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The Declaration of IndependenceA NEWSLETTER FOR THE SPRINGMILL COMMUNITYVolume XI, Issue 7 July 2013

The Declaration of Independence is the document thatgave birth to our nation. It is a document that America livesby and has expanded upon to become the great nation thatwe are and Delaware played its part.

In 1774 the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphiato make its grievances known to the English Parliamentand the King. The grievances settled around taxationwithout representation. The colonies also demanded thesame rights as other British subjects. Both the Parliamentand the King rejected this and instead sent the army toquell the uprising.

When the initial battles of theRevolutionary War broke out, few werelooking for independence from England.However, with Thomas Paine’s“Common Sense”, the tide was turningin favor of independence. In thispamphlet, which many call one of themost brilliant pamphlets written in theEnglish language, Paine places theblame for the suffering colonies directly on King George IIIand advocated an immediate declaration of independencewith sovereignty of the people and a written constitutionwith effective checks and balances in government. Manyof his ideas found their way into the American Declarationof Independence.

The publication of “Common Sense” wasfollowed by the Second ContinentalCongress at which Richard Henry Lee ofVirginia made a motion that the 13colonies become independent fromEngland. After a heated debate, theCongress adjourned after appointing acommittee of five to produce a documentof independence. The committee was

made up of Thomas Jefferson of VA, Ben Franklin of PA,John Adams of MA, Robert Livingston of NY and RogerSherman of CT. Thomas Jefferson was given the task ofproducing the draft of the Declaration of Independence.

While the Second Continental Congress was in session,Delaware’s Colonial Assembly on June 15, 1776, declaredthe colony (New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties)separate and independent from England and threemembers (Caesar Rodney, Thomas McKean and George

Thomas Paine

Thomas Jefferson

Read) were sent to the Continental Congress as delegates.This day had come to be known as Separation Day.

Rodney was called away fromPhiladelphia by General GeorgeWashington to form the Delaware militia.However, when it came time to vote forthe Declaration of Independence andfreedom from England, McKean was infavor and Read was not. The Delawarevote was split. To break the tie andmake the vote of the thirteen coloniesunanimous, McKean informed Rodney that his vote wasneeded. In the midst of a thunderstorm, Rodney rode allnight and into the next day covering some eighty miles toarrive back at the Congress to cast his vote forindependence and sign the Declaration of Independencewhich made these words immortal: “We hold these truths tobe self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they areendowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights;that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit ofhappiness; that to secure these rights, governments areinstituted among men, deriving their just powers from theconsent of the governed.” It was a great day for theColonies and ultimately for America.

Joe Grippo

Caesar Rodney

Sentinel Index

The Declaration of Independence....................................Pg. 1Committee Reports...........................................................Pg. 3Board Profile (Fred Bodden)............................................Pg. 5Town Meeting.....................................................................Pg. 7Travel Log (Sailing Around the British Virgin Islands)..Pg. 7NCCo Library Update........................................................Pg. 7Cultural Events...................................................................Pg. 9Mt. Airy Casino...................................................................Pg. 9Hat’s Happening (Pickleball)..........................................Pg. 11Springmill Visits Virginia & North Carolina...................Pg. 11Meet Your Neighbor (Pat & Jerrry Steskal)...................Pg. 13Pizza Pool Party...............................................................Pg. 14Memorial Day Party.........................................................Pg. 15CEC Report ......................................................................Pg. 17Charity Committee...........................................................Pg. 17Tree Update......................................................................Pg. 17Book Review (Where the Heart Is)...................................Pg. 19Restaurant Review (Imperial Hotel & Restaurant........Pg. 19Computer Tutor (How to Make Your TV a Smart TV)...Pg. 21Sports’ News....................................................................Pg. 23Advertiser’s Spotlight (Louis Marie Bridal)...................Pg. 25Springmill Long Range Plan Project ............................Pg. 25

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Springmill Sentinel StaffEditor: Dick RauschTreasurer: Diane DaigleSecretary: Janet GeftmanProduction Manager: Joe GrippoBusiness Manager: Carol GeigerAdvertising: Anne Currie, Jerry Ryan, Pat Steskal, Bert DekkerStaff: Mary Jo Starrett, June Stemmle , Sonya Comstock, Julie Hambrecht, Joe GrippoDirectory: Julie HambrechtDistribution Manager: Phyllis TorgersenCalendar: Tracey Lund

Please forward all articles & inquiries to:springmillnews@hotmail.com

Lauri Richardson

Tel (302) 379-9984Fax (302) 368-1060200 N. Dilwyn Rd.Newark, DE 19711Lauriscleaning1@verizon.net

Residential / Office Cleaning

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Springmill Homeowners Association

Board of DirectorsBob Lhulier, President

Bob Gross, Barb Kelly, Fred Bodden & Carl RifinoAss’t Treasurer: Jim Merrill

Board Recording Secretary: Janet Geftman

Community ManagerTracey Lund

801 Windmilll Lane376•5466

Tracey.Lund@mamc.com

Clubhouse CommitteeJulia Hambrecht

Communications CommitteeDick Rausch

Community EventsBeverly Strong/Peggy Andrews

Finance CommitteeCal Reuss

Property CommitteeCarolyn Bodden

Maintenance & Repair CommitteeAnnie Hall

Charity CommitteeMaria Corvino

Anyone wishing to join a Committee should contact theChairperson of that Committee.

•• Please note: All committee meetings and activitiesusing a Clubhouse room must be cleared with TraceyLund of the Management Office at 376•5466.

Other Important Information

Calendar: Tracey LundFamily Emergency Numbers: Pat Howe, JoAnn StumpSocial Singles: Peg McMullenSunshine: Mary Elizabeth Rhoads/Faith Altman

Committee Reports

Continued on Pg. 5

Maintenance & Repair CommitteeThe MRC held a meeting on June 11th with two guests inattendance. The spring activities have been progressing well.All driveways have been resealed. The clubhouse parking lotis scheduled to be resealed during June.

John Rutt has spent much time researching design optionsand prices for replacement of the community sign. Informationfrom the Property Committee has been received. TheSpringmill Board will be the final decision maker regardingcommunity signs.

One additional meeting for budget planning was conductedduring June. This was necessary because several MRCmembers have numerous activities (medical as well aspleasure) planned for the summer months. That meeting wasattended by all but two MRC members.

The next MRC meeting is scheduled for July 9th at 6:30 p.m.in the clubhouse and residents are welcome.

Annie Hall

Communications Committee

The last committee meeting was held on June 11th. Therewere 9 committee members in attendance. Barbara Kelly hasbeen BOD liaison for the past 3 months and Carl Rifino takesover for the July–September period. The May meetingminutes were approved as submitted by Janet Geftman.

Diane Daigle, Treasurer, reported on Committee finances forMay. Sentinel income for May 2013 was $2,340. Incomewas from 9 advertisers. Net revenue is slightly ahead of the2013 budget forecast.

Bert Decker reviewed the status of advertisers in CarolGeiger’s absence. There are 42 advertisers in the JuneSentinel. Old Farmhouse Nursery was welcomed as a newadvertiser. All advertisers whose contract periods end in Juneand July have been contacted about renewing. There is verylimited advertising space available for new advertisers.

Joe Grippo reviewed the Sentinel editorial plan for July. Weare continuing the series which recognizes Springmillresidents who are involved in the arts. Any resident who

would like to nominate someone who has a special talentplease contact Dick Rausch.

A preliminary discussion was held on the content and timing ofthe Annual Meeting issue. June Stemmle is responsible forcollecting BOD candidate information as well as updatingcommittee descriptions which are part of this special issue.Distribution of this issue will be shortly before CandidatesNight (usually early September).

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM. The next meeting isscheduled for Tuesday, July 9 at 7:00 PM in the ClubhouseCraft Room. Residents are welcome to attend.

Dick Rausch

Clubhouse CommitteeThe Clubhouse Committee met on June 5, 2013. Guests atthe meeting were Mark Verni, Art Lamb and GlendaSchneiderman.

The weather wasn’t too cooperative in the beginning of theseason but perhaps by the time you read this it will havewarmed up and the pool will be getting a lot of use. WaterAerobics has started and if you are interested please checkthe bulletin board for times. If you use any of the noodles thatare stored on the veranda please be sure to put them backand close the storage container. A few personal items tend tobe left behind and they can be found in the lost and found boxin the coat room. Thank you to Gene Smith, Gordon Mills,Ann Raymond, Sandy and Joe Corrozi and Jo Verni for theirvolunteer work around the pool.

