March 2007
Vegas Night at Tanglewood had everything you could find in Sin City, except for Wayne Newton. There were blackjack tables, spinning wheels, poker, horse racing, fine cuisine, beautiful women and handsome rogues.
Ann Hudson, everyone’s favorite mistress of ceremonies, planned the evening with the invaluable help of Sandy Dietz. They gathered an impressive number of volunteer helpers, over 100 total. With that many workers, shifts could be kept short enough for everyone to have some time to play the games too.
And just like the real Las Vegas, nobody went home fabulously wealthy, or even comfortably well off. But the goal of the night wasn’t to get rich quick, but to come and socialize with your friends. Living in a community as we do, the friendships we make are our lifeline. We certainly thank Ann for bringing us an evening so enjoyable. A very special Certificate of Thanks should be awarded to Sandy for taking over when our Annie was unable to be there due to illness.
For more pictures of Vegas Night go to PictureTrail.
No matter if you were cheering for the Bears or the Colts, the Rec Hall was the place to be for the Super Bowl on January 4. Thanks to John Greytak, there was free pizza, beer and soda for 500 residents. Special Activities provided the manpower to plan and serve the food, sell the 50/50 tickets, and run the football pools.
Through the selling of the 50/50’s we were able to donate $295.00 to the Cancer Fundraiser, and still give out 4 very nice prizes to lucky ticket holders. All the football pool money was returned in prizes.
We thank Management for providing the food and beverages, and we thank the residents who cleaned up their tables before they left. Remember what your Mom said, many hands make light work.
Just when you thought another person could not possibly fit into the hall, in came three more, looking for bargains and finding them all over.
The February Garage Sale drew hundreds and hundreds of outsiders into our Rec Hall. They poured through the doors at 8 AM and filled the aisles between the tables. Experienced shoppers, and there were many, headed straight for the TMAC table for the best deals.
Bedspreads and comforters were popular purchases, perhaps because of our recent cold snap. The Library tables started out loaded with hard covers and paperbacks, and were a lot emptier by closing. Garden tools, braided rugs, teddy bears, jewelry, golf clubs and fishing poles – you name it, somebody bought it.
The kitchen was kept busy selling donuts and drinks.
The vendors were ready to close up by 11 AM, and those who stayed to put away tables and chairs will be rewarded with one free table rental for the next garage sale in November.
After weeks of planning and selling of bags, the Luminaria event of February 17 was both somber and delightful.
Tom and Loraine McKeever reported 1215 bags were sold, dedicated, and returned to the committee. Each bag was to commemorate or celebrate someone who has been touched by cancer, and there were 1044 individual names submitted. Although the list of those deceased was long, the number of survivors was encouraging.
A memorial service was held in the Clubhouse. Speakers included Howard Lowry, Al Zwerk, Abraham Gold, and Vickie Sparks, a representative from the American Cancer Society who is fighting non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Names were scrolled across the big screens, first the many victims were honored, then the survivors and fighters. Cameras flashed continuously as residents sought to capture their loved one’s name.
As we left the hall, thousands of bags illuminated with the candle of hope stretched all the way around Tanglewood Circle and partly up the driveways. Hundreds of folks walked and drove around, seeking the names of their loved ones. When they found one, many stopped to take a picture or to pray. The candles burned a few hours, but memories last a lifetime, and are handed down to the next generation to cherish.
Tom thanks the 35 volunteers who took this project from inception to clean up. The sale of the bags raised $4315 for Cancer research. More Luminaria pictures on PictureTrail.
Saturday November 10 will be the second annual Tanglewood Craft Fair. Last year we sold 56 tables, this year we will fill the Hall!
We will start taking reservations for the tables on Monday, March 5 after Coffee. Tables are only $5 apiece, and we will again be limiting each household to one long table.
Almost any kind of art or craft item is acceptable, as long as it’s home made. Last year we had crochet, paper tole, woodworking, floral arrangements, paintings, quilting, stained glass, tee shirts, notepaper, and much more.
Crafting supplies such as fabrics, patterns, buttons, and the like may also be sold with your finished products. Any questions may be addressed to Shirley Kabet or Sharon Vendrely.
You have a whole summer to produce your wonderful items. Get your table and get busy.
