December 15, 2017 - Oronoque Village€¦ · 5/12/2017 · December 15, 2017 • 5 Story and photo by Bill Tanski On the evening of Nov. 17, we had another gathering of the OV Wine

December 15, 2017

3December 15, 2017 •

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6 ANNOUNCEMENTS

7 ACTIVITIES

8 CALENDAR

Table of Contents

NEWS DEPARTMENTS:

On the cover: Members of the House & Garden Decorating Committee teamed with resident volunteers to decoratethe North and South Clubhouses for the holiday season. The Villager welcomes photo submissions for cover considera-tion. Images must be emailed as high-resolution jpegs to [email protected]

PLEASE VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: OV CONNECTIONS

4 Pletman Concert Season’s Finale

5 OV Wine Club Toasts the Holidays

9 Trash & Recycling Pickup Changes

10 Recipe: Tunnel of Fudge Cake

11 Writers Group Essays

12 Arts Guild Meeting Recap

12 Updates from the OV Library

14 Artist of the Month: Barbara Stewart

16 Beyond the Village

19 Maintenance Matters: Holiday Safety

20 Lights, Camera, Colonoscopy

21 Club & Group Advertisements

FEATURES:

By Elisabeth Breslav ~ Photo by Marcia Klein

Judging by audience reaction, the second performanceat Oronoque by the Half Mile Common Piano Trio was

every bit as successful as their first. Andrew Woodruff, cellist, introduced the first piece, the

“Prelude to “Bach’s Suite # 2” for unaccompanied cello. Thecomposer wrote six suites, all before 1720, and they werelost for about 150 years. Finally, Pablo Casals, the famousSpanish cellist, found copies of the original manuscriptwhile rummaging in the back of a music shop in Barcelona.He took them home with him, worked on them … andplayed them every day for 12 years before he ever per-formed them. “The Bach Suites are very personal pieces; they are in-

troverted,” Andrew explained. “The whole second one issad, all about tragedy and sorrow.” A contrasting mood was created by the lively “Trio in E

Minor #12 (Rondo)” by Joseph Haydn. Violinist Bernice

Stochek provided some biographical details of the com-poser, including the fact that his contributions to musicalform have earned him the epithets "Father of the Sym-phony" and "Father of the String Quartet." Next came “Trio Opus 1 #3 in C Minor” by Ludwig van

Beethoven, an early work which shows the influence ofHaydn on the younger composer, but also reflects thetransition from the classical to the romantic period. It was followed by Max Bruch’s “Violin Concerto in GMinor Opus 26 (Prelude: Allegro Moderato),” which tookthe composer from 1864 to 1868 to write, but then wasplayed so often that it overshadowed everything else hewrote. Tired of hearing it, he sold the rights to his pub-lisher and made no money out of his biggest hit. “The Hungarian Dance #5” by Johannes Brahms, apiano solo, clearly reflected the influence of Gypsy musicthat became so popular in the middle of the 19th century.It had our Villagers swaying and nodding in time with themusic, a mood that continued during the last two pieceson the program. “The Fruhlingsstimmen Waltz (Voices of Spring)” andthe “Blue Danube Waltz,” both by Johann Strauss, Jr., werewritten for orchestra and piano. Andrew Woodruff did thespecial arrangement for the trio, for which his two col-leagues gave him a richly deserved applause at the end. A happy crowd gathered at the reception, enjoying theusual nice refreshments before heading out into a verywindy night. OV

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To Advertise in The Villager … and reach a target audience

of nearly 2,000 active adults … Contact: Lisa Massaro

323-470-1911 [email protected]

PLETMAN CONCERTS END FALL SERIES ON A HIGH NOTE

• December 15, 2017

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Story and photo by Bill Tanski

On the evening of Nov. 17, we had another gatheringof the OV Wine Club at the North Clubhouse. Out-

side, it was a cold night. Indoors, we were warmed byfriendship and the forecast of 100 percent chance ofwine.

Appropriately, our theme was a “Toast the Holidays,

Wines From Around the World.” Again, our wine tutor andtour leader was the remarkable Len Gulino. As attendees arrived, they were greeted with a tray

of chocolate kisses and chocolate-covered mangos. Thispaired nicely with our entrance wine, a Prosecco Super-oire Brut N.V. from Veneto Italy. This wine had a brightfruit flavor, which gave it a unique intensity. Yet, the bub-bles were gently persistent and indicated that we werein for a special night of wine tasting. Each attendee sat on a table laden with a variety of

antipasto to complement each tasting and water tocleanse the palate between servings. So, on gossamer wings we flew down to the western

cape of South Africa with a taste of a white IndabaChenin Blanc. This wine was very approachable with itsfresh scent of citrus and a hint of minerals. Paired with amild cheese, this is a wine to sip with friends or enemies,especially the latter, as they’d become the former afterthe bottle is finished. But another white beckoned us. We soon found our-

selves in the shadow of Vesuvius with an exoticFalahghina DOC from Campania, Italy. Many of us neverheard of such a grape. But, in no time we became ac-quainted with this fine wine and paired it with some veg-etables and prosecco ham. We can easily see this wine asa complement to seafood due to its smooth and delicatetaste. Our final white of the evening was a Riesling Kabinet

from Pfalz, Germany. This wine was of the sweet variety.We learned that the sweetness of a Riesling is in propor-tion to its alcohol content. Who knew? It was excellent and now I understand how such a

wine can become weaponry. Ian Fleming wined anddined a German spy at the Savoy Hotel in London duringWorld War II. From that encounter, he obtained signifi-cant intelligence for the Allies. Asked how he got that in-formation, Fleming said: “It was easy. After the secondbottle of Riesling, he just talked and talked.” Now, we entered the home stretch with the reds. First