When putting a notice on the “resident only” bulletin boardremember to put your name, phone number and date. If youritem has been sold, please remove the notice as there aretimes that the board fills up. Notices will be removed after onemonth.

A reminder to all that there is a ping

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pong table in the greatroom closet waiting to be used as is a Wii. Also with the niceweather the horseshoe pits are available for play.

Requests have come to me regarding the use of the barbequegrill. Please contact the CEC if you wish to use the grill.

All are welcome to our meetings. If you have any requests/suggestions you may offer them at that time or put them in writingto me and they will be addressed at our meeting. Our nextmeeting is Wednesday, July 3, 2013, at 11:15 AM.

Julia Hambrecht

Committee ReportsContinued From Pg. 3: Clubhouse

Board Member ProfileFred Bodden

Living in Ramsey, NJ for about 40 years,the time had come to move to a lesscongested area where living was at aslower pace and more affordable, too. Fredand Carolyn considered Springmill and thetown of Middletown just about right for thenext phase of their lives. Happy to be in acommunity with folks of similar age andinterest, Springmill was ideal. The drive back to NJ was only afew hours away where his children (three girls and a boy) livedexcept for one son who moved to Massachusetts. He hasseven grandchildren, with the youngest being eight years old.Having sons meant being involved with the Boy Scouts formany years where his son earned an Eagle badge and nowhis grandson has become an Eagle Scout. That family lives inMassachusetts.

After graduating from college, Fred joined the service andbecame a Lt. for the Third Army Division in Germany. Armylife was anything but normal with the arrival of Elvis Presley inhis battalion. Once the word was out about Elvis, teenage girlstried scaling the fence to get to him. Moving Elvis to a hotelwith his Colonel was the only solution to keeping life the way itshould be in the Army.

For over 20 years, Fred had his own business – Med-X –selling hospital supplies such as MRI, CT, X-Ray equipment aswell as accessories throughout the state. Even moving hereeight years ago, he continued with his business for a few yearsand then finally retired.

Fred used to play golf, and he liked to build and repair andalso work on his car. Now that he is older, he has set asidethese hobbies. Joining the ARC (now defunct), he eventuallymoved to the MRC where he became the Chairperson sincehe had experience and enjoyed building and repairing items. Itwas just another step to become a Board member whereeveryone works together for the common good of thecommunity to provide the best life style for all its residents.

Fred has been happily married to Carolyn for over 50 years.He says his move to Middletown has proved to be positive. Heenjoys the community where people are very friendly andhelpful and the town, giving credit to the Mayor for all the majorimprovements and additions that have come over the pasteight years. He considers Middletown a very friendly place,and while it is growing, it still has that small town feeling. Evenmore appreciated is the friendly service one gets at localbusinesses where it is commonplace to take a customerdirectly to the item needed.

Visits to NJ and MA are still part of their lives as theyparticipate in their children’s lives watching the grandchildrengrow and star in school plays, make their First Communionand Confirmation, and graduate from grammar and highschool. Visits from the children are frequent and alwayswelcomed. What once seemed like a long drive has becomemuch shorter over the years as everyone stays in touch andfamily life continues to be enjoyed.

Sonya Comstock

BOD Motions1. Motion approved to accept Clubhouse Committee’s updated

Rules and Regulations. ( 5-0)2. Motion approved that the Association would waive and

absorb the cleaning fee for janitorial service after a MemorialService is held in the Clubhouse. (5-0)

3. Motion to purchase “Play at your own risk signs for allrecreational areas was defeated (3-2): 3 opposed: Lhulier,Kelly, Gross. / 2 in favor: Bodden, Rifino.

4. Motion approved to accept home owner’s request to conductInstructional Art classes in Clubhouse (contingent uponSpringmill’s policies and requirements). (5-0)

Property CommitteeLAWNS-With all the rain we have experienced, the lawns arelooking great this season. So far, I have many, many favorablereports on the lawn mowing by Forever Green Landscaping. Thenext chemical treatment will be in the fall of a fertilizer followedby a second fertilization later, probably in October.

SHRUBS-Were due to be pruned at the end of June and will bepruned again this fall. Remember to put out red flags if you donot wish this service.

WET LANDS-Have been sprayed for weeds and mulched.Janet Herner would appreciate hearing from anyone interestedin weeding and/or planting. Right now the area looks great!

LANDSCAPE-Additional Belgium block curbing has been doneat the clubhouse parking lot entrance. This should eliminateerosion after heavy rain, cars and trucks running over sprinklerheads and a nicer overall appearance to our clubhouse.

POOL AREA-Hope all who use the pool will notice the additionof the large Wind Spinner in the gardens. The PC has alsoadded two decorative vases with flowers for dressing up ourpool area. In addition we have bought some solar lights that arebeing put in various areas. All of these purchases were paid forby the money we got from the quilt raffle.

BEAUTIFICATION-Last but not least is a big THANK YOU toall the volunteers who have planted, weeded, dug holes,trimmed plants and fertilized. You cannot buy the self-satisfaction we all feel from our participation in makingSpringmill a wonderful community. Thanks to B.Alt, L. Baker,F.Basler, G.Burney, C.Chappelle, J.Crisfield, B.Freeman,C.Garrett, A.Gurnee, I.Lipstein, M.McKenna, J.Mitchell,A.Murray, C.Ruh, and J.Verni. If I have forgotten anyone,please, call me.. These are the folks to thank for all ourbeautiful garden displays. Almost forgot to thank Ray Rouillerof the Clubhouse Committee for all his assistance with ourwatering equipment.

Carolyn Bodden

Finance Committee report is on Pg. 21.

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Library Update…JulyListed below are the on-going programs atNCC Southern Library, located in PettinaroBuilding on 651 North Broad Street. Phonenumber for information or registration is(302) 378-5588. Should you want to get theupdated information, you will need to go towww.nccdelib.org and click on“Happenings” for the seasonal changes.Of course, we will also highlight programsof interest in your monthly Sentinel. Thehours at the library are: Monday 10-8,Tuesday/Wednesday 1-8, Thursday- Saturday 10-5, andclosed on Sunday. NOTE: The library will be closed onThursday, July 4.

v Third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM The book club takes a summer break.v Tech Tuesdays at 6:30 & Cyber Saturday at 2:30 (July 9 & 23 and July 6 & 20)v Alternate Tuesdays at 7:00 pm (July 9 & 23) Knitting Circle for all levels of experience.v Second Saturday at 10:00 am (July 13) Sew-Be-It Quilters (novice & experienced quilters welcome).v Delaware Money School Call 1-800-267-5002 for monthly topic and to register.

Programs for adults in the Community ActivityCenter…must registerv Defensive Driving: Advanced Mon.., July 15, 6-9 pm $27v NEW: Senior Yoga Four 1 hour classes with Crystal Walker $18/mo. Thursdays, 11-12:00v Zumba Gold Sat. 10:30-11:30 $6 drop-in fee, instructor is Elisa Cordera

Children’s Programs/Fee & Registrationv Little Movers (1-2) $18 for four 45 min. classes, Tues. 10:30-11:15. Singing, moving, dancing.v Movers & Shakers (2-4) $13.50 for 45 min. classes, Thurs. 10:00-10:45, Learning games, music

There are EIGHT (8) FREE special “family” programs slatedfor July. Registration is required…all it takes is a phone callto the library.

***SIGN UP GRANDKIDS FOR THE SUMMER READINGPROGRAM through August 17!!!v Jungle John’s Reptile Show All ages Monday, July 8 at 10:30. Lots of exotic reptiles!v Magic You Will Dig! All ages Friday July 12 at 10:30. Mike Rose with magic & comedy.v Create a Craft All ages 11 am on Thursday, July 18 for Make & Take Craft.v Little Red Riding Hood All Ages Monday, July 15 at 10:30 Performed by Rags to Riches Theaterv Simple Gifts Concert All ages Friday, July 19 at 10:30v Rainforest Rendezvous All ages Monday, July 22 at 7pm Learn about; make & take craft.v Escape from the Great Books Mine! All ages Friday, July 26 at 10:30 Puppets share books.v Dig into Reading with Magic All ages. Monday, July 29 at 10:30 Puppet animals do magic.

June Stemmle

June Stemmle

Around Town

Sonya Comstock

Town Meeting

A permit to operate a retail pharmacy (AtlanticApothecary) at 118 Sandhill Drive was givenby the Mayor and Town Council. Thispharmacy will be located in a medical buildingwhere patients will be able to have theirprescriptions filled promptly upon leaving theirdoctors’ offices.

