Volume 7 Number 2 MarchlApril 1990Florida's Finest Resident-Owned Retirement Community

Easter at HawthorneIt's that time of the year again when bells ring,

people sing and Hawthorne has its annual EasterSunday morning festivities, April 15.

Sunrise service around the swimming pool is at7:00 a.m. Under the direction of Elizabeth Jensen,Hawthorne's 50-voice chorus will present specialEaster music and lead the hymn singing by theaudience. Ruth Sammer will accompany on the piano.

Rev. Bedros Baharian, retired minister of theUnited Church of Christ (Congregational) will present"The Easter Message Today". He will describe howthe legends surrounding the original Easter grew andwhat it's meaning is to the living church of our genera-tion. He will stress that every historic event of the pastmust be understood in the light of its original setting.

Following the Sunrise Service, the crowd of anestimated 400 or so will move into the clubhouse for asumptious breakfast and the sound of organ musicwill help keep the spirit of a happy Easter atmosphere.

Breakfasteers have been told not to get discour-aged by the size of the line that will form around theauditorium, as they wait to get their food from theserving tables set up in front of the stage. The line willmove exceedingly fast -- mainly because of the 52experienced workers who will be serving this year.Many find this is an excellent time to get acquaintedwith new friends or chat with neighbors.

One of the highlights of this special day will be anEaster Bonnet parade. It's been more than six yearssince Hawthorne has witnessed this fun activity andby the looks of things, many of our clever gals havebeen busy creating fancy headgear.

Some of the participants are collecting net,feathers, buttons and bows for the prettiest bonnet,with a prize of $10.00for first place. There's no tellingwhat the gal with the Most Original hat will be wearingfor the $10.00 second prize.

Pretty Helen O'Neill showed off her hat so Reba could takethe picture. Helen will lead the Easter Bonnet parade downthe isle and thru the breakfast crowd on Easter morning atHawthorne.

The third prize of $10.00 will go to the person withthe Funniest hat. This could be an old pot or pan withdingle-dangles hanging from the edge, or justanything that will get a laugh from the audience.

Evelyn Mare will be the Mistress of Ceremoniesand introduce each participant as they strollthroughout the Great Hall.

Overseer/Big Master of the monthly Communitybreakfast, Dick Johnson will take time off from dutiesin the kitchen to help select the best bonnet in eachcategory. "I can always take time off from anything tolook at pretty girls," Dick chuckled.

In case it rains, the entire festivities will be movedinside, so you can plan on coming to this special affairdespite the weather. You sure won't be disappointed.

Reba Heintzelman

From The ...

Editor's NotebookClaude and Eva Hazen, 123 Redbud Way, had aninteresting visitor in January. Claude's grandson,Dean Hazen, a meteorologist and a Captain in the AirForce stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in Califor-nia, came to Florida on Jan. 26 with the crew whobrought the Columbia back to Cape Canaveral. Hespent three days here at Hawthorne visiting his grand-parents who felt he was about as exciting as a 26 yearold can get.

* * * * *The Hawthorne Herald Staff went on an annual "funfor lunch" trek on Jan. 23 to Harbor Hills Country Club.What a beautiful place! The food was good, too, andthe company delightful. Our business meetings arealways pleasant but we didn't mentiC?D busiQe§l:)Jhistime. Just enjoyed. -- - -

From left to right: From one of the balconies overlook-ing the golf course are Jane Dornbrook, Marie Richard-son, Rosalind Sykes, Verna Garber, RebaHeintzelman, Nat Bodinger, Anna Merlino, BarbaraGoodfellow, Elnora Bolan, Joe Richardson, Marie andDewey Wade. (Dar Sykes took the photo)

* * * * *On Friday evening, February 23, members and friendsof the Organ Club got together for a potluck dinnerwith more than 50 people sharing the goodies. Follow-ing their dinner, they had election of new officers.Chairman is Jean Van Dyke, Program Chairman isGwen Black, and Treasurer is Doris Harris. They werethen entertained by p. Gala Valentine evening withDennis Awe, and the house filled to more than 250 forthe concert. Dennis Awe is indeed a complete enter-tainer along with being a superb organist. He broughtalong a couple of silent movies which he showed andplayed along with, as was done in that era. Once, hecame out in Liberace's sequined suit and did hisopening song with the piano stop on the organ tosound like a piano. His jokes were outlandishly funnyand everyone left feeling well entertained.