stop, Burgundy, France. Here we sipped on a BourgognePinot Noir. Its scent had a hint of blackberries and earthyclay, like a day in May. It was not bold nor harsh but pleas-

ant and courteous. It would complement a turkey dinneror a seafood buffet during the holidays. I’d called it the“DiMaggio Of Wine” -- elegant and smooth. Next, we sailed across the Atlantic and landed in Ar-

gentina, home of the famous malbec grape. This is adeep and layered wine on the nose, with its hint of blackfruit. Darker than the pinot noir, it was a full-bodied wine.Its boldness would go with a roast beef dinner amongfriends, as they quote masculine things like Hemingway’saccounts of bull fighting. We ended our tour of reds with a wine like none

other. It was a Camins del Priorat from Priorat, Spain. Thiswine was comprised of four different grapes: grenache,cinsault, cabernet sauvignon and syrah. While sippingthis, it grabs you by the collar and says, “You will neverknow the likes of me again. Drink me and enjoy.” Wedid...and we did. This wine also said: “Beef would be myfriend, pair me with it and you will not be disappointed.” Our tasting drew to a close with a special holiday

toast. We wished ourselves the best of the season and thewarmest wishes for the coming new year. What better way to toast ourselves but with Cham-

pagne? It was a Carte Blanche Champagne Brut N.V. fromAllemant, France. Its taste reminded us of why WinstonChurchill said to his generals: “Remember gentlemen, itsnot just France we are fighting for, but Champagne.” Our evening drew to a close with an OV Wine Club

tradition: we sipped some “exit” wines and shared thehome-baked cookies of Dorothy Tanski. Then we talkedand laughed like the old and dear friends we have be-come. Until the spring … merry everything and happy al-

ways! OV

OV WINE CLUB TOASTS THE HOLIDAYS

HOUSE & GARDEN CLUB SCHEDULE The House & Garden Club will be on break during themonths of January and February. General meetings will re-sume on March 12 with a speaker from the Peabody Museumin New Haven, who will describe the museum’s exhibits andoutline the programs that are offered to the public. The members of the House and Garden Club wish every-one happy holidays and a healthy new year!

HOLIDAY DECORATION REMOVAL AT NORTH & SOUTH CLUBHOUSES The Decoration Committee will remove all holiday deco-rations at the South Clubhouse on Jan. 3 at 3:30 p.m. Decora-tions will be removed from the North Clubhouse at 3:30 p.m.on Jan. 4. Those who are available to help are welcome to join thegroup and pitch in. Call Debbie Grosso at 203-380-2468 withquestions.

‘CONSCIOUS AGING’ COURSE Beginning Monday, Jan. 8, a weekly class, “ConsciousAging,” will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon in the NCB cardroom. The eight-week course is priced $80 with an additional$20 fee for the workbook. According to the U.S. Administration on Aging, by 2030there will be approximately 72 million people aged 65 yearsand older, more than double the number in 2000. But in ouryouth-obsessed culture there is fear and anxiety for thosemaking the journey. The goals of the course are to:• Explore self-limiting beliefs and stereotypes to makemore “conscious” choices on aging• Develop self-compassion to help deal more effectivelywith change, worry and stress• Discover and reflect on what has given meaning to ourlives and how that can be used to affect our intentions for ouraging process and our involvement with community• Enhance connection and reduce isolation by understand-ing our shared humanity• Reduce fear and increase acceptance in the presence ofdeath and dying for ourselves and our loved ones Topics to be covered during the course include:• Introduction to Conscious Aging• Self-Compassion• Forgiveness• Transformative Practices• Death Makes Life Possible• Surrender - Letting Go

• Creating a New Vision of Aging The class will be led by OV resident Peter Ulisse, who isnationally certified to teach Conscious Aging. Registration is limited to 12 people. To sign up or for more details, call 475-422-9630 or email [email protected]

COAT DRIVE COLLECTION BOXES ATNORTH AND SOUTH CLUBHOUSES Oronoque Village is partnering with Halstead Property'sHelping Hands to present a coat drive benefitting Inspirica ofStamford. Collection boxes, located at the North and SouthClubhouse, will be available for donations through Dec. 31.Please bring new or gently used adult and children's wintercoats as well as hats, gloves and scarves. For additional information or support in getting coats tothe clubhouses, please contact OV resident PamelaSchwanke at 203-856-4194. Inspirica is a large provider of services to the homelessin Connecticut and operates 12 facilities in lower FairfieldCounty, offering an extensive array of support services, in-cluding vocational training, workforce education, job place-ment and housing placement.

EMAILS WANTED FOR MAINTENANCE REQUESTS If you have an email address, please be sure to include itwith your Service Requests so we may update our records. By having your email address, we can be sure to keep youinformed regarding the status of your work request. Also,please add our email address ([email protected]) to your email contact list. (This will help preventour emails from going into your spam folder. )

CALL FOR ART: “STILL LIFE" WINTER SHOW BEGINS DEC. 28 Oronoque artists using any medium are invited to bringone or two pieces to SCB at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28. Artwork must be wired, ready to hang and fit the themeof the show, which is titled “Still Life.” This show will hang fromJanuary through March 2018. The opening reception is Sun-day, Jan. 7.

Artists participating in the current show can pick up theirartwork on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 3:30-5 p.m. For information or help transporting artwork, call BarbaraStewart at 203-612-1373.

6 • December 15, 2017

ANNOUNCEMENTS


EDITOR’S NOTE: To ensure accuracy, information must besubmitted, via email, to Carol King at [email protected]. (Submissions must be typed, in upper andlower case.) The deadline to be included in the next issue ofThe Villager, on Jan. 2, 2018, is Dec. 14 at noon.

