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Read the online version of the Marsh Creek News Journal at www.staugustine.com/marshcreek

Published for and distributed free to the Marsh Creek Community since 2001 August/September 2016 VOL. 16, NO. 2

I don’t mean what I say here to be a push to join the Club if you don’t already be-long. Rather, I intend it as an update on what is going on with a valuable resource to all of us as residents whether we are Club members or not.

As I assume most of you know, MCCC was purchased by ClubCorp a few months ago from the original developer. ClubCorp is a publicly traded corporation based in Dallas. It is the owner/operator of over 200 private golf and country clubs and business clubs in 26 states and several foreign countries. These include some of the best and most prestigious in the country including such notables as Firestone in Akron OH, Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage CA, Woodlands in Woodlands TX, Capital Club in Beijing, and Metropolitan Club in Chicago. More locally, there are a bunch of country clubs in Florida as well as the Citrus Club in Orlando and University Club in Jacksonville.

My point in telling you all this is simply that they are a very big outfit with lots of experience and financial backing. They know what they are doing which is very good for Marsh Creek. As Marianne points out, they have developed some splendid plans for very welcomed upgrades to the

dining room and fitness and tennis center. The golf course is in better shape than it has been in years. The dining room is open more often and the menu improved. The food is better. Membership is growing by leaps and bounds.

I have been fortunate to have a front row seat in this progress. I was Chair of the Board of Gover-nors for the Club when the purchase occurred and the new GM, Tom Carter, came on board. Having been succeeded by Steve Mattman, I am now the immediate past chair and therefore still on the Board and Executive Committee. om Carter is a terrific GM. He is very smart, tremendously expe-rienced (he helps train new GMs for ClubCorp), hard working, and very much involved in the day to day management of the Club. ut more than that, he has a strategic plan for what he wants the Club to look like in five years. We are no longer planning day to day.

As residents of Marsh Creek, we have several important assets that affect home values and our daily way of life. One is St. Augustine; the loca-tion, history, Flagler College, and all the rest. Another, of course, is the ocean. But one other important asset is Marsh Creek Country Club. For many of us it is the center of our social lives and recreation. For all of us, it makes Marsh Creek a more attractive place for ourselves, visitors and newcomers alike.

John Hutson

Whew! T’was a Hot One!! But with Good Memories!!

It was recently identified that, throughout our commu-nity, there is an area known as the Right of Way (ROW). The ROW is the first 1-15 feet (depending on the prop-erty) between the roadway and the home’s actual property line. After some legal research it was determined that the ROW is the responsibility of the HOA.

As a result, at the Board meeting on August 3rd, the Board passed a resolution taking maintenance and finan-cial responsibility for that area. Included in that responsi-bility is the trimming of trees planted by the developer in the ROW and the maintenance of the swales, where they exist, as part of the overall drainage plan for the commu-nity. While trimming has occurred in the past, mainte-nance of the swales is new.

What is not included is anything planted by the homeowner, maintenance of the lawn, the mailbox and the driveway which crosses over the ROW. These are the responsibility of the homeowner (Patio Home lawn maintenance is covered under a separate Patio Home as-sessment).

Bottom line is this: where previously, maintenance of this area was, to a great extent, covered by each homeown-er, the HOA will now cover it as a community expense and the additional cost, if any, will be shared among all homeowners.

The HOA will make decisions about ROWs in the same way it makes decisions on other “Common Prop-erty”, through the Roads & Common Property Commit-tee. Homeowners may wish to take additional steps to the normal maintenance of the ROW in front of their home. In each case, as long as the action meets community and ARB standards, homeowners may, at their own expense, take such action. An example of this might be that the homeowner wishes to trim an oak tree more severely than the HOA has authorized or remove that tree altogether.

RIGHT OF WAY

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P u b l i c a t i o n P o l i c yThe function of the Marsh Creek News Journal (MCNJ) is to serve the entire

Marsh Creek community. The MCNJ editor aggregates content from residents and other sources and uses that content to inform the entire community. First priority will be given to reporting news and activities of the Marsh Creek Community, community organizations, committees and other news and events that directly affect Marsh Creek residents. Second priority will be given to articles of general interest as space permits. Content space in the Marsh Creek News Journal is controlled by the St. Augustine Record and the editor reserves the right to abridge any submission or defer its publication until a later issue. The MCNJ accepts no editorial content that contains items of a political or religious nature or items that might be controversial, divisive, insensitive or pit neighbor against neighbor. Items must be verifiably factual and may not contain comments that could be considered libelous or slanderous toward businesses or persons.

The Marsh Creek News Journal is published 6 times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November. Articles must be received as an electronic e-mail attachment by the last day of the month preceding publication and should be sent to the Acting Editor at suzannebeck25@gmail.com .

Letters to the Editor must be signed as well as brief and in good taste. Views expressed are those of the writer and do not express the viewpoint of the editorial staff of the Marsh Creek Owners Association or Marsh Creek residents. As with general content letters to the editor may not contain items of a political or religious nature or items that might be controversial, divisive, insensitive or pit neighbor against neighbor. Items must be verifiably factual and may not contain comments that could be considered libelous or slanderous toward businesses or persons.

All advertising submitted for publication in The Marsh Creek News Journal must be received by the 10th of each month for publication the following month.

All matters concerning advertising should be referred to The St. Augustine Record advertising sales staff. Ads may be e-mailed to your sales representatvie, ads@staugustinerecord.com or sent to The St. Augustine Record, C/O your sales representative, One News Place, St. Augustine, FL 32086.

The Marsh Creek News Journal’s acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement or approval of any product or services by the Publisher, Marsh Creek Property Owners Association, The Marsh Creek Country Club or any Marsh Creek resident. Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising that does not meet the standards of the publication.

The Publisher of the Marsh Creek News Journal agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Marsh Creek residents and Property Owners Association and its directors, officers and members from any claims asserted against or financial liabilities incurred by them arising from commercial content of this publication or anything contained in any advertising copy, including without limitation any claims of whatever nature asserted by advertisers or potential advertisers.

The Marsh Creek News Journal is published for the residents of the Marsh Creek Community, St. Augustine, Florida under the authority of the Marsh Creek Owners Association.

