12-2013 Village Voice by Village Voice Newsletter

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

villagevoiceoceansidecc@gmail.com

Vol. XXII, No. 12 | December 2013

Editorial

Good Health and Happiness

Most everyone gets Christmas and holiday cards during this season. Newspaper ads and TV commercials wish readers and viewers good health and happiness for the coming year. And more importantly, the prevailing wish is “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.” It is doubtful if we can persuade the world to have peace. None of us as individuals can settle the fighting that exists in the Near East, or in Asia where most of the disagreements rests on religious beliefs. But what we can do is to start here, yes, right here in the Village. The year 2014 is another voting year. Each of us has perhaps already established his or her opinions as to the issues confronting us. We have long decided pro or con for issues and candidates for government offices. We, as seniors, are an informed and intelligent portion of the American population. Most of us read newspapers. Most of us can see through the political ads and make up our own minds. And yet, a few residents are so convinced that they can make a difference in convincing others of their stands on issues and candidates, that they must distribute political flyers into our tubes. And as if that were not enough, they insist on their constitutional right to litter their front yards with posters and banners at election time. Let us use some common sense. EDITORIAL cont’d. on Page 3

Members of the Garden Club pose before one of two of the two trees they decorated

Left side of tree (L to R): Else Offersen, Lynn O’Conner, Bob Wong, Lou Gordon. Kneeling (L to R): Linda Strohm, Joan Blumeyer, Ann Nussbaum. Right Side (L to R): Elaine Kowalik, Dwight Goldblatt, Carol Saunders, Gail Womack. Not pictured: Jo Wichary.

Charity Ranks High Among OHCC Residents

Take a look at the number of toys made by the Woodchucks. Scan the number of toys donated by the residents. The quality and quantity of toys for the children of families at Camp Pendleton is absolutely amazing. Six months of toil and care were necessary for the members of the Woodchucks to produce professionally-made wooden toys, many of which articulated.

The number of beautiful toys donated by the residents range from very expensive bicycles, large plush animals, dolls, wagons, games to books and infant rattles. Toys will be delivered a week prior to the holidays for sorting by the Camp Pendleton YMCA according to age groups. Then parents are able CHARITY cont’d. on Page 3

The Village Voice is a publication of the OHCC Journalism Club

Village Voice Newsletter â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

EDITORIAL, cont’d. from Page 1 Let us be aware that politics and issues should be a private matter. Let us instead, wish our friends and neighbors good health and happiness for the rest of the year. And let the hope for Peace on Earth start right here, right now. ******** CHARITY, cont’d. from Page 1

Editor’s Personal Message

By Bob Wong It has been my good fortune to be a part of the staff of the Village Voice for the past dozen or so years. And it has been my privilege to be the editor during the past several years. Now is the time to pass the torch to a well-qualified resident Russ Butcher, who in his past career, has been the author of seven (yes, seven) authoritative books on parks and wildlife. Russ was named editor by the Journalism Club Board and will assume that position in January 2014. Looking back at these years, it has been a task made simple because of the dedication by so many residents who have taken time out to participate in the creation of a publication we all can be well proud of. This staff of some fifty people has played an integral part in making life in our community a pleasurable experience and I am proud the publication of the Village Voice has helped make it so. That alone makes our work and effort each month worthwhile. Besides the writers, the distribution staff and the Board, there are a few people behind the scene I wish to thank: Jack Collar who skillfully manages the distribution; Dick Travis and his wonderful job of advertising; Les Wynston, who with his encyclopedic knowledge edits every article, and to our outside production manager Sandie Powers for her twenty-two years with the Voice. It has been a wonderful journey I shall always remember. Thank you; I enjoyed the trip. ********

Great response to calls for toys for Camp Pendleton family. to select toys best suited for their children. By the time Christmas arrives, all the toys will have been distributed and the year will start over again. The woodchucks will pull out blueprints for next year’s toys. And our residents will smile knowing their contribution will lead to the sound of happy children echoing throughout the marine base. ********

Support the Village Voice by visiting our advertisers!

Alpine Firewood & Tree Trimming OAK • AVOCADO • EUCALYPTUS • PINE

Quality Firewood Available 1/8 Cord to Full Cord Stacking Available Prime Cut Split Dry and Ready to Burn 16” to 18” Length Wood Racks Available Easy Starter Bricks Available Over 33 Years in Business John & Denise Zankich P.O. Box 267, Bonsall, CA 92003

760-941-6102

Village Voice Newsletter â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Wong, 806-1310

Mary Jane Matthews, President Marileen Johnson, Vice President Charlotte Pichney, Secretary Bob Wong, Editor-in-Chief Russ Butcher, Managing Editor CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joe Ashby Debbie McCain Tom Brennan Dan Neilson Joan Buchholz Beverly Nickerson Russ Butcher Charlotte Pichney Tom Fuller Peter Russell Marileen Johnson Jack Shabel Ellen Kippel Gilda Siegl Dora Truban Ira Landis Andy Truban Selma Leighton Dora Truban Tom Lynch

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Refurbishing Swimming Pool Decking On Hold

What was once considered an easy fix to re-deck the pool area has now involved much more work than anticipated. Although the project was originally scheduled for completion by the spring of 2013, it was then delayed to the autumn of this year. But the best guess appears the work may begin sometime in the middle of next year? The entire project has been placed into the hands of Van Dyke Landscaping who are working in conjunction with an engineering firm and the Master Board. Some of the obstacles involved will be the removal of the flag poles, the existing plants and rose garden, trees and fencing to allow heavy equipment to enter the pool area. Also just to find where the underground electrical wiring and plumbing are located can be problematic. It’s anyone’s guess as the blue prints are either non-existent or are missing. But before any work can begin, a solution to the ongoing high groundwater problem around the Clubhouse perimeter must be solved. Another issue to be confronted is the re-landscaping of Palm Court. When the pool was built 30 years ago, the builders merely emptied out the soil and piled it into the area we now call Palm Court. This created a slight problem during a rainstorm, when rainwater actually runs down into the clubhouse due to the laws of gravity. The Master Board might be able to alter the law, but hasn’t successfully done so thus far. With input from the Facilities Management Committee and concurrence by construction experts, the

Pool area intact for a few more seasons. Master Board decided that the re-decking of the pool and the Palm Court need to be done together. Another issue to consider is the Lanai. Will that need reconstruction too? Do it all at once, some suggested. Good thinking. But that requires additional study, planning, debates, compromises and permits. Meanwhile residents can continue to happily splash in the water, gossip and play volleyball for another couple of seasons. ********

Visit our unique Shop & experience a “Wee Bit” of the Flavor of the U.K. Featuring Our Famous Fresh Baked Goods! Thomsons’ Scotch Pies, Steak Pies, Cornish Pasties, Sausage Rolls, and Scones. Plus Frozen Bangers, Bacon & Pork Pies. We also Stock a Large Selection of British Canned, Packaged & Frozen Products and a Wide Variety of Candies, Sweets, Biscuits & Gifts. 1495 Poinsettia Ave., Suite 152, Vista, CA 92081

760-734-3692

Email: info@bitobritain.com • www.bitobritain.com Open Tues. - Sun. • 10:00 am - 5:00 pm ** Closed on Mondays **

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Be A Part of the 30th Anniversary Celebration; Sign Up For A Photo Session

2014 marks OHCC’s 30th Anniversary. There will be lots of exciting events during the year, kicking off on Saturday, January 4, when the 30th Anniversary Committee will have a desk at Do Dues Day for photo signups. Lifetouch, the company that will publish our 30th Anniversary Commemorative Book, will provide all the professional photography of our residents for the portrait gallery section of the book. This beautiful hardcover book will be given out at the Anniversary Open House on Saturday, November 8, 2014. Only those residents who have their photo taken will receive a free book. Why participate? There is absolutely no cost to you or OHCC for this service. Each couple or individual photographed will receive: A FREE 8 x 10 portrait A FREE 30th Anniversary Commemorative Book The opportunity to purchase additional portraits (no obligation) You can also take this opportunity to have photos taken of your whole family at a reasonable cost. Pricing details will be provided by Lifetouch. If you are unable to sign up on Do Dues Day, please stop by the Clubhouse Front Desk to schedule your appointment.

