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PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage PAID EDDM Retail Monroe Twp., NJ 08831 VOLUME 50 / No. 12 Monroe Township, New Jersey December 2014 MERRY CHRISTMAS Û HAPPY HANUKKAH Rossmoor joins the fight against breast cancer By Carol De Haan Thirty residents, most of them wearing pink, observed Breast Cancer Awareness Day by joining more than 6,000 walkers on a three-mile hike around the grounds of the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison on Sunday, Oct. 26. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, this event was called “Making Strides against Breast Cancer.” It raised about $422,000 that will be used for education, research, and patient services. Of that amount, $3,000 came from the Rossmoor participants. Dennis and Dottie Haggerty of Mutual 2, survivors of a Halloween party from the night before, nevertheless got themselves up and out of the house by 7:30 a.m. to drive with neighbors Joy and Al MacVicar to the walk site in Edison. “My mother was a breast cancer survivor years ago,” says Dennis. “This is an important cause.” Hoping to raise funds for research and medical care, and also to raise the awareness that early detection is vital, the American Cancer Society began its “Making Strides” program in 1993. Since then, approximately ten thousand walkers from about 300 communities have raised nearly $600 million to fight this disease. “It’s always a great walk,” says Paulette Mascia of Mutual 1. “Like many of us, I’ve lost family members to breast cancer, so I’ve been “Making Strides” for years. My earliest walks were at Clove Lake on Staten Island. Then I started joining walks in New Jersey. Then I moved to Rossmoor and have been joining the walks ever since.” One in eight U.S. women is likely to develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime, making this not only a woman’s second most common form of cancer, but also the second leading cause of women’s deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 230,000 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in this country before the end of 2014, and that 40,000 of those eventually will succumb to the disease. “I’m walking for my daughter, Margaret,” said Judith Secks of Mutual 1. “Unfortunately, she did not survive. But I am very grateful,” said Judith as she looked around, “to see that there are so many survivors. It’s awesome.” On our way! From left, Helen Konieczny, Phyllis Palfy, Judy Secks, and Connie Hoppe. Residents, staff, family, and friends participated in the Making Strides for Breast Cancer Walk Board of Governors approves 2015 budget By Carol De Haan Members of the Board of Governors, meeting at the Village Center on Thursday, November 20, unanimously approved the new RCAI budget for 2015 in the amount of $4,795,121. Next year, the portion of each homeowner’s monthly maintenance that will be contributed to RCAI will be $173.51, an increase of $4.28 over the current contribution. Included in the $4.28 increase per manor per month is the amount of 72 cents for the Capital Reserve Fund. This meager increase should have been several dollars higher were it not for the advance planning done in 2012 when RCAI made a lump sum contribution of $200,000 from the Working Capital Fund into the Reserve Fund. This action had the effect of lowering future contributions to Reserves. It will be 2024 before the RCAI contribution into the Reserve Fund rises again to the level of 2012. Adding to the increase are contracts in nursing and landscaping. These contracts had been negotiated in previous years and the 2015 increases had been built into the terms of those contracts when they were written. There were no increases in the termite control contract and in the trash/ recycling contract. Likewise, the pool management contract remained the same except for the one extra week of pool use in 2015. A slight increase in cost will result from that extra week. The premiums did not go up for our property and general liability insurance contract. However, since property values have been increased by 4%, the policy will be correspondingly more expensive. Our directors and officers insurance policy went up by 8%. Health insurance for union and non-union employees went up by 10%. Dental insurance for union employees went up by 2%. The budget for 2015 will look slightly different from previous years in that we accepted a recommendation from our auditors to streamline our record keeping. We consolidated our previous 20 cost centers into seven cost centers. These are Administration, E&R Administration, Community Facilities, Maintenance Administration, Snow Control, Golf Operations and Maintenance, and RCAI. The process of creating this budget began last July. The RCAI Executive Committee, Standing Committee chairpersons, and just about every staff member are all involved in estimating expenses for the coming year. It is a detailed, lengthy process and every effort is made to maintain this community effectively and economically. Anyone who missed the Nov. 20 meeting is welcome to pick up a copy of the new budget at the Village Center. Inside this issue Bits & Pieces .................. 2 Bob Huber’s Almanac... 11 Clubs ........................... 15 Culinary Corner ............ 13 General Manager ........... 7 Healthcare .................... 23 Inquiring Photographer . 12 Maintenance ................. 23 New Neighbors .............13 Nutrition Corner ............11 President’s Letter ............8 RCAI Meetings ................2 Religion .........................22 Sports............................20 This month in pictures ......................14 2 The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 Bits & Pieces Sue Ortiz Daniel Jolly, RCAI President, opened the Board of Governors meeting at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence in honor of Mr. Joseph Gasik, Director of Mutual 17. gm Vincent Marino, Jr. reported on the resolution voting outcome of the Maintenance Committee. Joan Avery gave the report from the Community Affairs Committee and announced the resolution voting outcome. Moya Brady gave a report for the Health Care Center. Judith Sforza reported that there is a year-to-date budget deficit of $180,073.04, which is $168,170.76 over budget. She stated the Finance Committee recommended the resolutions brought before them. Peter Kaznosky reported that the Golf Course bridge project is commencing today. gm The Reserve Study funded for the anticipated expenditure of $68,654 for the resurfacing of Mt. Vernon Road; $180,062 for the resurfacing of Revere Way; and $55,109 for the resurfacing of Victoria Court in 2016 and $125,000 for concrete flush curb/curb and gutter; $10,000 for common facility sidewalks; and $50,000 for storm inlet reconstruction in 2015. The Maintenance Committee and Finance Committee recommended to engage the services of FWH Associates for inspection and engineering services associated with the 2015 pavement repair and overlay project for the RCAI streets mentioned above; pavement rehabilitation; concrete curb and gutter; and storm inlet renovation. The Board of Governors approved a resolution to engage the services of FWH Associates to conduct a pavement assessment and prepare specifications for the 2015 Paving Project at a cost not to exceed $12,200. The expenditure will be charged to the RCAI Capital Replacement Fund Account. gm The Board of Governors approved a resolution to adopt the 2015 RCAI Operating and Capital Budget. gm The Board of Governors approved a resolution to accept the three year Union Agreement between RCAI and the Union and the RCAI Union Employees Rules, Regulations and Policies Handbook, effective January 1, 2015. gm The Board of Governors approved a resolution to accept the application to form an Indian American Club to be recognized as an independent club that will abide by the rules and procedures established by RCAI in Resolution #07-75 and the RCAI Rules and Regulations pertaining to Clubs and Organizations. How Rossmoor voted By Carol De Haan For election purposes, Monroe Township is divided into three Wards. We live in Ward 1, the largest, which is subdivided into 17 Districts. Rossmoor contains Districts two, three, four, and five. This is how Rossmoor residents voted in the general election last November 4: For the United States Senate: (One position open) Jeff Bell (R) ..................... 483 Cory Booker (D) .............536* For the U.S. House of Representatives: (One position open) Alieta Eck (R) .................. 478 Bonnie Watson Coleman (D) .. 502* For the Board of Chosen Freeholders: (Two positions open) Carol Barrett (D) ...........503* Charles Tomaro (D) .......487* For the Board of Education: (Three positions open) Jill DeMaio ..................... 294* Kathy Kolpanowich ........ 209* Steven Riback ............... 101* Note: In our area, Frank Russo received 170 votes for one of the three positions on the Board of Education. However, when returns from all three Wards were in, Russo’s totals were not sufficient to give him one of the three open positions. There were two State Public Questions and two County Public Questions on the Nov. 4 ballot. All four Questions were approved by the voters. The number of votes cast in our four Districts was 1,066 from 2,646 registered voters. Approximately 40% of Rossmoor’s eligible voters participated in this mid-term election. Letter to the Editor Happy Camper I was quite happy to read that Rossmoor and Comcast have come to an agreement for expanded basic TV, which we now pay for directly to Comcast. I live in Fl. part of the year and in Sebastian, Fl., we have a contract with Comcast for the expanded basic for the past five years; which has been wonderful. I just turn on the TV and I get all the channels incorporated in my maintenance fee. I’ll be glad to have one less bill come January. Theresa Lipp For a couple of months out of the year, my mother’s cousin used to turn his front yard into a “Christmas tree lot.” When I was a little girl, my mom, dad, and I would go downtown to pick out the fullest, fattest, most fragrant pre-cut Scotch Pine tree that we could find from that lot. Back when car trunks were roomy enough to pack in two weeks’ worth of groceries plus a day’s haul of department store shopping, my dad would stuff the Christmas tree into the trunk and off we’d go. When we got home to our apartment at the lower end of Jamesburg, my dad carried the tree through the back door. That’s when the fun began. The antique (in other words, old) tree stand would be waiting in the living room. My dad would take what seemed like hours to get the tree to stand straight up. I’m sure much swearing ensued, but I don’t remember that. After my mom’s seal of approval on the tree’s posture, my dad would anchor the tree to the wall or radiator. Probably to keep the tree from falling on little ol’ me. Next came the ritual of stringing the lights. More swearing, I’m sure, as the tangled mess slowly became a single strand of multicolored gems that formed neat rows of loop-de-loops around the tree. Glass ornaments, some antique, some newly bought to replace the ones that broke the last year, were hung from the long needled evergreen branches. Ouch! Those needles were sharp! A lighted star was placed atop the tree, and, for the final touch, artificial snow from a can was sprayed all over the tree (as well as the balls and the lights). It was the most beautiful tree…ever! All this happened three to four weeks before Christmas, and the anticipation of the “big day” was almost unbearable! But, the day arrived, finally, and so did piles and piles of presents for yours truly! We moved in 1966 from the small apartment at the south end of town to a house at the north end of town—a big move of about threequarters of a mile. But the tradition of getting a fresh tree for Christmas continued. When mom’s cousin stopped selling trees, we found another outlet and switched to the softer-needled Douglas Fir. We eventually started cutting our own at a tree farm. The three of us would roam among the various types and sizes of trees until we found the perfect one that was always around six feet tall. No bare spots. Nice and full. I got crafty and made most of ornaments that would adorn our trees, phasing out the delicate glass ones. The tree still had to be straightened, but eventually we threw out the old stand and bought one that swiveled, making it very easy to get it upright. Instead of those big lights, we switched to the mini ones. Once decorated, it was the most beautiful tree…ever! (The gifts were still piled high under the tree, though.) For the past ten years, I had a four-foot artificial tree. I hung my handmade ornaments on its sturdy wire branches. The four hundred bright pre-strung lights ticked up my electric bill. It was the most beautiful tree…ever! This year, though, I am in search of a smaller tree, maybe a fat three-foot prelit version. I gotta have a Christmas tree; I will decorate it with lights and ornaments and ribbon. It will be the most beautiful tree… ever! Here’s to finding the perfect Christmas tree, even if it’s just a Charlie Brown Tree, and may the holidays be perfect for everyone this year. BP “I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.”— Linus Van Pelt (A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965) Merry, Happy, Peace, Joy, Love! Open RCAI meetings in Dec. Thursday, Dec. 4 News Board: Joe Conti, Chair Carol DeHaan, Bob Huber, Madeline Reed, Jean Hoban, Jean Houvener and ex-officio, Jane Balmer, General Manager. Editorial Assistant: Sue Ortiz as space permits. All copy and pictures are subject to editing and are accepted with this understanding. Letters to the Editor must be emailed to PES at pescmd@aol.com and clearly marked Rossmoor News. The Rossmoor News is Editorial Office: published monthly and is mailed 2 Rossmoor Drive, to every home within the Rossmoor community. News items are welcome. Appropriate news items from outside organizations will be considered Monroe Twp., NJ 08831 E-mail Sue Ortiz: news@rossmoor-nj.com The Rossmoor News and Princeton Editorial Services (PES) are not liable for any typographical or printing errors that may appear, including in its display or classified advertising, over the cost of the space of the advertisement. The advertisements here are, to the best of the publisher’s knowledge, accurate representations of the products and services offered. However, no endorsements are intended or implied. Acceptance of all materials is at the discretion of the publisher. Email display ads to: pescmd@aol.com Telephone: 732-761-8534 Visit the Rossmoor website at www.rossmoor-nj.com Thursday, Dec. 11 Thursday, Dec. 11 Thursday, Dec. 11 Thursday, Dec. 18 Agenda Committee 9 a.m. Golf - No Meeting Maintenance Committee 9 a.m. Community Affairs Comm. 10 a.m. Finance Committee 11 a.m. Board of Governors 9 a.m. All meetings are held in the Village Center Meeting Room The deadline for The Rossmoor News is the 7th of every month. The Rossmoor News Editorial Board welcomes anyone interested in joining us in any capacity. The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 A conversation with Mrs. Claus By Bob Huber Thank you for taking the time to talk to me, Mrs. Claus. I imagine you folks must be very busy right now. Oh, we’ve been busy since the beginning of the Christmas marketing season. When was that? July fifth. That early?! Well, it seems like it anyway. It starts earlier every year. I can recall when people didn’t even think about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Now there are Christmas shops that stay open year ‘round. What else has changed over the years? There was a time when our elves made all the toys in our own shop. Now, we have to outsource a lot of work to China. Kids want electronic gadgets nowadays. By the time we deliver them, they’re obsolete. The world moves at a much faster pace. You have to be on the dead run just to keep up. Yet, the image of the “Jolly Old Elf” appears to remain intact. Well, sort of. My husband can trace his ancestry back to a fourth century bishop named Saint Nicholas, who went around giving gifts to the poor. The gift giving part of it worked out pretty well all the way up to the nineteenth century. Then, two people changed the whole game. Who could be that influential? Clement Clarke Moore, a college professor who wrote the poem a Visit from Saint Nicholas (The Night Before Christmas), and a political cartoonist named Thomas Nast who illustrated the poem. The combination became so popular that we had no choice but to conform to their descriptions. All of a sudden we were saddled with a sleigh and eight reindeer, and my husband, dressed up in a bright red suit, was popping in and out of chimneys. Our dry cleaning bills were horrendous, and you’d be surprised how much it costs to feed eight reindeer. I’ve often wondered why you don’t go along with your husband on his Christmas Eve journey. Staying out in the cold all night on Christmas Eve is not for me. My husband leaves the house at dusk, and I don’t see him again until dawn Christmas morning. I stay home with a pot of tea and watch reruns on television. I’ve seen It’s a Wonderful Life so many times that I can recite the dialogue by heart. As a matter of fact, I hardly see Claus at all between Thanksgiving and Christmas, he’s so busy making personal appearances at shopping malls. Surely, you must take some sort of vacation when Christmas is over. We have a time-share condo down in the Bahamas. We usually spend the month of January there. Claus shaves off his beard and cuts his hair. I can understand why he St. James Food and Fellowship soup kitchen By Anne Rotholz The opening of the Food and Fellowship Soup Kitchen by a local church, St. James the Less Church, Jamesburg, is surely a sign of our times. Soup kitchens have been around for centuries, their popularity depending on the economic conditions at any given time. They emerged in 18th Century Europe and could be found in several US and European cities by the 19th Century. A large old building near my hometown in Ireland, dating back to the Great Famine (1847), is still known as The Soup Kitchen. Soup kitchens were prominent in the U.S. during the Great Depression but were less widely used once economic conditions improved after WW II. There was a resurgence of the service in the 1980s because of cutbacks to welfare. The 2006 world-wide inflation in food costs and the global financial crisis that followed caused great hardship not only for the poor but for many middle -class families as well. Even in these modern times soup kitchens are once again in the news. St. James Food and Fellowship is open on Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m. The ministry operates out of the church basement, where there is a fully-equipped kitchen and a large dining area. Its mission is to help people who are homeless, unemployed, under-employed, have large families or who, for various reasons, need help. A fledgling endeavor, it could eventually accommodate up to 100 people. Deacon candidate Patrick Smith (a policeman by profession, is also a good cook) directs the program. He has no problem finding volunteers and he is lavish in his praise for them. They set tables in bright colors, serve the food they have helped cook, and then sit and chat with the “guests.” Some deliver meals to those who are homebound and offer to keep them company while they eat. Deacon Smith says that providing a tasty but healthy meal is a priority. The women often bring in homemade treats for dessert. The center also gets help from the parish youth group and other parish groups. The program is funded by private donations. Companies with supermarkets in this area help by providing some groceries at no cost. The soup kitchen works closely with the Deacon’s (Continued on page 4) would want to be incognito. Does he have a hobby? If you can call it that. He likes to saunter up and down the beach, telling all the bikini cuties that he’s Willard Scott, auditioning weather girls for his television show. That must embarrass you. It certainly does, especially if he’s wearing his bikini bathing trunks. By now, I suppose you’re all prepared for this Christmas. Oh, there’s always a lot of last minute things to do: polish the sleigh and the sleigh bells, put fresh batteries in Rudolph’s nose and check “The Book” one more time. What book? The Naughty/Nice book. We still call it that, even though it’s all computerized now. Actually, all we have to do is push a button, and bingo! There’s all the information we need. We’ll start loading up the toy sack next week. In all the pictures I’ve seen of Santa, that toy sack looks like such a burden. No sack filled with toys is a burden. Unfortunately, this year, the sack will be a little lighter than usual. Times are hard. Yes, but Claus always manages to put a good face on it. At dawn on Christmas day I’ll hear the sleigh pull up in the front yard, and he’ll come bursting through the door, reeking of milk and cookies. He gives me a big hug, and he always says the same thing. What’s that? MERRY CHRISTMAS! 