Dec 2 2021
Remembering Pearl Harbor
Each year on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor survivors, veterans and visitors from all over the world come together to honor and remember the 2,403 service members and civilians who were killed during the Japanese attack on a U.S. naval base in Hawaii Dec. 7, 1941.
Another 1,178 people were injured.
Eight Navy battleships were among the 18 Naval ships either damaged or sunk. On Oahu military bases, 178 aircraft were destroyed.
80th Anniversary of Attack
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the bombing. It will be observed with special ceremonies on Tuesday, Dec. 7, which is officially known as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. The day was set aside to honor those who lost their lives in the attack.
Ceremony Livestreamed
The 80th commemoration ceremony will be livestreamed at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center at 1 Arizona Memorial Place, beginning at about 7:45 a.m. on Dec. 7. LWers will be able to attend virtually by logging on to nps.gov/perl or via fb.com/PearlHarborNPS and fb.com/NavyRegionHawaii or at pearlharborevents.com.
The Pearl Harbor National Memorial and its partners preserve, interpret and commemorate the history of World War II in the Pacific—from the events leading to the attack on Oahu to peace and reconciliation.
This year’s celebration theme is Valor, Sacrifice and Peace.
The event will include special ceremonies, a wreath presentation from the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, a Freedom Bell Ringing at the USS Bowfin, a performance of the Pearl Harbor Mass Band, a USS Oklahoma Memorial Ceremony on Ford Island and participation by top American leadership from all branches of government.
Pearl Harbor—A Day that Changed the World
Dec. 7, 1941, changed the world. The 80th Commemoration will tell the story of the multipronged attack across the Pacific and in particular the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The goal of the commemoration is to ensure that future generations will understand the valor and legacy of those who perished and those who fought throughout the war.
The commemoration also highlights the importance of the peace that brought reconciliation, a reconciliation that continues to move forward today in creating a better future for all.
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, was supposed to be a day of rest for the military soldiers at Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor naval base on the island of Oahu, according to historical reports. But at 7:55 a.m., Japanese fighter planes zoomed in without warning and attacked the United States Pacific fleet, or naval vessels, moored in the harbor. Thousands of lives would be lost that day.
The sudden attack in Hawaii—at the time a territory of the United States, not a state—took many by surprise, but it was planned.
Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto, commander in chief of the Japanese naval forces, was the mastermind. Yamamoto wanted to take over certain southeastern Asia countries to use their oil to help fuel Japan’s military vehicles and naval fleet, according to historical accounts.
But because the U.S. base in Hawaii was relatively close to these countries, the Japanese believed the U.S would send soldiers from Pearl Harbor to defend the nations if they were attacked.
By destroying the U.S. military presence in the region, the countries Japan wanted to target would be left vulnerable. So Yamamoto decided to move forward with a surprise attack on the U.S. fleet. On Nov. 26, 1941, 31 warships carrying fighter planes and bombers slipped from Japan into the North Pacific. They moved silently until they closed in on the Hawaiian Islands.
At dawn on Dec. 7, 350 planes launched in two waves from Japan’s ships. The bombers dropped bombs on American warships below, while the fighter planes targeted the U.S. aircraft on the ground so they couldn’t fight back, according to nationalgeographic.com.
Following both attacks, 19 U.S. naval vessels were sunk or damaged; 188 aircraft were destroyed. In all, 2,280 servicemen and -women were killed; 1,109 were wounded. Sixty-eight civilians also lost their lives. The attack lasted just under two hours.
Repair crews went to work on the ships. Except for the U.S.S. Arizona, Utah and Oklahoma, every damaged ship returned to sea.
The day after the attack, the United States declared war on Japan, officially entering World War II. In the nearly four years that followed, the U.S. Navy sank all of the Japanese aircraft carriers, battleships and cruisers that participated in the Pearl Harbor attack.
The United States and its allies—Britain, France and Russia, among other countries—eventually won the war, defeating Japan and its allies, Germany and Italy.
Most of those lost aboard the USS Oklahoma have been ID’d
Between June and November 2015, personnel from Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) exhumed the unidentified crew members from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific for anthropological analysis. Of the 429 killed, 394 had been buried as unknown persons. As of Sept. 15, 346 have been identified.
The Nevada-class battleship USS Oklahoma was commissioned in 1916 and was the pride of the American fleet. The ship was notable for being the first American class of oil-burning dreadnaughts.
The vessel saw duty in World War I, protecting Allied convoys to Europe.
As fate would have it, the Oklahoma was moored at Ford Island Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941, the day the Japanese attacked.
During the attack, several torpedoes from Japanese airplanes hit the Oklahoma’s hull, and the ship capsized.
A total of 429 crew members died.
Survivors jumped off the ship into burning, oil-coated water or crawled across mooring lines that connected the Oklahoma and the battleship USS Maryland.
Some of the sailors and Marines inside escaped when rescuers drilled holes and opened hatches to rescue them.
From December 1941 to June 1944, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the crew; they were interred in the Halawa and Nu’uanu cemeteries in Hawaii.
In September 1947, tasked with recovering and identifying fallen U.S. personnel in the Pacific Theater, members of the Army’s American Graves Registration Service disinterred the remains of U.S. dead from the two cemeteries and transferred them to the Central Identification Laboratory at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
At that time, the laboratory staff was only able to confirm the identifications of 35 men from the USS Oklahoma. The AGRS buried the unidentified remains in 46 plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu.
In October 1949, a military board classified those who could not be identified as not recoverable.
DPAA has been working to identify the remains since 2015 when the USS Oklahoma project began.
Scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System have used mitochondrial DNA and autosomal DNA analysis.
GRF Executive Director has resigned
by Susan Hopewell
GRF president
On Nov. 24, the GRF Board of Directors accepted the resignation of GRF Executive Director Randy Ankeny, who is leaving Dec. 3 to pursue a career opportunity closer to his family.
Randy served Leisure World for over eight years. During his tenure, our community received a much-needed face-lift. He provided valuable leadership to GRF and Mutuals, renovated many LW amenities, created new amenities, began long overdue repairs to infrastructure, and emphasized “Community Unity” as a stabilizing and positive foundation for LW life.
Notable among his many accomplishments was his proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He made sure our at-risk residents would be among the first outside the medical community to receive the vaccinations. More than half the community received free vaccinations at convenient on-site clinics. He made sure the business of the Mutuals and GRF was conducted without interruption by utilizing Zoom and YouTube to ensure meetings could continue and meet legal requirements for access by shareholders.
Randy is known for his astute risk-management focus. He established reporting and safety measures to minimize employee injuries, accidents and community fires. This focus has resulted in favorable rates for the master insurance policies for both GRF and Mutuals in a time of skyrocketing premiums for HOA communities like LW.
Randy and GRF staff from 16 departments guided the complete refurbishment of the Fitness Center, the reconstruction of our landmark LW globe, the Pool Room, GRF offices and clubhouse upgrades.
Due to damaged pipes, bare electrical lines, disintegrating concrete and many other challenges, the scheduled refurbishment of the 1962 pool complex has become a complete rebuild, redesign and expansion. It has taken far longer than any of us wanted, but it will be a beautiful aquatic center and will soon be open.
Randy and his team created a state-of-the-art learning center and a video-equipped demonstration kitchen for community educational classes. Other new amenities include Mission Park, pickleball courts, Veterans Plaza and the newly opened Game Room.
In guiding LW from a first-of-its-kind, mid-20th-century community into a 21st-century active adult community, Randy fulfilled the GRF boards’ ambitious plans to restore, rebuild and improve Leisure World.
The board thanks Randy for his exemplary service to our community and wholeheartedly supports him in his new endeavor.
Share the joy of holidays gone by
Christmas used to be so simple. The trees were strung with cranberries and popcorn; the gifts, what few there were, were wrapped in brown paper; and grandma’s house was often just down the street. It’s these early memories that keep the spirit of Christmas alive.
The LW Weekly invites residents to spread the joy by sharing their best memories of holidays past. Send memories to rutho_news@lwsb.com or bring them in writing to the LW Weekly office adjacent to the Amphitheater by Dec. 16. The office is closed to the public, but staff is working inside weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call (562) 472-1277.
Drought Update
California’s drought is not likely to end with this winter’s rains, according to forecasters. There’s less than a 40 percent chance of water supplies getting back to normal after this winter, with a slightly better than 50 percent chance that the state’s drought will worsen, according to information released last week by the National Integrated Drought Information Center.
The center is led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The record atmospheric river storms that pelted Northern California in late October helped a bit, but water levels at major reservoirs remain far below normal, and La Niña conditions increase the likelihood of Southern California having a drier, warmer winter than is usual.
“The drought has been built over years, and autumn storms do not necessarily mean the rest of the winter will be wet,” said Amanda Sheffield, the region’s coordinator for the drought center.
All of California is enduring moderate to exceptional drought, with 80 percent of the state at the two highest levels of “extreme” and “exceptional.”
Seal Beach ranks marginally better than the rest of the state, with 100 percent of Orange County under moderate drought. The greater Los Angeles area is under a “severe” drought.
But while Southern California ranks a bit better than the rest of the state, it failed to get much direct benefit from October’s atmospheric river, aside from a dampening of brush to temporarily lower the risk of wildfire. The area is still relatively dry and warmer than normal.
That’s expected to continue at least through early winter, thanks in part to La Niña, a weather pattern that typically includes warmer oceans, less precipitation in Southern California and more precipitation in Northern California. But that forecast becomes less certain after the beginning of the year.
“These odds are really quite modest,” said Jon Gottschalck of the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center.
The Metropolitan Water District, which manages Southern California’s water imports from Northern California and the Colorado Rivers, started off the year with more water in storage than ever before, thanks to increased storage capacity and increased conservation efforts. But while the drought has hit Northern and Central California the hardest, the southern part of the state also is starting to feel the effects of drought.
The California Department of Water Resources has said there would be no initial December allocation of water for Southern California from the State Water Project because of record low storage levels in the reservoirs that store water from Northern California. The Metropolitan Water District on Nov. 9 declared a drought emergency, focused particularly on six agencies spread across Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties that are dependent on the water from the state project.But everyone is being asked to voluntarily cut back on water use. The Metropolitan Water District, which supplies water to 19 million people through 26 service agencies in the region, reports that the past two years have been the driest two-year sequence on record.
The October rain helped moisturize the soil in Northern California. The more water content in the soil when the snow starts melting next year, the more of that snowpack ends up in reservoirs and aqueducts rather than being soaked up by the ground.
That could help but more is needed. LW residents should do everything they can now to conserve the precious resource. On average, up to 60 percent of the water Californians consume is used outdoors. But there are things you can do to save.
In the yard:
• Use Water-wise Plants in Gardens
Check with your local water agency on the best plants for your area. It is best to use water-wise, California-native plants when possible.
• Report leaky sprinkler heads
Let your Mutual director know if you see leaky sprinkler heads A leak about as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.
• Cleaning Outdoors
Using a broom to clean outdoor areas can save 6 gallons every minute.
• Use Mulch
Using mulch in your garden can save 20–30 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet each time you water.
Around the house:
• Fix leaky pipes
Fixing leaks inside and outside the home can save 27-90 gallons of water each day.
• Install High-Efficiency Toilets
Installing high-efficiency toilets can save 6-35 gallons per day.
• Watering indoor plants
Recycling indoor water to use outdoors can cut water use by 30 percent.
• Shorter Showers
Keeping showers under 5 minutes can save 12.5 gallons per shower when using a water-efficient showerhead.
• Turn Off Water When Brushing Teeth, Shaving
By turning off the water when brushing teeth or shaving, you can save 8 gallons of water per person per day.
• Wash Full Loads of Clothes and Dishes
Saves 15-45 gallons per load by washing at full capacity. A full dishwasher saves 5-15 gallons per load.
Member Resource Office announces new collaboration
Beginning in January, GRF Member Resources will have a full team of social worker advocates on site to help residents navigate challenges associated with aging.
The GRF Member Resource & Assistance Liaison has partnered with Orange County’s Adult Protective Services, Council on Aging, Alzheimer’s Orange County and the Golden Age Foundation to provide a comprehensive pool of information, resources and education.
This collaboration of social workers expertly versed in their fields will operate on site and be available to all LW residents.
The GRF Member Resources office is in Building 5, down the hall from the Downtown Café and near the Security Decal Office and the Copy & Supply Center.
Residents are welcome to stop by or call GRF Member Resources and Assistance Liaison Robann Arshat at (562) 431-6586, ext. 317.
The goal of this alliance with Orange County aging specialists is to help each resident thrive and successfully age in comfort and safety.
More information will be printed in the Dec. 9 issue of the LW Weekly.
—Robann Arshat
GRF Member Resources
Holiday Happenings Around Town
Naples Island Boat Parade, Holiday Decorations
Long Beach’s Naples Islands will celebrate the holidays with a holiday boat parade on Dec. 18 for the first time in three years. The 75th annual Naples Christmas Boat Parade will feature small watercraft sailing through the canals and big boats in Alamitos Bay. Houses on the island will be lavishly decorated.
Streets will begin to close at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m., the first large vessels will depart, followed by smaller boats at 6:30. Some of the best spots to watch the lights as the boats make their rounds are the bridges and waterfronts along the canals on Naples Island. The Second Street Bridge, Appian Way Bridge and Alamitos Bay Marina are good spots to watch the larger boats.
Belmont Shore Winter Village
In lieu of the annual Christmas Parade, which is planned to return next year, the Belmont Shore Business Association is hosting the Belmont Shore Winter Village on Saturday, Dec. 4. The celebration will extend the length of the Second Street business corridor and includes activities and entertainment for all ages.
A central stage set up next to the Chase Bank building will feature local performers, including high school bands, dance troupes and an eight-piece brass ensemble, as well as a special holiday concert from Manuel the Band who will close out the evening.
The event includes Santa at the “Shorth Pole” on the north corner of Second and Nieto streets.
Partial closures of side streets will allow for many of the usual float entries to become stationary features that people can explore as they walk up and down the street.
Christmas Tree Lighting is Dec. 1
The GRF Recreation Department will host the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at Veterans Plaza. Santa will be there with his elves (courtesy of the LW Theater Club), who will be collecting unwrapped toys for the upcoming annual Toys for Tots event, so bring a gift for the little ones and have your picture taken with Old St. Nick.