CORN HOLEWeekly games of corn hole, a bean bag toss game, are•

played on Thursdays at 10 a.m. at SCB. Everyone is welcome.Questions? Call Sue or Ralph Trapasso at 916-7156.

CURRENT EVENTSThe Current Events Discussion Group will not meet in De-•

cember. Meetings will take place in SCB Card Room 1 at10 a.m. on Wednesdays Jan. 10 and Jan. 24. Please bring anews article to the meeting.

DOLLCRAFTERSDollcrafters meets at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays at NCB.•

LADIES BIBLE STUDYThere will be no meetings in December. Starting in January,•

meetings will be on the second and fourth Fridays of each

month from 10:30 a.m. till noon in the NCB card room. Thenext topic of discussion will be the Book of James in the NewTestament Call Tina Vermette (375-0291) or Angie McKelvey(227-3222).

LINE DANCINGClasses take place at NCB on Wednesdays. A beginner class•

is held at 9:30 a.m. followed by a class for all levels at 10 a.m.

POOL SOCIAL GROUPAnyone who enjoys socializing in and around the pools•

during the summer is invited to attend a get-together from4-6 p.m. at SCB on the second Thursday of each month.Come with your favorite appetizer and or beverage (ornothing) for reunions and conversations. Call Sonya at 203-375-1515 for more information.

TEA, TALK & CRAFTSTea, Talk and Crafts meets on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. in•

Card Room 2 at SCB. Bring your own projects or mending,etc. Refreshments will be served. Dues are $6. Each mem-ber is required to supply a dessert twice. For information,call Cynthia Harms at 203-402-9083.

ACTIVITIES

MARTHA TALBURT DRAWING AND PORTRAIT CLASSES Wondering what to do during the long winter months inOronoque? Why not try an art class taught by Martha Tal-burt?

Basic Drawing Class Martha’s 10-week “Basic Drawing Class” starts Friday, Feb.

2, in the SCB back card room. This is truly a beginner classwith step-by-step lessons that will teach you drawing skillsand will show you how to really “see.” No experience neces-sary! Classes are from 10 a.m. to noon each Friday. The cost is$120 plus minimal supplies. Class size is limited to 12 stu-dents.

Portrait Class “Drawing Portraits for Beginners” will take place weekly,starting Feb. 2 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the SCB back cardroom. Prerequisites for this class are Martha’s basic drawingclass or equivalent basic drawing experience. In this class, Martha builds a bridge from basic drawingskills to the more specific art of drawing portraits. This 10-week class costs $120 plus minimal supplies. Class size is lim-ited to12 students. Martha is an Oronoque resident who studied at the Art

Students League in New York and presently teaches in Ridge-field and Wilton Connecticut. Her artwork hangs throughoutthe United States.

To reserve a spot, make checks out to Martha Talburt andplace in the Arts Guild mailbox in the SCB lobby. Questions? Call Barb Stewart at 203-612-1373 or MarthaTalburt at 203-218-3831.

PLAN NOW FOR THE SUMMER GALERIE OV SHOW

The theme for The Summer GalerieOV show is “Life in Oronoque Village.”Artists working in any medium are en-couraged to create art that reflects ourlife here in this community. A beautifulsunset, the Farmers’ Market, card play-ers, flowers in bloom, pool activity orwhatever piques your interest … turnit into a beautiful work of art for theshow.

Photographic prints must be a min-imum size of 9 by 12 inches and must be framed, wired andready to hang.

For the latest on OV news and events, go to www.oronoquevillage.com or OVTV. OVTV is Channel591 for those with a cable box and Channel 121-591 forthose without a box. O=Open / C=Closed / RSF=RacquetSports Facility

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 159:00 a.m. – Low-Impact Exercise (Bring Weights), NCB (O)•

10:00 a.m. – Table Tennis, SCB (O)•

2:00 p.m. – Writer’s Group, NCB, C/R (O)•

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16: No events scheduled

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17: No events scheduled

MONDAY, DECEMBER 189:00 a.m. – Low-Impact Exercise (Bring Weights), NCB (O)•

11:00 a.m. – Chair Yoga, NCB, C/R (O)•

6:00 p.m. – Pickleball Holiday Gathering, NCB (C)•

7:00 p.m. – Beginner Bridge Group, NCB, Library (O)•

7:00 p.m. – Bridge, NCB, C/R (O)•

7:30 p.m. – Carp Card Game, SCB (C)•

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 199:00 a.m. – Yoga for Seniors, SCB, C/R2 (O)•

10:00 a.m. – Zumba Gold, NCB, Aud (O)•

10:00 a.m. – Dollcrafters, NCB, Library (O)•

2:00 p.m. – Rummikub, SCB, Lounge (C)•

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 209:30 a.m. – Line Dancing, beginners, NCB (O)•

10:00 a.m. – Line Dancing, NCB (O)•

10:00 a.m. – Drop-in Sculpture Class, SCB, A/C Rm (O)•

10:00 a.m. – Free Blood Pressure Screening, NCB , C/R (O)•

5:00 p.m. – Poker, NCB, C/R (C)•

6:00 p.m. – Jerry’s Poker, SCB, C/R1 (O)•

6:30 p.m. – Men’s Poker, SCB, C/R (O)•

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2110:00 a.m. – Corn Hole, SCB (O)•

10:00 a.m. – Oil Painting Workshop, SCB, AC Room (C)•

10:00 a.m. – Zumba, NCB (O)•

10:00 a.m. – Quilting Group, NCB, C/R (O)•

1:00 p.m. – Dominoes, SCB, C/R2 (C)•

1:30 p.m. – Bridge, NCB, Aud (C)•

1:30 p.m. – Tea, Talk & Crafts, SCB, C/R (O)•







MONDAY, DECEMBER 25Business & Maintenance Offices Closed. Buildings Closed.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 269:00 a.m. – Yoga for Seniors, SCB, C/R2 (O)•