3 4 The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 Christmas past, 1974 By Jean Hoban Nothing gives parents more pleasure and joy than hearing their children exclaim over the presents under the Christmas tree. I would ring bells in my bedroom early on Christmas morning and hear my three sleepy heads start talking quietly in their rooms; they would awaken telling each other that they knew Santa had come because they had just heard him. No matter how fast they got to their bedroom windows they just could not catch a glimpse of the jolly old fella and his reindeer, but that did not deter them from creeping down the stairs to see what he had left under the tree They checked the empty cocoa cup and made a point to tell one another that the cookies and carrots were gone so it was OK, he had certainly been in our living room, and Rudolph was probably a happy, well-fed reindeer thanks to Patty who insisted that we leave carrots with the cookies. Then there was the whispering debate, should they start opening their presents or should they wake up Mommy and Daddy. Erin, the oldest, insisted that the other two not open a box or bag till we made an appearance. Patty said she could read so she knew which presents were hers, and Tony was chomping at the bit to tear into the booty. Before they could go from whispering to war, we appeared at the head of the stairs and asked if Santa had come. Of course they insisted that they heard him, hadn’t we heard him too? Patty: “Look he was just here, can we open our presents?” Erin: “He finished all the cookies.” Tony: “C’mon let’s open up the presents.” And with a nod from me, the ripping commenced. You’re thinking, another portrait of the all American family on Christmas morning and most times you would be right, that’s the way it was, lots of surprises, wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, the noise of the dog yapping around the kids and the boxes and, of course, a lot of love. Except for one Christmas morning when I rang the bells and wondered what would happen? That year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas my perfect, beautiful, well behaved, well mannered, exemplary, and brilliant children had turned into hellions. As we used to say, they were cruising for a bruising. The three of them could not stop their bickering, their teasing, their high pitched hollering of “Mommy he looked at me, Mommy she hit me, Mommy I had it first, Mommy she stepped on my foot, ON PURPOSE, Mommy I’m not doing it, she is, he is.” And on it went; with me constantly threatening that Santa would hear them and not bring any presents or that they were not going to see their cousins on Christmas Eve because Aunt Lucy and Uncle John only wanted good children at their house. Nothing worked, reward, treat, gold stars, threats, punishment, and a few whacks on the behind did no good. Not even their Father’s stern command to “Knock it off!” could bring peace. Evil holiday elves had taken over their brains and bodies. So I warned them, “That’s it! I’m writing Santa to bring coal instead of toys.” By this time I was ready to send my BA in Psychology back to Seton St. James (Continued from page 3) Food Pantry at the nearby Presbyterian Church. Finally, in a world where alienation of the less fortunate is often the norm, the fellowship provided by the St. James Soup Kitchen becomes invaluable. Gifts of time and conversation provide nourishment for the human spirit. If you or anyone you know would like to participate in the program, or if you would like more information on this ministry, contact Deacon Candidate Patrick Smith at 732-233-6970. Donations can be made directly to St. James Church with Food and Fellowship in the memo. Hall University, and ask for a refund of my tuition. Behavior modification was not working at our house. Somehow the cookies got baked, the tree got decorated, the house got cleaned, shopping got done and the wreath and lights on our front door beckoned family and friends to join us in celebration, a celebration which I did not share in my heart. I just wanted my good little kids back, my angels who understood the word STOP! When we left Old Bridge the afternoon of Christmas eve, I wondered if we would make it all the way to my Aunt and Uncle’s house in Bayside without my husband turning the car around on the New Jersey Turnpike. We made it with just a couple of “Knock it offs!” and a few threats to dump them at the next toll booth. When we got back home from Queens late that night, their little bellies full and their heads nodding and drowsy, they went to bed without a problem. But this mother intended to make good on her threats. I was never-ever going to go thr ough an other preChristmas like this one. I told my husband whose heart had now softened and was full of holiday spirit, and spirits, no, never- ever again. So the next morning when they heard the bells and started down the stairs, they were completely stopped in their tracks. There under the bright cheerful tree were three big black garbage bags standing straight up awaiting the naughty children. The whispering was a whine. Erin, age 7: “Oooh we got coal.” Patty, age 6: “It’s your fault.” Tony, age 4: “What’s coal? Of course we got up and asked them what was wrong? Why weren’t they downstairs already and why were they so sad. Tony: “Look! Mommy, we got coal, and I don’t know what that is.” “Well, why don’t you go down? Maybe Santa left something with the coal.” Hesitantly and with a few tears rolling down their cheeks, they approached the tree and looked at the names on the nasty black bags. Then they gingerly untied them, and were happily relieved when they found their presents stocked high in the blackness of the Hefties. Tears to smiles, hugs and kisses, dog yapping, but still a bit shaken by what might have been. And with that, dear reader, I solved the pre-holiday craziness for the rest of their younger years and made a memory they remind me of every year. They’ll tell my grandkids when they’re a little older, and I hope the story will stay in the family for a long time, because that’s what makes the best Christmases, the stories and traditions we share with our loved ones. The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 The bell that couldn’t jingle By Linda L. Kaucher It was getting close to Christmas again. People jammed the stores hoping to find the perfect gift. Parents took their children to see Santa and on the weekends the lines were extra long. Eight-year-old Jennifer Sully was helping her Mom, Ellen, to decorate the tree and hang their stockings on the mantle. As she put the last strands of tinsel on the tree, she faced her Mom. “Mom,” she said, “don’t forget – on Christmas Eve, I have to get my little bell out of my drawer and ring it.” Ellen replied, “I’ll remind you, dear, just as I do every year.” She smiled and they continued to decorate the rest of the house. Then Ellen sat down, depressed. Jenny sat beside her. She could see a tear run down her Mom’s face. “What’s the matter, Mom?” she asked. Her Mom answered. “I miss your Dad so much. It seems like he’s been gone for so long. And he hasn’t called yet.” “Why don’t you try calling him?” Jenny said. Ellen answered, “I already tried and I left a message. I guess he’s busy or he didn’t get the message. Sometimes they’re in a location over in Afghanistan where there is no cell service. Maybe he didn’t get my message.” “I’m sure he’ll call on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. And Christmas Eve is the day after tomorrow. Don’t worry Mom. I have faith that we’ll hear from him.” Ellen took her daughter in her arms and hugged her. She was such a joy to her and she helped her keep her sanity, mostly when she worried the most about her husband and where he was. When Jenny was three years old, her parents gave her a Christmas bell made of handpainted porcelain and told her that it was for her to ring both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day every year. So for the last five years, she’d kept up the tradition and never missed ringing her little bell. Jenny couldn’t wait till Christmas Eve when she would get out her little bell and ring in the Christmas joy. And now it was Christmas Eve day. Ellen cooked a nice meal for dinner as her sister Dana and brother-in-law Jim were coming over to spend the evening with them. They had a daughter, Kaitlin, who was the same age as Jenny. A few minutes before their company left for the evening, Ellen told Jenny to get out her little bell to ring before they left. Jenny ran up the stairs to her room. From the drawer where she kept the bell, she opened the box and carefully took the bell out of the box. When she went to ring it, it wouldn’t ring. She tried again, but still no ring. She turned the little bell over and saw that the clapper was gone. She looked in the box, then lifted up the cotton to look under it, but the clapper wasn’t in the box. She then moved her things within the drawer in case the clapper had fallen out of the box, but it was nowhere to be found. Defeated, she took the bell and ran down the stairs to where everyone waited. “Mom.,” she said in a panic. “My bell won’t jingle.” “Won’t jingle? What’s wrong with it”? Ellen asked. “The clapper is gone and I can’t find it anywhere. It’s not in the box or in the drawer. What am I going to do now”? Jenny’s uncle Jim said he could look at it. “Let me see it.” Then he asked Ellen, “El, let me go check Fred’s workshop in the basement for something. Maybe I can fix this thing.” “Oh, please Uncle Jim,” Jenny pleaded. Jim went to the basement and looked for anything resembling solder, but could find nothing. Not even a piece of wire. Defeated, he came back up the stairs and handed the little bell back to Jenny. “Sorry, honey. I couldn’t find anything to fix it. But after Christmas, Aunt Dana and I can buy you a new bell.” “Thanks, but I really want this one, Uncle Jim.” Jenny looked at her mother. “I have an idea!” she said excitedly. “I’ll pin the bell to my stocking with a note to Santa and ask HIM to fix it. I’m sure he will.” “That’s a great idea,” Ellen said, but knew that she’d find her bell in the same condition in the morning. Everyone left, and Jenny wrote her note. It said, “Dear Santa: Can you please fix my little bell. It lost its clapper and needs a new one so that I can ring it on Christmas Day. I don’t mind if you don’t leave me any presents, just as long as you can fix my bell. That’s my Christmas wish. Thank you Santa – and Merry Christmas. Jenny” She put the note on her stocking, kissed her Mother good night and went to bed. She tossed and turned, but eventually fell asleep. Ellen read the note and began to cry. She wished so that she could find a way to fix the bell, but didn’t see a solution. In a moment, there was a knock on the door. Christmas morning was here. Jenny woke up and rubbed her eyes. She yawned, then remembered her little bell. She jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs to where her stocking hung. There was the bell, still pinned to the stocking the way she had left it. It looked as if it had not been touched, yet the stocking was filled. And her note was gone. She began to unpin the bell and as she did, she found a new note attached to the pin that had been carefully tucked inside the stocking. It read, “Dear Jenny. I read your note and felt so bad that your little bell didn’t jingle and so I fixed it. Try it now. Santa”. Excited with joy, she shook the bell –- AND IT JINGLED! Her little bell jingled once again. “Mom, Mom, come quick,” she yelled with joy. In a few moments, Ellen came down the stairs. “Merry Christmas darling. And what’s all this excitement all about?” “Listen,” Jenny said and began to ring the bell. “See? Santa saw my note and fixed the bell for me. And he filled my stocking too. This is the best Christmas I ever had. I just wish Dad were here.” “Well, your wish just came true,” Fred said as he emerged (Continued on page 8) 5 6 Township firefighters receive awards By Fire Commissioner Joe Haff In October, many District # 3 firefighters were honored in a ceremony held in the Center Drive Firehouse before an en- thusiastic crowd of relatives and friends. The Patriots Award went to Stephen Stashek who is always one of the first to re- You can help our firefighters The Professional Firefighters Association of Monroe Township recently sent letters to residents asking for donations to support a wide range of worthwhile organizations: • The Monroe Township Special Sports Group • Muscular Dystrophy Association • Deborah Hospital Association • Embrace Kids Foundation/ MX Kids for Hope • Leukemia and Lymphoma Association This is the Firefighters Association’s fifth Annual Fund Drive. They will appreciate all The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 the support we can give them. In addition, the firefighters collect aluminum cans and donate whatever funds they raise to the Saint Barnabas Burn Center. If you’ve ever burned a hand while cooking, you know how excruciating even a small a burn can be. Just imagine the suffering of, and the care needed to help, a person injured in a burning building. Please save your aluminum cans and deliver them to the recycling bins at either of our two fire stations: 16 Center Drive or 359 Schoolhouse Road. spond. He has been appointed to the District Honor Guard. Exceptional Service Awards were given to Lieutenant Michael Daley and Lieutenant Kenneth Link who carried out extended assignments that involved gathering data and compiling lengthy reports to be submitted to FEMA regarding such damaging events as recent hurricanes. Their work resulted in our receiving cash awards from FEMA that were in excess of $350,000. This will alleviate the tax burden for our citizens. Meritorious Service Awards were issued to Lt. Daley, Lt. Link, Firefighters Hannon, Genthe, Blundell Stashek, and Macri who responded to a serious motor vehicle accident on Hoffman Station Road. Three automobiles were involved. One was on fire and had to be extinguished immediately. Another vehicle was so badly damaged that it took all the power tools available to extricate a woman trapped inside. Their swift action probably saved her life. Unit Citation Awards went to Lt. Link and Firefighter Stashek who responded to a serious house fire on Drake Avenue. Because of excessive smoke, visibility was zero. Both men entered the house, searched, and carried out the victim, who unfortunately did not survive. Nevertheless, they reentered this inferno to search for another reported resident, who later turned out not to have been at home. Samaritan Service Awards were given to those who passed the advanced first aid course and First Responder Certification. These are the people who save lives: Jason Bader, Stuart Blundell, Steve Booke, Jason Campbell, Todd Fraler, Steve Genthe, Brian Johnson, Christopher LeLong, Wayne Lyons, Luke Melick, Donald Ohlson, Matthew Palumbo, Darren Salkeld, David Sanchez, Joseph Serrao, Stan Sikora, Stephen Stashek, Vinny Waranowicz, Mike Wesolowski, and Jeff Wood. Longevity Awards were distributed as follows: TWENTY YEARS – Jason Bader, Stuart Blundell, and Frank Primiano. FIFTEEN YEARS – Todd Fraler, Jeff Wood, and Ken Link. TEN YEARS – Mike Daley, James Hannon, Brian Johnson, Gabe Martinez, Chris LeLong, Steve Sikora, Shaine Thomas, Mike Wesolowski, Robert Meyer, Steve Genthe, and Wayne Lyons. FIVE YEARS – Steve Booke, Jason Campbell, Richard Dizminski, Dennis Koch, Sean Macri, Luke Melick, Donald Ohlson, Matthew Palumbo, Erik Ritz, Darren Salkeld, David Sanchez, Joseph Serrao, Steve Stashek, and Vincent Waranowicz. Congratulations were offered to Luke Melick who was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant, and to Edward Fox III, who was sworn in as a new firefighter. Come in and shop! Rental Library – the month of December The Rossmoor NEWS 7 DECEMBER 2014 copies are available in the Village Center. Keep in mind, the Channel Lineup may change regularly. For the latest Channel Lineup visit the Comcast website at www.Comcast.com. The following are the frequently asked questions regarding the changes to the bulk service contract with Comcast Q : When will the changes with the bulk television service with Comcast take place? A: Right now, every effort is being made to try to have the change from Limited Basic Service to Expanded Service/Digital Starter take place in January. Keep in mind, this article was written in the beginning of November and the contract terms and conditions are actively being reviewed by our attorney and the Comcast attorney. Q : What type of equipment is necessary to view the next level of television service when the change takes place? A : Comcast shall provide each residence in Rossmoor one digital receiver with a remote control for your main television and one digital adapter with a remote control for a second television should you have one. The equipment is included in the bulk price of $25 plus tax per month. If you already have this equipment, new equipment will not be provided. The digital receiver allows you to view the Limited Basic and the Expanded Service channels plus the Music Choice channels, on screen Guide and On Demand services. The digital adapter allows you to view the Limited Basic and the Expanded Service channels. If you prefer the High Definition (HD) viewing, you would need to lease a HD box from Comcast. Each resident will be required to enter into a separate agreement with Comcast accepting responsibility for the digital receiver, digital adapter, remotes and any services/equipment which are additional to the Bulk Service Agreement. Kiwanis Club brings RIF Program to JFK Elementary School By Jean Hoban “Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is the largest children’s literacy nonprofit in the United States. We prepare and motivate children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. We inspire children to be lifelong readers through the power of choice. RIF provides new, free books for children to choose from and make their own. The seeds of inspiration in these books have motivated children to follow their dreams and achieve their potential. Yes, it seems incredible for a book to launch a life, but it happens every day as hungry, inquisitive young minds reach out and grab hold of the new people, places, and ideas that books bring them.” This is part of the Mission statement you can read on the RIF web-site. ( h t t p : / / readingisfundamental.org/ us/about-rif.htm) In October, volunteers from Kiwanis distributed 244 books to the children in grades K-2 and 92 dictionaries were given to the third grade students of Jamesburg’s JFK Elementary School. Through the RIF program, children are not only able to choose a book of their choice, but also enjoy stories read to them by the volunteers. Ruth Mullen, the RIF Coordinator for the Rossmoor Kiwanis Club, reports that for many children these books are the first they actually own. The Kiwanis Club distributes free books at JFK Elementary School twice a year, in June books will be again be distributed to grades K - 2. The children, teachers and parents look forward to this event, and school Principal