The Theater Club will perform its own version of the closing scene of the movie “Elf.” You won’t want to miss your chance to participate as the ensemble gives the casting call. GRF residents, and their families and friends, will be invited to participate, so start practicing now. The Health Care Center will treat everyone to cookies and hot cider, courtesy of Optum. Kick off the holidays at Veterans Plaza, and bring a friend, grandchildren and neighbors.
Decal Office Hours
The Security Decal Office in Building 5 is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturdays from noon-4 p.m. The office is closed Sunday and Wednesday, and on weekdays from noon-12:30 p.m. for lunch.
SBPD Santa Cop program needs nominees
The Seal Beach Police Department is looking for families in need this holiday season as it prepares for the third annual “Santa Cop” community outreach event.
The Seal Beach Police Department is once again requesting the public’s assistance.
However, this time the department is not looking for a suspect; it is looking for families in need.
People who know of any families or individuals who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or could use some extra holiday cheer this year should send their nominations to the department. The department has collected donations and wants to help spread joy to people in need.
Include your name, phone number and the nominees’ name(s), phone number and address, as well as the reason for the nomination.
Send nominations to Officer Victor Ruiz no later than Sunday, Dec. 12, by 5 p.m. Officer Ruiz can be reached at vruiz@sealbeachca.gov.
Nominations will be anonymous.
All nominations will be reviewed, and those selected will be visited by Seal Beach police officers and Santa Cop.
Vinyl Rock to perform at Toys for Tots show
Clubhouse 4 will once again be the site for the GRF Toys for Tots Christmas Show on Friday, Dec. 10. Doors open at 6 p.m., with live entertainment starting at 7.
All residents and their guests are invited. Entrance is free, but everyone must bring a new, unwrapped toy.
Vinyl Rock, a nine-member, Orange County-based band, performs classic rock, Motown and pop tunes primarily from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, with some holiday tunes added to the mix.
Vinyl Rock is sponsored by Cabaret Entertainers and has monthly gigs in Clubhouse 1 as part of the GRF Weekend Dances.
The festivities will include complimentary cookies and hot beverages. Santa and his elves will be collecting gifts for the Toys for Tots drive. People can also drop off unwrapped toys at the Security Main Gate, North Gate, St. Andrews Gate and the Security Satellite Office in Building 5 in the boxes provided, or just bring them to the show.
—Kathy Thayer, assistant recreation manager
Minibus Orientation
A Minibus informational meeting is held on the first Thursday of every month in Clubhouse 3, Room 3, to assist LW residents with using the many transportation services available to the Leisure World community. No reservations are required. The meeting starts at 10 a.m.
The GRF Transportation Department provides information on the LW Minibus service as well as the GRF appointment-based Access bus service for people with mobility challenges.
Information on other local area bus and transportation services to nearby grocery shopping and medical service destinations is also presented.
Meetings often include information and updates on the City of Seal Beach Senior Shopping Shuttle to Rossmoor and Old Ranch shopping centers and the Seal Beach Old Town Pier shuttle.
Monthly informational sessions are for new or current shareholders who would like to learn about the Minibus service routes and timetables.
The LW Minibus service is a community transportation service for everyone.
Residents, Leisure World employees, visitors, family members of residents and caregivers can all ride the minibuses.
Anyone who has a valid pass to enter the community can ride on the LW buses.
The only rule is each person must be 18 years of age or older or accompanied by someone who is 18 years of age or older.
SBPD Lock It or Lose It Program
The Seal Beach Police Department has announced the Lock It or Lose It awareness campaign, providing the community with easy tips that could help prevent vehicle break-ins.
It seems obvious to lock your car when it is left unattended, but a large percentage of thefts from vehicles in Seal Beach involved unlocked vehicles. By simply locking your car, and removing valuables, you can help deter potential criminals from targeting your property.
“As we enter the busy holiday shopping season, it is more important than ever to remove your values and lock your cars,” said Chief of Police Philip L. Gonshak. “Criminals often look for easy targets, and when they notice valuables in plain sight in your car, they will often try the door handles. If the car is unlocked, the criminals can be in and out in seconds, and your property is gone. We want to remind the community to “lock it or lose it.”
During the next several weeks, officers and volunteers from the Seal Beach Police Department will increase patrols in shopping centers and residential areas. Signage will be installed in retail areas to help remind the public to Lock It or Lose It.
The Seal Beach Police Department offers the following tips to help prevent you from being a victim:
• Park in well-lit areas.
• Close windows.
• Gather all valuable items such as sunglasses, electronics, wallets and shopping bags. Identity thieves can use your personal documents to open credit card accounts, lease vehicles, or secure loans or mortgages.
• Take keys with you. Avoid leaving cars running with keys in the ignition. Don’t hide a spare key on your vehicle.
• If you must keep valuables in the car, lock these in the trunk or out of sight prior to arriving at your destination. Criminals are more likely to break into your car if they see you placing valuables within them once you are parked.
Pearl Harbor Facts at a Glance
• Pearl Harbor was only one part of a coordinated attack by the Empire of Japan on the U.S. naval presence in the Pacific. To prevent America from entering the war, and to prevent them from interfering with invasions of other countries to obtain the resources the U.S. was no longer exporting, Japan had to make sure the U.S. Pacific Fleet was entirely disabled. Also involved in the surprise attack were the Philippines, Guam and Wake Island. Japan also attacked the British-held territories of Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
• In total, the coordinated attack on U.S. and European military assets in the Pacific lasted around seven hours.
• The intent to declare war before the attack was hotly debated. For years it was thought that it was simply an accident that the message wasn’t sent in time. It was only later that the Japanese army and navy pushed hard for the government to give no sign of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Unbeknownst to them, U.S. forces had already intercepted and decoded the message that was later sent through official channels, though there was no sign of an imminent attack inside.
• Aircraft carriers became a vital piece of the war effort that led to an Allied victory. As luck would have it, all of the American aircraft carriers in the Pacific Fleet were away from Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack.
• The Pacific War had been raging for years before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Empire of Japan and the Republic of China had been openly fighting since 1937. Even before that though, aggressions were flaring. As far back as 1931, Japan invaded and occupied the Chinese territory of Manchuria.
• Mere hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese-Americans were rounded up and placed into internment camps. Close to 120,000 people would live in the camps before the last one was finally closed in 1946, most of them were American citizens.
• A national memorial was built over the wreck of the USS Arizona in the 1960s. The site is operated by the National Park Service and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• The 2001 film Pearl Harbor was universally panned by critics. The film starred Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsale, and was directed by Michael Bay.
For more information, log on to https://mybaseguide.com/pearl-harbor-remembrance-day/.
OLLI registration to start
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Cal State Long Beach is announcing its 2022 Winter Session — registration starts on Dec. 6 and classes begin Jan. 3. The SUN, OLLI’s publication for the upcoming winter session contains a class schedule and registration instructions, as well as interesting articles about classes, people, and activities. Classes will be held on campus at Cal State Long Beach, at several community satellite locations and online with Zoom. For more information, visit www.csulb.edu/olli or by calling the OLLI office (562) 985-8237.
Perspectives page 4
Member Columns
Height Challenged
by Michael McGrorty
LW contributor
My mother was not the type to worry about inconveniencing her adult children. Far from it. She believed her sons owed her for the burden of their raising. If we complained, she mentioned that she might have drowned us, as if this would make us more grateful for the chance to mow her lawn.
One of Mom’s regular requests was that I show up for “dinner” on my way home from work. This was a transparent ruse, concealing at least one arduous chore. Either before or after the enchiladas, I’d have to get the Christmas lights down from the attic, change her car’s oil or something else. If I complained, she’d remind me of what a difficult birth I was, or go back to the drowning thing again.
The thing that made me sore was when she had me come over just to get something off a shelf she couldn’t reach.
Flash forward: I’m relaxing at home, and my wife, all 5 feet of her, needs her 6-foot husband to retrieve a heavy pan from the back of the top kitchen shelf. I have to get it down, with or without enchiladas, or suffer an acute guilt trip.
But a remedy is found. I bought us a Kik-Step, a rolling step stool that adds 14 inches to her height and maybe half an hour to my nap time. You may have seen these in libraries. They work very well if you have normal balance. Anything higher than that and it’s ladder time.
Betsy has already tried out the nap-saving device. I was going to give it to her for Christmas, but I know how hard a short woman can punch.
How Many Careers?
by Noel Markham
LW contributor
So far, I’ve had seven careers in my lifetime. My first career— and my longest—started before I was in school. I used to draw bunnies and other animals with a thick pencil. My parents thought I was clever and gave me the chance to add color to my art. They bought me a box of crayons. But when I drew a very colorful ice cream cone on my bedroom wall, they took my crayons away. Hey, everybody’s a critic.
At an early age, I decided to become a best-selling mystery writer. I read every Nancy Drew Mystery I could get my hands on. Currently I am writing my third crime mystery. Two others are published and available on Amazon. Sadly, I have not reached the “Best-Selling Author” stage yet, but I’m hopeful.
After graduating from high school, I went to college and majored in English. However, I didn’t get very far before I met my husband, and then, as you probably guessed, we had two adorable children—at least they think they were adorable. That was the start of my career as a wife and my other career as a mother. There may be men reading this article who believe that wife and mother are not careers, but if you could have spent a few days with my children when they were growing up, I think you would change your mind.
Finally, my children got old enough to go to school, allowing me to go back to college. I graduated and was admitted into the English department’s Ph.D. program, but when I was offered a teaching job, I took it. While I enjoyed teaching, I wanted more money. So, because of greed, I left the world of grading English papers long into the night and started a business with my son. Doctors’ House Calling Service quickly morphed into managing three large medical offices in Orange County. Until we sold that business, I painted seascapes, landscapes, portraits and animals on the weekends and vacation trips.
And then, the Internet came along, and we started a business creating websites and getting those sites placed on page one of the major search engines. This was the perfect job/career for me as it allowed me to combine my art and writing talents in creating the websites and the marketing.
So, I have enjoyed seven careers: art, writing, wife, mother, teaching, medical business and web design. My husband and I moved to Leisure World seven years ago, and I still write and paint. Currently, I specialize in original paintings of people’s pets (mostly dogs, but I also paint cats and birds, and I’d even paint a bunny if someone wanted me to—remember, I am greedy). My only worry now is that if I ever paint an ice cream cone on one of my walls, my children will have to figure out what to do with me.
If you would like to see how I paint people’s pets, go to my website at furryfriendsart.net.
Favorite LW Charities
The world is full of people in need year-round, and no time is that more apparent than during the holiday season. Submit information about your favorite charitable efforts (email preferred) to rutho_news@lwsb.com. Include the name of the charity and its contact information, as well as your name and Mutual number. Read on for your neighbors’ favorite charities:
• Golden Age Foundation
The Golden Age Foundation (GAF) is staffed and run by LW volunteers. The GAF, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that works to enhance the quality of life for LW residents. People can support the GAF by sending checks to: Golden Age Foundation, P.O. Box 2369, Seal Beach, CA, 90740; tax ID: 23-7273105. Anna Derby, Mutual 5
• Christian Outreach in Action
We feel so very blessed to be able donate 2,000-plus knit/crochet caps with fleece scarves yearly to Christian Outreach in Action, Long Beach, for the last 10 years. This charity helps the homeless and accepts all donations. For pick-up, call (562) 326-6760.
Yvette Perdue, Mutual 10
• Long Beach Rescue Mission
The Long Beach nonprofit is working to provide 18,000 meals by Thanksgiving. Each $2.20 provided buys a plate of food and gives an opportunity for people to change lives: To end their hunger and to put homelessness behind them. To give, visit https://give.lbrm.org. The Long Beach Rescue Mission is located at 1430 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, CA, 90813, (562) 591-1292, info@lbrm.org.
Lynne Lafleur, Mutual 6
• Helping the Homeless
Fill Trader Joe’s paper bags with items such as new socks, jars of peanut butter, loaves of bread, crackers, protein bars, bananas, a couple of bottles of water, plastic utensils, and a Thanksgiving card with $5. Keep the bags in your car to give to homeless people living on the streets.
Susan Hopewell, Mutual 6
• Partners in Health
This Boston-based charity is dedicated to improving health care. Partners in Health received a top, four-star rating from Charity Navigator. To learn more, visit https://www.pih.org.
Linda and Fred Fenton, Mutual 12
• Mouth & Foot Painting Artists
Mouth & Foot Painting Artists is a self-help association created by a small group of disabled artists more than 60 years ago. They were hoping to be able to earn a living through their artistic abilities to foster financial security. It is now an international organization.
Whether from birth defects or injuries resulting in paralysis, these artists create amazing work by holding a paintbrush with their teeth or between their toes.Visit https://mfpausa.com for information on how to give.
Laura Arnold, Mutual 14
• Mary’s Kitchen
Mary’s Kitchen feeds, clothes and provides services that support and enhance the quality of life for the hungry and homeless. On a daily basis, it serves meals to 200-plus homeless men, women and families. It was started by an Irish woman who fed the homeless at a local park. I know first-hand all the good they do, as I was a volunteer there for several years. Visit MarysKitchen.Org or call (714) 633-0444.
Andree O’Brien, Mutual 17
• Precious Life Shelter
Precious Life Shelter, 3622 Florista St., Los Alamitos, (562) 431-5025, supports homeless pregnant women of all ages. It is supported by the Precious Life Thrift Store, where I have been volunteering for the last 5 years. We accept all types of donations except furniture and are always looking for volunteers to assist with the donations.
Nancy L. Lopez, Mutual 15
Government
Notification of Proposed Changes to GRF Documents
Per the action of the GRF Board on Nov. 23, in accordance with Civil Code §4360, Notice of Approval, the Board hereby provides general notice to all Shareholders/Members of the following proposed changes to GRF Governing Documents. All Shareholders wishing to comment on the proposed changes may submit comments by either emailing them to the attention of the GRF Board Executive Coordinator at grfboardaction@lwsb.com or sending them via mail to: Golden Rain Foundation, P.O. Box 2069, Seal Beal, CA 90740, Attn: Proposed Document Revisions. The name of the governing document must be referenced on all correspondence. All comments will be copied to the Board for review and consideration. The Board will take final action relative to the following at its regular Jan. 25, 2022, meeting.