* * * * *Club Hawthorne activities have recently concludedelections for officers of the activities and the CabinetOfficer and Deputy for each category. Newly electedofficers begin their term April 1, 1990. Currently, thereare over 100 activities meeting regularly at theClubhouse or in private homes. New interests havespurred new activities, such as basket weaving, pineneedle weaving, quilting, knitting, a ladies' nine-holegolf group, and another "other" states club.

The Program Coordinator is hostessing aworkshop and luncheon for the newly elected officerand deputy, chairmen and co-chairmen to familiarizethem with the Progam Manual by which all activitiesare governed. (Submitted by Barbara Goodfellow)

* * * 'Itt *

Wini Hosking, 132 RoyalPalm Drive, has joined ourHawthorne Herald staff as awriter with a lot of artistictalent.

She was born Aug. 21,1925 in Rochester, New Yorkand lived in that area herentire life before moving toFlorida in 1984. She grew upin a literary family, herparents were both collegegraduates and Winispecialized in writing incollege.

She met Jack when they were both working atGeneral Motors plant in Rochester where they madesmall parts for airplanes. Jack left for war duty in theNavy and Wini went to Alleghaney College for twoyears. They were married in September 1945, sevenmonths before Jack completed his tour of duty in theNavy, then they moved back to Rochester. They raisedthree children, Rogpr, Kathryn and Jonathan.

Wini discovered a talent for doing .silhouettes anddid this for pay at one of the larger stores in Rochesterand at other stores and galleries in the area. She hascontinued this craft here at Hawthorne. She taughtpainting at the YMCA for 2% years and was in the ArtClub for 25 years.

Jack was Vice President of Wards Natural ScienceEstablishment in Rochester when he retired in 1983.They bought a lovely motor home and planned totravel forever, but completed just one year when theyfound Hawthorne and still haven't been West, but thatis still in their dreams.

For their 25th wedding anniversary in 1970, theygave each other scuba diving lessons and gear andboth are now certified scuba divers.

Welcome aboard, Wini.

Hawthorne HeraldHawthorne-at-Leesburg

Post Office Box No. 1764 Leesburg, FL 32749-1764Telephone(904)787·1000

Published bi-monthly by the HawthorneResidents Cooperative ASSOCiation, Inc.

Editor Verna GarberAssociate Editor Barbara GoodfellowEditorial Staff Elnora Bolan,

Reba Heintzelman, Wini Hosking, Anna K. MerlinoRosalind MacRae Sykes, Dewhirst W. Wade

Art Lorraine Thomas

The Dan Gorden StoryRecently, I experienced a most refreshing and

interesting interview with Hawthorne's GeneralManager, Dan Gorden. He is a gentleman of character,merit and a good listener.

Upon the perusal of Dan Gorden's managerialabilities, one becomes aware of his pleasant,congenial and ardent devotion to serve Hawthorne. Hepossesses the competency to listen, observe,remember and recount.

There are many judicious residents and friends inHawthorne who praise the efforts of our administrator.

Dan was originally hired by Amos Henley andColonial Penn in 1974 to handle finances forHawthorne and was soon promoted to assistant VicePresident of Colonial Penn Communities, Inc.

We thank Amos Henley (Hawthorne's first GeneralManager) who, upon his retirement, recommended theadvancement of Dan Gorden to the position of GeneralManager.

When Hawthorne residents purchased theircommunity in 1982, Dan was hired by HawthorneResidents Cooperative Association to be their GeneralManager, and he continues in that capacity today.

Dan Gorden was born in Moweaqua, Illinois in1943. In 1969 he married Sharon James. They have twodaughters, Heather and Andrea - ages 17 and 12; alllive in Tavares, Florida where Dan is active in local andstate affai rs.

He also volunteers in United Way, Chamber ofCommerce, Manufactured Housing Association andhe helped rewrite the Tavares City Charter and heserves on the Tavares Board for the Police PensionFund.

Dan graduated in 1968 from the University oflltinois and was involved in undergraduate andgraduate work in studies of Business Law andManagement; Marketing and Accounting of FloridaTechnological University, Florida Southern Collegeplus Rollins College in Orlando, Florida.