Pamela Hernandez praised the generosity and work of the Kiwanis club in her thankyou letter printed below. Ms. Ruth Muller Rossmoor Kiwanis Club President Thank you for bringing the Reading Is Fundamental program to John F. Kennedy Elementary School. Students were thrilled to have a guest reader share a story with them! It is apparent that your organization puts a great deal of time and effort into selecting and purchasing books and dictionaries as well as planning the event. I commend the Kiwanis Club of Rossmoor’s efforts to insure that each and every one of our students has access to high quality literature both in and out of school. Regardless of career path, literature and the ability to read are going to play an integral role in our students’ lives. Thank you for continuing to give back to the community and for helping us meet the needs of each child. Sincerely, Pamela Hernandez, Principal John F. Kennedy Elementary School Q : What channels will be included in the new service? Q A A : The Channel Lineup effective October 13, 2014, was mailed to every Owner/Stockholder in Rossmoor along with their Mutual budget information in late October or November. Extra : What needs to happen to change to the enhanced bulk services? : First, the Agreement needs to accepted by both parties and fully executed. Then, dates will be scheduled for each resident to meet with Comcast by Mu- tual to discuss the type of equipment you presently have and what you will need. Comcast will do the rest. Be sure to watch Channel 26 for the announcement and schedule by Mutual for the Comcast meetings. If you have any other questions regarding Comcast and the changes, please feel free to call me at 609-6551000 The staff and I would like to extend our warmest wishes for a happy holiday season and New Year 8 The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 Letter from the President By Daniel Jolly This month I’d like to talk about some of the accomplishments that occurred in Rossmoor in 2014. One very close to me is the new pumping station at the pond. For many months and with long negotiations with Middlesex County Freeholders, Monroe Township Executive Committee, and the Rossmoor Executive Board, we were able to come up with plans for a new pumping station that will hopefully bring some relief for our residents. The new pumping station will allow us to pump the water level down from the pond directly into the creek to allow for the pond to hold more rain water during a storm. The engineering plans were forwarded to Monroe Township in early November for bids. We expect the project at the pump station to begin in early 2015. We all need to remember that this project might not prevent every flood. We all remember the locker room project. After many meetings, the Board came up with plans to con- vert the former women’s locker room into two new locker rooms; one for women and one for men. The new locker rooms have new enclosed showers, lavatories, sinks, new counter tops, tiled wall and tiled floor along with new heating and air conditioning systems. There were some ending problems that the Board took seriously and did everything to correct. I received a lot of phone calls and letters from pool users telling me how beautiful the locker rooms are. Hopefully everyone can enjoy them for a long time to come! The street resurfacing this year was a great success for our residents with bids coming in $120,000 under what was proposed in the reserve. That was a great gift for the residents that allowed RCAI to do much needed street repairs and curb replacing. The good thing right now is that Old Nassau Road is completely resurfaced from one end to the other. In the beginning of 2014, the Golf Committee along with Jane Balmer and I worked many hours to come up with future plans for the course. This year’s work included repairs to some tee boxes that needed addressing, the installation of a new enlarged driving range, and a new bridge to replace the old bridge that was beyond repair. In January, I will appoint a committee to look into a long range plan for Rossmoor. I have some ideas that I would like to see achieved. Once the committee is appointed, I will meet with them and discuss my ideas and thoughts. Anyone wishing to serve on a committee, please contact my office. In closing, I would like to wish every resident of Rossmoor a very happy and healthy holiday season! P.S. PLEASE PRAY FOR NO SNOW! Mayor Pucci Writes Community Garden The Township is planning to have a community garden near the Millstone River on Applegarth Road. The Monroe Township Community Garden and Park will be a new venture for the Township that will give residents with green thumbs, and without much property, a place to grow their favorite vegetables. The new 12-acre park is unique because the land was donated to the town as a result of negotiations with a developer. The Verde Group is donating the parcel along the Millstone River for the Community Garden and Park to the Township and will develop the parcel at the intersection of Route 33 and Applegarth Road. The Community Garden, which makes up five acres of the park, will feature 100 ten-foot by ten-foot plots where residents can create their own gardens. Each renter will be responsible for maintaining, watering, and feeding the plants on his or her plot. The plots will be available next year for all Monroe Township residents on a first-come, first-served basis for a $30 annual rental fee. The management and design of the garden is being done with the help of the Land Conservancy of New Jersey, an accredited, member supported, non-profit land trust that has been preserving open space land and protecting water resources since 1981. The Township has been working with a group of citizens interested in the Community Garden who will help organize and manage the program. The farm is planned also to feature a butterfly garden lining the banks of the Millstone River to help bolster the pollinating insect population, which will help with vegetable production. In addition, a portion of the park will feature a vegetable garden that will be used to grow food for the Monroe Township Food Pantry, a rain garden, and a walking trail along the Millstone River. Application forms will be available in early 2015 on the Monroe Township website, www.monreotwp.com. We are excited to get started on this innovative project that helps to maintain Monroe as a green, clean community. The Winter Solstice and sky events that brighten December By Anne Rotholz December 21 is Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. On this day the noontime sun is at its lowest point above the horizon, giving us the shortest day and longest night of the year and leaving the north polar area in total darkness. The Winter Solstice has particular significance since it signals the rebirth of the year. Mankind has always celebrated important points in the annual cycle of our earth. Written accounts from various parts of the world describe the celebrations, rituals and festivities that took place at the solstice. Neolithic structures built over 5,000 years ago, such as Stonehenge and Newgrange (Ireland) indicate that those who built them were very familiar with the solstice. Many Solstice celebrations in ancient times were centered on the rebirth of the sun goddess whom they believed was responsible for the return of the sun and for the longer, brighter days. Examples of such festivals are Saturnalia in Ancient Rome and the old Scandinavian festival of Juul. It is no coincidence that organized religions have placed some of their most sacred festivals around the Winter Solstice. The bell (Continued from page 5) from behind the wall leading to the stairs. “DAD!” Jenny shouted and ran to him. Nothing could contain the excitement and joy from the little girl’s face as she hugged her Dad. “You’re home for Christmas. And Mom was trying to call you.” “I was on the plane flying home and we weren’t allowed to use our cell phones during the flight.” “Oh, Dad. Look. Santa fixed my bell. The clapper fell off and so I left a note for Santa and he fixed it for me. And now you’re home and this is REALLY the best Christmas I’ve ever had”. Hanukkah and Christmas are celebrated at this time and both feasts are closely associated with light. Christmas is sometimes known as Yule, …doesn’t it sound a little Scandinavian? The moon is full on December 6. Native Americans named this moon the Cold Moon since it ushers in some of the coldest weather of the winter season with nights that are long and dark. The night of December 1314 is peak time for the Geminids Meteor Shower. With debris from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, this is probably the best shower of the year, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors each hour. They are so bright and numerous that despite the waning gibbous moon, it should be easy to spot some of them. Writing about sky events brings to mind a very special night from my September sojourn in Ireland. In the evening after dark, I usually went outside to take a look at the night sky. On this particular evening there was not a cloud in the sky. It was a cold, clear night and everything was perfectly still. I looked up at the sky. The Milky Way, a glowing band across the night sky, was so (Continued on page 9) Ellen said, “Dad and I could use some coffee and you get yourself some cereal, OK? Then we’ll open presents.” Jenny ran to the kitchen. Ellen and Fred embraced and kissed. She held him so tight so as not to lose him again. As they began walking to the kitchen, Ellen said, “Thanks for fixing her bell last night. And this is MY best Christmas, too.” “Mine, too,” he said as he kissed her. “I love you. Now, let’s get that coffee.” They smiled and held each other as they walked toward the kitchen. And the bell that couldn’t jingle now resounded a joyful ring on Christmas Day. The Rossmoor NEWS 9 DECEMBER 2014 Week to honor Admiral Grace Murray Hopper By Jean Houvener December 7 to 11 is Computer Science Education Week. It is a week to encourage adults and children to explore the world of computer programming, from simple tasks to more complex tasks. It is set in this week in honor of Grace Murray Hopper, who was born Dec. 9, 1906, in New York City. She finished her early education years at the Hartridge School in Plainfield, N.J. As a young girl she was fascinated by mathematics and science. She took alarm clocks apart to see how they worked. She had dismantled seven of them before her mother restricted her to one at a time. She graduated from Vassar in 1928 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and science, and from Yale with a master’s degree in 1930 and doctorate in 1934, both in mathematics. By 1941 she was an associate professor of mathematics at Vassar. In 1943, less than two years after the U.S. entered WW II, Hopper joined the WAVES of the Navy Reserve, requiring a special waiver as she was 15 pounds under the 120 pounds minimum weight requirement of the Navy. After graduating from the Naval R es e r ve M i ds h ip men ’ s School, first in her class of 1944, she was assigned to the Bureau of Ships Computation Project at Harvard. She worked on this project, headed by Howard Aiken, which was to program the Mark I and Mark II early computers. As with the alarm clocks, she was determined to find out how they worked. She is credited with the phrase debugging, the earliest instance being the removal of an actual moth from a Mark II relay. After the war, she continued to work with the Navy Reserve at the Harvard Computation Lab until 1949. From 1949 to 1954 Hopper worked at the company that Winter Solstice (Continued from page 8) bright that one could almost read by its light. There was not a dark spot as large as a pinhead in the whole sky, … just very big, bright planets and stars glowing and twinkling everywhere. I could not help thinking that we are just a tiny speck in this great universe. December is a great time to see the night sky, so find a favorite dark spot and look up! That reminds me of the evening of October 28. I went with my skywatching friends Pat and Josie, to our favorite lookout spot on the golf course, hoping to get a glimpse of the Antares rocket as it set out with the spacecraft bringing supplies to the International Space Station. Half an hour later we left disappointed, and went home to find that it had exploded after lift-off. became the Sperry Corporation, working with the Univac computer. She was convinced that it should be possible to create a compiler such that programmers could write code in English, which the compiler would translate into machine language. With such a compiler, the code could work on any machine. Her first operating compiler was A-O in 1952. While director of the program, her department developed the earliest languages for programming, Math-Matic and Flow-Matic. Beginning in 1959, she worked with IBM and others to develop a Common Business-Oriented Language, based on her earlier FlowMatic language, which became known as COBOL. This language was and is widely used in businesses around the world. This most linguistic of computer languages has syntax, verbs, and punctuation, and has sometimes been called self- documenting as a result. It is the language I learned in the 1970s and used in much of my career. There are still hundreds of billions of lines of code in COBOL running financial, government, and other systems. Hopper served from 1967 to 1977 as director of the Navy’s Programming Language Group. There she developed standards for COBOL and validation software for the code and the compilers to standardize COBOL use for the entire Navy. During this time, she was promoted to the rank of captain. She also developed standards for the more mathematic and scientific language FORTRAN. She retired as a commander in 1966 at 60 as required at the time by Navy standards, but was quickly recruited back as an indispensible part of the system. What started as a six-month task extended to 1986, at (Continued on page 10) Email news to: news@rossmoor-nj.com 10 The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 National Whiner’s Day By Myra Danon The whiny sound made by a child is like no other. Some people consider it at least as annoying as chalk screeching on a chalkboard or locomotive brakes coming to a sudden stop on an eroded railroad track. It is not crying, it is not shouting, it is a primordial wail demanding some sort of response. And it goes on and on. If I’m fully rested, I sympathetically think this distressed child needs a nap and his or her mother hasn’t taken that need into account before she began her shopping expedition or lunch in a non fastfood restaurant. If I haven’t had enough zzz’s the previous night, I cringe at the mounting decibel level, and then I turn my steely gaze in the direction of the imp and the caretaker/nanny/parent, teeth firmly clenched, allowing my stance to convey that I consider him or her to be the most spoiled child ever. Adults whine too. Although they make different sounds, they are still whiners, and they have all sorts of reasons, although many of them still need naps. With this in mind, Rev. Kevin Zaborney, in 1986, designated Dec. 26, as National Whiner’s Day, in the hope that people would be thankful for what they have instead of being unhappy about what they lack. The date was chosen to be the day after Christmas because of many people’s reactions to gifts they received the previous day. Echoes of “it’s too small/big; it’s the wrong color; it’s not my taste, I wanted something else,” etc., are often heard. One of the ways whiners can celebrate the day named especially for them includes Week to honor (Continued from page 9) which time she was the oldest active-duty commissioned officer. She retired with a rank of rear admiral in 1986 at the age of 79. She was awarded the highest non -combat honor at that time, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. Not yet being ready to retire, she worked as a consultant for Digital Equipment Company, where she continued to work almost until her death in 1992 at the age of 85. She was buried with full military honors at Arlington Cemetery. In 1996 the USS Hopper was named for her, one of the few naval vessels named for a woman. Beyond the creation of the compiler and the languages to go with it, she considered her greatest achievement to be the education of young people. “They come to me, you know, and say, ‘Do you think we can do this?’ I say, ‘Try it.’ And I back ‘em up. They need that. I keep track of them as they get older and I stir ‘em up at intervals so they don’t forget to take chances.” an activity such as watching people in stores, mostly in malls whining as they return or exchange gifts they didn’t want. Another suggestion is that celebrants invite friends to their homes for a “Whine and Geeze” party, and hold a whining contest with them. According to CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network), every year, the most famous whiner(s) is announced, from nominations accepted through Dec. 15. Some of the following names have been selected among famous whiners over the last 20 years: Kanye West Chris Brown Zsa Zsa Gabor Sen. Jesse Helms, R. N.C. Tammy Faye Baker (Messner) Dennis Rodman Mike Tyson Jerry Springer Martha Stewart John Rocker-Atlanta Braves Pitcher The All-time Celebrity Whiners list contained the following names: Stan Laurel Curly Joe Jerry Lewis Lucy Ball Pee Wee Herman Olive Oyle Squiggy Major Frank Burns S.N.L. Whiner Family (Doug and Wendy Whiner) The recipient of a recent whiner’s award was Lindsay Lohan. As she continued to whine, one of the judges commented, “She is simply missing the point.” Other committee members have expressed hope that she can benefit from her treatment, whatever that turns out to be. Sound Advice By Norman J. Politziner, CFP, Equity Services Inc. Identifying investment risk and coping with it Norman J. Politziner, CFP® Equity Services Inc. Are you a risk-taker? To realize rewards, you usually have to take some risks, especially when it comes to finances. But beyond understanding that investment risk and reward go hand in hand, it’s important to know how they relate. What is the nature of risk, and how can you handle the different kinds of risk that could affect the performance of your investments? What is the nature of risk? For many investors, risk is associated with the inherent volatility of the equities markets. You run the risk that your investments will perform worse this year than last year or worse than you anticipated or worse than the markets as a whole. Risk means you have something to lose—the money you’ve put into a particular investment or the money you might have made if you had made different choices. You also could run the risk of throwing good money after bad, of buying more of something when the price is low only to see the value fall further. Although risk and reward are related, there’s no direct, predictable connection between the two. You could decide to take fewer risks and still lose money, or you might ratchet up your investment risk without cashing in on higher returns. Nevertheless, it’s important to try to keep risk and reward in a balance that fits your situation. What are the main types of risks? Financial experts often debate this question, but the pros generally agree that two significant risks facing investors are inflation and emotion. 1. Inflation risk. Essentially, this is the risk that money you earn will lose some of its pur- chasing power over time. For example, if you buy a five-year certificate of deposit (CD) from a reputable bank, there’s relatively little risk that the bank won’t live up to the terms of the CD. But there’s a much bigger risk that the dollars you receive in five years won’t buy as much as they would now. If you’re old enough to have experienced the 1980s, you might recall the days when money market funds paid interest at double-digit percentage rates. However, with double-digit inflation occurring at the same time, most savers barely stayed even. Inflation risk can present problems to all investors, and especially to retirees. Someone who left work in 1978 might have felt pretty comfortable with a pension paying $40,000 a year. But that $40,000 was worth only about $12,200 in 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This represents a loss of almost three-quarters of the money’s buying power. One way to protect against inflation risk is to include an appropriate ratio of stocks and stock funds in your portfolio. Or, if you’re more conservative, you might consider inflation-protection bonds. History has shown, however, that holding even a modest equity stake may increase returns without undue risk when compared to a pure fixed-income portfolio. 