We’re asking everyone at OHCC to be a part of our history and schedule a portrait appointment to be included in our 30th Anniversary Commemorative Book. ********

Scam Warning

This is worth passing along. With the holidays coming up, I can see where this could be a real problem. The newest virus circulating is the UPS/Fed Ex/USPS Delivery Failure. You will receive an e-mail from UPS, Fed Ex, or USPS along with a packet number. It will say that they were unable to deliver a package sent to you on such-and-such a date. It then asks you to print out the invoice copy attached. DON’T TRY TO PRINT THIS. IT LAUNCHES THE VIRUS! Pass this warning on to all your PC operators at work and home. This virus has caused millions of dollars in damage in the past few days. Snopes confirms that it is real. ********

Find Your New Dental Home

At Our New Location! Years Experience DAYANA COFFLER D.M.D. •• 22 Cosmetic Dentistry Family and Cosmetic Dentistry 3929 Waring Rd • Oceanside • 92056

760.726.7777

www.dayanacofflerdmd.com

Conveniently located behind Tri-City Hospital

• Crowns and Bridges • Dentures and Partials • Latest Root Canal Therapy • One Hour Teeth Whitening • Computerized Imaging & Early Decay Detection • Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) • Most Insurances Welcome • 10% Senior Citizen Discount • Convenient Hours and Location • Ample Parking and Wheelchair Access

Coupon Specials for

OHCC RESIDENTS Only $344 Value

FREE

Take-Home Teeth Whitening

After completion of necessary exam and treatment. Call for details. Must present coupon. Cannot be combined with insurance or other offers. Exp. 1-15-14.

NEW PATIENT SPECIAL

Exam & Cleaning

$254 Value

Includes comprehensive exam, x-rays, oral cancer screening and regular cleaning. (Not including gum disease treatment.) Must present coupon. Cannot be combined with insurance or other offers. Exp. 1-15-14.

100 OFF

Any Cosmetic Procedure of Your Choice

Whitening, Bonding, Porcelain Crown, Procelain Veneers, White Fillings Must present coupon. Cannot be combined with insurance or other offers. Exp. 1-15-14.

Village Voice Newsletter â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Bittner’s Research Institute Closes

Dave Bittner was responsible for the well-known popular “Hawk Watch” program in the Ramona Grasslands. Over the past ten years, he introduced our Birders to the local raptors, their hunting techniques and banding techniques. When Warren Cotton and Andy Truban recently visited the Institute, they discovered that it had been closed; Bittner’s federal permit had expired in 2010 and he failed to have a valid permit from

GREAT SANDWICHES CATERING OUR SPECIALTY FOR YOUR EVENT!

FREE DRINK & CHIPS w/Breakfast or Lunch Sandwich Open M-F 7am-5pm Sat. 7am-4pm • Closed Sun.

ICE BOX Jr. 2260 Oak Ridge Way, Vista (Behind Home Depot)

Ph: 760-599-8874 Fax 760-599-8875 Menu Online at www.IceBoxDeli.com Check us out on Facebook too!

Dave Bittner closes popular research institute. the state to capture and band wildlife birds. Why Bittner allowed his permits to lapse is unknown. Last August, this distinguished biologist pleaded guilty in Federal District Court and was sentenced to three year’s probation and was fined. The Institute had been one of the more popular destinations for OHCC Birders. Its demise is a loss for this community and all birdwatchers. ********

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

features Shopping Around By the Phantom Shopper

Home Movies

For those in the Village who have run out of ideas to please their spouse for Christmas, consider this perk: the ability to watch a newly released film in your own house. However, the screening will be much better in your specially built private theater on a 20 foot Imax screen which can cost around $2.5 million. The cost to show the movie is $500 and will require $35,000 in hardware using encryption technology to prevent illegal copies of movies. Order now; be the first on your block to have one.

New TV Screen

With the introduction of the large flat-screen TVs a few years ago, most everyone discarded their old convex-shaped analog models for the new improved digital jobs. Now that most people have the flat screen, a new screen has just been introduced by Samsung; a concave screen that replicates the shape of the iMax screens. What next?

Personal Caregiver Former Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) who got fed up with nursing home treatment of patients and started own very reasonable and professional care services.

Reasonable Trustworthy Reliable

Providing all personal services including transportation. All credentials available. Great local references!

Call Helen

760.443.9128

Get a new curved screen for nine grand

Thanksgiving Day Sale

There were Thanksgiving sales ads galore on Thanksgiving Day, but none so prominent as the one by Crate & Barrel. Occupying an entire page in color in the L.A. Times was their announcement for “15% off everything” on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day). However, in small print on the bottom of the page read “We will be closed on Thursday in observance of Thanksgiving Day.” ********

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Computer Tips

(From the Club Connection, the publication of the Computer Club, with permission from Jim Kaminsky, President.)

I’ve Got an App for That

GlobeConvert is a nifty app you can use to convert just about any kind of unit: dollars to Euros, feet to kilometers, square inches to hectares. Rather than take the space to write about it, here are a couple of good snapshots to tell the story:

Kippel’s Pet Korner

Free dog tags available.

By Ellen Kippel In the September 29th U-T classified section there was an ad offering free pet ID tags from the Animal Trust Foundation Inc. It says “don’t let your pet become a statistic. ID your pet today. Limit 3 per household. Allow 4 weeks for delivery.” This is for San Diego residents only. The website is www.petconnect.org. All you need to do is go to the website and fill out the online form. If you know someone who has a pet without a tag and who does not have a computer, please have them contact me and I can order the tag for them. It is a really simple procedure and can help getting our beloved pets home should they get out in the community. ********

Just select what you’re converting from and to. In the case above, I’m converting dollars to Euros. Then type the value you want to convert. In this case, I converted $100 to Euros. This app connects to the internet to it uses the latest currency conversions. Of course, that’s unnecessary for most other conversions, since the ratio of inches to meters has remained unchanged for a pretty long time now. I think you’ll find the GlobeConvert app useful. There are paid and free versions, I use the free version and it’s terrific. GlobeConvert for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, are free in the iTunes store. ********

Roadrunner; an occasional visitor at OHCC. Photo by Ray Spencer.

Watching Wildlife By Russ Butcher

What Is a Roadrunner?

