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A NEWSLETTER FOR THE SPRINGMILL COMMUNITYVolume XI, Issue 9 September 2013

Board Elections

Sentinel Index

Board Electionns...............................................................Pg. 1Committee Reports...........................................................Pg. 3Notes from Your Board (Bob Gross)...............................Pg. 5Update - Christiana Care Emergency Facility.................Pg. 7Westown Movies................................................................Pg. 7NCCo Library Update........................................................Pg. 7Cultural Events...................................................................Pg. 9Volunteer Hose Co..........................................................Pg. 11Smart911 System.............................................................Pg. 11Meet Your Neighbor (Fran McCoombe).........................Pg. 13Meet Your New Neighbors -The Kolbys & Christy Mack..Pg. 13Travel LOG - Grandkids..................................................Pg. 14Peach Festival..................................................................Pg. 15CEC Report ......................................................................Pg. 17Charity Committee...........................................................Pg. 17Book Review (Deception Point).......................................Pg. 19What’s Cookin’.................................................................Pg. 19Computer Tutor (Cell Phones & Driving)......................Pg. 21Living Green (Greener Pillow Aternatives)...................Pg. 21Sports’ News....................................................................Pg. 23What’s Happening…(Texas Hold’em)............................Pg. 23Advertiser’s Spotlight (Doc’s Vacuum Sales & Repair)....Pg. 25Safety Primer (CPR & AED))...........................................Pg. 25

Save the DateAnnual Meeting

ClubhouseFriday, Sept. 20th

6PM

Absentee Ballots: Must beSubmitted by

Friday, Sept. 20th -End of Business Day - 2:30PM

Two board members’ terms expired - BobGross and Carl Rifino. Bob has decided not toseek re-election. Carl elected to seek anotherterm. The only other candidateto come forward is Jim Merrillwho has been assistantTreasurer. The Board is now

set for next year with both Carl Rifino and JimMerrill and their election will be ratified at theAnnual Meeting.

Since we only had two candidates for the Board, there will beno need for a Candidates Night. However Absentee Ballotswill be sent out. If you are not going to attend the Meeting,please submit the ballot since a quorum is needed to ratify theelection.

Both the Sentinel and the entire communitywould like to express our gratitude to BobGross for the time he spent on the Board andother various committees. We all hope that hisknowledge and dedication will continue to beheard in the Community. Thanks, Bob, fromboth The Sentinel & the Springmill Community!

Joe Grippo

50th Wedding AnniversaryGod Bless & Have Many More

Bob Gross

Carl Rifino

Jim Merrill

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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 CleaningDO-0004887570

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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

Communications Committee

The August meeting was held on the 14th. Ten committeemembers and Board liaison Carl Rifino were in attendance.

The minutes for the July meeting, prepared by SonyaComstock and amended, were approved as the first matter ofbusiness.

Diane Daigle presented the treasurer's report. Fouradvertisers renewed during the past month and incomeexceeded expenditures by more than $200.

Business Manager Carol Geiger reviewed the status ofadvertisers. There are 41 advertisers in the SeptemberSentinel issue. There is a waiting list of 5 advertisers. Acouple of advertisers would like to increase ad size as well.Efforts to solicit advertisers for the 2014 Annual Directory willbegin in the next 30 days. Carol would like to have anadditional customer service rep join the committee.

Joe Grippo provided an overview of the editorial content of theSeptember Sentinel. The front page will feature a summary of

the annual meeting. The Peach Festival will be the primarypictorial feature in the centerfold.

There was a lengthy discussion on the possibility of a directoryor yearbook containing residents’ photos. The generalconsensus was that the project would be difficult to implementand the level of participation was uncertain. A motion wasmade, seconded and approved to suspend efforts on thisproject. The project can be looked at again in the future.

Carl Rifino wanted to reopen the matter of having a Sentinelreporter write an article in conjunction with a Board member atleast once during each Board member's term of office (2years). Carl will investigate modifying the approach andpresent it to the committee next month.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM. The next meeting willbe held on Tuesday, September 10 at 7:00 PM in the ClubhouseCraft room. All residents are welcome to attend.

Dick RauschProperty Committee

LAWNS -Fall is fast approaching and is the perfect time tokill any crab grass or other weeds that have sprouted in yourlawn. Why does crab grass grow easier than grass seed?Your lawn deserves a pick-me-up. It is highly recommendedby Delaware lawn specialists that your turf would benefit froma core aeration, top dressing and seeding. Many landscapingcompanies will be advertising this service. Most will be happyto look at your property and give you suggestions and/orestimates free of charge. Keep in mind that seeding alone willnot produce good turf without top dressing. Clay soil needsthe core aeration to break it down. Always ask for tall fescueseed as this is the one suggested for our area.

IMPORTANT NEWS-The PC has been given the approval tobegin our proposed Landscape Renovation of certain areas inthe community. Last year the PC evaluated the different areasthat were suggested and determined which ones would be apriority. The two front entrances to Springmill were selectedas primary concerns with clubhouse front and side entrancesas next priority. Once the new signs are installed at the twoentrances, we can proceed there with a new planting design.Therefore, we are going to begin first at the clubhouse frontand side entrances this fall. Forever Green has been awardedthe contract and will begin work this September. A detailedplan of the renovation and plants/shrubs/trees being usedalong with a boulder or two will be displayed on the bulletinboard for your viewing.

We will be utilizing some of the existing plants. However,many perennial plants not replanted will be potted up byForever Green and offered free to the homeowners . Watchfor a notice on the bulletin board as to when and where to findthem. I already have many daffodil bulbs and have some irisrhizomes available not sure of some colors. E-mail or call meif you could use these bulbs for fall planting.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST - We will be planting annuals in thecommunity this fall. Volunteers are needed as we will beplanting our fall pansies and mums in September. E-mail orcall me if you can help at all. HAPPY GARDENING!

Carolyn Bodden

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It has been an interesting summer so far -no great heat waves, rain every week andthe lawns love it. Our new landscaperForever Green has been doing a wonderfuljob. The Board has been receiving manypositive comments. Thank you.

September normally brings a flurry ofactivity. This year we have an election fortwo seats on the Board. Mr. Carl Rifino's twoyear term is finished. As of this time he will be running alongwith Mr. James Merrill.

On a personal note I have chosen not to run for another termdue to health reasons. I have enjoyed serving on the BOD.Together we have made great strides to make Springmill awell managed Gold Star Community. Thank you all for thecooperation and support you have given us.

The tree committee has been hard at work most of the springand summer preparing for the fall and winter planting season.We have had all the preliminary surveys completed, and havea plan presented by the Arborist. You will hear more about theplan at our general meeting.

Springmill's annual BOD and Election meeting is September20 at 6:00PM in the clubhouse. Please plan to attend..Bob Gross

Committee Reports Notes From Your Board Finance Committee

The Finance Committee met on August 21 the June minuteswere approved. ( There was no July meeting.)

Kathy Kobus brought us up to date on the Tree Task Forceand indicated that the following day the members weremeeting to make some final decisions for the project.

The long-range planning committee has completed the surveyevaluation and a report will be issued in the SeptemberSentinel. Also, the complete data from the survey will beposted in the clubhouse in September. The entire report hasbeen sent to the BOD for discussion and future actions.

We are currently putting the 2014 budget together and shouldbe completed by September. Then, it will be forwarded to theBOD for review and action.

The June and July financial statements were reviewed andapproved. Our next meeting will be September 18th at 3:00PM in the clubhouse. All are welcome to attend.

