion lubricates the joint capsule with synovial fluid and removes toxins, and our central nervous system gets the message that we intend to keep moving these joints to the fullest of their range.
At Heritage Palms, members have several opportunities to perform this vital movement, from our 1:30 p.m. “Sit to Be Fit” classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, and “Chair Yoga and Tai Chi” at 1:30 p.m. on Fridays, to our “Flexibility and Agility” class on Saturdays at 7 a.m.
Complete body resistance training twice a week.
While our joint health is vital, maintaining muscle strength and balance is just as important. Many are surprised to learn that the forward head posture and rounded back associated with aging are largely preventable – even if our parents had this posture. Our bodies adapt along with what we ask them to do. If we aren’t mindful of strengthening all our muscles, and instead ask our bodies to adapt only to what we do each day, we will suffer first from muscle imbalance, then joint dysfunction, and ultimately injury and medical intervention.
It helps us to think of our bodies as puppets; specific muscles contract while other muscles lengthen; this force-couple relationship enables us to move. As we perform certain activities more than others, some muscles become “stuck” in contraction, while others have been “turned off.” We see this in the lower back pain associated with sitting for long periods. Or in a golfer’s one-sided hip, knee, or shoulder pain. Unless we do something to counteract this imbalance, it will be a matter of time before significant dysfunction and injury occur. Once the issue has crossed into injury, medical intervention becomes necessary, and the
potential for permanent damage becomes real.
By training our whole body twice weekly and quickly addressing limitations in movement, we can make great strides against muscle atrophy, loss of bone density, and injury.
At Heritage Palms, members have abundant opportunities to perform complete body resistance training, from personal training to our many strengthening classes, such as “Mat Pilates” on Mondays at 8:30 a.m. and “Body Sculpting” at 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Tai Chi – the Ultimate Antiaging Routine
If I could only recommend one discipline to members, it would be Tai Chi. Tai Chi was a military discipline. The idea was that if a person were taught a perfected movement and learned to execute that movement slowly and precisely – even uniting the movement with their breath for optimal execution –then practiced over and over, when the time to fight came, they would be able to quickly and efficiently execute the pattern for the best results.
Tai Chi is a highly beneficial practice for healthy aging, offering numerous advantages for physical and cognitive functions in older adults. Overall, Tai Chi enhances the quality of life for older adults and provides a safe, low-impact exercise option that encourages social interaction through group classes, making it an ideal choice for those seeking to age healthily. “Tai Chi” classes are held at noon on Fridays; and “Chair Yoga and Tai Chi” at 1:30 p.m. on Fridays – both in the AC’s Fitness Classroom.
Above all, move! Download a fitness tracker app and look for as many opportunities as possible to move your body in a way you enjoy!
Between The Numbers
MARK CARTER, FINANCE COMMITTEE AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBER MARKBCARTER@MAC.COM
A few years back, someone smarter than me started this column to help explain the finances of Heritage Palms. It was going great – until life got in the way and the column took an extended vacation. That’s where I come in. With a background in accounting and finance – and a moment of weakness where I said, “I’ll do it!” – I’ve volunteered to bring it back.
Now, before your eyes glaze over at the word “finances,” stick with me. Understanding the money stuff starts with knowing why an organization exists in the first place.
Take General Motors, for example. Their mission? Build cars people actually want and make a nice profit while doing it. Then there’s the American Red Cross – they’re here to save the day after disasters, not to rake in profits for stockholders. Any extra money they get goes right back into helping people.
So where does Heritage Palms fit in?
Somewhere in the middle – but with less drama and more golf carts. We exist for the benefit of our members (that’s you!). Any “profit” we make doesn’t go into anyone’s private yacht fund – it goes right back into the community. That could mean improving services or saving up for big project – like the Oasis/Tiki redo. (Yes, that Tiki bar won’t build itself.)
Like any organization, we need to be smart with our money. That means earning more than we spend. Thankfully, Heritage Palms usually does just that, and the extra funds are used to improve life here, not to buy executive jet skis to cruise around for golf ball target practice on the lake.
In the next few columns, I’ll dive into the numbers (don’t worry, I’ll keep it painless) and answer questions you may have. Got a burning finance question? Shoot me an email – unless it’s about cryptocurrency. Then we both need help.
Looking forward to learning more right alongside you – and maybe sharing a few laughs along the way.
Have a great summer, and don’t forget to tip your bartender!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark Carter is a CPA (retired). He was a partner with Ernst & Young, served as a Chief Financial Officer of a large health care system, and as Chief Executive Officer of a health insurance company. He and his wife, Kellie, reside on Queen Palm Lane. They have three children and eight grandchildren. They both love Heritage Palms and the great friends they have made here.
We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby
JOY WEINER, HPPA PRESIDENT JCWEINER3@ICLOUD.COM
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY LOU BOTTITTA, JANE BREISCH, LYNN ROBERTS, KATHY MOORE, AND JANE SIMON.
The notion of Pickleball at Heritage Palms began in 2012 with an informational session at “The Lodge.” HP members, Kathy Moore and Jane Simon brought in a Pickleball Pro to provide information and instruction. In 2014, the courts were moved to the parking lot where the activity center is now and then moved back to “The Lodge.” In the fall of 2017, two courts were built on the corner of Queen Palm and Washingtonia where they’ve continued to be very busy since day one. The HPPA, in collaboration with the Tennis/Pickleball/ Bocce Committee, proposed the need for additional courts to the HP Board. On December 18, 2023, the “Pickleball Expansion Project” resolution passed. The HP membership approved the project on January 19, 2024. For photos and more history on pickleball, please visit the History of Heritage Palms on our website: https://www. hpgcc.com//getattachment/2e4351e1-adc7-4b6d-9dc7c35d62c0b4e8/Tennis_Pickleball.aspx
RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY (L-R): CAD DYER, DIRECTOR OF RACKET SPORTS, AND BOARD PRESIDENT RON ASSISE.
GM TRACI IRONS IZZO WITH RAFFLE WINNER, ANDY WEINER.