Editor Suzanne Beck 247 Marshside Drive St. Augustine, FL 32080 suzannebeck25@gmail.com

Editorial Approval MCOA Communications Committee MCOA Board of Directors

Publisher The St.Augustine Record/ St. Augustine Media One News Place St. Augustine, FL 32086

Advertising Ali Herlong (904) 819-3533 ali.herlong@staugustine.com

Every so often, we hear of folks who move into Marsh Creek and then have to remove their entire landscape and start all over. That’s what Sally and Clarence Metzger did

with their lovely yard at 357 Marsh Point Circle, our Secret Garden win-ner for this month. They both grew up in Ohio and Clarence said they lived on two and a half acres com-posed of clay and stone on which Sally developed vegetable and flower gardens, in spite of the encroach-ment of numerous deer – they used electric fencing! They began visiting Florida in the 1990’s, eventually tak-ing a condo in the Windjammer here on the island. They found a home in Marsh Creek in 2009 and moved here permanently in 2012. Sally

said she traded clay and stone for the sandy soil of Florida. Their first major yard work was to bring in a “bobcat” to clear all the overgrowth. Then Sally went to work using prod-ucts from several nurseries, mostly on a trial and error basis as many of us do. She also got lots of ‘loaner’ plants from friends and neighbors who have done this before. But with a love of the land and an obvious green thumb, Sally has created a beautiful and colorful landscape for all to enjoy.

Phil Tutschek Cindy Pilkington

Secret Garden Landscape Award

Above left, a mixture of Agave, Dusty Miller, Blue My Mind, Thai plants, Ligustrum shrubs, miniature Mexican Petunias and large Mexican Petunias, and yellow blooming Thryallis.At left, plantings are comprised of Creeping Rosemary, Ice plants, Crowne of Thorns, Red Oleander, Texas Sage, variegated Snake plant, Blue My Mind, Ginger, Ligustrum shrub, and a lovely blue garden gazing globe. Above, Clarence and Sally Metzger receiving the Secret Garden Award from Nancy Marikos.

Colorful, lush landscape that is very tolerant of the afternoon sun. Lovely bowl collection of various succulents near front door.

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The Safety of the residents in Marsh Creek is the number one priority of the Safety and Security Committee. Many articles have been written about vehicular prob-lems in Marsh Creek but residents need to know things they can do to avoid being struck by one. Unfor-tunately, the developer built the roads with consideration for only vehicles. The roads are narrow and no room was allotted for bicyclists,

walkers, runners, or dog walkers. Fortunately, we have never had anyone struck by a vehicle but we have had many close calls. Here is a list of things residents can do to reduce the probability of being struck by a vehicle.

• The number one tip for everyone other than bicy-clists is to walk facing the oncoming traffic. You can then pay attention to the driver and step out of their way if it becomes apparent they are not paying attention to you.

• Bicyclists should travel in the same direction as the traffic. This is the law but studies have shown that a bicy-

clist is 3.6 times more likely to be involved in a collision if bicycling against the traffic. One of the reasons for this is because motorists normally scan for traffic traveling in the lawful direction, wrong-way traffic is easily over-looked.

• All individuals should wear bright or reflective cloth-ing at all times. At night a personal safety flashing light should be used. There are all types of these lights and they can be purchased at running and bicycling stores or online.

• There should be no side by side walking, bicycling, or dog walking. This takes up more room on the road and significantly increases the possibility of a collision.

• Dog walkers should make sure they are not using too much leash so the dogs don’t wander out into the roadway.

• Those walking and bicycling should try to use less traveled roads. I routinely walk and have noticed by using roads closer to the intracoastal the number of vehicles that pass me is reduced by 50%.

Hopefully, by following these guidelines we can reduce the possibility of a resident being struck by a vehicle.

Safety in the Streets

Rick Johnson

We had rain 3 days in July totaling 0.82 inches.

July rainfall was less than last year’s and less than the 90 year average. Rainfall total for this year is more than last year’s and less than the 90 year average. This report is available on our Community web site (MCOA.us). To have this report sent to your email each month contact alexm20j@gmail.com.

Rainfall Report

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Pat and I have been to many historical old homes around the country. We particularly like the later Victorian (1880 - 1900) and the Edwardian style houses (1900 - 1915) with the high ceilings and porches on all four sides. In the days before air conditioning, life was lived on those porches, whichever side was in the shade, with the win-dows open to catch any breeze. We noticed that many of those porches had their ceilings painted a sky blue which the tour guides said was to give the feeling of being out in the open while under cover. One gentlemen guide added that he thought the blue ceilings fooled the mud dauber wasps into thinking it was the sky and open to rain so they

built their nests in somebody else’s porch. After battling the dauber cases on the ceiling of our front entry for ten years we finally had that ceiling painted sky

blue and for the last few years we have fooled all but one wasp! If you have been fighting the same battle I suggest you buy a quart of sky blue paint and apply it. Because no one will see that ceiling except you and your guests the ARB will not need to be notified.

By Harry Metz, ARB Committee Member

In a recent conversation with my yard service insect control technician I mentioned that the ARB has been getting many applications to put in paver driveways. I asked him if tearing out the old concrete slabs and putting down a bed of sand for the pavers would create a termite highway right up to the house. He said YES and added that any time the termite barrier around the house is disrupted the termite risk is greatly increased and this includes major replacement of landscaping plants and shrubs. Plus, with the barrier disrupted by the plant removal, any termites in the new plant root bundles can become a problem. One ARB Member checked his Termite Insurance Policy and it states that any major disruption must be reported in order to maintain the policy coverage. If you have put in a paver driveway or done major landscape replace-ment or are contemplating doing so it would probably be worth checking with your company. Florida Pest Control told me they will spray the area for no additional charge to their clients.

Harry Metz, ARB Committee Member

Mud dauber wasps and who knew?

A Termite Concern Mud dauber Contributed

Summertime and Creekers are on the move! North to cool off, abroad for the fun, or just a getaway weekend to relax - traveling, tour-ing, cruising and just going someplace else seems to be thing to do. Back home from a trip

to Polynesia and the South Pacific (no, no, don’t run away, I’m not going to show you any pic-tures) it was fun to sit around with friends and laugh about some of our past travel adventures. It occurred to us that perhaps we should develop a guide for future generations so that they could benefit from our collective wisdom. Here are a few excerpts that can turn your travels into a real adventure:

• Compare and Contrast - when abroad, it’s not a good idea to tell your hosts that what you have back home in Wherever, Ohio, is a lot better than what you’re seeing in front of you. Parisians particularly get a bit testy when you make these comparisons and in true Gallic fashion may quietly respond “Vous cretin!”

• Learn the Language – It’s always good to learn a few words of the native tongue when visiting another country. The locals love it and it can prove very useful; my favorites are: “Where are the western toilets” and “You want HOW much?”

• Gifting – Friends and family always like to receive a little gift or token when you return - just don’t make it too little. Think of it as compensation for having them sit there and listen to you go on and on about how wonder-ful it was in Bora Bora. Our recommendations: women prefer anything that looks like jewelry, men like sharks teeth, blow pipes and anything made out of wood, and kids love anything but a lousy tee shirt.

• Packing – Everybody knows about Noah’s Ark but nobody tells you what this guy had to go through packing for the trip. Originally, the Ark was intended to hold Noah’s family, a few chickens and a couple of pets. One day while Noah was hammering away, he asked Mrs. Noah what she wanted to take with her. She said “two of everything”. “EVERYTHING!” he howled. “Well, darling, really two of everything - in case

something gets wet I’ll have something to wear for dinner.” Apocryphal, yes – but you get the point: ask first before you start hammering.

