FEBRUARY 2011 NEWSLETTER


President's Message

How time flies by! February is upon us and we have a good start on 2011!

The Annual Association meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 2nd at 7 PM. All association dues must be paid on or before that date. The cost is only $10 to have a voice in our community! Please pay Tony or Ginger Pace.

The election of new board members will occur during the Annual Association meeting. There are 2 vacancies on the Saddle Oak Board of Directors. Members are allowed on ballot per household.

Linda Otto will be leaving the board after 3 very successful years. We thank Linda for all her hard work and dedication to our community.

I hope you attended the "Meet the Candidates"¯ event on Jan. 9th. There are 4 candidates competing for 2 board openings. Jim McCourry, Ray Tuttle, Terry Jansen and Donna Frakes. All very capable candidates. Each and every one would do an excellent job. It is up to you to pick your favorites! Thank you to Tammie Hornsby and Katherine Sitkowski for organizing "Meet the Candidates". They made it informational and fun!

We are looking ahead to 2011. Events being planned include Super Bingo, St. Patrick's Day dinner, Easter, Mystery Dinner, and Christmas in July. If you have any ideas for an event that all may enjoy, just approach a Board member and they will show you how to get started. There are always volunteers to help.

I wish to thank all the Board members who served while I was President. Working with them has made my term as President easier. Your support was greatly appreciated.

Health and Happiness...Nancy Dougherty



RESIDENT INFORMATION --- SPA CLOSED

Saddle Oak Club is required to come into compliance this year with the "Virginia Graham Baker Act"¯ as regards the configuration of our spa.

The work will begin on February 7th and the expected completion date is February 25th. The spa will be closed during this time period. Although the pool will remain open, residents are warned that there will be construction activities at the spa area including, but not limited to, saw cutting into the deck. The south gate to the pool area will not be accessible during this project. Also, the shower will be unavailable for resident use.

Your cooperation during this refurbishment is appreciated. Please, if not absolutely necessary, do not plan on using the pool at this time. The construction project will take priority and will not be delayed until complete.

As always, please call the office with any questions, comments or concerns.

Pete Drusts
Community Manager
Saddle Oak



Written by Marjorie Banczak
(the night before her death)

When the Banczaks arrived in then Saddle Brook¯ in 1987, the community was in its infancy. Later, the name had to be changed as there was another business using that name. Saddle Oak was chosen. Few houses had been constructed and 59th Street was the last street to the northwest. Our home was the second home on 59th Street in 1986. However, we were unable to move until 1987. The clubhouse and the pool were there. A nice selling point. Ray Darling, a resident, served as manager and collected rent. It was a gated community at night with a night watchman who stopped you as you entered. Watchmen were Jim Fritz and Paul Hobson.

The first year we lived in Saddle Oak the formation of the community began. A Home Owners Association was formed and the committees were chosen. My husband was already ill so we could not participate. Shuffle Board was started and pool in the clubhouse. The pool table sat in what is now the library. A library of donated books formed around the walk of the main room of the clubhouse. We were on our way. Saturday morning Coffee gave people an opportunity to get acquainted and learn about activities. This idea has changed little today. Jim Fritz suggested 50/50 tickets because we had little money. That suggestion continues today.

The clubhouse had no decorations, so I was one of the first to do the seasonal decorations. I enjoyed the job, but got too old to stand on tables or climb ladders to put up decorations.

A quilting group was formed from experienced quilters as well as beginners. The quilt hanging in the clubhouse was made by that group. Card players, craft groups came and went. I taught a quilting class and at one time a class on alterations and putting up hems.

We had a Glee Club, Clay Cummings lead that group on Tuesday mornings and the pianist was Helen Wakefull. It was a joyous group, we gave a Christmas concert, I miss it!

(This was to be the first of a series on the early days of Saddle Oak that my mother had volunteered to write. This was only a first draft, she would have changed it many times until it was just perfect)
Nancy Dougherty



SADDLE OAK SINGLES

Our next monthly meeting will be Wednesday, February 9th at 11AM in the clubhouse.

