The Greens
at Pelican Point
5
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 257-4500, Vonnie Lowe 746-0789, Millie Matherne 474-3499, 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!
********************************************
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
********************************************
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!!!
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.
********************************************
Walter Forschler Jean Ingrassia Jan Jaekle
Lauren LeBlanc Jim Linn Wil Lowe
********************************************
Aubrey and Sandra Guillot, 5380 Courtyard
John and Robin Wax, 43299 Putter’s Lane
*****************************************
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.)
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.
********************************************
“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 -- afabulous 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!
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.
********************************************
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!
********************************************
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.
TAKE CARE
Submitted by Mona Hull, RN
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!
********************************************
APRIL SHOWERS
BRING
MAY FLOWERS
CARD OF THANKS
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
********************************************
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 discoveriesto avoid getting dementia.
If you missed Deputy Joey Meyers’ S.A.L.T. presentation here in the Greens last month, he will bespeaking 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!
********************************************
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 …..
NOLAN’S OVEN JAMBALAYA
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!
********************************************
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!!!
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!
********************************************
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 inColac, 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……..