After unforeseen delays, the project began in December 2024, and was completed this April. The four new courts were opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 25. (A Grand Opening is scheduled for the fall.) Mimosas were served, and two excellent paddles were raffled off. The crowd of over 100 enjoyed a ceremonial first game, and afterwards, the courts filled up with enthusiastic pickleball players who had waited a long time for this moment. It was a great day!
The HPPA will be meeting with Chad and the Raquet Sports staff this summer to discuss the best use of the courts next season. If anyone has some good ideas about this transition, please email me.
FIRST CEREMONIAL GAME PLAYERS
(L-R): BOBBY ROBERTS, BRYAN DEAN, DAVID GINTER, AND RON ASSISE.
IMPORTANT DATES
The HPPA has planned next season’s events, which include the following. Please mark your calendars:
• Grand Opening of the new courts, tentatively scheduled for this November. Details to follow
• Back to Season Party: January 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the Palms Dining Room.
End of Season Party: March 23 at 5 p.m. in the Palms Dining Room.
• Play it Forward Charity Event: January 25. Sponsored by the HPPA & HPTA.
• Monthly Round Robin and Happy Hour to be held the last Monday evening of the month. Depending on participation they may increase to twice a month. Cabana to remain open during the Round Robin. This event open to all interested players. Proposed start date is November 24.
• HPPA Round Robin tournament dates: January 21 for men; January 22 for women. February 21 for both men’s & women’s tournaments. Couples’ tournament is March 23.
• Chad Dyer will be working on a proposal to join other community leagues this summer.
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OTHER CEREMONY ATTENDEES, INCLUDING (L-R): KEVIN AMMON, LARRY GERMAN, GORDON HODGSON, AND CAROLYN LAWVER.
CEREMONY ATTENDEES (L-R): LORI BORGA, BRENDA GINTER, CINDY NORRIS, LYNN ROBERTS,
CHERYL PENKALSKI.
Cyber Security: Travel Safely
JANE BREISCH, EDITOR
For all of you traveling this summer, perhaps overseas, please remember to:
• Register with the U.S. Department of State — or your home country’s embassy – before traveling abroad. Go to https://mytravel.state.gov/s/ step to enroll.
• Ensure you have health coverage while abroad.
• Notify credit card companies and banks of travel plans.
• Have phone numbers of financial institutions, if needed.
• Keep passports, travel documents, and valuables in your hotel safe when you don’t need them.
• Carry backup copies of vital documents.
• Petty crime (such as pickpocketing) is the primary risk to travelers globally. Always remain vigilant in public spaces and crowded areas.
• Try not to carry large amounts of cash.
• Avoid using ATMs on the street. Use one inside a bank or hotel. Set up alerts to monitor transactions at all your financial institutions.
9 safety tips to help you travel smart:
Travel can be a memorable
experience to share with family and friends. But there are some important things to consider when planning any trip—especially when traveling to an international destination. The following tips fill in the blanks on what you need to do to ensure a bon voyage.
• Program emergency numbers into your phone.
Ensure that your phone has contact information for your local embassy, health insurance
provider, credit card company, and for the people you’re traveling with. All travelers in the group should leverage geo-location services on their mobile phones (e.g., “Find your phone” functionality or family safety applications), so in the event of an emergency individuals may be located or contacted quickly.
• Receive all recommended vaccines. Before your trip, plan to meet with your health care provider, who can suggest what steps to take to help protect yourself against potential health risks. Schedule appointments in advance to allow for multiple doses, if necessary.
• Notify your personal credit card provider of your international travel plans. Many credit card companies will suspect fraud and put a freeze on your account if they see charges from a foreign country.
• Be prepared if your passport and/or travel documents are lost or stolen. Photocopy or scan your passport and carry a copy with you. Also, carry a printed copy of your travel itinerary and electronic ticket receipts.
• Protect your home while you’re away. Take the necessary steps to avoid tipping off thieves. Before you leave, either have a trusted party retrieve your mail or contact the postal service to stop delivery. Avoid posting your travel plans on social
media, and don’t tag your location while on your trip.
• Register your international trip with the U.S. Department of State—or your home country’s embassy, if possible—and perform basic research.
U.S. citizens can register at the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Also, check the State Department’s website for information regarding your international travel destination before you leave. Understand the following for all areas visited: hospitals near you, known crime areas, planned major events/protests, etc.
• Obtain dedicated travel medical insurance to cover you and your family abroad.
Check with your health insurance provider to understand your coverage abroad and find out what your policy will and will not cover. Oftentimes, there are gaps in coverage and the best step is to consider purchasing dedicated travel medical insurance. Particularly, to assist in events requiring emergency medical treatment and evacuation, it’s prudent to hire a provider specifically skilled in this area.
• Activate international calling on your cell phone.
When traveling internationally, verify that your phone will work in the country you are visiting and activate the appropriate international service with your provider or
rent a phone as needed. When you arrive, make a test call to ensure the phone is working. Don’t forget to pack a charger that will work where you’re going.
• Overall Personal security.
◦ Remember to secure cash, credit cards, and other valuables
◦ Petty crime (such as pickpocketing and bag snatching) is the primary risk to travelers globally.
◦ Always remain vigilant in public spaces and crowded areas.
◦ Try not to carry large amounts of cash.
If you can, avoid using ATMs on the street and use one inside a bank or hotel.
Set up alerts to monitor transactions at all your financial institutions.
◦ Never leave belongings unattended. Keep valuables in your carry-on luggage (not checked baggage) during the flight.
◦ Keep passports, travel documents, and valuables in your hotel safe when you don’t need them.
◦ Unless the country requires you to carry your actual passport, carry a copy of the photo page for ID purposes.
◦ Take any necessary medications with you in their original containers and keep them in your carry-on luggage during the flight.
Celebrating Growth and Character: Boys2Men Graduation
LOU BOTTITTA LOU@BOTTITTATEAM.COM
On Tuesday, April 15, the Heritage Palms community proudly hosted the graduation ceremony for the 2025 Boys2Men class, a mentorship program supporting 5th grade boys from Pottorf Elementary School in Fort Myers. 20 boys started the program, and 18 completed it, with many of them stepping up to speak about the experience at the graduation party.