2. Emotional risk. It’s easy to let emotions rule decisionmaking. Almost everyone is subject to bouts of fear and greed, and investors have an innate tendency to be overconfident about their ability to choose winning positions. But simply doing what feels right— or avoiding what feels wrong—can lead to adverse results. Consider an investor who sits on the sidelines during a bull market, nervous about (Continued on page 11) The Rossmoor NEWS Bob’s Almanac By Bob Huber With all due respect to the year-end holidays, there are many other December historic events which have altered and illuminated our times. Here are just a few: December 1, 1955: AfricanAmerican Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to relinquish her seat on a bus to a white person. The event triggered the Montgomery bus boycott by African Americans which lasted 14 months and eventually led to laws integrating public transportation. December 3, 1962: Edith Sampson was the first AfricanAmerican woman to be appointed to a judgeship. She served on the Chicago Municipal Court bench. December 5, 1791: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died at the age of 35. In his brief lifetime he wrote 600 compositions, many of which have left an indelible effect on the world’s classical music. December 5, 1901: Walt Disney was born. His gift of telling stories through animated characters has charmed and inspired generations, and since his death in 1966, his concept of storytelling continues in films and theme parks throughout the world. December 6, 1492: Christopher Columbus landed on Hispaniola (now known as the Dominican Republic and Haiti), thus opening Europe’s door to the Western world. December 6, 1877: Thomas Edison demonstrated the first phonograph. The ability to capture sound for replay has led to many other dimensions in communication. December 7, 1941: Japan’s air bombardment of Pearl Harbor disseminated America’s Western naval fleet and thrust the United States into World War II. December 10, 1830: Emily Dickinson, one of America’s most beloved poets, was born. Strangely enough, it was not until after her death in 1886 that most of her poems, nearly 1800 of the 2000 she had written, were discovered in a locked bureau drawer. December 4, 1962: the space probe Mariner II sent back information from Venus. It was the first signal ever received from another planet. December 15, 1840: Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile on the island of St. Helena, whereupon Napoleon’s older brother, Joseph, absconded to America with the Spanish crown jewels, finally settling in Bordentown, New Jersey. Joseph led the comfortable life of a country gentleman for 24 years before returning to Europe permanently. December 17, 1903: Wilbur and Orville Wright flew their first powered airplane. Though the flights the brothers took on that first memorable day were measured in feet rather than miles, they proved that human beings were no longer bound to the earth, and the sky was the limit. December 18, 1865: the 13th amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery became law. December 21, 2014: the winter solstice occurs ushering in the first day of winter. Stay warm and stay well. May the coming year offer nothing but the best for you and yours. Sound Advice that has the potential to reduce risk. Asset allocation is the process of assigning percentages to those asset classes based on your particular needs and risk tolerance, and then rebalancing your holdings regularly to keep them close to their assigned allotments. There’s no way to avoid risk completely, but you still can generate earnings while staying within your comfort zone. We’re here to provide guidance. (Continued from page 10) following the crowd—a tendency that indeed can be counterproductive. But finally the investor gets tired of losing out and jumps in, buying at the top of the market and without carefully considering the fundamentals of particular investments. Others get into trouble when the market is falling and they sell solid holdings in a panic, losing out on the chance to benefit when they rebound. The best protection against emotion is to have a carefully considered investment plan and to try to stick with it even when markets are highly volatile. Having a balance of bond funds for stability and income and stocks for growth can help smooth out inevitable market bumps. How do you manage risk? Everybody has a different risk tolerance. A good approach for managing yours is to stick to investment fundamentals. That may be as simple as refocusing on the key principles of diversification and asset allocation. Diversification spreads your investments over a broad mix of asset classes, an approach 11 DECEMBER 2014 Norman J. Politziner, CFP, a resident of Encore, is a Registered Representative and Investment Adviser Representative of Equity Services Inc. Securities and investment advisory services are offered solely by Equity Services, Member FINRA/SIPC, 4401 Starkey Rd., Roanoke, VA 24018. (540) 989-4600. For more information, questions, or comments, we encourage you to visit our website at www.politziner.com or call us at (732) 296-9355. 03/25/2014 ©2014 Advisor Products Inc. All Rights Reserved The views and information contained herein have been prepared independently of the presenting Representative and are presented for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. This information is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult with your Attorney or Accountant prior to acting upon any of the information contained in this correspondence. TC80463(0714)1 John’s Nutrition Corner By John Pillepich, Ph.D. Energy Production: CoQ10 Pretty much everyone, young and old, wants more energy. Stimulants, such as the caffeine in coffee, can release energy, but it is healthier to have our bodies make more energy naturally. Chemistry! Don’t be afraid, but we need to start with a little science. Our body has many ways of producing energy. It takes certain nutrients (vitamins, minerals, and other cofactors), enters them into a variety of chemical pathways, and ends up with high-energy molecules, which in turn are used to start other chemical reactions. For example, it is often said that the B-vitamins give you energy. Actually, what they do is facilitate the production of high-energy molecules, usually when they are part of enzymes. This is done using chemical pathways. In biochemistry, they are called metabolic pathways. Metabolic pathways are a series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell. These pathways are important for cell growth, reproduction, responses to the environment, survival mechanisms, sustenance, and maintenance of cell structure and integrity. There are many metabolic pathways in the body. Some pathways are anabolic, in that they produce (synthesize) products, such as making glycogen (a storage form of blood sugar) from excess carbohydrates, or making cholesterol (necessary for hormones and cell membranes) from dietary fat. Other pathways are catabolic (break down), such as splitting glucose (from dietary carbohydrates) into smaller molecules, or doing the same with fat, breaking it down (digesting) into smaller molecules. These smaller molecules are then often used as building blocks to make different molecules that wouldn’t be found in food. High-Energy Molecules High-energy molecules form an alphabet soup. The primary ones in the body are ATP, NADH, and NADPH. The focus of this article will be on ATP (adenosine triphosphate), often described as the energy currency of the body. ATP is an organic compound that stores a large amount of chemical energy. It functions as the carrier of chemical energy from energyyielding oxidation of food (digestion) to energydemanding cellular processes. As mentioned previously, there are many metabolic pathways. Once such pathway is the electron transport chain, which leads to ATP production. A Link in the Chain And this is where coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) comes in. CoQ10 connects two links in the electron transport chain. There is the expression that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. This absolutely holds true for CoQ10. If the link (CoQ10) is weak or broken, the production of the high -energy molecule, ATP, is decreased, jeopardizing the body’s energy levels and chemical processes. Background CoQ10 started being used as a nutritional supplement in the 1980s, but it’s only been in the last ten years or so that its popularity increased to the point that almost everyone has heard about it. So popular in fact, that even some medical doctors recommend it! CoQ10 is short for coenzyme Q10, and it’s also called ubiquinone. A more active form of it is called ubiquinol, sometimes written as CoQH. This form may absorb better, especially for older people. CoQ10 is also called ubiquinone because it is a quinone (a chemical class that also includes vitamins E and K), and it is ubiquitous (it is found in almost all animal cells). Statin Drugs Many statin-class cholesterol lowering drugs reduce the body’s production of CoQ10, and therefore increase the need for its supplementation. Merck was the first drug company to release a statin drug (Mevacor). Merck knew about the effect of their statin drug on CoQ10 production, and even filed two patents for combinations of statins and CoQ10. Unfortunately, they never manufactured the combination. What’s it good for? A nutritional and pharmaceutical database that is used by doctors, pharmacists, and nutritionists, lists the following health conditions for possibly being helped by taking supplemental CoQ10: ● Angina ● Breast cancer (Continued on page 13) 12 DECEMBER 2014 Inquiring Photographer By Connie Previte There are many holidays and holy days in December and January. Do you have any customs or traditions that your family participated in throughout these festive events? Lily Gallagher There is a lovely Christmas tradition in Ireland known as La Nollag na mBhan or Women’s Christmas Day. This event coincides with January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, which also marks the last day of the Christmas season. The holidays always create more work for the woman of the house because of additional cooking, looking out for the needs of the children, and sometimes preparing for guests. Women’s Christmas Day is a special day when women are cared for and pampered. The man of the house does the household chores. Children give gifts to mothers and grandmothers. Women get together for a nice tea or dinner. While the custom has declined over the years it is still very popular in rural Ireland. The Rossmoor NEWS Gilda Pillitteri La Notte di Natale (Christmas Eve) was a very busy and special day for us. We would go to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house and the adult women would be in the kitchen preparing our evening meal - the Feast of the Seven Fishes, which also included vegetables, homemade bread, and bottles of new wine which the men of the family made each September. The teenagers in our family were fortunate to have motor scooters that they rode to school and Christmas Eve was the day that they had to clean all of their scooters, under the supervision of Grandpa. He was an accountant and because our family stressed the importance of education, he used this time to throw math problems out to us, which we had to solve without pencil and paper. When they were finished with the cleaning, Grandpa would take all of the grandchildren (between nine and ten boys and girls) to church before dinner so that we could pray. We all enjoyed the Feast and then the children went to bed. The grownups went to midnight Mass and then prepared the gifts for us to find Christmas morning. That was after the war when things were scarce, so we didn’t have a fancy tree but Grandpa made it very special for us. He would go outside find a very nice tree branch and set it in a pail of sand and place the gifts around it. Gwyneth Brown I grew up in Wallolv, a small village in Wales. I have many happy memories. I especially remember the New Year’s Eve tradition that you might like to read about. Beginning at dusk (around 5 pm) my sister and I would station ourselves at the windows, one watching the front door and one watching the back door, to see who was coming up the walk to visit us. We would not open the door to just anyone, no matter who it might be, even if it was Uncle Will, he had red hair! The first person to cross our threshold on New Year’s had to be a tall dark-haired man. His arrival signified good luck, good health and prosperity, all good things for the household. When he came in we would serve him a glass of wine or liquor of his choice, a piece of fruitcake and some coins (about $2). I was asked what happened to my neighbors who did not have this tall dark-haired visitor. Because we were a small friendly village, we all took care of each other. In fact, my brother fit the description so well that he rented himself out on New Year’s Eve. This gave him extra spending money to take back to school with him after the holidays. Irene Lippert Fifty seven years ago, my husband Herman and I immigrated from Germany via Switzerland to the U.S.A. with our two little sons, Maurice and Peter, two suitcases, and our memories which included Christmas and other holidays. Before WWII, I had eight wonderful Christmases, but then the war changed everything. It was a long time before we had a real traditional Christmas again. I remember we had a spruce tree decorated with real candles, dinner with roasted goose and all the trimmings, stolen, and of course Lebkuchen, a very tasty cookie made with honey, almonds and fruit peels. Christmas Eve had always been important. We took our baths, trimmed our nails, went to Church, ate dinner and had a great time. Then it was time to see the tree in all its splendor and receive our gifts. All the gifts were for my two brothers and me - none had fancy paper but were lovingly arranged on tables. It was magic! Christmas Day was for playing with our toys and visiting relatives and friends. After we arrived in N.J., we had to modify Christmas just a bit. The trees in East Germany are hardy, with thicker needles and since the candles were made with petroleum, they did not drip. We changed real candles on fir or spruce trees to electric white lights for safety. Goose was replaced with turkey, but otherwise we kept most of our tradition. I passed on the recipes to my children. To live in this great country is the best gift of all that I could give to my family. Jeff Albom One hundred and sixty-five years B.C.E. (that’s 2179 years ago), the land of Judea was ruled as a part of the Greek empire by a Syrian King Antiochus. He issued orders that prohibited the worship of any gods except the Greek ones. He installed an idol in the Holy Temple and stationed soldiers there to ensure that all who entered would bow before the idol and eat pork, two practices expressly forbidden to Jews. This caused a rebellion led by Mattathias the Hasmonian. He formed an army which eventually defeated the Greek army and retook the Holy Temple. The Temple was cleaned and purified to make it fit for worship. During this process, it was discovered that there was only sufficient proper oil to keep the lamp (called a Menorah) burning for one day. It took eight days to make oil fit for this lamp. To the surprise of all, the oil burned for eight days. Today, in commemoration of these events, Jews around the world light candles for each of the eight days of Hanukkah (one on the first, two on the second, etc.) We say a special prayer when we light the candles, give gifts and to children “Hanukkah Gelt.” While this normally means a few small coins, often on this holiday, we give chocolate coins wrapped in gold colored foil. Other food items served include potato pancakes and jelly donuts as they are fried in oil. To all a Happy Hanukkah and best wishes for a joyous holiday season. The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 CULINARY CORNER By Sidna Mitchell My former neighbor and dear friend Pat, also known as Aunt Pittipat to my granddaughter Maggie, invited Ken and me up to the Poconos for a few days. After Pat noted that there was great shopping at the nearby outlet stores, Ken decided not to go. He opted to drive to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to take his daughter Paige out to lunch. My first day with Pat in Pocono Pines was cold and rainy. We spent the afternoon reading and napping, happy to be warm inside. She had prepared a beef stew that was simmering in a crockpot and sending out delicious smells. The next day we drove over to nearby Mountainhome, Pa., to Cooks Tour store so I could search for a Mouli cheese grater, which my daughter Meredith has requested. There was no Mouli grater but lots of other wonderful kitchen gadgets, some that I was tempted to buy either as presents or for myself. Pat and I crossed the highway for another unique store: an old-fashioned hardware store also full of gift items. We asked the merchants about any sightings of the cop killer who was supposedly hiding out somewhere in the Poconos. “Nope. He’s Nutrition (Continued from page 11) ● Congestive heart failure ● Diabetes ● Dilated cardiomyopathy ● Fibromyalgia ● HIV/AIDS ● Huntington’s disease ● Hypertension ● Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ● Infertility ● Ischemic reperfusion injury ● Isolated systolic hypertension ● Migraine headache ● Muscular dystrophy ● Myocardial infarction ● Parkinson’s disease ● Pre-eclampsia ● Statin-induced myopathy ● Warfarin-induced hair loss Final Notes Like vitamin E, CoQ10 is a fat-soluble antioxidant. It should be taken with food, and once a day. The dosage range is 25 mg to 1,000 mg, with most people benefitting from amounts between 50 mg and 100 mg. As mentioned earlier, the ubiquinol form is more easily absorbed and is more active because it’s in the reduced form. If you’ve never taken CoQ10, once you start, it might take a week or two for you to notice an effect. It takes up to two months of supplementation to get the maximum benefit from it. If you are taking CoQ10 because of a heart condition, do not ever abruptly stop taking it. If you need to stop taking it, gradually reduce the dosage before stopping it. Easy Beef Stew Culinary corner 1½ lbs. stew meat, cubed 10¾ oz. can cream of mushroom soup 1 package dry onion soup mix 4 oz. can mushroom pieces 1 teaspoon beef base Combine all the ingredients in a crockpot. Cover and cook on low for eight to 10 hours or on high for about four hours. Serve over rice or with baked potatoes. NOTE: I served the stew with baked potatoes and a healthy salad: kale, walnuts, dried cranberries and fresh blueberries from a local supermarket. The recipe Pat used also called for a can of cream of celery soup, which I left out since I’m not fond of celery soup or cooked celery. I do, however, really like raw celery as a snack. Another recipe in Pat’s cookbook left out the celery soup and the mushroom pieces; it suggested serving the stew with mashed potatoes or cooked noodles. I can be reached via e-mail at sbmcooks@aol.com long gone from here,” one old-timer answered. While Pat and I were in that store, Ken called to say that he would like to come over for the night. Pat and I were delighted to have his company. That night as we were sipping our drinks, margaritas with Corona beer dripping into the glasses, the TV came on with a bulletin. The Pennsylvania cop killer had been captured, right off Route 611 