SUMMER NEWSLETTER #16

OCTOBER 30, 2008

Don and Donna Ping, Columbus, IN, BG W123

Hello, everybody. Fall is here and our thoughts are of our friends at Bentsen Grove. We've had a busy summer here. With keeping up the mowing and the rental houses, Don has added to his projects by taking a very active part in the tear-down and rebuilding of a two-story house and garage for a family in our church. The area churches are doing this sort of on the order of Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. The family's feet were going through the floors of their old house and they were in dire straits.

A group of B.G. friends got together here at our house for a cook-out and fun day in July. Dennis and Janice Harper from IL, Shirley and Larry Corpe from MI, Fred and Donna Sanders, Renny and Don Davis, Don and Marialice Ping, and ourselves all from IN. We had a wonderful time just eating, talking and catching up.

Like I said, we are anxious to be back although won't be there until sometime in December. You all have fun and hold the fort till we get there to join in.

From Carolyn Abbott A9 PARK MEETING OCT. 29, 2008

Phyllis Barr started the meeting with, "God Bless America" and Larry Knight brought in the flag for the flag salute.
The stage was filled with Halloween decorations for the Halloween party, which is Friday night at 7 PM. There will be costume judging by outside judges and food and drink. If you wear your costume, please be at the hall by 6:40 PM for the parade.
Bonnie announced that the park church is in need of a church pianist. Posters of the qualifications and times are listed on the bulletin boards for the church and beside the Activity Office.
The park directory is current. Please, see Barb in the office if you have changed lot # or phone numbers, by mid-November so they can get the directories done by the end of November.
Do not forget to set your clocks back by bed time Saturday night.
The floors in the main hall, Huddleston Hall and the library have been stripped and polished four times and sealed.
The rockers in the library MUST remain on the mat to avoid the scratches to the floor.
From 6:30 PM---8PM there will be sundaes on Sunday.
The Sharyland Pharmacy will be giving flu shots on Wednesday at 8:30 AM. If you have a Medicare card, it is free.
Starting this Monday, they will begin serving our pancake supper from 4:30---6 PM.
At the end of last season, the fellows began updating the sound system. It is updated now and Bonnie thanked each of the guys who worked so hard to put it all together.
Next Wednesday before the park meeting we will have donuts!
Lunch and the jams will begin a week from tomorrow/
Next Saturday is a craft show.
For the Fun Night, there will be a men's fashion show.
For the first time, on November 23, there will be a chili cook-off. Judges will be from outside of the park. This is on a Sunday afternoon.
There will be an ongoing lot beautification contest. If you are interested, get a sign-up sheet in the office, so the judges will be sure to not miss your house. The final day will be March 4.
There will be a 50's dance in January. We have booked The Cruisers and Bonnie said that one of her activity director/friends had booked them and they had to turn people away.
They are working on a function for those who have been married 60 years or more. (This means to the same spouse and you can't add up multiple marriages!)
A Jr. Hi dance team will end one of our park meetings. The director said that they did not have a budget for traveling, but the cheerleaders did. Bonnie told them to bring along the cheer leaders.
A hypnotist is scheduled to perform and he promises no embarrassing events.
Tonight at 6:30 PM, there will be pinnacle in room 3 on the west side.
We will be having movie nights again. The cost is $1 and the "snack bar" will be open.
Thanksgiving is coming up and they still need hostesses. If you plan on hosting, please contact Bonnie.
Tim's Coats: Last year we had 1217 coats and already this year we have 800. If you go to Three Dementions (Ropa Usada) and tell them that you are buying coats for Tim's Coats, they will only charge 20 cents per pound. If we can collect more coats than last year, Bonnie will get a pie in the face!
Bingo: The commission is part of the lottery. Up until now, senior citizens have been exempt from some of the laws and rules. Recently, three RV Bingo games at parks were closed down. A representative will be meeting with Bonnie at the end of the week to clarify all of the rules so we can continue to play. Monday will start the new season of the game.
Thursday starts card Bingo.
All chairperson's check with the Activity Office as to what rooms, when and if you plan to continue.
After the putting green is completed, they will redo the shuffleboard courts.
Our new schedules will be put in our mail slots by late Friday or by Saturday at the latest.
Paul Huddleston has $7 tickets for the Lions Club meal. Two tickets were given away at the park meeting. Tickets may be purchased in the office.
Dotty: Sold 75 tickets today for the families the auxillary supports.
Ann Richards School is looking for veterans for their Veterans Day celebration. A POW will be speaking and they would like to honor as many veterans that can attend.
Kitchen Band begins on Tuesday at 4 PM.
The Auctions begin on November 18 and the consignments start the day before.
The first choir rehearsals will be on Thursday and Friday morning.
Swedish hand craft starts on week from tomorrow in the Annex at 1:30 PM.
Charlene would like all new photos for the photo board, if yours is outdated. She will be taking the photos after every park meeting
Church starts this Sunday at 8:30 AM

Nan Persinger, Lot 315

: Barb informs me this is the last "summer" newsletter; hasn't she done a great job keeping it going this past summer - thanks, Barb. Don't know what I'm going to do now that I can't write a little "dittie" each month..... The Park is coming alive with more residents arriving daily and more activities being planned. I've heard several comments on how nice the Park looks, so a thank you goes out to ALL that have a hand in keeping it looking good! The office and activity office are in "full swing" again and it's not as easy to find an empty parking space out in front of the main hall..... We had our first "official" Park meeting yesterday and all of us Dolly survivors wore our T-shirts and had our picture taken; didn't realize there had been that many people here during the storm until we all got together in one group. The first Park yard sale was last Saturday - great success as most of us are now able to pay our rent by November 1st - ha!!

Speaking of gardening, a certain resident on the West side has planted a garden - broccoli, cauliflower, beets, peas, carrots, and a variety of lettuces. Nice to know there are fellow gardeners in the Park (I was keeping an eye out for the broccoli and told him that I was looking forward to the harvest.) Guess what he did?!? He gave me 2 of my OWN plants so guess that was a hint to stay away from his.....

Well, so long for now fellow residents - be seeing you soon and talking with you in person.

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Barb Goff A26

Where has the summer gone? It has been a great summer here despite the storms. But we all look forward to a great Winter with all of our Winter Friends.

This is the last Newsletter for '08. The Mirror will be out in another week or so, thanks to Carl Ryan and his staff. Keep sending your e-mail address changes so I can keep this address book current.

See you soon.