Roadrunner is the name of IBM’s high-performance supercomputer that is alleged to be the world’s fastest. Roadrunner is also the name of the world’s largest store selling running and walking shoes. And of course there were the entertaining Warner Brothers movie cartoons featuring Wile E. Coyote versus the “beep-beeping” Roadrunner that zipped back and forth as it constantly outwitted the coyote. But this is not about any of those roadrunners. This is about the real thing, the Greater Roadrunner, a.k.a., Geococcyx californianus -- the largest North American member of the cuckoo family. This comical bird, which is also referred to as the ground cuckoo, lives in areas of wild coastal sage scrub- and chaparral-covered hills adjacent to OHCC and occasionally ventures into the outer edges of our community. If you’ve never seen one of these unusual-looking birds, here are some of its distinctive characteristics: The roadrunner is roughly

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

the size of a slender crow. The plumage on its neck, back and breast is patterned with brown streaks on a light background. It measures about 20 to 24 inches from the tip of its prominent dark beak to the end of its exceptionally long, dark-brown tail, which is roughly half as long as the bird’s total length. When a roadrunner is standing still or walking slowly, it frequently raises and lowers both its tail and its bushy crest. But when a roadrunner is running full out, as it dashes away from a predator or in pursuit of a lizard or other speedy prey, its head and tail are extended horizontally to the ground -- giving the bird a cartoonlike streamlined appearance. Although the short-winged roadrunner is capable of remaining airborne for only short spurts of flight, it makes up for weak aerial skills with its remarkable speed on the ground, which has been clocked at nearly 20 miles per hour. Its fleet feet have two toes facing forward and two facing behind. (Most birds have three toes forward and one aft.) Lizards and snakes, including rattlesnakes, are the roadrunner’s favorite food. One guidebook says that “Pairs sometimes hunt rattlesnakes cooperatively – one bird distracts the snake while the other sneaks up and pins its head. They then kill the snake by bashing its head against a rock.” The omnivorous roadrunner’s diet also includes large insects, scorpions, small ground-nesting birds and their eggs, small rodents, and fruits and seeds. The primary range of the roadrunner extends across the desert and arid regions of the Southwest – from California through Arizona and New Mexico to Texas and Oklahoma, and southward into northern Mexico. Ornithologists and birdwatchers consider it to be the “signature bird” of the Desert Southwest.

During the spring mating season, you may hear the roadrunner’s mournful, descending series of six or eight cooing notes. If you’re out walking on a road and happen to surprise one, it will typically run on ahead of you and then quickly veer off to one side and hide – outwitting you. ********

Health, Exercise & You By Andy Truban

Sleep Quality in Older Adults

Poor sleep is quite common among older adults and can be dangerous to your health. A study published in the Journal Sleep, analyzed 16 studies that included more than 1.3 million participants. They concluded that “too little or too much sleep was linked to an increased risk of death.” The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society published another sleep study from the data obtained from 125 assisted-living facilities involving residents age 65 and older. Researchers found 65 percent of those residents reported having clinically significant sleep disturbances that were also confirmed by sleep-monitoring devices. During the six-month follow-up period, the experts found that poor sleep was associated with declining status and quality of life, and a greater incidence of depression. “The current medical consensus is that older adults need as much

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

sleep as younger adults, about 7 to 8 hours nightly,” says Harrison Bloom, MD, professor of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai. Bloom stated: “as we age, it isn’t ‘normal’ to sleep less, but changes can occur in the type of sleep we get.” Sleep is a complex process that occurs in stages that we nightly cycle through. The normal sleep main components are: • The vivid-dream stage called rapid-eye movement REM. • The transitional non-REM stages: N1, N2 and deep sleep N3. Sleep time in the N1 cycle -- the body’s lighter sleep-stage -- tends to increase with age. While younger people may nightly spend 5 to 7 percent in stage N1, older adults may spend 15 percent. Furthermore, the body’s internal signal: “get ready for sleep” declines with age and may be responsible for sleep problems. Some experts also think a drop in melatonin may be responsible for some sleep problems occurring in older adults. “Most adults probably get less desired and necessary sleep,” adds Dr. Bloom. “There are many possible reasons for this in older adults. Symptoms such as pain from arthritis, difficult breathing (due to heart failure or pulmonary disease), nausea caused by medications, need for frequent urination (due to prostate enlargement or heart failure), sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome can all impede restful sleep.” ********

Support the Village Voice by visiting our advertisers!

The Golf Game

By Peter Russell

The PAR 3 format here at OHCC is especially suited for our age group as it focuses on some of the most basic and necessary golfing shots in the game. I’m told that over 80% of all golf shots on any course in the world are the final chipping/pitching/ putting strokes. That’s almost all that we need here at OHCC! A very popu- Take three clubs and a putter. lar OHCC annual golfing event is the “three clubs & a putter” event that reinforces that premise; that we really don’t need any more clubs than that to make a real challenging round of golf. Today’s article is a takeoff of a recent Golf Digest article by Butch Harmon titled “4 ways to get on the green from 150 yards.” Sounds like almost ALL of our 18 holes with few exceptions. In a larger sense, all approach shots (driver, fairway shots) should get you into range for the next shots discussed here. You will either be in (1) the rough, (2) a bare lie, (3) a down slope, or (4) a bunker. Here’s what you do:

Mobile Service to You!

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

a) In the rough: SWING STEEP INTO THE BALL.Open the club face, aim left and play a fade. Start the club back steeply – feel like it’s going back to the outside. This will help you swing down at a steeper angle and catch the ball first. Keep your left wrist firm through impact, and imagine the heel of the club leading the toe. b) A bare lie: TRY TO HIT IT SOLID, NOT UP. Play the ball middle, shift forward on the downswing, and hit down and through. Solid contact will send the ball up, with no extra help from you. c) On a down slope: KEEP THE CLUB GOING DOWN. Take one less club – the hill delofts the clubface. Center the ball, and set your shoulders parallel to the slope. The ball will tend to go right, so aim a little left, and feel like the club head continues down the hill after impact. d) In a fairway bunker: STAY QUIET WITH THE LOWER BODY. Get a taller posture, with your spine more rounded (less up and down). Second, keep your legs quiet and try to pick the ball off the sand. Translating all of this to our situation at OHGC is: your drive is most often around the 150 yard mark or less. Hit it as near the green as possible, leaving a final pitch and putt situation. Putt it in the hole. Easy, yes? None of us seem to get on the green in regulation (GIR) all that often. Nor do the pros, although more than we do. Actual statistics show the best do about 20% of the time. What they do very well is make long drives and end up around the 150 yard out location to get set up for a very GREAT putt! Drive for show, putt for dough! Their 150 yard shots are deadly accurate to the green and their putting is outstanding.