that Pat and I had traveled to the outlet stores. Ken, Pat and I went out to dinner at a local restaurant but I thought Pat’s stew was the best meal I had eaten. Her recipe came from Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook, Feasting with Your Slow Cooker. I copied the recipe and made the stew, with my changes, of course, a few days later. This is really easy to prepare and makes a great main course for chilly days. Here’s my version. Gerard Hayes, Merle Taylor and Ethlin E.S. Berry, 277 -A Milford Lane, from Brooklyn, N.Y. Adrian and Doina Enache, 496-B Revere Way, from No. Brunswick, N.J. Carol Donato and Edith Donato, 19-O Rossmoor Drive, from Monmouth Jct., N.J. Surekha Vaidya, 113-B Gloucester Way, from Parlin, N.J. Martin Wilson, 620-A Winchester Lane, from Lawrenceville, N.J. Jeffrey Horner and Laurie Moyer, 505-B Sheldon Way, from River Falls, N.Y. John Frederick, 217-O Mayflower Way, from Howell, N.J. Thomas and Lucy Quinn, 394-C Orrington Lane, from Bartonsville, Pa. John Craven, 404-A Newport Way, from Edison, N.J. Perry and Catherine Habib, 195-C Mayflower Way, from Livingston, N.J. Gerard Bornkamp and Dennis Sopko, 614-A Winchester Lane, from N.Y. 13 14 The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 This month in pictures Photos by Joe Conti and Connie Previte Armen and Tony DeVivo celebrating Tony’s 80th birthday Artist/resident Carl Frankel’s paintings are on display in the Gallery through December. Stop by and take a look! Make a wish, Tony! Above: FYI On left: 2014 Citizens of the Year Alice Owens and Betty Schneider. CONGRATULATIONS! On right: Brody Sandor’s smile says it all Above: Cheerleader Gigi Dawley and referee Marie Bills Monroe Township High School Key Club helped out at the Pancake Breakfast On right: June and Bill Brubaker clowning around On November 15, Rossmoor Hikers worked up appetites on a brisk walk through Cranbury Park. They then headed for the Clubhouse Ballroom to enjoy delicious pancakes and sausage at the Kiwanis-sponsored breakfast. (Photo by Gene Horan) The Rossmoor NEWS Clubs and Organizations Players elect new officers main the last Monday of the At our November member- month with the sessions ship meeting, the Rossmoor being held in the Maple players elected a new slate room in the Clubhouse at 7 of officers for the coming year. They include Norman Perkus – president Beverly Masters – vice president Joan Nortrup – secretary Dolores Grieff – treasurer It was also announced that the Players would revert to evening monthly meetings beginning in Janu- Beverly Masters, hostess of the ary. The date will re- Players’ party By Linda Kaucher Hamming it up at the Players’ annual Halloween party: Bill Strecker and Charlotte Debinger 15 DECEMBER 2014 p.m. The change is being made to encourage more participation from our younger members who still work during the day. The Program Committee is working on some exciting new projects for the coming year, which we hope will entice more members to take an active role in our activities. Our recent one night show, Just Music, drew an enthusiastic audience in spite of very inclement weather. The plans for our annual Christmas party are still in the works as of this writing, so keep your eye on Channel 26 for the details. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa to all and your loved ones, and may 2015 be a year of good fortune, happy times, and new beginnings. As always, drive safely, keep warm and stay safe. See you all soon. Computer Club speaker to present a new era in technology By Alec Aylat It was typical of Gano Haley’s sense of humor to leave this world and us to face, without him, a new emerging online technology called the “Internet of Things.” Without Gano, it may have been years before we had a Computer Club, and certainly, without him, it is doubtful if we would have the best equipped club of Monroe’s adult communities. It was Gano who organized us as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, resulting in a large initial contribution from Verizon, which continues to support us to this day, and in contributions from other companies and individuals, including our own community’s residents. At our first meeting 22 years ago, only six showed up in response to his call. But it got us started. He was solemnly elected president, whose first task was to find us space where we could break down a couple of old computers to see how they worked. We were hosted temporarily in the bank building across from the North Gate, until Administration, impressed by our growing membership to double our original number, offered us an old broom closet/ photography room. A couple of months later, when we redoubled the double figure, they moved us into the old sewing room. We laughed and cheered with Gano as the Club’s popularity increased, and residents even began to read this column. I wouldn’t still be writing it, however, if it weren’t for Gano. He insisted that an active club had to have monthly meetings involving outside speakers who could talk intelligently about the latest developments in the world of computers. He set about finding them, and continued doing so long after he left the presidency, making me exceedingly nervous as we reached, and often passed, this newspaper’s monthly deadline. His last and final program is this month’s, featuring Joseph Jesson. I can just see Gano smiling down on us as we try to absorb all that Jesson has to tell us about the new Internet technology. This “Internet of Things,” or “IoT” as it is called, includes ships, trucks, machines and objects in our homes, such as smoke detectors, door locks, and even devices on and inside our bodies, such as heart monitor implants, that are being monitored and controlled via the Internet. On Monday, December 15, at 10 a.m. in the Gallery, (Continued on page 17) 16 The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 KIWANIS FOOD PANTRY GOLDEN MILE WALK for MARCH OF DIMES HOLIDAY GIFT FUND FOR CHILDREN HOLIDAY TURKEYS FOR THE NEEDY SPONSORSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIPS for THE MONROE HIGH SCHOOL KEY CLUB SPONSORSHIP OF MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDERS’ CLUB “READING IS FUNdamental” PROGRAM —GAVE BOOKS & DICTIONARIES TO K THRU 3 AT JAMESBURG JFK SCHOOL Spring & Fall PANCAKE BREAKFASTS Spring & Fall SPAGHETTI DINNERS “EYES FOR THE NEEDY” COLLECTIONS ROSSMOOR PHONE DIRECTORY DELIVERY IN PAST YEARS SUPPORT OF EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS The Kiwanis Club of Rossmoor is grateful to each and every one of you who has made this work possible. As we enter the New Year, we hope that we can count on your continued caring and support. We invite any Rossmoor resident who may be interested in joining our Club to attend one of our meetings which are listed on Channel 26 and The Rossmoor News. Although we are primarily a service club, we also are a social club, where you can make new and lasting friends in a warm and caring atmosphere. We would welcome your inquiry and participation. OFFICERS President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Alyce E. Owens Shirley Blankstein Sidna B. Mitchell Douglas Martin DIRECTORS Robert Brubaker Marie Bills Ruth Mullen Annette Sowa Helen Gibbons Immediate Past President: Sidna B. Mitchell JOYOUS HOLIDAYS TO ALL AND A HEALTHY, HAPPY, PEACEFUL NEW YEAR! The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 Emerald Society members arriving at Doolan’s in Spring Lake Emerald Society’s winter scheduled events By Joan Avery On October 22, Ron DeAngelo ran the elections of officers for the Emerald Society for next year and the results are as follows: Dan Jolly, president; Tom Croake, first vice president; Joy MacVicor, second vice president; Marge Princiotta, treasurer; and Joan Avery, secretary. The November 14 trip, that Barbara and Dan arranged, to Lancaster, Pa. for the Christmas Show at the American Music Theater with dinner at Good and Plenty, was fabulous. It is always a popular event, and it is the beginning of the holiday season. There was no meeting in November. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, December 18, at 2 p.m. in the Ballroom. Billie Phillips will entertain us. Emerald Society members enjoying a mid-October morning stroll on the Spring Lake boardwalk before the dinner and show at Doolans. The annual Emerald Society Christmas Party will be held on Saturday, December 20 at 6 p.m. in the Ballroom. Dinner selections will include prime rib of beef, orange glazed ham, or salmon with lemon and dill sauce. The cost is $45 per person. In addition to all of the above, Dan Jolly has planned a trip to the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, Pa. in January 2015, and another trip in February to the Dutch Apple Theater. Another great holiday season of events! Republicans celebrate on Dec. 16 By Sidna Mitchell The Republican Club will celebrate the GOP victories on the national level at its December 16 meeting, starting at 5 p.m. in the Gallery. While there were no local contests here in Monroe Township, Rossmoor Republicans have been pleased with the GOP wins in the U.S. Senate, the Congress, and the governor races around the nation. In Decem- Computer Club (Continued from page 15) Jesson, president of an IoT consulting company, will share his insight into this new technology, its future, and how it will impact our lives. All residents are invited. Refreshments are at 9:30. Jesson foresees that many more ‘smart things’ in our homes, cars, clothes, and our bodies will have sensors that can send data and be controlled automatically using IoT technology. “This IoT technology,” he says, “represents the new intersection of low-cost wireless networks, transceiver hardware and embedded software, which promises to grow exponentially.” All right, Jesson, so it’s growing. But what about January’s program? Who is going to “grow” that for us? We miss you, Gano. ber the Republican Club members will discuss some of their ideas for moving the country forward over the next two years. At the same time, members will enjoy Club vice president Ron Haas’ famous chili along with coleslaw, cornbread and dessert for this festive occasion. This is a free event for Club members; guests will be asked to pay $10 per person. However, members and guests must RSVP to Sidna Mitchell at (609) 409-7837 so Ron will know how much chili to prepare and other volunteers will know how many side dishes to make. After the December meeting, the Republican Club will take a winter vacation and hold its first meeting in 2015 in April. 17 18 The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 Italian-American Club Italian-Americans honored their own with a dinner for volunteers. By Lola Calcagno The following officers were elected for the year 2015 at our October meeting: Joseph Conti, president: Robert Machiarola, first vice-president; Lenny Caglionne, second vice-president; Maria Craver, treasurer; Anthony Cardello, secretary and John Russo, sergeant-at-arms. They will be installed in December. Well, it’s Christmas. Santa and Jingle Bell time again and our Christmas party will be held in the Ballroom on Saturday, December 13, with festivities beginning at 5:30 p.m. We will again enjoy a sumptuous four-course sitdown dinner with music provided by Vince Lombardo, The affair is being run by our Social Director, Rosemarie Miller and her committee of Lucille Conti, Fran Gatti and Joan Russo. The cost is $48. Rosemarie is taking reservations at 409-7793 and/or send your check to her at 473-A Rockport Way. Mark your calendar for February 17, 2015 so that you can celebrate the gayest social of the year – Carnevale. Bingo games have been cancelled for December. Club dues for 2015 should be paid by December 31. A check for $15 made payable to the Italian-American Club may be sent to Joan Russo at 288-C Sudbury Lane. No checks will be collected at the Christmas party. The Club extends its best wishes to all for a Blessed Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a Healthy and Happy New Year. Kiwanis seeks funds for holiday gifts for children By Alyce Owens Did you know that there are many children right here in Monroe Township who have little hope of receiving the toys and gifts they so fondly wish for at this joyous holiday season? This is your opportunity to help. Twenty-two years ago, at Time to flip the pancakes. From left, Henry Cox, Annette Sowa and Carolyn Meyer. the same time they founded the Food Pantry in Monroe, the Kiwanis Club started the Holiday Toy Drive to help make the holidays brighter for children of Monroe families who were challenged by illness and/or economics. Each year since then, with the help of residents, they have made many Monroe children’s Henry Cox master mixer holiday dreams come true. Your help and support is needed again this nearly impossible to provide year to ensure that all the these things at the holidays. children in our town have a If you are able to help, Christmas or Hanukkah wor- please make your check paythy of wonderful memories able to Kiwanis Club of Rossmoor. Mark it “Holiday and joyful experiences. Whether you are new to Gift Fund for Children” and this community or have con- mail it to: Kiwanis Holiday Gift Fund tributed in the past, your help for Children in this effort will be much ap2 Rossmoor Drive preciated. All funds raised Monroe Township, NJ will be used to purchase 08831 toys, gift cards, clothing and If our residents’ generospersonal grooming aids for Monroe Township children ity surpasses the goal for (Continued on page 19) whose families would find it The Rossmoor NEWS By Irene Poulin FICTION Tom Clancy Full Force and Effect by Mark Greeney, Tom Clancy Annotations not available at this time. Rain on the Dead by Jack Higgins When sudden wealth awakens a sleeping nuclear threat, President Jack Ryan must deal with North Korea’s young dictator and the country’s newfound nuclear capabilities. The Bridge by Robert Knott A storm brings a dangerous band of suspicious nightriders to the site of the Rio Blancobridge project, while Marshalls Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch seek the truth DECEMBER 2014 about Appaloosa Sheriff Driskill’s missing deputies Insatiable Appetites by Stuart Woods Stone Barrington’s dying friend and mentor just left Stone a puzzling package whose contents could lead to dangerous repercussions. MYSTERIES Perfect Sins by Jo Bannister An archeologist’s findings when digging up a suspicious mound near his land’s ice house gives former British government agent Ash new hope when, after his wife and sons were presumed dead in a Somalia hijacking, a policeman implies that Ash’s sons are still alive. Penny North checking out some items to display for the Rental Library’s Annual Holiday Book-tique sale. “Drop into the Crafts Room and check out the Christmas items for sale starting Wednesday, December 3 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The sale will continue in the Library through the month of December. Not only will you be getting a jump on your Christmas shopping, but you’ll be helping support the Rental Library. Thank you,” says Lucy Poulin. Happy Holidays from the Dance Club By Judy Perkus The Dance Club will have no dance this month because December is such a busy month with lots of festive events. Our dances are usually the fourth Saturday of the month. See you in January. You may send your 2015 Dance Club dues of $15 per couple, or $7.50 per person, made out to the Rossmoor Kiwanis (Continued from page 18) these holiday gifts, any excess funds will be given as scholarships to worthy Monroe High School graduates accepted in an accredited Vo/Tech program at a technical institute or community college. Kiwanis already provides annual college scholarships for MHS graduates. Kiwanis members and guests will celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah at a festive luncheon at the East Brunswick Chateau on December 19. The holiday committee is planning a carol sing-along and some fun surprises for the event. The Kiwanis Club thanks all residents for their faithful support and wishes all a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year. Dance Club to Anne Azzinaro at 607B Winchester Lane. New members are welcome. Call Anne at 6555799 for more information. President Anne Azzinaro and the entire Dance Club wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy and Healthy New Year. Knocked by Carol Higgins Clark Detective Regan Reilly takes several detours on her way to her Northern Massachusetts all-women’s college’s tenth reunion, investigating the break-in that left the owners of her favorite diner bound in the cellar and seeking a pair of missing 102 -year old alumni. The Sacrifice by Joyce Carol Oates The horrific act shook the community to its core. A diverse cast of multiracial characters shed light on the racial violence that allegedly befell a 14-year old girl as the shaken New Jersey community faces the consequences of such violence. A Fine Summer’s Day by Charles Todd Defying his friends’ and families’ assertions that he is about to make the biggest mistake of his life, Ian Rutledge prepares to propose to the woman he loves, unaware of how an archduke’s assassination will soon change his life forever. Library Hours Monday thru Friday 10 a.m. to noon 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Visit our Christmas Booktique in the Library through the month of December. 