The Greens
at Pelican Point
Volume 11 Number 8
CRAWFISH/SHRIMP BOIL
TUESDAY, APRIL 9th
Social 6 p.m. Meal 6:30 p.m.
■COST: $19 for 5 lbs. crawfish, $13 for 3 lbs.
crawfish, $10 for 1 lb. shrimp per person (with corn/
potatoes/condiments; tax/tip/delivery included)
■Pay Cash or check payable to Cash only no later than
Friday, April 5. We can’t accept after the deadline!
■Pay Sissy Bourgeois 474-8486, Denise Hebert 2574500, Vonnie Lowe 746-0789, Millie Matherne 4743499, or Frank Sheehan 257-4788.
■Bring your own drinks, as usual.
Residents with April birthdays and anniversaries will
be recognized. Come eat with your fingers!
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APRIL
BIRTHDAYS
4 – Mark Knorr
17 – Johnny McCollum
8 – Rachel Arnold
18 – Bill Biggio
8 – Roger Tygier
19 – Barbara Achord
9 – Pat Matherne
21 – Martha Cooper
15 – Al Gaudet
23 – Al Demarest
15 – Billy Watson
27 – Ken Ford
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CHEF’S NIGHT A BIG HIT!
Ray Stonemark and crew from Don’s Seafood hit a
homerun with our Chef’s Night on March 13. The
great room was filled with 77 participants who feasted
on delicious fried catfish, baked tilapia, or chargrilled
chicken with all the trimmings – with real plates and
utensils! Someone in the crowd saw (below, from left)
Sissy, Patty, Jim and
Millie chatting during
the social and said,
“Hey, y’all look like
sherbet ice cream.”
Doesn’t that sound like a
great name for a singing
group…The Sherbets!!!
April 2013
FIRE DEPARTMENT
FUNDRAISER
Saturday, April 27
The social committee is now accepting donations for
a MONEY TREE, one of the many gift baskets that
will be raffled off Saturday, April 27th at the annual
fundraiser for the 5th Ward Volunteer Fire Department.
A donation of $10 per home is suggested; however,
you may give whatever you can afford.
Please give your donation no later than Friday,
April 12 to Sissy 474-8486, Denise 257-4500, Vonnie
746-0789, Millie 474-3499, or Frank 257-4788.
Diane Tygier, our in-house artist, has again
volunteered to design the money tree. About $150$200 is usually put onto the tree, with the remainder
going directly to the fire department.
The one-day event will feature a pancake breakfast,
one-mile/5K walk-run, and raffles.
Tax deduction forms are available in the PPHOA
office. Thanks for your continued generosity and
support.
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Walter Forschler Jean Ingrassia Jan Jaekle
Lauren LeBlanc
Jim Linn
Wil Lowe
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Aubrey and Sandra Guillot, 5380 Courtyard
John and Robin Wax, 43299 Putter’s Lane
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SAVE THESE DATES
FOR UPCOMING SOCIALS
Tuesday, May 14 – NO Potluck
Saturday, May 18 – “Before It Gets Too Hot” BBQ
Tuesday, June 11 – Salad Night Potluck
(More details will follow as events near.)
GRANDMA, GRANDMA – Brooke, Theresa,
Hudson and Laurie (below, from left) enjoyed being
together in California and then Arizona to visit
Grandma J.J. and Aunt Cindy (Theresa’s mom and
sister). The little ones thoroughly enjoyed horseback
riding in Arizona. But the
best part of all was having
Grandma around for two
whole weeks. Theresa is
hoping they can visit the
Greens later this year but
suggests waiting for cooler
weather. “I don’t want to
scare the Californians off
with our summer heat and
humidity,” says Theresa.
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WEDDING BELLS rang on March 8 for the only
grandchild of Janis and David (below). The wedding
was magnificent, said the proud Nana and Paw-Paw
(whom bride Tina called “Paw dash Paw” when she
was little). “For a few
days, I forgot I am 78,”
mused Janis, “but trust
me, I knew it when all the
festivities ended. The
girls said ‘Go, Nana, Go’
and I went! Not sure
where, but I went. Queen
Elizabeth had nothing on
us except a few horses
and a carriage!” Well, the grandparents could have
used some horses when David’s car broke down on the
way home, and Janis got to ride in the front seat of a
tow truck all the way to Gonzales. Now that would
have made a great picture for the newsletter!
