Orange Acres History
March 2010

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These pictures progress from top to bottom

March 1 - Monday

Gene Mathes and Ralph Haas were the only ones that showed up for the bike ride to the mall today.

The weather was beautiful, sunny and a little cool.

This wildlife was observed in the ponds by the mall.

March 2 - Tuesday

There were 102 at coffee this morning. This was state t-shirt day and after all the counting Michigan won by a landslide.

Mary Ryman introduced Gretta Pipe who purchased 179 Jeffrey Drive.

March 4 - Thursday

Here are the servers for our Italian Night ready to do their best.

Chair person Shirley Tatlock welcomed the crowd of 146 guests.

Rev. Ed Sensenbrenner opened with prayer.

The servers did a very efficient job of getting everyone through the serving line in a short time.

We all had a great time visiting and enjoying the great catered food.

The entertainment for the evening was Jimmy Jay and Jenny Lee.

The great singing was enjoyed by all.

March 7 - Sunday

As the weather warms, many residents gather at the gazebo in the evening for a time of fellowship and laughter.

March 9 - Tuesday

There were 103 at the coffee hour this morning.

Following the coffee hour we had our semi-annual business meeting. Rev. Jim Jaeger opened with a prayer.

Shown here, the new board members for next year are, from left: Ken Russell & Phil Albarano - board members, Dwight Holden - vice president, Betsy Chase & Joy Moore - board members, Ramona Armstrong - Secretary and Jean Delaney - treasurer. President Marti Gauthier is away on a cruise.

Gene Mathes led a group of 13 orange Acres residents on a kayak adventure today at noon. They paddled 3.6 miles in 2 hours traveling up South Creek through Oscar Sherer State Park and returning.

They are shown here getting the kayaks in the water for the trip.

Out on the water they all did quite well. Nobody fell in.

Here they are shown following their adventure. More pictures can be seen on Gene's kayak blog at www.kayakTripsOfGene.blogspot.com

Thanks to Karen Rasske for providing this video of the kayaking.

March 11 - Thursday

There were about 90 at the Ladies Tea this afternoon. The entertainment was a dance demonstration by Gene Mathes and Anne Phillips.

Committee Chair Elaine Albarano and Committee Members Judy Marian, Gretta Pipe, Ginny Newton and Karen Rasske adorned in their spring bonnets

Committee Members Linda Burrows, Pat Faust and Marilyn Garvin

The ladies enjoyed a chance to visit with their neighbors

There were many spring bonnets at the Ladies Tea

Gene and Anne performing the lively Cha-cha-cha

The volunteers are receiving instructions on the Merengue dance

Gene and Anne invited volunteers from the audience to learn the Merengue

Gene and Anne showing the ladies a few of their Rumba steps

Thanks to Karen Rasske for providing this video of the entertainment

March 13 - Saturday

The sport's day was a big success and the weather was perfect. Many of the residents and guests enjoyed the day, the games and the fellowship. The following pictures show the fun and excitement shared by all who attended.


Mike and Dave Mongeau are shown distributing the awards and prizes. They did a great job organizing the event.	The KFC lunches were distributed at the kitchen for everyone to enjoy.

March 15 - Monday

Gene Mathes led a group of 10 orange Acres people on a kayak adventure today at noon. They paddled 3.6 miles in 2 hours traveling up South Creek through Oscar Sherer State Park and returning.

Here they are passing under route 41 in Osprey. The weather was cool but nice. The return trip was a challenge with a strong head wind.

This was the place they turned around and headed back. The water coming over this dam was very swift.

Back at the launch there was plenty of help getting out of the kayaks. More pictures can be seen on Gene's kayak blog at www.kayakTripsOfGene.blogspot.com

March 16 - Tuesday

There were 115 at the coffee hour this morning.

Mary Ryman introduced Bob and Lydia White who live at 137 Shirley Drive

Coronation Ceremony

President Ed Marian presented King Charlie and Queen Grace along with the past Kings and Queens to begin this year's coronation ceremony.

They all took their place on the stage. King Charlie and Queen Grace gave their farewell speeches and the went searching for the new King and Queen.

King Charlie brought the future king, Ward Young to the platform.

Queen Grace escorted the future queen Audrey Young to the platform.

Ward and Audrey took their places on the stage.

They were then robed and crowned making them King Ward and Queen Audrey.

March 18 - Thursday

Sixty people attended the Fun Whist Party on March 18th.

The cookie fairies came through again with lots left over.

Winners were Ralph Haas and George S. with scores of 113; Karla Liebenau and Carol Joncas with scores of 111; Tonya Finley and Janice from 1 Jeffrey with scores of 109; Bob Lizotte and Adele Beauregard with scores of 108 - and Armand Strangis with a score of 107.

Hosted by Hugh and Faye Spinney.

March 19 - Friday

Florence Cote of Manchester, N.H. will be leaving Orange Acres Monday and has her home here up for Sale. She was given a small going away party at Ken & Joan Russell's tonight.

March 20 - Saturday

Tonight's dance featured the music of "Two Of A Kind". They are new to our dances and were enjoyed very much.

The dance was well attended and many were on the floor dancing most of the evening.

Loraine Labonte and Joan Collins were chair persons for the dance tonight. They did a great job along with their helper Jeanine Crepeau.

These are the lucky winners of the door prizes tonight.

Here are some of the Orange Acres residents having a great time.

March 21 - Sunday

Ed Marian conducted the events planning meeting in the absence of Vice President Marti Gauthier who was ill. There were 32 in Attendance. The meeting went well with only a few open positions to be filled.

March 22 - Monday

Today at noon 9 of us from Orange Acres took our bikes to Myakka River State Park for a bike ride. At 1 pm we first rode south 2.6 miles to the bridge, then north 4.2 miles to the bird walk and then 2.3 miles back to the parking lot for a total distance of 9.1 miles in 2 hours 50 minutes.

We had a picnic lunch before starting the ride. Those on the ride were Ed & Judy Marian, Dick & Peggy Killinger with their guests Ed & Carol, Gil Forler, Natalie Davis and myself.

There were a lot of people in the park when we started the ride at 1 pm.

We saw some birds and quite a few armadillos. The weather was beautiful but slightly cool and windy.

We stopped at the picnic area along the river to see the high water level.

At the bridge we saw this one lone alligator a long way off.

A happy group from the tower of the canopy walk.

From the top of the canopy walk we could see the high water level of the river and upper lake.

On the way to the bird walk we encountered these two ladies in a canoe fighting a very strong headwind that kept them from returning to the launch. Later a park ranger came to their rescue and got them ashore. There was nothing to see at the bird walk. It must have been too windy for the birds.

March 23 - Tuesday

There were101 at coffee this morning.

Jeff Warrington spoke to us this morning about fire safety and community center use.

We had two speakers this morning from RBC Bank, Valerie McPartland and Sheila Anthony. They explained the services of this bank located in the shopping center by Beals Department Store. They also paid for our donuts this morning.