December 2008 Entries
- By the Landscape/Rose Committee -
Nine-year-old William Radler fought boredom at his grandmother’s home by looking through the rose catalogs. He was captivated by the various shapes and colors of the roses.
He took his allowance and went to the local A&P to purchase his first rose for 49-cents. William still remembers the bloom of his first rose. “The first bud exploded into the most gorgeous thing I had ever seen and it was fragrant.” William soon transformed his parents’ backyard into a beautiful showplace of roses.
It didn’t take him long to realize that growing and caring for roses entailed...
- Contributed By John Carlson -
Harry Lee, Resident
It was an unexpected pleasure to join Harry Lee for dinner recently. During our short time together, he repeated several times, “What a good life I’ve had—been greatly...
- By Marian Goe -
Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, will be celebrated for eight days, commencing at sundown of the 21st of December, to commemorate the victory of the Jews over the Hellenist Syrians in 165 BCE.
The most important observance associated with Hanukkah is the kindling of the Hanukkah lights on the Menorah, a seven or nine branch candelabrum.
The Menorah light symbolizes the light of religious, national and cultural freedom won by the Maccabees (the Judean heroes) who were making ready to rededicate the Temple and were unable to find enough undefiled oil to light the lamps. They...
- By Ben Widmer -
The display cases in Lakeside will feature Charlene Willeman’s special collection of Santas. Charlene says at one time, she had collected about 300 Santas, but gifts to friends and relatives have reduced this number considerably.
The Santas are from all over the world. One of her favorites is from Scotland. This Santa has kilts and bagpipes.
Charlene hasn’t unpacked her Santas in several years, and she says she’ll have a few surprises for us to see.
At the Fairway clubhouse, a “Community Holiday Display” will be featured with treasures from north campus residents, such as nativity sets, menorahs,...
- By Betty McCreary -
John Liston is busy assembling his railroad display for Lakeside. This year he will have the display lower so that small children and people with motorized carts will be able to view the trains.
He will have four diesel and steam locomotives and 20 freight and passenger cars. These will be controlled by a DCC computer system. The trains will travel through two villages, a coal mine operation and an industrial complex while going
around mountains.
This year John, Cyrus Grimshaw and Jan Klaus are building a blue and white Magnolia, all-wood, classic country doll farmhouse. They are...
- By Betty McCreary -
The majority of La Costa Glen’s residents will be spending their holidays on campus or being with family in close-by towns.
Virginia and Ray Ptak will have a Christmas Eve dinner party for 29 relatives in the Malibu private dining room. There will be four great-grandchildren under the age of four, and ten grandchildren. Besides California family members, there will also be others from Idaho, Montana and Arizona.
Betty Brown will again have her stunning seven foot Christmas tree decorated with her 30 year collection of gold and crystal decorations. She has 150 Danbury Mint and Waterford...
- By Ray Holt -
Well, here it is again, another Christmas! For this old Santa, it is time to prepare for the long lines of children who will be waiting ever so patiently today to...