A request for a youth center/dance club onweekends for teenagers under 18 was discussed by theMayor and Town Council. The location would be next to thebowling alley. Final comment was that this venture bebrought before the Safety Commission before a decisioncould be made.

A Jaycees representative reminded everyone that there willbe a parade on Thursday, July 4, starting around 10 a.m. forabout an hour. He asked for the support of the town andresidents to come out and view the parade which begins atEverett Meredith School. At dusk there will be fireworks atSilver Lake Park.

Sonya Comstock

Bucket List Come TruePainting sailboats is Jim Mahla’spassion, but sailing on a magnificent 51’sailboat for six days was a dream cometrue. What was once on his bucket listbecame a reality in May when he, PhilAdler, and brothers Joe and JimCostigan chartered a sailboat for a triparound the British Virgin Islands. Justfour friends packing their gear for aonce-in-a-lifetime experience. Flyingout of Philadelphia Airport, the four metin St. Thomas and then transferred on a fast ferry to RoadTown, Tortola, BVI.

One glance at the Celestial Storm waiting for them in theharbor was all they needed to say “THIS is extraordinary” asthey stepped onto the boat to take a tour. Four cabins withprivate bath, snorkeling equipment, lounge chairs, generatorfor AC, an electronics chart screen (keeping them aware ofshallow water), a great kitchen for grilling plus an inflatabledinghy was just about perfect. A stop at a grocery store to buythe basics – steak, hamburgers, bottled water, beer, rum andsome snacks – for simple meals was next. Eating out wouldalso be on the agenda.

The sailing adventure would take them to Virgin Gorda,Aneqada and Jost Van Dyke, where they stopped and ratherthan anchor, used moorings instead. The water was true blueand clear all the way down. Snorkeling around the islands, thefour enjoyed seeing what lies beneath the sea. This is apopular recreational activity and gives the swimmer theopportunity to observe underwater life

Travel Log

Continued on Pg. 26

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Office 302-475-0800

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A Day at Mt. Airy Casino

A beautiful spring day made the ride to the Poconosenjoyable for many residents. Mt. Airy Casino was ourdestination where we could spend time gambling andenjoying a buffet lunch before seeing the show – NeilDiamond Tribute. There was still time to walk around thecasino before heading home. No one won or lost largesums of money, but everyone had a great day.

Sonya Comstock

Cultural Events

In Memoriam

Both The Sentinel and the Springmill Community wishto express their condolences to Judy Graff and familyon the passing of her husband Don. May he rest in peace.

Joe Grippo

MiddletownEverett TheatreFri/Sat. July 5 & 6 - "Iron Man 3" rated PG-13 - all tickets $6Fri/Sat. July 12 & 13 – 7 p.m. – “The Rockin Snow White” –Children’s Theater Workshop show (ages 7-12 performers) -Tickets $10 (adults) $5 (children)Fri/Sat. July 26 & 27 – 7 p.m. – “The Great Ghost Chase”Directed by Cheryl Shields – A plane is forced to land due to astorm which gives Harriet a chance to visit her cousin whooperates an asylum for excessively nervous patients. Now aghost has been freed by an earthquake, so …. Great music–Ages 12-14 performers - Tickets $10/$12 (adults), $5(children 2-12)

Middletown Main StreetThurs. July 4 – 9 a.m. - “Fourth of July” parade – begins atEverett Meredith MS (S. Broad St.) and “Fireworks” – SilverLake Park – starts at dusk – Park opens at 6 p.m.– bring a chairFri. July 19 – “Music on Main Street” 6-9 p.m. – CochranSquare “Splashing Pearls” – Forest Church Lot –“Middletown’s Got Talent Contest” – DJ Jamin’ Jeff – Top 3winners move onto Aug. 16 finals - FREE

MOT Senior CenterOutdoor Concerts – Gazebo – Friday evenings - 6:30-9p.m. (July 12,19,26) Bring a chair or blanket. Lightrefreshments for sale – In case of rain or too hot weather,concerts will be held indoors. Free - Phone – 378-4758

Harrington, Highway South 13, 302-398-7000Delaware State Fair – July 18-27 – 8 a.m. – midnight -Entertainment nightly, agricultural exhibits, wrestling,demolition derby and more. Gen. Adm. - $6 (adults) Individualshows range from $16-$56

Kennett Square, PALongwood Gardens, Rt. 1, 610-388-1000Open Air TheaterTues. July 2 – 7:30 p.m. – “Buddy Guy” – Rock and Roll Hallof Fame Inductee – Tickets $40-$69.Wed. July 3 – 9:15 p.m. – “Fireworks – Celebrate America” –Tickets - $18-$38Sat. July 6 – 7:30 p.m. – “Carbon Leaf” – 5-man Indie-rockband – Free with Gardens admissionSun. July 7 – 3 p.m. - “Carillon Concert” – City Carillonneur ofRotterdam - FreeThurs. July 11 – 7:30 p.m. – “Lyle Lovett and his AcousticGroup” – Tickets - $47-$77Fri. July 12 – 5:30 & 7:30 p.m. – “Golden Dragon Acrobats” –Free with Garden AdmissionSun. July 14 – 7 p.m. – “Buried Beds” – folk-pop group –Members only – Main Fountain GardenThurs/Fri. July 18 & 19 – 7:30 p.m. – “PhiladelphiaOrchestra” – Tickets - $35-$85 – The MeadowSat. July 20 – 9:15 p.m. – “Festive Fireworks: Music of DmitriShostakovich” – Tickets - $18-$38Sun. July 21 – 3 p.m. – “Carillion Concert” – Free – ChimesTowerThurs-Sat. July 25-27 – 7:30 p.m. – “The Brandywiners Ltd.,Presents Annie Get Your Gun” – Tickets - $28Fri. July 26 – 7 p.m. – “Suzy Bogguss” – country singer –Main Fountain Garden - Free with Gardens admissionSun. July 28 – 3 p.m. – “Carillion Concert” – Free

WilmingtonRockwood Mansion Park, Washington St. Extension, 302-764-0113July 12-28 - Shakespeare Festival: “Two Gentlemen ofVerona’ – Comedy about love, friendship, betrayal,forgiveness and a dog. Tickets - $12-$15 - Children – free

ArdentownNew Candlelight Theater, 2208 Millers Rd., 302-475-2313July 12-August 25 -Matinee & Evening Shows - “ForeverPlaid” - Take a trip back to a simpler time with NCT’s summerproduction - a musical tribute to the harmony groups of the1950’s. Included in this production are familiar songs – ThreeCoins in the Fountain, Chain Gang, Heart and Soul and manymore. Tickets $56 includes dinner buffet.

Passport Program – Major AttractionsThe Treasure Trail Passport Program offers admissiondiscounts to 11 Brandywine Valley attractions such as HagleyMuseum, Longwood Garden, Winterthur Museum, RockwoodPark and more until September 3. Cost - single adult $35, twoadults/3 children $75 – good for one-time admission -www.visitwilmingtonde.com/bvpassport

Sonya Comstock

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SPRINGMILL RESIDENT SPECIALS

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Monday: The motor coach arrived with Jim, our favorite driver,at the helm. The 10 Pennsylvania travelers were alreadyaboard. Prior to our boarding, breakfast snacks were distributedto the 20 Springmillers and 2 Spring Arborites. Then we wereoff…our first stop would be in Virginia to see the NaturalBridge. The overnight accommodations were provided by theNatural Bridge Inn, which has provided hospitality since thedays of Thomas Jefferson, who actually purchased the NaturalBridge and acreage for the equivalent of $2.40. This man knewa bargain when he saw it. The Inn is perfectly situated on ahilltop with wonderful views of the mountains. There arenumerous attractions within walking distance: a wax museum, aMonacan Indian village with reenactors, walking trails and picnicgrounds, the Lace Falls, a large gift shop and arcade, an indoorbutterfly garden, and of course, the Natural Bridge.Complimentary tickets to some of the attractions were awelcome gift to guests, so we had a chance to check things outbefore the light show at the bridge that evening after our buffetdinner. Personally, I think you could skip the light show, whichwas the story of creation with lights going on and off…not reallywhat we expected. It was “meditative” and conducive to a goodnight’s sleep.