19 20 “Carol Burnett” presents New Jersey history By Eileen Parker The New Jersey Club will meet on Friday, December 19, at 1:30 p.m. in the Ballroom. Al Parker will give the program: “Some History of New Jersey as presented by the Carol Burnett Show.” A holiday luncheon will be served, for members only. The cost of the luncheon is $15. Please make checks out to “NJSCCR,” and send them to the club treasurer, Grace Gambino, at 377A Old Nassau Rd by December 12. Reminder to all members: Club dues for next year are $14 and are now payable. We wish everyone a very happy Holiday Season! Trips of Distinction By Catherine Okerson The next meeting will be held in January, 2015. Date and time will be noted in the January issue. As always, all residents are welcome to attend. Trips under consideration for the coming year are the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and The Manor in West Orange. The United Nations trip will include a tour and lunch. This is a one-hour guided tour of the behind-the-scenes view of the organization at work. The Manor is well known for its buffet luncheon served in the beautiful Manor Room. For further information please contact Dot Prouty at 609-395-7260. Women’s Guild invites you to come and enjoy a Holiday Concert By Lana Ottinger Our next Women’s Guild meeting will be on Thursday, December 18 at 1:30 p.m. We invite everyone to the Meeting House as the Chorus will present music under the leadership of director Gloria Montlack. Afterward we will enjoy friendship and refreshments. Our Board meeting in De- The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 cember is cancelled. January 8 at 10 a.m. will be our next one. The Women’s Guild wishes everyone happiness and good cheer of the holiday season and throughout the year. Let the spirit of love gently fill our hearts and homes. In this loveliest of seasons, may you find many reasons for happiness. Mutual News for December Mutual 16 By Bill, Dan, Jean, Ken, George, and Sidney By now, you should all have returned your form and payment for the Mutual 16 holiday party. If you have not done so, and you would like to come, please contact Jean or Sidney immediately. While the flyer was distributed to all of you, sometimes they blow away. If you need a ride to the party, we can arrange for one of us to pick you up. Since it will be in the Ballroom, that is a simple matter to arrange. Many thanks to our committee of Ginny Theokas, Penni McOlvin, Terry Whitman, Lucille Conti, Grace Struzynski, Sidney Lincoln, Maria Hogan, Paula Richardson, and Jean Houvener for arranging this. All exterior repairs need to be initiated through our maintenance director, Dan McOlvin. Please contact him to arrange for repairs and to determine whether the cost is to the Mutual or to the resident. If you have email, that is the best method to reach him and to have a record of your request. He is accessible by either phone or email listed below. While the elections for next year’s directors is not until April, the time is now to consider serving a three-year term as a director or a oneyear term as an alternate director. The directors are elected as representatives for you and they run the Mu- tual. While many of you have been on the Board at some point in your residency here, others have not. This is a good way to get to know all the residents and to gain a greater understanding of how Rossmoor and the Mutual function. Every year the three alternates are elected. Generally one of the three directors is up for election in any given year. This year there will two director slots on the ballot. Ideally we would have more than one person running for each position. That would mean ten people running. If you are interested in serving on the Board, please send a brief resume to the current Board indicating your interest in a position, your past experience, and what you think you would contribute to the Mutual. Mutual 16 Directors: Bill Murphy (860-1148, franbill@williammurphy.net); Dan McOlvin (732-423-4696, dan82abn@aol.com); Ken Meyers (409-5156, ken.meyers@yahoo.com); George Mertz (655-3711, Mertznorth@aol.com); Sidney Lincoln (235-9223, withane07@comcast.net); and Jean Houvener (6553632, houvson@gmail.com). SPORTS 2014 Golfing season completed by the 9 Holers By Fran Poulin On Tuesday, October 7, the Women’s 9 Holers played their final tournament for the season. The tournament slated for the event was “Even Holes” and played on the back nine. The score of the even holes was added and one-half of each handicap was subtracted from that total. The remaining score supported the following winners: 1st place –”A” Flight– Danielle Salti; “B” Flight– Alyce Owens–2nd place–”A” Flight–Sheila Connor; “B” Flight–Jane Palmeter. On October 14, the Board held its closing session for the golfing season. The Executive Committee will remain the same for 2015: President Marie Bills, Vice-President Fran Poulin, Secretary Doris Herron, Treasurer Marie Eppinger, Tournament Chair Muriel Calvanelli, and Pairings Chair Lucy Poulin. Some of the remaining chairpersons are: Lucy Poulin, photographer; publicity and rules/by laws, Fran Poulin; and membership, Mary Ellen Mertz. The group is looking for volunteers for the social events of the 2015 season. The Executive Committee will be responsible for the refreshments at the “Welcome to Spring” brunch in April. Joyce Cassidy will host the opening-day luncheon. The member/guest day, the brown bag lunch, and the closing lunch are awaiting a (Continued on page 21) The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 Ladies’ 18-Hole golf league – luncheon/membership meeting By Arlene McBride On Sept. 30, “Low Gross/ Low Net” tournament was held. Low gross winners: 1st place, Janet Decker; 2nd place, Sandra Pellicane. Low net winners: 1st place, Sue Petersen; 2nd place, Carol Faraci. On Oct. 7, “Closing Day Scramble” tournament was held. First place team: Gail Dimaio, Lanie Kartagener, Nancy Nita, and Rita Reisert. Second place team: Carol Faraci, Audrey Ketelsen, Sandra Pellicane, and Paula Richardson. That’s it for season 2014; congratulations to all the big winners through- out the year. After round of play on Oct. 7, a luncheon/membership meeting was held. The first issue discussed was rescinding the rule of carrying over an extra stroke to the drop area on the second hole. The rule was approved and seconded and will be noted in the membership booklet for the 2015 season. Second issue discussed and approved by the members: starting in the 2015 season, the opening day luncheon will be held on the first Tuesday in May and the closing day luncheon will be held on the last Tuesday in Women’s 9-Hole Golfers at the Pro Shop September. Hopefully this will accommodate the members who leave early in the fall season and/or arrive later in the spring season. The third issue presented to the members was the acceptance of the new slate of officers for 2015 as follows: President, Arlene McBride; Vice President, Audrey Ketelsen; Treasurer, Pat Mueller; Secretary, Joan Semen; Rules & Grievances, Rita Reisert; Tournament Chairperson, Maria Hogan; Ringers & Birdies & Scoring, Joan Semen; Publicity, Arlene McBride; and Membership Booklet, Pat Mueller. There were no nominations from the floor so the above slate of officers was accepted and seconded and will be in effect immediately. Congratulations! Updated notices are posted on the bulletin board in the pro shop. To all the snowbirds, have a great winter! Happy Holidays to all wherever you may celebrate. 9 Holers (Continued from page 20) member to accept hosting the events. During February of 2015, all members of record and residents will receive a mailing that will contain a Membership Renewal form, the Schedule for Play for 2015, and a letter from the president regarding issues of play discussed at the Board meeting. Any female golfer resident, who is interested in joining the 9 Holers, should call Membership Chair Mary Ellen Mertz at 609-655-3711, or President Marie Bills at 609-860-1912, to discuss the requirements for membership in the group. By Ted Servis, golf professional What’s going on at the Golf Course? Golf is in its winter season and only the truly hardy golfers are out. Those of you who have stopped playing or who go away for the winter, I hope all of you have a healthy and happy winter and look forward to seeing you in the spring. The Golf Course continues to be in fantastic condition thanks to Tom Tucci and his staff .On behalf of myself and my staff I would like thank everyone for a great 2014 golf season. Croquet Club shares highlights of Halloween fun on the court By M. M. Vail, Publicity The Croquet Club holiday luncheon at the East Brunswick Chateau, at noon on December 6, promises to be a fine event, bringing the 25th croquet season to an end. A few members will decamp for warmer weather and more croquet play in Florida. We wish each of them an “all-around break” (a perfect game). Right: Mary Ann McDermott casting “magic” on the court Below: Count Carl Kruse, bag lady Ruth Klein, and wranglers Ellen and Carl Frankel just before beginning golf croquet on Halloween If there is anything we can help you with, or any questions we can answer, please give us a call at 609-6553182. The Pro Shop has a year-end sale going on, so please stop in and take a look as we have plenty of merchandise for all of your shopping needs. Just a reminder: all Pro Shop credits must be used by December 31, 2014. Remember that the Golf Course is currently offering a referral incentive of $200 in Pro Shop credit for bringing in new members. 21 22 Catholic Society sets date for Christmas Concert and carol singing By Gene Horan In celebration of the season, Jaimie Frame, organist at St. John Vianney Church in Colonia, will give an organ concert on Thursday, December 11 at 7 p.m. in the Meeting House. Featured will be Christmas music, religious and secular, of various countries. This will be followed by the singing of Christmas carols and refreshments. All Rossmoorites are invited to this gala Christmas celebration. A free will offering is suggested to help support two charities of special interest to the Catholic Society. The first is a Felician Sisters’ mission in Haiti. Sister Marilyn Minter, daughter of the late “Pudge” Minter, a resident who had served as organist for the Catholic Society, has been involved with the mission since its inception. The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 The second charity is an Indian mission in South Dakota. Sister Donna Brady, who served for a number of years as pastoral associate at Monroe Township’s Nativity of Our Lord Church, is now on the staff of that mission. Both missions have been the recipient of previous gifts from the Catholic Society. Please note that there will be no Masses held in January and February. The next Mass, in March, will be hosted by the Emerald Society, date to be announced. Other Catholic Society activities for December include • The Prayer Shawl ministry at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, in the Clubhouse Craft Room. • The Chaplet of Divine Mercy on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 3:00 p.m. in the Clubhouse Maple Room. Religious Organizations Community Church will sponsor Christmas Cantata By Sallie Rowland The Cranbury United Methodist Church, together with the Community Church, will present the Christmas Cantata, “Let There Be Light,” which is dynamically arranged and orchestrated by Bradley Knight. The performance is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 7, in the Meeting House. This will be the second time the popular choir has visited our community. Last spring, we were treated to an Easter Cantata that was meaningful and powerfully executed. The diversity of the group is truly heartwarming. There are 30 to 40 participants, whose ages range from 12 through 76. Refreshments will be served after the performance by Sonya Bacon and her committee. There is no charge and a truly wonderful afternoon is promised. Everyone is welcome. Jewish Congregation’s December activities By Ben Wistreich The Rossmoor Jewish Congregation’s December schedule of activities includes our annual Hanukkah Party. It will be held on Sunday, December 14, starting at 1 p.m. in the Gallery. In addition to lighting the Hanukkah Menorah, there will be delicious refreshments, including delicatessen sandwiches and salads, potato latkes (made by Chef Jeff (!)), plus coffee/tea and dessert, too. The meal will be catered by Lox, Stock & Deli, and the cost is $24 p.p. Checks must be received by Dec. 3. The December Board Meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 2. Board members will be notified by e-mail a few days in advance of this meeting. It will be held in the Dogwood Room, starting at 7 p.m. Sabbath Services will be held in the Meeting House on December 5 and 19. On the 5th, the Lay Reader will be Janet Goodstein and the Torah Reader will be Bob Kolker. On Friday, Dec. 19, the Lay Reader will be Hadassah Aylat and the Torah Reader will be Bob Kolker. The Congregation will sponsor both Services. Refreshments follow every Service. The songs you love to sing By Judy Perkus You won’t be able to resist singing along with our own gifted Dottie Haff’s presentation of "The Role of Music in Movies" when you attend the Monday, December 15 meeting of the Sisterhood in the Ballroom at 1:30 p.m. You’ll be surprised in which movie each song is featured, and you will delight in hearing them again. Her power point program will make everything clear. It’s a program for all music lovers and songbirds. Again we have great desserts, and we know you’ll remember to bring nonperishable food items for the Kiwanis Pantry. See you there! Rossmoor Community Church (Tel. 655-2321) Services: • SUNDAY, DEC. 7, 11 a.m. Blue Christmas Service and Hymn Sing - Communion will be celebrated. The Rev. Dr. Dierdre L. Thomson will preach. 1 p.m. Special Music: The Cranbury United Methodist Church will present a “Cantata,” also in the Meeting House. • SUNDAY, DEC. 14, 11 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Dierdre L. Thomson will preach. Music: The Rainbow Chimers. • SUNDAY, DEC. 21, 11 a.m. Hymn Sing - The Rev. Dr. Dierdre L. Thomson will preach. Gloria Montlack will direct the Rossmoor Chorus. • WEDNESDAY, DEC. 24, 5 p.m., CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE • SUNDAY, DEC. 28, 11 a.m. The Rev. Barbara McDonald will preach, with music by the Choristers and the Special Choir. In Memoriam Raymond J. Bradley Raymond J. Bradley died on Thursday, Nov. 6. He had a 29 year military career, entering the Army in 1945. In 1947, he reenlisted in the U.S. Air Force. His military service included five overseas tours of duty in Japan, Germany, Korea, Libya and North Africa. Mr. Bradley was predeceased by his first wife, Rose. Surviving are his wife, Joyce Hull-Bradley; son Glenn; daughter, Kathleen; five grandchildren, Christopher, Katherine, Kyle, Scott and Brittany; four stepchildren, Laura, David, Cynn and Kevin; and four stepgrandchildren, Noah, Brooke, Megan and Jacqueline. Joseph R. Gasik Joseph R. Gasik died on Nov. 6. He was a veteran of the United States Navy. Joe is survived by his wife Rose- mary; his son, Joseph M. Gasik and his wife Nazli; his daughter, Tracie Dianne Gasik; his brother Ted Gasik, and two grandchildren. Joe was an active director for Mutual 17. Richard A. Barrett Richard A. Barrett died on Wednesday, November 12. He had been a lifelong resident of Edison until, after his retirement, he moved to Monroe Township. Dick had been an Army veteran, and was a police officer for the Edison Police Department for 33 years, retiring as Captain in 1991. Surviving are his wife Shirley Barrett; one son, Robert Barrett, and his wife, Amy; granddaughter Kimberly Ho and her husband, David; and his sister Beverly Komar and her husband, Vincent.Dick was an avid woodworker and golfer. The Rossmoor NEWS 23 DECEMBER 2014 HEALTH CARE CENTER NEWS Respiratory and cough etiquette By Kaytie Olshefski, BS, RN-BC We are especially concerned about the microorganisms in today’s world. We are anxious about the enterovirus D68 for the wellbeing our grandchildren and great grandchildren. We are apprehensive about the news we are seeing and hearing about the Ebola disease in the United States. I am not here to give advice on either of these two dis- eases, as each one of us has our thoughts and opinions concerning them. However, I am writing about what is known as respiratory and cough etiquette. This is the start of the cold season and before you know it, the flu season will be upon us. We need to be vigilant in preventing the spread of germs. Did you know that, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an uncovered sneeze can travel airborne as far as six feet MAINTENANCE By Marlene Niwore Happy Holidays SNOW We’re entering the snow season and here are a few reminders for you. Cars should be off the street when the snow falls to make road clearing more efficient and safe. There is temporary parking at the Clubhouse for those who need it. Please be aware of the No Parking when Road is Snow Covered signs in your Mutual. It is imperative that you do not park there; it can greatly hinder snow removal. We need your cooperation during clean up. All information will be posted on Channel 26. We clear every side- walk, even at manors where the people are away. The men who shovel do not know which people are away since this is a security issue. Please listen to your local weather stations so you are not caught unprepared and try to reschedule any doctors’ appointments. Remember to keep an eye on Channel 26. CHRISTMAS TREES Live Christmas trees, wreaths, etc. can be taken to the Clubhouse parking lot and placed on the designated trailer from January 2 through January 16. Please, no wreaths, bags, wires, hooks, bows, ribbons etc. MILLENNIUM Vincent Piccoli, President Happy Holidays from all of us at Millennium! Activities for the month of December 2014: Mowing of lawns, leaf clean up, blowing out beds and carports, Fertalime application. Tip for the month: Winterize your irrigation system. If you remove bushes, large branches or yard debris, please tie them and put them on the curb for pickup on Mondays only. Do not put them in bags or pots. If you have a landscaper remove bushes, he must take them away. If you choose to have your own landscaper, or do your own landscaping, please use the yellow stake and ribbon procedure. Directions, ribbons and stakes are available at the Maintenance office. If you have any questions or concerns in reference to landscaping services, please feel free to call. The phone number for Millennium is 655 -5134. If no one answers, leave your message on the answering machine and we will get back to you as soon as possible. If you have an emergency, call Maintenance at 655-2121 and they will get in touch with someone from Millennium. The main office phone number 1-877-7174300 is for Irrigation calls only. If you have snow emergency please do not call Millennium or leave a message. Call the Maintenance Department or the North Gate. Do not ask, or pay, the snow shoveling crews to shovel out your back door walks. All monthly activities are subject to weather conditions. Please watch Channel 26 for our list of daily activities. IMPORTANT REMINDER Pets must be leashed at all times and kept under control so they do not disturb the peace of residents. Pet owners may not allow a dog to relieve itself upon sidewalks, driveways, flower beds or any landscaped area more than three feet from any street curb. Pet owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs immediately. Pets are not permitted on the golf course or the perimeter of the golf course at any time. away? Those droplets will land on the mouths or noses of people nearby or might possibly be inhaled, causing unsuspecting people to come down with a cold or the flu. These germs can also contaminate surfaces or objects. If a person touches those surfaces or objects and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth, the germs will be able to enter the person’s body. We all know the universal respiratory precautions, but this is a good time to go over them and start putting them into our daily routine. • Avoid touching your face with your hands, as this is a port of entry for the virus to enter your body. • Sneeze or cough into the bend of your elbow or cover your mouth with a tissue if you are going to sneeze or cough. • Properly dispose of used tissues in a waste paper basket. • Wash your hands with soap and water or, if you are not near a sink, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after coughing or sneezing. • Wash your hands frequently – not a fast swipe with soap and water. You need to wash your hands for a good 15 seconds, about as long as it takes to sing either “Happy Birthday” or “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” It doesn’t matter if you use regular or antibacterial soap. • Keep yourself hydrated • • • • • • • • by drinking at least eight glasses of water, if medically allowed. Take care of yourself by eating properly, taking your medications as prescribed, keeping your medical conditions under control, and exercising. Use a humidifier in your home. This keeps your skin, eyes, throat, and nose from becoming dry and less likely to catch a cold or flu. Stay away from tobacco smoke and avoid second-hand smoke. Smoke damages your lungs and will make you more vulnerable to respiratory infections. Avoid crowds as much as possible. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you feel you are getting ill, stay home to avoid spreading your germs to other people. Take Tylenol if you have a temperature, drink fluids, and rest as much as possible. If you do come down with respiratory symptoms, call your doctor and inform him or her of your symptoms and temperature. If anyone still needs a flu shot, please call the Health Care Center and we will arrange to give you one. Just a reminder, we have durable medical equipment that we lend out and medical items that have been donated to us. Call us if there is something you are in need of, because we may have it. For example, sometimes someone will donate cans of Ensure or blue pads (other names are chux or blue underpads). Give the Health Care Center a call and we may be able to help you. In our lecture series from Saint Peter’s University Hospital, Dr. Pratick Patel, a cardiologist, from Heart & Vascular Center, will be speaking about “Guide to a Healthy Heart” on Monday, December 8 at 1 p.m. in the Maple Room. Please call the Health Care Center at 655-2220 or stop by to sign up if you would like to attend the lecture or if you would like more information. 