2012 DEALER OF THE YEAR FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE – Window & Door Magazine –

YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE FOR

WINDOWS & DOORS

Laura Shames MSW, LCSW Psychotherapy and Consultations

• Does life seem like there’s always another hurdle to get over, another boulder to move and you can’t take one more step? • Do you feel like screaming at the top of your lungs, “I can’t take it anymore? “ • Do you just want to run away and cry? • Are you angry and impatient? Worried over everything? • Are you mentally, physically and spiritually exhausted? If your answer was “Yes” to one or more questions above, then you have reached the right place. Call Laura Shames, MSW, LCSW at 310/486-7647 to transform your life and get back on your path. With twenty years of experience, as a board certified LCSW, I have helped thousands of people find their way to an incredible life filled with purpose, love and happiness. Take some time to explore my website at www.laurashameslcsw. com to learn more about my work and how I can help you. Call me today at 310/486-7647 to set up an individual, couples, or family appointment at your home or my office. ~ NEW GROUPS ~ Group: Quality of Life in the Later Years Location: Carlsbad Members: Up to eight clients. Date: November 18 2013 - January 06 2013 Sessions: Eight weekly sessions. Time: 1 pm to 2:30 pm Description: For seniors exploring what is possible and grieving what is no longer possible. Get support and connection with fellow seniors.

Call: 310/486-7647 to reserve a space.

FREE on every window to

• VIP Customer Service • Honest Value • FREE in-home estimate • Convenient scheduling • Professional installation

Low EMAX® Glass

6 MONTHS

UPGRADE Valid for Milgard products only. Call for details, restrictions apply. Not valid with any other offer. Offers expire Sept. 30, 2013.

SAME AS CASH ON APPROVED CREDIT Call for details. Offers may not be combined. Offers expire 9/30/13

1176 Morena Blvd. 6110 Yarrow Dr. San Diego, CA 92110 Carlsbad, CA 92011 Lic # 570472

Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; Sat 8am-4pm

619.677.6511 760.764.4553

newmanwindows.com

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

The Crusty Curmudgeon

By Bob Wong Greetings! Greetings take several different forms throughout this world. The most common is the handshake, according to most people in America and the Western World. But sometimes I wonder, how sanitary can this be? I am compelled to conform to customs and so I shake hands with other guys when I meet them. Are their hands clean? Did they wash them? I shudder to think any further. Now the more sanitary method of greeting is the “Knuckle Bump.” You wrap your right hand into fist and coordinate your fist with your greeter who also performs the same. Then you connect with another person with the bumping of the knuckles. It sounds awfully impersonal, so I avoid it even if it means I escape the possibility of contamination of germs. I think, however, most knuckles in this world are relatively clean. There is something called the “Hand Slap.” Facing one another, you out stretch your right hand with the fingers upward and literally slap hands. The contact is rapid so germs don’t have a chance of transference. And if there are any germs present, giving them a good slap that would undoubtedly kill them. I’m all for it. The Japanese have the right idea. All they do is to bend at the waist. No touching. No germs being passed. It’s just a single gesture. And the lower you bend, the more humble one expresses himself. I tried it a couple of times and the humbler I became, the lower I bent. It wasn’t too bad, until my hip gave way and they had to pick me off the floor. Now I’ve been watching football players extend their greetings. This might be a trend I have not taken much notice of until recently. After a triumphant touchdown or a fabulous catch of the ball, those involved run up against one another and bump their chests. It is certainly exuberant. It’s sanitary. And it’s fast. Another form of congratulations players use is a friendly slap on the buttocks. A lineman makes a tackle and he gets slapped on the buttocks. This is fully acceptable because the American Civil Liberties Union has not filed any complaints yet. If so, I wonder how far can I take this off the field? When my wife was finally able to master her cell phone, I gave her a friendly chest bump and a hearty body slap. I’ve been eating “Lean Cuisine” dinners in the garage for the past week. Alone.

Senior Driving Tips Older Drivers Tip #4: Benefits of Not Driving

Adjusting to life without a car may be challenging at first; most likely, you’ve been driving your whole life and it feels like quite a shock. It’s normal to be frustrated, angry, or irritable. You might even feel ashamed or worry that you are losing your independence. However, it takes a lot of courage to stop driving and put the safety of yourself and others first. You may also find there are many benefits to living without a car that you may not have considered. For example, you may: Save money on the cost of car ownership, including car insurance, maintenance, registration, and gasoline. These savings can pay for alternative transportation if necessary. In fact, many seniors who only used their car for short trips often find that using a taxi or shuttle service for those same trips works out costing far less. Improve your health. Giving up the car keys often means walking or cycling more, which can have a hugely beneficial effect on your health. Regular exercise from walking and cycling can help seniors boost their energy, sleep better, and improve confidence. It can also help you manage the symptoms of illness and pain, maintain your independence, and even reverse some of the signs of aging. And not only is exercise good for your body—it’s good for your mind, mood, and memory. Expand your social circle. While many seniors have difficulty accepting ride offers from others, this can be a good time to reach out and connect to new people. Find a way of accepting rides that makes you comfortable. For example, you can offer a friend money for gas, or trade off on other chores, such as cooking a meal in return for your friend driving. Appreciate the change of pace. For many, stopping driving means slowing down. While that may not sound appealing to everyone, many older adults find that they actually enjoy life far more when they live it at a slower pace. It can also have a beneficial effect on mental health by placing less stress on your nervous system.

Know Your Transportation Alternatives

Public transportation. If you live in an area that is well connected with public transportation, it can be a very handy way to get around. Check your local public transportation options and ask about reduced prices for older adults. Ride sharing. Family members, friends, and neighbors may be

Village Voice Newsletter â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

a resource for ride sharing. Offer to share the costs or to return the favor in a different way, such as cooking a meal or helping with yard work. Community shuttles/senior transit. Your local community may have shuttle service available, especially for medical appointments. Some medical facilities, such as those for veterans, also have transportation options for medical appointments. Your local place of worship may also offer transit options. Taxis or private drivers. Taxis may be a good option for quick trips without a lot of prior scheduling. You can also look into hiring a chauffeur or private driver. You can go through a formalized driving service, or sometimes a family member, friend, or neighbor can help. You do want to make sure whoever is driving has a good driving record and is responsible. ********

Flowers being sorted and packaged.

Travel Recollections By Joe Ashby

What’s This About Hair? By Tom Fuller

My hair may be frosted But it’s not gray; I could buy coloring, But I’ll not pay. Why take the high road When the low road will do? I’ll why while hoping With the determined few. I’ll wait it’s snow-like, That’s what I’d like. It’ll remind me of childhood When I was a tyke. But as it gets thinner And is beginning to bald My wife will still love me And make me feel tall. Color is so beautiful In God’s colorful world; That’s why the snow falls In the shape of a swirl. So thank you, dear God For a little bit of hair, But some day I won’t comb it When it’s not there. ********

Saudi Arabia

I awoke at 5 as our ship was entering the small port city of Duba. Following breakfast, we were bussed to Saudi customs and met our guide, Tariq. After the clearance, we drove through Duba, a rapidly growing city with roads lined with beautiful sculptured trees and bushes shaped into cones and ships. Tariq explained 60% of the Saudi income is derived from oil. However, water is more expen-

Village Voice Newsletter â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

Arabian dinner; drinks, entree, dessert on one plate.