• Dress Code – When you’re out touring, it’s a good idea wear a pair of new white sneakers, a fanny pack and a big floppy hat so that the locals know who you are; and, if you do happen to get lost, they’ll know where you came from and how to get back there.

• Culinary Misadventures – Despite all the blather about the wonders of tasting exotic na-tive cuisine, generally you’ll find that this stuff doesn’t look good, smell good or taste good, and if you eat too much of it you can really hurt yourself. OK, OK, I know - perhaps that’s a little over the top - but unless you’re gastroenterolo-gist or a pathological Foodie the wise thing to do is EAT AMERICAN – your stomach will love you for it!

• The Tourist Shuffle – When walking in a group, it is important to slow down so that you don’t run over the people ahead of you and hurt someone. The way to do this is to learn how to shuffle; it’s easy and you can even practice at home. It’s sort of like sleep-walking except you have to drag your feet without lifting them off the ground. A word about safety: Never text while shuffling!

• The Friendly Skies – Commercial airlines are continuing to work closely with airport personnel and the TSA to find new ways to punish the traveling public. This year’s winner is Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Making connections there, or more aptly stated making disconnec-tions there, is a lot like watching that guy come back from the dead in the movie “Revenant”; it’s a good idea to bring along a bed roll, some bottled water and Sterno to cook your food, so you that by the time you get through security you’ll still be alive.

• In Sickness or Health – Medical care abroad can be – ahhh, how you say in English - a bit dicey. If you do have the misfortune to get sick or injured in a foreign country, immediately make it clear to the medical staff that you do not wish to be bled and you prefer anesthetic to biting down on a leather strap. Also, a word of caution: some of these doctors also have a degree in Small Engine Repairs, so it’s not a bad idea to point out that DW40 should never be sprayed on an open wound.

Ed Connolly

Who Says You Can’t Take It with You?

Gotta run now, folks - but I’d like to leave you with the words of a fellow who also loved to travel:

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do”

-Mark Twain

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All of you have probably seen Paul Vertuoso at one time or another. He works the main gate two days a week, 3-11, and vary-ing shifts on the north gate 3 days per week. He is off on Sundays and Mondays. Paul was born in Long Island NY and at the age of 13 his family moved to Margate Fl. His family had a janitorial type business and Paul worked there while attending Coconut Creek

High School. After graduation he continued to work in the family business but eventually started his own auto detailing business. Paul decided to find more stable work and that is what lead him to the security business. In 1980, he worked security at a hospital and that is where he met his wife, a registered nurse, and they were mar-ried in 1982. Four years after that they a beautiful baby

Paul Vertuoso

Rick Johnson

Meet your security officersgirl and their family life began. They eventually moved to Port St Lucie and Paul worked security at various gated communities and his wife continued her career as a registered nurse. The family lived there for 13 years and Paul supplemented the family income by working two jobs, security at gated communities and various positions at Publix.

After his daughter was accepted to college at UNC Ashville. Paul and his wife decided to move to that area to be close to their daughter and for a change in scenery. Paul worked security in a local plant and his wife contin-ued to work as a registered nurse. Their daughter gradu-ated with a degree in chemistry and a minor in math. They visited St Augustine on a vacation and decided they enjoyed it so much they would like to move here. So after 10 years in North Carolina they moved to St Augustine in 2014.

Paul immediately got a job with United American Se-

curity and has been working in Marsh Creek for 2 years. His wife retired when they moved here and their daugh-ter also moved with them and is currently employed in the area. We are so fortunate to have such a professional and dedicated family man working for us here in Marsh Creek.

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One of the many benefits of living in our beautiful Marsh Creek com-munity is the diversity of its residents. People have moved here from all over the country, have widely varied backgrounds and are unique in many ways. Bill and Elaine Kopf are two of our unique and accomplished neighbors. Bill and Elaine have lived in Marsh Creek for about thirteen years. During that time, both have

given countless hours to the Marsh Creek and St. Augus-tine communities and have accomplished a great deal. More about these most recent years to follow, but first a bit about how these special people got to our part of the world...

Bill and his brother were raised in Cleveland, Ohio. A graduate of The Ohio State University and the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, Bill joined IBM in 1969 in Kingston, New York, retiring for the first time in 2003, and again in 2014 after multiple executive consul-tant assignments with IBM. Elaine is from Bergen County, New Jersey, and has two sisters. Elaine is a graduate of UCLA with a degree in Business Administration. She joined IBM in New York City in 1968, retiring in 2003.

Together for twenty six years, the Kopf family also includes son Bill, Jr., who resides in Atlanta with wife, Gina, and daughter Megan and husband, Britt, of New York City. Bill, Jr. is an Information Technology sales VP with Adamant Technologies. Megan, a VP for NBC’s To-day Show, recently became a first-time mom to grandson William Clark Stackhouse. (Being proud grandparents, chances are good that a picture or two just might be on their phones!)

IBM was the workplace “home” for Elaine and Bill for several years. Both worked all over the country and world in a variety of executive positions. Bill’s forte was finance while Elaine’s was marketing. Elaine knew of Bill because as she puts it “He turned me down for money to finance new marketing projects all the time”. Bill contends it wasn’t personal - that he turned everyone down! They met on an airplane while flying for business, when Elaine in-

vited Bill to sit next to her. The rest, as they say, is history.Bill had many executive assignments at IBM but one

involved a fifteen month stint in Paris. He noticed that the famous Cordon Bleu school was near his office. Since they were a customer, Bill asked if he could observe prepara-tions and was informed that one must be formally invited. Shortly after returning to his office a courier stopped by and delivered his invitation to study the culinary arts. To this day, Bill uses what he learned at the Cordon Bleu to prepare many of their meals. Elaine “accessorizes” with vegetables, salad and table decorations.

During Elaine’s thirty five years with IBM, she, too, handled a variety of executive positions and project launches for a variety of products and developed market-ing plans for the sales organization. She created the adver-tisement campaign for the IBM PC Junior, the company’s first launch into the personal computer market. She trav-eled internationally, including trips to Japan, to establish IBM’s new market in that part of the world. While travel-ing and living internationally, Elaine found time to ski the slopes of Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria and Italy.