24 The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 From voter registration to human trafficking By Ruth Banks The League of Women Voters of Monroe Twp. focused much of its voter registration efforts in October on making applications to vote by mail available to people who might have difficulty in getting to the polls. According to Voter Service Director Joan Zucker, supplies of vote -by-mail applications were placed in the nurse’s office in various senior communities, in the Jewish Family Service office for delivery with Mealson-Wheels, and with other groups which serve senior groups. Articles reminding residents of the upcoming election, the necessity of voting, and a source for obtaining forms were placed in various senior community newsletters. The registration campaign actually began in August, with League members holding registration days at Ross- moor. Lorraine Sarhage organized it with assistance from Gasphine Lewis, Gloria Huber, Celeste Jacobs, Bobbie Harris and Judy Perkus. In September, League members Florence Levine and Syd Seiden visited Waterside Villas, a rental community with many new residents. Also in September, Judy Perkus, Mary Ann Colgan and Marsha Rosenbaum registered new residents at Monroe Village. The Senior Center was also a registration site with Leaguers Francine Glass, Jane Jennings, Mary Ann Colgan and Lillian Cooper assisting people with the forms. Also in September, we were back at our usual spot in the Post Office staffed by Joan Leon, Roz Levine and Marcia Kastan. The Post Office staff was, as always, helpful. October presented us with the opportunity to participate Did you know that you can purchase items at the Maintenance Department? Traffic Safety Announcement Please drive carefully within the community making sure to STOP at stop signs, use your DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS and abide by the . SPEED LIMIT. Also, please be certain to park on the right side of the street. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Shower heads Shower hoses Swivel connectors Slide bars Grab bars Soap dishes Bathroom faucets: crystal ball handles and single chrome lever Toilet seat, white or beige Medicine cabinet rollers Faucet aerators Kitchen faucets Aqua Pure water system Aqua Pure water filters Whole house filters Washing machine hoses Symmons valve Fire extinguishers Leak detector alarms Appliance bulbs Burner elements Rings and pans • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Range hood filters Bake and broil elements A/C Filters:10x20x1, 14x25x1, 16x25x1 Blue mesh filter (Cut to size and washable) Fluorescent tubes: 3’, 4’ and 6’ Plastic light panels Outlets Switches Dimmer switches Outlet and switch plate covers Batteries: 9 Volt Smoke detectors Thermostats: Honeywell, Easy to Read, and digital (no programable thermostats) Sliding glass door security bars Just to mention a few things. in both the Green Fair, at the Oak Tree School, and the Octoberfest at the Community Center. In both locations League distributed disaster awareness and readiness material and of course voter information. Staffing the two sites were Ellen Norman, Mary Ann Colgan, Marsha Rosenbaum, Myrna Zach, Lillian Cooper, Syd Seiden, Norman Perkus, Sherry Freedman, Judy Barbour, Muriel Hertan and Marcia Kastan. Working at the Octoberfest were Lee Hyman, Andrea Pellezzi, Marcia Kastan and Lorraine Sarhage. Ms. Zucker noted that as in the past, there were many people who refused to register to vote, giving no rational reason. However, most people were grateful for the opportunity to have a voice in determining their future. In addition to the voter registration efforts, League embarked on a new issue: Human Trafficking. On October 27 the Assistant Prosecutor for Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Christine d’Elia, spoke at the League’s meeting in the Municipal Building. Ms. d’Elia’s presentation graphically discussed the complex nature of human trafficking, clarifying who was at risk, what the term human trafficking actually meant, and how widespread the network was. In fact, she emphasized, that it was now considered the second most widespread criminal activity in the world. The League’s committee is composed of members from Hadassah, O.R.T., the NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking, and the Township Library. Library Director Irene Goldberg is working directly with the committee to plan a special film/discussion program in January, which has been designated by the state as Human Trafficking Aware- The Rossmoor NEWS Senior Center Highlights Membership Information Being a registered member of the Office/Center is free and available to Monroe Township residents, 55 years of age or older. The Senior Focus is distributed around the 15th of the previous month and at that time, members can register/signup for the special monthly activities. Advance registration is recommended to ensure easy admission into a program. Registration is also available on the same day of an event from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Members are encouraged to see if there are openings for a particular activity up to two days in advance and on the program day. For members unable to attend a registered program, a cancellation phone call is appreciated. For more information, visit the Senior Center at 12 Halsey Reed Road to pick up a calendar of events or visit www.monroetwp.com, and look for the “Office of Senior Services” link under “Departments.” Get Your Game On! On select days and times, bring friends and play your game of choice on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. and on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 9 to noon. Cribbage (for new and seasoned) players meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday. (Some days are shared with classes.) Wild Rose Performs On Tuesday, December 2, at 1:30 p.m., join the Wild Rose Band for a magical holiday show covering all the yuletide favorites. This magical and musical journey of singing and dancing fun is sponsored by The Gardens at Monroe. Light refreshments, too! Please be sure to register in advance. Mixed Watercolor Studio Starting on Thursday, December 4, at 12:30 p.m., join Jeremy Taylor, regionally known watercolorist for this 5 -session watercolor class that incorporates acrylics and guache. (Dec. 4, 11, 18, and Jan. 8, 15). Course fee: $50, due upon registering inperson. Space limited. Supply list available upon request. (Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch and a bottled water to class.) Strategies for Beating the Blues On Thursday, December 4, at 1:30 p.m., join Jamie Winters, LCSW, Senior Primary Therapist, Senior Link Program, for an uplifting program on recognizing the signs of depression and learning ways to cope in a healthier way. Please register in advance. Bagels Plus Holiday De-Stressing On Friday, December 5, at 10 a.m., join Sheli Monacchio, from Senior Bridge, and Linda Mundie, from The Gardens at Monroe, for bagels and a discussion on how the holidays bring challenging 25 DECEMBER 2014 situations and new levels of stress. Find out how to manage your stress before it escalates. Please register in advance. Wii Play On Friday afternoons, from 1 to 4 pm, stop by the Senior Center and get your Wii game on! Our interactive video gaming system will be available for your enjoyment. Participants MUST be familiar with the Wii system. Interested? Please sign-out a Wii remote control at the front desk, on a first come, first served basis. (1 hour max. time.) The Great Cookie Swap On Tuesday, December 9, from 1 to 3 p.m., join us for a tasty and fun afternoon. B.B.Y.L and bring in your favorite batch of cookies (and its recipe!) to share. Beverages and other treats included! The Holiday Baking DVD, featuring ideas from Martha Stewart, will be viewed. Remember: your admission is a baked treat to share as well as your admiss ion ticket. $1 preregistration fee is due upon signing up for this event before December 4th. Absolute Dance: Winter Wonderful Recital On Wednesday, December 10, at 7 p.m., enjoy the Absolute Dance Center Dancers of Monroe Township, as they kick off the holiday season and spread some holiday cheer. These talented dancers, ranging in age from 6 to 16, have been trained in ballet, jazz, and lyrical. After the show, enjoy assorted baked goodies and beverages. Please obtain a free admission ticket at the front desk before Monday, December 8…while supplies last. Holiday Survival Plan On Thursday, December 11, at 1:30 p.m., the last topic of the Healthy Heart Club series focuses on “Surviving the Holidays”. Chris Socha, RPh, MBA, from Texas Road Pharmacy, helps you set healthy goals for next year and discusses ways to make healthier choices during the holiday season. Please register in advance. Art of the Masters: Toulouse-Lautrec On Friday, December 12, at 2 p.m., Christina, from Creative Notions, discusses the career and life of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. After the lecture, you will put your print making skills to the test to create a personal masterpiece in the artist’s style. Lecture only? Sign up over the phone. Project? Please register in-person to get a coupon while they last. To Sleep, Perchance On Monday, December 15, at 1:30 p.m., Dr. Alexandria Reilly, from CentraState, explores the signs and symptoms of sleep disorders as well as strategies to promote improved sleep. Please register in advance. Silent Meditation On Tuesday, December 16, at 10 a.m., join Judy Kalman for a silent session of total relaxation. Space limited. HAPPY HANUKKAH! (First Night: December 16) Michael & Ted Present: Sondheim On Tuesday, December 16, at 2 p.m., Michael and Ted, our friends from WWFM’S “The Classical Network”, look at the life and career of Stephen Sondheim, best known for his work on Broadway. However, his music reached films like REDS, and the television musical, EVENING PRIMROSE. Please register in advance. Caregivers Support for Alzheimer’s On Wednesday, December 17, at 2 p.m., please note that the Caregivers Support Group for Alzheimer’s will meet on this day and not on December 24. Jewbadors’ Holiday Celebration On Thursday, December 18, at 1:30 p.m., the Jewbadors return to celebrate the (Continued on page 26) Caregiver Support Group Focus: Spouse/Partner Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. Location: Saint Peter’s Adult Day Care Center Monroe Township Meetings are 90 minutes Registration is not necessary. Questions may be directed to Stephanie Fitzsimmons, RN, NP at 1-800-269-7508, press 1, press 8662 Sponsored by Saint Peter’s University Hospital 26 Senior Center (Continued from page 25) Festival of Lights with a new fun-filled show featuring acting and singing. This group of 8 players will invoke the light and warmth of Hanukkah and the holiday season. Please register in advance. Pizza Plus Movie On Friday, December 19, at 12:30 p.m., enjoy a slice or two with friends (as well as a beverage and dessert) along with the featured film, “Heaven Is For Real” (starring Greg Kinnear). Tickets: $6 p.p., due upon registering in-person, in advance. Great River Cruises On Monday, December 22, and Tuesday, December 23, both at 1:30 p.m., take an armchair cruise along the rivers of Europe during this QUESTAR DVD presentation of “Burt Wolf: Travel & Traditions.” On Monday, cruise along the Rhine, the Danube and Provence. On Tuesday, catch the Eiffel tower and then travel through Belgium and the Netherlands. When registering in advance, please note each program date separately. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Office is Closed on December 25 & 26. Kids Say the Darndest Things On Tuesday, December 30, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., delight in nearly two hours of amusing childhood wit and insight as we feature Art Linkletter’s beloved “Kids Say The Darndest Things”. Brown bag your lunch (we’ll have coffee and treats) as you sit back, relax and enjoy the show! Please be sure to register in advance! Guitar for Beginners Starts on Monday, January 5, 2015. Six sessions, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Course Fee: $67, includes instruction book. Please Register InPerson until December 19. Holiday Food Baskets & Toy Drive The Monroe Township Office of Senior Service’s holiday endeavors are underway for our Food Pantry recipients as well as for Township Rossmoor Resident Emergency/Disaster Information (R.E.D.I.) Knowing what to do is the best preparation IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY Why Prepare? The outlook for recovery from a disaster often depends on your planning and preparation. While we all hope that such events never happen, it has been shown from time to time that those who have prepared are best able to recover. Emergency services and government agencies may not be able to respond to our needs immediately. You need to be ready to care for yourself here in Rossmoor. Know What to Do In the event of a disaster/ emergency it is important to know what to do. Learn and understand the different types of disasters/ emergencies you are most likely to encounter and what you will need. While each person is unique, you can take steps to prepare by evaluating personal needs and making a plan that fits those needs. Make a Plan The first step is to consider how a disaster/emergency might affect your individual needs. It may be necessary to plan to make it on your own for many days. It is possible that you will not have access to a medical facility, drugstore, gas station, or bank. Bus service may be limited or cancelled. It is crucial that you think about what kinds of resources you use on a daily basis and what you might do if those resources are limited or not available. Leaving vs Staying Home Prior to a snow storm, hurricane, rain storm or other extreme weather advisories, you should consider staying with family, friends or in a hotel out of the area especially if you feel you are not capable to safely shelter-inplace. If you leave Rossmoor prior to a storm, it is a good idea to check with the North Gate prior to returning to check on the conditions at Rossmoor and whether or not it is safe for you to return. If you plan to stay home, it may be best in most situations to remain home during and after an extreme weather event as there may be the uncertainty of where you might go and the risk of impassable roads. Should you elect to stay home, you must plan ahead and be prepared to be at home for some period of time possibly without services. The Rossmoor NEWS DECEMBER 2014 Evacuation The Monroe Township Office of Emergency Management, in coordination with fire, first aid and police departments, will be in charge and provide instruction should it be necessary to evacuate. If residents are evacuated, every effort will be made to open the Clubhouse as a comfort station until evacuees are able to make other living arrangements, or a Township or County shelter is opened. The Clubhouse is equipped with a stand-by generator that will restore power in the entire building within seconds of a power outage Share Information It’s a good idea to check with Administration that you have a current Emergency Contact Information form on file. This information will be available to Administration and will also be available at the North Gate for emergency responders should the need arise. If someone has Power of Attorney for you, please consider filing a copy with the Administration Office. It would be helpful in an emergency to contact the person you have designated as the one to handle your affairs if you are unable to do so. If you have a medical condition or special needs, you should complete the Monroe Township Special Needs Registry form available in Administration. Completed forms should be returned to the Monroe Township Police Department, 3 Municipal Plaza, Monroe Township, New Jersey 08831. You should also register with the Healthcare Center with your contact information and medical history. Should you have a medical condition that requires outside treatments such as, but not limited to, dialysis or chemotherapy, you must register with the Healthcare Center prior to an ice or snow emergency to guarantee access for these appointments. Additional Resources For additional information resources, it is suggested you visit these websites: http://www.ready.gov/ http://www.redcross.org/prepare http://72hours.org/ Basic Disaster Supplies Kit According to the www.ready.gov/ website a basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items: • Water – one gallon of wa- • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ter per person per day for at least three days, for drinking water and sanitation Food – at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit Whistle to signal for help Dust mask to filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to “shelter-in-place” Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Manual can opener for food Local maps Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger Prescription medications and glasses Pet food and extra water for your pet Cash or traveler’s checks and change Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container First aid book It may also be important to make sure your car is serviced and has a full tank of gas. ARE YOU R.E.D.I.? Be sure to review and renew your plan annually or as your needs may change families with children enrolled in the subsidized school lunch program. Food contributions and/or monetary donations for the holiday baskets are appreciated by December 5 for Christmas. A list of food items as well as a Gift/Toy Wish List will be available at the front desk. As always, your compassion and generosity in supporting these special projects are truly appreciated! Questions? Please call Bonnie Leibowitz at 609-448-7140. Thank you! Our On-Going Activities Computer Support: Select Days, by appointment. Drop-In Bridge: Mondays, from 9:30 a.m. to noon Got Game? It’s “play” time on Mon./Wed. afternoons and Tues./Fri. mornings. (Please bring in your game and your friends.) Monroe Twp. Center Chorus: Tuesdays at 10 a.m. ($5 chorus dues given to artistic director annually from new members.) Chessmates: Tuesdays at noon. SHIP/PAAD & Senior Gold assistance: By appt. Blood Pressure Screening: 2nd Tues. from 1 to 3 p.m. Green Thumbs: 2nd Tues. of every month @ 11 a.m. Cancer Support: 3rd Tues. of every month @ 1:30 p.m. Science Today: 4th Tues. of every month @ 1:30 p.m. Range of topics. Computer Clinic: 1st Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to noon Healthy Bones: seasonal program for osteoporosis prevention. Art Studio: Wednesdays @ 10 a.m. Jewelry Gems: Wednesdays @ 1 p.m. (Beading; No Instruction.) Cribbage: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 2 to 4 p.m. For Novices & Players! Parkinson’s Support: (via JFK): 1st Wed. @ 1 p.m. Diabetes Support: (via PHCS): 3rd Wed. @ 2:30 p.m. Caregivers Support for Alzheimer’s Patients: 4th Wed. at 2 p.m. Ceramics Studio: Thursdays, 10:30 to 12:30 p.m., $5 fee due at first class each month; additional fees for bisque pieces & extra studio time. Duplicate Bridge: Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. Please register in advance; Sanctioned games, Pay $5 on day of game.) Lo-Vision Support: 3rd Thurs.