His work experience includes two years of schoolmathematics and employment with Boise-Cascade ascost accountant and purchasing agent.

Sharon, his wife, says he's a family man, a greatreader and a semi-expert of stained glass work onlamp shades.

Dewhirst W. Wade

"Up With People"Hawthorne shook with merriment on February 27,

1990 when "Up With People" descended on us.Rollicking music, dancing and prancing, they infusedus with enthusiasm arousing our hearts and spirits.

This group hailed from sixteen countries. In thecourse of their travels they had visited Spain, Portugal,Belgium, Holland, Denmark and Norway, spendingfour months in each country. It is an independent non-profit educationat organization with no political orreligious affiliations. Their aim is to encourageunderstanding among people of all nations.

Tom McKinney of Newburyport, Massachusettstravelled with this cast of 85. They staged a varietyprogram providing an enthusiastic, contemporaryperformance that coupled nostalgic hits of yesteryearwith today's songs and dances. Costumes were in thecolorful pageantry of the countries represented andauthenticated with the ballads and dances. Threecouples danced The Mexican Hat Dance, followed byother members that did a Brazilian Samba, Irish Jig,

Dutch Tap and a brilliant Russian Folk Festival dance.

Several Hawthorne families hosted 20 of the groupduring the whole Leesburg visit. The young peopleshowed their appreciation by spending a whole morn-ing in the Marina parking lot washing cars for anyHawthornite who drove down.

Our Brown Bag Committee served lunch to thewhole group in the Lemon-Lime room. The ladiesoutdid themselves with special desserts that wereeagerly eaten by the young guests.

Barbara Goodfellow introduced the program withappropriate eclat and we were off - spirited youth andsensitive audience. Each willing to partake and par-ticipate for the success of both.

A cordial reception, sponsored by Sun Bank andThe Leesburg Commercial followed. Wine and Cheesehelped us exchange pleasantries with our talentedpeople who left Hawthorne ringing with laughter andjoy.

Anna K. Merlino

WISCONSIN CLUBat HAWTHORNE

When Easterners and Southerners try to guesswhere this writer is from, they usually say, "You mustbe from Minnesota or Michigan." Well, folks, there isanother very important state that lies between thosetwo, and we call it WISCONSIN - the Badger State.Possibly you have heard of the Green Bay Packers, or,if not, there's the Miles Kimball Company of Oshkosh,popular for mail ordering a variety of items. And don'tforget all our cheese!

Wisconsinites don't come to Florida in as greatnumbers as folks do from Michigan. Could it be thatWisconsin is too great a place to leave?? There reallyis a lot of beautiful country there, from Lake Michiganon the East and the Mississippi River running alongthe west side of the state, while in between there arenumerous beautiful lakes.

However, some of us have left Wisconsin behindand now make Hawthorne-at-Leesburg our Floridahome. In the winter of 1977, Nelda LaMore, along withher husband Duke, took the necessary steps throughHawthorne protocol to organize the Wisconsin Club.Many of you will remember that "Duke" taught chair-

caning here at Hawthorne for many years. Many lovelychairs were restored because of his expertise. Thefirst meeting was held on Valentine's Day, February14, 1977.

Twenty-nine "loyal sons and daughters" respond-ed to that original call and at their first meetingconvinced Stan and Doris Reaves to act asco-chairmen. By the second meeting in March of thatyear, forty-five Wisconsinites had joined the new Cluband at that time were treated to music by ClemKirchgeorg on his violin accompanied by Dick Harterat the piano. Clem is no longer with us and the last weheard of Dick Harter, he was in California.

At the very onset, a newsletter was prepared forclub members and was put under Wisconsin Clubmembers' house clips for many years by GilWaldhuetter. The newsletter continues to this day,usually arriving a week or so before the meeting.

Through the years there have been educationalgames played relative to Wisconsin; we have traveledwith the Buffmires through their marvelous slideshows around our world, Elderhostel travelers havereported on their schools here in the U.S. and abroad,and there has been a lot of singing.

In 1977, Martin J. Schreiber, then the Governor ofWisconsin, gave us a Wisconsin flag which wecontinue to use to this day.

Dinner meetings are held four times each year andthey include "eating out", having a "catered" meal, ora super "pot luck" by those good Wisconsin cooks.