While both were working in Boca Raton, Bill had a sailboat and taught Elaine how to sail. Elaine became the chief navigator, mastering the skills of reading charts and setting courses. Their sailing and personal partnership con-tinued when they transferred to Raleigh, North Carolina. While there, they renovated two sailboats on weekends. In fact, they were living aboard one of the boats when they retired in 2003. At that time, Bill and Elaine’s boat was in Oriental, NC, known as the sailing capital of North Caro-lina, a town of 800 people and 3,000 sailboats. For twelve years, they had gone to the boat every weekend, and had met many friends, so when they decided to marry, they invited the whole town. And, just about everyone came! They filled three waste cans with ice and champagne, exchanged vows on the dock, and sailed away! The Kopfs lived aboard their sailboat for about a year, and sailed to the Keys, Bahamas, and other destinations. They would stop by Bill’s parents in Palm Coast from time to time. They hadn’t at that point thought of settling in St. Augus-tine but found Marsh Creek and the lot they purchased on Summer Bay. At that time, the farthest one could drive in

that area of Marsh Creek was the start of Summer Bay and Wandering Lakes. Bill and Elaine lived on their boat while the house was being built. Bill states that “We would stop off to talk with the builder. Elaine would make a bunch of changes. Then, we’d sail away”.

Once officially back on land, both Bill and Elaine started volunteering their time and energies to a variety of community organizations. Elaine co-chaired several Galas for Limelight Theatre, and most recently co-chaired the Flagler Hospital Foundation Gala. She became President of the Marsh Creek Women’s Association, and created the Outreach Program for the organization. She has volunteered at Flagler Hospital in a variety of capacities, and is currently a Patient Enrichment Volunteer. Elaine’s smile becomes very bright when she talks of the mentor-ing she is currently doing for two young adult females who are beginning business careers. One of the mentees is in St. Augustine, while the other is in New York City. Meanwhile, Bill has been active in the healthcare arena. He is Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors of Flagler Hospital. He has been a Board Member for several years and is currently Chair of the Information Technology Committee of the Board, and is also Board Member of the Flagler Healthcare Foundation. In addition, he is a Board Member of Coastal Community Health, Inc., an affiliation of Flagler Hospital, Baptist Hospitals of Jacksonville, and Southeast Georgia Hospital System in Brunswick, GA.

When not giving back to the community, Bill and Elaine continue to enjoy a variety of activities. Bill is an avid and accomplished skeet shooter. He also enjoys tennis, and manages the Marsh Creek Men’s Senior “A” league team, which competes throughout northeast Florida. Elaine continues her love of cycling, although these days confines her pursuits to “the compound” rather than the over-the-road cycling of years past. The Kopfs are looking forward to an upcoming family reunion in Califor-nia, and one of many trips to New York City to visit with their new grandchild.

Bill and Elaine are examples of the accomplished neigh-bors we are so fortunate to have, and of the kind of people who truly have a “passion for giving”.

Bill & Elaine Kopf

Bill and Elaine Kopf - A Successful Business Couple with a Passion for Giving

Kathleen Carroll

By Kathleen Carroll

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When the furnace was turned on this summer, it wasn’t meant to be this hot! Our friends left for cooler climes with low humidity months ago, so what are the rest of us to do? Mountains, streams with elevated vis-tas are hard to find here, so Floridians head to the closest cool spot.

Up the road an easy day’s journey (skipping Atlanta) is Asheville, N.C.

Two thousand feet above sea level, a mild temperature take’s the edge off a long summer day with scenery meant to be explored and places to experience. The areas rapid growth from small town county seat to a modern city, counting a half million residents in a five county area, speaks of the popularity of western Carolina. Fortunately much remains in the central downtown district; one can find examples of Neo-Gothic and Georgian and Roman-esque Revival style structures that make up the most extensive collection of early twentieth century architecture in the state.

Known for the George Vanderbilt’s 8,000 acre estate, the Biltmore House overlooks part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in a lush valley where the French Broad River runs nearby. A world renowned heritage property, the Vanderbilt estate is a reminder of another visionary, who had a grand picture for St. Augustine. Wander the formal and informal gardens designed by renowned landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmstead surrounding the estate. Take in more than 250 varieties of roses alongside color-ful annuals and perennials, you won’t be disappointed. Blooming now are summer annuals, native rhododendron with chrysanthemums and salvias coming in August-Sept. For oenophiles, don’t miss the estate winery, known for its excellent portfolio of wines. Along with the North Carolina Arboretum just south of Asheville, recognized for its own beautiful gardens and trails reflecting Western Carolina nature and culture; there’s plenty to stoke your inner nature at either destination.

Western Carolina has many art galleries to explore, yet to get a feel for the rich heritage of the southern arts and crafts, visit the Southern Highlands Craft Guild. (http://www.southernhighlandguild.org/shops-and-fairs/store-locations/).

Formed in 1930, today it represents about a thousand craftspeople from nine southeastern states making it one of the strongest craft guilds in America. Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands is October 20th thru the 24th;

John Sykes

GETAWAYS:

Sliding Rock

offering crafts selling their works of clay, fiber, glass, leather, wood, natural materials and jewelry. There are four locations one can visit the Asheville area. There are many gifted artist, sculptures, pottery makers and woodworkers throughout the area to visit, just pick your passion.

Don’t forget to get outdoors and enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains, its valleys and vistas ripe for exploring. There are plenty of opportunities whichever way you’re going from Asheville. Eight miles from Brevard in the Pisgah National Forest is Sliding Rock, a natural waterslide fueled by eleven thousand gallons of water a minute flowing over a smooth downward sloping boulder to a pool at the bot-tom. Slide down into 60 degree water or choose to observe why generations have enjoyed Sliding Rock for years. The Blue Ridge Parkway south from Asheville, thru Pisgah Na-tional offers scenic pull offs and points of interest on the

way there, and to Looking Glass Falls both on U.S. 276. Would you rather see grand vistas instead? Head

northeast toward Blowing Rock from Asheville, visiting mountain towns along the way. Black Mountain, Montreat with a plan on visiting Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak in mainland eastern North America. At 6688 ft; the ascent of Mount Mitchell is now rather easy since a 4.6-mile road (NC 128) off the historic and scenic Blue Ridge Parkway runs nearby, and a 980-foot trail leads through a conifer forest to the summit.

Anyone who has visited or lived in western Carolina understands the timeless nature of mountains, verdant forest, and other forces of nature, creating a destination worthy of discovering. Too much to mention, yet easy enough to plan a visit at your own leisurely pace that fits your style. Have fun.