Over the past three months, ten dedicated volunteers from Heritage Palms met weekly with the young men. The HP mentors were: Tom Power, Mike Bondy, Fred Cox, Leo Crowley, Ed Dickert, Tom Haire, Ed Klimas, Rick Larson, Steve Sergesketter, Jeff Sweeney, and me. Through classroom sessions and hands-on field trips, we worked with the students to develop character, confidence, and life skills with a focus on the Six Pillars of Integrity:
• Trustworthiness
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Fairness
• Caring
• Citizenship
Field trips included visits to the Six Mile Cypress firehouse, D1 Fitness, and even a special outing to the Minnesota Twins spring training stadium—an experience one student recalled fondly during graduation: “My favorite field trip was the Twins stadium. The lesson I will most remember is how they trusted each player. I am thankful for them teaching us how to be better men.”
Another student shared: “I believe everyone should be treated fairly. Fairness means treating everyone with kindness, respect, and equality. It means giving everyone a chance and making sure no one is left out. When people are treated fairly, they feel valued and happy.”
And perhaps most memorably, one young graduate summed up his learning with wisdom beyond his years: “I summarize what I’ve learned as the golden rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated. What does the golden rule really mean? It means if you want kindness or fairness from others, you should give the same to them.”
As we celebrate this year’s success, we are already looking ahead to next year. The Boys2Men program will return from January to April 2026, continuing its mission to inspire and motivate these young men. Volunteers, sponsors, and community support are always welcome. For more info, please send an email to Lou@BottittaTeam.com
Click here to view our 2025 Commemorative Flipbook and videos highlighting field trips, classroom sessions, and the heartfelt graduation speeches.
Interesting World War II Facts
COMPILED BY JANE BREISCH, EDITOR
• Causes of WWII:
◦ The Peace of Paris – The treaties worked out in Paris at the end of WWI satisfied few. Germany and Austria were especially unhappy with the Paris Agreement, which required them to give up arms and make reparations. Germany agreed to sign the Treaty of Versailles only after the victorious countries threatened to invade if they didn’t sign. Germany made their last reparation payment in 2010.
◦ Economic Issues – WWI was devastating to countries’ economies. Although the European economy had stabilized by the 1920s, the Great Depression in the U.S. led to economic downfall in Europe. Communism and fascism gained strength in the wake of these economic problems.
◦ Nationalism – An extreme form of patriotism which had been growing in Europe became even stronger after WWI, especially in the defeated countries.
◦ Dictatorships – Political unrest and unfavorable economic conditions lead to the rise of dictatorships in countries such as Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Soviet Union.
◦ Failure of Appeasement
– Czechoslovakia had become an independent nation after WWI, but by 1938, was surrounded by German territory. Hitler wanted to annex the Sudetenland, an area in western Czechoslovakia where many Germans lived. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain wanted to appease Hitler and agreed to his demands for the Sudetenland after Hitler promised he wouldn’t demand more territory. Hitler seized the rest of Czechoslovakia in March,1939.
• World War II formally began on September 1, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland without a formal declaration of war. In support of their mutual defense treaty obligations with Poland, France and Great Britain issued ultimatums to Hitler for the immediate withdrawal of German forces from Poland. When the ultimatum deadlines expired, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 2, 1939. Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, and France soon fall under German control.
• On June 10, 1940, Italy joins the war on the side of Germany by
declaring war against Britain and France. Fighting spreads to Greece and Northern Africa. Germany, Japan and Italy formed a coalition called the “Axis Powers.” Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and two German –created states (Croatia and Slovakia) eventually joined.
• The “Big Three” was a term used after the summer of 1941 to denote the leaders of the three major powers opposing Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II: Roosevelt (U.S.), Churchill (Great Britain), and Stalin (the Soviet Union). The term was also used
in reference to the three Allied countries themselves. The “Big Three” was expanded to the “Big Four” when China joined the Allies. The “Big Four” nations later played a major role in establishing the United Nations. At least 50 nations would eventually fight for “the Allies.”
• Hitler wanted to create what he thought was the “best” and strongest race –and to the Nazi Party, this excluded certain groups, such as Jews, Gypsies and those with physical and mental disabilities. In an attempt to eliminate a “racial enemy” outside of Germany, such groups were also persecuted in the countries invaded by German forces.
• The group most heavily targeted by the Nazis were the Jews. Around six million Jewish people were killed during WWII in one of history’s most terrible events –the Holocaust. Racist in his views, Hitler blamed Jewish people for Germany losing WWI and claimed they were dangerous to German people and society.
• Around the same time that Germany fought for power in Europe, Japan wanted to control Asia and the Pacific. In 1937 (before WWII had officially begun) under Emperor Hirohito, Japan attacked China, bringing the two nations into years of conflict.
• On December 7, 1941, the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. The attack killed 2,403 service members and wounded 1,178 more, and sank or destroyed six U.S. ships. They also destroyed 169 U.S. Navy and Army Air Corps planes. President Roosevelt called the attack “a date which will live in infamy,” and the very next day, the U.S. declared war on Japan and, in turn, its German allies.
• Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, 600,000 or so legal Italian aliens living in the U.S. were placed under restrictions. Among the restrictions were prohibitions on traveling more than five miles from home; curfews from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.; confiscation of shortwave radios, firearms, cameras, flashlights, and other “signaling devices;” and evacuation from coastal towns. 1,600 or so Italians were interned in a network of camps across the U.S., but primarily in Missoula, MT. The restrictions against the Italians were lifted in October 1942, although it wasn’t until the Italian surrender in September 1943 that most internees were released.
• Similar restrictions were also placed on German legal aliens in the U.S. during WWII. Such restrictions included curfews, confiscation of personal property, travel restrictions, and evacuations from coastal towns.
Approximately 10,905 Germans were interned in camps across the U.S., including Missoula, MT, and Crystal City, TX. The last German internees were released in 1948.
• President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 in February 1942, calling for the internment of Japanese –Americans after the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Some 117,000 people would be forced into prison camps scattered throughout the U.S. by that June.