At this time approximately seventy Hawthorneresidents comprise the Wisconsin Club led by AngieSadowski in her second year as Chairman. All throughthe years, if the Club faltered, Nelda LaMore wasalways there to give it a "shot in the arm" and she ismissed now that she lives at Roswell, Georgia. In herstead, some of us will try to keep the Wisconsin Club aviable organization - a place where newcomers can bemade to feel at home away from home.

If you're a Wisconsinite, and not a member, pleasetake note and consider becoming a part of thismidwestern group. Doris Reaves

The Good Old Days?September 1989 was the sixtieth anniversary of my

experience as a fledgeling teacher in an elementaryschool in northern Minnesota.

It was a one room building, kept warm in the winterby a wood burning stove with a round metal jacket tohelp distribute the heat to all parts of the room.

My qualifications were one year of country normalwith an excellent teacher for a class limited to twelvestudents. We worked hard and had many hours ofpractice teaching plus two weeks in a rural school. Inthe spring, we conducted a kindergarten for fourweeks. These children would be entering first grade inthe fall.

There were no school busses and all of thechildren walked to school. One family of four children

walked two miles and most of the others walked a mileor more. But there were very few absent. The childrenranged in age from six to fourteen. None had everattended kindergarten. The eighth graders had to take"State Board" examinations in the last week ofschool. Two hours were allowed for each test and alltest were essay type answers. The arithmeticproblems had to be worked out step by step. They hadto pass this to graduate.

Having so many separate classes a day wasdifficult. First and second grades had reading twice aday. Usually there would be 28 to 32 separate classsessions. The rest of the children studied quietly attheir own desks as small classes of two to five wouldcome to the front of the room and read, recite, or listento my instructions. In those days this did not create aproblem. The children expected to work and wanted tolearn.

Hawthorne NeighborCleora Widlicka stays young, for her many in-

terests do not give her time to grow old.

When she was still a student at Houghton College,she decided to become a doctor. She had her trainingat the University of Buffalo Medical School, where shespecialized in obstetrics and gynecology. As agynecologist in Hillcrest Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio,she delivered two of her four grandchildren.

She always loved music, from the time she was achild practicing the piano. Since her maiden namewas Handel, she felt she was destined to be amusician. Her instrument was the bassoon, which sheplayed in orchestras wherever she was. Hawthorniteswill remember hearing the deep tones of her bassoonin the Ensemble concerts. They also have enjoyed hervoice as one of the eight-member Harmonaires.

She and her late husband, Rudy, loved to travel.Her home is full of statuettes, pictures, and momentosof the countries they visited. They both took lovely pic-tures, and Cleo has shown some, here.

They were especially interested in Czechoslovakia,from where Rudy's ancestors come. The last time theywere there was in 1983, when Czechoslovakia was stillunder communist control. When their train wasapproaching Bratisava, an officer inspected theirvisas and found them invalid for entering that city. Sothey were put in jail for an hour or so, until the trainreturning to Vienna had arrived. Now, Cleo's eyessparkle when she talks about Czechoslovakia's new-found freedom.

Many of you have worked with her, especially onHawthorne's Channel IV programs, and areacquainted with her resourcefulness.

She was appointed to Hawthorne's Board ofDirectors on Dec. 14, 1989 to fill out the unexpiredterm of Bill Ohme.

She also enjoys a spoof. She developed herpuppets for her Sunday School class, which respond-ed to them enthusiastically. She showed them to theHawthorne Singles, in February. In her "CanineCrooners", two puppets were dogs singing with alltheir puppet-hearts to the recording of the final duetfrom Faust. The arias seemed to come from theirthroats and mouths, lifted up and trembling with thehigh notes. At the end, they bowed to the laughingaudience.

Cleora Widlicka is one of our more delightfulneighbors and such a talented lady.

Edith Schipper

In the winter most mothers sent a pint jar withsoup, vegetables, or cocoa with the lunch. There was atwo burner kerosene stove and a boiler with a slatfalse bottom was placed on the stove with some waterin it. The jars were put in the boiler and at 11 a.m. I litthe burners and by noon the children had hot food togo with their lunch.