On the Road to North Carolina

The Biltmore House

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• NEW YORK TO JOHANNESBURG - DAY 1Almost 15 hours on an Airbus 340. We fly mostly in darkness as the earth rotates easterly. The night seems to pursue us. I stop wishing for sleep. That will not come for nearly 16 more hours. • JOHANNESBURG TO CAPE TOWN - DAY 2Finally the sun reappears as we fly over the western coast of South Africa. Africa spreads out beneath us, its seemingly endless landscapes tinged in shades of tan and brown, occasionally crisscrossed by rivers, mountain ranges and roads. Southern Africa has been suffering beneath a prolonged drought that has impacted many of the species we have traveled to observe. As we land in Jo’Burg, I think of the man-made drought of freedom that most of the people in this country suffered under the op-pression of Apartheid. It’s funny how often I find myself experiencing mixed emotions when I travel. While one can travel unencumbered by historical awareness, ideally it is much better to return home with at least some enhance-ment of that awareness. Like many major international airports, Johannesburg is a vast maze. Finding our gate for our connection to Cape Town taxes our already weary bodies, particularly bodies unable to sleep on airplanes. Fortunately, the adrenalin kicks in, coupled with the curiosity and excitement of seeing new places. Cape Town possess one of the most spectacular settings of any city in the world. Situated on a magnificent coastline, with spectacular Table Mountain as a backdrop, this is an incredibly charming city with all the amenities one would expect in any world class city. Once checked into our hotel, we set out to explore the native markets, historical sites such as the Company Gardens, and the church where Desmond Tutu served as Archbishop. For the most part, the city is very clean and safe — unlike what can be said of Johannesburg. • CAPE TOWN AND STELLENBOSCH - DAY 3Early in the morning we set out for the cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain. It is a bright day with few clouds. Here there are views unrivaled anywhere in the world. This unique cable car features a revolving deck within the outer hull of the gondola, providing a 360 panorama during the ascent and descent. It is autumn in the southern hemisphere; chill winds blow across the landscape at over 3500 feet altitude, but we are reluctant to descend; there are just so many spectacular views of the city, the sea, and the nearby peaks of Lion’s Head and Devil’s Peak. The rest of the morning entails a tour of the city including the beautiful waterfront, and Bo-Kaap, the old Malay quarter that originally was established for the slaves brought by the Dutch from Malaysia. Our guide provides us with a detailed history of Cape Town from the first arrival of white Europeans, specifically the Portuguese explorers, Diaz and da Gama, to the arrival of the Dutch and British, and eventually to the period of apartheid and

the rise of Mandela. We then head east toward Stellen-bosch and the Winelands where some of the best wines in the world are produced. Stellenbosch is an idyllic and pristine university town as well as the focal point for South Africa’s wine produc-tion. The small town is very upscale with high-end shops and boutiques, excellent restaurants, and a plethora of art galleries featuring a wide variety of styles and media, including native South Afri-can art. Later we drive to a local vineyard for a wine and chocolate sampling. Here in this quaint pastoral world it is hard to imagine the streets of District 6 and of Soweto outside of J-Burg which are still a few days in our future.• TO THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AND BACK - DAY 4The ride south to the Cape of Good Hope along Chap-man’s Peak Drive is one of the most spectacular scenic highways in the world. The Drive winds its way along the cliff-side, high above the gleaming Atlantic coast, through gorgeous panoramas, in and out of numerous man-made tunnels, and through some of the most expensive real estate in South Africa. We stop along the way for a boat ride to Duiker Island, the habitat of a very large colony of seals. Our drive continues to the Cape of Good Hope for a photo op. Then we head on to Cape Point where we ascend on the funicular railway to enjoy more incred-ible scenery. After lunch in a small beach side town we spend time at Boulder Beach with a colony of penguins who seem pretty much indifferent to us, probably because many of the males seem for some reason to be more interested in the female members of the colony. Before returning to Cape Town we visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens one of the true gems of West Cape for nature lovers. • WEST CAPE AND THE APARTHEID LEGACY - DAY 5This day takes us to some of the sites of South Africa’s grimmer past. European colonialism has left deep ugly scars in far too many places throughout the world, and like it or not, and whether we are aware of it or not, the sinister ripples left by slavery, oppression, exploitation, greed, human cruelty, appalling ignorance, base hypocrisy, colossal stupidity, and pervasive indifference have left ugly scars not just on our physical world but in the hearts and minds of mankind. No apologies, no contrition, no amount of pious prayer, no reparations can atone for the heinous sins and murderous crimes committed through-out human history. Apartheid was a recent development in human history, becoming official policy in South Africa in1948; a policy even more inexcusable in the 20th Century, particularly after the Holocaust in Nazi Germa-ny. It would be naive to think people learn from history,

or to think the past doesn’t matter, or to think human decency will ultimately prevail. Look at the marvels of hu-man achievement, seek to honor and protect that which is good and true, but ignore history at your peril. On this day we walk through District 6; rather the empty lots that used be District 6. We walk through the townships where there is still much poverty and misery. Here the govern-ment is fighting a battle to upgrade housing and living standards. Yet South Africa has a 29 percent unemploy-ment rate. For many people life is only marginally better than when apartheid ended in 1994. In the afternoon we take the boat to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years of his 27 year imprisonment. Days like this are important — lest we forget.• CAPE TOWN TO HAZYVIEW - DAY 6A travel day. We fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Our new guide and driver meet us. We drive for an hour or so before stopping for lunch where we get our first view of big game in a small preserve behind our behind the rest stop, rhinos, cape buffalo, some elephants as well as zebra and giraffes. Then we continue on to Mpumalanga Province and Hazyview just outside one of the world’s premier game parks, Kruger National Park.• KRUGER NATIONAL PARK - DAY 7Early this morning we head out before daylight in open safari vehicles. In a few moments we are at the gate to Kruger. As soon as we drive through it is closed behind us and we are in the bush. This is not a zoo. There are no bars or fences in the park itself. The first creatures we see are a group of hyenas that have come out of the bush and are congregated at the side of the road. They stand there in dim dawning light, seemingly unperturbed by our presence. In reality the animals have become accustomed to the sound of the motors and the rattling of the jeeps. They have no awareness of us in the vehicle. By the time the sun is peeking over the horizon, we are able to see im-

A South African TourBy Bill Thomsen

Near Chapman’s Peak

Mandela’s Cell - Robben Island

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arshcreekpala, zebra, giraffes and warthogs, the first of the Big Five, a group of cape buffalo. The Big Five includes: lions, leop-ards, elephants, and rhinos as well as cape buffalo. By the end of our morning safari, only the leopard has eluded us. Later we get to see firsthand how African elephants are tamed and trained; a process that is remarkably gentle, un-like the brutal methods visited upon the Asian elephants in places like India.