8 • December 15, 2017

- -

CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY, DECEMB ER 279:30 a.m. – Line Dancing, beginners, NCB (O)•





THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2810:00 a.m. – Corn Hole, SCB (O)•

10:00 a.m. – Oil Painting Workshop, SCB, AC Room (C)•

10:00 a.m. – Zumba, NCB (O)•

1:00 p.m. – Dominoes, SCB, C/R2 (C)•

1:30 p.m. – Bridge, NCB, Aud (C)•

1:30 p.m. – Tea, Talk & Crafts, SCB, C/R (O)•





2:00 p.m. – Writer’s Group, NCB, C/R (O)•



MONDAY, JANUARY 1Business & Maintenance Offices Closed. Buildings Closed.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29:00 a.m. – Yoga for Seniors, SCB, C/R2 (O)•



7:00 p.m. – Funseekers Board Meeting, SCB, C/R (C)•

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 39:30 a.m. – Line Dancing, beginners, NCB (O)•


10:00 a.m. – Communications Committee, NCB (O)•

10:30 a.m. – Hadassah Board Mtg, NCB, C/R (C)•

3:30 p.m. – Holiday Decoration Removal, SCB (O)•




7:00 p.m. – Book Club, NCB, Library (O)•


Notice of Changes in Schedule for Trash & Recycling Pickup:

The Christmas holiday on Monday, Dec. 25, will delay pickup till Thursday, Dec. 28.

The New Year’s Day holiday on Monday, Jan. 1, will delay pickup till Thursday, Jan. 4.

CALENDAR, CONTINUED

10 • December 15, 2017

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RECIPE: TUNNEL OF FUDGE CAKEIngredients:1 3/4 cups margarine or butter, softened1 3/4 cups white sugar6 eggs2 cups confectioner's sugar2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder2 cups walnuts, if desired

Glaze:3/4 cup confectioner's sugar1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder2 tablespoons milk

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 10 inch

bundt pan.

In a large bowl, cream together, butter and white sugaruntil light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Gradually, blend in 2 cups confectioner's sugar. Beat in

the flour and 3/4 cup cocoa powder. Stir in the walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated

oven for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted intothe center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool for 1 hour, then turn out into a wire rack and

cool completely. For the glaze: In a small bowl, combine confectioner'ssugar and cocoa powder. Stir in the milk. a tablespoon at atime, until desired drizzling consistency is achieved. Spoonover cake.

-- Submitted by Ken Block

OV

Visit our website at www.oronoquevillage.com

11December 15, 2017 •

WRITERS GROUP ESSAYS

The three essays below were written as part of an OVWriters Group exercise using the theme “A Stitch in

Time.”

News Bulletin, December 19

The recent blizzard caused major traffic disruption in

Northeast United States and Canada, including a six-hour delay on the Montreal-New York train line. The 7a.m. train to New York was so late that many passengersmissed vital travel connections.

This reporter encountered one such Montreal pas-

senger, Ms. Maude Higgenbottom, arriving six hourslater than planned at the Holland America shippingdock in New York, her yellow cab screeching to a dra-matic halt beside the SS Statendam as the gangplankwas being removed.

"I'm sailing home to England for Christmas," she ex-

plained to me, waving her arms at the dock hands re-moving the gangplank, "but my train was six hours lateand, if it wasn't for Mr. Posey, my marvelous cabbie, driv-ing like a bat out of hell from the station, I wouldn't behere now."

Ms. Higgenbottom and Mr. Posey continued to wave

and shout to the stevedores to replace the Statendamgangplank just long enough for her to run aboard, and Iwished I had a photographer with me to catch the ac-tion ... but I'd only been assigned to report the usual liesfrom a politician sailing on the ship.

Finally the dockhands relented and replaced the

gangplank. Before charging up the slope, Ms. Higgen-bottom turned to the cabbie, hugged him warmly, andsaid, “Mr. Posey, you were my stitch in time. Thank you!"

December 20

Mr. Posey was subsequently fired by his taxi com-

pany after his boss read yesterday's report. "We can'thave our drivers driving ‘like a bat out of hell!’ in Man-hattan," he said, angrily.

-- Anne Anderson~

To do what is required ... now.

A task to be completed can be postponed. Post-

poned until it is sidestepped and the task falls into thejaws of procrastination.

One such “stitch” is the story of three friends who

graduated from a prestigious university. While in theirsenior year, a pact was made: to fly fighter jets in the U.S.Air Force.

The pact had some conditions. It was strictly talk,

but understood by all. The three had to be accepted intoflight school upon successful completion of a physical

examination. The second condition was agreed upon byall, but one. If one had failed the examination for what-ever the reason, the other two would not pursue the en-listment procedure. The one friend who had this idea tofly jets was very disappointed. He should not have madethe pact.

He, later in life, realized that his desire to fly jets

should have superseded the pact made with his collegefriends. He should have realized that these collegefriends would soon be occupied with their own lives. Hewould be left with the thought of not following his de-sire to fly.

"A stitch in time" that was past. A stitch, one stitch,

would not bind up his wounds, and the world wouldcontinue to spin regardless.

-- Richard Botta~

“A stitch in time saves nine” is a timeworn proverb

meaning if you have a hole in your clothing it is best tomend it immediately.

If you delay and put mending off until a later time,

the hole will get larger and require nine stitches. Theproverb is telling us not to procrastinate. It is one ofmany proverbs about procrastination. Probably we haveall heard or read, "Never put off for tomorrow what youcan do today" or “Procrastination is the assassin of time."

Of course, there are those who just cannot get to it.

They find anything else to do that in their mind takespriority over the task at hand ... clean the attic, eat asnack, call a friend who is ailing or take a nap!