Woman at work with loom.

sive than oil costing about 29Â˘ per liter. Education is free and compulsory from the age of seven and the boys and girls are separated, even in college, except in the medical and pharmaceutical fields. Passing a few Bedouin camps, we learned they can get financing up to 80% of the cost for just about any kind of development project. We drove on good highways that passed through rugged mountain landscapes. Tariq pointed out the mountains in the north with

layers of gold. In order to visit there, you must make an appointment and you are not allowed to leave your vehicle for fear of stealing some of the gold. Interestingly, Tariq revealed that when he was 19, he told his mother he wanted to get married. She found a proper woman for him and he had to take her a gift. He was allowed to be with her for ten minutes before leaving to decide if she was acceptable. They have been married for 39 years. While he has only one wife, his father on the other hand had nineteen different women, but they gave him only 8 children. In Saudi Arabia, a man can have as many wives, but limited to only four at any one time. Ramadan lasts sixteen days and is marked by the sacrificing of lambs, one third of which goes to the family, one third to neighbors and the other third to the needy. After one is grown and perhaps living in the city, they never lose ties to their tribe and return regularly. Even King Abdulla takes a month each year to visit the Bedouin camp of his youth to hunt birds and meet with the tribe. Our last stop was Tabuk, an old city in a mostly agricultural area where the once barren desert suddenly turned into lush fields, farms and orchards. We got a chance to visit Astra Farms, an energetic project to make the fields come alive with fruit, vegetables and millions of flowers, famous the world over. In one of their greenhouses, men and women were grooming, cutting and wrapping roses, carnations and other flowers. Outside was the Thursday Market, a flurry of activity with more than seven thousand vendors. We hastened on, have little interest in buying sewing materials, cellular phones, perfumes or watches. It was time for us to head off to a Bedouin village. ********

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Tip Top Meats 6118 Paseo Del Norte Carlsbad, CA 92011 (760) 438-2620

There is little doubt, judging from the name of this restaurant, that this is a butcher shop. Then again, it’s a European Delicatessen. And even more, it’s a very posh bakery. Is this a restaurant? Hmmm, yes, I guess so, maybe. But it appears to be an afterthought to an otherwise very successful operation. We entered the restaurant via the grocery store and waited in line of some 10 people each anxiously waiting to give the cashier/ order taker/salad provider their orders. The menu was printed on

Pork Osso Buco, overwhelming but tasty. a handout menu to be studied before handing the over-worked cashier the order. Fred ordered the Holstiner Schnitzel and I the pork

We come to your $ house! E-Z Cut Barbershop

1688 S. Melrose Drive, Suite 210 Vista, CA 92081

760-643-8858

Mon.-Sat. 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pork Schnitzel with ham and swiss cheese. osso buco. She handed us a tray filled with two pre-prepared salads, a glass of wine and a coffee cup (to be filled at a self-serve station). Searching around, we located an empty table. Despite the rather sad-looking salad, it was surprisingly fresh and good. Soon, a wait person appeared with our dinner. Fred’s Schnitzel’s pork tenderloin was filled with ham and Swiss cheese, sautéed in butter and served with mashed potato and a half-head of broccoli. The barely warmed potato was thankfully warmed by a delicious brown gravy. While the traditional osso bucco is usually a knuckle bone of veal, more and more establishments have substituted the knuckle bone of pork. And it was so at Tip Top Meats. The dish was enormous and the meat clung to a bone, the size of which appeared to be that of a dinosaur’s thighbone. I had the broccoli that was very crunchy and could have been cooked a bit longer. Except for the steaks, all dinners including the salads, were priced at an amazingly low price under $10. Where else can you pay $1.79 for a cup of coffee and $2.89 for a glass of house wine (Pinot Grigio). The popularity of Tip Top Meats lies in the fact that for relatively little money, you can eat a very fulfilling and tasty meal. The ambience is to be ignored and the service is virtually non-existent. But customers walk out full and happy. And I suppose that’s what counts. ********

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

The Street Where I Live: Malea Way

Rugged coastline on Cape Malea’s reef.

By Dora Truban Notoriously treacherous seas, variable weather and powerful storms around Greece’s Cape Maleas led to many ancient shipwrecks. As a safety measure, the largest lighthouse in the Mediterranean was built in this Peloponnesian peninsula. In spite of its obvious navigational dangers, Cape Maleas became a busy shipping lane and a major route for crossing the northeast Mediterranean to the west. The cape’s importance declined with the 1893 opening of the Corinth Canal which allowed ships to bypass the cape. Presently, the cape still has significant sea traffic since the Corinth Canal cannot handle modern ships. Homer describes how Odysseus, on his return home from the Trojan Wars, was blown off course when he rounded Cape Maleas. The Odyssey narrates he was lost for about ten years.

Premier Coldwell Banker agent for Ocean Hills

Thank you to all my clients for making this a great year! If you or youraneighbors need a Real Estatewith Specialist in For professional agent the coming New Year, please be sure to give me a call.

proven experience, call me. Direct

760-732-3213 rita@ritaharper.com www.RitaHarper.com

Ocean Hills Country Club Resident Owner

Global reach with local experience! Full time agent representing buyers and sellers.

Rita Harper Realtor®, SRES

CA BRE #00775287

Not Just Real Estate

North San Diego Senior Specialist

Our OHCC’s Malea Way is always serene. As the location of all of Ryland’s model homes, this cul-de-sac became our entry into this beautiful friendly environment.

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Discount Blinds

Blinds - Shutters - Shades •Faux Blinds •Wood Blinds

Senior Discounts

•Mini Blinds •Verticals

•Roman Shades •Natural Shades •Roller Shades •Cell Shades

* Expert Installations *

Mr B s

Discount Blinds

760-744-1312 samsdiscountblinds.com

Contact Sam Durick - Over 35 Years Experience -

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

By Charlotte Pichney

Thai Pasta

1876 Hacienda Drive Vista (West) 760-631-1837 Hours: Open 7 days a week, 11 am – 9 pm Last May, this Thai Pasta restaurant suffered a serious kitchen fire that kept it closed five months for repairs. In October, the newly restored restaurant reopened for business. The basic configuration of the interior has not changed; it is still a comfortable mixture of tables, booths and an eclectic selection of wall art. Thai Pasta is one of a group of three restaurants; other locations are on El Camino Real in Carlsbad near La Costa Resort and University Drive, Vista (East) near Target. A Lunch Specials menu is available Mondays through Fridays, 11 to 3 p.m., and offers twelve selections of noodle and rice dishes ($7.25). They do not accept coupons with these specials. All are served

with your appetizer choice egg rolls, cucumber salad or crab Rangoon. The specials entrée meat selections are chicken, beef, pork, tofu or vegetables. There is an additional charge for shrimp or BBQ pork or Crazy Noodles, hot and delicious. combination of shrimp, chicken basic cost. The menus offers a variety of Thai foods including appetizers, soups, salads, noodle, rice and curry dishes. I chose one of the more popular dishes, Crazy Noodles with pork, noodles, egg, carrot, bean sprouts, scallions and snow peas. The vegetables were crisp, crunchy, and served piping hot. The three finger size egg rolls looked to be commercially made. The table service was quick and efficient. Other lunch special noodle dishes are Pad Thai, Pad See Eiw (stir-fried wide rice noodles with egg, broccoli and sweet soy sauce), and Pad Woon Sen (stir-fried glass noodles with carrot, onion, green peas, bean sprouts and egg). For those who prefer spicy

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Revamped interior with Thai wall hangings.

Magnificent view of the county.