• Nuclear fission was discovered in February 1939 by scientists in Germany. FDR was informed personally of the discovery and its potential in October 1939 when scientist Alexander Sachs read aloud Albert Einstein’s letter warning the president of fission’s military implications. Based on Einstein’s letter and concepts of scientists working in Britain, FDR set up a joint Anglo-American effort to produce atomic bombs for potential use during the war. The result was the Manhattan Project which would ultimately create the weapon. In August 1943 at the Quebec Conference, FDR and Churchill signed a secret agreement governing collaboration between the two countries on the development of the atomic bomb. The first successful test of the atomic bomb occurred on July 16, 1945 in Alamogordo, NM.
• Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland declared “neutrality” during WWII.
• June 4-6, 1942 – Japan’s plans to invade the Hawaiian Islands, starting at Midway Island, but the U.S. cracks the code of the mission. Japan attacks Midway and loses four aircraft carriers and over 200 planes in the first clear victory for the U.S.
• July 10, 1943 – Allied forces land in Italy. On July 25, the King of Italy is restored to full power, and Muss olini is deposed and arrested. (Mussolini is killed attempting to escape to Switzerland on April 28, 1945.)
• On June 6, 1944, General Eisenhower gave the go-ahead for the largest amphibious military operation in history: Operation Overlord, code named D-Day, the Allied invasion of northern France. He called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” Over 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes, and 156,000 American, British, and Canadian troops stormed 50 miles of Normandy’s fiercely defended beaches. The cost of lives was high. More than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded. However, their sacrifice allowed 100,000+ soldiers to begin the slow trek across Europe to defeat Hitler’s troops.
• Before the Allied assault on June 6, Hitler’s armies had been in control of most of mainland Europe. The Allies felt a successful invasion of the continent was central to winning the war. Hitler knew this too, and was expecting an assault on northwestern Europe that spring. He hoped to repel the Allies from the coast with a strong counterattack, giving him time to throw the majority of his forces into defeating the Soviet Union in the east. Once that was accomplished, he believed an all-out victory would soon be his.
• For their part, the Germans suffered from confusion in the ranks and the absence of their celebrated commander, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, who was away on leave. The Germans were hampered by effective Allied air support (which took out many key bridges and forced the Germans to take long detours), as well as efficient Allied naval support, which helped protect advancing Allied troops.
• Though D-Day did not go off exactly as planned – for example, the Allies were able to land only fractions of the supplies and vehicles they had intended in France – the invasion was a success. By the end of June, the Allies had 850,000 men and 150,000 vehicles in Normandy, and were poised to continue their march across Europe.
• On August 25, 1944, American and Free French forces liberate Paris.
• In April, 1945: Roosevelt dies in Warm Springs, GA. VP Truman takes the oath of office as President; Soviet troops surround Berlin; U.S. soldiers liberate Dachau concentration camp outside of Munich; and Hitler and wife Eva Braun commit suicide.
• May 8, 1945, V-E Day. The war in Europe is officially over.
• An atomic bomb, code named “Little Boy,” was dropped over Hiroshima Japan on August 6, 1945. The bomb, which detonated with an energy around 15 kilotons of TNT, was the first nuclear weapon deployed in wartime. 140,000 were killed. On August 9, 1945, after getting no response from the Japanese government after the Hiroshima bombing, a second atomic bomb, nicknamed “Fat Man,” is dropped on Nagasaki, killing up to 80,000.
• On August 14, 1945, Japan unconditionally agrees to accept the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and end the war. Victory over Japan (V-J) Day is declared.
• WWII proved to be the deadliest international conflict in history, taking the lives of 60 to 80 million people. Civilians made up an estimated 50-55
million deaths from the war, while military comprised 21 to 25 million of those lost during the war.
• U.S. troop statistics:
◦ Number of troops who served in the conflict: 16,112,566
◦ Number of wounded: 291,557
Number of deaths: 291,557 (in Battle); 113,842 (non-Battle)
• Canadian troop statistics:
◦ Number of troops who served in the conflict: 1.1 million
◦ Number wounded: 55,000+
◦ Number of deaths: 45,000+
• The Soviet Union lost the most soldiers, in excess of seven million.
• The legacy of the war would include the spread of Communism from the Soviet Union into eastern Europe as well as its eventual triumph in China, and the global shift in power from Europe to two rival superpowers – the U.S. and the Soviet Union – who would soon face off against each other in the Cold War
• In 1948, the United States created the Marshall Plan to help rebuild war torn Europe. Eventually, 18 nations received $13 billion in food, machinery, and other goods.
• In March 1974, Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese soldier still fighting the war, was found by a search party on the island of Lubang in the Philippines. After he was convinced that the war was over by his former commanding officer, he was flown to Manila and formally surrenders to Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. Onoda died in January 2014, at 91.
• The National World War II Museum, located in New Orleans keeps statistics on WWII veterans across the country. Their numbers show that of the 16 million men and women who served in WWII, only about 119,000 are still alive today. But what’s more shocking is how often we’re losing those men and women. The museum says each day, 131 of those veterans die.
Symphony Bridge
K.C. GROSSE KCG11131@GMAIL.COM
Linda Farris is retiring after serving as our Symphony Bridge Chairperson for over ten years. Next year, long-time members Sherry Swearngin and Erika MacDougall will be Co-chairs.
Our annual luncheon was held in the Palms Dining Room on April 8, and winners of each flight were announced and rewarded. Part of our dues go to the Southwest Florida Symphony Scholarship Fund.
First place team winners in each flight were:
• Egret Flight: Linda Farris and Mary Pat Urbanik
• Ibis Flight: Billie Porter and Beth Callowhill
• Flamingo Flight: Karen Harris and Sherry Swearngin
• Heron Flight: a tie between Melissa Bennett and Peg Murphy, and Janine Baron and Linda McKenzie
FIRST PLACE TEAM WINNERS WHO ATTENDED OUR LUNCHEON WERE (L-R): LINDA FARRIS, BILLIE PORTER, BETH CALLOWHILL, KAREN HARRIS, SHERRY SWEARNGIN, MELISSA BENNETT, AND PEG MURPHY.
LINDA FARRIS.