However, there is also much to be said about wait-

ing. There is wisdom to thinking things through and notacting hastily or rashly. Consider all options and we cango on!

It has also been said that if you wait until the last

moment to do your task, the panic moment, your adren-alin starts to flow, you become extremely focused andthe quality of your work is improved and, possibly, thetask is more quickly completed. Then, there is the op-posing proverb, "Procrastination is the key to a pro-longed life."

There are other reasons for procrastinating. There

are times when we believe the task at hand is just awaste of time or we just don't see the point of the as-signment.

There are many thoughts about the proverb, but

whaddaya do if you agree with a stitch in time savesnine but you don't know how to sew?

-- Anthony T. Varone

12 • December 15, 2017

ARTS GUILD RECAP

Story and photos by Barbara Stewart

The Arts Guild held a meeting on Nov. 29 at the South Club-house, which was colorfully decorated for the holiday sea-

son. Guest speaker Jill Nichols, an adjunct professor at NewHaven University, spoke about color and its use in artworkand everyday life. We learned that blue can reduce stress,green improves sleep and creativity, yellow depicts happinessin the United States (but in France it could mean weaknessand jealousy) and red is a symbol of power and wealth. Jill said that the use of complementary colors, such as red

and green or blue and orange, is a good way to enhance awork of art or liven up your wardrobe. Everyone in atten-dance received a color wheel to take home to remind themof color combinations that work well together. Wine and hors d’oeuvres were served after the meeting,giving Arts Guild members and guests an opportunity tospeak with Jill and socialize with friends. Many thanks to Angela Alvisi, Nancy Gloh Rosenthal,Tina Vermette, Bonnie Usinger, Claire Carew and JudithLessler for their help with the room set up and clean up andthanks to Barry Wilensky and Jim Ruddy for preparing theaudio-visual equipment for the meeting. OV

The Oronoque Village Libraryhas reduced the number of

books on its shelves in an effort tokeep its offerings current.

Because there are fewer

books, it is requested that resi-dents limit the number of titlesthat they take out at one time. Itis also requested that borrowedbooks be returned as soon as pos-sible so that others may enjoythem, too. The popular, newer books —

which are located on the shelvesto the left as you enter — thin outquickly. Returning those books in a timely manner willbe particularly appreciated.

The library operates onan “honor” system. However,cooperation from borrowersis necessary for this philoso-phy to continue.

~

The Library Committeewould like to increase its

offerings of large-printbooks and books on com-pact discs. Resident dona-tions are encouraged.

Please do not drop off do-nations of books that aremore than 10 years old to

the library at NCB. Although your contributions are ap-preciated, there is not enough shelf space to accommo-date books published before 2006.

UPDATES FROM THE ORONOQUE VILLAGE LIBRARY

OV

13December 15, 2017 •

Story and photo by Carol King

Barbara Stewart is making her second appearance asan Oronoque Village Artist of the Month. Her oil paint-

ings are currently on display in the front foyer of NCB andVillagers are encouraged to take a look at the work of thistalented resident. Although she has long enjoyed painting, Barbara’s

focus on art took a backseat to her career as a physical ther-apist as well as her role as a working wife and mother. Now retired, she has pursued her artistic interests with

passion. “I take art classes at the Trumbull and Derby SeniorCenters as well as portrait-drawing classes with Martha Tal-burt here at Oronoque,” she says. Further, she is the vice president of the Oronoque Vil-

lage Arts Guild, the organizer of the Artist of the Month pro-gram and a member of the Art Committee, which ischarged with procuring art for the OV clubhouses. A native of New Jersey, she attended college in the

Midwest, taking classes at Iowa State University and laterat Indiana University. After graduation, she moved to NewYork City and held positions at Columbia Presbyterian Hos-pital, Albert Einstein Medical Center and New York Univer-sity Medical Center. While living in New York, Barbara wed an international

banker. She became the mother of two sons and the familylived abroad in several exotic locations, including the coastof West Africa; Cairo, Egypt; and London, England. Upon returning to the United States from London, she

made a home in Whitefish, Mont., where she was able topursue her love of painting by taking art courses at a com-munity college and workshops with local artists. “I enjoyedpainting the landscapes in Montana,” she says. “In the stu-dio I prefer painting from my own photographs. I also enjoypainting portraits of people and animals” She moved to Stratford in 2009 to be closer to her sons,

and her sister and family. She leased a unit at Oronoque Vil-lage and realized that she enjoyed the lifestyle here. “I reallylike the friendliness of the people who live here,” she says.“There are a variety of activities and this was a perfect placefor me to make new friends.” She became an official Villager in 2010 when she pur-

chased a unit of her own. She is now very active within thecommunity. In addition to her artistic activities, she servesas secretary of the House Committee, attends yoga, exer-cise classes, and bridge groups, and is active in the monthlyBook Club. “I love reading a good book and I really enjoythe people who attend the Book Club meetings,” she says.“I’m so impressed with the very knowledgeable men andwomen in this community who contribute to our discus-sions.” A fan of the theater, Barbara often attends productions

at Long Wharf, Westport Country Playhouse and SquareOne as well as shows in New York. Also, she enjoys traveling and recently returned from a

trip to Romania as part of a Road Scholar program. OV

14 • December 15, 2017

ARTIST OF THE MONTH: BARBARA STEWART

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MONITORS AT SCB

We welcome Kathryn Lukens and Elizabeth Bales,who are the newest members of the team of

monitors at SCB. Additional monitors at SCB are Celeste Jardim,

Ralph Trapasso, Kathy Wells, Michael Minoff, AnneHart, Cynthia Harms, Betty Hugus, Susan Monk, JoeDonia, Kevin Walsh, Rose and Jack Deeb, Veda Barrett,Joe DiPronio, Lee Shlafer, Dick Knopf, Nancy Wilson,Vangie Wales, Connie Murawski and Dee Tuozzoli. We all appreciate the help of our resident volun-

teers, who provide assistance at SCB for a few hourseach week.