Cal ReussThe Clubhouse Committee

As you read this there will only be about 2 weeks left to usethe pool so let’s hope for nice weather. Although the poolwill be covered the furniture will be left out for those whowish to still come up and enjoy the final days of summerand the beginning of the fall season. Thank you to JimRutolo, Bob Hill, Georgianna Anderson, Dennis Hand,George and Rita Ryor and Tom and Christine Laphan fortheir volunteer work around the pool this past month.

We would also like to thank Lynn Ruh and Isabel Aviles fortheir donations of water to the clubhouse.

Several residents have mentioned to me that the lights,fans and/or TV are being left on in the fitness room whenno one is there. Please remember to shut everything off inall of the clubhouse when you leave.

We also ask that after any social activity that may havefood involved the room be vacuumed and all trash bedisposed of properly. Bob Hill will be checking thevacuums monthly to make sure that they are in properworking order.

Enclosed with this month’s Sentinel you will see anaddendum to the Clubhouse/Rental Rules and also aDirectory update page.

A representative from the Delaware State Fire School willbe giving a presentation in September about what to do ifthere is a fire in our homes or the clubhouse. Please seeenclosed flyer for information.

The committee is currently working on some Clubhouseimprovements that we hope to see happen in the near

future. It is an exciting project and suffice it to say we areall excited about it.

All are welcome to our meetings. Our next meeting isWednesday, September 4, 2013, at 11:15AM.

Julia Hambrecht

Thank You

I would like to thank all my Springmill family for allthe prayers and support during Don’s illness. Itmade life easier for both of us. The love and supportand generosity of spirit and love after his death havehelped me more than I can ever express. Thankyou for everything: the food, your prayers and, mostof all, your friendship. - All my love.

Judy Graff

Board Motions

1. Motion approved to accept final draft of C Rifino’s Re-Sale information letter, as proposed for distribution tohome owners. (5-0)

2. Motion approved to approve the Property Committee’sapproved budgeted expense, as submitted. (5-0)

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Update – Christiana Care’s MiddletownEmergency Department

Christiana Care’s new MiddletownEmergency Dept. located on Rt. 299 hasmade many changes and improvementssince its opening date in April. Laura Ward,Adm. Asst., told me that the emergencydepartment now receives ambulancepatients and offers extra SuperTrack hours(9 a.m.-11p.m.) seven days a week. (Asection of the emergency department thatprovides the rapid assessment and treatmentof minor medical problems that do not require emergencyattention) In addition, there are now two PhysicianAssistants along with medical doctors on staff daily whorotate their hours. Lab work prescribed by a physician canbe completed here during the week – Monday-Friday 7:30a.m.-4 p.m. and on Saturdays 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

More nurses and tech support staff have been added tomeet the growing needs ofapproximately 60-70patients every day.Patients come in all agesfrom small children withfevers to trauma patients.A ready helicopter or anambulance is available to

take these patients to Christiana Hospital, Union Hospitalor Bay Health. The main phone number is 302-203-1300 –24 hrs./7 days.

As to when Phase 2 will be launched, no decision has beenmade at this time.

Sonya Comstock

June Stemmle

Around Town

Sonya Comstock

Westown Movies

Around Thanksgivingand definitely beforethe holidays, theWestown Movies willbe open to the public.It offers a 12-screentheater with one of thetheaters having asuper sized screen with the Dolby Atmos sound system.This system is available in less than 100 theaters in theUS. Also in this theater, luxury seating along with extra legroom to make your visit relaxing and comfortable. A largeconcession area where you make your selection and thenhead over to the main cashier will speed up buying foodand drink items. All the other theaters will offer stadiumseats and a large screen. The location is on Rt. 301 nextto WalMart. GG+A Construction Company of Middletownis the contractor. For more updates, go tohttp://westownmovies.com and watch the progress.

Sonya Comstock

Library Update…September

Listed below are the on-going programsat NCC Southern Library. Phonenumber for information or registration is(302) 378-5588. The hours at thelibrary are: Monday 10-8, Tuesday/Wednesday 1-8, Thursday- Saturday 10-5, and closed on Sunday. NOTE: Thelibrary will have one closure this monthon September 2.

On-Going Programs:v Adult Reading Club meets the 3rd Wednesday of the

month at 7:00 PM.v E-book and Audio book tutoring by appointment during

library hours.v Knitting Circle meets alternate Tuesdays at 7:00 pm,

for all levels of experience.v Sew Bee It Quilters meet the 2nd Saturday at 10:00

am, for novice & experienced quilters.v Food Skills…take a bite out of food costs Tuesday,

Sept. 10, 17, 24 at 1:00 pm.v Paycheck for Life…live the life you planned Tuesday,

Sept. 10 & 24 at 6:30 pm.v Duck Tape Wallet…make one Tuesday, Sept. 24 at

6:00 pm.v Delaware Money School Call 1-800-267-5002 for

monthly topic and to register.

Adult Programs…$$ and registration required:v Defensive Driving: Advanced Saturday, September 21

from 9 am to 12 pm $27.v NEW: Senior Yoga Four 1 hour classes with Crystal

Walker $24/mo. Monday 10:30-11:30.v Zumba Gold Sat. 10:30-11:30 $6 drop-in fee, instructor

is Elisa Corderav NEW: Dancing Elements Starting September 17. Six

1-hour classes $36; basic movementsv Party Dancing Starting September 17. Six 1-hour

classes $36; Electric Slide to the Wobble

Children’s Programs…$$ and registration required:vMovers & Shakers (2-4) $18 for 45 min. classes, Thurs.

10:00-10:45, Learning games, musicv Rhythm, Rhyme & Story Time (3+) Fridays at 10:15.

FREE No class on Sept. 20.

June Stemmle

Recycling Cans

Please place Re-cycle cans at the end of the drivewayapron rather than in the street, so the Street Cleaner hasno obstructions to move around on Fridays.

Thanks.

Tracey Lund

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Office 302-475-0800

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Cultural EventsMiddletownEverett Theatre/Gibby CenterFri/Sat. Sept 6 & 7 – 7:30 p.m. – “Despicable Me 2” – PG –Tickets $4/$6

Sat. Sept. 28 – 7:00 p.m. – “Manhattan Short Film Festival” -Vote on favorite film

Middletown Historical SocietyTues. Sept. 17 – 6:30 p.m. – “Tour of the Hale-Bynes Housein Stanton” - Historian Robert Dunkerly will conduct the tour.Members – free – Non-members - $5 – contact Terry Markisohnfor more information.

For 15 years, the M.O.T. community has been raising moneyto help neighbors in need with the popular game. All of themoney raised go backs into the community by helping localfamilies and individuals in need, charities and otherorganizations in the Middletown, Townsend and Odessa areas.

The 24-hour, softball style marathon will begin Aug. 31 at 6p.m. and continue until 6 p.m. Sept. 1.

The M.O.T. Big Ball Marathon will kick off its 15-yearanniversary at 6 p.m. June 27 at the Buffalo Wild Wings inMiddletown.

Middletown Main StreetTues. Sept. 10 – 6- 8 p.m. – Hero’s Night Out – Honor theMiddletown Police Dept. and the Volunteer Fire Dept. for theirservices. Vehicles from each department will be on display. T-shirts available for purchase with proceeds split between MPD &VHC27 charities. Merchants will share 10% of purchases thatevening to a charity. Drawing for gift basket.

Sat. Oct 5 – 10 a.m.-11 p.m. - “Rocktober Fest MusicFestival” – Middletown Square Shopping Center, N. Broad St.- Battle of the bands – Car Show - Food, Beer, Wine & MoreTickets - $5.

MOT Sr. CenterThurs. Sept. 12 – “A Taste of Dorchester” Tour – Wine, Dine& Cruise – Cruise on 50 ft. vessel, dine at Old Salty’s Restaurantand visit Winery – Tickets - $70/members – leave 7:30 a.m. –return at 6:30 p.m. Call Kandi at 378-4758

OdessaCorbit-Calloway Memorial LibrarySunday Series – 2 p.m.