• HAZY VIEW TO KARONGWE - DAY 8Today we head for Karongwe , a private game preserve in Limpopo Province, where we will spend two days in Chi-simo Safari Lodge. The drive takes us through Blyde River Canyon, which though not nearly as large as The Grand Canyon, nevertheless is studded with incredible vistas. It is also very reminiscent of the Blue Mountains in Austra-lia. We arrive at Chisimo in time for lunch before setting out for our first game drive in Karongwe. The preserve teems with wildlife; huge herds of elephants, numerous li-ons, a group of rhinos who stubbornly block our advance the rugged dirt roads. At sunset we pull into a clearing. The western sky is turning orange and red. Here in the vast stillness of the bush we sip wine and nibble on hors d’oeuvres, unaware of what might be watching us from the bush. I am reminded of the isolation of the Australian Outback where we once dined under a star-studded night sky a thousand miles from nowhere. Here we are discon-nected from almost everything we know, yet in some weird way it is both strange and familiar at the same time. You cannot forget Africa after being here in this moment. A piece of Africa is inside you, and you will take it wher-

ever you go as long as there is breath in your body. I grew up thinking of the world as something outside of me. But now I carry it inside me and it is a joy.• KARONGWE - DAY 9Two more game drives today. We head out in the morning to explore a different part of the preserve. More animals, many species previously unknown to us such as Kuda and Gemsbok. There are more huge herds of Impala. We come upon a mixed group of zebra and wildebeest; two species that have banded together for mutual protection. Yet the leopard still eludes us. After lunch we head out again in heavy drenching rains. Our tracker sits out on a seat in front of the vehicle. As he has done on each of our other forays, he reads the trails of hoof prints and droppings which help him guide the driver. On the radio we hear of some leopard sightings and we begin circling on the trails moving in a tightening spiral as our driver communicates with other drivers. There is only a light drizzle now. It is getting near dusk. In a half hour it will be dark and then suddenly on our right two leopards in the bush. But they are on the move. Then they are gone in the underbrush. In Africa, they say you don’t find leopards; they find you. But that is obviously a generalization. The picture here I did not take. It was given to me by one of our traveling companions whose vehicle came upon it about 5 minutes before we arrived.

• KARONGWE TO JOHANNESBURG - DAY 10After breakfast and settling our bills, we set out on our return to Jo’Burg. We take lunch in a well-known res-taurant, Harries Pancakes. This is a long travel day. It is almost dusk when we arrive at our hotel in Johannesburg where we get specific advice about remaining in the hotel and in the immense shopping mall which adjoins it. I have known for years from others who have been here or visited here, that this advice is well worth heeding.• KARONGWE TO JOHANNESBURG - DAY 11We tour the downtown of Jo’Burg by bus. We don’t get off the bus. We stop only for traffic lights. This is prob-ably the only city in the world that I have been in and did not sightsee on foot as well. Later, when we tour the more affluent neighborhoods the reality of life here becomes even more stark. Here the homes, in some cases mansions, are surrounded by high walls, iron gates, electrified fences and state of the art security systems. It is abundantly clear there are two South Africas and that the divide between them is embodied in steel and concrete. The afternoon takes us to Soweto and to the Apartheid Museum. We see streets where school children were shot to death by the

police. Yet Soweto actually seems to be in the process of contradicting some of what I said earlier. Soweto (SOuth WEst TOwnship) is undergoing a truly remarkable renais-sance. There are actually paved streets, well-kept homes, late model cars in driveways, and small manicured lawns and gardens. In the center of the section we visited was a rather substantial modern shopping mall. But we only saw a tiny bit of the township which covers 90 square miles. Our tour also took us to Mandela’s old home in Soweto and the home he lived in while he was president. • JOHANNESBURG TO VICTORIA FALLS - DAY12We take a mid-morning flight to Victoria Falls in Zimba-bwe on the border with Zambia. • VICTORIA FALLS - DAY 13I will let the pictures of the Falls speak for themselves. A word of caution. If you ever decide to visit Victoria Falls, be prepared to get soaked — there is no way to avoid it. The spray from the Falls spreads over the entire area in a dense and very humid mist. After our drenching, courtesy of the Zambezi River, we walk across the bridge to view the Falls from the Zambia side. However, we forgo the opportunity to bungie jump off of the bridge. In early eve-ning we take a boat ride on the Zambezi, where we enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres while we watch groups of hippos playing as the sun sets on the river.• VICTORIA FALLS TO CHOBE LODGE, BOTSWANA - DAY 14We are heading west to the Botswana border where a guide will meet us to drive us to Chobe Lodge on the Chobe River, a tributary of the Zambezi. Chobe is a magnificent structure situated right at the river’s edge. At this point the river flows between Botswana and Namibia on its way toward the Zambezi. We board a pontoon boat and spend the remainder of the morning cruising the river. The river seems to abound with hippos. On the shore of the river and on the many islands, scores of crocodiles lay idly in the sun. We see several large groups of elephants come down to the shore, wade into the river, and swim to the various islands to forage in the vegeta-tion. At one point near the river bank, we come upon the large and partially devoured carcass of a cape buffalo. There are several vultures perched up in the branches. Along the river there is also a wide variety of bird species, especially eagles. Back at the lodge we have our lunch, and then set out on a game drive. Once again we follow a maze of trails through the preserve, encountering giraffes, kudu, and endless impalas, among others. At one point we come upon the carcass of the cape buffalo we had seen earlier from the river. But now two lionesses are busy tearing at the flesh of the unfortunate creature, and we are reminded that scenes like this are repeated endlessly in nature as every creature struggles to survive. Frequently the choice is find a meal or be a meal.• VICTORIA FALLS TO JOHANNESBURG - DAY 15We leave Zimbabwe and fly back to Jo’Burg where we have a several hour lay-over before boarding our flight to JFK. There is a long night ahead.• NEW YORK - DAY 16If you don’t have Global Entry, get it. It’s more than worth it.

Road Block

Cape Buffalo

Elephant Training – Hazyview

Where’s His Pride

The Elusive Leopard

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First, I want to apologize. I erred. Imagine! The title for our May book by Lauren Belfer is A Fierce Radi-ance....not Balance. Thanks, Harry, for setting me straight. Secondly, I did not read Goldfinch. Why, you ask. Because I mistakenly

downloaded the audio version and did not wish to disturb my friend by listening to it. Instead, I read a delightful book, The Rosie Project by Graeme Simston. The protagonist Don Tillman, a brilliant geneticist who also has Asperger’s, is the narrator. To see the story unfold through his perspective had me giggling, albeit quietly. The project is to discover which of several men is Rosie’s biological father. How Don and Rosie actually collect the DNA samples needed is often hysterical. Now, I just have to read the sequel, The Rosie Effect.

The June book for my Raymond book club was Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat. Although it received a 3.6 rating at Good Reads, I felt so-so about it. A story about the intertwined lives of the inhabitants of a small coastal town on Haiti at first confused this reader as it jumps around from year to year and character to char-acter. About halfway through I began to see how these vignettes intersect and connect to one anoth-er, told with piercing lyricism and the economy of a fable, Claire of the Sea Light is a tightly woven, breathtaking tapestry that explores what it means to be a parent, child, neighbor, lover, and friend. This book is all that and more, but I would say women will enjoy it more than men.

For fun, I read The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure and then gave it to my granddaughter who devoured it in one day. Yes, another book about the German occupation of Paris, very absorbing! Lucien Bernard, a young architect, wants to practice his trade, but no Frenchman is building anything in these dire times. Then he meets Auguste Manet, a French industrialist, who appears to be collaborating with the Germans and who entices Lucien to design a munitions factory for the enemy, which will, in turn, be built by Manet’s own crews. If Lucien will design unique hiding places in Manet’s many residences for much sought-after Jews, he will not only be paid well for his ingenuity but also receive the com-missions that will launch his career. Lucien knows how dangerous this assignment is but doing it will open doors that have hitherto been shut. I won’t spoil the intrigue by giving you more details, but I urge you to read it yourselves. You won’t regret it.