Tuesday: Today we will continue on to North Carolina to seeanother rock…Chimney Rock (also privately owned), inChimney Rock Park, and then taking a guided cruise on LakeLure, a man-made lake. There were breathtaking views of theBlue Ridge Mountains and valleys along the way. When wearrived, it turned out our timing

What’s Happening….

Continued on Pg. 26

Pickleball

Carl Rifino says playing Pickleball keeps him young andactive. Without a dedicated court, this game is played on thetennis courts, which have been customized with new lines forthe sport. Players have a smaller court area more like abadminton court and have their own rules and regulations.Instead of a racquet and tennis ball, a wooden paddle andperforated plastic ball (similar to a whiffle ball) is used. Aneasy sport for beginners to learn, it can be developed into afast-paced competitive game for experienced players. An oddname for a game, the inventor of this game had a cockerspaniel named Pickles who used to chase stray balls and hidethem, so the game was aptly named Pickleball.

How did this game start at Springmill? Gary See (formerresident) introduced the game about five years ago. Residentstook an interest in a sport which is not as challenging as tennis

but does require skill and also gives them a first-class workout.Games can take anywhere from 10-18 minutes to play.Rather than play singles, four players seems the norm forseniors.

What’s really needed is intensity along with the direction of ashot to win. New players can expect an excellent workoutwhen paired with a skilled player. Rules are different withPickleball. A player cannot stand closer than seven feet to thenet, and the ball must bounce once for either side the first timebefore taking a shot. This seven-foot area is called the kitchenline and a strict rule to abide by in this game.

When cold weather arrives, the game moves to theBear/Glasgow Y where it was introduced to the facility and hasnow become part of their program. Teenagers also play theseniors and while they have the advantage of fast movementand quick reflexes, experienced senior players have the skillsneeded to compete. Playing indoors requires changing to aball with larger holes.

Carl says after playing for five years, he still finds it a greatgame and a good workout with lots of fun and something notto be taken too seriously but more to enjoy. Tournaments forsenior players are held in September and have been ongoingfor four years, played at Delaware State in the WellnessCenter. Winners move on to the National Tournament.

Carl welcomes new players and says anyone can learn how toplay with some instructions and practice. EveryMonday/Wednesday/Friday from 9-11 a.m. (weatherpermitting) the players meet, so take some time to watch agame that might be just right for you. Contact either CarlRifino or Jane Kimmins.

Sonya Comstock

Jerry Burney, Bob Hill, Carl Rifino, Janet & Mark Herner, &Marc Lichenfield

Springmill Visits…Virginia & North Carolina

Yes, the trip had its unpredictable moments, but overall, I thinkwe all had a good time, made some new friends, and enjoyedsome new experiences. As usual, Glenda and Betty tookgood care of us, and Guy, our game guru, kept us allentertained with trivia, bingo, and horse racing during thelonger stretches on the bus. One of the Pennsylvaniagrandmas brought her eight-year old granddaughter, Amanda,with her. She turned out to be an able traveler and rolledhappily along with us.

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272 Carter DriveMiddletown, DE 19709

Drew Chas, D.C.Now Offering Massage Therapy

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Meet Your NeighborIt’s funny how you can know someone, see them ratherconsistently in the neighborhood, but not really know muchabout them. That’s how I felt when Pat Steskal called to setup the date for our interview. She and her husband, Jerry, of52 Springmill Drive, live just down the street and around thebend, but I’ve never spent a great amount of time in theircompany. That’s what I love about doing this column…I get tosit down and just chat with my neighbors. What a lovely wayto spend an afternoon.

Pat and Jerry had a rather traditional story. They both grewup in Pennsylvania; she in North Wales and he in Doylestown.Born twenty miles apart, they attended the same high school,met and started dating in their junior year, and then graduatedtogether. Jerry went off to Delaware Valley College, but theycontinued dating while he was in school. After four years, thecouple became engaged, and was married the following year.

Like most newlyweds, they started life in an apartment…thisone in Kulpsville, PA, for five years. Eventually they moved toa house and started a family…two children; a son and adaughter. Jerry, who worked for Georgia Pacific, wastransferred to the Shelburne office in Vermont (just a few milesfrom the museum), and the couple resided in Essex, VT forthree years. Then in 1977, they headed back to Pennsylvania,residing there for twenty-five years…right next door to theirbest friends. This was their last stop before Springmill.

Nearing retirement, the twosome knew they didn’t want todeal with a two-story house and property once the childrenwere grown and on their own. They looked in New Jersey,Pennsylvania and Delaware. At first they were told there wereno 55+ communities in Delaware, but then one day, when Patwas out with friends, they showed her Springmill. Sheimmediately decided it was just what she wanted. She likedthe concept of individual homes, liked the design of the modelhomes, and liked the layout of the community. So, like anysmart wife, she brought Jerry down to check it out. At first,Pat thought it was a lost cause, because Jerry wanted abasement, and at that time there weren’t any lotsaccommodating basements. But, Carol Schaffer showedthem six future homes, near the woods, if they could waiteight months. Guess it was worth waiting for, because theSteskals signed on the dotted line…purchasing their newhome site on their way down to their vacation in Florida.

When asked what they now like, having lived here a while,Jerry was quick to respond, “Just about everything.” Of coursethere’s no outside maintenance…everyone appreciates that.They also enjoy having so many activities from which to pickand choose. This couple believes in giving back, and so Patjoined the sales force of the Sentinel, while Jerry has been apart of the Architectural Committee and the Maintenance andRepair Committee since moving here.

Both retired when they changed residences fromPennsylvania to Delaware. Pat had been an administrativeassistant with a number of different companies, depending onwhere Jerry was transferred. Her last employer was Sunoco.Jerry has worked in sales and was in management during histenure with Georgia Pacific in the Distribution Division.As far as leisure activities, Pat plays cards, volunteers, looksforward to going back to more golf and reading, but also likesto just hang out and do “whatever.” Tax-free shopping is alsoa part of her list. Jerry plays golf, does home projects as well

as working on projects for thecommunity as part of MRC.

The question on vacation spots waseasy. The couple LOVES theirhome in Nags Head, NC, spendingabout 3 months there each year.One of their favorite trips was theone that took them from the eastcoast to the west coast…cross-country at a leisurely pace. TheSteskals have a heartwarming storyabout a “random act of kindness” that occurred during asnowstorm in Wyoming. Ask them about it the next time youare in their company. While they had the chance to travel quitea bit while Jerry was still working, one of their most memorablehad to be when they spent a few months in New Zealand andAustralia. We all agreed that those “double digit” plane ridesare no longer fun.

I was shocked to learn that the couple has been married 57years…they look too young (from my mature perspective) tobe married that long. Marriage apparently agrees with thesetwo.

We previously mentioned Pat and Jerry’s two children;Michael (PA) and Patti (NY…but moving soon to MD). Theydon’t have any grandchildren as yet, but still hope for some.You never know what the future holds.

Surprisingly, the Steskals gave quite a bit of thought to my lastquestion about “final thoughts.” Jerry commented, “We arevery happy with the way Springmill has matured due to theefforts of the resident volunteers. He hopes going forward thatmore people in the community will consider getting involved.He knows they will find it very rewarding.”

As far as things they’ve learned in their 57 years together, ithas to be that “while they grew up in a time when life was notas difficult as it is now, planning for the future and workingtogether to achieve goals, as opposed to living for today andnot planning for tomorrow is a lesson this generation needs toheed.”

Last, but certainly not least, Pat and Jerry want you to knowthat they “enjoy living in Springmill. The majority of the peopleare friendly, helpful and caring. You never have to be alone,unless you want to be. This neighborhood is great!” Now whocould argue with those sentiments…not me?

June Stemmle

Thank You

Both Joe and I and our families would like to thank ourfriends and neighbors of Springmill for all theirprayers, cards and kindness shown to Mary bothbefore and after her passing. She loved Springmilland we will miss her. May she rest in peace.

Steve D'AmicoJoe Walsh

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Carol Wagner &Helene Silverman

Thelma & Rudy Federman

Fran McCoombe &Emily Toy

Barbara & Herb Abrams

Joan Hancock, KathyCioffi, & Betty Schroeder

Janet & Jerry Geftman Cynthia & Herb Frank &Dennis Hand

Cathy Davis &Bill Uranko

Pizza Pool PartySincere thanks to Pat Frail and the rest of the CEC for agreat Pizza Party on a beautiful Saturday evening aroundthe pool. Between 55 and 60 residents attended. Pop-corn, salad and several different types of pizza made upthe menu.