Sept. 22 – “Line-up” – folk dancing – line dancing lessons – beready to dance - FREE

SmyrnaSmyrna Opera House, 7 W. South Street , 302-653-4236Sun. Sept. 15 – 2 p.m. – “Copeland String Quartet” – Tickets -$18Sat. Sept. 21 – 7:30 p.m. – “Oh Boy! A Tribute to Buddy Holly”– Tickets - $18

DoverSat. Sept. 7 – “27th Annual Amish Country Bike Tour” – 411Legislative Ave., Dover – Mass start – 8 a.m. return by 5 p.m.tosame site. No cycling on major highways – only scenic backroads. Registration fee, which includes bike tour map, giveawayitems, up to four food/rest stops including famous pie stop, after-tour catered picnic lunch - $60 adult, $25 for ages 5-16. MoreInformation – call 1-800-233-5368 or email

ldion@visitdover.com. Fee is contribution to five localorganizations.

Schwartz Center for the Arts, 226 S. State St., (302) 678-5152Sat. Sept. 21 – 7 p.m.“Shadows of the 60’s” a tribute to the FourTops – perform hits that span three decades 60’s-80’s – Tickets$35 (seniors)

Dover Library, 35 E. Lockerman St., 302-736-7030Free MoviesSat. Sept. 7 – 7 p.m. /Mon. Sept 9 – 2 p.m. - “Mud”Fri. Sept. 27 – 7 p.m. /Mon. Sept. 30 – 2 p.m. - “LooseCannons”

ArdenNew Candlelight Theater, 2208 Millers Rd., 302-475-2313Sept. 13 – Nov. 3 - “A Chorus Line” – winner of 9 Tony Awards –highlights pain and struggle of actors trying to get hired for aBroadway musical. Tickets - $56 – includes dinner buffet.

WilmingtonDuPont Theatre, 1007 N. Market St., 302-656-4401Matinee & Evening PerformancesFri. Sept. 20 – 8 p.m. – “John Pinette” - stand-up comedian –Tickets - $38.75Sat. Sept. 28 – 8 p.m. – “Hungry Hungry Games” – a live stagecomedy based on The Hunger Games – incorporating spoofs ofpopular culture – Tickets - $20-$59

Grand Opera House, 818 North Market Street, 302-652-5577Sat. Sept. 7 – 8 p.m. – “John Prine” – Musical Poet – Tickets -$40-$60Sat. Sept. 28 – 8 p.m. – “Graham Nash” – tenor member ofCrosby Stills Nash & Young – Tickets - $37-$45

Delaware Theatre Co., 200 Water St., 302-594-1100Matinee/Evening PerformancesSept. 4 – 22 – “Any Given Monday” – A comedy about thecurveballs life throws at you. A family tries to get back on trackafter a crisis - Tickets - $35-$49

NewarkChapel Theater, 27 N. Chapel St., 302-368-2248Sept. 20/21/26/27/28 – 8 p.m.; Sept. 22 – 2 p.m.“The 39 Steps” – A man in London tries to help a counter-espionage agent prevent an organization of spies called The 39Steps from stealing top secret information. The agent is killedand the man is accused of the murder. Tickets - $10

Kennett Square, PAN. Union St. & W. State St., 610-925-3373Fri/Sat/Sun – Sept. 6-7-8Mushroom Capital of the World - “28th Annual MushroomFestival” – Culinary Tent, farm tours, growing exhibits, 200vendors, entertainment – Carla Hall, Chef - Tickets $2

Chadds Ford, PAThe Brandywine River Museum, Route 1,610-388-2700Wed. Sept. 18 – 2 p.m. – “Curator’s Tour of Jamie Wyeth,Rockwell Kent and Monhegan” – Free for members and includedin museum admission.Thurs. Sept. 19 – 6-9 p.m. – “Harvest Tasting” – Farm-to-tableevening will feature delicious samplings by local farmers andchefs. $20 – members; $30 – adults.Through Nov. 24 – “Historic Property Tours” – Andrew WyethStudio, N.C. Wyeth House & Studio and Kuerner Farm – visiteach site separately or on one of our special package tours.

Sonya Comstock

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SPRINGMILL RESIDENT SPECIALS

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Around TownVolunteer Hose Company

Just how many $50donation checks areneeded to buy atower ladder that cost$1.2 million? That’swhy there are twofund raising drivesannually to purchaseand maintain fire andambulanceequipment to providethe quick responsethat is expected of the Volunteer Hose Co. Fundraising is anecessary mission, but only 10-12% of residents contribute tothe annual fund raiser which will start September 15. Theambulance drive takes place in April. Last year only $40,000came into the station for the Fire Fund Drive, and $48,000 wasraised for the ambulance campaign. Both the Fire Departmentand the EMS need financial support from residents. They arethere for you – they need your support. Most of us do noteven think about a fire in our home, but it could happen soeasily. A call to 911 guarantees that the fire fighters will bethere in a timely manner to save your home. The success ofthe Fire Department is due to the community support as wellas the dedication and commitment of past, present and futuremembers. Help them help you.

That piercing fire siren that is both frightening and reassuringalerts residents the Fire Department is responding to a call.Fortunately, for Middletown, there are two fire stations, Station27, headquartered on West Green Street and Station 1 onChurchtown Road. Station 27 houses three ambulances, aboat, mobile air unit, mini-pumper, two engines, a heavy dutyrescue pumper and a mid-mount tower ladder extending to 95feet that holds 300 gallons of water in its tank. Station 1houses an ambulance, brush unit, rescue pumper and a 75’aerial. These stations serve the district of 45 square miles.

Meet Fire Chief Frank Bailey serving his 11th term as anelected Fire Chief which is a volunteer position. His fatherserved as Fire Chief in the old building. He counts more than125 dedicated men and women volunteers serving the area,and more are always welcome. Kevin Reinike, also a formerchief, is President of both stations. The maintenance of both

stations comes at a high cost (approximately$75,000 annually). Ambulancemaintenance alone is $30,000, and themileage averages 10,000 a monthresponding to over 3,000 calls in 2012.Middletown contributes $150,000 annuallywhich goes into the general fund.

Station 27 was built in 2000, and themortgage is still ongoing. It used to behoused in today’s Boys and Girls Club, butthe growing town required a larger facility and moreequipment. The cost of fire equipment ranges from onerescue truck at $530,000 to a tower ladder at $1.2 million.Ambulances are rechassied which saves half the cost ofbuying a new one.

The total operational budget is $2.1 million for the year for bothFire and EMS which includes maintenance expenses,employees and benefits. For the ambulance operating fund,the cost is $800,000 which includes salaries and wages,supplies and training. Fuel for the year is about $70,000.There are ten full time career firefighters and five work duringthe day along with EMT personnel.

Both stations are covered by personnel twenty-four hours aday. Bunk beds are provided for the fire fighters and in thewinter when a snowstorm is expected, many volunteers stay inthe station house overnight. Frank says the majority of callsare during the day as evidenced earlier this year withFriendly’s fire. Equipment and apparatuses are servicedmainly by private contractors which are done at AtlanticEnergy Solutions behind Tractor Supply in Middletown.

Why yellow instead of red trucks? It has been proven that thecolor is more noticeable, and so fire hydrants are also paintedyellow. Firefighters take great pride in their equipment bykeeping it spotless at all times.

The Fire Chief invites Springmill residents for a tour ofStation 27 showing everyone the equipment they have tokeep you safe. The date is Tuesday, September 24, at6:30 p.m. Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in theClubhouse.