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RESERVE STUDY:
WHAT IS IT? WHY WE NEED IT!
Submitted by Jean Ingrassia
A reserve study is a study made of all the major
capital systems in the association. It evaluates how
much life they have left and how much they're likely
to cost when they wear out. From that, one can
calculate how much money the association has to set
aside each year to have enough to replace those items
when they do wear out. To do the calculations, take
the estimated replacement cost and divide it by the
number of years the item is estimated to last. That
number is the amount that should be reserved each
year.
Some states, such as California, require that reserve
studies be performed. There is no such requirement in
Louisiana. However, even though a study is not
currently mandated by state law, the Community
Associations Institute highly recommends that one be
done.
The Greens HOA Board has followed this advice
and two current Board members, John Carlson and
Craig Naden, undertook this project and presented it to
the homeowners. Their product is comprehensive and
detailed. It demonstrates an expertise in building
components and serves as a guideline for evaluating
our financial status and making determinations
regarding dues and assessments.
While reserve studies aren't perfect because they are
based on estimates, it is a starting place for discussion.
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“SNUGGLERS” TO MEET MONTHLY
The “Snugglers” will meet on the second
Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. All Greens
residents are invited. “We are off to a great start,
having sent 416 hats off to Angel Snugs in 7 weeks -a fabulous job for a great
cause. I am hoping we
can keep up production
and become #1,” said
Diane Tygier. At left,
Karen and Pat take a
break
from
their
crocheting to smile for
the camera, while Michelle concentrates on the task at
hand. Roger (in background) invites the guys to join
the group. He was the sommelier for the afternoon –
paper cups and all!
BIRTHDAY GIRL -- Celebrating Jenny Spizale's
birthday luncheon hosted by her daughters are
(standing, from left) Jenny, Mary, Lynne, Sister
Juanita, Pat, Phyllis, Connie, Mona, Anna Lee, Lois,
Sandy, and (kneeling) Roberta and Audrey.
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TAKE CARE
CARD OF THANKS
Submitted by Mona Hull, RN
Thank you so much for your outpouring of concern
and sympathy during the recent loss of my Mother.
During this time we realize how wonderful it is to live
in a community like The Greens. Your thoughtfulness
is appreciated.
Ruth Ann Pierce
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Doesn’t this month make you want to sing April
Showers? The devastating heat of summer is months
away, and the evidence of spring is in every yard. It
truly is a season of promise. What an opportunity for
us to redo flower beds, clean out closets, and
rejuvenate ourselves.
April 1st - April Fools’ Day. Be on the alert for
pranks delivered by friends or the media. (Not that I’m
suggesting anyone in the Greens …..)
April 2nd - Ann Landers once promoted this as
National Forgiveness Day.
Might help our blood
pressure.
April 1st-30th is National Distracted Driving
Awareness Month (www.distraction.gov). We can all
recite the reasons, but a reminder never hurts. Major
causes are use of cell phones, texting, grooming,
reaching for items on the floor board or back seat,
distraction by passengers, reading, fiddling with
controls on the dashboard, and taking your eyes off the
road. Two seconds of inattention can change your life.
April 1st-30th is National Donate Life Month
(www.organdonor.gov). Although being an organ
donor if you are under 18 requires parental permission,
we don’t need anyone’s approval to do it. You can
donate bone marrow or a kidney while still enjoying
the finer things of life, or sign up to be a donor after
you die. Tell your family of your wishes, so they
don’t have to make the decision. If you sign up the
next time you renew your driver’s license, they will
put it on your card. It gives an entirely new meaning
to the term “lives on after you.”
April 29th-May 3rd is National Air Quality
Awareness Week (www.epa.gov). Living seconds
away from chemical plants and cane fields burning at
the end of the season has taught us all a lot about this
topic. Many newspapers and on-line sites give a daily
air quality alert. For those with respiratory disorders,
that information could be critical. Other pollutants
that might not be measured in that air quality alert, but
should be considered, are fires, chemicals being used
to spray nearby crops or landscaping, construction
equipment, and emissions from vehicles.
And, as usual, please TAKE CARE!
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COA PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS
COMING IN APRIL
Submitted by Mark Neckameyer
Several Council on Aging programs that may be of
interest to Greens residents are coming during the
month of April. All, except the Health Fair, will be at
the Gonzales Senior Center on Irma Blvd. next to the
library.