Joe GrippoGuy & Betty Freeman

Charlotte Smith &Faye Green

Wilma Feinberg &Becky Bullock

Ilene Lipstein & LeeRosenson

Dennis Hand &Joe Walsh

Jane Kimmins &Steve D’Amico

Bill & Irene MehinickMark Verni & RichardBengermino

Herman Feinberg &Ed Bulock

Ruth Rudloff &Ann Newswanger

Lois & Sal DiMenno

Bridget & Joy McGrath& Kathy Cioffi

Gil & Jean RoyalArlene & Bill Gurnee &Family

Claudia Garrett &Vera Bagnatori

Memorial Day Party

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Memorial Day PartyThe CEC did it again with Cynthia Frank taking the lead!The party was attended by more than eighty residents aswe celebrated our deceased national heroes and also theopening of the pool. The menu included roasted chicken,coleslaw, and apple pie with ice cream. The boxedchicken dinners came from the Truck Stop on 301. The50-50 was won by Lou Cinelli. a new resident, who

graciously gave back some of the winnings for the woundedwarriors. The other part of the 50-50 also went to theWounded Warriors. Entertainment was provided byMargaret and Clarence Bailey accompanied by a friend. Itwas a wonderful day and a day enjoyed by all.

Joe Grippo

Art & Rosemarie Lamb

Faye Green, Ruth & BobCohen

Chuck & Lynn Ruh

Gene & Shirley Smith

Paul & Joan Lloyd

Jean Sweeney &Helen Jacksson

John Oppelt &Catherin McNeil

Jim & Carla Rutolo

Ginny Grippo

Mark Verni &Vera Bagnatori

Carolyn & Fred Bodden

Fred & Maria Wendt

Joanne & Peter Kurych

Frank & Ann Basler

Carol & Jim Fron &Marie Magner

Noreen & Jerry Ryan &Don Pries

Carolyn & Carl Rifino

Mary Sapp &Christine Laphan

Ann Murray,Lou Cinelli &Betty Anne Opalach

Barbara & Herb Abrams

Doris & DonaldGilbert

Wilma & Herman Feinberg

Tom Laphan &Bill Sapp

Clarence, Friend &Margaret Bailey

Howard & Sara Money &Sandy Maguire

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Springmill Activity Contacts

Book Club -Kay O’Day-AllenBocce – Ann LucasBowling – Larry DaigleBridge (Thursday Afternoon) - Joan GrossBunco – Looking for a CoordinatorComputer Resources – Dick RauschGolf - Fred Wendt - MSML/Joe Tomassetti-SMGLGourmet Club – Debra KupperJazzercise – Gail RouillerLibrary – Julia Hambrecht & Eileen BengerminoMahjongg – Barb AbramsMen’s Hearts – Len BrusseeMen’s Poker – Tom FerraraMen’s Pool – Art LambPickleball – Carl RifinoRed Hat Society – Kay O’Day-AllenRomeos - Nick CiranniRummikub - Jo VerniSocial Singles - Cathy Cioffi/Bridget McGrathTennis -Terry Markisohn & Mark VerniTexas Holdem – Stan HeerThe Timeless Travel Group - Glenda SchneidermanWater Aerobics – Ann Raymond/Tad UrbanWelcoming Committee - Peggy AndrewsYoga - June Stemmle

Please note: All committee meetings and activities using aClubhouse room, must be cleared with Tracey Lund.

Springmill Activities

Community Events Committee

Upcoming Events:

July 4 – Another celebration at Springmill will be an oldfashion Fourth of July picnic. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and allthe condiments along with potato salad, coleslaw, corn on thecob and dessert. Sing along with the music of the Good TimeStrummers. It is sure to be a “bang up”day!! Hope you allhave your reservations in to Bev Strong!!

July 27- Saturday Night Social – 7:30 pm at the clubhouse.

AUGUST- WE ARE ON VACATION: there are no eventsplanned by the Community Events Committee for the monthof August.

September 2- Labor Day Party.

The CEC meets the first Wednesday of every month at 9:30am in the card room. Our next meeting will be July 3.

Charity Committee

This month the Charity Committee will be collecting for theNeighborhood House. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, papergoods along with canned goods are needed. They alsoaccept and have people in need of furniture. Thank you!

Maria Corvino

Tree UpdateEditorial deadlines make things difficult when considering whatnews should be shared with the community. I’ve experiencedthis challenge when I write on the news concerning our treetask force. As many in the community know, we circulated aletter in the April issue of the Sentinel to announce the earlyplans associated with the project. During the month of May wereceived feedback after people saw that trees in Springmillwere tagged, which left us wondering what went wrong.

The letter described how the arborist would begin his work.The tagging system would allow him to identify all the trees ofinterest in SM and then provide him a basis for evaluatingeach tree’s health and challenges to its survival. Let me put torest the first major concern expressed by some homeowners.A TAG ON THE TREE DOESN’T MEAN THAT THE TREEHAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR REMOVAL. Second, a tag onthe tree that a homeowner planted means that the tree willreceive the same analysis by the arborist as he will carry outfor all community trees. However, it should be noted that thehomeowner will have the sole responsibility to carry outthe recommendations for these trees. This point wasmade in both the May and June issues of the Sentinel.

A second focus of the letter centered on the need to develop amap of SM which would be used to locate each tree as well asthose utilities that might impact the removal or relocation ofthem. In addition, the map would help locate new areas forplanting trees, and, in particular, areas that would allow theplanting of only smaller trees or trees with a specific function(e.g., cluster of trees for screening purposes or for shade). Thetask force and the BOD have considered a number ofapproaches to get this map drawn, and we’re concerned bythe project costs which were cited by the engineering firms.We have discussed these concerns with them and the TownManager, and will continue this discussion until late June.

Members of the task force visited Foxfield which is anotherMcKee community in PA. They reported on a number of issuesthat had surfaced in that project. However, the communitydidn’t have to deal with the impact of sidewalks on the treesand vice-versa. That community also experienced “peopleissues”, which are now being overcome. Since we knew aboutthese issues in the very beginning, we have tried tocommunicate as best we can with you by giving you facts only.We suggest that you contact a member of the BOD or TaskForce with any question that you have. Please avoid reactingto news from other sources.

When you read this article in July, we hope to have in placethe strategy to complete the preparation phase of this project.This will enable us to share the arborist’s recommendationswith you in August and the action plan envisioned for 2013 inSeptember. The Tree Task Force and BOD appreciate yourpatience and cooperation in this undertaking. We are seriousabout getting value for the money which will be spent for thisproject. Finally, your current BOD wants to ensure that thisplan will be carried out by future Boards in 2014, etc. We willbe working with the affected committees on their proposed2014 budgets for a seamless transition.

Carl Rifino

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Book Review“Where the Heart Is” by Billie Letts

Oprah was right about this first novel by Billie Letts. It haseverything a good read needs…well-developed charactersthat you like/dislike, a plot with twists and turns, friendship,love, a bit of craziness, and suspense. I guess you can tell thatI enjoyed and would recommend it.

Billie drew a bit on herself and her early childhood inOklahoma when she chose the attributes that contribute toNovalee Nation, our heroine’s character. Those beginningsin the South and the feelings of a community family…alwayswilling to lend a hand, also bring the people who surroundNovalee to life.

Like most seventeen-year-olds, Novalee is a romantic at heart.She is also open to new experiences and has a way of“collecting” people; from her boyfriend Willy Jack Pickens tolovable, bible-carrying Sister Thelma Husband, eccentriclibrarian Forney Hull, photographer Moses Whitecotton,nursery owner’s son Bennie Goodluck, and nurse Lexie

Book Club Choices for July

Book Club 1 (Deb Kupper/1st Wed.) We will be reading“The Virgin of Small Plains” by Nancy Pickard.

Book Club 2 (Mary-Elizabeth Rhoads/4th Tues.) Our groupmembers will read a book of their choice and then share withthe group, when we meet this month.

Book Club 3 (Lydia Olson/3rd Mon.) Our book club will be

Coop. As the story develops, you come to know thecharacters well. You see how their association with Novaleeand each other helps them flourish and how they helpNovalee become the person she’s supposed to be. One of thequirkier happenings is when Novalee, seven monthspregnant, is abandoned at Walmart by her boyfriend and endsup living and giving birth there to baby Americus. Shebecomes a local celebrity, meets Sam Walton, and starts onan unexpected journey to adulthood. The birth of Americusbegins her transformation. Each person she meets, each “gift”she is given, adds to the narrative. Novalee has beensearching all her young life for home and family. Shebelieves that “home is where your history begins” and wantsmore than anything to give that gift to her child.