HP Tennis Courts Are Getting a Facelift
CAROLYN LAWVER, TENNIS PROFESSIONAL CLAWVER@HPGCC.COM
The major renovation of all the existing seven tennis courts began on Monday, April 28. This much-needed renovation will take place throughout the summer months, and no more than three courts will be out of use at one time. The renovation will be in three stages. Each stage will take about six weeks to complete. The overall tennis renovation should be completed by the end of September. This reserve-funded project is a huge enhancement to our tennis facilities. The life of a Har-Tru (clay) tennis court is about 20 years, so we are past due.
As well as the courts being refurbished, all the existing lights will be upgraded to brighter LED lights. The LED lights for courts 1-5, and the new pickleball courts will be installed within one to two months. LED lights will be replacing the existing halogen lights. When you turn on a halogen light, it takes about five to ten minutes for the lights to get to full brightness. With the new LED lights, they can turn off and on like a light switch at home, and are brighter than the halogen lights. A master timer switch was installed about one month ago, so if you forget to turn the lights off at night, the master timer will shut off all
the lights automatically. Also, the perimeter fencing, windscreens, and tennis nets, will be replaced during this project.
Now, how do I go about getting a facelift, since I have been here 25 years as well?
Emotional Intelligence and Impulse Control
ANDREW WEINER WEINER@UKY.EDU
In the last column, I mentioned that although our feelings can be powerful, it is important not to be “hijacked” by them. We must find ways to have these feelings, but at the same time use our cognitive self-awareness to interpret these feelings and not use them as weapons to hurt others, and ultimately affect the ways others respond to us.
The reasons we have strong feelings about a given subject are too numerous and varied to explore in this column. Suffice it to say, that some of us feel things quickly before we have a chance to think about why we feel this way. An oversimplified explanation might be that the route that our feelings travel to the brain is shorter than the route our thoughts travel. The pathway to the amygdala (emotional center of the brain) is shorter than the pathway to the pre-frontal cortex (the thinking part of the brain). Ideally, one would experience feelings first, and then interpret them cognitively before deciding on how to react. However, sometimes the feelings are so powerful they disable the thinking part of the brain (hijack), and thus, there is a strong, unmitigated reaction that can have negative consequences.
In the EQi 2.0 Model of Emotional Intelligence, (Bar-On, R), there is a component called “Decision Making.” Within that component there is a sub-component entitled “Impulse Control,” or the “ability to resist or delay an impulse, drive or temptation to act and avoid rash behaviors and decision-making.” This sub-component is measurable and if you complete the Bar-On EQi, you receive a score in impulse control.
Given, all of the above, the question remains, how do we feel things but, not react in ways that are ineffective in getting others to hear us? The short answer is “reflection” in the moment. Future columns will focus on how we can reflect and manage our feelings so that others are receptive to our words.
Post Cards
From Barbara Keller: My husband, Ed, and I took a fifteen-day trip in early April. We visited Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.
THE SOUTHWESTERN CASTLE CITY OF CESKY KRUMLOV IS ONE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC’S FINEST MEDIEVAL SITES.
ESTABLISHED IN 1250 BY THE LORDS OF KRUMLOV, ITS OLD TOWN IS A UNESCO-DESIGNATED WORLD HERITAGE SITE, DUE TO ITS PRESERVED HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND CASTLE. THE GUSHING VLTAVA, POPULAR WITH RAFTING ENTHUSIASTS, DARTS THROUGH THE TOWN.
ED AND I ARE STANDING ON A BRIDGE OVER THE DANUBE RIVER WITH OUR BACKS TO PEST. BUDA IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER.
AN EVENING CRUISE ON THE DANUBE RIVER IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY. THE HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING IS IN THE BACKGROUND.
BIRDS WE SAW IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC.
From Marlene Roehm: Our association, Veranda 1 at Royal Greens, held a Nine and Dine event on April 27, 2025. Husbands and wives were separated into pairings, which gave them the opportunity to become more familiar with others in our HOA. A putting contest was held prior to the scramble. Dinner followed in the Palms Dining Room.
SEATED (L-R): BILL BELL, JOAN HUBER, JAN FAKLER, KATHY BELL, ROSE BAUER, CONNIE ECKSTEIN, AND JOAN JANNELLE. STANDING (L-R): FRED HUBER, DUANE FAKLER, AL HINES, JOHN MONKOWSKI, JIM CLEMENT, JEANNINE MONKOWSKI, MARLENE AND BILL ROEHM, JEANNE CLEMENT, BRIAN ECKSTEIN, JUNE HINES, AND BOB JANNELLE.
From Ben Simmons: My wife, Martha, and I had a wonderful three-week Road Scholar trip to Hawaii, touring four islands. On the Big Island, Kilauea summit erupted just a few days before and after we visited the caldera. It was a great trip.
AND I WITH ONE OF OUR TRIP LEADERS.
MARTHA
A LOW-LEVEL LAVA FOUNTAIN.
Read On…
KAREN HARRIS HERITAGEPALMSBOOKCLUB@GMAIL.COM
Members of the Heritage Palms Book Club recently chose books for the 2025-26 season. The calendar and selected books are:
October 24 The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn
November 21 Time of the Child by Niall Williams
December 12 Small Things Like These by Claire Kegan
January 16 The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore
February 20 My Friends by Fredrik Backman
March 20 James by Percival Everett
April 17
The Mango Tree by Annabelle Tometich
May 8 Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
Thank you to the members who volunteered to lead discussions this year. Book Club meetings are open to all residents who read the book. If you wish to be added to the HP Book Club mailing list, please email me.
Community Relations Committee News FDOT Event
KERRI THEISEN, CRC MEMBER KTHEISENREALTY@GMAIL.COM
Keith Robbins, FDOT Safety Administrator, came to HP on April 28. He presented the FDOT Target Zero program to reduce “crashes” by reinforcing a traffic safety culture. FDOT maintains that many vehicle “accidents” are not accidents, but crashes that can be averted with new behavior. Behavioral hazards like speeding, impaired driving, and not wearing a seat belt all contribute to most traffic crashes. 36% of fatalities are due to impaired driving, 12% from speeding, and 33% from unrestrained occupants. District 1 stretches from Polk Country to Lee County and, unfortunately, Fort Myers is one of three hot spots in the district.