Sonya Comstock

Fire ChiefFrank Bailey

Smart911 System

No one plans to call 911, but now you can plan ahead.New Castle has implemented its new Smart911 System. Itcan help save your life in the event of an emergency. Themore information first responders know about you up front,the quicker they can act when every second counts. It isfree, private, secure and used by thousands of 911 callcenters across the country. It allows you to create a SafetyProfile for your household that includes the vital personaland medical information you would want response teamsto have in the event of an emergency. In addition, suchinformation as to an extra house key at your neighbor’shouse to avoid breaking in is important along withdisabilities, movement limitations, house alarm, exactlocations and pets. This includes EMS, Police and Fire

personnel responding to your emergency.

Create your own Safety Profile by going to Smart911.comand filling out the form. Registration is free and eachperson has complete control over what is entered andavailable to 911. Should you dial 911, your profile isimmediately available allowing call takers and firstresponders to assist you faster and more effectively. Allinformation given is only shown when a 911 call is made.Smart911 requires that each profile must be confirmed orupdated every six months to ensure that current andaccurate information is being provided. Remindermessages from Smart 911 will be sent when approachingthe six-month mark to confirm your account.

Sonya Comstock

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272 Carter DriveMiddletown, DE 19709

Drew Chas, D.C.Now Offering Massage Therapy

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choices. These days, Mickieenjoys jazzercise, all kinds ofsewing and needlework, golf,cooking and painting. Masspends his time playing golf,gardening and takingphotographs. Both of them arealso members of a Springmillwine tasting group.

The couple traveled to a numberof places in Europe and Asiabefore retiring. These days, after46 years together, their favorite get-away is to visit family inJapan. For the most part, they just stay close to home. Afterall, this is where their daughters and grandchildren are.Jennifer and her husband, Chris, are in Arlington, Virginia.Christine, her husband, Darren, and the Oishis’ threegrandchildren: Alex (4 years), and twins, Ethan and Annalise(7 months), live a bit closer in Pennsylvania.

Mickie and Mas have the benefit of nice neighbors, aresavoring retirement, and feel that at this point in life it’s all rightto be “lazy.” They believe that life is short, so you might aswell enjoy it. Since I relished our time together, I guess I’mfollowing their advice.

June Stemmle

Meet Your NeighborOur interview this month was with Mickie and Mas Oishi (oh-e-she), of 78 Springmill Drive. I’ve been acquainted with thecouple for a while, and had previously interviewed them abouttheir basement renovations for my “Peeking…” column a fewyears ago. It was nice to sit down and visit with them again.Mickie is a wonderful cook and a gracious hostess, so I wasalso treated to a delicious ricotta based strawberry shortcakewith homemade whipped cream. If possible, I will get thatrecipe and pass it along.

Mickie was born in Tokyo, Japan. She came to the UnitedStates after graduating from college with a pharmaceuticaldegree and working for two years. She stayed with her sisterwho lived in Minnesota. After acclimating to the area, shepursued her Master’s Degree in Pharmacy at North DakotaState University…which was only about 75 miles south of hersister’s home, so she was still close to family. This is whereshe met Mas.

Mas was born 100 miles south of Tokyo, near Mt. Fuji. Hewent to college in Tokyo before attending graduate school inthe United States…in Oregon. After completing his Master’sDegree, he received a research grant from the AmericanPetroleum Institute, so he pursued a Doctorate Degree inphysical chemistry at North Dakota State University…and metMickie.

The couple dated for about two years and married once Masfinished his PhD studies. Mas then went to work for SunocoResearch, which prompted a move from the mid-west to theeast coast. They settled in the north Wilmington area, aroundNaaman’s Road, residing there for about eight years. It wasduring this period of their life that they also welcomed twodaughters into the family. While employed at Sunoco, Maspursued a Master’s Degree in business administration. Heeventually left the research field, taking a job with AlliedChemical in the business area, and moving the family toMorristown, New Jersey.

During this time, Mickie stayed out of the workforce to raisetheir girls until they were of school age. Then she returned towork in a research and development capacity at Alcoa. TheOishis remained in Morristown for 25 years. It was a busy timebecause Mas decided to leave corporate life and start his ownbusiness…International Business and Technology Consulting.His field of work was in fiber optics technology fortelecommunications. Eventually, with one daughter living inKing of Prussia, PA, and the other living in Alexandria, VA,they determined it was time to move back to Delaware…astate equi-distant between the girls.

Mickie and Mas knew they wanted their home to be in aretirement community. Going online in 2003, they actuallyfound five such communities in the state. So they started theirsearch in southern Delaware and worked north, until theyreached Middletown and Springmill. They liked the home’sconstruction…it was not pre-fab, it was near the woods, and abasement was available. At the time, Mas also appreciatedthe “country feel” of Middletown…though the area haschanged a lot in the ensuing years. We both agreed that onceyou pull into the community, it still has the same appeal.

There were many positives about Springmill. Upon firstmoving in, and newly retired, the Oishi’s participated in anumber of activities, but over time, they have reduced their

Meet Some New Neighbors

Since we have had a number of residence changes in thepast year, The Sentinel editorial staff thought it might behelpful to provide a quick reference when you meet someof these new neighbors…thus the new column.

Pat and Steve Kolbay of 581 WhisperingTrail are joining us from Yonkers, NewYork. Prior to their move to Springmill, theychecked out some properties in Florida, butchose to settle in Delaware “early on.” Theyfeel they found the perfect house and the bestcommunity size for them. They like the factthat it’s close to church and shopping. BothPat and Steve are planning to try the manyactivities offered, but are “just getting going” since their move.They would also like to volunteer, once they are more familiar withthe community. Pat added a P.S. to the form…she “thoroughlyenjoys The Sentinel and its wide-ranging information and looksforward to receiving it each month.”

Christy Mack of 532 Whispering Trail hailed from Charlotte,North Carolina before purchasing here. She looked for ahouse for several months in Wilmington and the surroundingareas. With the exception of wanting to place a backyardfence on her property, the home she purchased met all herother needs. As for activities, Christy enjoys singing, reading,and most social and sporting events. She hopes to enjoy theactivities provided in Springmill. She is also hoping toparticipate on community committee/s and would eventuallylike to become a member of the Board of Directors.

June Stemmle

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Museum of American History, the Botanical Sculpturegardens and fountains and the Butterfly Pavilion. I wouldalso recommend the Museum of the American Indian (alsohas a great restaurant, Mitsitam Café). All the museums areFREE, but I wouldn’t do more than two or three places a day.Most museums close by 5:30, with summer hours to 7:30 pm.By the way, if you get a minimal Smithsonian membershipfor $12, it saves you 10% at all the gift shops and you’re senta magazine EACH month!

Stop on the Mall for the carousel

Grandchildren Fly by ThemselvesA couple of weeks ago, two ofour grandchildren who live in theSan Diego area spent almosttwo weeks with us. Blake, 12and Brooke, 11 were a bitconcerned about embarking onsuch a long trip since they hadnever flown alone before. All ofour worries were eliminatedwhen we entrusted Blake andBrooke to the US AirwaysUnaccompanied Minor Program(UMP).

The UMP requires that the minors are booked on a nonstopflight which is easy to do from San Diego to Philadelphia.Children 5-14 may travel unaccompanied for an additional$100 fee each way. This fee is not excessive since it coversboth children and includes free checked baggage and a snackpack when they are on the plane.