This is a great story about family, friends, love, and newadventures. It would be a wonderful choice any time of year,and especially as a “summer read.” I’m not giving anythingaway by saying there is a happy ending…and evenredemption for Willy Jack, because this story isn’t about thebeginning or ending, but about everything that comes inbetween.

June Stemmle

Restaurant ReviewImperial Hotel and Restaurant

208 High Street, Chestertown, MD 216201-800-295-0014

I recently visited the Imperial Hotel and Restaurant inChestertown for the second time. Chestertown, itself, is adestination…very walkable with a number of good restaurantsand lots of small “boutique” stores to visit. I always findsomething I love and rarely leave without aiding the town’seconomy. But this is a restaurant review and review we shall.

Let’s get to the basics first. During the week, the restaurant isopen from 11:30 am to 9 pm and on weekends from 9 am to 9pm. There is metered parking on the street, credit cards areaccepted, reservations are taken, there is a full bar, it is fairlyquiet, it is pet friendly, there is outdoor seating and waiterservice. It is NOT handicapped accessible. The prices aremoderate. Groups can be accommodated with separate checks.The website is www.imperialchestertown.com .

With that out of the way, we can get to my impressions andrecommendations. I passed the Hotel a number of timesbefore realizing it was also a restaurant, open to the public,until Peg McMullen made reservations for Red Hats. Therestaurant has a great in-town location, close to shops, historicbuildings and the Chester River. The staff is polite andwelcoming. While built in the early 1900s and in need of some

renovation, it is a clean, quaint place to dine. During thesummer, the porch area is a great spot for people watching.Should you have your pet with you, it will be graciously treatedto a bowl of water and some snacks.

If you’re from the Philadelphia area and have heard of TomPizzica from the Food Network, it might impress you that atone time he was the chef here. That said, I did discover aninconsistency in service and food…with a group. The firsttime, we had a small group and both food and service wereexcellent. This time, the group was larger and, while the foodwas OK, it arrived in “spurts” and it was mediocre. I thinkeven our server was not satisfied with our experience becausehe didn’t charge for our dessert and coffee/tea.

All the food is made on the premises…including the applebacon, the breads, and the desserts. The dessert portions arequite generous, but may be too good to share…save room.The daily quiche is always a good choice. Should you try it onyour own, there is a Happy Hour from 3-6 pm on Friday, with anice bar food selection of Italian meats and French cheesesand a surprisingly good Sunday Brunch, with, I’m told, afantastic Bloody Mary.

I’m hoping to try the Blue Heron or the Lemon Tree on mynext visit. I’ll let you know how that goes. Meanwhile, if youhaven’t visited Chestertown, do go and start your restauranttour with the Imperial Hotel.

June Stemmle

getting together for lunch.

Book Club 4 (Mary Jo Starrett/1st Wed.) Our group will betaking the summer months off, but will, I’m sure, be reading ontheir own and will have lots of suggestions come the fall.

Book Club 5 (Joan Gross/3rd Tues.) When we meet, we willbe discussing the “The Aviator’s Wife” by Melanie Hauser.

June Stemmle

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Springmill Discount: $2.75 off every car wash!

WholesaleTrees Mulch

Shrub SodPerennials

525 Black Diamond Rd. • Smyrna, DE 19977Phone: 302-653-6630 • Email: laura@farmhousenursery.com

Laura Korell302-463-2581

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How to make your TV a smart TV

I bought an HD TV a couple of years ago andhave found that even with “hundreds” ofchannels there are times when there “isnothing to watch”. I’ve been connecting mycomputer to my TV and I’ve used it to turn mytelevision into a smart TV, in order to watchYouTube, Netflix, etc…But after a while, Irealized that a computer might not be thebest approach for that: computers are a bitexpensive; they do much more than you’d like a Smart TV todo, and turning them on and off takes too long. So for the pastyear, I’ve been looking for a better solution.

The problem - Regular TV leaves something to be desired. Iwant to be able to watch my digital movies, YouTube, Netflix,read email and browse my favorite websites from my couch,using my big TV screen. What is the most convenient way todo this?

The solutions - I investigated a few generic solutions thatallow one to make a smart TV out of an ordinary TV. I willintroduce the solutions I’ve found. All of them have their prosand cons.

� Plug a computer to your TV: Most TVs have a VGAentry port, and if they don’t, most computers have anHDMI output port nowadays. The big advantage of thissolution is that nothing will beat a PC in terms ofperformance. You’ll be able to play high quality games, aswell as watch all movie formats. As I mentioned before,some issues with using computers as your smart TV arethe power consumption and the price. They also takesome time to boot, and when it comes to TV, you wantthings to work immediately.

� Plug a tablet to your TV: Tablets come at a reasonableprice, have relatively low power consumption, and most ofthem can be plugged to an HDMI port on your TV.Controlling the tablet from your couch might become aproblem though. Also, since I like to optimize powerusage, I am not very happy with the tablet solution sincethe screen might be constantly ON and I don’t need that.

� Buy an actual smart TV: This is probably the mostexpensive and the less “long term” solution in my opinion.Most people who bought 3D televisions, or DivX DVDplayer are sorry they did. You don’t want to make thesame mistake made by others. These embedded TVspromise to keep up to date with firmware updates, buttheir functionality is fairly limited, and there are always oneor 2 things you want them to do that they won’t do for you.

� Use your video game console: The XBox 360, thePS3, and the Wii U all have fairly decent multimediafunctionality. In particular the PS3, with its Blu-Raysupport, Netflix and Amazon instant video, is aninteresting approach. The Wii U also seems to be headedtowards being a multimedia device.

� Use a dedicated device that will connect to your TVand make it a smart TV: After using the “computer”solution for a while and then a blu-ray player with a wi-ficonnection, I decided that getting a dedicated Smart TVdevice was the best solution for my needs. There areseveral solutions in this area. I’ve personally been usingthe Logitech Revue which is called Google TV. It comeswith a small “box” that simply connects between the cable

Computer Tutor company’s set top box and the HD TV. It also has a fullkeyboard which allows you to use your TV as a mediadevice and do many of the things that an Android smartphone can do. Many of the Android apps are available foryour TV.

Other dedicated smart TV solutions include Boxee, LGSmart TV Upgrader, Roku, Sony’s Internet Box, and more.Some of the additional features of these devices are thatyou can wirelessly connect to your computer to displaycontent like photos, videos, movies, etc. In addition, mostof them provide access to YouTube, Netflix, Flickr, Picasa,and a variety of other Internet applications. You can alsoget current movie releases (on a pay-for basis), free musicchannels (like Pandora), and sports channels, and viewFacebook, Twitter, and other popular sites with your TV.

There are many viable solutions, and the “perfect” solutiondepends on what you are looking for. As far as I’m concerned,I’ve found a great solution that costs less than $100. Unlessyou are looking for advanced gaming functionality, I believeyou, too, can have a smart TV for an add-on cost of $200 or less.

Dick Rausch

Springmill Pool Renovated

The pool in the Springmill Clubhouse complex has been inoperation for 11 years now. It is the centerpiece of manyresidents’ summer activities and is enjoyed by visiting familyand friends as well. Over the lastcouple of years there have been a fewproblems with leaks, cracked tiles andother items attributed to the normalaging cycle of the pool.

At the end of the 2012 season theClubhouse Committee started doingresearch on having the poolrenovated. The Board of Directorsapproved the pool renovation projectand funds were allocated for the renovation to be completed intime for the 2013 pool season. After receiving severalestimates, it was decided to use Aquatic ManagementSystems (AMS) of Wilmington, our Continued on Pg. 26

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee met on June 19th with all 9 memberspresent in addition to Jim Merrill, treasurer, and Bob Gross,BOD liason. May minutes were approved.

The Long-Range Planning Sub-Committee presented theircopy of the survey that will be included in the July issue of theSentinel. They will gather and collate the incoming informationto present to the Finance Committee during the Augustmeeting.

The committee was brought up to date on the progress of thetree task force and the development of the 2014 budget. Weall applaud the process the BOD used in approving the 2012audit which Cover & Rossiter prepared.

The May financial reports were reviewed and approved. Ournext meeting will not be until August 21, 2103 at 3 pm and asalways we encourage everyone to attend.