The next Lunch Out date is Thursday, February 24th at 11:30 AM at Olive Garden Restaurant. Sign up on the clipboard to reserve your seat.

On February 26th we will be sponsoring a pot luck dinner for all Saddle Oak residents. We will be setting up the tables after coffee hour that Saturday morning. This should only take a few minutes if everyone helps. We need to place table number placards and place mats on the tables as well as arrange and label the food serving tables.

Please join us for breakfast & conversation every Monday morning at 8:30AM.

Feb 7 - Bob Evans
Feb 14 - Mimi’s Cafe
Feb 21 - Cracker Barrel
Feb 28 - I Hop

Any Saddle Oak Club resident who is single, male or female, is welcome to participate in any of our activities. Our purpose is to enjoy activities as a group and have a good time. Any questions or comments, feel free to call Kathy Smith.



COMMUNITY POT LUCK DINNER

Saddle Oak Singles are sponsoring a pot luck dinner for ALL Saddle Oak residents on Saturday, February 26th at 5PM. Tickets will be available from Tony Pace for $1 when you sign up for a table. Proceeds will be raffled off at the dinner. Each person attending should bring a meat, vegetable, salad, or desert item that will serve 6-8 people. Rolls & margarine, plates, utensils, napkins, and place mats will be provided. The kitchen will be closed. Therefore, bring your own beverages. Doors will open at 4:30PM and serving tables will be labeled as Meat, Vegetable, Salad, or Desert where you can place your food item. At 5:00PM tables will be invited to serve themselves as their table number is called by lottery. Come join your community for an evening of good food and company.



HOOKS & NEEDLES

If your project requires a hook of any kind (crochet, rug, etc.) or a needle (sewing, knitting, embroidery, etc.), come join us in the library at the clubhouse on Mondays from 1-3 PM to work on your project. We have great conversation, share ideas, see what others are working on, and sometimes get assistance on a particular technique.
Kathy Smith



Shuffleboard

Playing Wednesday afternoons at 2 PM if 65 degrees or better...Jack Phinney

Golf

We had 20 hardy souls brave the cold. The winning team is: Bill Spann, Bill Becker, Ken MacIntosh and Wentz Dickenson. They shot 4 under par. Closest to the pin #2 Tom Leahy, #6 Jack Phinney, #13 Bill Brewer and #17 Don Godwin. Thanks for being there golfers....Jack Phinney

Bocce Ball

The game with the funny name¯is still enjoyed, weather permitting on Thursdays starting at 2 PM and continuing till approx. 4:30 PM. Come out, be active & have fun! Spectators welcome...John Dawson

Pool

Two weeks of pool to report:

1st week - 1st place - Don - 5 wins
2nd place - a tie - Bob & Tony with 4 wins

2nd week - 1st place - 3 way tie - Erik, Jack & Tony with 4 wins

Still room for more players - Monday evenings at 6 PM. We start at 6:30 PM. Bring 50 cents and come and join us.
Tony Pace



Horseshoes

There has been an interest to start up horseshoes, which is located next to the Bocce court.

The sign-up sheet is in the clubhouse if you are interested.

Please contact Phyllis Congdon 291-4946 for further information.



Bowling

Spare Time¯ by Ginger Pace

Weeks of 12/28/10 - 1/04/11 - 1/11/11

Saddle Oak Bowling League is half way through the season with 15 weeks to bowl. It is sure going fast when everyone is having fun.

Don Godwin is still going strong. He is in the news again this month with Bowler of the Week, high average of 187, high series 628, 611, 559, and high games of 210, 213, 222, 224 and 232. Great bowling, Don.

Also, second high is John Deshayes with 172 average.

Top woman is Rose Robinson with 147 average.