A completed “Unaccompanied Minor Request for Carriage”form is required for travel, which remains with the childthroughout his or her flight. The form may be completed at theairport ticket counter on the day of departure. At Drop off indomestic U.S. cities only, parents/guardians may obtain gateaccess passes at the ticket counter to accompany the child tothe departure gate. Parents and guardians should arrive earlyto check in unaccompanied minors and obtain a gate accesspass. Also, parents and guardians must stay in the gate areauntil the child's flight has departed. When picking the youngtravelers up, US Airways requires that the person meeting thechild present a government-issued photo ID to ensure thechild's safety. Also, in domestic U.S. cities only, the personmeeting your child may also obtain a gate pass from theairport ticket counter in order to meet the child at the gateupon arrival.

I met Blake and Brooke at the gate in Philadelphia on theirarrival and Sheila and I dropped them at the gate on theirreturn. In between, we had a great time with different activitieseach day. Among a multitude of adventures we went toHershey Park, Mystic Seaport in CT took the ferry fromBridgeport CT to Port Jefferson in Long Island near where weused to live. We also spent time at zoos, sports centers,beaches, various pools, etc.

We all had a great time and we give kudos to US Airways forhelping to make it possible.

Dick Rausch

Travel LOGWashington, D.C.

Traveling with Grandkids

While visiting my Missourigrandchildren, my sonmentioned that he and hisfamily would be attendinga conference inWashington, D.C. inAugust. Since mygrandchildren hadn’t seentheir Delaware cousins inthree years, it seemed agreat time for a familyreunion…and what betterplace than the nation’scapital. Before you knewit, we were e-mailing andSkyping, makingreservations, and planning transportation. Keep in mind, this wasfor four children under the age of 10.

Since proximity was key, we made reservations at Marriott’sRenaissance Washington Downtown, one block from theWhite House and a few blocks from the Mall. That way, mostimportant buildings and monuments were within easy walkingdistance, and we were also close to transportation, mostmuseums, and restaurants. Chinatown was one block downand around the corner…a good restaurant is Lei Garden on7th and H streets.

The Missouri crew was flying in. Our Delaware family wasoriginally going by train, but since my son-in-law had to be inthe city at the same time, he drove us all down, and then wemade train reservations for the trip back. It added an extraadventure for my two youngest to be traveling on the Acela.

Here’s what I can share about traveling by car and train,visiting the sights, and eating in the city. The car ride was apiece of cake…only 1 ½ hours and basically a straight drive onUS 301 and I-95. AAA, Google, and the GPS provided greatdirections door-to-door. Surprisingly, travel in the city was notexpensive, though most things were within an easy walk fromour hotel. The Metrobus requires exact change $1.80 (80cents for seniors) unless you opt for a SmarTrip card. Taxiswere our mode of transportation when our feet wore out or thechildren were tired. The cost was never more than $6 or $7,plus tip. The train ride home in business class was worth theextra expense for the room and table space it provided.Amtrak was extremely helpful on the phone (1-800-872-7245)and walked me through the on-line process, even working outthe least expensive way to travel (senior rate, AAA, etc.). TheRed Caps and train personnel were wonderful with thechildren; taking our bags early and then bringing them right tothe train, seating us in a “quiet area,” creating special ticketson board by punching out their initials like on Polar Express,and even loaning us a conductor’s hat for pictures andpointing out interesting sights along the way. DelawareExpress picked us up at the Wilmington Station (driver wasinside with a sign) for the ride back home.

As for the visit itself, one favorite…though a bit pricey... wasthe International Spy museum with tunnels and secret doorson the lower level. Other highlights included the National Air& Space Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the Continued on Pg. 26

Brooke & Blake

Rett, Brandon, Ryan, Brianna

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Peach FestivalThe 20th annual Peach Festival was held on a typicalsummer day beginning with a parade. Vendors werelocated on the Main Street plus the side streets and justabout everything you could want or need was available. Anew booth this year was the Westown Movies that is toopen around Thanksgiving. The Everett Theater keptvisitors entertained all day as well as on the Four Corners

plus other venues. For the kiddies, free rides all day and avariety of food vendors behind Town Hall. Peach pieswere available at the MOT Center following a Peach PieContest. As expected, thousands of families came from allover to enjoy one of the state’s best festivals.

Sonya Comstock

Arlene Gurnee & Family Ron & Anita Tucker & Friend BIll, Faith Altman & Grandkids20th Annual Peach Festival

Guy & Betty Freeman

Mark Holden

Rosemarie Lamb Pat Heer & Family Left: June Stemmle & Friends Sonya Comstock

Tom & Christine Laphan Mayor Ken Branner Peach Festival Banner Kathy Kobus & Terry Markisohn

Pam Leeson & Bridal Shop Ginny Grippo Bernadette & Frank Hnat Herb Frank Pat Howe

Anne & Andy Lucas Joe Grippo Right:Carole Wagner &Daughter-In-Law

Dick Rausch Bill Storey & Bob Jackson“Buffalo Soldiers

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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

The Community Events Committee is now planning theFall/Winter calendar which looks to be exciting, interestingand above all FUN. So start marking your calendar.

September 18,-“An Afternoon Visit with Mary ToddLincoln”. Evelyn Swensson, from the De. Humanities will dothe presentation at 1:30 in the afternoon. Refreshments will beserved. Flyer in the Sentinel.

October 5- “One More Time” Something new at Springmill aMusical, Comedy, Variety show. DON’T MISS THIS!! Flyer inSentinel

The CEC meets the first Wednesday of every month at 9:30am in the Clubhouse card room. Our next meeting will beSeptember 4. Please try and join us as we begin planningevents for the enjoyment of the entire community. Let us knowif you think we are doing a good job or what we could do tomake the CEC and its events better or something different wecould try. We need your support!

Peggy Andrews

Book Club Choices for September

Book Club 1 (Deb Kupper/1st Wed.) We will not be meetingin September, unless a good movie is showing.

Book Club 2 (Mary-Elizabeth Rhoads/4th Tues.) Our groupmembers will be chatting about “The House Girl” by TaraConklin. It was mentioned in the Book Page you can pick up atthe library and was also recommended in the New YorkTimes.

Book Club 3 (Lydia Olson/3rd Mon.) Our book club’sdiscourse this month will be about ““Twelve Tribeds ofHattie” by Ayana Mathis.

Book Club 4 (Mary Jo Starrett/1st Wed.) Our group will besharing their selections starting next month. September is ourplanning month, when we decide on ALL our book choices forthe year.

Book Club 5 (Joan Gross/3rd Tues.) When we meet, we willbe reviewing “The Dressmaker of Khair Khana” by GailTzemoth.

June Stemmle

Jewelry Classes

Classes will begin on Wednesday, September 11, at 10am in the craftroom and will be held every otherWednesday at the same time and place. All arewelcome.

Shirley Smith

Charity Committee

Thank You note from the MOT -

Thank you again to you and the entire SpringmillCommunity. This morning we receivedapproximately six shopping carts full of food andother useful items. Three were spilling over fullwhen the second vehicle arrived. It is a wonderfulthing to have communities like yours so involvedand helpful to others less fortunate.

I look forward to seeing all the smiling faces thatdeliver the bags and bags of goodies again onOctober 7th. Your next arrival date is posted on mycalendar.

The monthly recipients are always so grateful foreverything the MOT community and Springmill dofor them.

Sandy

Maria Corvino

Thank You

We would like to thank our friends and neighbors forall their prayers, visits, cards, and calls during Marty’shospitalization. Knowing that you are there for usbrings us great peace of mind.

Marty & Karol Segal

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Book Review“Deception Point”

by Dan Brown

Yes, this book was written by Dan Brown of DaVinci Codeand Angels and Demons fame, but it has a completelydifferent tone and direction. It is a scientific mystery thrillerthat keeps you on your toes, and in my case, wide awake.