Cal Reuss

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$2 Off

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Sports NewsWomen’s Golf - The Middletown Ladies Golf League. Theleague is open to adult women golfers with prior golfingexperience. A fun-filled, friendly event is scored each weekusing handicaps. Members may choose to play either 9 or 18holes of golf on Thursday mornings.On May 16 the game was“low net” at Frog Hollow. Springmill resident Doris Moscariellocame in third and Barbara Kamm 2nd in their flights. Therewas a “tee to green tournament” at Back Creek on May 23.Barbara Kamm came in 1st in her flight. On May 30 the gamewas “4 clubs and a putter”. Springmill residents DorisMoscarillo and Barbara Kamm came in 1st and 3rd in theirrespective flights. The June 6 event at Back Creek was “Mutt &Jeff” and Doris Moscariello was 3rd, Barbara Kamm was 1stand Jo Ann Stump was 3rd in their flights.Weekly play willalternate between Frog Hollow Golf Course and Back CreekGolf Club.For more information, call JoAnn Stump.

Men’s Golf – The Springmill Senior Men's Golf League(SMGL). Joe Tomassetti reports: During the past month weaveraged 20 players a week and continue to enjoy the thrill (?)of the sport. Tony Silva posted a 77 during one weeks play.Tony is one of our better players. But it looks like he has someREAL competition. Jim Fron and Marc Lichtenfield both postedan 80 that same day. Tony’s days as the man to beat may beat risk. Our scoring ranges from a low of 77 to a high of 125, sothere is plenty of room for anyone wanting to play. We haveplayers from Spring Arbor playing with us as well. Our attemptto play a “Yellow Ball” competition was rained out, but we planto try again in the next couple of weeks. If anyone is interestedin getting in on the fun, please contact Joe Tomassetti,j.tomassetti@verizon.net.

Bocce – Anne Lucas, Bocce Coordinator, reports that theBocce season is well under way. The weather improved duringthe past month. Temperatures were comfortable with norainouts. There is Bocce play on Tuesday and Wednesdaymornings at 9:00 AM. If you are not playing come on out andcheer your favorites.League standing as of press deadline.Tuesday League Wednesday LeagueTeam W L Team W LTwenty Three 8 0 Forza 8 2Renegades 5 3 The Bru’s 7 3Happy Rollers 3 5 Walbobs 3 7Easy Rollers 2 6 Ruffhouses 2 8Morning Glories 2 6Up-to-date standings are always available on the ClubhouseBulletin Board.

The Bocce courts are always open, weather permitting.Whenever the mood hits you get a few people together and startplaying. The Bocce equipment is in the closet in the Craftroom.

Pickleball – Carl Rifino, Pickleball Coordinator, contributed thefollowing: Recently we experienced a new first on thePickleball court. Someone yelled out “four”, which made uswonder “what gives?” We have terms like “dang” and“pickleball heaven” or “the net is too high”, and they lead to thegiggles after you learn why they were spoken.” Well we didn’tknow what “4” meant, until we remembered that a largenumber of people had showed up. You golfers can rest easy;we don’t want to steal your terms. Our meaning is that fournew players are needed to play the next game. And the reasonfor the happiness is that enough players showed up on twodays this past month to force us to make room for 4 morepeople on a court whenever a game ended. More importantly,

it demonstrates our flexibility to playing conditions thataccommodate new people.

I’ve been trying to coax newcomers to join us, and I’ve askedplayers to help teach the game to them. We’ve decided toaccommodate new players by setting up alternate times for theinstruction sessions. Thus, we ask one thing, that you identifyyourself as a new player who wants to start, or one who wantsto be re-introduced to the game. Please contact me if you wantto give it a try.

Pickleball time isn’t restricted to Mon., Wed. and Fri. mornings.I will try to identify who wants to play in the evening hours, e.g.,from 6:00 PM to dusk. We have residents who work part-timeor full-time who might be interested in winding down from thedaily stress. Over the years, I’ve found that athletic activity is agood way to handle those stressful times at the end of a day. Ialso invite ex-tennis players, who can’t find a foursome at theend of the day, to join us. We have played with a number oftennis players at the Y, and they have helped to teach us newracquet skills, while they learned a new game. Keep active andstay healthy.

Tennis – Terry Markisohn and Mark Verni are co-coordinators fortennis activities. The tennis season continues.  Weekend play ison Saturdays and Sundays; currently we are beginning at 8:30AM; when the summer temperatures being to kick in, we will playearlier in the mornings, around 8 am.  Tuesday mornings, there isa "just show up group" at 9:00 am on Court 2.  We have beentrying for Wednesday evenings at 5:30 pm - all are welcome toplay in this evening session. If any additional information isrequired please contact Terry or Mark.

Water Aerobics – Ann Raymond reports: Water Aerobicscontinues (weather permitting).  The times are Monday,Wednesday, and Friday, 4:00 - 5:00 PM and Tuesday andThursday 10:30 - 11:30 AM.  You will need a noodle andbarbells (can be found at SwimOutlet.com).

Fitness – Remaining fit should be a goal which will help allable bodied residents to age gracefully. Springmill offersseveral ways to help everyone stay fit. With Jazzercise, Yoga,Meditation, the Walking Club, the Gym, Water Aerobics, andmiles of scenic paths and streets for safe walking and bicycling,it is easy to get out and stay fit at your own pace and ability.

What’s CookinSummer Strawberry Soup

2 cups vanilla yogurt½ cup orange juice2 lbs. fresh strawberries halved½ cup sugar

In a blender, combine yogurt, orange juice, strawberries andsugar in batches; cover and process until blended. Refrigerate atleast 2 hrs. Garnish with additional yogurt and mint leaves, ifdesired. Makes 6-8 servings. Chill the soup bowls making thesoup very frosty. Stir before pouring into bowls.

Sonya Comstock

Pool Room Chatter-Art Lamb- Tom Ferrara started off thismonths "8 ball" with a perfect game on the 30th of May. LarryDaigle had two perfect games on the 3rd of June, followed bya perfect game of "cut throat" by Bob Cohen on the 5th of themonth. On the 12th, Bob Cohen and on 13th, Larry Daiglestruck again with a perfect game each. Remember men's poolis M-Th 1 'til 4 P.M. All are welcome.

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We work with all Insurance Companies

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Spotlight onOur Advertisers

"This series will "Spotlight" one of ouradvertisers each month. Advertisers arechosen on a random basis."

Louis Marie Bridal

Location, location, location - and in theretail business, the key to success.Both Mary Greenhalgh and PamLeeson owners of the bridal salon,agree that the move from Smyrna toMiddletown near the four corners ofCochran Square where the lightchanges frequently has guaranteedthem to be winners in their business. With the windows beingchanged every two weeks with new wedding gowns and eveningwear as well as a touch of the current season, those driving orwalking by take time to admire the beautiful window displays.Those who are in need of such attire open the door and enter intoa lavish assortment of dresses for all occasions.

Louis Marie Bridal has been at its current location for threeyears and now sees the need for expansion. Brides-to-be tryon as many as ten gowns, so the entire process cannot berushed. A few years back, gowns were all strapless and white.Today, ivory is the preferred color, and lace and high necksalong with sleeves are back in style. Gowns are moresophisticated than years ago, and today some brides buy asecond dress for the reception. Brides might add a coloredsatin shoe to match their attendants’ dresses or choose theirfavorite color.

Both Mary and Pam met at Dynamic Physical Therapy yearsago and became best friends. Pam said her introduction intothe bridal business came as a result of marrying off threedaughters. While Pam continues to work at Dynamic Physical

Therapy on a part-time basis as a Physical TherapistAssistant, Mary works full time at the bridal salon. Herresponsibility is to order the gowns and accessories alongwith helping brides-to-be make their selection. Along with thebride's gown is also the selection of bridesmaids’ dresseswhich are usually very slender in style and cocktail length.The mother of the bride has the first choice of color . Thepopular June bride has been replaced by the fall bride, andthe colors of eggplant and navy are popular colors forattendants.

While emphasis is on the bride, this store also caters to theprom crowd which starts in December and ends in May and isan extremely busy time. High school proms are the “redcarpet” event for seniors where long gowns are preferred. Foreighth grade formals, the trend is to have a short eveningdress which is far more sophisticated than ever could beimagined.

Pam and Mary also cater to women who need an eveningdress for a Gala or special evening or a cruise. They carry awide variety of styles that suit women of all sizes. Some ofthese dresses come with shawls or jackets, and a popularstyle for those renewing their vows, is a dress with a jacketwhich is very flattering for all women. Alterations are availablethrough referral.