207 Game by Don Horner

Split conversions were:

Jim Otto 4-7-9
Larry Gaubatz 5-7
Ginger Pace 4-7-8
Rose Robinson 5-7
Tony Pace 4-5
Jet Presley 5-7
Renau Germaine 4-5
Jerry Johnston 5-7
John DeShayes 5-7
Angie Bauman 5-10
Elaine Baburek 4-5-7 / 5-8-10
Fran Bolson 5-6

500 Series:
Tony Pace 548
John DeShayes 540
Dick McCormick 527
Top Team is the Nutcrackers with 59 wins: Mary Godwin, Jim Otto, John DeShayes and Don Godwin.

Next week is position week and most of the teams are very close in wins. Good luck all!

See you at the alley.



Line Dancing

The Saddle Oak Steppers meet every Monday at 10 AM in the clubhouse for those who would like to try or brushup on line dancing. The Monday morning class will introduce you to line dancing at a comfortable pace. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that slide easily, but are not slippery. Sneakers are not a good choice. They are hard on the knees.

On Thursday at 1 PM and Sunday at 6:30 PM also in the clubhouse higher levels of dancing are taught, but all are welcome to join in.

Ask any line dancer and they will tell you that it is a fun mixture and fellowship. Please feel free to join us at any or all of the three classes or just come and watch.

For information, call Gene Seeley at 873-2650 or Bonnie Armitage at 861-8175.



Line Dancing Trivia

1. A popular line dance from the 1950's was the Stroll. What musical group from the 1950's wrote a song called The Stroll?

Everly Brothers, Rubies, Platters or Diamonds

2. The Hustle was a popular line dance from the 1970's.

True or False

3. The Electric Slide has been around for over 30 years.

True or False

4. The Boot Scootin Boogie originated in what Canadian city?

Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto or Calgary



Answers: 1) Diamonds; 2) True; 3) True; 4) Vancouver



Other Sports or Activities

If you have any other sports or activities you want listed in the newsletter, please contact Linda Johnston at (865) 712-5852.



..........AND EVERYTHING ELSE!!

THANK YOU !!!! Thank you to all who showed much kindness during my mother's (Marjorie Banczak) illness and death this past year. Thanks to Jim and Fran Fritz for hosting a wonderful Memorial. They were my mother's friends for over 20 years.

Thanks to all of the ladies who made cakes and helped serve. Thank you for all of the flowers, food and cards that flowed in with warm wishes and sympathy.

Thank you to Linda Otto, Tammie Hornsby, Kathy Smith and all of the remaining Board members who stepped up to help during a very difficult time.

It proves what she always said, "Saddle Oak is more than just a community, it is a family". Nancy Dougherty



THANK YOU - FROM FRAN FRITZ AND GRACE SPILLER WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HELPED WITH MARJ BANCZAK'S "CELEBRATION OF HER LIFE". EVERYONE DID A GOOD JOB OF SETTING UP AND CLEANING UP AND IT WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED.



RESIDENT WANT ADS

For Sale:Broyhill Oval Coffee Table excellent condition $75.00Call Joad at 509-4337



ARTS & CRAFTS

If you would like to join us there is a sign-up sheet in the clubhouse; we meet 1-3 on Fridays. In February we will be making Valentine Hearts ā€“ I have the ribbons, lace and hangers for this. See the example on the Craft Board. Bring any new ideas to the meeting. Angie Bauman 854-4384



NEEDLE WINNER

Guess who found the hidden needle in January's Newsletter?

Dorothy Stout! Congratulations!

Watch for the hidden needle each month and write your name on a piece of paper and place in the box in the clubhouse.



VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH

Luther and Tammie Hornsby

They are the welcoming committee for Saddle Oak and what a wonderful job they do. Besides serving on the board and calling for Bingo, Tammie and Luther are always on the volunteering committee for whatever function we have. What a pleasure to have such a wonderful couple in Saddle Oak.