The older students carried water from a neighbor'swell for drinking and washing hands. There was abubbling water fountain with a pottery water containerwhich I had to remember to drain at night so itwouldn't freeze in winter. The older students alsocarried in wood from the woodshed for the stove. Thewood was bought by the school board from neighborswho cut it. I built the fires because there was no onenear to do it but it didn't take long to warm up the roomonce the fire was burning. I also swept the floor everynight. The floor was mopped once a month.

There was a 15 minute recess in the morning and

afternoon. In warm weather there was an hour forlunch. The teacher and children went outside for freshair and exercise. In winter, lunch was thirty minutes sochildren could get home earlier.

Two main events of the year were the Christmasprogram and last of school picnic. There was an organin each of the four rural schools where I taught. I couldplay just enough to get by. I could teach new songsfrom the "Normal Instructor" and the entire schoolsang once a week for our opening exercise. The organwas a great help.

The parents were very supportive and I always feltmy teaching was effective.

Later I got my BA and Masters degrees and spent atotal of 29 years in elementary education and enjoyedit all.

Irene Kukenbecker

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....MICHIGAN IN

FLORIDA CLUBThere are so many similarities between Michigan

and Florida that it's no wonder so many Michiganiansare here in Hawthorne! Pullout a United States mapand consider: Michigan is the peninsula to the northand Florida is the peninsula to the south. Michigan issurrounded by the Great Lakes and is sprinkled withfish·filled lakes. Florida is surrounded with saltwaterand is inundated with flsh-fllled freshwater lakes.Note that Florida reaches into the midwest. Pensacolais directly south of Grand Rapids, Michigan! Even thesize of each state is similar: 58,216 square miles inMichigan and 58,560 square miles in Florida.

The peninsula of Michigan stretches 622 milesfrom N.W. tip at Copper Harbor S.E. to Monroe. Floridaextends 780 miles from border north of Pensacola toKey West. Water is within a day's reach in both states:Michigan averages 147 miles wide from LakeMichigan's beaches to Lakes Huron and Erie. Floridaaverages about 105 miles wide from the Gulf ofMexico to Atlantic's pounding shores.

The 1980 census shows that Michigan's popula-tion was 9,258,344 and Florida's population was9,739,992. These people roam over the rolling hills ineach state to be enriched by apple, cherry and peachorchards in Michigan and orange and grapefruitgroves in Florida.

However, as one of the Michigan papers in TrudyAdams' file comments, "Northern Michigan isbeautiful if you like one week of spring, one week ofsummer, one week of fall and 48 weeks of winter."

I have a mental picture of the peninsula ofMichigan tipping up and rolling people south to theFlorida border, where they would feel at home but bebathed in warm, glorious sunshine. However, we stilllike to reminisce of the beauty of winters. RuthSammer remembers the delightful slide program ofFall and Winter scenes of Michigan that was projectedby Carl Curtis at Michigan Club several years ago.

Many of us remember the brisk breezes and frigidwaters of Lake Michigan's beaches. Will Zeschinremembers the camp near Manistee wher his smallchildren would spend hours in the water and still havecold skin at bedtime!

Way back in 1976, when the "heaven" ofHawthorne was beginning here, Tommy Thomasformed the Michigan Club to keep us in touch with ourhomeland. From Tommy's lead, we've stayed together,some 250 strong, thrbugh Vivian Schaal, EricKuckenbecker, 2 years of combined threesomes ofDerr, Weston and Schipper and then Crowell, Scullinand Thornton. We've thrived with John Copperstone,Jack and Rachel Hurld, Pat Crowell, Wade Drake andJoe Woodward. And now, we have elected GeorgeBraun for 1990.

Three meetings a year keep us in touch: one in Fall,one in Winter and one in Spring. We've had potlucksand catered dinners at the Clubhouse and havewheeled out to local favorite restaurants to dine.We've had several visits to cheer our Tigers playingbaseball at Lakeland during the Grapefruit League,and have had Michigan quizzes. Why, in November ofthis year, we had a Michigan Trivia quiz at theContinental Golf and Country Club with such ques-tions as "Henry Ford grew what crop, believing itwould become construction material for cars?" Thewinner, Vivian Mullendare, had just moved here fromAnn Arbor, Michigan and was "up" on such things.

All in all, we Michiganians gather loyally, just tokeep in touch and enjoy other Michiganians.

But, I don't find many of them deciding to moveback to the old homeland!