I was captivated by the next book I read, The

Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore. It is important that you know and understand that this book is REAL, perhaps more real than is comfortable. Two black boys are born in Baltimore, both are father-less (one abandoned, one by an untimely death), both poor, both bright but apathetic students; yet, one became a Rhodes Scholar, a White House Fellow, a success, and the other, a grandfather at 33, is serving a life sentence in prison. How could this happen? Yet, it does, all too often. It’s easy for us to lay all the blame on the incarcerated one’s life choices, but I urge you to read this book and really think about what helped one and what hurt the other. Then I urge you to ask yourself if you have ever been actively involved in helping kids like these; key word here is “actively”.

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George is beautifully translated by Simon Pare. The book-shop is a barge, moored on the Seine in Paris. Known as a “Literary Apothecary” Jean Perdu is the “pharmacist” dispensing books to suit the ills of the purchaser. Often he will not sell the book initially requested by the “patient” but will foist a different title onto the customer, one better suited to him/her. But Jean has led a non-existence for 21 years, ever since his lover Manon left him. One day he simply unhitches the barge and takes off down France’s many canals. Joining him on this journey is Max Jordan, a young bestselling author suffering from writer’s block, and Salvo Cuneo, chef extraordinaire, on a quest, but for what? Not for what he claims, the reader discovers. I simply loved this book and cannot recommend it highly enough. I longed to be on that barge! The books! The scenery! The culinary delights!

Are you aware that Flagler College is involved in a Florida Heritage Book Festival from Sept. 15th through the 17th? It will be held at the Ringhaver Student Center on campus. There will be workshops, presentations, readings, and also a daily Marketplace with lots of books for sale. If you love books the way I do, please join this celebration of the written word. For more informa-tion, go to Augustine.com/Florida Heritage Book Festival. I will be marginally involved, so see you there.

Remember, our first book club meeting, chaired by Betsy Yeomans and led by Harry Metz, is at 7 PM. In the Men’s Card Room on Sept. 7th. We will discuss Catherine the Great by Robert K Massie, a non-fictional story about the famous tsarina. It is purported to be a really good book, on the shelf behind my bed just waiting for me to get started. As the song goes, “See you in September”.

Marty Round

The Bespectacled Reader

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With the heat and humidity of summer months, there’s no doubt that it can be uncomfortable for us and our pets. Below are some helpful tips in keeping your pets safe, know-ing the signs of heat stress and what you can do for your pets before seek-ing veterinarian care.

• Never leave your pets in the car, not even for a minute. Even if the windows are cracked, or the air conditioning is running, temperatures can still rise quickly and put pets at risk of serious illness or death. For example, on an 85 degree day the temperature inside a car with the windows slightly opened can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature can reach 120 degrees.

• Did you know skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in dogs and the second-most com-mon form in cats? Even though fur provides some protection, there are sunscreens specifically made for cats and dogs, such as Epi-Pet Sun Protector Sunscreen, which should be applied to your pet’s least hair-covered spots. Ingredients such as zinc oxide can be toxic to pets, so be sure to check with your veterinarian to ensure the brand of sunscreen you have is safe for pets.

• On hot & humid days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours. Some breeds of dogs (boxers, pugs, etc.) and cats with short muzzles will have a much harder time breathing in extreme heat. Remember that hot pavement can injure your pet’s paws. Try this quick tip: Place the back of your hand on the pavement, and if you can’t hold it for five seconds, then it’s too hot to walk your dog. Have drinking water on hand for your dog(s) when walking them. The Top Paw Travel Pet Water Bottle is perfect for taking along on walks and is easy to use. It’s available at PetSmart for approximately $5.99 - $6.99.

Knowing the signs of heat stress: Signs of heat stress are similar for both cats and dogs, and include: heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breath-ing, excessive thirst, diarrhea, leathery, dizziness, and a deep red or purple tongue.

What you can do for your pet: If your pet is showing

signs of heat stress, do not place them in ice cold water, which can put them into shock. Instead, move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply cold towels to head, neck and chest or run cool (not cold) water over your pet. Let them drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.

Knowing your pets temperature can be very helpful and can be determined by using an ear thermometer, which is just as accurate as and less invasive than a rectal thermometer. Speak with your veterinarian for the best way and proper technique in taking your pet’s tempera-ture.

• Temperature ranges for Dogs and Cats100 - 103 normal to slightly elevated104 - 105 elevated and requires evaluation by a veterinarian.106+ potentially life threatening and requires immediate veterinarian care.

Hopefully, these suggestions will be helpful to keep your pets in the best of health during these hot days.

Leslie LeBeau is the owner Home Tenders, and has been pro-viding pet sitting and away-from-home services to Marsh Creek residents for over 15 years. Her recommendations are on Neil’s list and Leslie can be reached at (904) 540-3414.

Protecting Your Pets From Heat Stress

Leslie LeBeau

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After taking us to Paris last season, First Coast Opera now em-barks on a completely different journey. Beginning with Mario Lanza – Hollywood Tenor,

FCO explores the brief, shining career of iconic American tenor and heartthrob, Mario Lanza (1921-1959). Hear live performances of selec-tions from his films The Student Price, The Toast of New Orleans, The Great Caruso, and others in the unique “swimming pool” area of The Lightner Museum in downtown Saint Augustine.

• Performance: Friday, October 28th 2016 at 7:30 PM. Open seating: tickets are $35 each ($10 for students).

Then be transported to early 20th century Japan via Madama Butterfly, Gia-como Puccini’s tragic cross-cultural love story, which remains one of the world’s most popular operas. This production will be fully staged and costumed, directed by Helena Binder, with orchestra con-ducted by FCO Artistic Director, Curtis Tucker, at the Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College. Sung in Italian with projected Supertitles in English.

• Two performances: Friday, January 6, 2017 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 2:00pm. Reserved seating: tickets are $40 each ($10 for students).

We conclude with two courtroom satires, directed by Nelson Sheeley ,who staged last season’s La Vie Parisienne, that are sure to leave you smiling. Gilbert and Sullivan’s popular one act comedy, Trial by Jury, is paired with the Florida Premiere of Curtis Tucker’s The Trial of

B.B. Wolf, a new family opera putting the Big Bad Wolf on trial for his well-known mis-chief. Both sung in English, and intended for children and adults of all ages.

• In March, 2017 TBA Tickets for all performances are available on our website FirstCoastOpera.com or by call-ing 904-417-5555 and leaving a brief message.