“Ask the Doctor” on Wednesday, April 10 at 11
a.m. should be informative, with a gerontologist and
nurse who specialize in health issue for the elderly.
The talk is designed for seniors and their caregivers. It
will include demonstrations of new technology, such
as special gloves for arthritic hands to make handling
pills and small objects easier. The doctor will also
address new discoveries to avoid getting dementia.
If you missed Deputy Joey Meyers’ S.A.L.T.
presentation here in the Greens last month, he will
be speaking and taking questions on safety and crime
prevention at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 17.
The AARP driver safety class will be taught
Wednesday, April 24. The four-hour class begins at
8:30 a.m. and is offered on a first-come first-served
basis with a max of 20. Call 621-5750 to register. You
may want to check with your insurance agent to see if
participation qualifies you for any auto premium
discount. The certificate is good for three years.
A health fair is scheduled for Friday, April 26 from
8:30 until 11:30 a.m. at Lamar Dixon. Several doctors
and other health professionals will do free screenings,
such as skin cancer, hearing, oral cancers, glucose
testing, eye tests, etc. Following the health fair,
seniors are invited to a free lunch, followed by dancing
to live music.
Invite a few friends to come along with you!
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GUESS WHO: A certain Greens resident has
teased me for months, “When are you going to put my
name on the sign?” Well, look on the next page and
you’ll see …..
APRIL SHOWERS
BRING
MAY FLOWERS
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NOLAN’S OVEN
JAMBALAYA
GOLF NEWS
Greens golfers Bill and Pat
(at right) must not have liked
that the only golf news in the
March newsletter was a joke.
So, they teamed up in the
Pelican Point MGA Round
Robin tournament March 2-3
and won the second flight.
This qualified Bill and Pat
for the shoot-out round, where they came out second
to the championship flight winners. Not bad for the
two old birdies!
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Submitted by Weezie Cashat
(Note from the cook: Use an eight quart pot with a
cover; it will be full when the rice swells.)
1# chicken breast and 1# deboned thighs (remove as
much fat as possible and cut into 1 inch pieces).
1# smoked pork sausage cut in to ¼ to ½” slices
4 cups rice
6 ½ cups water
2 medium onions, finely diced
1 garlic clove, finely minced
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
½ bell pepper, finely chopped
A few shakes hot sauce
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1. Salt and pepper to taste, need about 1½ tsp. to
taste in all that rice.
2. Brown chicken pieces in a small amount of oil.
This takes a while but this is where the color for the
jambalaya comes from. You want the chicken lightly
browned. Remove and do the same with sausage, then
remove. Scrape the bottom of pot to free up any stuck
chicken or sausage.
3. Then add all vegetables (except garlic) and brown
them in remaining grease (keep stirring), don’t add
more grease. Slowly brown the veggies, be careful not
to burn. The onions will actually turn brown like you
would do for onion soup,
4. Add chicken and sausage back and add 6½ cups
of water and a few shakes of hot sauce, garlic, and
bouillon cubes. Bring to light boil, then reduce to
simmer covered for 30 min. Taste to ensure you can
taste salt as the rice will suck it up.
5. Add rice, return to light boil, simmer 10 min.,
then put covered pot into 375o preheated oven for 30
min. Be sure you don’t peak!
6. Remove and check rice to ensure not crunchy. If it
is, fold jambalaya (don’t stir) and cook covered
additional 10 min.
7. Let sit 10 min. covered and then serve. Enjoy!
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VISITORS FROM THE OUTBACK -- Ken and
Barb Stewart (above, far left) enjoy The Court of Two
Sisters in NOLA with Byron, Nolan, Weezie, and
Tootsie. The Stewarts live in Colac, Victoria, not far
from Melbourne, and stayed two months with the
Cashats. When you live that far away, you don’t visit
for just a few days. Byron joked that Ken and Barb
should be on the lookout for a pineapple on their bed
as a sign they had worn out their welcome. “Never,”
said Weezie, “besides, their daughter Allison is
married to our son James. And here in south
Louisiana, that makes us family. We loved having
them here.” The Stewarts got to experience Mardi
Gras, loved our cuisine, and enjoyed touring plantation
homes. They also visited extended family in Houston
and Mobile. In her cute Aussie accent, Barb called
Tootsie’s new grandbaby, Abby, "a sweet little dot."
Awwww……..
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HERE IT IS … YOUR NAME ON THE SIGN!