Along with behavior education, FDOT utilizes engineering tactics like rumble strips and roundabouts, as well as resurfacing and lighting, to improve areas that show concentrated areas of crashes. An interesting fact: roundabouts do not shut down traffic during a storm or hurricane power loss. Keith and his staff are convinced of the effectiveness and efficiency of Diamond Exchanges in reducing fatalities and keeping traffic moving.
SOME OF THE HANDOUTS FROM THE MEETING.
Members questioned the back up of traffic prior to the exchange and John (Traffic Engineer) said they have no control over side roads that tend to stop the flow, like the one at McDonald’s on Six Mile Cypress. If they could divert that traffic at the Dani Drive intersection, it would improve the flow.
LNHGA News
STASIA ARCARESE
LARRY.ARCARESE@VERIZON.NET
Our last 9-hole luncheon of the season on April 9 was greeted with joy and sadness. Joy for having met and enjoyed new friends. Sadness, knowing that many will not see each other until this coming fall or winter.
Karen Jensen was introduced as our new VP; Norene McFadden as Assistant Treasurer; and Noreen Kubinski as Invitational Coordinator. Annette Conover was voted in as Handicap Director.
APRIL LUNCHEON COMMITTEE MEMBERS (L TO R): KAREN JENSEN, ROSANNA SALVAGGIO, JAN HAHN, LINDA VACUDA, DAWN GLEDHILL, SUE SMITH, NANCY RODGERS, JUDY NEWBERG, AND SHERRY CONNOLLY.
NOT PICTURED: CATHY FINNO.
PHOTOS BY PAT VEGH.
The schedule for our LNHGA monthly luncheons and evening activities is set. Themes for next year’s activities are being set. Most committees are full, but there is still room for members to be added if interested.
The black/red tee requirements are being refined after being first implemented this past season.
Watch for future LNHGA announcement in your email. The Pro Shop will send our announcement regarding 9-hole membership come fall. In the meantime, have a wonderful, healthy, and safe summer. See you all on the course.
APRIL 30 WAS OUR LAST LEAGUE DAY OF THE SEASON. ENJOYING THEIR LAST CHANCE TO SOCIALIZE AFTER GOLF ARE (L TO R): TRUDIE MILLER, KARLA SCHARRET, AND LINDA SERGESKETTER.
L TO R: JAN SMELTZER, JANINE BARON, LEE-ELLAN MURRAY, AND DIANE JANSEN.
L TO R: JUDY KENT, DIANE DEMING, AND LINDA CAPPELLA.
L TO R: NANCY SCHIEDO, MARY CAY KENNELLY, CONNIE ECKSTEIN, AND KATHY POTTER.
MGA News
ANDY WHITE, MGA SECRETARY AGTCAWHITE@ROGERS.COM
As the sun sets on another very successful MGA season, the Board would like to thank first, our membership. 639 men played over the season. We added some new formats and maintained our most popular games. We would also like to thank Bob Kelly, John Osbrink, and the entire golf staff for ensuring a smooth running of all our events. Also, a big thanks to Larry German and the entire F&B staff for excellent Harry Chapin lunches and Welcome Back nights.
The Board would like to thank the following retiring Board members for their tireless work and effort in ensuring a vibrant MGA:
• Pete Desjardins – retiring President
• Rich Firebaugh – retiring Vice President
• Frank Fiorino – retiring Secretary We’d also like to welcome our three new Board members: Bill Moomaw, Jim Aranowski, and Jeff Yoder.
Finally, thanks again to our membership for their generous contribution to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. We raised over $ 20,000 just this year, and over $155,000 in the last 15 years for this charity. Well done, and thanks to all of our members.
L-R: RICH FIREBAUGH, STAFF FROM THE HARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK, AND PETE DESJARDINS.
From The Pro Shop
BOB KELLY, DIRECTOR OF GOLF BKELLY@HPGC.COM
Hello from the golf shop. Summer is here and hopefully the forecast for an above average hurricane season does not have an impact on us. Also hoping for some regular rain fall after an extremely dry spring.
As normal, both courses will receive two 5- to 6-week closures, and we will always have one course in good shape to play all summer. This is a great time for our courses to recover from what is always a busy season here at HP. Year to date through the end of April we have played approximately 54,000 rounds of golf. Considering our total budget for the year is 94,600 rounds, that means we play 57% of our yearly rounds in the first four months of the year and the remaining 43% of rounds through the next eight months.
Again, we cannot thank Greg Kreisch and his staff enough for providing us with such great playing conditions.
We’re excited to host a couple of the FSGA one-day events here this summer. The first event is scheduled for Thursday, June 12; and the second on September 4. Sign up is now open at fsag.org and all members with a GHIN handicap are eligible to play.
Our next summer golf event is the July 4th scramble. Look for an email from Golf Genius for event details and sign-up instructions. We have been working on the calendar for next season. See below our current schedule of Major Club events for the 2025-26 season:
November 10: Ladies’ Member Guest
December 7: Christmas Scramble
December 12-14: Men’s Member Guest February 1: Mixed Club Championship
March 14-15: Men’s & Ladies MemberMember
March 27-28: End of Season Tent Party Scramble
April 11-12: Men’s & Ladies’ Club Championship
I hope everyone enjoys the remainder of the summer, and don’t forget to keep working on your game.
Do You Know the Rules?
DAVE KRAFT DKRAFT_SR@YAHOO.COM
Player A’s ball and Player B’s ball are both on the putting green. Player A has a 15-foot downhill putt. Player A strikes the ball a little too hard. Player A’s ball goes five foot past the hole and strikes Player B’s ball. What is the Ruling?
Rule 11.1a Exception – Ball Played on Putting Green in Stroke Play. If a player’s ball in motion hits another ball at rest on the putting green and both balls were on the putting green before the stroke, the player gets the general penalty (two penalty strokes).
Stroke Play
In the question above, Player B would replace his/her ball back to its original spot (no penalty).
Player A would play his/her next stroke from where his/her ball ended up adding two strokes to his/her score.