FINANCE
40-5061-2, Fees
The following schedule of fees is established by the Golden Rain Foundation (GRF).
1. Facilities and Amenities (Amenities) Fee
1.1. Existing GRF Member (owner and co-owner), Co-occupant and Qualified Permanent Resident(s) are required to pay a one-time, non-refundable Amenities fee.
1.2. The Amenities fee for an existing GRF Member (owner and co-owner), Co-occupant and Qualified Permanent Resident(s) represents a use fee for access and use of the Trust facilities and amenities and participation in GRF activities.
1.3. Non-resident co-owners do not pay an Amenities fee and have no right to use any of the facilities or amenities except as a guest of a Member.
1.4. The Amenities fee is calculated as 25 times the monthly GRF assessment and rounded up to the nearest dollar. The Amenities fee is reviewed annually and is implemented on Jan. 1 of each year.
1.5. Existing GRF Member (owner and co-owner), Co-occupant non-owner(s) and Qualified Permanent Resident(s) may transfer from one unit to another without having to pay the Amenities fee again. They have 30 days to complete the transfer.
1.5.1. If they relinquish their GRF membership for more than 30 days, a new Amenities fee will need to be paid.
1.6. The Amenities fee shall be allocated as follows:
1.6.1. Fifty percent into the GRF Capital Improvement Fund.
1.6.2. Fifty percent into the GRF Reserve Fund.
2. Payment of Amenities Fee
2.1. New Members are encouraged to pay the Amenities fee in full at the close of the purchase escrow. By California statute, GRF has established a finance plan to pay the Amenities fee over a seven-year period for those Members who wish to finance the fee.
2.2. Members who opt to finance the payment of their Amenities fee must complete a Promissory Installment Note and agree to the terms of the Note.
2.2.1. If a Member opts to finance the Amenities fee, the Member shall pay a one-time upfront payment of 25 percent of the total Amenities fee at the close of Escrow and make seven equal annual-installment payments of the remaining balance. Each annual payment will be due and payable on the anniversary of the date of purchase until the principal amount, including the finance charge, is paid in full.
2.2.2. The annual finance charge on matured, unpaid amounts shall be 1 percent per month (APR of 12 percent) paid annually on the outstanding balance.
2.2.3. In the event that a unit changes ownership before the Amenities fee is paid in full, the balance due must be paid before transfer is complete.
2.2.4. All Co-occupant non-owners and Qualified Permanent Residents must pay the Amenities fee in advance without an option to finance.
3. Membership Certificate and Mutual Stock Certificate Processing Fee
3.1. GRF shall issue one membership certificate per unit.
3.2. GRF shall issue one stock certificate per unit in Mutuals 1-12 and 14-16. They may contain one or more names.
3.3. A certificate processing fee of $250 will be charged in advance each time any of the certificates are changed or altered to cover the cost of preparing, recording and/or replacing either or both certificates.
3.4. The certificate processing fee will be waived when a Member elects to remove a deceased co-owner from the title and have new certificates issued. The fee will be waived only within one year of the owner’s death and will not be waived for other transfer requests such as the replacement of lost certificates or the addition or removal of Member owners or Non-resident co-owner(s).
4. Transfer Fee—In Escrow
The seller of a Mutual share of stock shall pay a transfer fee of $500 to cover the cost of transferring ownership(s).
5. Processing Fee
Co-Occupant and Qualified Permanent Resident shall be charged a processing fee of $100 to cover the set up and processing costs.
6. Mutual Corporation Fees
Each Mutual represents a fully independent corporation and, as such, may establish fees applicable to the Mutual. GRF operates as the management company for the Mutuals and will, as part of its duties, apply Mutual Fees in accordance with established Mutual policies/rules.
7. Stock Transfer Legal Review of Trust Fees
7.1. Upon a requested transfer of stock ownership by a Trust, either by the sale of a unit or an in-house ownership transfer, Probate Code §18100.5 delegates to the GRF the right to request the current acting trustee or successor trustee to provide either a certification of trust or a copy of the trust. The following procedures will be implemented.
7.1.1. Any trustee or successor trustee seeking to transfer the ownership of a mutual unit, either by the sale of the unit through escrow or an in-house ownership transfer, will be required to provide the Stock Transfer Office a Certification of Trust or a copy of the Trust document for the GRF attorney to review prior to any completed transfer of ownership.
7.1.2. The Stock Transfer Office shall not proceed with any sale or transfer of ownership via a trust document prior to the GRF attorney reviewing the trust and providing in writing a letter of release allowing the Stock Transfer Office to proceed.
7.1.3. In an effort to offset the cost of the required GRF attorney review, there shall be assessed to the trustee or successor trustee a fee of $125) representing the attorney’s fee and GRF’s pro-rated staff time, to be collected at the time of the trust review.
8. Lessee Annual Amenities Fee for all Mutual 17 leases initially dated prior to Jan. 1, 2021, and subsequent renewals.
8.1. The GRF annual Lessee Amenities fee is a required use fee for access to the Trust facilities and amenities and participation in GRF activities. The Lessee fee is calculated at 25 percent of the GRF annual assessment rounded up to the nearest dollar for each occupant.
8.2. The required annual Lessee Amenities fee payment is due and payable in full on the date of the lease agreement. No monthly payments can be made.
8.3. If delinquent, the current (before Jan. 1, 2021) Mutual 17 Lessee, shall pay damages to reimburse GRF for its expense and overhead in collecting the payment as follows:
8.3.1. A $25 late fee, and
8.3.2. Interest at 1 percent per month (APR of 12 percent) from the original date due until the date the full payment is received.
8.4. In addition to late fees, for each check from a Lessee that a bank returns for any reason, the Lessee must pay a $25 returned check fee and all bank charges assessed against the association.
8.5. If a Lessee becomes more than 90 days delinquent, the Lessee will receive a 30-day notice of GRF’s intent to suspend the right to use GRF amenities and Trust facilities, including driving privileges upon GRF Trust streets. GRF may also refer the Lessee account to an attorney or collection agency for appropriate action. All fees incurred by an attorney or collection agency to recover the delinquent amounts will be assessed to the Lessee.
8.6. GRF reserves the right to collect the delinquent account for the Amenities fee from Lessor.
8.7. Lessee Amenities fees shall be allocated as stated in Section 1.7.
9. The fee for verifying Powers of Attorney and Court Orders will be $75 per document, per review.
10. The fee for additional Leisure World maps will be $1 per map (Shareholders excluded).
11. All Fees are subject to annual review and are subject to change.
SECURITY
80-1927.01-2, Fees for Parking Rules Violations on Trust Property
The following Parking Rules Violations Fees (Fines) are strictly enforced and are applicable to all persons controlling or operating vehicles on any Trust Property regulated by the Golden Rain Foundation (GRF) of Seal Beach. This refers to the streets, sidewalks, parking areas, clubhouses, grounds and other amenities overseen by GRF.
Per the Occupancy Agreements for Mutuals 1-12 and 14-16 and Mutual 17 CCRs: All Shareholder/Members are solely responsible for the actions of their guests and employees; therefore, they are solely responsible for the fines and penalties incurred by their guests or employees.
GRF vehicles are exempted from these policies when appropriate, such as maintenance or security vehicles assisting first responders or providing emergency services to a Shareholder/Member unit or GRF Trust Property.
1. Fines for Parking Violations
Fee explanations for Fine table below:
1.1. Any animal or child left unattended in a vehicle will be reported immediately to Animal Control or Seal Beach Police.
1.2. First Offense
The first offense may result in either a Fix-It citation, a Warning, a Fine or the vehicle being towed. See below.
A Fix-It citation allows 30 days for resolving the problem. The fine may be waived by the Parking Rules Violation (PRV) Panel.
1.3. Additional citations may be issued after each 24-hour period.
1.4. After the fourth Recreational Vehicle (RV) or Vehicle Used for Recreation (VUFR) violation, all RV or VUFR parking privileges are suspended for 12 months, beginning with the date of the fourth infraction.
Violation: First Offense, Second and Subsequent Offences
1. Assigned Parking Space or restricted parking Space: $25, $25
2. Blocking Crosswalk: $25, $25
3. Expired or Invalid State Vehicle Registration*: $50, $50
4. Flat Tires: Fix-It, $25
5. “For Sale” sign on Vehicle: $20, $20
6. Handicap Parking without Placard or Handicap ID Displayed: $100*, $200
7. Hazardous Materials Leaking: $50, $50
8. Limited Time Parking: $20, $20
9. Maintenance or Repair: $25, $25
10. No Valid GRF Vehicle Decal or Parking Permit Displayed: $20, $20
11. Parked on Sidewalk or Grass: $25, $25
12. Red Zone: $100, $200
13. RV or VUFR—Generator Running, 8 p.m.-8 a.m.: $50, $50
14. RV or VUFR—Jack Support, None or Inadequate: $50, $50
15. RV or VUFR Parked Over 72 Hours on Trust Street: $40, $40
16. Washing Any Vehicle on Trust Property (except in Car Wash areas): $20, $20
17. Washing a Non-resident Vehicle at Car Wash: $20, $20
* Fine will be waived on first offense if placard and/or paperwork that was current at time of Citation is presented. The Security Services Director has the right to waive the first offence fine if needed paperwork is presented to them.
SECURITY
80-1927.02-3, Parking Rules for Trust Property
The Panel will be created in July of each year by the Safety, Bus & Traffic Committee, with the newly elected Golden Rain Foundation (GRF) Board of Directors (BOD) President’s and Vice President’s Mutual removed from the rotation.
The GRF Vice President’s Mutual is removed from this schedule because the Vice President is the facilitator of the Parking Rules Violation (PRV) panel.
The GRF President’s Mutual is removed from this schedule, since the President will only serve on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) panel.
Panel will meet on the fourth Monday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Administration Conference Room.
A second meeting will be scheduled if the volume of hearing requests is too large; it will meet on the fourth Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Conference Room B.
SECURITY
80-1937-2, Parking—Fines
1. Purpose
The following Community Rules Violations Fines are enforced and are applicable to all persons controlling or operating vehicles on any Trust Property regulated by the Golden Rain Foundation (GRF) of Seal Beach. This refers to the streets, sidewalks, parking areas, clubhouses, grounds and other amenities overseen by GRF.
All Member/Owners (M/O) are solely responsible for all the actions of any Visitor, Renter/Lessee (R/L), Caregiver or Contractor who has entered Leisure World Seal Beach (LWSB) under their authorization, as well as any persons who have entered LWSB through their R/L’s authorization. Therefore, the M/O is responsible for any fines and penalties associated with their unit that are imposed by GRF.
2. Fines for Community Rules Violations on Trust Property
Violation: Fine
1. Designated Parking Space or Restricted Parking Space: $25
2. Blocking Crosswalk: $25
3. Expired or Invalid State Vehicle Registration: $50
4. Inoperable Vehicles: $25
5. “For Sale” Sign on Vehicle: $25
6. Handicap Parking without Placard or Handicap ID Displayed: $100
7. Hazardous Materials Leaking: $50
8. Limited Time Parking: $25
9. Performing Maintenance or Repair: $25
10. No Valid GRF Vehicle Decal or Parking Permit Displayed: $25
11. Parked on Sidewalk or Grass: $25
12. Red Zone: $100
13. Recreational Vehicle (RV) or Vehicle Used for Recreation (VUFR)—Operating Contrary to 80-1937-1 (Section 4.5) : $50
14. RV or VUFR-—Jack Support, None or Inadequate: $50
15. RV or VUFR Parked Over 72 Hours on Trust Street: $50
16. Washing Any Vehicle on Trust Property (except in Car Wash areas): $25
17. Washing a Vehicle Without a GRF-Issued Resident Decal at Car Wash: $25
2.1. Additional Community Rules Violation notices for the same violation may be issued after each 24-hour period.
3. Failure to Comply
Additional penalties may be assessed to M/O who fails to respond to a rules violation notice in a timely manner. The procedures for assessing those penalties are outlined in 30-5093-3.
4. Appeal Requests
Procedures for M/O to appeal a Community Rules Violation notice are detailed in 30-5093-3.
5. The fine may be contested to the Community Rules Violation (CRV) Panel.
GRF Meetings
Golden Rain Foundation committee and board meetings are open to Leisure World residents. The following is a tentative schedule.
Thurs., Dec. 2 GRF Admin Committee
Conference Rm A/virtual 1 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 3 GRF Board Executive Session
Conference Rm A/virtual 1 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 8 Safety, Bus & Traffic Committee
Conference Rm A/virtual 1 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 20 Finance Committee
Conference Rm A/virtual 10 a.m.
Tues., Dec. 21 GRF Board Monthly Meeting
Clubhouse 4/virtual 10 a.m.
Recap of GRF Board Activity, Nov. 23
Approved Consent Agenda: MOVED and approved the consent agenda—including minutes of: the Finance Committee, Oct. 18; the GRF Administration Committee, Oct. 7; the Recreation Committee, Oct. 4; GRF Board Meeting, Oct. 26—and the acceptance of the Financial Statement, October.
GENERAL
Approval Management Services List and Department Hourly Rate: MOVED to approve the new Management Agreement, along with the list of services and with the 2022 department hourly rates, and to forward to the Mutual Boards for their approval.
Approval of Job Descriptions—Communications Coordinator and Recreation Attendant: REMOVED from the agenda packet on Nov. 23.
COMMUNICATIONS & IT COMMITTEE
Approval Leisure World Weekly Digitization of 1962-1999 Microfilm: MOVED to approve the Historical Society’s request to sign the Ancestry.com release for the Golden Rain News to become part of the CDNC UC Riverside/Newpapers.com digital newspaper database.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Approval 2021/2022 Master Insurance Policy Renewal: MOVED to approve the master insurance policy proposal dated Nov.12, as submitted, in the amount of $2,856,963, for the policy period of Dec. 1, 2021-Dec. 1, 2022, and authorize the President to sign the required renewal documents, per the insurance proposal dated Nov. 12, as prepared and submitted by DLD Insurance Brokers Inc.