What's rewarding and exciting about this business is when abride-to-be finds the perfect gown, and her face glows alongwith Mom who may shed a tear at her grown-up daughter. ForPam and Mary, being in the bridal business is not justpleasing the bride, but also pleasing the bridal party, mothers,and grandmothers who want this wedding to be absolutelyperfect.

Louis Marie Bridal is open Tuesday-Sunday and closed onMonday. phone No. 302-378-7800.

Sonya Comstock

Springmill Long- Range Plan ProjectSeveral months ago, Jim Crisfield and Anita Tucker wereasked by the Finance Committee to develop a Long-RangeCapital Improvements Plan for Springmill. This was to identifynew projects the Association might undertake over the nextfive to ten years. That is, projects residents of Springmill mightlike to see done to make this community an even better placein which to live and enjoy.

Over the last several months we visited various committees inSpringmill and asked what they thought should be done toimprove the facilities for which they were responsible.Following our discussions with the committees, we asked forsuggestions from members of the community and many of youresponded.

For each of these projects we will eventually need anarchitectural or other expert project cost estimate, a time line,estimated asset life, and estimate of added regularmaintenance cost. Nevertheless, at this point, we feel it isbetter to try to prioritize all these following suggestions, andthen, later, put some cost guesses on each one. We shouldthen have professional advice rather than attach our own wildcost estimates to each one.

Most replacement type projects are presented in the KipconReport with cost estimates and time lines and we are currentlyreserving for these items. However, planned replacementsthat are different from or in addition to the Kipcon Report willneed to be added with cost estimates and time lines, includinguseful life projections.

Anything to do with trees is being addressed by the specialproject group, the tree task force, and does not appear here.Likewise, any issues with sidewalks are being addressedseparately by the Board of Directors.

Included with this Sentinel issue, as an insert, is a worksheetlisting all your ideas. Please assign your priorities on theseworksheets as follows:

A = Very desirable and we should do it soon.B = Desirable but we ought to defer it for a while.X = Don’t spend money on this.

Then, sign your worksheet and give it to Tracey Lund, JimCrisfield or AnitaTucker by July 15.

Thank You,Jim Crisfield

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in a natural settingwithout the heavy equipment of scuba diving. For older folks,it is ideal.

Sailing was done during the early hours and ended around 3p.m., and the boat was then tied to a mooring. The four wouldthen wander around the various islands and usually stop fordinner and chat with the locals. Sailboats of all sizes wouldalso surround their boat, and they would strike upconversation with people from all over. Sailing by NeckerIsland, which is a 74-acre island, just north of Virgin Gorda,and owned exclusively by Richard Branson, this islandoperates like a resort and accommodates up to 28 guests.

They experienced great food on various islands and oneoutstanding restaurant was Foxy’s, that had everything butJimmy Buffet inside. Wonderful and different food as well asdrink greeted them everywhere they went. They feltwelcomed everywhere.

With many private islands and beautiful scenery at sea and onthe islands, Jim took along his water colors and painted sceneafter scene of this entire trip. Captions and dates with eachpainting serve as wonderful memories.

What’s best about this trip – strong winds that allow them tosail most of the time – good friends bonding together andenjoying the beauty of the blue sea and islands – using theirsailing skills to navigate around the BVI – seeing firsthandislands not normally on tours – knowing there is another worldout there that needs to be explored and chartering a sailboatwith good friends is the way to go.

Jim says he had this trip on his bucket list for some time sonow it is over, but he is putting it back on for another sailing tripto somewhere else where he has not been before but awaitshis arrival. To sum up this trip in one word– PRICELESS.

Sonya Comstock

current poolcontractor. AMS prides itself on being the experts in poolrelated repairs and pool renovations. They have specialists onstaff to service every repair and renovation need. Allrenovation services are guaranteed to meet and exceed thecustomers’ expectations.

A task force consisting of Bob Hill, Jo Verni and Julie Hambrechtmet with the contractor to choose the tile and finalize the detailsof the renovation project. The renovation started in early May ata time when it was thought that Mother Nature would cooperate.The old plaster was removed and replaced; tiles were added intothe skimmer areas which will help with future cleaning. After therepairs were completed, the pool was slowly filled with water, aprocess that took a little less than 2 days.

The “new” pool was opened for Memorial Day weekend. Andalthough the weather at the Memorial Day pool party was a bitchilly, a few hearty souls took advantage of the pool. The poolhas been open throughout June and many more residents andguests have enjoyed it. Normal pool hours are 7:00 AM to9:00 PM daily, until at least Labor Day.

There are two sessions each day for guests under the age of18. Pool Regulations were included with the latest version ofGeneral Clubhouse Rules and were distributed with the June2013 Sentinel.

Julie Hambrecht and Dick Rausch

Continued From Pg. 21: Pool Renovation

Continued From Pg. 7: Bucket List Continued From Pg. 11: Trip couldn’t have beenbetter. It is the 20th anniversary of the remake of the movie Lastof the Mohicans, much of which was filmed at the park. DanielDay-Lewis’ costume was on display…along with 360 degreeviews of the valley, once you reached the top of the rock. Wewere wise enough to take the elevator up, but some of us choseto walk the 427 steps down. Then it was back on the bus for ashort trip to the lake. It couldn’t have been nicer; temperateweather, beautiful homes, and an afternoon enjoying what manand nature created. We topped everything off with dinner at thelakeside La Strada Restaurant before heading to our “home”for the next two days, the Holiday Inn. Love their comfy beds!

Wednesday: Ashville is said to be a “blend of mountaintranquility and southern hospitality.” This land of the sky wasnamed for its altitude and its vistas of ridges and valleys. Wehad the opportunity to sleep in before traveling to today’s pointof interest, the Biltmore Estate; house, gardens, Antler VillageFarm, and winery. The weather cooperated at first (glad I madethe decision to see the gardens on arrival), but then aroundlunch, we encountered a gentle rain which eventually stopped.It wasn’t until after we had toured the home, winery, etc. andwere ready to leave that the skies opened up and weexperienced a deluge of HEAVY rain…and hail!!! Some of usmade a dash for the bus, while others waited for the sun toappear, which it did. After a 20-minute “dry out” time at thehotel, we headed to dinner, which was a debacle. Due to thestorm, the restaurant had no electricity, partially cooked dinnersand insufficient servers. Depending on your selection, you wentaway satisfied or hungry. Though the storm continued, wehoped our theater plans wouldn’t be cancelled…they weren’t.The show must go on. We arrived a bit late, but the show,“Souvenir,” was wonderful. I LOVED it! It was a two-personshow about a real person, Madam Flo…a “unique” singer, herpatient pianist, and their friendship and unexpected rise tosuccess. It was funny, poignant, and the music of contemporaryand classical artists was a bonus. Then it was more rain for ourride to the hotel and sleep.

Thursday: We woke to sun with the Blue Ridge Mountains as abackdrop. This is a travel day. We’re headed to our last stop,Roanoke, Virginia. Along the way, we tried a new restaurant,Cheddars, which it turned out just opened its first restaurant inCamden, DE. The food was good…generous portions andreasonable prices. Try it if you’re in Camden. We’ll spend ourlast night at the Roanoke Inn, part of the Hilton chain, andspectacular inside and out. This was my kind of hotel. Aftersettling in our rooms, we all headed back to the lobby to meetChristopher, the Community Services representative, whograciously told us about Roanoke as he led us on a tour aroundthe center of the city. We never had anyone do that before. Wehad the luxury of time to explore and shop on our own before a7:00 pm reservation at Awful Arthur’s, which, while the foodwas good, had the same problem of serving a large group in atimely fashion and with sufficient servers. It was a good thingwe had a late lunch.

Friday: We ended the trip on a high note…a combinationupscale breakfast buffet with table service at the RegencyRoom of the hotel. Bobby, our server, seemed to sense whenwe needed something…and the food was fabulous! Stay at thishotel…I hated to leave. But it was time for our last destination,Woodrow Wilson’s birthplace, in Stanton, VA, for a visit to hispresidential library and museum before heading home. Wilsonwas the 28th President of the United States. Once on the bus,we saw another movie and had the promised “horse and exoticanimal” race. Not to brag, but I WON! We got home ontime…thank you Jim. I think we can all agree it was a lovelytrip. I’m glad you could come along for the ride.

June Stemmle

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FOLLOW ME TO MY OFFICEFOR ALL YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS

State Farm

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