Meanwhile, I have been attending mar-velous concerts at the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, which this year included Joshua Bell leading the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, The Dallas Symphony, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and The New York Philharmonic. These concerts are held at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, Colorado, a beautiful setting much like our own amphitheater, except with the Rockies as the backdrop, and much cooler temperatures! Then two weeks of ballet, tap, modern, and ball-room dancing during the Vail Internation-al Dance Festival, with Damian Woetzel as Artistic Director (former principal dancer with New York City Ballet). There is also a Jazz Festival running from early July through Labor Day weekend. So much to see and hear—what a great way to spend the summer!

Nancy Perry

First Coast Opera Voices

Mario Lanza

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The 2016-2017 Marsh Creek Women’s Association will officially open on Wednesday, September

14th, at 11:30 AM. The luncheon meeting will take place at Marsh Creek Country Club. This year there are many different and wonderful programs for our mem-bers. Membership is open to any woman belonging to Marsh Creek Country Club. If you have not already joined, please consider becoming a part of this caring and friendly organization. If you have not already done so, bring your checkbooks so you can pay your dues ($25) and ensure your contact information will be pub-lished in our Membership Directory. The theme of the MCWA season is “Jewels”. Those of you in our organiza-tion know that the MCWA is one of the “Jewels of the Creek”. Our leadership hopes each member will take advantage of the many events we plan for your growth, enjoyment, and involvement in our community. This year calendar includes:

• Eight monthly “jewel-themed” luncheons with a variety of programs described below ( an opportunity to “frost yourselves” with your family heirlooms and jewelry favorite ladies)

• Monthly social event outings to local cultural and fun sites

• Two charity fundraisers (November and March) that support our six local charities

• Opportunities to meet new friends, pursue special interest and use your creative talents working on any of our committees including: Outreach, Care, Pro-gram Planning, Social Events, Fundraising Planning,

Membership and DecoratingMCWA 2016-17 Luncheon Programs:

• September 14- Chef David Food Demonstration: “Jewels of the Harvest”: Garnet, Topaz, Amber

• October 12- Dance Performance: “Celebration of Women, Jewels of the Earth”: Birthstones

• November 9- Rosamond Parrish: Interpretation of Lincolnville History through Paintings “Memory Lanes of Inspiration”: Heirlooms, Memorabilia

• December 14- Marsh Creek Bell Choir and Chorale: “Tis the Season to Sparkle”: Crystals, Diamonds, Rhinestones

• January 11- Ann Masters Dramatic Poetry Reading: “The Pearls of St. Augustine”: Pearls, Ivory, Moon-stones

• February 8- Fashion Show from Christe Blue: “Gems and Jewels of the Runway”: Rubies, Emeralds, Sap-phires

• March 8- Murray Middle School Drama Performance: “Jewels of Today, Gems of Tomorrow”: Cameos, Charms, Collections

• April 12- Art Show“Gallery of Expressions: Our Jewel of Finale”: Lockets, Brooches, Pins

Social Committee Chair, Diana Emehiser, has an excit-ing line up of social events for the year! The first event will be a luncheon at the Pena Peck

House (Women’s Exchange) on October 21. Cost-$32 with a $5.00 Coupon redeemable in the Gift Shop. Tickets will go on sale at our September meeting. This event sells out quickly, and is only open to MCWA

members, so remember your checkbooks at the Sep-tember meeting! The first fundraiser of the season, “Flamboyant Fi-

esta” will take place on November 5th at Marsh Creek Country Club from 6 to 10 PM. Event chairs, Nancy Erion and Pattie Nolton, have worked with Chef David, to create a delicious menu with a Mexican flair. Also, there will be signature drinks, raffle baskets, prizes for “costumes”, and Phil Farino’s band for listening and dancing. Great fun for only $50 per per-son. Drop your check in the Fundraiser folder in the Ladies” Locker Room. All for a good cause, support-ing the six charities, The Good Samaritan Wildflower Medical/Dental Clinic, St. Francis House, Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County, St. Augustine Youth Services, Food For Kids, and the Betty Griffin House Sexual Assault Recovery Program. LUNCHEON RSVP Change: Members can RSVP for

the next luncheon from the day of the current luncheon up to 5:00PM the Friday before the luncheon by email-ing Suzanne.ward@clubcorp.com or calling the front desk 904-461-1101 ext 227.

Don’t forget to visit our website often, www.marshcreekwomen.org where you can find what is planned for the 2016-17 season, as well as other important and useful information.Save The Date:September 14th: Luncheon Meeting - Chef David Food DemonstrationOctober 21st: Social Event -Women’s Exchange Luncheon November 5th: Fundraising Event - Flamboyant Fiesta

Debbie Coates, Corresponding Secretary MCWA

Camille Kay

Niner News

Marsh Creek Women’s Association News

Kathy Sampson congratulating Peggy Cutrino on her Birdie achievement

Although the weather has been sizzling, many “Cool Niners” have been

taking to the links. Why? Because we enjoy golf with good friends.

A few new members have joined the Niners for the upcoming season. They are: Audrey Sadler, Karen Malfy, Vicky Topcik, Donna Crandall, and Marietta Bosco. Welcome, Ladies!

Our new Niners Board for the 2016-17 season has been planning extensively for an interesting and challenging year of golfing. Our new officers are:

President: Suzanne BeckVP: Sally CarlsonSecretary: Hilde BerdineTreasurer: Anna Benincasa

Niners are taking time this summer to hone their skills and experiment with some new shots.

Typically, awards for improvement are only given during the official season, however, this summer we made an exception. Peggy Cutrino was recognized by her peers for her perseverance. She made her first Birdie ever so a Birdie pin, a pink visor, and pink balls were presented to her.

Please make a note that Opening Day is Thurs-day, September 8th. We look forward on that day to a Golfing Scramble followed by a luncheon with special decorations. Just getting together as whole group is what we truly anticipate with pleasure! Please consider joining the Niners to be part of the Opening Day festivities.

Questions about joining the Niners? Call Suzanne Beck our President (429 7098) or Pat Lopinto, our Membership Chair, (687-0559) who can answer any questions you may have.

Mary Ann Meyer Birdie Chairperson & Sally Carlson Vice President

Most of the Decorating Committee

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From Our Kitchens

Provided by Louise Zambon NelsonRecipe by Star Pooley

Linguine with Seafood and Sundried Tomatoes

IngredIents:1 pound linguine pasta 1 (8 ounce) jar clam juice1/2 cup olive oil 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley4 cloves garlic, minced 2 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest1 pound bay scallops 1/4 teaspoon salt1 pound medium shrimp - peeled and deveined1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

PreParatIon:• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10

minutes or until al dente; drain.• In a large skillet add the olive oil and butter. Heat until butter is melted. Add the

garlic and saute until tender.• Add the scallops and shrimp. Cook until shrimp is pink, about 10 minutes. Add

clam juice, salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes more.• To the cooked pasta add the tomatoes, parsley and lemon zest, toss. Pour seafood

mixture over the linguini, serve immediately.

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