Approval Trust Property Lease Agreement: MOVED to approve one-year term commencing on Jan. 1, 2022, and expiring on Dec. 31, 2022, at the annual rent of $1, per the terms and conditions, the following lease agreements for the exclusive use of Trust property: Policy 40-1490-6, Friends of the Library Club; Policy 40-1491-6, Genealogy Club; Policy 40-1492-6, Golden Age Foundation; Policy 40-1493-6, Historical Society Club; Policy 40-1494-6, Radio Club; Policy 40-1495-6, Theater Club; Policy 40-1496-6, Rolling Thunder Club; Policy 40-1497-6, Video Producers Club; Policy 40-1498-6, Mutual 8; Policy 40-1489-6, LW Trailer Club.
TENTATIVE VOTE: Amend Policy 40-5061-2, Fees: MOVED to amend 40-5061-2, Fees, updating the language throughout the document, as presented, pending a 28-day notification to the members and a final decision by the GRF Board of Directors on Jan. 25, 2021.
TENTATIVE VOTE: Amend Policy 40-5580-2, Entry Passes-—Fees: MOVED to amend policy 40-5580-2, Entry Passes—Fees, updating document language, pending a 28-day notification to the members and a final decision by the GRF Board of Directors on Jan. 25, 2021.
GRF ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Approval for Emergency Supplies: REMOVED from the agenda packet on Nov. 18.
Approval for Trust Property Usage for Emergencies: MOVED to approve the use of Trust Property buildings in the event of an emergency or disaster impacting the community of Leisure World.
Approval Building 5 Improvements for Council on Aging: MOVED to approve capital improvements to the 248-square-foot area within Building 5 for the use by the Council on Aging, not to exceed $13,000 capital funding, adding a $2,000 contingency for the improvements are as follows: replace carpet and repaint; replace ceiling lights with LED; replace exterior door and window, including panic hardware and automatic opener; replace window blinds; add signage. And, if needed, a draft for an annual lease will be created.
Approval for Phases Three and Four—Administration Office and Workstation Improvements: MOVED to approve Phases Three and Four—Administration Offices, Ergonomic Process Improvements and the addition of a training/flex workstation in an amount not to exceed $14,084. Also, authorize the President to sign the contract.
PHYSICAL PROPERTY COMMITTEE
Approval Upstairs HVAC in Clubhouse 6: REMOVED from the agenda packet on Nov. 23.
AMEND POLICY 30-5041-5, REAL TRUST PROPERTY ACREAGE: After a brief discussion, Policy 30-5041-5, Real Trust Property Acreage, was REMOVED from the agenda and sent back to Physical Property Committee for further review.
RECREATION COMMITTEE
Approval Clubhouse 1—Cooking Range Replacement: MOVED to approve the purchase of a new range from JES Restaurant Equipment in the amount of $7.648.11, plus an additional $500 for parts and installation, for a total not to exceed $8,148.11 from the replacement reserves.
Approval Golden Age Foundation Tax Program 2022: MOVED to approve the use of the Knowledge and Learning Center by the Golden Age Foundation from January through mid-April 2022 for income-tax preparation as a free service to Leisure World Seal Beach residents.
Approval Clubhouse 1 and Clubhouse 2 Woodshops: MOVED to conceptually approve the modifications and improvements to Trust Property as identified as:
• Clubhouse 1: Woodshop 1 expansion into the adjacent space of 690 square feet (room currently has two of the six Clubhouse 1 pool tables).
• Clubhouse 2: Renovation of 1,051 square feet of space, currently used as a woodshop, into a multiuse and activity room.
It is further moved to direct: the Recreation Committee, Physical Properties Committee and, if required, the Architectural Design & Review Committee to develop full specifications and cost estimates; forward such estimates of Capital and/or Reserve Funds required to the Finance Committee; and, upon the Finance Committee’s determination of the availability of Capital and/or Reserve Funds, return the proposed project to the Board for final action.
FINAL VOTE: AMEND POLICY 70-1429.02-1, GOLF COURSE RULES: MOVED to amend 70-1429.02-1, Golf Course Rules, adding to the rules that shoes must be worn on the golf course at all times, as presented.
SECURITY, BUS & TRAFFIC COMMITTEE
TENTATIVE VOTE: Amend Policy 80-1937-2, Parking—Fines: MOVED to amend 80-1937-2, Parking-—Fines, pending a 28-day notification to the members and a final decision by the GRF Board of Directors on Jan. 25, 2022
TENTATIVE VOTE: Rescind Policy 80-1927.01-2, Fees for Parking Rules Violations on Trust Property: MOVED to tentatively rescind 80-1927.01-2, Fees for Parking Rules Violations on Trust Property, pending a 28-day notification to the members and a final decision by the GRF Board of Directors on Jan. 25, 2022.
TENTATIVE VOTE: Rescind Policy 80-1927.02-3, Parking Rules for Trust Property: MOVED to tentatively rescind 80-1927.02-3, Parking Rules for Trust Property, pending a 28-day notification to the members and a final decision by the GRF Board of Directors on Jan. 25, 2022.
Mutual Meetings
Mutual residents are invited to attend the open meetings of their mutual boards (schedule subject to change).
Thurs., Dec. 2 Presidents’ Council
Clubhouse 4/virtual 9 a.m.
Tues., Dec. 7 Mutual 17
Conference Rm A/virtual 1:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 8 Mutual 4 (open forum, 9 a.m.)
Conference Rm A/virtual 9:15 a.m.
Thurs., Dec. 9 Mutual 12
Conference Rm A/virtual 9 a.m.
Fri., Dec. 10 Mutual 3
Conference Rm A/virtual 9 a.m.
Tues., Dec. 14 Mutual 10
Conference Rm A/virtual 9 a.m.
Tues., Dec. 14 Mutual 16
Conference Rm A/virtual 2 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 15 Mutual 7
Conference Rm A/virtual 1 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 16 Mutual 11
Conference Rm B/virtual 1:30 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 20 Mutual 15
Conference Rm A/virtual 1 p.m.
Tues., Dec. 21 Mutual 14
Conference Rm B/virtual 1 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 27 Mutual 8 (open forum, 9:15 a.m.)
Conference Rm A/virtual 9:30 a.m.
Arts & Leisure
The NOCE Senior Choir and Chime Choir, under the direction of Lee Lassetter, will perform a Holiday Concert on Dec. 13 at 10:30 a.m. in the Clubhouse 3 Lobby. The program will feature beautiful Christmas and Hanukkah music.
Holiday entertainment
Finding joy this season
Anyone interested in the events listed below should visit the websites or call the phone numbers provided for more information, such as ticket pricing. Additional events will be listed weekly throughout the holiday season.
Seal Beach Christmas Parade: The 43rd annual parade pays tribute to local legend Rich Harbour with the theme “Surf’s Up for Christmas.” Grand Marshals Kori and Darren DeLeon will lead the way on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.; bringing up the rear will be Santa in a 1929 American LaFrance fire engine. Spectators are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. Parade begins and ends at 10th Street and Ocean Avenue, Seal Beach; www.sealbeachlions.org/christmas-parade.html.
Holiday Open House at Rancho Los Alamitos: This Long Beach City Landmark was where the Bixby family would host Christmas parties for the ranch’s workers, families and friends in the early 1900s. On Dec. 3-5, the public is invited to tour the historic grounds, get creative with festive crafts, enjoy holiday-themed music and partake in light refreshments. The open house is free, but reservations are required. Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens, 6400 E Bixby Hill Rd, Long Beach, (562) 431-3541; www.rancholosalamitos.org.
La Habra Tamale Festival: Get lessons in making your own delicious tamales or just indulge in the efforts of others on Dec. 4. In addition to the contest, you can expect dance and mariachi performances from local groups, activities for kids, and opportunities to support local vendors at this 12-hour festival. Euclid Street between La Habra Boulevard and Bridenbecker Avenue, La Habra; www.lahabratamalefestival.com.
Candy Caneland & Craft Faire: On Dec. 4, celebrate holidays around the world at this annual event that also features artisan goods, snow slides, free raffles, games and more. Ehlers Event Center, 8150 Knott Ave., Buena Park; www.buenapark.com/city-departments/community-services/special-events/candy-caneland-craft-faire.
Winter in the Grove: Village Green Park turns into a winter wonderland on Dec. 4, with Snowtopia, featuring nine snow slides created from 50 tons of snow; a holiday boutique filled with goods made by local crafters; Frosty’s Photo Shop, offering photo ops for that Instagram-worthy selfie or family portrait; crafts such as ornament decorating; and holiday-themed foods, including “chilly” dogs and hot cocoa. Village Green Park, 12732 Main St., Garden Grove; ggcity.org/community-services/winter-in-the-grove.
Winter Wonderland at the Plaza: The magic of the season comes to St. Isidore Historical Plaza, with snow play and sledding, Santa’s Village, a tree lighting ceremony, musical entertainment, and a toy drive for local charities (bring a new, unwrapped toy). The fun starts at 4 p.m. on Dec. 4. St. Isidore Historical Plaza, 10961 Reagan St, Los Alamitos; stisidorehistoricalplaza.org/2015/12/05/winter-wonderland-at-the-plaza/.
Santa’s Village By the Sea: Holly Jolly Hoopla and the Glitz on Del Mar combine on Dec. 4 for an evening of cookie decorating, train rides, snow play, photos with Santa and one big tree lighting. Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente; www.san-clemente.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/7437/71.
LB International Tamales Festival: The city’s first such festival features tamales from different regions of Latin America, art workshops for kids, performances from local groups, tequila tastings and more on Dec. 5. Scottish Rite Events Centre, 855 Elm Ave., Long Beach; lbtamalesfest.com.
Holiday Sing & Tree lightning: This festive holiday evening on Dec. 7 includes the annual community tree lighting, performances from local schools, letters to Santa and cards to veterans, holiday crafts and games, and a toy drive. Cypress Civic Center, 5275 Orange Ave., Cypress, (714) 229-6780.
Bingo Sundays
Join bingo players every Sunday afternoon in Clubhouse 2. The buy-in line opens at 1 p.m. and costs $5, with additional cards at $1 each. Calling begins at 1:30 p.m. sharp.
Games on the first Sunday of the month are sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary; those on the second and fourth Sundays are sponsored by American Legion, Post 327. The Filipino Association of Leisure World hosts on the third and fifth Sundays. After prizes are distributed, all proceeds support Leisure World charitable organizations, benefiting the community’s residents and veterans.
Questions should be directed to Rich Carson, Post 327 commander, at (714) 719-6872.
Dancers & Mixers Club
The Dancers & Mixers Club hosts a Holiday Dance, featuring live music from Linda Herman, on Dec. 7 in Clubhouse 4 from 7-9 p.m. Everyone is welcome to start the holiday season with an evening of dancing with friends. Anyone who wants to do so can bring their own refreshments.
Once a month, Dancers & Mixers offers an evening of dancing to live music. There will be some line dancing, but because of the pandemic, the popular mixer dance will be skipped again this month.
For more information, call (562) 431-1257.
—John Hlavac
Chess Club
This week’s puzzle is checkmate in three moves. White moves first; any answer by Black, and White’s third move is checkmate.
The solution to this week’s puzzle: The first move is Ra8.
The White rook moves from c8 to a8, then Black king to a8, followed by White queen to c8 and Black king to a7. The next move by White is checkmate.
The Chess Club currently meets from 1:30-6 p.m. on Fridays under the umbrella behind Clubhouse 3, weather permitting.
Holiday Lights!
LW Weekly is seeking photos and addresses for its guide to LW’s holiday displays. People are encouraged to send high-resolution jpgs with an address and brief description of their notable displays to pattym@lwsb.com. Submissions sent before Dec. 16 may be included in the annual holiday lights feature scheduled for the Dec. 23 issue.
Soledad Sipin of Mutual 8 was a hula dancer with the Carson Senior Center for more than 20 years, and after she passed away, her daughter, Jean Sipin, also a Leisure World resident, graciously shared her mom’s dresses with Soledad’s hula sisters in Carson. But Jean also gifted LW’s Hui O Hula with Soledad’s beautiful sarongs, purses, necklaces and musical instruments. Jean’s generous gift of aloha will help to keep her mother’s memory alive. Anyone interested in learning hula or who appreciates Hawaiian music is welcome to join the class on Tuesdays in Clubhouse 6 and Thursdays at Veterans Plaza; both classes start at 1 p.m. Call (562) 431-2242 for more class information or performance schedules.
Dancing Feet Club line dancers gather after dancing “Monster Mash” and “Giga Gigolo” at the group’s Oct. 24 Masquerade Ball, celebrating Halloween. The club hosts two events in Clubhouse 2: line dance lessons and practice on Mondays from 7-9 p.m., and social (ballroom) dancing every fourth Sunday of the month, from 6-9:30 p.m. Events are free, but masks are required. Dancers may bring their favorite snacks and nonalcoholic drinks. For more information, text Ed Bolos at (551) 998-4223.
Photo Arts Club
The Photo Arts Club plans to welcome the New Year with a meeting on Jan. 13 at 1:30 p.m. in Clubhouse 3, Room 5. The group expects to contine the program planned by Ben Benjamins, with his review of camera basics including a focus on aperture.
For that meeting, members are assigned to bring a photo they have made showing action by adjusting the shutter speed. Examples would be a pendulum on a grandfather clock, a flying bird, a moving car, etc. The photo should be cropped tight to emphasize the subject.
The hanging rods have been installed in Clubhouse 3, so members can hang their photographs for everyone to see during the meeting. Extra hangers are available from Regine Schumacher.
For information about the club, contact Schumacher at (562) 430-7978.
—Esther Cummings
With an array of holiday lights and Christmas wishes from community residents, Video Club Producers Club member Owen Hughes presents “A Leisure World Christmas.” The program is available this month on SBTV/Ch. 3 (Spectrum) and Ch. 37 (Frontier). Check TV listings in the Community section of LW Weekly and on SBTV3.org.
Joyful Line Dance class returns to the Clubhouse 6 dance floor this week. Join the group every Thursday from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Classes are currently limited to 32 people on a first-come, first-served basis. Exercise shoes are mandatory, as are face masks for indoor classes. For more information, send a text to (562) 301-5339.