“You began to be immersed into “Steel Magnolias” when you entered the beautifully decorated lobby. Upon entering the theatre, you view this fabulous set, which would be the envy of any theatre group. The entire play is set in a beauty salon, which you may think would inhibit the action. Not true. Small changes to the scenery are made for each scene, which allow you, along with the actors, to progress in time.
The actors fit their roles well and in this writer’s opinion, the audience was "into" the play throughout. Laughs came when the lines asked for them, which showed me the audience was attentive. The last scene produced laughs, but generally was somber due to the death of one of the characters. The conclusion of the play left many limp in their seats with tears glistening in their eyes. I observed many, including this writer, wiping eyes so as not to attract attention to them. A banner production and well deserved congratulations to cast and crew.”
Al Foley
“The show was well produced and well acted. Everyone in the cast did a great job. The set was very impressive and professionally done. Stagehands did their work very efficiently and professionally as well. The dessert and set up was well managed and enabled things to move forward in a timely manner. It was a great idea to have "Reserved Seating".
Harvey and Ethel Donald
“I knew that I was watching a labor of love and the product of a tremendous amount of work and talent. The actresses did a wonderful job, each seeming to embody the traits that made their character unique and likable. I was lost in the story. You felt as if you were actually watching six old friends who knew each other like a book.”
Rob Chastain
“The on stage acting by our own residents was such a treat to see. The off stage presentation by the support group was very professional. A lot of hard work by a lot of people produced a very enjoyable evening. Thanks to all.”
Jan & John Willoughby
“Loved it...LOVED IT!!!! 2 thumbs up. The girls were awesome...I am so proud to know them personally. Thank you for an entertaining night.”
Lori Eckert
“Top notch acting by all. Both funny and tragic. A very professional performance.”
Bev Bone
“BRAVO!! The bar has been set! As newcomers to Tanglewood, we attended “Steel Magnolias” and were entertained by a great group of actors. Also, applause to the organizers and many volunteers.”
Gordon and Sandra Armitage
First Call:
The dressers have arrived, perhaps a little too early, and we note the happy tension in the air. The girls are performing their last minute make-up rituals as they practice a few lines here and there.
As the clock moves closer to curtain time the girls become quiet as they read their lines trying to become their character. We witness briefly the bonding and close connection between these girls that I doubt anyone else could understand. We leave them alone to perform the last minute practice and words of encouragement they share with each other . When we return all is quiet as they await their last call.
First Scene:
We are nervous! Not for us, but for them! We sit much more quietly than at rehearsal, straining to hear how things are going. We have been advised to stay calm and quiet between scenes, to help our actors remain in character and with this in mind we wait expectantly, costumes in hand, for them to come back-stage.
Then here they come! Running in various stages of undress, absolutely electric, beaming and full of chatter and excitement. The first scene went PERFECTLY! We breathe a sigh of relief and are happy to share in the joy and energy that is overflowing.
Commitment:
I have always wondered why they have accepted the commitment that goes with this kind of production. The rehearsals, the endless practices, the tension, the stress. When they flew backstage after the first scene, 6 inches off the ground, beaming ear to ear, in an instant I had my answer.
Sandi VanStraten
Nerves:
I knew that my role as Annelle’s (Marilyn Werry) dresser was to help her by having her costume changes ready so she could remain calm and focused in the few minutes we had between scenes. I recognized that the task meant changing hairstyle, providing bobby pins, laying out shoes, unzipping slacks, putting on jewelry and picking all up the items thrown off in the haste of the change.
What I did not realize was how nervous I would feel when Marilyn walked away to go onto the darkened stage for the first time ever before an audience. In fact, all of us backstage held our breath as the play began and then broke into relieved smiles as we heard laughter and knew the relationship between audience and actors had been successfully established. When the play ended and Marilyn came off stage smiling and excited, I could feel her joy and knew my role and hers had been done successfully.
Alice Lynch
Saturday, February 24th, we had 24 persons show up at 10 A.M. to compete in a putting contest. 18 holes were completed with tie of 3 under for 1st and 2nd. 3 holes of sudden death was played with Mike Bloss winning and John Hill with a respectful second. Third place of 2 under par was won in a play-off by Clyde Martz beating out Chris Christopherson.
The weather was nice and the players all had fun. The putting greens have been cleaned and were in great shape and should get more use than they do at present.
For Questions or Comments about this website Click Here To Email the Webmaster.
© 2006 Tanglewood Resident Times