Rosalind MacRae Sykes

Vod-Vil # 14, directed by Clara Hammond and assistedby Jo Ferguson, was presented on March 5th and 6thin the Great Hall at Hawthorne.

This annual event is made up completely of ourown talent which is in abundance here in Hawthorne.

Bob Winther, the good looking Master ofCeremonies introduced the acts, from Steppin' Out,thru pantomime, the Harmonicrats, comedy, the lovelyvoice of Lovice Naden, Daphne & Howie· a delightfuldog puppet show by Cleora Widlicka which was the hitof the show as the two puppets sang their mightiest toan operatic recording by Faust. Louise and BillPaquette danced us through a Sentimental Journey tointermission.

The Fun With Music group played the entire 10minute intermission.

Thesecond half was filled with more comedy, a tapdance by five lovely ladies, Bag, Ladies comedy, EdBresler's voice and guitar and our so-talented Har-monaires, joined by the entire cast for the Finale.

Charlotte Fowler accompanied many of the actsand played piano to fill the space between every act.What a talent!

Spring MadnessIt was a typical April day. Sudden heavy showers

turned the winding country road into slippery muddyruts. The mud-spattered, light blue Cadillac con-vertible slouched along unhappily, reflecting themood of her driver.

"Darn!" sputtered May, as she turned the car intoan even narrower lane overgrown with weeds and tallgrass. "I thought you said this place was near thehighway. We've gone six miles and I still don't see anysigns of it."

June absently powdered her nose. "Well - it didseem a lot nearer - but that was five years ago, and ofcourse it was a beautiful moonlit night when Augustdrove me here for dinner. ..You'li love their shrimpcocktail - and their baked trout is simply out of thisworld - and..."

"Shut up! I'm drooling!" snapped May. "It's after2:00 o'clock. We're lucky if we even get a sandwich - ifwe're lucky enough to even get there..."

Minutes and another mile or two dragged on. Thegrey sheet of rain nearly obscured the weatherbeatensign when the car finally turned through the brokengateposts. June read it aloud - "The Country Inn -Delicious Meals for Discriminating Guests."

"Hump!" snorted May. "All I can discriminate nowis that the whole place looks as if it didn't have anyguests - discriminating or not."

"Probably haven't done their spring paint-up yet,"June said mildly. The car stopped at the front porch.The girls splashed up the steps. June rang the bell. Noone answered.

"Darn and double darn!" May exploded as theypicked their sloshy way over the uneven brick walkaround to the back. "I'm starved - and I'm soaked - andwhy did you want to come here anyway?"

"But I was only telling you about it - and yousaid ..."

"Never mind!" May shut her off abruptly. "All Iwant to know now is when do we eat?"

"Sorry!" a quiet voice answered. "We finishedlunch two hours ago. Would you like a sandwich and acup of tea?" Swathed in an oversize slicker, and peer-ing from underneath a big umbrella, a feminine formemerged through the torrential rain.

"Why is this place so run-down?" May griped."What about your delicious meals for discriminatingguests?"

"I'm truly sorry," the lady said. "We've just movedin and haven't yet had time to take down the old sign.This is our home now. I'm Mrs. March...Please docome in."

Ruth J. Campbell

Harmony at HawthorneEvery Hawthornite has moved here because it

offered what we wanted in the retirement years of ourlives -- beautiful, well-kept surroundings, a quietpeaceful atmosphere, friendly neighbors and variedactivities.

We nearly lost this lifestyle eight years ago whenthe then-owner, Colonial Penn, considered selling thePark to a company whose business it was to buy aretirment community and reorganize it for their ownquick profit. In our case, it was alleged that theworkforce was to be cut in half (we would be responsi-ble for our own set-ups for activities), we would haveno Program Coordinator, our security force would bedisbanded, our streets would become publicthoroughfares and they would allow us to buy our lotsfor about $18,000each!

With this imminent threat of ruin confronting us,we banded together, each contributing a considerableamount of money toward a common fund for thepurpose of hiring a law firm to prevent this disaster.

Through the personal friendship of one of ourresidents with former Governor Leroy Collins, we wereable to hire his law firm to defend us. They succeededin preventing the sale, and we bought our beautifulpark. Thus HRCA was born, and we have prosperedever since under the guidance of honorable, conscien-tious Board Members and Management.