Combined Party Bridge
The LW Combined Party Bridge Club invites everyone to join the group in Clubhouse 1 on the first and second Friday of every month. Tables of four players can come and play together, or players can fill tables as people arrive. Anyone can switch tables or just play with their own group.
Play starts at 12:30 p.m. Cards and score cards will be provided.
Lunch will not be served, but people can bring their own snacks and beverages. On Dec. 3 and 10, have fun, meet new people and share in the spirit of the holidays.
Anyone with questions or concerns can contact Jan Krehbiel at (562) 431-8240 or jhkhoop@aol.com.
Pinochle
Pinochle is played in Clubhouse 1 every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. The warmup game starts at 11:30 a.m., with the regular game beginning at 12:30 p.m.
The following are the winning scores from recent games.
Nov. 15: First place: Marge Dodero, 13,130; second: Delores Cook, 12,240; third: Joan Taylor, 12,140; fourth: Oscar Moya, 12,040.
Nov. 18: First place: Marilyn Allred, 13,640; second: Tony Dodero, 11,640; third: tie between Marge Dodero and Nancy Wheeler, 10,620; fourth: Ruth Bonnema, 10,560.
Nov. 20: First place: Marge Dodero, 11,540; second: Jim Dix, 10,070; third: Peggy Kaspar, 9,980; fourth: Tony Dodero, 9,670.
Anyone interested in playing pinochle should call Marge Dodero at (310) 968-9509. Pool League
The team 4-20 had its first losing match of the Leisure World Pool League fall season. Ace in the Hole defeated 4-20 by a 7-6 score. Tom Zimmerman and Jerry Wrenn of Ace in the Hole each won four games.
The Fantastics moved into second place by beating Hot Stix 10-3. Ruffy Ramos, the A player for The Fantastics, won six games for his team, including both his singles matches.
The Favorites edged out Brake ’em and Make ’em 7-6. Brake ’em and Make ’em won the last three games to make it a close match.
Pot Luck beat Go for Broke 9-4. Dennis Bedford, whose game has been improving, won his eight-ball and nine-ball singles games and only lost one doubles match for Pot Luck.
—Dave Silva
Bocce Tournament
The preseason Bocce Tournaments begin today, Dec. 2. This month’s scheduled games are as follows:
Dec. 2, 5, 9 and 12: 1-4 p.m.
Dec. 4, 7, 11 and 14: 9-11 a.m.
The team lineups and schedules are currently posted at the Bocce Court. The Winter Season Tournaments will begin Jan. 8, 2022.
For more information, call (562) 230-5302.
Cribbage Club
Longtime Cribbage Club member Jim Kaspar won all seven games on Nov. 23, earning him a third star on his name badge and first place with a perfect score of 847.
Second place went to Bob Berry with a score of 831, while Pat Fellers placed third with 827, and Carrie Kistner took fourth with 825.
Delicious pies, provided by the club, were served to all players. The members found it difficult to resist when the choices were apple, pumpkin or pecan. The club thanks Terry Thrift for running the errand that made the Thanksgiving pie feast possible.
Cribbage Club meets every Tuesday in Clubhouse 1. Snacks are served at noon, and play begins at 12:30 p.m. Seven games are played, with members rotating at the end of each game. Newcomers are always welcome.
Anyone who would like to learn the game or brush up on their skills should leave a message with Patti Smith at (562) 242-4674.
—Marilyn Chelsvig
Art History Club
The Art History Club will discuss Renaissance paintings on Dec. 9 at 9:30 a.m. in the Knowledge and Learning Center in Clubhouse 3. While the focus will primarily be on the artists and the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance and Northern Renaissance periods—particularly the masters, including the “Trinity of Masters,” da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raffaello—prominent Dutch and Flemish painters will also be introduced. The space is equipped with three large TV monitors at the podium, so everyone will be able to see the pictures and text clearly.
The club meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Classes are conducted in Korean, with English text on the TV screen translating the lecture. Food and drink are prohibited.
Anyone with questions should email Ken Chong at khchong@live.com.
NOCE Spring 2022 Registration
The Leisure World NOCE Spring Semester Class Registration Event will be on Jan. 14 in Clubhouse 2 from 9 a.m.-noon or until classes are full. Though the event had previously been planned for early December, NOCE staff availability has pushed it back until after the holidays. There will be ample time to ensure a smooth registration event for everybody involved.
New students have the option of filling out an application to become a student at www.tinyurl.com/NOCEapply; paper applications are also available at the LW Library. Returning students need to bring their Student ID (Banner ID) to the registration event. People unsure of their Banner ID should call NOCE Star Help at (714) 808-4679 to retrieve it. Both new and returning students need to bring their COVID Vaccine Card with them to registration.
Current Leisure World NOCE classes will soon be visited by a NOCE staff member, who will give students the option of pre-enrolling in the same class for next semester. The NOCE staffer will also be there to assist existing students with uploading their COVID vaccination cards. People who are interested in a class they are currently not enrolled in will need to attend the in-person registration event in January.
The full list of classes for Spring 2022 can be found below. Anyone with questions or concerns should call the library at (562) 598-2431 or visit and ask for Taylor Greene at the reference desk.
Shufflers Defeat Sliders
The Shuffleboard League continued league play on Nov. 19 at the Clubhouse 1 courts. The Shufflers won 12-6 against the Sliders (captained by Treasurer Sally Fowler). All-game winners for the Shufflers, who are now 2-0 in league competition, were Red Ryals, Sal LaScala and Dennis Bedford.
The Sliders’ all-game winner was Harshad Patel.
The next game will be Dec. 3, with the Hot Shots squaring off against the undefeated Sliders. Game time is 8:30 a.m.
The club’s annual Christmas Party will be held on Dec. 11 at 5 p.m. in Clubhouse 3, Room 2. There’s a sign-up sheet for the potluck dinner at the courts. There will not be a gift exchange this year; instead, everyone will play Left-Center-Right.
BYOB practice nights, tournaments and other social events are being planned throughout the next year for Shuffleboard members and their guests. Shuffleboard is a low-impact sport that gets people off the couch, is easy to learn and is fun exercise. Everyone is welcome to join for the fraternization and socialization. Contact Dave LaCascia at (801) 674-5975 for details.
—Dave LaCascia
Monday Combined Bridge
At the Nov. 22 gathering of the Monday Combined Bridge Group, the winners were:
First place: Dotty Kemper
Second place: Carol Olsen
Third place: Sue Yokomi
The group meets every Monday at noon in Clubhouse 1. For more information, contact Marion Standish at (562) 493-1236.
Bunco Club
The LW Bunco Club meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. Anyone who wants to play is welcome to join the group on Dec. 13 in Clubhouse 3, Room 1, starting at 6 p.m. sharp. There is a halftime social. Contact Gail Levitt at (562) 596-1346 with any questions.
The winners from the Nov. 22 meeting are as follows:
Most Buncos: Joyce Ingram, Beverly Friedman, Marianne Matheis and Dolorie Thurner
Most Wins: Diane Seeger
Most Babies: Gail Levitt
Most Losses: Johanna Rogers and Linda Winslow
Door Prize: Cheryl Richardson
Tournament Poker Club
The big winner when the Tournament Poker Club played on Nov. 20 was Roy Mittelsteadt, who won the final table as well as the $50 special raffle thanks to Ken Reddy. Mittlesteadt beat Wendy Wu with a king-high flush. He is a retired construction worker who has lived at Leisure Word for nine years and been a club member for six. His other hobbies include fishing and gardening.
Guta Basner came in third, and Sal Maciel was fourth. The special promo hand of “8-4” was won by Jack Pfeiffer. High hand was won by Sal Maciel with 8888A, while Dennis Kotecki placed second with JJJ88.
The club plays the first three Saturdays of the month in Clubhouse 6. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., and players must be seated by noon. There are no late entries.
Contact Judy Jasmin at (562) 626-8179 with any questions.
Yahtzee Club
At the Nov. 19 meeting of the Yahtzee Club, Lois True won for Most Yahtzees (five), Kathy Rose had the Highest Total Score (1,724), and Suzane Paks won the Door Prize.
The Yahtzee Club meets every Friday from 12:30-4 p.m. in Clubhouse 3, Room 6. The cost to play is $2 per meeting.
The club is currently at maximum capacity, but anyone who wants to be on a waiting list to join or would like a lesson in the game should call or text Kathy Rose at (714) 309-6873.
Saturday Morning Dance Class
Join Candi Davis’ Saturday Morning Dance Classes in Clubhouse 6.
The first class session is from 9-10 a.m. and will focus on West Coast Swing, while the second session will learn to rhumba from 10-11 a.m. Each class is $7.
For more information, call Debbie DeGrazia at (562) 296-3393.
Three holes-in-one at Men’s tournament
On Nov. 24, 49 players from the Leisure World Men’s Golf Club vied for best net score (gross score minus handicap), plus four circle holes (shots within a 5-foot circle rewarded) and two closest-to-the-pin challenges. The Turtle Lake Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-54 course that has great fairways and greens.
Two groups of three flights of variously skilled golfers played through the early morning and into the afternoon. Because of the overseeding of the tee boxes, tees were all well in front of the roped-off boxes, turning the 1,658-yard course into a 1,370-yard pitch-and-putt. Accordingly, scores were very low, with 39 golfers at or under par and 12 circle holes.
Holes-in-one were carded by club President Marv Jones on the third hole (his first ever), Seung Lee on the 17th and Bill Long on the 12th.
All scores below are net (gross score minus handicap). A Flight encompasses golfers with handicaps of 0-7, B Flight is 8-11, and C Flight is 12-18.
A Flight: First place: Dong Kim, a really good 8 under 46; second: Seung Lee, a well-played 6 under 48; third: Mike Mayfield, 5 under 53; fourth: Bob Turner, a good 4 under 50; fifth: tie between Bruce Bowles, Bill Long and Fujio Norihiro, a nice 3 under 51; sixth: tie between Jun Um, Paul Alloway and Jae H. Lee, 2 under 52.
B Flight: First place: Gene Archambault, great 9 under 45; second: Roland Phillips, a fine 6 under 48; third: tie between James Farr and Dale Williamson, a terrific 5 under 49; fourth: tie between Jong Lee and Dave Winn, at 4 under 50; fifth: Steven Kang, 3 under 51.
C Flight: First place: Ben Benjamins, a tournament best 16 under 38; second: Pat Paternoster, a sensational 13 under 41; third: Kap Son, a sweet 12 under 42; fourth: Sang H. Kim, a fine 11 under 43; fifth: Paul Shellenberger, a superb 9 under 45; sixth: Jack Haskins, an excellent 8 under 46; seventh: tie between Marv Jones and Roger Bennett, a nice 4 under 50.
Closest to the pin on the par-3 seventh hole was Bob Barnum, and at the par-3 16th hole, it was Kap Son.
The next Men’s Golf Club Tournaments will be on Dec. 8 and 22. The next Guys & Gals Tournaments will be played on Dec. 15 and 29. Golfers should arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled tee time and be ready to play. Anyone who planned to play and cannot should contact Alan Sewell at (541) 324-8558 or Dave LaCascia at (801) 674-5975 as soon as possible.
—Dave La Cascia
Norihiro scores hole-in-one, eagle at Baker
Thirteen men and one woman of the Leisure World Golf League participated in the Nov. 19 tournament at the par-70, 5,600-yard Meadowlark Golf Course in Huntington Beach. It was an overcast and cool morning with no breeze until late morning. The sun tried to make an appearance, but it never really warmed up. The course is in great condition, but there were only three rounds at or under par since the tee boxes were set at the rear of the tees, making the course a few hundred yards longer than usual.
All scores are net (gross minus handicap). A Flight handicap is 0-20; B Flight is over 20.
A Flight: First place: Gary Stivers, a well-played 6 under 64, plus a birdie; second: Fujio Norihiro, a very nice 5 under 65, plus a birdie and fewest putts for the round; third: tie between Larry Hillhouse and Sam Choi at 1 over par; fourth: Tim Looney, plus a birdie and closest to the pin on the 150-yard, par-3 16th hole; fifth: tie between Gene Vesely, Dave LaCascia, Bill McKusky, Clay Fischer and Jim Goltra. Vesely was closest to the pin on the 140-yard, par-3 seventh hole, and Goltra had a birdie.
B Flight: First place: Liz Meripol, even par 70; second: Bill Zurn, 1 over 71, plus fewest putts; third: Lowell Goltra, 3 over par; fourth: Bob Munn.
On Nov. 22, 13 men and one guest of the league played the par-62, 4,000-yard David L. Baker Executive Golf Course in Fountain Valley. The group also welcomed Henry Meza to the league.
It was a sunny but cool morning with no breeze. The course is in great condition, but with the tee boxes being overseeded, the blue tees were well forward and low scores resulted. Every player was at or under par with some exceptionally good play. Norihiro recorded a hole-in-one, an eagle (2 under on a non-par-3 hole) and two birdies, plus he was closest to the pin on the 100-yard, par-3 third hole and tied for fewest putts in his flight.
A Flight: First place: Norihiro, a sensational 44; second: McKusky, a really nice 17 under 45, plus two birdies; third: Choi, 14 under par; fourth: tie between Hillhouse and Chris Lankford, 13 under par; fifth: tie between Vesely, LaCascia, Fischer, Stivers and Jim Goltra. Birdies were scored by Hillhouse, Lankford, Stivers and Fischer (who had two). Jim Goltra tied for fewest putts, and Lankford was closest to the pin on the 100-yard, par-3 15th hole.
B Flight: First place: Zurn, a well-played 15 under 49; second: Lowell Goltra, a terrific 13 under 51; third: Munn, a sweet 12 under 52, plus two birdies.
Friends, ladies, spouses and family are all welcome to play and/or join. The league plays at four local courses, all within 15 minutes of Leisure World. The courses are always quite full, so advance reservations can be made via a sign-up sheet available at each round.
There is a prize pool for each round that players are not obligated to enter. Rewards are given for low net, birdies, closest to the pin on two par-3s, and the lowest number of putts in each flight. Holes-in-one and eagles (2 under par), although infrequent, are generously rewarded. If interested, contact Gary Stivers at (714) 313-3697 or LaCascia at (801) 674-5975.