It is scientific because this high tech adventure involves aNASA satellite discovery in the Arctic, and because youlearn a number of facts about the Arctic and “things” found inthe icy tundra along the way. It is a mystery…until the veryend, because you never quite know who the good and badguys are, what their motives are, and why people’s lives areat risk. It is a thriller because there is a lot of fast paced,nail-biting action along the way… will they live or will theydie, and how are they going to get out of this one action.

The reviewers could have added the word “political” tothe description, because politics from the President downis definitely part of the mix and part of the reason a lot ofpoor decisions are made. People who want to forward thePresident’s agenda sometimes use the “means to an end”excuse.

Usually, I tell you a good bit of the plot, but this time, I’m justgoing to let the beginning tease get you interested. Themain characters, intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton, scholarMichael Tolland, and the team of science experts guide thestory along, but it is the scientific deception that is the realstar of this novel. The author certainly researched thepossibility of doing all the things that occur and theplausibility of the world believing that they are told…including the President. But to actually pull it off…that tookchutzpah. Read and be surprised at the turn of a page.

June Stemmle

Baked Corn Casserole

We have some fantastic cooks here in Springmill, one ofwhom is my friend, Mary-Elizabeth Rhoads. Since I LOVE hercaloric, but equally delicious baked corn casserole, I askedher to share her recipe for this month’s column. It’s easy andmakes a marvelous side dish.

Ingredients: 1 can whole kernel corn 1 can cream style corn 4 eggs ½ cup margarine or butter 2 Tablespoons flour ¼ cup fat free milk ¼ to 1/3 cup sugar Salt and pepper to tasteDirections:Beat 4 eggs until yellow and creamy. Melt ½ cup margarine orbutter and then blend with the eggs. Make a paste of 2tablespoons flour and ¼ cup milk. Add to the egg mix. Thendrain the whole kernel corn and combine with the cream stylecorn. Add both to the egg mixture. Lastly, add the ¼ to 1/3cup sugar…and some salt and pepper to taste.Bake in a greased glass dish at 375 degrees for 45-55minutes.

June Stemmle

Summer Surprise Dessert

Back in 2005 the combined Red Hat Chapters of Springmillproduced a cookbook called Taste of Springmill. Manyresidents contributed their favorite recipes for this cookbookand so it was truly full of “oldies but goodies” as well as someinnovative approaches to cooking. All proceeds from the saleof the cookbook were designated to benefit the M.O.T. SeniorCenter Building Fund. Alas, newer residents cannot purchasethe cookbook because every copy was sold!

Here is one recipe from the cookbook which will make gooduse of all those peaches you might hav purchased from thePeach Festival. In addition, it is refreshing, easy-peasy, andno baking required!

Summer Surprise Dessert by Tiny Farquhar1 c. fresh peaches, cut in bite-sized pieces1 c. fresh seedless grapes, halved1 c. fresh whole blueberries1 c. fresh strawberries, halved1 c. firmly packed brown sugar2 c. dairy sour cream

In shallow 9x12 inch glass dish, combine all fruit and mix well.Any combination of fruits may be used: fresh plums, kiwi,raspberries, pitted Bing cherries, etc. However, fresh peaches,fresh grapes, and fresh blueberries are a necessity. Frozen orcanned fruits are not recommended. Sprinkle brown sugarover the fruit. Top with sour cream. Cover with plastic wrap.Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours or overnight.To serve, gently stir thefruit; spoon into sherbet glasses.

Mary Jo Starrett

What’s Cookin’…

Roof Algae “Final” Results

As of August 14, fifty homes received the roof washtreatment to remove roof algae. The roof wash wascompleted on time, in three phases, with six additionalsignups in phase four, for a total of 56 homes. At the timeof this newsletter all fifty-six homes have been treated.

Each resident received a personal thank you from NoPressure Cleaning Solutions for selecting them as theircontractor, and for the compassion and understandingduring a hot weather period while treating their roof.

No Pressure Cleaning Solutions will perform a yearlyinspection of the 56 homes during the five- year warrantyperiod and will treat accordingly should any algaereappear. We wish to thank all the residents for their kindwords and e-mails during this entire process.

John Rutt, Paul Wiedemann, Lee Rosenson

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Springmill Discount: $2.75 off every car wash!

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Computer Tutor

Living Green

Cell Phones and Driving

It has been over 2 years since DelawareGovernor Jack Markell signed into law a billbanning the use of hand held cell phones,pagers, PDAs, Blackberrys, laptops, gamesor portable computers while driving. Underthe new law drivers are not allowed to talkwithout using a hands-free device, read, writeor send text messages, email or use theInternet while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers caught usinga hand-held device will be fined $106 ($50 base fine with fees)for their first offense, with subsequent penalties reaching up to$350 with fees.

Delaware is one of over 40 states in the nation to have atexting ban, and among the dozen states which also ban theuse of hand held cell phones. No state completely bans theuse of cell phones altogether.

Delaware completed three 2-week waves of overtimestatewide enforcement in June. This resulted in about 20,000drivers being cited for cell phone use while driving. Theenforcement is part of a grant funded pilot project by theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Here are some facts:

* Cell phone related crashes trend young in Delaware. 54% ofthese crashes are caused by a person under the age of 30.

* Of people under 30, males account for 60% of crashes andfemales 40%.

* Of those aged 19 and under, 56% of those responsible weremale and 44% were female. 61% of cell phone relatedcrashes have occurred in New Castle County. 23% haveoccurred in Sussex County, and 15% have occurred in KentCounty.

* Friday trends much higher than other days for cell phonerelated crashes with the next highest days being Wednesdayand Thursday.

* Cell phone crashes normally increase in rate around lunchtime and between 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. when bars close.

It is very easy to obey the law in Delaware since there aremany inexpensive ways to make and receive hands free calls.The easiest way is to use a simple earpiece plugged into yourphone. All smart phones have Bluetooth communicationscapability. Many car manufacturers use a Sync system toautomatically connect cell phone to the vehicle’s Bluetoothsystem. There are also external Bluetooth devices that canbe purchased at electronic retailers for about $50.

At our age we have enough distractions and touching a cellphone while driving should not be one of them. Drive safelyand remember no texting while driving and always use ahands free device to make and receive calls in your car.

Dick Rausch

Greener Pillow Alternatives

We have discussed many topics in “Living Green” over theyears but bed pillows may be one of the most esoteric.

We bought some new bed pillows a couple of weeks ago. Wethought, “What should we do with the old pillows?” I wonderedabout the ecological aspects of these rather bulky items. This isanother throwaway item that we don’t give much thought toenvironment-wise. Most of us will sleep our way through dozensof pillows over our lifetimes – and with many millions of other folksdoing the same, it’s worth giving this issue some consideration.

Synthetic pillow stuffing - A widely-used pillow filling ispolyester fiber. The most common polyester for fiber purposesis polyethylene terephthalate or simply PET. PET is made fromfossil fuel and while PET is recyclable, I’ve never seen therecycle logo on any pillow I’ve owned. Other commonsynthetic pillow fillings include memory foam which is madefrom polyurethane with additional chemicals – not particularlyearth friendly either. Both of these substances take a verylong time to break down in the environment. In looking for“greener” alternatives, here’s what I came up with.

Wool Fibre Fill - Wool is flame resistant and offers excellentmoisture absorbency, allowing the pillow fill to breathe. Wool isnaturally bacteria and dust mite resistant. Try to find wool fillpillows sourced from organically raised sheep, or recycledwool.

Feather and Down Fill - Made from duck or goose feathers,the higher the down content, the softer the pillow will be.However, while this may be a more natural filler, how it is

sourced is important. Some pillows will have feathers that area by-product of slaughtering, others may be gatheredfeathers, but it seems in some cases, they will be forciblyremoved from the bird causing injury.