FROM MAXINE,
THE OCTOGENARIAN
Instead of the John, I call my
bathroom the Jim. That way it sounds
a whole lot better when I say I go to
the Jim first thing every morning!!!
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FREE MEMBERSHIP
FOR ASCENSION
OLLI MEMBERS
BRIDGE,
ANYONE?
OLLI at LSU is waiving the annual membership fee
of $40 again this year (July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014)
for Ascension chapter members.
Go online to
www.outreach.lsu.edu/olli to register, being sure to
type in CHARTER before checking out to get your
$40 discount. You can also register by mail, phone
225-578-6763, or in person.
You must be at least 50 years old to join OLLI.
Once you become an OLLI member, however, you can
take courses and attend coffees, field trips, nature
walks, or other activities offered by any chapter.
Courses and field trips may have additional fees.
Several Greens residents are currently enrolled in
OLLI classes being taught here in Gonzales at the
Senior Center. Here is what a few of them said about
being “students” again.
Lynn Larsen: Our Conversational French teacher is
totally vested in making sure we learn her native
tongue and have a good time. She supplements the
book with illustrations and photos of her homeland. What better way to learn other than through
friendship and laughter. Lou Ann Keith: The class is
très très bon!
Phyllis Jones: I’m not sure why, but I am taking not
one, but two classes--Drawing & Sketching and
Acrylic Painting. I have done a little painting before
but no drawing experience whatsoever. Don’t think I’ll
become the next Clementine Hunter – at least not yet!
Millie Matherne: I am taking Life Writing for the
second time. No, I didn’t fail … I just enjoyed it so
much that I am repeating. We get a writing assignment each week on a general topic (e.g., family, teen
years, career, love, travel, beliefs, etc.). It’s one of
those courses that you can take over and over. I plan
to pass my writings on to my grandkids.
Audrey Duplechian: Dana Territo, director of
Alzheimer’s Services in the Capital Area, teaches our
course, Alzheimer’s: It Matters to the Brain. This is a
worthwhile course for seniors, deals with the aging
process, and is presented in a down to earth manner.
Class participation is encouraged. We are getting a
wealth of information about dementia-related illnesses,
adopting brain healthy lifestyles, care giving
strategies, stress management, and memory tips.
Jimmy and I missed the second week. Can you believe
we completely forgot about it … both of us! Guess
we’re in the right class!
Martha Jo and Irby Jones are avid bridge players.
And they are quite good! They enjoy playing at the
Baton Rouge Bridge Club because the atmosphere is
friendly, not stuffy and “no talking” as some other
clubs. It’s good bridge with lots of laughter.
If anyone is interested in learning how to play,
beginner bridge (Easy Bridge) lessons will be offered
at the BR Bridge Club, 3033 Old Forge Road on
Wednesday nights from 6-8 PM beginning on April 3
and continuing for 8 weeks (through May 22). George
Atherton will be the presenter. Interested participants
50 years of age and above should contact OLLI at
LSU (578-6763) to enroll in the classes. Anyone not
yet 50 (please do not lie!) is ineligible to go through
OLLI. Instead, just contact George directly at
gnsatherton@att.net or by telephone at 291-2171.
Many people just enjoy playing in the club games.
There are also tournaments for players who want to
travel and compete for pigmented master points.
Master points determine the level you achieve as you
advance in the bridge game. Martha Jo and Irby are
both Silver Life Masters.
The couple enjoys the tournament experience and
travels frequently, combining family visits when
possible. They have made many friends and often play
team games (two pairs) with their friends. You can
also play pair games.
So far in 2013, Martha Jo and Irby have played in
four sectional tournaments in Austin, Alexandria, New
Orleans and Baton Rouge and have attended two
regional tournaments, San Destin and Houston. They
played in the spring national in Saint Louis in March
and have plans for regional tournaments in Gatlinburg,
TN; Greenville, SC; San Antonio, TX; New Orleans;
Taos, NM; Tunica, MS; Dayton, OH and who knows
where else.
One of their greatest pleasures is to play as team
with players trying to achieve Life Master ranking
which requires gold master points awarded in regional
tournaments. The Joneses have been fortunate to help
at least 10 people achieve the Life Master rank.
Game times at the bridge club are Sunday PM,
Monday PM, Tuesday AM, Thursday AM and Friday
AM. Special beginners’ games are Tuesday AM and
Wednesday AM. Morning games start at 10 AM.
Contact Irby if you have any questions.
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