—Dave LaCascia
Women’s Golf Club
On Nov. 23, 47 members of the Women’s Golf Club competed for low gross, low net and chip-ins. Notably, Hailee Yang had a hole-in-one on hole No. 5. The winners for the day were:
A Flight: Low gross: Margie Thompson, 27; low net: Ann Tran, 25; chip-ins: Sandy Derouin and Devora Kim.
B Flight: Low gross: Grace Choi, 29; low net: tie between Bert Thompson, Jee Choi and Young Yoon, 23; chip-ins: Sue Yokomi and Yvonne Yim.
C Flight: Low gross: tie between Elizabeth Butterfield and Hailee Yang, 28; low net: Kay Hong, 23; chip-ins: Hailee Yang and Liz Meripol.
D Flight: Low gross: tie between Gloria Whitney and Betty Regalado, 36; low net: Dorothy Favre, 22; chip-in: Sandra deDubovay.
—Anne Walshe
Scrabble Club
The Leisure World Scrabble Club met on each of the last three Wednesdays in November; there were 32 scores above 300 and eight bingos (i.e., the use of all seven tiles in one move).
Suthy Chhoeuy posted the highest score at 469. It was one of five games in which she topped 300. She also led with four bingos and scored 245 points in a three-way game.
Larry Edgar and Diane Seeger tied for the most scores above 300. Edgar had a high score of 383 and two bingos, while Seeger’s top score was a 371. Bob Ruderman had three scores above 300, two bingos and a high game of 382. Club President Maria Giegerich had a high score of 352. Marilyn Moody had three totals above 300; her highest was 325. Wanda Bemben had two scores above 300 with a high of 336.
The Leisure World Scrabble Club was also active during September, meeting on all five Wednesdays that month. There were 52 scores above 300; eight of the scores were higher than 400. Bob Ruderman accounted for 15 of the scores above 300, with a high of 441.
Suthy Chhoeuy and Larry Edgar each had 13 scores higher than 300, and each recorded a high score of 407. Diane Seeger had the highest score at 459; she had 10 scores above 300. Wanda Bemben had a high score of 333.
The high scores were largely a result of bingos: Ruderman had 20 of them, Chhouey had 11, Edgar six and Seeger three. Though the words are too numerous to list, it’s worth noting that Ruderman and Chhoeuy both scored bingos with the word “roasted.”
The club meets on Wednesdays in Clubhouse 3 from 1-4 p.m. New members are welcome. On Dec. 15, there will be a Christmas luncheon before the games start.
—Larry Edgar
Health & Fitness
Tom Pontac keeps on rolling. He finished third in his age division of 85-120 at the Seal Beach 5K Turkey Trot. Pontac “rolled” past more than 70 others younger than him with his Trust rollator, which enables him to keep active, stay healthy and continue to feel like an athlete. So far, he has raised $930 toward his goal of $1,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Anoyone interested in joining Pontac and the Leisure Leggers for a walk around Leisure World should join them on Mondays at 8 a.m. in front of Clubhouse 6.
Medical Qigong
Medical Qigong class, led by instructor George Stennman, meets Saturdays at 10 a.m. in the Clubhouse 3 Lobby. The club charges $3 per class or $10 per month. For more information, call Kathy Moran at (562) 596-0450.
Leisure Bikers
Join the Leisure Bikers on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. at the North Gate. Sunday’s ride often includes breakfast and a 2-mile nature hike. Helmets, safe shoes and masks are a must. Call Mary Romero at (562) 810-4266 for details.
Dance Fitness
Enjoy moving to fun, energetic music, including oldies, current tunes and different rhythms, while working muscles, improving balance, and increasing strength and stamina. Classes are held at Veterans Plaza on Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and upstairs in Clubhouse 6 on Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m.
For more information, contact Jim Blanchard at (714) 487-2446.
Meals on Wheels, Long Beach
Meals on Wheels of Long Beach Inc. delivers freshly cooked meals for $8.75 per day Monday-Friday, between 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Deliveries include an 8-ounce carton of 1 percent milk. An alternate dessert is available for those on a diabetic diet. Contact Client Manager Caron Adler at (562) 439-5000, ext. 1, or visit www.mowlb.org to complete an online application. To cancel a meal for the following day, you must contact Adler before 9 a.m. the prior business day. Menu is subject to change without notice.
Thursday, Dec. 2: Beef Stroganoff on egg noodles, green beans with pimentos, and seasoned carrots; mandarin oranges; ham-and-cheese sandwich, with lettuce, tomato and pickle, plus tricolor pasta salad.
Friday, Dec. 3: Chicken breast with mushroom sauce, mashed sweet potatoes and seasoned broccoli; vanilla pudding; entrée turkey-and-ham Cobb salad, with egg, tomato, bacon and blue cheese dressing, plus crackers.
Monday, Dec. 6: Chicken mole (leg and thigh), Spanish rice and pinto beans; fresh orange; egg salad sandwich, with spinach and tomato, plus marinated-beet-and-onion salad.
Tuesday, Dec. 7: Oven-baked breaded fish with tarter sauce, barley pilaf and zucchini medley; tropical mixed fruit; Chinese chicken salad, with mandarin oranges, cabbage, carrots, onion and Asian dressing, plus crackers.
Wednesday, Dec. 8: Beef picado, brown and wild rice, and mexicali corn; pineapple with mango; roast beef and cheese sandwich, with lettuce, tomato and pickle, plus homemade macaroni salad.
Zumba
Come dance to the many different forms of dance and rhythm explored by the Zumba class, which meets weekly on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. in Clubhouse 6 and Fridays at 8:30 a.m. at Veterans Plaza. For more information, contact Jim Blanchard at (714) 487-2446 or Mary Romero at (562) 431-0082.
religion, page 10-11
LW Baptist
LW Baptist’s Sunday school begins at 9:15 a.m., with the worship service following at 10.
This week’s featured song is “Jesus is the Cornerstone.” The Scripture passage is Luke 20, in which religious leaders question Jesus’ authority. “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?” Jesus answers by telling a parable and quoting the prophecy from Psalms 118: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”
The religious leaders’ interaction with Jesus discloses why people do not believe. To believe would change their lives, and to accept part of Scripture calls for accepting it all. Many people fear they will lose their position if they believe. So they really do not want to know the truth. They refuse to face Jesus, who God appointed their judge.
For more information, call (562) 430-8598.
First Christian Church
First Christian Church of Leisure World teaches from God’s word, the Holy Bible, verse by verse. It is a friendly church that welcomes all visitors.
Services
Each week during the month of December, joyful Christmas music will be sung at each service.
Saturday and Sunday services have the same message by Pastor Bruce Humes.
Sunday is a traditional service, with hymnal music provided by Pat Kogok at the piano from 9:30-10:45 a.m. This week, Pat will sing a solo rendition of “Go Tell.”
The Saturday service is contemporary, with Gregory Black leading in worship and guitar accompaniment from 9:30-10:45 a.m.
Friday prayer meetings are from 6-7 p.m. The weekly Bible study led by Jack Frost is on Wednesday mornings from 9:30-10:30. They are open to all interested.
The Message
In 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8, the apostle Paul commends the Thessalonian church for its steadfastness, despite much tribulation. This body of believers held so fast to Jesus Christ that word of their example had traveled to surrounding regions.
Paul writes 1 Thessalonians 2:2, “But even after we suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.”
The apostles Paul, Silas and Timothy were successful despite their treatment, much like the Thessalonians.
Just as the church at Thessalonica and the apostles did during difficult times, Christians are called to live out their faith even in difficult times. Some people might call it the ministry of Christian character.
Scripture of the Week
Upon learning of Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph thought of sending Mary away to protect her reputation (Matthew 1:19). However, “when he had considered this, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son: and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins’” (Matthew 1: 20-21).
Announcements
The long-awaited church choir has regrouped under the direction of Janet Ray. They will periodically sing at the Sunday morning services.
Those who want to speak to someone at the church or have a need can call (562) 431-8810 and leave a message.
Congregation Sholom
Congregation Sholom’s new member Shabbat and dairy pot-luck will be on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. in Clubhouse 3, Room 9, with Rabbi Mike Mymon. People are asked to wear masks during services and while singing and to observe social distancing. Those who are interested in attending should RSVP to Lisa Brass at (562) 794-9090. Hybrid services continue on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Mymon.
The annual meeting is on Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. People will receive an invitation in the mail with a door prize ticket in it. When arriving, put half of the ticket in the box at the door to be entered in the giveaway. Congregation Sholom will celebrate the outgoing president’s 77th birthday, and a light dinner will be served at the meeting. For the safety and health of the congregation, people are asked to wear a mask during the meeting and to not attend in person if they are displaying any flu-like symptoms. Those who would like to attend should RSVP to Ruth Hermann at (562) 430-3107.
New members who want to watch the livestream should contact Jeff Sacks by texting (714) 642-0122 or emailing jfsacks@gmail.com. The link will have the meeting ID and password embedded. Those who want more details or need to practice can call Jeff ahead of time. The phone number to call for those who do not have Internet service is (669) 900-9128.
To join the Zoom meeting, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3752519429?pwd=UDREWTA1N21jaXVUZUhyQmY1U01JQT09. The meeting ID is 375 251 9429, and the passcode is 8ZYy69.
The walking group meets Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 p.m at Clubhouse 3, Bus Stop A.
Those who need to be added or removed from the misheberach list should let Darlene Rose know by Wednesday at (562) 347-8088.
Contact Jeff to participate in games, the book club or livestream services.
Anyone who wants to join the congregation should call Howard Brass at (562) 794-9090.
Assembly of God
As the Christmas season begins, believers can be thankful that God’s timing is always exactly right. At just the right time, God sent his son, and that changed everything. Pastor Chuck will preach from Galatians 4:4-7, with a sermon titled “It’s All About CHRISTmas,” on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 10:30 a.m. in Clubhouse 3, Room 2.
On Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 10 a.m. in Clubhouse 3, Room 2, Pastor Chuck will present the second session of “Kingdom Heroes,” by Tony Evans. This study in Hebrews highlights the “Faith Hall of Fame” and reveals how people can become heroes of faith in their own time.
More information about Leisure World Assembly of God can be found at lwassemblyofgod.com.
Those who want prayer, personal contact from a pastor, or a DVD of the Sunday morning sermon can contact Pastors Chuck and Sheryl by calling (562) 357-4360 or emailing pastorchuck@lwassemblyofgod.com. Carolyn van Aalst is also available for prayer requests.
Pastor Chuck’s sermons can be accessed on Facebook (Chuck Franco) and the Faithlife App under the group “Leisure World Assembly of God,” where people can also give online.
Buddha Circle
Buddha Circle’s meditation drop-in sessions meet via Zoom every Tuesday and Saturday from 10-11:30 a.m. Each session will include guided meditations and instruction on simple meditation techniques that, when practiced regularly, can reduce unnecessary suffering and improve general health and happiness. All experience levels are welcome, and questions are encouraged.
The sessions will be led by Bill Conn, an experienced meditation practitioner and teacher. He has been trained at UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center and is a Unified Mindfulness Level 2 Coach.
Those who are interested can email Conn at whconn@toast.net to be added to the Zoom meeting. To receive more information, call (714) 468-6887.
Beit HaLev
There will be no services for Shabbat from Dec. 3-11 due to Rabbi Galit-Shirah being on vacation. Shabbat Services will resume on Friday, Dec. 17.
Live, in-person services will begin in January.
Beit HaLev and Rabbi Galit-Shirah are a part of the Union of Jewish Universalist Clergy and Communities. It is progressive in thought and traditional in liturgy. The services are joyous, meaningful and musical. The Beit HaLev community welcomes everyone who seeks a path to the divine, doesn’t believe in labels and considers all religions holy and valid.
Holy Family Catholic Church
Holy Family Catholic Church, 13900 Church Place, next to the St. Andrews Gate, will observe the Second Sunday of Advent on Dec. 5. The first reading is from Baruch 5:1-9, and the second reading is from Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11. The Gospel reading is from Luke 3:1-6.
Liturgical Celebrations during December
• On Monday, Dec. 6, Holy Family will observe the day of exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. People are invited to come to pray for peace and vocations.
• Wednesday, Dec. 8, is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the United States. This feast day is a Holy Day of obligation. Holy Family will hold its usual Holy Day Schedule of Masses: on Tuesday, Dec. 7, for the vigil at 5 p.m.; and Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 11, at 8:30 a.m. is the Mass of anointing of the sick. People are invited to come experience the healing power of Jesus.
Advent Day of Prayer
Holy Family will hold an Advent day of prayer on Saturday, Dec. 4. The day begins with Mass at 8:30 a.m., with refreshments at 11 a.m., followed by an outdoor Nativity scene decoration time. People can bring strings of LED Christmas lights, poinsettias, and lightly used, green, artificial Christmas trees for decorations. All are invited, including family and friends outside of Leisure World.
Masses
To receive a copy of the weekly parish bulletin, sign up at https://ebulletin.jspaluch.com or https://www.jspaluch.com/Subscribe. Visit the website for more information at www.holyfamilysb.com.
The church is operating at its regular Mass schedule. Father Joseph Son Nguyen suggests that people wear masks while inside the church. Saturday (Vigil Mass) is at 5 p.m., and Sunday Masses are at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon. Weekday Masses are Monday-Saturday at 8:30 a.m., and confessions are on Saturdays from 4-4:45 p.m.
Community Church
This week, Community Church is looking at two passages of Scripture that talk about preparation. The words of the prophet Malachi talk of a refiner’s fire.
One of the first steps a blacksmith will do is take a rusted scrap metal and melt it down to remove the impurities. The removal of impurities is something that the church has always struggled with. Jesus even instructs believers to remove the log from their own eye before worrying about the speck in a neighbor’s eye. That, of course, is not always the way of humanity. The notion of purity has also been used as a litmus test of who is acceptable and who is not, rather than as it is described in Malachi and the Gospel of Luke.
Join Community Church this Sunday, Dec. 5, for the second week of Advent as the church continues to look at purity, refinement and what that has to do with soil.
The church has installed a new heating and air system with filtration and rapid air exchange to make in-person worship safer. People are asked to continue to wear masks to attend in-person worship.