Out & About in San Diego County Thai Pasta now open. dishes there is Pad Khee Mao (stir fried wide rice noodles with basil leaves, carrots, baby corn, bell peppers and hot jalapeno). Other spicy entrées are Panany Curry with rice, spicy basil leaves and cashew chicken with rice. Regular priced noodle, rice and curry entrées are $8.25 with an additional charge for substituting the meat choice. Appetizer selections range from $5 to $9.50. Salad offerings are cucumber salad (fresh cucumber, onion, carrot with sweet & sour dressing). Or Spicy Nam Tok - Beef Salad and Larb – Chicken Salad both are meat mixed with onions, hot peppers, lime juice and are served with assorted vegetables. Soups: Tofu, Noodle, Tom Yum, Wonton and Tom Kha come in two sizes ($4 and $8). In addition to tear or coffee, they also offer wine. For a convenient lunch destination, drop by Thai Pasta on Hacienda Drive. Here you will enjoy reasonably priced tasty meals and support another local business.

By Jack Shabel High on a hill above San Marcos is a very nice park with 360 degree views of our corner of San Diego County. It’s Double Peak Park and it’s worth a look. There are some nice features like a large number of hiking trails of all levels, a picnic area, an adventure playground, a small amphitheater, and restrooms. But the real star of the park is the view. One of the many times we have been up there, we could see the buildings of downtown San Diego as well as the Dolly Parton tribute structures of the San Onofre power plant and everything in between. You can see into Camp Pendleton, all of San Marcos, Vista, Palomar Airport, and even Ocean Hills Country Club. To the east, Escondido and the mountains beyond are featured. We have added this site to our list of places to take out-oftown visitors as it is a beautiful place to show off all of northwest San Diego County. The park is open every day from dawn to dusk which is unfortunate as it would be a wonderful place to be on the Fourth of July for the fireworks displays in the area. The address of the park is 900 Double Peak Drive in San Marcos. ********

Village Voice Newsletter â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013

The Real Estate Corner Tom has been involved in all aspects of real estate for more than 40 years, both as a lawyer and as a realtor.

The North County Housing Market

A recurring question many realtors are asked is â&#x20AC;&#x153;how is the housing market doing?â&#x20AC;? The answer of course varies, depending upon the location of the property, the state of the economy, the cost of financing, the amount of inventory available and other related considerations. It is fair to say that in San Diego County, the housing market, at least over the past six months, has somewhat cooled. According to information provided by Data Quick, in October of this year, the median prices of homes in San Diego County fell by almost $10,000 from the previous month and this was the third consecutive month of decreasing prices. Most experts think this slowing is temporary and attributable to a generally unstable national economy, (government shutdown, looming negotiations on the debt ceiling, etc.) shrinking inventories and lower levels of investor participation. These trends are not surprising and many realtors will opine that this slowing reflects a normal cyclical pattern. It should be noted that according to the North County Multiple Listing Service (MLS), home listings in Ocean Hills increased from an average of

eight to 15 during the mid-October 2013 and mid-November 2013 time period, which would seem to bode well for the Village market (during the early part of this year, the MLS listed a monthly average of between three to five homes for sale in the OHCC market). It is much more difficult to forecast the future housing market in OHCC because of the many and varied factors that contribute to housing market trends and the reality that these factors are in a constant state of flux. Notwithstanding the difficulty of predicting the residential real estate market going forward, it is important to rec-

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

ognize that there are several positive indicators skewing towards a relatively strong market over the next year or so. Among such indicators are the following: • National and local housing starts are increasing as a result of developer confidence in the potential growth of housing demands. • According to the new Federal Reserve chairperson, interest rates should remain relatively low for the next year thereby assuring a key component in the facilitation of home purchases. • Foreclosure starts are declining to pre-recession levels (which should reduce a large inventory of discounted homes).

• While the median price for residential properties in San Diego County may have slowed recently, the yearly median price was up by 18% in San Diego County from a year ago, thereby increasing the available equity to homeowners (even better, the purchase price for homes in the immediate area -- 92056 zip code have increased by almost 33% from October, 2012 to October, 2013). In summary, the residential real estate market in North County San Diego appears relatively solid despite some recent slowing. Many of the traditional housing market indicators currently are pointing in the right direction but, as stated earlier, nothing is cer-

CALIFORNIA MORTGAGE Specializing in FHA Reverse Mortgages, Purchase, Refinance, and Jumbo Loans FHA, VA, FHLMC, FNMA Purchase & Refinances REVERSE MORTGAGE: • Allows Seniors 62+ old to draw upon the Equity in their homes providing income after retirement. • Many Seniors use it to meet unexpected medical expenses; Supplement Social Security; Make home improvements and more. Can be used to Purchase a New Home. HOME PURCHASE: • Direct Lending on most of our Loan Products. Approved with multiple Lenders. REFINANCE: • Decrease monthly payments; Get cash out on your home equity. • Consolidate debt; Pay off your current mortgage sooner. For more information or for Competitive Quotes, please call:

Steven Derganc • California Mortgage • 760-845-9021 16885 West Bernardo Dr., Suite 111, San Diego, CA 92127 • sderganc@ji-i.org CA DRE Corp ID - 00976988 • NMLS Office - 239069 • NMLS #1087103

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

tain given prior experience in this potentially volatile and constantly fluctuating market. ********

Scams Update

By Ira M. Landis Some senior consumers are being told by their drugstores that they are not covered by their insurers for their flu shots and are asked to pay about $30--in some cases as much as $50. These are prominent stores such as Rite Aid and CVS. Each customer’s insurer subsequently confirmed that coverage existed. A USC professor of pharmaceutical economics, Joel Hay, questioned whether “...something nefarious was going on because it seems like more than just honest mistakes on the drugstores’ part” was occurring. “If they know for a fact that a person has insurance coverage and they’re not applying it, that’s fraud.” Why would a drugstore want to mislead customers about whether their insurance covers flu shots? There is serious money to be made by such behavior. Employees have revealed that drugstores obtain flu shots from wholesalers for about $8 apiece. Reimbursements from insurers can vary among pharmacy chains, anywhere from $14 a shot to a few dollars less than the retail price of the shot. In either case, it seems clear that charging customers the full retail price represents more profit for the drugstore than if an insurer is involved. It seems very strange that a treatment this important and com-

mon can be the source of so much confusion. In the meantime, consumers have to serve as their own flu-shot watchdogs until California Attorney General Kamala Harris initiates appropriate regulatory action. I hope you received your flu-shots without any out-of-pocket payments. If not, contact your insurer for reimbursement. **** Did anyone else in OHCC receive the following E-mail? Or am I the only one on this sucker list? “My name is Mrs. Sarah Hendricks, suffering from cancerous ailment, I write this email to you on my sick bed facing death. I have decided to use my fund in the bank for charity. I would like you to help me distribute the fund to the needy orphans, destitute, the down-trodden society. Write to my email: (sarahhen740@gmail.com) God will bless you for your assistance. Regards, Mrs. Sarah Hendricks. I would like to help all the down-trodden Mrs. Hendricks has asked me to help. However, the first rule is to not enter into any dialogue, written or oral, with people offering such opportunities. There is no question that their goal is to attempt to obtain some of my assets. Some of you may be tempted to learn more about what this request involves, but remember you are looking for trouble by responding to this or similar requests. The harassment will not cease. ********