@ 10:30 a.m. Folk Dancing: Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. Canasta Clique: Fridays at 10 a.m. (Players only) Harmonikids: Fridays at 10:30 a.m. Harmonica players welcome! The Busy Bees: Fridays at 1 p.m. (knitting /crocheting) Saint Peter’s To Dedicate Expanded, Modernized Emergency Department Saint Peter’s University Hospital held a dedication and blessing of its newly expanded and modernized adult emergency department during ceremonies presided over by The Rev. Monsignor William Benwell, JCL, vicar general of the Diocese of Metuchen, Nov. 19, inside of the new facility at 254 Easton Ave., New Brunswick. The final phase of the project – the addition of an observation unit – will be completed in 2015. When finished, the Saint Peter’s University Hospital emergency department will have grown in size from its former 18,000 square feet to approximately 29,000 square feet. The new emergency department will be large enough to easily treat 70,000 to 75,000 patients a year. “This means that the new, larger ED will be big enough to meet the needs of the hospital – and its surrounding community – for many years to come,” said Ronald C. Rak, JD, president and CEO of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System. The nearly three-year-long project has included the construction of one of the largest pediatric emergency departments in New Jersey, special treatment bays for women’s health, acute-care and rapidtreatment patients, a redesigned entranceway for ambulances, and the use of geriatrics-friendly materials and design, as well as numerous other enhancements. Work thus far has been completed in five separate stages, including: Phase 1: Saint Peter’s built a new and expanded pediatrics emergency department as well as a new front entrance for the emergency department. Phase 2: This portion of the project was devoted to the completion of pediatric and adult “fast-track” rooms and created additional treatment beds. Phases 3, 4 and 5: Each of these stages expanded and enhanced the main ED. Key improvements were additional treatment space was added in each phase of operations and the renovations created three treatment “pods” focused on separate treatment areas: acute care; women’s health, and rapidtreat patients. The ED now holds 56 beds, the vast majority of those four-wall private rooms. A small number of others, curtained rooms, are in the fast-track area. Some of the special features and advantages of the new ED include: The entire emergency department – from equipment to flooring – is brand-new. The emergency department is “geriatrics friendly,” meaning it features softer lighting, softer colors, less noise, more comfortable mattresses, and easier to use beds, and the entire layout and design offer greater accessibility for older patients. The floor plan enhances the process of more rapid and efficient patient care. The Rossmoor NEWS Classified Advertising Transportation TRANSPORTATION – Airports, events, doctor’s appointments and more. Call George (732) 887-5437. AMERICAN CAB – We’ll take you anywhere. Appointments available. Credit cards accepted. (609) 529-6943. CAR SERVICE – For a comfortable ride I hope you decide to call John (609) 655-2015. Airports, doctors, shopping. EXPERIENCED LIMO DRIVER – NYC, airports, anywhere. Clearbrook resident. Call John (609) 642-6136 or (732) 610-0703. A. HARRINGTON LIMOUSINE – Owners are Greenbriar Whittingham residents. Call (800) 458-5466. JOE’S CAR SERVICE– Any place, any time. Special care Doctors, nursing homes, shopping. Rossmoor resident (908) 433-8188. CALL DOREEN – If you need a ride. Rossmoor resident. (609) 655-8489. TRANSPORTATION DOCTOR – Airports, trains, piers, doctors, local service, NYC. Reliable and references. Call Lon J. (732) 423-1847. EXPERT HOME REPAIRS. Kitchen, bath, closet remodeling, tiling, painting. Call Bob Katz – (609) 490-9522.for details. RELIABLE HANDYMAN SERVICES – Local resident. No job too small. All labor guaranteed. Call me to discuss – no obligation. Reasonable rates. Call (609) 4097096 or (908) 385-5869. Miscellaneous/ Services CARING HANDS HOME CARE PROVIDER – Certified Home Health Aide Services. Companion care. Hourly or live-in. Skilled Nursing visits. Licensed, accredited, insured, bonded. 92 Main Street, Matawan, NJ 07747. (732) 441-2273. COMPUTER REPAIRS - RJF Sales Company LLC (formerly Monroe Computer Service). Is your computer running slow? It may need a tune-up. Desktop and laptop repair in your home. Virus removal and protection. Monroe resident with over 20 years of computer experience. www.monroecomputer.com (732) 723-9537 or (732) 967-3400. NEW SERVICE – Wash your car ($12) and vacuum. Other services available. (609) 5480058. ALTERATIONS/SEWING NEEDS – I can come to you. Joan (609) 655-4363. NAT TRANSPORTATION – Monroe resident. All airports, shipyards, NYC and local. Doctor and hospital visits. (917) 657-5611. FEET CARE – For feet, hair and nail care. Licensed for 23 years. Julie (201) 450-8128. LEN’S HANDYMAN SERVICE, LLC –Fall is here - time for fix-ups and repairs. Specializing in home improvements. We do it all. We paint one room or the whole house. Sheetrock and wall repair. Crown moulding. Renew or repair that bathroom or kitchen. Doors, medicine cabinets, closet doors and closet remodeling. Bath tile and grout, caulking, shelving, Pergo flooring and ceramic tile, electrical work – anything in your home. Whole house/ garage cleanouts. Monroe Township resident. All major credit cards accepted. Licensed and insured. NJ License # 13VH03701800. www.lenshandyman.com Call (732) 353-6031. TKS HOME IMPROVEMENTA full-service contractor and handyman services. Roofing, kitchens, baths, basements, painting, tile, hardwood and more. No job too big or too s m a l l . L i c e n s e #13VH05970500. (609) 2592574. CAREGIVERS WANTED. Help make life easier for the elderly: light housekeeping, meal preparation, help with showering and dressing. Flexible schedule. You will be working with a variety of clie n t s . e l i z a beth@caringeldercare.com – (646) 413-0813. Help & Health Services PROFESSIONAL PET CARE – Bonded and insured. Local. Call (609) 860-9696. JOE’S HANDYMAN AND PAINTING – Quick response. Insured. Call (609) 947-8152. Help Wanted MIKE THE HANDYMAN – See my display ad in this edition. (732) 780-0468. FOR YOUR DRIVING and shopping needs. Call Judith. (732) 266-7465. Home Improvement & Services 27 DECEMBER 2014 HAIRCUTS DONE in the comfort of your own home. Please call Renee at (908) 705-7569. HAVE SCISSORS, WILL TRAVEL – All hairdressing services. Will come to your home. Licensed hairdresser. Call Georgianne (732) 9858129. PERSONAL SHOPPER – Cold outside? Snowy, icy? Running low on groceries? Let me go out in the weather for you. I’ll collect your list, look for sales, stand in lines, deliver to your door and even put everything away. Call Tracie at Lease-A-Niece. (732) 9043885. TAROT READINGS in your home. Concordia resident Donnalee makes local house calls. Group specials. (609) 664-2446. Wanted to Buy BUYING & SELLING GUNS – Call for pricing. (609) 5589509. Ask for David. Licensed Firearms Dealer. Wanted to Rent YOU’RE A SNOWBIRD not using your place all winter? Rossmoor female with cat looking for one month. (732) 484-1779 evenings. RETIRED NURSE looking to work evenings/nights from 3 p.m.-11 p.m. or 11 p.m.-7 a.m. Available SundayThursday. $250 per shift. I am able to provide social interaction, bed, bathe and assist with feeding. (609) 6624523. STELLACARE HOME CARE SERVICES – Our services assist with bathing, cooking, running errands, cleaning, medication reminders and doctor’s appointments. (732) 988-2185. Ask for Debra…a kind gentle soul. EXPERIENCED CAREGIVER in Rossmoor looking for live-in job. Lidia (732) 763 -5399. RESIDENTIAL COMPANION – English speaking male. 14 years serving in your community to help you live independently. Reliable. References. (732) 828-8579. Personals Rossmoor widower seeks lady friend to share golden years and trip the light fantastic. 609-395-7089. Housecleaning IZABELA’S CLEANING SERVICE - Professional house cleaning. Quality work. References available. Reasonable. 2 bedroom/2 bath, $65 and up. Experienced. Free estimates. (609) 954-0181 or (609) 6569281. SA NDR A’ S PER SO N AL HOUSE CLEANING – Working 12 years in Rossmoor. References available. Call Sandra (609) 529-6209. HENRYKA’S HOUSE CLEANING – Polish ladies, reliable and experienced. References available. (609) 5860806. NICE JEWISH GIRL’S HOUSE CLEANING and Health Aide Service. 20 years experience. Low rates. Insured and bonded. Call Eileen at (609) 860-9050. Folk Singer Bill Staines To Perform The Princeton Folk Music Society will present Bill Staines on December 12 at Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton, NJ Bill Staines is one of the most popular and durable folk singers of our time. For over 40 years he has delighted audiences across America with his talent for originality in song and music, as well as quick wit and humor. A New England native, he grew up in the Boston area and quickly gained local renown. Since that time he has gained an international reputation as a gifted songwriter and performer. Bill Staines’ music represents a slice of Americana, relating the life experiences and emotions of ordinary people who have been the foundation of workers all across the land. Bill’s timeless melodies include, but are not limited to tales of the Midwest prairie, adventurers in the Yukon, yarns of long-distance truckers, and hardships of everyday workers and laborers. Currently, Bill has recorded 26 albums and his music has received many awards. Bill’s achievements have been so widespread that one might find his music in grade school music books, church hymnals, or scouting campfire songbooks. You also might have heard him singing as a special guest on Garrison Keillor’s radio program A Prairie Home Companion on WHYY, on the HBO series Deadwood or Public Radio’s Mountain Stage. The Houston Post has written, “Bill Staines is one of our very best folk and country singer/songwriters. He is a new Englander who dreams of open plains and vast Western skies, and he writes better cowboy songs than anybody in the Southwest.” For more information on Bill Staines, visit at: www.accousticmusic.com/ staines/ or listen to his music on YouTube. Tickets are available at the door: $20 for adults, $15 for members, $10 for students, and $5 for children 11 and under. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Ample free parking is available. For more information about this concert and other Folk Music Society events, please contact: 609-799-0944, or info@ princetonfolk.org. PRIVATE DUTY CAREGIVER for elderly or ill. Experienced, reliable, Rossmoor references. Call (732) 809-1001. COMPANI O N/PER SO N AL ASSISTANT – Rossmoor resident. Light housekeeping, simple cooking, personal care, memory coaching. Excellent references. Catherine (609) 395-8804. COMPANION/DRIVER – Compassionate, experienced Rossmoorite happy to assist. Judy (609) 655-1026. ANNA’S HOME CARE – Certified professional caregiver is looking for live-in/live -out job in Monroe Township. Experienced, references. Driver’s license. Accepts long-term care insurance. Low prices. Private care option. Call Anna at (609) 4091600 or (908) 337-7462. CARING ELDER CARE – We will help you live independently; a few hours a day or a few hours a week. Experienced, reliable, affordable. Local, references. (646) 413-0813. www.CaringElderCare.com PLEASE PRINT YOUR AD ON 8.5 X 11” PAPER 28 DECEMBER 2014 ROSSMOOR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC. SNOW POLICY AND PROCEDURE POLICY When a snow or ice event occurs, it will be the objective of RCAI to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the 17 miles of roadways and 43 miles of sidewalks within Rossmoor are passable for motorists and pedestrians as soon as possible, in a safe and efficient manner. The safety of Rossmoor residents is the goal of this policy. PROCEDURE When a storm is predicted, all equipment and supplies will be checked and staff as well as the snow removal contractor will be informed of the response plan. Snowfall accumulations of up to two inches are handled by pre-salting the streets and carport lanes prior to the storm to try to prevent snow/ice from bonding to the surface. Salting of the streets and carport lanes will continue as needed. Depending on weather conditions and the forecast, typically, no further action will take place. Snowfall accumulations of more than two inches, typically, require the initiation of the full snow removal operations as follows: 1. Pre-salting streets and carport lanes to prevent snow from bonding to the surface. 2. Plowing all main and secondary streets (see list of streets under “Priorities”) continuously after an accumulation of 2” or more or as required by RCAI management. 3. Once the storm ends, separate crews and separate equipment will begin plowing lanes and carports; plowing main walkways; plowing driveways and finally shoveling of the individual walkways and stoops to the entrance doors of the manors. In a typical snowstorm (2 to 6 inches of accumulation), it takes approximately 12 hours once the storm ends to complete the full snow removal operation. In the event of a major snow event (6 inches or more) and/or icing conditions, it may require more time to complete the full snow removal operation. 4. Once the full snow removal operation is complete, ice melt may be applied to all walkways depending on accumulations, ice conditions, ground and air temperatures and the forecast for the next 24 hours. Reasonable efforts will be made to maintain the walkways, driveways and stoops after each storm and for the days to follow until the conditions clear, but it is impossible to be everywhere all the time. A full ice melt application takes approximately six hours and is not effective in lower temperatures and without sunlight. 5. Reasonable efforts will be made to rotate the snow plowing schedule of driveways and carport lanes each storm. Extreme caution should be used if residents must use the walkways during a storm and during the thaw/freeze cycle that typically follows each storm until all the snow/ice has melted. Residents should consider having a supply of ice melt or grit for their personal use. COMMUNICATION Fire/Police/First Aid Emergencies 911 Upon notification of a pending fire, police or first aid emergency requiring emergency personnel, the snow removal staff/contractor on site will make reasonable efforts to clear the road, walkway and/or driveway in the area where emergency personnel require access prior to or simultaneous with emergency personnel arrival. In those instances where there is no notification in advance, upon learning of the emergency and/or arrival of emergency personnel, the snow removal staff/contractor on site will make reasonable efforts to clear the road, walkway and/or driveway in the area where emergency personnel require access. Snow Removal Operations Concerns Maintenance Office 655-2121 Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. North Gate 655-1868 After hours/evenings/weekends —North Gate personnel may take messages for supervisory staff on site during a winter storm and snow/ice removal operations. —Residents are responsible to leave accurate and pertinent information. Snow Removal Operations Updates/Cancellations/Bus Service Channel 3 —Reasonable efforts will be made to keep residents informed during a snow emergency, but it might not always be possible. RESIDENTS’ RESPONSIBILITY It is the responsibility of all residents to know and participate in the procedure by moving vehicles to ensure proper and complete snow removal from our streets and carport lanes. Vehicles should be parked in residents’ assigned carport spaces or garages. Second vehicles or guests’ vehicles may be parked in the lower level of the Clubhouse parking lot. It is incumbent upon each resident to be attentive to the surroundings and exercise extra care for their safety when walking on exterior surfaces during periods of inclement weather. If it is absolutely necessary to drive during a snow storm, please drive slowly and give snow removal vehicles the right of way. Snow removal is an arduous and time consuming task. Please be patient. It is best for residents to stay in the safety of their manors. Typically, bus service and most activities are cancelled during a snow/ice storm. For your safety, residents should not approach active snow removal equipment. PRIORITIES The safety of Rossmoor residents is our priority. Supervisory RCAI personnel are on site during snow removal operations to lead staff and the outside snow removal contractor to oversee procedures and respond to emergencies. All main and secondary streets and entrance gates will be plowed continuously to provide emergency access. Sidewalks to the Club House and Meeting House are continuously cleared and the buildings remain open during snow/ice storms for residents use in case of power outages and/or loss of heat. Residents with medical conditions that require outside treatments such as, but not limited to, dialysis or chemotherapy, must register with the Healthcare Center prior to a winter storm emergency to guarantee access for these appointments. Regular medical/dental appointments, going to work, grocery shopping, filling prescriptions, leaving for vacation etc. are not considered priorities and staff will not respond to such requests. Residents that return to the Community during a winter storm or during storm removal efforts is not considered a priority. Safe access to a resident’s manor may not be possible. It is advisable to check with the North Gate prior to returning to be sure snow removal efforts have been completed. The following 26 main and secondary streets are cleared continuously after an accumulation of two or more inches or as required by RCAI management: The Rossmoor NEWS Stonaker Road (South Gate to Prospect Plains Road) Gloucester Way Sharon Way Troy Way Mayflower Way Sheldon Way Victoria Court Mt. Vernon Road Spencer Way Waverly Way New Haven Way Springfield Way Windsor Way Newport Way Sussex Way Yale Way Old Nassau Road Sutton Way Yarborough Way Providence Way Terry Lane Yardley Way Revere Way Thurman Lane Rossmoor Drive Tilton Way The following 51 carport lanes are cleared when the snowfall ceases: Amherst Lane Mystic Lane Roxbury Lane Bradford Lane Nantucket Lane Salem Lane Concord Lane Narragansett Lane Sanford Lane Dorset Lane Nautilus Court Somerset Lane Emerson Lane New Bedford Lane Stockton Lane Fairfield Lane Northfield Lane Stowe Lane Glenwood Lane Norwich Lane Stratford Lane Greenfield Lane Onset Lane Sturbridge Lane Hanover Lane Orrington Lane Sudbury Lane Lowell Lane Oxford Lane Sunset Circle Madison Lane Pelham Lane Thornton Lane Malden Lane Plymouth Lane Westfield Lane Manchester Lane Portland Lane Westport Lane Marblehead Lane Prescott Lane Winchester Lane Meeting House Lane Putney Lane Wingate Court Middlebury Lane Redding Lane Yorkshire Lane Milford Lane Rockport Lane Yorktown Lane Doctors at the Medical Center – 1000 Old Nassau Road Dr. Lev Simkhayev – Internal medicine and home visits Monday and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Telephone number – (732) 360-9996 Dr. Ronald Armenti – Podiatrist and home visits Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon Telephone number – (732) 360-9200 Dr. Sang Ho Song – Pain management & mobility and home visits Mondays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Telephone number – (732) 660-8715 Dr. Richard Angrist – Opthalmologist Arrangements will be made and Dr. Angrist will meet you here at the Medical Center Telephone number – (732) 246-1050 TRANSPORTATION TIDBITS Important phone numbers: Rossmoor Bus .......................................... 609-655-4401 Hours 10:00 -11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Monroe Township Transportation ............ 732-521-6100 Middlesex County Area Transportation (MCAT) ............... 1-800-221-3520 St. Peter’s University Hospital On Time Transportation ...................... 1-800-858-8463 All schedules are available outside the E&R office (near the copy machine) or via the Web at www.rossmoornj.com and following the links Facilities, Clubhouse and Activities, and Bus Info. Mailing Addresses If you are not receiving mail from Rossmoor, your Mutual, or The Rossmoor News, it may be a matter of our not having your correct mailing address. Many residents, over the years, filed “Winter Address” forms with Administration and failed to specify a return date. If you did not contact us when you returned, it might be possible that we still have an alternate or winter address in our system. Please contact Cindy Mackey, Resident Services manager, at 609-655-1000, to verify your address. IMPORTANT NOTICE Medical waste and personal electronics may not be placed in either the trash or recycling dumpsters. It needs to be disposed of properly. If you are not certain about the proper disposal for Medical Waste, please consult with your physician or medical supplier. If you are not certain about to the proper disposal for personal electronics, please contact Monroe Township.
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