People can watch the worship service at home on Facebook @communitychurchleisureworld. Those who don’t have Facebook can call the church office at (562) 431-2503 or email leisurewccsue@yahoo.com to receive the Zoom link.
Those who have a need without another way to address it should call the church office and leave a message at (562) 431-2503.
community, pages 12-17
Humanist Association
Next meeting will discuss near death experiences
The Leisure World Humanist Association will meet on Sunday, Dec. 5, in Clubhouse 3, Room 1, from 10:30 a.m.-noon.
Association President Dave Silva will speak on the subject of near-death experiences (NDE). He will talk about how frequently NDEs occur, what factors the experiences have in common, and why they occur for some people and not others.
Silva had a near-death experience when he was 8 years old, and like others who have gone through the experience, he remembers it in vivid detail. For many people who have had an NDE, it alters the way they view life.
Some of the common factors people experience in an NDE are becoming pain free, seeing a bright light at the end of a tunnel, having an out-of-body experience, meeting living or dead loved ones and sometimes even religious figures, and experiencing time distortion and a rapid review of memories.
NDEs became a subject of broad interest after psychiatrist Raymond Moody published his best-selling book “Life After Life,” in 1975. According to the Scientific American, about 17 percent of people who nearly die experience NDEs. People who are religious are no more likely to experience an NDE than people who are not; however, the nature of the NDE is often different.
Sunshine CLub
Susan Sleep will talk about how to prevent and treat skin cancer
Dr. Susan Sleep will discuss the importance of skin care with an emphasis on sun-related skin cancers at the Sunshine Club’s next meeting on Friday, Dec. 3, at 10 a.m.
Sleep will review the signs and symptoms of skin cancer and how it’s diagnosed, plus treatment plan options.
To join the Zoom meeting, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87427954280?pwd=dExQR2dDblZSbUNkQlVoclhrajFhUT09. The meeting ID is 874 2795 4280, and the passcode is 080651.
Those who want to get the Zoom link by email should text their name, Mutual number and email address to (562) 301-5339 no later than today, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. (text only, no phone calls).
Sleep will also discuss skin cancer prevention methods including sunscreens and photodynamic therapy to remove pre-skin cancers, with treatment options including topical chemotherapy creams, surgery, and newer non-surgical technology, as well as Superficial Radiation Therapy, all of which are available in her mobile van that operates within Leisure World.
Through Mobile Skin Solutions, Sleep has the ability to perform an on-site exam, skin cancer diagnosis, biopsy and can recommend a personalized treatment for certian types of skin cancer. The Mobile Skin Solutions team follows the industry and COVID-19 safety protocols.
Sleep is certified by the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine; and by the Board of Internal Medicine. She is a California licensed dermatology radiation Supervisor/Operator. She received her doctorate from the University of Southern California Medical School.
For more information, call Anna Derby at (562) 301-5339.
Schmooze Club
Muscian Leo Cheyapov will play at Dec. 14 meeting
The Schmooze Club will meet in person as well as on Zoom, on Tuesday, Dec. 14, in Clubhouse 3, Room 9.
Individually wrapped refreshments, schmoozing (socializing) and sign-ins begin at 10 a.m. Renowned musician Leo Cheyapov will entertain the group from 10:30-11:30 a.m., and Rabbi Shmuel Marcus of Chabad of Cypress will greet everyone after the long COVID-19 hiatus.
Cheyapov, educated in Russia, is known for mastering several instruments. He mixes jazz with the Jewish klezmer music of Eastern Europe and melodies of Israel and the Middle East. He performs with jazz groups as a soloist and often with Rabbi Marcus at Jewish events. Cheyapov is one of the club’s favorite guests, and it looks forward to his performance once again.
For everyone’s safety, masks are required.
People can RSVP for both Zoom and in-person attendance to Darlene Rose at (562) 347-8088 or at darlenearose@gmail.com as soon as possible and/or by Sunday, Dec. 12, at the latest.
All Leisure Worlders and guests are welcome to attend. Make sure to provide names for Main Gate admission if guests do not live in Leisure World.
There is no charge to attend. Donations are gratefully accepted.
Woman’s Club
Next meeting will be on Dec. 7
The next Leisure World Woman’s Club meeting will be held in Clubhouse 2 on December 7. Doors will open at 1 p.m. with the meeting starting at 1:30.
This month, instead of an opportunity drawing for cash, the drawing will be for gifts on the Christmas tree. Those who have a winning ticket will be able to choose their gift from the tree.
The LW Woman’s Club will be donate a check to On the Day You Were Born, a charitable organization that provides a small birthday for children who would not otherwise have a celebration. Members are encouraged to donate clothing items for children age 2-12 years old, educational items, backpacks or other age-appropriate gifts.
The entertainer for this meeting will be the millennial crooner Ryan Christopher, who has performed for the club in previous years. Ryan is a classical vocalist and performs the elegant standards interpreting the styling of Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and other famous crooners.
Holiday Golf Cart Parade
The annual Holiday Golf Cart Parade, sponsored by the Rollin’ Thunder Golf Cart Club, with the assistance of the Golden Rain Foundation, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11. The route, beginning and ending at Clubhouse 6, will cover most of LW’s main thoroughfares and larger residential streets.
Parade formation will be at 4 p.m. to add those last minute seasonal decorations and lights. Golf carts will roll at 4:30 p.m. In the event of rain, snow, sleet or hail, the parade will be postponed to Friday, Dec. 17.
Parade participants are asked to bring finger food (no desserts) to Clubhouse 6 prior to the parade. This delicious collection of refreshments will then be available at the parade’s conclusion.
Electric cart batteries should be fully charged, and gasoline carts should have full gas tanks. The parade’s slow speed and frequent starts and stops can quickly drain a cart’s power.
For more information, call club President Tom Davies at (562) 431-6859.
Democratic Club
by Mary Larson
LW contributor
The Democratic Club is against the potential recall of three members of the Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Trustees. All three of these trustees were elected to the Board in 2020. The Democratic Club believes that they, along with the two trustees who will be running for re-election in 2022, have been doing an outstanding job of governing the school district in these troubled times. Such a recall will cost the district up to $192,948, plus about $3.40 per signature for verification. Members are urged to not sign petitions to recall the three trustees.
The club is also closely following the redistricting of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Unlike in Los Angeles County, which has delegated redistricting to an independent commission, Orange County supervisors have final say on the outlines of the districts they will represent if they seek re-election.
The Supervisors’ vote on Nov. 22 wrapped up nearly a month of meetings during which they reviewed maps submitted by the public. They then went through numerous revisions to create new maps.
The final map (dubbed 5A-1) was drawn by Supervisor Doug Chaffee. Chaffee and Katrina Foley are the two Democrats on the majority-Republican board. They were joined in supporting 5A-1 by Republican Lisa Bartlett, who will be termed out of office at the end of 2022. The adopted map created a majority-Latino district for the first time in history.
Another map under consideration prompted allegations of gerrymandering. This rejected map would have put Foley at a disadvantage. Now, because the adopted map puts all of Costa Mesa and neighboring Newport Beach in her new District 5, Foley could be re-elected next year. Until then, she will be representing District 2, which is now centered on Santa Anna, where she does not live.
Leisure World voters—along with voters in the rest of Seal Beach, Rossmoor, Fountain Valley, Midway City, Westminster and a portion of Garden Grove—are now going to be in Supervisor Andrew Do’s District 1. Thirty-three percent of the voters in Do’s district are Asian American. There will be no election in this district until 2024, when Do will be termed out of office. Candidates for election to the Board of Supervisors to represent the new Districts 2, 3 and 5 will be on June 2022 Primary ballots.
The effort to recall all five members of the Orange County Board of Supervisors that began earlier this year ended due to the required paperwork not being submitted by the deadline.
LW Democrats and supporters who are interested in more in-depth, up-to-date reporting on relevant issues can subscribe to the club’s free electronic newsletter. Email democraticclubsblw@gmail.com, or call editor Mary Larson at (562) 296-8521.
Republican Club
by Brian Harmon
LW contributor
Dec. 7 is known as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, but it is not recognized as an official American holiday,
However, that day in 1941 is arguably one of the most significant days in world history.
Three of the six carriers sunk by Imperial Japanese aircraft that day were repaired through American ingenuity and put into action against both Germany and Japan.
However, what happened that day brought the United States into WWII, making the eventual defeat of both imperial Japan and Nazi Germany inevitable.
Most Americans today do not realize that, according to surveys taken around September 1941, only 60 percent of Americans were in favor of getting involved in World War II.
In one day, Pearl Harbor changed all of that.
Maybe U.S. entry to the war was inevitable. How long that would have taken is a question no one can answer. At that time, Britain, was in terrible shape. Even British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said privately and in his journal that he feared his country would lose to the Nazis. Pearl Harbor convinced him otherwise.
Britain’s loss to the Germans would have resulted in Nazi control of Europe and all of the Soviet Union, which goes all the way to China and almost to Japan.
It was a dark day in American history, but it was one that would move the U.S. to officially join the war and shift the tide to the Allied powers to end the war.
Hearts and Hands United in Giving
Hearts and Hands United in Giving (HHUG) is a small, local nonprofit dedicated to helping the homeless in the community. It accepts donations of clean, used towels; new, unopened travel size shampoo, soap and lotion; and disposable razors. The only clothing accepted is new socks and new underwear for men and women.
To donate any of these items, contact Susan Hopewell at (562) 430-6044 or Linda Neer at (562) 430-3214 for pick up. People may also leave donations on the patio in Mutual 6, Unit 62A, or Mutual 2, Unit 48A.
Donations are delivered to the Long Beach Multi-Service Center, which provides a variety of services to homeless individuals and families.
SBTV-3 Listings
SBTV-3 airs on TWC-Spectrum Channel 3, Frontier Fios Channel 37 and online streaming at sbtv3.org/schedule. Have Roku? Go to http://roku.streamsource.tv/add/sbtv. The playback schedule is available at SBTV3.org.
Thursday, Dec. 2
4 pm LW Emergency Preparedness
Expo 2021
4:45 pm Rob Roy Christmas Harmonica
5:15 pm Christmas in Quarantine:
Pops Show 2020
6 pm A LW Christmas
6:15 pm Leila Claudio Interview
6:50 pm Broadway in the Park
8 pm Studio Cafe
8:30 pm Cerritos Center-
Lady Jazz
10 pm Shakespeare in the Park:
Cymbeline
Friday, Dec. 3
4 pm Leila Claudio Interview
4:35 pm Vinyl Band at the Expo
5 pm Wonderelles’ First and
Second Sets
6:40 pm Christmas Story by
Joe Osuna/Lizard Hunter
7 pm Seal Beach Christmas
Parade-LIVE
9 pm Shakespeare in the Park:
Othello
10:30 pm Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Saturday, Dec. 4
4 pm Broadway in the Park
5:15 pm A LW Christmas
5:30 pm Spirit of Seal Beach
6 pm History of Seal Beach
6:30 pm Studio Cafe
7 pm A LW Christmas
7:15 pm Christmas in Quarantine:
Pops Show 2020
8 pm Ocean Perspectives
8:30 pm LAUSD
11:30 pm Bob Cole Conservancy
Sunday, Dec. 5
4 pm Wonderelles’ First and
Second Sets
5:40 pm Vinyl Band at the Expo
6 pm Broadway in the Park
7:15 pm A LW Christmas
8:45 pm Wally Shirra at SBNWS
9 pm Studio Cafe
9:30 pm Seal Beach Christmas Parade
11:30 pm Bob Cole Conservancy
Monday, Dec. 6
4 pm Canadian Rockies 2021
4:08 pm LW Pickelball 2021
4:15 pm LW Emergency Preparedness
Expo 2021
5 pm Christmas in Quarantine:
Pops Show 2020
5:45 pm Christmas Story by
Joe Osuna/Lizard Hunter
6 pm Seal Beach Christmas Parade
8 pm Studio Cafe
8:30 pm Wonderelles’ First and
Second Sets
10:10 pm Shakespeare in the Park:
Taming of the Shrew
Tuesday, Dec. 7
4 pm LW Emergency Preparedness
Expo 2021
4:45 pm Rob Roy Christmas Harmonica
5:15 pm Christmas in Quarantine:
Pops Show 202
6 pm A LW Christmas
6:15 pm Leila Claudio Interview
6:50 pm Broadway in the Park
8 pm Studio Cafe
8:30 pm Cerritos Center-
Lady Jazz
10 pm Shakespeare in the Park:
Merry Wives of Windsor
Wednesday, Dec. 8
4 pm LW Emergency Preparedness
Expo 2021
4:45 pm Christmas Story by
Joe Osuna/Lizard Hunter
5 pm Christmas in Quarantine:
Pops Show 2020
6 pm Seal Beach Christmas Parade
8 pm Wonderelles’ First and
Second Sets
9:11 pm Vinyl Band at the Expo
9:30 pm Live at the Ford:
Vaud and the Villains
11:30 pm Studio Cafe
*All programming is subject to change.
LW Birthday
Terry Humphrey from Mutual 15 awoke to a Hollywood red carpet experience outside her door for her 89th birthday. Her family quietly decorated her front patio with a red carpet and a Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame Star with her name to celebrate.
Korean American Classical Music Club’s next two meetings will be held on Dec. 9 and 16 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in Clubhouse 2. A box lunch will be provided after the Dec. 16 class. After the holidays, the club will meet again on Jan. 13, 20 and 27.
obituaries, page 17
Judith Villarrubia
1942-2021
Early on the morning of Nov. 23, Judy Villarrubia, beloved wife of Manny for over 52 years, peacefully passed away.
Born in Brooklyn to Rose and George Kamelhar, she spent most of her childhood there and graduated from Erasmus High School the same year as Barbra Streisand (no, they didn’t hang out). That summer, she toured Europe with her best friend Ellie, and the continent is still buzzing about those two and their antics. Upon her return, like most women of that time, Judy found a job as a secretary, wearing proper business garb down to the gloves, and made her career debut.
Eventually, she decided to continue her education and enrolled part-time in New YorkUniversity’s sociology curriculum in 1961. Approximately two-and-a-half years after that ,she wed Manuel, and the real fun began.