-- Dave SchoennagelMonitor Program Coordinator

15December 15, 2017 •

Senior Helpers stands ready to serve your family’s needs with personalized, in-home care and expertly-trained, professional caregivers. Peace of mind begins with your free in-home care assessment. Call today to learn more.

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New House & Garden notecards are now for sale in the Business Office

The cards feature a scenic photo from our community.

The cost is 3 cards for $6 6 cards for $10

Money raised goes toward improvement

projects throughout the Village.

16 • December 15, 2017

BEYOND THE VILLAGE

The Connecticut River Museum in Essex presents its 24thAnnual Holiday Train Show though Feb. 19, 2018. This fam-

ily-friendly exhibit, created by train artist Steve Cryan, featurestrains, scenery and lots of surprises to be found in the fullyoperational 26-foot model train layout. Visitors are challengedto find a scavenger list of various objects hidden within thesettings while the smaller visitor set can get hands-on at anAmerican Flyer and Lionel Train layout designed for toddler-size viewing. For details, visit http://www.ctrivermuseum.orgor call 860-767-8269.

~

Connecticut Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” on Saturday,Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec 17, at Stamford’s Palace Theatre.

The professional company will be joined by over 100 localchildren from a dozen local dance schools and academies. Following each performance, ticketholders may obtainautographs or take photos with the guest artists in the lobby. Show times are Saturday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sundayat 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. For information, visit www.connecticut ballet.org or call203-325-4466. The theater is located at 61 Atlantic Ave.

~

The Holiday Express Train Show at Fairfield Museum willrun through Jan. 7. This exhibit features a display of model

trains winding around beautiful holiday scenery.

The museum is located at 370 Beach Road. For informa-

tion, visit www.fairfieldhistory.org or call 203-259-1598.~

Ridgefield Theater Barn presents “Wreck The Halls, A Holi-day Musical Revue,” through Dec. 30 “Wreck the Halls”

features two acts of music-filled satire and burlesque. Theshow will be presented Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., witha Sunday matinee on Dec. 17 at 2 p.m.

For information, visit www.ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org or

call 203-431-9850. The theater is located at 37 Halpin Lane.

Holiday Light Fantasia at Goodwin Park (1130 Maple Ave.)in Hartford is open through Jan. 1. The 2-mile show trans-

forms the park into a drive-through wonderland of holidayspirit with over 1 million lights. Whimsical holiday scenes, familiar characters and localtributes shine bright in larger-than-life lighted scenes and 200individual displays. Lighted animations celebrate Christmas,Hanukkah, New Year’s and Three Kings Day. Admission of $15 per car benefits the Channel 3 KidsCamp. The display is open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday throughThursday, and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, For information, visit www.holidaylightfantasia.org. OV

17December 15, 2017 •

PLEASE VISIT OURFACEBOOK PAGE:

OV CONNECTIONS

NOTE: A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT IS REQUIRED

TO JOIN THIS PAGE

18 • December 15, 2017

19December 15, 2017 •

MAINTENANCE MATTERS

To Advertise in The VILLAGER … and reach a target audience

of nearly 2,000 active adults … CONTACT:

LISA MASSARO 323-470-1911

[email protected]

Don’t forget to thank our advertisers and

tell them that you saw their ads in

The VILLAGER!

SAFE HOLIDAY DECORATINGBy Mark Rhatigan

Seasonal decorations -- including lights, trees andwreaths -- can help put your household in the holiday

spirit. However, when not used properly, decorations (par-ticularly lights) can create safety hazards or cause fires. Keep your home safe during the holidays by following

these best practices to ensure your holiday lights and dec-orations are installed correctly:• Double check lights for frayed wiresor cracks, and be sure there is abulb in each socket. Discard and re-place damaged strands.• Lights should be approvedby Underwriters Laboratory."UL" will be clearly displayedon the tag, signifying theproduct has been inspected for potentialsafety hazards. Red UL marks indicate the lights are safefor indoor/outdoor use, and green UL marks indicate thelights are only safe for indoor use.• Do not hammer tacks or nails into the electrical cordwhen hanging lights. Instead, use clips to safely attachlights to the house.• Use heavy-duty extension cords, and only use cordsoutdoors if they are designated for outdoor use. Avoidoverloading extension cords by using no more than threesets of standard lights per cord.• Use a timer or turn off lights before going to bed, or ifyou will be away from home.• For special ornaments that plug into a bulb receptacle,use no more than two per strand, or check the manufac-

turer's directions.• Indoor lights should not touch drapes, furniture or car-peting. Keep lit candles away from flammable items, too.• Prevent tripping by placing cords and decorations inlow-traffic areas where they won’t be walked on. Avoidtwisting, kinking or crushing cords. Below, are a few safety tips provided by Stratford Fire

Marshal Brian Lampart:• Smoke alarms should be placed on each level of a unit.

Batteries should be changed twice yearly;it is advised to change the batteries at

the same times that you change theclocks.

• Carbon monoxide detectionshould be located near thesleeping areas.• Christmas trees, if natural,should have a fresh cut at thebase and be maintained by

being submerged in fresh water. Freshcut trees can drink up to a gallon of water a day.