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Christmas Day we had a wonderful dinner with fantastic entertainment. We could not have had any meal without the outstanding help of a great kitchen crew, a helpful decorating crew, a wonderful cleanup crew. In other words, these kinds of events cannot exist without the very special and great volunteers her in Saddle Oak. With a turn-out like we had, there's a lot to cook, decorate and clean up. Thank you all for all the work you do, not just for the Christmas dinner, but these people are helping at all the dinners, lunches and breakfasts! We can look back to a wonderful Christmas at Saddle Oak....Terry



SUNSHINE REPORT

Hospitalizations this past month include: Mary Sullivan, Ed Casey, Nancy May, Dick Simmes, Bob Gearin, Lee Lentz, Gladys Ouimette, Margaret Carlin, June Walters. Those in nursing homes are: Bunnye Brinson and Marie Jarest in Palm Garden, Mary Davidson in Life Care, George Overman in Avante. Please keep these folks in you thoughts and prayers.

BEREAVEMENT

ROSE BULL passed away on December 20, 2010. She is survived by her husband, Bob.

IRWIN MILLIGAN passed away on December 28, 2010. He is survived by his wife, Joanne.

MARJORIE BANCZAK passed away on January 4, 2011. Her daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Mike Dougherty are residents of Saddle Oak

FRED PINKERTON passed away on January 1, 2011. His wife is Barbara

Former resident, GEORGE VACCARI, passed away on January 1, 2011. His wife is Barbara.



CALLING COMMITTEE AND BEREAVEMENT COMMITTEE

-Fran Fritz and Grace Spiller

I think everyone will agree the Calling Committee needs some work done on it. Grace and I are joining forces to get this accomplished. Both Grace and I have lived here in Saddle Oak for many years, and have both been involved in many activities and Grace is presently on the board. Please bear with us while we are getting this set up. Anyone who is presently a caller and would like to remain so or anyone who would be willing to become a caller, please call Fran Fritz- 5519 SW 59th Street - 237-5931 or Grace Spiller- 6150 SW 57th Avenue - 237-1856.

The Calling Committee works somewhat like an assembly line. When someone living in the park dies I should be notified. If I am not available Grace should be called. After receiving a call about a death and gathering the family's arrangement information, Jeanne Koslowski and Jean Stephens, our coordinators, will be notified. Once they have the information they then call their head callers. Each head caller has a list of residents whom they call. Thus the information gets circulated. However, if you do not have an answering machine or if you have a cell phone with a long distance number you may not receive a call. If you do not wish to receive these calls please let your caller know and your name will b removed from the calling list. If you do not know who your caller is, please call Fran or Grace. This is an act of courtesy from the Calling Committee to Saddle Oak residents, so please do not be rude to them ā€“ they are only doing their volunteer job.

When either of us is notified that a resident of the park has died, we will get in touch with the next of kin to determine what assistance the Bereavement Committee can be to them. Once arrangements (if any) are made by the family of the deceased the Calling Committee will be set in motion. Not until arrangements (if any) are known does the Calling Committee make their calls. If no arrangements are made or received by the Bereavement Committer from the family the Calling Committee is notified and they make an "information only"¯ call that there has been a death in the park.

Both of these committees (Calling and Bereavement) need volunteers. Without volunteers there would be no activities in the park. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation to and with these committees.

...and more thanks!!!



CHRISTMAS DINNER

Christmas Day we had a wonderful dinner with fantastic entertainment. We could not have had any meal without the outstanding help of a great kitchen crew, a helpful decorating crew, a wonderful cleanup crew. In other words, these kinds of events cannot exist without the very special and great volunteers her in Saddle Oak. With a turn-out like we had, there's a lot to cook, decorate and clean up. Thank you all for all the work you do, not just for the Christmas dinner, but these people are helping at all the dinners, lunches and breakfasts!