Upon graduation, she secured a position as a caseworker with the New York welfare system. Whoops, big mistake. But luck was in her corner. Leaving welfare, she landed a job with The Actors Fund, a much better fit. Judy got to work with Colleen Dewhurst, plus see lots of plays. After a five-year stint there, she was laid off due to staff reduction. No problems.
As luck would have, it she found immediate employment at CBS as an assistant album cover director. While there, she befriended James Taylor, Miles Davis, Cyndi Lauper and many other musicians who were on the label. The Sony takeover resulted in a Columbia personnel purge, so Judy decided to leave and go over to the AF of M, who been “head hunting” her for months. She remained there as a royalty administrator until her retirement.
Judy had a great smile and a fine sense of humor. She liked to dance, starting out with folk dancing, then to rock and roll to jazz lessons at Luigi’s famous studio in New York.
Finally, she found her true calling with Zumba.
She loved to travel, visiting Spain, Italy, China and New Zealand, among other destinations.
Admittedly, Judy was a bit of a klutz, but that didn’t stop her from playing tennis (won a tournament), as well as practicing tai chi and yoga. During her married life in NY, she and Manny saw just about every major on and off Broadway show. Betty Buckley and Christine Andreas were some of the Cabaret performers she got to know and watch. One of her guilty pleasures was to sit on the beach, watch the water and just zone out. She was practical yet always willing to try new things.
In 2009, they moved to California and lived in Long Beach for a year, then settled in Seal Beach until her passing. Judy had friends and relatives on both coasts. She is survived by Manny; her niece Dawn; nephews Lloyd and Craig; and sister-in-law Martha. We’ll deeply miss her; she was a great trouper.
– paid obituary
•••
Patricia Ann
(Adams) Imbriano,
1935-2021
Patricia Ann (Adams) Imbriano was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She left this world suddenly on Nov. 12, at age 86.
She was born to the late Thomas and Mary Adams on Sept. 17, 1935, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Patricia attended Cambridge High and Latin School and Elizabeth Anne Seton College.
She married the late Michael Imbriano in 1964. They made a life together in the Boston, Massachusetts, area before relocating to Garden Grove.
She was devoted to her faith, family and the vocation of teaching. Patricia began teaching at Saint Ann’s School in Maryland. Years later, in 1966, she earned Teacher of the Year honors at Saint Mary’s School in Boston’s Historic North End. She continued her vocation at Mitchell School in Garden Grove.
She was active within the Leisure World, Seal Beach, community, enjoying bingo and Bunco and spending time with friends, along with hosting birthday luncheons and get- togethers. She found her greatest joy within the parish of Holy Family Catholic Church.
She lived her life knowing that “each day is a gift from the Lord.”
Patricia was wonderfully devoted to her children, Joseph, Michael, John and Rosemarie, as well as her in-laws, Lisa, Christine and Sally.
She was a loving grandmother to Lauren Marie, Katie Rose, Christopher Michael (deceased), Matt, Emily Rose, Erin Claire, Brendan Michael, Jacob, Jeremy, Carissa and Brina and an aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her late brother Thomas Adams and is survived by her brother Peter and his wife Susan (Bennett) Adams.
•••
• The obituaries deadline is Monday at 1 p.m., prior to the desired Thursday publication date. Obituaries that are received later than Monday will go in the following week’s issue.
•Email obituary notices to
laurieb@lwsb.com with photos attached as jpg files.
• The first 250 words, plus one picture, is free to publish in the newspaper; each additional word is 25 cents.
• For more information, call the LW Weekly office at (562) 430-0534, ext. 801, or email laurieb@lwsb.com.
GENERAL
AVON
Lenora Browning, LW Resident. Phone 562-493-5457. Seal Beach Business License #BRN000. 12/30
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JAFRA-by-Helen
LW-Resident 562-419-3557 www.jafra.com/hwells Celebrating 51-Year Career, Call for Specials! Business License WEL0015 12/23
GARDENING & LANDSCAPING
FRANK’S GARDENING SERVICE
Complete maintenance and landscape. Serving Leisure World since 1978. Planting, clean-ups, fertilization. New lawns, etc. Offering my services to all Mutuals. Honest and reliable. State Contractor’s License #779462. Call 562-863-7739,
562-743-3832 or 714-527-1172. 12/30
HANDYMAN SERVICES
Additions & Remodeling, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Windows, Tile & Stonework. State Contractor’s License #393071.
OGAN CONSTRUCTION, INC. (562) 596-7757. 03/31/22
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JR HOME REPAIRS. Quality work. Perfectionist, honest & reliable. Call JR 562-519-2764. SB Business License #JRH0001. 07/07/2022
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562-596-0559 LW DECOR INC – LIC 723262
Install doors, new windows, recessed lights, fans, light fixtures. Cabinet refacing & refinishing, paint exterior window frames, ceilings made smooth, closets redone, misc. repairs. Kitchen/bathroom remodeling. 40+ yrs in LW.
LW DECOR INC 562-596-0559. 02/10/22
BATHTUB & SHOWER REFINISHING
We refinish your TUB/SHOWER to look brand new. Convert to a WALK-IN SHOWER and/or raise seat. Nu Kote 562-833-3911
License #699080 Serving LW since 1999. 2/03/2022
PAINTING
Painting – Free estimates. 1 room or entire house & refinish kitchen cabinets. Call Jerry (714) 826-8636.
CA State License #675336. 12/30
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Affordable – Professional, Licensed and Insured. Interior – exterior drywall repair, texturing, pressure washing, cabinets. Senior discounts. Cory Gee Painting 714-308-9931. License #1049257. 12/09
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562-596-0559 LEISURE WORLD DECORATORS
Lic 723262. 40+ yrs in LW. Interiors, cabinets, exterior window frames, kitchen, bath, doors, trim, primered only premium paints. Ceilings made smooth, crown moulding & baseboards installed. LW Decor Inc.562-596-0559. 02/10/22
FLOOR COVERINGS
562-596-0559
LW DECOR INC.
40+ yrs in LW. Vinyl plank, laminate, tile indoor and outdoor patio carpet. License 723262. 562-596-0559. 02/10/22
UPHOLSTERY/Carpet cleaning and tile & grout
All Year Carpet Cleaning since 1988. Tile & Grout. Call Tito (562) 658 – 9841. State Contractors Lic. #578194. 12/30
SKYLIGHT SERVICES
SKYLIGHTS
CLEAN, REPAIR, REPLACE. Licensed and insured. Dan (562) 841-3787. Seal Beach License #BRA0002. 02/17/22
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SKYLIGHT Cleaning and Repairs Contact Eugene at (714) 774-4385. Contractor State License 634613-B. 1/13/22
WINDOW COVERINGS
562-596-0559
LEISURE WORLD DECORATORS
Shutters, blinds, roll-up shades, custom drapes. 562-596-0559. 02/10/22
Leisure World Helping Leisure World
Y’s Service Club of the YMCA will assist residents with small non-professional jobs. We change light bulbs, clean air conditioner filters, hang a small picture or mirror, remove or place items on a high shelf, air bicycle tires, etc. Donations gladly accepted. Call weekdays between 9 am-5 pm. (562) 822-6655, (562) 596-1741.
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Does your walker need new tennis balls? Delivery and installation provided. Please give your name and phone number. Free of charge. Diane Hart 714-955-2885.
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“ROLLIN THUNDER” GOLF CART CLUB
Offers FREE advice on buying and selling of your golf cart. Also batteries and Safety Flags. 562-431-6859.
HOME CARE PERSONAL ASSISTANT
I am an experienced caregiver available to assist with daily care, doctor’s appointments and errands. Available 24/7.
949-899-7770. Seal Beach Business License HEL0006. 12/30
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CHRISTIAN HOME CARE
Experienced, knowledgeable caregivers, honest, assertive, fluent English. Hourly/full-time, doctor’s appointments, errands. Bernadine 562-310-0280. Seal Beach Business License #BCS0002. Bonded/insured. 12/30
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MOST AFFORDABLE RATES with optimum service, 23-years LW experience, reliable, honest caregivers. Licensed, 24-hours, part-time, doctors, appointments, references, fluent English. Ann 714-624-1911, 562-277-3650 – Heidi. Seal Beach License #HYC0001. 12/16
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EXPERIENCED CAREGIVER
Over 25+ years in Leisure World with Excellent References. Hourly or Live-in. Please Call Pampet: 562-371-4895. Seal Beach License PAN0003 2/24/2022
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Elderly care. Live-in, live-out. 30 years of experience. Cooking, cleaning, medications, companions, doctors. Experience with dementia. Licensed by the state. Gloria 949-371-7425. 12/23
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Maria’s experienced caregivers, run errands, Dr’s appointments, cleaning, cooking, part-time, full-time, live-in. (562) 230-4648. Seal Beach Business License License #CAM0006. 12/09
BEAUTY SERVICES
Tammy Nguyen Phenix Salon – Service in private suite. One customer, one hairstylist. Sanitized & professional. Haircut for men & women, shampoo, set, color, highlights, perm, nails & toenails. In-house service available. Tammy Nguyen. 13944 Seal Beach Blvd, #116. (714) 425-4198. 2/10/2022
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In home hair care, serving the men and women of Leisure World for 36 years. Mel, cell: 562-480-9341. License #KC75538. 12/23
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Yvonne-Is-Back! Haircuts, Color, Perms, Pedicure/Manicure in your home. Call 714-855-8465 for appointment. License KK336138. 12/23
HOUSE CLEANING
Experienced housekeeper. I do weekly and monthly cleaning. Call 949-899-7770. Seal Beach Business License HEL0006. 12/30
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MOVE-IN, MOVE-OUT
WINDOWS, HOUSECLEANING CALL PHIL AT 562-881-2093 Over 30 years Experience! Seal Beach Business License #AB0001. 12/30
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GRACIAN’S HOUSECLEANING & WINDOWS.
Windows 10% off first cleaning. General housecleaning. Excellent referrals in LW. (562) 307-3861. 20 years experience.
Seal Beach Business License gra0006. 02/10/2022
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General housekeeping, 30 years of experience. Bi-weekly or monthly. Seal Beach License RAZ0002. Call Gloria
949-371-7425. 12/23
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Maria House Cleaning
We’ll make your house look as nice as possible! 15 years of experience, We can work with your schedule. Bi-weekly or monthly.
Deep cleaning. Call or text 714-496-2885. Bus. Lic #HER0008. 12/23
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MAGALY’S CLEANING SERVICE
We make your home sparkle! 7-days call anytime! Complete cleaning. Seal Beach Business License #M0001A.
Call 562-505-1613. 12/09
COMPUTERS
FRUSTRATED (562)755-6199
Everything for your computer (PC or Mac), cell phone, TV, stereo, any electronic device. Tina Schaffer. Seal Beach Bus. License License #CIP0001 02/17/2022
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John’s Computer Services 562-733-9193
Virus removal, Repair, Training, Software, Wireless, Internet Security. LW Resident SB License FUH0001. 12/23
AUTOS WANTED
ANY KIND OF CAR
Cars, motorcycle, truck – running or not. We are local – call anytime! We pay cash and remove promptly! We do DMV and Release of liability for you! Bonded/Licensed, since 1985! Call us so we can come out and give you a quote. 562-684-0901. 02/10/2022
ELECTRIC CARTS/SCOOTERS/MOBILE CHAIRS FOR SALE
Golf Cars BUY SELL TRADE and REPAIRS. Call 714-292-9124. 12/30
Transportation
Need a lift? Pam Miller. LW Residents ONLY. 310-227-1258 12/16
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Inexpensive Shuttle. Airports, Shopping, Doctors, etc. SB License ABL0001. 562-881-2093. 12/30
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Rides by Russ 714-655-1544. 12/02
autos/boats/rv’s trailers FOR SALE
ELECTRIC CAR PADS
Installed at your residence. Call Frank 562-743-3832. Contractor’s License #779462. 12/30
autos/boats/rv’s trailers wanted
Want to PURCHASE motorhome! Text Doug/818-645-4624.
MOVING, HAULING & STORAGE SERVICES
J&D HAUL AWAY AND CLEAN-UP SERVICE
No job too small! Fast, reliable, great prices. Seal Beach Business License BRA0002. 562-841-3787: Dan. 02/17/2022
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A FRIEND AND A TRUCK
Your moving service, any size job. Business License RO263644. Call 310-387-2618. 12/02
MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE
28” Samsung Color-TV with/Remote, Flat-Screen with Pedestal $100. Call 562-594-8353 for detail.
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Cabinet with/4-adjustable shelves , glass front. Height 48-1/2”, Depth 16-3/4”, Width 19-1/4”. Storage for books, records/LPs, knick-knacks, etc. You-pick-up 310-429-6736.
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2-Faux Red Leather Recliners, Like-New/$80-each. Wonder Woman Ceramic Cookie Jar, Like-New/$35. Batman Ceramic Cookie Jar, Like-New/$35. Beatles, Collectible, Ceramic Cartoon Cookie Jar, $80. Framed Print of Elvis and Ann Margaret, Viva Las Vegas Movie, $20. Round Kitchen Table with/Folding Sides, Birch, Like-New/$75. Large Square Ottoman, Comfy, Beige, 35” x 35”, Like-New/$50. Wooden Kitchen Trash Can, with/lid, 13-gallon, Yellow, $15. 714-469-7519.
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Christmas Boutique, December/9th-10th-11th, 1860 McKinney Way. Mutual-15/Apartment-21A. Complete your shopping for family and friends. Christmas-wrapping, ribbons, bows, Santa Statues, lights for inside/outside, tree-decorations, toys for kids. Floor-lamps, table-lamps, small furniture, several sets of throws for the bed and decorative pillows. 12/09
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Standard 2-Wheel Bicycle. Call 562-493-8480 for further details.
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Multi-Family YARD-Sale. 13121 Oak Hills Drive & surrounding areas. Friday/December-3rd (8:30am-2:30pm).
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MUST GO! 26” Beach Cruiser $95/OBO. 26” Trike $325/OBO. Call at 562-209-0816.
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La-Z-Boy Colby Duo Recline-Sofa, purchased new 10/20 with/electric control/USB-ports @ both arms.
Excellent Condition/$1,050 310-717-3619.