• Never use real candles on or near a Christmas tree.• If there is a need to use portable-type heaters, theyshould be placed on a level and nonflammable surface andkept away from any loose hanging materials, especiallybedding and drapes.• Never use cooking appliances, such as the kitchenstove, for the purpose of heating an occupied space. By taking the proper precautions both inside and out-

side of your home, you can prevent hazards and focus onfriends and family during the holidays. Don’t forget to pe-riodically check lights and decorations throughout the sea-son to ensure they continue to operate safely. Happy holidays. OV

20 • December 15, 2017

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOUR DOCTOR WANTS AN INSIDE LOOK ...LIGHTS, CAMERA, COLONOSCOPY

Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosedcancers in the United States with more than 145,000 new

cases each year. And while it is also one of the most prevent-able cancers, the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Md.,says colorectal cancer claimed more than 50,000 lives lastyear. Colorectal cancer is more common in people over 50,and the risk increases with age. Colorectal is cancer of thecolon and/or rectum, which are parts of the digestive – orgastrointestinal – system. The body uses the digestive sys-tem to turn food into energy. What the body cannot use isremoved through bowel movements. Cancer occurs whencells in the colon and/or rectum grow out of control and losetheir normal function. Many colorectal cancers can be detected early and ef-fectively with a colonoscopy, an important medical test un-necessarily dreaded by some. However, Dr. Dale Burleson,colorectal surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor RegionalMedical Center in Plano, Texas, explains the details of the test-- and shows it’s not as scary as some people think: Preparation. The most difficult part of the colonoscopymay be the prep, which involves taking a laxative pill or drink

to empty or “flush” the colon. “It’s not nearly as bad as it’smade out to be,” says Burleson. “It only takes a few hours. Bythe time you’re ready for bed, you’re all set.” Why is it necessary? The cleaner the colon, the better theview, and the less likely that something small might getmissed. Exam. The exam itself is probably the easiest part, saysBurleson. “The patient is awake, but with sedation, there’s lit-tle or no discomfort,” he says. “Many patients have told me itwasn’t nearly as scary as they expected.” During the procedure, the physician inserts a long, flex-ible tube with a tiny video camera into the body. The camerasends images to a monitor, allowing the physician to get agood look around. The resulting images can be printed andstored in the computer. Evaluation. What are doctors looking for? Inflammation,bleeding, ulcers, changes in color and polyps, which aresmall growths of tissue. Although most polyps are non-cancerous, they are generally surgically removed and abiopsy is taken -- just to be sure. “The normal lining of the colon should look like the in-side of a cheek; completely smooth,” adds Burleson. “We’relooking for anything that might signal a digestive conditionor early signs of cancer.”

This article was contributed by Chris Pederson, an Oronoqueresident and owner of Caregiver’s Home Solutions, a Stratfordbased nonmedical in-home care agency.

OV

FEATURE

The next OVCA Board meeting willtake place on Tuesday, Jan. 16,

at 7 p.m. at NCB.~

The OVTD Board will next meet onThursday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. at NCB.

~All residents are encouraged to

attend these meetings.

THINGS TO DO IN STRATFORD

Boothe Memorial Park and Museum, 5800 Main St.

Lordship Seawall, Beach Drive

Short Beach, 1 Dorne Drive

Roosevelt Forest, 700 Peters Lane

Perry House, 1128 W. Broad St.

Stratford Historical Society / Capt David Judson House, 967 Academy Hill

Source: Stratfordpatch.com

21December 15, 2017 •

4 nights on the beach at the OCEANFRONT INN - our rooms have PRIVATE BALCONIES FACING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

- discover the unique maritime history, heritage, culture and tradition of NORTH KS. Highlights include BODIE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE, CAPE HATTERAS

LIGHTHOUSE, CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE, WRIGHT BROTHERS NATIONAL MEMORIAL.

- SWINGTIME IN THE SKIES - see one of the largest collections of flying WWII Military Aircraft in the world. Hear stories and contributions made by the men and women of aviation to our country. MEET AND INTERACT WITH ROSIE THE RIVETER.

Cost: $702 pp double / triple; $852 pp single based on 40-50 Deposit: $300 pp by February 5, 2018

INCLUDES: Deluxe motorcoach, 4 nights hotel, 4 breakfasts, 4 dinners, sightseeing & admissions as per itinerary, Friendship Tours Escort For More Information: Sonya DeBiase 203-377-1515

FUNSEEKERS OF ORONOQUE VILLAGE PRESENTS:

Happy Holidays from the Funseekers Board ... Our Next Event is in February

We extend our warmest wishes for a joyous holiday season to all Villagers. Our heartfeltthanks go out to all Funseekers members and guests who made 2017 such an incredible year.

No meeting will be held during the month of January.We look forward to seeing you at our first event of2018, “A Time of Love.”on February 13.

Your 2018 annual dues of $10 per person are nowdue.

Please place it in the Funseekers mailbox in the NCB.

22 • December 15, 2017

Friday, Jan. 12, 7 p.m. at NCB

Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m. at SCB

$1 admission includes popcorn

The Movie Club was founded by Len Learner and is sponsoredby Marcia Klein, Dee Tuozzoli and innumerable volunteers.

The Movie Club Presents Victoria & Abdul

The Oronoque Village Book Club meets at 7 p.m.on the first Wednesday of every month at NCB.

All Villagers are welcome.Need a ride or information? Call Hinda at 203-385-3855

The book selection for Jan. 3, 2018 is When Books Went to War byMolly Guptill Manning. When Books Went to War is a thoroughly en-gaging, enlightening and often uplifting account of America's counter-attack against Nazi Germany's wholesale burning of books. DuringWorld War II, the U.S. government, along with librarians and publish-ers, dispatched millions of books to American GIs, sailors and fliers,using the written word itself as a powerful reply to tyranny, thoughtcontrol, absolutism and perverse ideology.

There is no meeting during the month of February.

The March 7 book is Tribe by Sebastian Junger.