Buckwheat Hull Fill - Said to be superior to either of theabove options, buckwheat hull material conforms to thecontours of your head and neck without “pushing back” assome fibers do. It has excellent insulation properties for bothsummer and winter and a single fill can last for years.

Natural Shredded Rubber Fill - Also known as latex, this is abyproduct of the rubber tree – when purchasing, check thatit’s not a synthetic rubber.

Kapok Fill - Kapok is a soft and silky fiber from the seed podsof the ceiba tree.

Organic Cotton Fill - Bypass ordinary cotton if you can – it’sa pesticide and water intensive product.

Going beyond the pillow filling, pillow cases are also oftenmade from synthetics. More earth friendly materials includehemp, organic cotton and wool blends.

So the good news is, there are greener choices whenchoosing a pillow. The bad news is, they are substantiallymore expensive. From what I researched, natural shreddedrubber fill was the cheapest. Bear in mind, though, that while“alternative” pillows may be costlier, they have a longerlifespan compared to polyester fiber fills – and living a greenerlife is as much about level of consumption as it is aboutproduct choice.

If you want to stick with polyester filled pillows – perhaps putyour old pillows to good use.

Dick Rausch

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Texas Hold’em

Janet Geftman is thelone female player inthis game of Poker withusually seven otherplayers. For about eightyears the group hasbeen getting togetheron Friday afternoonsfrom 12:30 to 4:00 inthe Billiard Room.Unlike men’sWednesday night poker,Texas Hold’em is for everyone, male or female. At varyingtimes there were more women who played, but today only

Sports NewsBocce – Anne Lucas, announces end of season Bocce Party.The time has come to for our annual end of season party. It isplanned for Saturday September 14 at 6:00 PM in theclubhouse. We will have some good food and lots of fun! I hopeyou have enjoyed the game this year. The menu and cost will beannounced to all of you who plan to attend as soon as detailsare finalized. All players, subs, spouses and significant othersare invited to attend the party. I hope all of you who helpedmake the season a success can attend.

League standing as of press deadline. Final standings willappear next month.Tuesday League Wednesday LeagueTeam W L Team W LTwenty Three 15 5 Forza 22 4Easy Rollers 12 10 The Bru’s 19 7Renegades 11 9 Walbobs 6 20Morning Glories 6 12 Ruffhouses 5 21Happy Rollers 6 14Up-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.

Women’s Golf - The Middletown Ladies Golf League. The leagueis open to adult women golfers with prior golfing experience. Afun-filled, friendly event is scored each week using handicaps.Members may choose to play either 9 or 18 holes of golf onThursday mornings.

The League played a "par fours" game on July 25 at FrogHollow Golf Club. Springmill winners were: In Flight B – 1. DorisMoscariello and in Flight C - 3. Barb Kamm. The event was Fand T holes on August 8 at Back Creek. Doris Moscariello andJo Ann Stump were among the leaders in their respectiveflights.Weekly play will alternate between Frog Hollow GolfCourse and Back Creek Golf Club. For more information, callJoAnn Stump.

Men’s Golf – The Springmill Senior Men's Golf League (SMGL).Joe Tomassetti reports: We are alternating play between FrogHollow and Back Creek. In the works is a possible competitionwith Springmill players taking on Spring Arbor players. It’s not

too late to get in on the fun. If you are interested, please contactJoe Tomassetti, j.tomassetti@verizon.net.

Tennis – Terry Markisohn and Mark Verni are co-coordinators fortennis activities. The tennis season continues.  Weekend play is onSaturdays and Sundays. We are looking forward to cooler weatheras we move into the fall. Tuesday mornings, there is a "just show upgroup" at 9:30 am on Court 2.  We have been trying for Wednesdayevenings at 5:30 pm - all are welcome to play in this eveningsession. If any additional information is required please contactTerry or Mark.

Pickleball – Carl Rifino Pickleball Coordinator contributed thefollowing: We’re in the last days of summer, but there are stillmany warm days ahead to play Pickleball. Some had the best ofintentions to learn the game in May, but tempus fugit. There aremany, however, who took advantage of the good weather to playthe game and enjoy the outdoors. The people who learned thegame last year have shown noticeable improvement with theirskills.

Now that September is here, the yearly tournament, run by theDelaware Senior Olympics, will be played. A few players havedecided to take part in the tournament, which will be held atDelaware State University on the Sept. 14 – 15 weekend. Thenext national tournament is scheduled for the summer of 2015.A few SM people were eligible for this year’s event in Pickleball,but none elected to play at Cleveland in July.

If you decide that you want to learn before the cold weather setsin, kindly contact Jane Kimmins or me to set things up for you.Be happy, stay healthy and remember: Pickleball is another wayto stay active.

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 all ablebodied residents age gracefully. Springmill offers several waysto help everyone stay fit. With Jazzercise, Yoga, Meditation,the Walking Club, the Gym, Water Aerobics, and miles of scenicpaths and streets for safe walking and bicycling, it is easy to getout and stay fit at your own pace and ability.

Poolroom Chatter--Art Lamb On August 15th Len Brusseeshot a perfect game of "8 Ball".

What’s Happening… Janet remains loyal to this weekly game. Poker, of course,is a game of chance, but in the case of our Springmill groupit is also a time to have fun. Playing with quarters, winnersdo not usually win or lose big.

Poker is also a game of skill and easily learned. There aremany variations of poker, but this group plays differentvarieties of Texas Hold’em only. Each game is dealer’schoice and takes no more than a few minutes. In speakingwith the players, they see this game as a time to have lotsof laughs and enjoy the harmony and company of eachother. It also is an opportunity to develop skill and strategyin order to outwit your opponents. Poker has always beena recreational activity confined to small groups. The cardtable can seat up to ten players, so for those who might liketo join in this non-athletic but challenging activity for a fewhours on Friday afternoon, contact Stan Heer.

Sonya Comstock

Janet Geftman, Marc Lichtenfield, BobHembrecht, Tom Ferrara,Dick Foley, Ed

Hopkins, Stan Heer, & Ray Rouiller

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We work with all Insurance Companies

25

even if you’re sued, once a judge reviews the case, it willbe dismissd. - Now, let’s get started.

(1) Put your hand at the bottom of the breast bone. Findthe “notch,” and move the heel of your hand about 2”above that notch.

(2) Put one hand over the other…do NOT bend yourelbows.

(3) Start doing chest compressions (pressing down movesblood through the body). Press FAST, HARD, andDEEP, while thinking of the John Travolta song,“Staying Alive,” to keep the correct rhythm. Make surethe chest recoils (comes up) each time. You will knowthat the person is responding to your efforts, if you haveANY signs of life.

(4) Continue doing the chest compressions until helparrives or until you can’t physically do any more.Remember, every compression, moves 21% of air intothe victim. No matter what, STAY with the victim.

If you are lucky enough to have an AED (remember tocheck for the two AEDs the next time you’re in theClubhouse), you need to do the following in case theperson has stopped breathing.

(1) Be sure you are NOT near wires (that includesunderwire bras!) or water…if you

Spotlight onOur Advertisers

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

Continued on Pg. 26

Doc’s Vacuum Sales & Repairs

An important household toolis the vacuum cleaner andone that works well whenneeded. Mark Dziegielewski,owner of Doc’s Vacuum,says 50% of vacuum ownershave them serviced annually,while the other 50% wait untilthe vacuum no longer works.Then it becomes his job tobring them back to life again.He believes that having them serviced on a regular basisprolongs their life. Just as a car needs regularmaintenance to keep operating at capacity, a vacuumneeds the same type of care.