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

“I Love A Mystery”

By Ira M. Landis I have discovered a great new mystery writer--Robert Galbraith, author of The Cuckoo’s Calling, a debut novel in what I hope will be the start of a series. The hero is a former British veteran of the war in Afghanistan, who lost a leg to a land mine Cormoran Strike, and who is barely scraping by as a private investigator. He has only one client at the outset of the story and creditors are actively seeking payment. Having just broken up with his longtime girlfriend, he is living in his office. John Bristow, whose deceased brother Strike knew in his youth, walks through the door with an amazing story : His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, fell to her death a few months ago. The tabloids exploited and reported endlessly on every aspect of the lives of Lula and her friends. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that result. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion that one can imagine. You may think you may know detectives, and I think I do, but we (you and I) have never met one quite like Strike. We may think we know about the rich and famous, but we’ve never seen them under an investigation like this. Did I forget to tell you this is the first crime novel by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter), writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith ? ****

John Sandford’s latest book, Storm Front, is a fun thriller featuring Virgil Flowers, who always brings a lighter tone than the Lucas Davenport series, also authored by Sandford. The multiple story lines emphasize deceit. The story begins with an archeological dig in Israel that turns up a stele, an inscribed piece of stone, that can have a supposed profound effect on the history of the Middle East. Elijah Jones, a college professor who is dying, steals it to sell on the black market. This is where the plot takes off, becoming a cat and mouse chase to see who will end up with the stone. Virgil must deal with the bumbling ways of mercenary Turks,

Barb Stojanovic now at

Envision Salon Spa 3245 Business Park Dr. Vista, CA 92081

For appt: 760-297-0580 Master Hair Stylist for Men & Women 10% OFF Haircuts, Blow Dries, Shampoo & Sets $10 OFF All Perms & Color Services 1st time clients only. Exp. 1/15/14.

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Mossad agents, Hezbollah terrorists, and Texas reality show hosts. There is also a sub-plot that involves a woman who is selling fake antique lumber. Sandford weaves these two plots together in a suspenseful way with many twists and turns. There is also plenty of “red-neck” humor to keep you smiling. ********

Book Review

By Tom Lynch (Tom Lynch has announced to “step aside for the young” and will discontinue writing his monthly articles. To readers who want to receive occasional reviews and poems, they can add their email addresses to Tom’s send-out list tlynch27@cox.net. The editors wish to thank Tom for years of providing comprehensive coverages of a variety of books.) The Mansion of Happiness: the history of life and death, 2012, by Jill Lepore. Lepore intended her book to be a history of ideas about life and death, starting with the 17th-century William Harvey and ending with Robert Ettinger’s project of freezing the dead to be resurrected way in the future. All sorts of gossip, which is presented as such, enlivens her stories of well-known persons in her coverage from the 17th to the 21st century. She introduces her theme by a chronicle of the life of Bill Bradley, whose first board game was called the Checkered Game of Life – Monopoly was put out by his firm much later. The reader is then treated to a history of board games in England and Ameri-

ca. “Hatched” is a chapter on the history of media portrayal of the drama of life before birth in stories about important media people who, in pictures of fetuses and related, stirred wide controversy, especially in the 1960s. “Baby Food” gets into breast feeding and breast pumps over a considerable span of time. “The Children’s Room” tells stories of public libraries’ children books, publishers and authors and their critics, as they developed, handled and mishandled readings for children. “All about Erections” covers books about sex, from Aristotle – at least attributed to him but probably not his – Puritan repression of sex knowledge, how the stork myth developed, and much more. “Mr. Marriage,” namely Paul Popenoe, 1888 to 1979, forms the nucleus for stories about marriage and family counseling. “Happiness Minutes” covers how scientific management emerged in the 1910s and then spread out to glorify efficiency, even for happiness. “Confession of an Amateur Mother,” starts with stories of attempts in the 1830s and 1840s to help mothers, and spawned an industry along with controversy over eugenics, birth control and family planning that continues to our own day. “Happy Old Age” involves stories about the development of American Psychology in the early 20th century and beyond. “Geriatrics” was born and now is very big business. G. Stanley Hall’s life is used as a backbone for this chapter. “The Gate of Heaven” features the comatose Karen Ann Quinlan and the legal wrangling that continues until this day. The last chapter “Resurrection” uses the life history of Robert Ettinger and his freezer approach to deal with mortality. Ted Williams, the baseball hero, had his head frozen at death, and today you can buy Halloween costumes, and go out as a headless Williams, carrying his head. Are we wacky or what?

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Village Happenings

By Selma Leighton It’s December, and we live in Ocean Hills. That means parties, parties, parties. Of course none of us can go to all of them, but some of us try to get to some of them. Our club and club parties sort of fall into categories. There are the athletic, and somewhat athletic clubs, like walking/hiking, ladies golf club, bocce and the sailing and racquet clubs party. And then there are artistic and theatrical groups such as art lovers, ballroom dancing, line dancing, theater arts and one of my favorites, the ukulele players, and it all ends in what we hope will be the party of the year, New Years Eve. There are also clubs and club parties that don’t fall into categories, such as Nubees, the Garden Club and the Wine Tasting club. The president of the latter club, Bruce Brady, tells me that club has been in operation one year and has 200 members. Do you think this fast-growing membership has anything to do with the fact that liquor is happily and safely involved. To get back to the ukulele club, my favorite sub group of that group (not sub standard, just sub size) is “Wee Three.” They call themselves that because all are the same size WEE. They may be small in size, but can they play and sing. Their favorite song is Love Potion #9. That should tell you something I personally love Ballroom Dancing and celebrated the holiday season with them. It is very social and some of us “older folks” have fun just moving from side to side and do an occasional 3 to 4

minute jitterbug. However there are some wonderful dancers, including our co-presidents Ana and Paul Yoshida. Many of the dancers are quite remarkable and a pleasure to watch. And believe it or not sometimes they still like to dip. In conclusion, I must say having the ability to celebrate the holiday the season with old friends and sometimes new ones is fun.. And you know, I like fun-ny. Happy Holiday. ********

From the members of the Journalism Club, we wish you...

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Cooking With Beverly

By Beverly Nickerson Bob Wong will be leaving as Editor-in-Chief of our Village Voice in January. I would like to salute him in this issue by printing one of his cake recipes. Several friends told me about Bob’s cooking talents and that he makes wonderful pies, cakes, etc. for St. Thomas More Church. At our annual Village Voice luncheons, Bob has made this excellent cake and I asked him to share his recipe with you for your holiday entertaining.