Victoria & Abdul is a British 2017 biographical comedy-drama aboutthe real-life relationship between Queen Victoria of the UnitedKingdom (Dame Judy Dench) and her Indian Muslim servantAbdul Karim (Ali Fazal). The two forge an unlikely and devoted al-liance that her household and inner circle try to destroy. As theirfriendship deepens, the queen begins to see a changing worldthrough new eyes, joyfully reclaiming her humanity.

23December 15, 2017 •

Guest Speaker

Light supper served with coffee and cake

Cost: $10 per person ($5 for dinner and $5 for 2018 dues)

Your check made out to OVMCand placed in NCB Men's ClubBox by January 6, 2018 is your

reservation

Oronoque Village Men’s Club Annual DinnerJanuary 10, 6-9 p.m., at SCB

TO: All men living in

Oronoque Village

Reservations a must!! No oneadmitted at door without a

reservation!!

?? Call Sandy Lunt (203) 377-5833

Bingo: Presented by the Men’s Club

Thursday, January 18, 2018, at 7:00 pm at SCB

Come and bring your friends. Cost: $2.50/card

Questions? Call Sandy Lunt203-377-5833.

Refreshmentswill be served

Open to all

24 • December 15, 2017

MEN’S CLUB TRIP TO MOHEGAN SUNMONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018

DEPARTING REAR OF SCB AT 1 P.M. LEAVING CASINO AT 8:30 P.M.COST PER PERSON: $25

A check made out to Oronoque Village Men's Club is your reservation. Please place check in the Men's Club box in the North

Clubhouse. Questions? Call Sandy Lunt: 203 377- 5833 or Jerry Brown: 203 378-7781

TO THE GALERIE OV WINTERSHOW OPENING RECEPTION:

“STILL LIFE”

WHEN: SUNDAY, JAN. 7TH At 4PM

WHERE: SOUTH CLUBHOUSE

Come and enjoy appetizers, meetthe artists and find out who wonthe People’s Choice Award for thefall show, “Art Inspired by Travel.”

SPONSORED BY SAC AND THE ARTS GUILD

YOU’RE INVITED!

25December 15, 2017 •

COME ONE, COME ALL! FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH AT NCB

RELAX AND MINGLEDrop by with an appetizer to share

BYOB ...And enjoy a video presentation of the recent sold-out

“Dancing With Our Stars” event

Hosted by SAC

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE WORK OF ART AT THE SCB GALLERY SHOW

The Fall Oronoque Art Show, which has the theme of“Art Inspired by Travel,” is on view through Dec. 27.

Please stop by and vote for your favorite piece of artwork.

The person who gets the most votes will receive a People’s Choice Award.

26 • December 15, 2017

The Villager is published twice monthly, on the 1st and15th when possible. Below is a tentative schedule for up-coming magazines. These dates are subject to change.

Jan. 2 issue has a deadline of Dec. 14

Jan. 15 issue has a deadline of Jan. 2

Feb. 1 issue has a deadline of Jan. 19

Feb. 15 issue has a deadline of Feb. 2

March 1 issue has a deadline of Feb. 15

March 15 issue has a deadline of March 2

April 2 issue has a deadline of March 20

April 16 issue has a deadline of April 3

May 1 issue has a deadline of April 18

May 15 issue has a deadline of May 2

June 1 issue has a deadline of May 18

June 15 issue has a deadline of June 4

July 2 issue has a deadline of June 19

July 16 issue has a deadline of July 3

Aug. 1 issue has a deadline of July 19

Aug. 15 issue has a deadline of Aug. 2

Sept. 4 issue has a deadline of Aug. 21

Sept. 18 issue has a deadline of Sept. 5

Oct. 1 issue has a deadline of Sept. 18

Oct. 15 issue has a deadline of Oct. 2

Nov. 1 issue has a deadline of Oct. 19

Nov. 15 issue has a deadline of Nov. 2

Dec. 3 issue has a deadline of Nov. 20

Dec. 17 issue has a deadline of Dec. 4

VILLAGER DEADLINE DATES FOR 2018

FEATURE14 Artist of the Month

FEATURE10 Pletman Concerts

FEATURE13 SAC Reception

December 1, 2017

Trash & recycling pickup, most often, occurs on Wednesday.

Below is a list of the holidays observed by Winter Brothers Waste Systems and details on how these holidays willimpact trash & recycling pick up during 2018.

New Year’s Day, Tuesday, Jan. 2 - will delay pick up till Thursday, Jan. 4.

Memorial Day, Monday, May 28 - will delay pick up till Thursday, May 31.

Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4 - will delay pick up till Thursday, July 5.

Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3 - will delay pick up to Thursday, Sept. 6.

Thanksgiving: Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22 and 23 - No change in pickup schedule.

Christmas, Tuesday, Dec. 25 - will delay pick up till Thursday, Dec. 27.

2018 TRASH & RECYCLING HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

2018 Employee Holidays

The Business and Maintenance Offices will be closed on the following dates during the upcoming year:New Year’s Day, Monday, Jan. 1President’s Day, Monday, Feb. 19Good Friday, March 30Memorial Day, Monday, May 28Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 8Thanksgiving, Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22 and 23Christmas, Tuesday, Dec. 25

Call 203-870-9850

A thank you note from one of your neighbors.

• FREE in-home consultation

• Special OV residents discount

Dear Caregiver’s Home Solutions,

You go above and beyond to help care for my

dad when I can’t. It’s like leaving him with family.

Our initial interview proved he’d be in excellent

hands. Your manager made us both feel we’d

known her for years.

Thanks for your patience, understanding and

professionalism. Your loving nature put me at ease.

Sincerely, Donna

(A Village Resident’s Daughter)

www.caregivershomesolutions.com Owned & managed by an Oronoque Village resident

December 15, 2017 - Oronoque Village€¦ · 5/12/2017 · December 15, 2017 • 5 Story and photo by Bill Tanski On the evening of Nov. 17, we had another gathering of the OV Wine

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