We celebrated our victory with a Park-wide party;and when our Lawyer, Perry Odom presented us withthe deed to the community, he made the followingstatement to us: "The key for the successful operationof any Cooperative organization such as Hawthorne(HRCA) has adopted as its governing body isCOMPLETE HARMONY of its membership. Withoutharmony you will lose all that you have struggled togain."

The community of which we are a part of today,has developed through fine cooperation between theBoards and the Residents.

Where criticism is concerned, it is always welcomeprovided that it is constructive and positive. When itbecomes bitter and causes ill-will between residents itthen becomes destructive. When any shareholderuses negative criticism concerning Hawthorne, thatperson is decreasing the value of his own investment.

There is a saying that is appropriate here."Some people complain about the thorns on the

rose bush. Others praise the beautiful roses onthe thorn bush."

We have many beautiful roses -- let's treasure andappreciate them.

Harry Edwards

The Renaissance Evening, a first for the Entertainment Committee at Hawthorne on January 22, was "a happening" that noone picture could do justice. From left to right pictured here are Herald Lee Schick, Marilyn Schick, May Mowry, Queen Maria(Feenstra) and King Cor (Feenstra). Everyone attending the feaste was given a glass of cider and the Herald led everyone in atoast to the King and Queen.

On the wall in the background are three of the banners with shields made so authentically by Wini Hosking. The cross onthe far left was a popular symbol in England. This "Cruss Paty Guki" belonged to Latimer. The center banner was a crestcontaining a crown, two moons (facing left) and a pitcher. The Tudor dragon or firedrake is normally coiled to fit a shield. Hereyou can see three of the four legs, the small wings and the arrow tail. (Photo by Kay Allen)

A RENAISSANCE EVENING

Once upon a time a very little old lady with a verybig idea decided Hawthorne should experience aRenaissance Banquet with all the trimmings. Thisshould include dancing lords and ladies, madrigalsingers, chamber music AND a Boar's Head served ona silver platter by five lackeys. I mean we are talkingMAJOR EVENT here. Ditto Wilke means business.

Jean Hardy had staged a similar event in herteaching days and would coordinate the variousactivities. Connie Patterson, with a son in Theater,was our Talent Scout. It took the entire EntertainmentCommittee and more to manage caterers, costumes,decorations and publicity.

I was asslqned to make Heraldic banners to hangon the walls. Enjoying the research, I made them asauthentic as possible, having to work with felt andscissors - and a helpful husband.

A few days before Banquet Day, Ditto held the lastof surprisingly few meetings. Calling for reporta fromeach team, she heard leaders agree, hesltantty, thatthey would be ready. Smiling confidently, Dittothanked us all, saying there would be no rehearsal."Everyone just do his part as we planned and all willgo fine." No one objected, but a few nervous glanceswere exchanged!

5:00 p.m. January 22, 1990: We entered thereception rooms in awe, finding ourselves in the 16thcentury amid the lords and ladies, their swirling

gowns and sparkling jewels, bowing to King Cor andQueen Maria. Glasses were clinking and the beautifulGroaning Board groaning - thanks to Betty Smith'sarrangements of medieval hors d-oeuvres.

Following the trumpet call, our elegant Herald, LeeSchick, ushered us table by table into the CastleHawthorne's Great Hall. It was magnificent: the Royaltable adorned with candlebras and fruit was occupiedby the King and his court. Behind them the bannersglowed.

The Herald announced each event as planned. TheBoar's Head, made by Marguerite Deneau, wasdelivered with pomp by five lackeys. They and thoseserving the dinner were wearing brightly striped vestsmade by Ruth Lague.

The Madrigal Singers from Leesburg High Schoolwere gaily costumedalso, their eyes sparkling withexcitement as they felt the spirit of the evening. Theyserenaded us during our dinner. Shakespeare (WalterSmoyer) honored us with some of his readings; theJester (Russ Moyer) jested, the bells on his shoesjingling. The stringed quarter with their chambermusic was a lovely contrast. The Court Dancers, underdirection of Jack Hunter and Yvonne Knifley wereexciting to watch as they wove through the intricate,formal patterns.

Ditto did it! She had waved her own magic wand,and with a lot of help from her friends, she broughtthis magical evening to life. Many thanks to her and tothe many residents who made the evening such asuccess.

Wini Hosking