Bob Wong’s Whiskey Cake 1 ½ cups water 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda 1 ½ cups raisins (golden, preferred) 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour ¾ teaspoon salt 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder ¾ cup shortening 1 ½ cups sugar 3 lg. eggs 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract 3 oz. whiskey ¾ cup chopped walnuts

Whiskey Cake; boozy and tasty. Frosting l lb. box powdered sugar 1 stick butter softened 3 oz. whiskey Garnish: Walnut halves

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Special Equipment: Three 9 inch round cake pans, spread shortening lightly over just the bottom of the pans and dust with flour. Temperature: 350º Cake Mixture: Combine water, raisins and soda in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes, then cool. Cream the shortening in a large bowl with a mixer. Add sugar, eggs and 3 oz. whisky. Mix in the flour, salt and baking powder, then add the raisins plus its liquid and chopped walnuts until combined. Pour batter into three prepared cake pans, place two on middle rack, the third on the rack below. Bake at 350º for 15 minutes, then increase the heat to 450º for 5 minutes. Frosting: Place butter in bowl and beat until soft. Add powdered sugar all at once then add 3 oz. whiskey, beat on low until partially combined. If needed, add hot milk just enough for the correct consistency. To Finish Cake: Pour a couple of ounces of whiskey in a saucer and dab each layer with your fingers before frosting. Place one layer upside down on a cake round and spread frosting on the top. Place the second layer right side up and frost. Then finish frosting the top and the sides. Decorate top with walnut halves. ********

potpourri Behind The Curtain: MiraCosta College

During the fall and winter season productions at MiraCosta College, Jessica Amador can be seen preparing the sets for the next theater presentation. Besides being employed by the Globe Theater and Moonlight, she works here. This time, she was plastering simulated wall of a structure to resemble stucco for a scene of The Blood Wedding. Back in the set room, Fred Cutler is working on another facet of the play that incorporates a fantasy of puppets. He volunteers twice a week with others who, as professionals, coach actors, teach set designing and provide props. The number of students, volunteers and professionals number around 30 for each play. The theater was remodeled in 2006 when new and more comfortable seats were installed. Yes, it isn’t your imagination that the seats are a bit wider than those in the front; they actually are. The seating capacity of the theater is around 270 depending on how the stage configuration is made. Sometimes, the orchestra pit is enclosed to extend the depth of the stage thus diminishing the seating capacity. Theater goers from OHCC marvel at the wonderfully imagina-

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

There are four productions during the academic year. Three are often dramatic stage plays and the other, a musical. Obviously, the musicals usually command a full-house. The college subsidizes the theater along with generous donations from individuals, corporations and the Spotlight Group. According to many OHCC theatergoers, this has to be the best bargain in town for excellent entertainment. Tickets for seniors seldom exceed $8. Sorry, the price does not include popcorn. ********

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease Backstage set room with volunteer Fred Cutler working on props. tive set designs by Andrew Leighton. They can compete with any local theater productions. In a single word, the sets are awesome. It takes a certain intensity of devotion to work with Tracy Williams, head of the Theater Arts Department. Rehearsals for a play often require 6 weeks of intense work: four to five nights after class from 4 to 10 p.m. While most of the actors are students, many who graduated from the program, have returned to perform various roles.

By NIHS The only definitive way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease is to find out whether plaques and tangles exist in brain tissue. To look at brain tissue, doctors perform a brain autopsy, an examination of the brain done after a person dies. Doctors can only make a diagnosis of “possible” or “probable” Alzheimer’s disease while a person is alive. Doctors with special training can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease correctly up to 90 percent of the time. Doctors who can diagnose Alzheimer’s include geriatricians, geriatric psychiatrists, and neurologists. A geriatrician specializes in the treatment of older adults. A geriatric psychiatrist specializes in mental problems in older adults. A neurologist specializes in brain and nervous system disorders. To diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, doctors may • ask questions about overall health, past medical problems, ability to carry out daily activities, and changes in behavior and personality • conduct tests to measure memory, problem solving, attention, counting, and language skills • carry out standard medical tests, such as blood and urine tests • perform brain scans to look for anything in the brain that does not look normal. ********

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Fast Food Choices

By Mayo Clinic Staff Does following a weight-loss or healthy diet mean you must swear off fast food? Not necessarily. An occasional stop for fast food can fit into a healthy diet if you’re careful about what you order. Consider these tips.

bles with fat-free or low-fat dressing on the side, rather than regular salad dressing, which can have 100 to 200 calories a packet. Watch out for high-calorie salads, such as those with deep-fried shells or those topped with breaded chicken or other fried toppings. Also skip extras, such as cheese, bacon bits and croutons, which quickly increase your calorie count. If you forgo the dressing, you can find salads for around 300 calories at most fast-food chains.

Keep Portion Sizes Small

Opt for Grilled Items

If the fast-food restaurant offers several sandwich sizes, pick the smallest. Bypass hamburgers with two or three beef patties, which can pack close to 800 calories and 40 grams of fat. Choose instead a regular- or children’s-sized hamburger, which has about 250 to 300 calories. And skip the large serving of french fries or onion rings and ask for a small serving instead. This switch alone saves 200 to 300 calories.

Choose Healthier Side Dishes

Take advantage of the healthy side dishes offered at many fastfood restaurants. For example, instead of french fries choose a side salad with low-fat dressing or a baked potato. Or add a fruit bowl or a fruit and yogurt option to your meal. Other healthy choices include apple or orange slices, corn on the cob, steamed rice, or baked potato chips.

Go Green

Choose an entree salad with grilled chicken, shrimp or vegeta-

Fried and breaded foods, such as crispy chicken sandwiches and

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

breaded fish fillets, are high in fat and calories. Select grilled or roasted lean meats — such as turkey or chicken breast, lean ham, or lean roast beef.

Watch What You Drink

Many beverages are high in calories. For example, a large regular soda (32 ounces, or 946 milliliters) has about 300 calories. Instead, order diet soda, water, unsweetened iced tea, sparkling water or mineral water. Also, skip the shakes and other ice cream drinks. Large shakes can contain more than 800 calories and all of your saturated fat allotment for the day.

Robert Rock Elwood Kingsland Rose Keeffe

Have it Your Way

Remember you don’t have to settle for what comes with your sandwich or meal — not even at fast-food restaurants. Ask for healthier options and substitutions. And keep your eye on portion sizes. ********

Computer Issues? Call Tim O’Bryan

” The Tech Man” for help with:

Computer Problems, Repairs or Lessons Also Specializing in Audio, Video, TV and Home Networking

Just a phone call away! TIM’S CELL #

619-955-3646 timobryan@cox.net

Resident of OHCC for 5 Years

Village Voice Newsletter • December 2013

Southern California’s Coastal Climate

Ocean Hills is perhaps one of the most favored gardening climates in North America for the growing of subtropical plants, this according to Sunset Magazine’s Western Garden Book. It refers to this area as the avocado belt since frosts don’t amount to too much. Eighty percent of the time, Ocean Hills is under the influence of the Pacific Ocean and around fifteen percent is governed by the interior climate. Most of this fifteen percent is when the Santa Ana winds blow down from the hills and canyons from the mountains and deserts causing extremely hot and drying air. Ocean Hills lacks the necessary summer heat or winter cold to grow such items as pears, most apples and peaches. However, the weather remains mild most of the year without the extremes of the rest of the nation, making it perfect for such sub-tropical plants as gardenias, oleanders and birds of paradise (pictured).

Perfect weather conditions for Birds of Paradise plants.

Call David or Sarah now to schedule your complimentary lunch and tour: (760) 744-4484

Lic # 374600026

1550 Security Place, San Marcos, CA 92078

www.SilvergateRR.com

Village Voice Newsletter â&#x20AC;˘ December 2013