Match Play
If this would happen in Match Play there is no penalty for Player A even if Player A hits his/her partner’s ball. Player A would play his/her next stroke where the ball ends up. Player B would place their ball back to where their ball was struck.
Here is this month’s golf etiquette tip: Before you make a stroke at a ball, make sure the group ahead of you is out of your range.
Ace Faces
Patti Chase
April 7, 2025
#14 Royal 98 yards 8-iron
This is Patti’s 1st holein-one!
Bob Brown
April 22, 2025
#3 Sabal 174 yards 6-iron
This is Bob’s 3rd holein-one!
The First Tee Program
PAUL LUCHAU PLUCHAU@MYCOASTALWEALTH.COM
Good day everyone. This is my wrap up report from our most recent First Tee Program donation drive. You guys NAILED IT! I delivered a little over 700 golf clubs, and over 1500 golf balls. It took two trips with a full-sized minivan to get everything there. When I pulled up to the collection garage the First Tee Program maintains in Naples, the gentlemen there just shook their heads and gave me a number of high fives! They asked how we were able to collect so much equipment. I told them Heritage Palms has 1,662 doors, and that an email was sent to our entire Golf Genius membership list, and the rest is history. They were very, very impressed.
Thanks again everyone for your participation. It was a great success, and well worthwhile. If you’d like additional information about the First Tee Program, click on this link: https://firsttee.org/ to learn more. Have a great summer all!
THE FIRST HAUL.
PAUL SURROUNDED BY DONATED GOLF CLUBS.
Fort Myers Theatres Announce 2025-26 Season
JANE BREISCH, EDITOR
Two Fort Myers regional theatres have announced their robust 2025-26 offerings! Contact these venues now for the best seats and pricing.
Florida Repertory Theatre, 2268 Bay Street, Fort Myers. The FL Rep is celebrating their 28th season as “one of America’s top repertory theatres” according to the Wall Street Journal. Check their website at https://www.floridarep.org for tickets for the following shows:
• The Rat Pack Lounge
By James Hindman and Ray Roderick
October 3 - November 9, 2025; previews September 30 - October 2
ArtStage Studio Theatre
This fresh and funny musical revue celebrates the music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. In the magical story the famous “rat pack” trio, now in heaven, returns to earth for one special night to treat audiences to over 30 hit songs.
• Doubt, a Parable By John Patrick Shanley
October 31 - November 16, 2025; previews October 28 – 30 Historic Arcade Theatre
The fireworks begin as the exacting principal of a Bronx Catholic school—feared by students and colleagues alike—suspects improper relations between a charismatic priest and a student. She’s forced to wrestle with what’s fact, what’s fiction, and just how far she’ll go to expose what she sees as the truth.
• The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge
By Mark Brown
December 5 - 21, 2025; previews December 2 – 4 Historic Arcade Theatre
This spirited twist on the classic holiday tale is set a year after Scrooge’s miraculous transformation. Now back to his old ways, Scrooge is suing Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future for breaking-and-entering, kidnapping, slander, pain and suffering, attempted murder, and the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
• Advice By Brent Askari
December 12 – January 11, 2025; previews December 9 – 11 ArtStage Studio Theatre
A hilarious new comedy follows a married couple, Joy and Ron, who on the eve of their wedding anniversary learn that their idiot friend Gary has written a self-help book… and it’s getting published! As they muse on the possible topic, Gary turns up, and invites them to try out some of his “couple exercises.”
Season Plays
• Always… Patsy Cline
Created by Ted Swindley and based on a true story.
January 9 - 26, 2026;
previews January 6 - 8 Historic Arcade Theatre
The heartfelt musical follows the powerful true story celebrating the most popular female country singer in recording history. Patsy Cline’s legendary voice and rise to stardom took America by storm, and this loving tribute is told through the eyes of her biggest fan and unlikely friend, Louise Seger.
• Tuesdays with Morrie By Jeffrey Hatcher & Mitch Albom
January 30 - March 1, 2026; previews January 27 - 29 ArtStage Studio Theatre
The best-selling book comes to life in this moving autobiographical story following Mitch Albom’s visits to his old professor, Morrie Schwartz, as he battles Lou Gehrig’s Disease. What begins as a simple visit by the careerdriven journalist turns into a weekly pilgrimage and a last class on the meaning of life.
• The Play That Goes Wrong By Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, & Henry Shields
February 13 - March 6, 2026; previews February 10 - 12 Historic Arcade Theatre
This hilarious hybrid of Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes follows a fictitious theatre company’s opening night of The Murder at Haversham Manor where things
quickly go from bad to utterly disastrous. Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hysterical consequences!
• Little Shop of Horrors
By Howard Ashman and Alan Menken
March 20 - April 12, 2026;
previews March 17 -19 Historic Arcade Theatre
The musical is based on the 1960s B-movie by Roger Corman and features book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. The story is packed with laughs, thrills, chills, and Motown and doo-wopinspired hit songs and follows down-on-hisluck Seymour who pines for his beautiful co-worker at Mushnik’s Skid Row Florist.
• Denise Fennell’s The Bride: Or, Does This Dress Make Me Look Married?
By Rick Pasqualone
April 10 - May 10, 2026; previews April 7 - 9
ArtStage Studio Theatre
Tour-de-force actress Denise Fennel, the scrappy Sister from last summer’s “ Late Nite Catechism ,” tackles the meaning of love, life, and the ritual of marriage. Drawing inspiration from her own life –and the advice of the audience – “The Bride” tackles the decision of a lifetime: Will she, or won’t she?
Players Circle Theater, 13211 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers (only about 20 minutes from HP!).
Started by FL Repertory Theatre founders Bob Cacioppo and Carrie Lund, Players Circle is in its eighth season. Check their website at https://www.playerscircle.org. for tickets for the following shows:
• Vanities A New Musical By Jack Heifner
Continuing through June 8, 2025
This musical comedy is the story of three Texas cheerleaders’ journey to adulthood. Friends caught up in times that are a-changing.
• The Complete Works of William
Shakespeare Abridged By Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winnfield
July 4 - 13, 2025; previews July 1 - 3.