As far as us-the organization-we can look back to a wonderful Christmas at Saddle Oak. Terry



February Birthdays

1. Betty Mausteller
1. Jeanne McGinnis
2. Meridith Barth
2. Sue (Mary) Whritenour
2. Charles Axell
2. Joyce Hooper
2. Fae Krakenberg
3. Gary Bourchard
3. William Sammons
4 John Deshayes
4. Caryl Miller
5 Joanne Milligan
7. Emily Davison
8 Fran Bolson
8 Charlotte Grundstrom
9 Betty Overman
9. Cathleen Annett
11 Simone Moreeuw
11. Alice Dennehy
13, Connie Brock
14. Pat Smith
15. James Preisch
16 Pauline Leger
17. Clifton Rider
17. Vera Capes
17. Bea Christophel
17. Don Pettengill
17. Dick Sauvageau
18 June Biehl
19. Mike Dougherty
20. Janet Saeva
22. Bernie Kozlowski
23. Art St.Clair
23. Lois Garcia
23. Brock Andreu
24. Carol Lee Anderson
24. Len Ebright
25 Joni Hassett


February Anniversaries

7. Luther & Tammy Hornsby
12. Marty & Mickey Lossner
12. Sal and Aggie Borriello
14. Mike and Gloria Buckley
15. Charles & Loretta Wulf
15. David & Teri Schwartz
17. Charles & Dot Doherty
22. Jerry & Linda Johnston
23. Paul & Connie Anderson
24. Frank and Carolyn Miller
28. Kenneth & Joyce Oag


For Corrections or Additions to the B-day or Anniversary List, please call Bertha



NEW RESIDENTS

Bob and Kay Fiedler
5587 SW 59th Street
LOT # 152
Telephone: 352-509-4161
Arrived December 2010
Kay's birthday: 4/14
Bob's birthday: 1/14
Anniversary: 4/22
Bob was a electrical control enjineer and Kay was an activities and events coordinator
Kay enjoys water arobics, reading and Bob enjoys fixing "stuff"
Three children
Six grandchildren and two great grandchildren
They have been travelling around in their RV for several years but consider Kentucky their home state

Norm and Sue Johnson
5672 SW 57th Street
LOT # 327
Telephone: 352-509-4237
Arrived October 2010
Sue's birthday: 4/28
Norm's birthday: 4/17
Anniversary: 9/16
Norm was a machinist before retiring and enjoys woodworking and golf now
Sue is working part time but enjoys scrapbooking and crafts
They have one child
Home State is Minnesota

Mae and Dick Knuppel
5625 SW 58th Place
LOT #199
Telephone: 309-360-5980
Arrived December 2010
Mae' birthday is 9/18
Dick's birthday is 7/4
Anniversary: 8/4
(will be celebrating 50th anniversary)
Dick was in construction and still works part time
Mae enjoys reading
They have 4 children
Nine grandchildren
Home state is Illinois

Joann and Clint Barber
5657 SW 58th Place
LOT #195
Telephone: 352-304-8579
Arrived November 2010
Joann's birthday: 12/6
Clint's birthday: 10/4
Anniversary: 8/26
Clint is a retired welder/boilermaker
Joann is a reitred school teach and school board member
They enjoy traveling, especially out west and have been in 47 states
Joann enjoys sewing, crocheting and crafts
Two sons, one died in a car accident in 2003
Two grandchildren
Home states are Louisiana and Ohio

Pat and Bill Becker
6010 SW 56th Terrace
LOT # 96
Telephone: 410 608-7351
Arrived January 2010
Pat's birthday: 12/19
Bill's birthday: 10/18
Anniversary: 12/12
Bill was a truck terminal supervisor and is still a baseball coach for the University of Maryland
Pat was an import/export clerk
They enjoy reading, water arobics, golf and baseball
Two children
Two grandchildren
Home state: Maryland

Denis and Wanda Dubuque
5650 SW 57th Avenue
LOT #285
Telephone: 603-545-7390
Arrived December 2010
Denis's birthday: 9/3
Wanda's birthday: 10/11
Anniversary: 10/12
Denis owns a swimming pool/spa company in New Hamshire
Wanda was a licensed nurse assistant
Denis enjoys golf and fishing and Wanda like gardening
Two children
Five grandchildren
Home State: New Hampshire