Mark is an authorized dealer for such vacuums as Dyson,Hoover, Miele, Dirt Devil, Eureka, Royal, Bissell, RugDoctor, Electrolux and Hayden (central vac) and sells thebrands either new or reconditioned with a warranty. Allmodels and brands can be serviced by him whether theyare canister or upright models. He considers Miele as along-distance runner with minimal service required. When

making suggestions as to which vacuum is the best, hebreaks it down to the following: If you want to have avacuum with a bag, buy Miele. If you want a baglessvacuum, buy a Dyson. However, the Dyson is a very heavyvacuum, but lighter models are now offered. He takestrade-ins, refurbishes them and sells as reconditionedvacuums with a warranty too.

How did he happen to open a shop in the Dutch Farmer’sMarket? An original resident of Middletown many yearsago, he opened a shop on Main Street long before thistown began to expand. Business was slow, so he moved toElsmere where he is opened six days a week. WhenMiddletown began to grow and the Farmer’s Market cameto town, he knew it was time to open shop again so hesettled for a location in the Market. His customers come notonly from Delaware, but from MD, PA and even NJ. Hison-site manager is Gage Fake who is learning the businessand is there Thursday through Saturday. All types ofsupplies needed for vacuums can be had at this shop.

What started as a part-time job while in college and thenbecame his own part-time business while employed in thecorporate world eventually became full time when thecorporate world changed about eight years ago. Satisfiedwith the turn of events that led to being self-employed, Markenjoys success and has never looked back. He offers anitem that is needed in every household.Location is in the Dutch Farmer’s Market – Thursday-Saturday – 302-285-0871.

Sonya Comstock

Safety PrimerCPR and the AED Machine

Hopefully, you didn’t need to make use of our lesson on theHeimlich maneuver from last month, but that you are readyfor some more emergency knowledge…doing CPR (cardiacpulmonary resuscitation) and using the AED (automaticexternal defibrillator) machine.

During our class, everyone had one minute of practicebefore giving CPR to dummies on the tables. We were toldto remember to compress FAST, HARD, and DEEP in asteady rhythm…”Staying Alive” was the suggested song.

Again, the FIRST thing you need to do is check the scenefor safety…anything that may have injured the victim mayalso injure you. Next, take 5-10 seconds to see if the victimis breathing. Once you have looked, listened and felt forbreath, it is very important that you (or someone nearby)call 911. ALL 911 operators are also CPR instructors.Then, and only then, look (or have someone look) for anAED machine. If none is available, start CPR.

Two notes: Anyone over 12 years of age is considered anadult for CPR. Also, Delaware has a Good Samaritan Law,so as long as you are giving help, and not receivingcompensation for that help, you won’t be held responsible,

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ride and to run offexcess energy…also a good spot for pictures of theWashington Monument and the U.S. Capitol building. Yes,we did visit the various memorials and monuments. TheLincoln Memorial was a big hit and you can get yourNational Park passport stamped there. While a big ticketitem, I would suggest taking one of the bus tours or using theon/off bus to get around the city.

By the way, the Mint in Washington doesn’t make coins, butthey do give you two unminted pennies for stopping in, and theirmoney machine will give you change in 2013 quarters.

Our hotel was perfectly situated and I can’t say enough nicethings about the staff and the “navigator desk” guides. Theywill provide maps and arrange various tours andtransportation. If you have a Marriott card, be sure and askfor “complimentary access to the concierge lounge.” Theyhave a hot/cold buffet breakfast, appetizer snacks around 5:30,and dessert around 7:30. It can save a lot of $$ when travelingwith children. Water, juice, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate areavailable all day. You use your room key for entry…privateelevator or stairs take you up to the second floor. Since wehad the children, we reserved a suite…provides 2 queenbeds, a “play” area, table and desk area, and a pull-out bed, sosleeping could be spread out. We actually played indoorvolleyball and Frisbee!

That covers the basics. Of course, we also traveled with DVDplayers, cards, books, and other small kid friendly items. But,by the end of the day, they were happy to just snuggle intobed. I think we were ALL asleep before 9:30…walking tiresyou out.

Should you decide to go, I picked up all kinds of brochuresand would be happy to share.June Stemmle

Continued From Pg. 14: Washingston, DC are near thepool OR if the victim is wet. If the victim is wet, towelthem off as much as possible or remove/cut off clothing.If they are clothed, you also need to remove clothing onthe upper part of the body.

(2) TURN THE MACHINE ON! Open the flap and press thebutton. It will give you all the directions you will need.The machine walks you through everything. Batteriesfor an AED last about 5 years. The machine will make a“noise” if you need to replace the batteries. (Don Strongchecks ours once a month.)

(3) The AED pads are put on the persons lower left chestAND upper right chest, so you miss any pacemakers ordefibrillators. On a small or frail person, the pads canbe put on the center chest and center back.

(4) If the victim has flatlined, the machine will tell you tocontinue CPR until help arrives. You only shock theperson IF the machine tells you to! The shock stops theheart, so it can restart the heart to a normal rhythm.Always remember that this is a case where the machineknows best.

And that concludes the last of our emergency lessons.Thanks again to the Clubhouse Committee, and theMiddletown Fire Department, for providing such a helpful,hands-on lecture.

May you never have to use this information, but even thislittle bit of knowledge could save the life of someone youcare about…a neighbor, friend, or family member.

June Stemmle

Continued From Pg. 25: CPR & AED

Springmill Long Range Planning

Last Spring, the Finance Committee selected a Long RangePlanning Sub­committee consisting of Jim Crisfield and AnitaTucker. Their mission was to identify things that require moreplanning than the operating budget for one year or thereplacement of items planned for in the Kipcon Report andreserves for replacement. We were looking for those projectsthat might require attention in over, maybe, five to ten years,and which were things the community thought would beneeded or nice to have to enhance the community for theresidents.

Our first step was to create a list of those projects that thecommunity could propose, or suggest, for future considerationas good additions or improvements to the community’s assets.To this purpose, Anita and I met with various committees toexplain our mission and to solicit their ideas for our list offuture projects. Response was “interested”, so we moved onto a poll of individual residents. The response among themwas great and enthusiastic. We were able to develop a longlist of things. Of course, there was much duplication in thatresponse, but ideas and suggestions were very responsibleand creative, as we might expect from a collection of peoplelike us. Anita and I were able to put down a synthesis of thosecomments and suggestions into a list of potential projects thatSpringmill might consider undertaking now, next year or in themore distant future.With that list, we moved on to try anddetermine how popular the projects were and how important itwas to do those things. We gave all the residents our list of

potential projects and asked that they assign a priority to eachitem, "A" for desirable things, "B" for good things that ought tobe deferred and "X" for items we should not do at all. Theresponse to this poll was very good, 153 out of 362 homes,and the detailed results were posted on the board in theclubhouse.

In order to avoid burdening the reader with infinite detail, wehope a general summary will suffice here. For details, pleasesee the posted summary. Responders tended to vote “X”against spending money on most items, unless they wereactive in the project and then they voted in favor. As a result,there was not an overwhelming positive vote in favor of mostof the projects. However, a new Springmill web page was verypopular. Items having to do with the walking paths werepopular except for the exercise trail. The parking lot repairsand replacement received majority attention along withimprovements to the entrances, (work is already underwaythere). Responders also favored the kitchen upgrade, mainlywarming ovens. Beyond this, on most items the “X” prevailed.

Before any decisions on actual work on these projects, we willneed to obtain cost estimates and factor that into the finaldecision to proceed on any of these items. In the end, it will beup to the Board of Directors to assign project responsibility toan appropriate committee and to pass final approval toproceed.

Jim Crisfield and Anita Tucker

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