See 37 Shakespeare plays in just 97 minutes, in this irreverent and irresistible comedy.
• Grease By Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
August 1 - 10, 2025
It’s high school in 1959. Time to enjoy –“Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightning,” & “We Go Together.” Starring our area’s most talented, duck-tailed, and bobby-soxed young adults.
• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
August 22 - September 7, 2025; previews August 19 - 21.
This riotous Broadway musical follows an eclectic group of awkward teens as they vie for the spelling championship. Six spellers enter: only one speller leaves champion!
• Peter and the Starcatcher By Rick Elise October 24 - November 16; previews October 21 - 23
Set sail on an enchanting trip to the Neverland you never knew, as this production invades the entire theater. Filled with playful puns and pure imagination, this action-packed adventure is destined to delight the child in all of us.
• Ho! Ho! Ho! The Christmas Show
Created by Robert Cacioppo
December 5 - 21, 2025; previews December 2 - 4
A favorite holiday tradition is back and better than ever! Come celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with this original musical revue brimming with love, laughter, and all your favorite holiday songs.
• Little Women
Based on Louisa May Alcott’s Classic Novel January 9 - February 1; previews January 6 - 8
A story that swept the nation is brought to life in this epic musical! Full of showstopping melodies and uplifting spirit. This timeless
April Trivia Night Winners
THE TRIVIA NIGHT WINNERS ON APRIL 9 WERE THE WISE GUYS AND GALS. L-R: JEFF AND SHERRY PAUL, FRANK AND JAMIE UNGER, GARY AND JUDY SCOTT, AND ROSE AND KEITH BAUER.
tale about the enduring power of family is guaranteed to capture your heart and astonish!
• Over the Tavern By Tom Dudzick February 13 - March 8; previews February 10 - 12
A beguiling family comedy set in Buffalo in the Eisenhower 1950’s. The Pazinski family has a lot going on in their cramped apartment over Dad’s bar. But all hell breaks loose, when 12-year-old, wise-cracking Rudy questions being Catholic.
• 4,000 Miles By Amy Herzog March 20 - April 5; previews March 17 - 19
A Pulitzer Prize Finalist! After a crosscountry bike trip, young Leo makes an unplanned visit to his feisty 91-year-old grand-mother Vera in her Greenwich Village apartment. Over the course of a single month these unlikely roommates, infuriate, bewilder, and ultimately reach each other in this charming dramedy.
• I loved, I lost, I made spaghetti By Giulia Melucci April 17 - May 3; previews April 14 - 16 This tasty comedy invites you into Giulia’s kitchen as she recounts a string of botched romances and failed love affairs while preparing a home cooked meal.
The Grosse Bunch Annual Golf Dinner
K. C.
GROSSE
KCG11131@GMAIL.COM
The Grosse Bunch quota golf group held their 21st annual dinner at the end of March. The wives are always invited to hear about the marvelous golf feats that have transpired over the year.
There are still five from the original group: Dick Grosse, Francis Oberembt, Jim Wilson, Dave Olman, and Jim MacDougall. Then there’s the group they call “seniority” members who have only been playing with them 19 years: Ken Swanson, Bob Foust, Gary Kuchta, Joe Patalino, Pete Sarotte, and Ray Shepard.
THE GROSSE BUNCH
The Laughter Club hosted Jimmy Keyes on April 11 in the Palms Dining Room. The multi-talented musical phenomenon performed to a sold-out enthusiastic crowd.
Jimmy Keyes Came to HP!
LAUGHTER CLUB MEMBERS POSED WITH JIMMY KEYES AFTER HIS SHOW. L-R: SANDY SWE, ELLEN WHITTEN, JIMMY, MARY TSCHETTER, AND BRIAN SIMMONS.
The Beauty of Heritage Palms
From Cynthia Cooper: I took this stunning sunset the evening of April 10 between hole #16 and #17 on the Sabal golf course.
From Jane Breisch: These beautiful Canna Lilies grace the pond behind #16 Royal green.
From Ed Keller: The magical beauty of nature is all around us.
From Cheryl Agin: These were two special moments I captured within our community.
MARY LOU REID THANKED THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS FOR THEIR HELP WITH THE WGA THIS SEASON (L-R): ANNIE KAJANDER, BARB BARLOW, & KITTY JEDD.
MOST EAGLES DURING THIS SEASON’S LEAGUE PLAY (L-R): CF WHITE, BEV BAILEY, AND FRANCINE DAVIS. NOT PICTURED: ROXANE SCHULKINS, AND PEGGY SCOBIE.
GROSS AND NET WGA CHAMPIONS – (L-R): C F WHITE, CHARLOTTE FENNELL, KATHY BULTEMEIER, LINDA LUEHRING, MARCIA GALLICHIO, BEV BAILY, CATHY WHITE, SUSAN ALLISON, & NANCY DAWES. NOT PICTURED: JOAN GOOD, NANCY BUTTARAZZI, SHIRLEY BRAKE, MARY MALMQUIST, NANCY CRAWFORD, MAUREEN POWER, LENA KNIGHT, & JEAN HOPPE.
HOLES-IN-ONE RECIPIENTS (L-R): LYNDA DECHERT, PEGGY GUDEMAN, DEBBIE GRUNDY, DAWN PAETZ, & MARCIA LEADBETTER. NOT PICTURED: MARY OLSON, TANJA FISCHER, TRACY NOORDHOF, DONNA ROBERTS, KATHY JECKLIN, JANEL NEUMAN, & CATHY LAMBERT.
OUTGOING WGA BOARD MEMBERS (L-R): SUSAN KLIMAS, TREASURER; MARY LOU REID, PRESIDENT; JOAN MCIVOR, SECRETARY; & SHIRLEE FIREBAUGH, TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.
MARY LOU REID (L) RECEIVED A THANK YOU GIFT FROM THE 2025-26 WGA PRESIDENT TERRI ANDERSON.
MOST BIRDIES DURING THIS SEASON’S LEAGUE PLAY: KATHY BLAGOUE (21+ HANDICAP, ON LEFT) AND KITSY BAUMGARTNER (0-20 HANDICAP, ON RIGHT).