Shell Point Life December 2008

December 2008Vol. 3 Issue 12

2 Shell Point Life | December 2008

O N T H E C O V E R

Shell Point celebrates the joy of the Christmas season.

Giving Deadline Extended:

Contributions to the Employee ChristmasFund Accepted through December 5

The deadline for contributing to the 2008 EmployeeChristmasGift Fundhas been extended to Friday, December 5. The fund committee hopes that every res-

ident will donate to this year’s fund. Just think of the many employeeswho have cheerfully answered our questions, lent a helping handany time we needed it and helped make our lives great.

Every little bit counts in this fund drive. To help us reach ourgoal, Christmas Fund donation collection boxes will be in place ateach of the two Service Desks for five extra days, allowing for last

minute contributions. Contributors will know they helpedmake the hol-idays brighter for Shell Point’s 800+ employees and their families this Christmas season.

Shell Point Life is published monthly for the resi-dents of Shell Point Retirement Community.

Editor Lynn SchneiderAssistant Editor Rochelle Cherniawski

Art Director Rich CerrinaGraphic DesignerWendy Iverson

ContributorsGene McGonigle, Teri Kollath, Linda Rakos,Robyn Church, Rachael Dula, Carol Cooper,Tom Frackenpohl, Jessica Clark, Mary Franklin,Bev Rademacher, Ted Yeatts, Linda Hicks,

Randy Woods, Tim Stephenson, Jason Powers,Glenda Stephenson, Sue Taylor, Paula Watson,Dawn Boren, Linda Rakos, Phil Steen, ChuckDurrell, Peggy Holton, Nita DeWeese, Phil Hilton

Do you have story ideas or photos to share?Contact Rochelle Cherniawski, communica-tions specialist, by calling 239-454-2055 ore-mail: [email protected] submit suggestions in writing to Rochelle

at the Shell Point Welcome Center.

15101 Shell Point Boulevard • Fort Myers, FL 33908(239) 466-1131 • www.shellpoint.org

Shell Point is a non-profit ministry ofThe Christian and Missionary Alliance Foundation, Inc.

Looking for a more elegant dining engagement?

New Year’s Eve atthe Palm Grill

In addition to the regular dinner menu, the Palm Grill will befeaturing New Year’s Eve specials including shrimp cocktailappetizer ($6.95) and Rack of Lamb ($24.95) for the specialentrée. We will be serving from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with enter-tainment from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The PalmGrill does not acceptreservations. Jazz music will be provided by the Repartee Duo

featuring Daniel Klimoski—a reg-ular at upscale establishments likeRuth’s Chris Steakhouse.

NewYear’s EveParty at theCrystal

Looking for a more casualevening with options galore?Ring in this NewYear with friends and neighbors! Enjoy din-ner at the Crystal complete with their signature spectacularservice on New Year’s Eve! Musical entertainment will beprovided by Patrick Menzies and the High Tide SteelDrummers band amidst a colorful array of decorations.

Music by Patrick Menzies and the High Tide Steel Drummers.

Jazz music will be providedby the Repartee Duo

featuring Daniel Klimoski.

New Year’s

Eve Events for

Everyone!

The 2008 Holiday Shopping Event will fea-ture vendors from all over Southwest Florida

including: Look Like a Million, CookieLee Jewelry, A SwedishAffair, SherylLemonn’s Handbags and Accessories,

Mary Kay, Tastefully Simple, PartyLight, and others.

The Holiday Shopping event will be held onMonday,December 8, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the TheWoodlands.

After shopping, have your packages gift wrappedin the Oak Room for FREE! Plus, the U.S. PostalService Mobile Retail Unit will be on-site from 2 p.m.- 6 p.m. to accommodate your holiday shipping needs!

They will have Christmas stamps for sale andcan help you pack and ship all your Christmas mail

so you don’t have to wait in line at thePost Office or Service Desk!The annual Holiday Shopping Event

is designed to be your one-stop for all yourholiday shopping and shippingneeds.We hope you enjoy this newDecember tradition.

Kick Off the Christmas Seasonwith the Holiday Shopping Event!

Holiday Hapnings

Nowadays, almost everyone associ-ates the Christmas holiday with gifts— giving a gift, receiving a gift, watchingsomeone else delight in a special gift. Thegiving of gifts is an opportunity to show love,appreciation, and caring to another person.

Gift giving traditions vary among dif-ferent families and cultures.Sometimes gifts are tangibleitems, sometimes they are serv-ices rendered, and other timesthey are simply time spent withanother person. It’s no wonderChristmas is associated withgifts. It is the celebration of Godgiving the gift of His Son to aworld desperately in need of redemptionfrom sin and evil.

The Women’s Ministries ChristmasCoffee will explore the timely theme of“Christmas Gifts.” This special event willtake place in theGrand Cypress Room, ofThe Woodlands on Wednesday, December17, at 10:00 a.m.

Charlotte Stemple (Cellana), a newShell Point resident, will share informationabout Christmas gifts from her varied andinternational experiences.

Charlotte and her husband Woody weremissionaries in Central Vietnam for 10 years,followed by 6 years atDalat School in Penang,

Malaysia. Charlotte worked along-side Woody while he served as aPastor, then District Super-intendent of Pastors. She served asboth District and National Presi-dent of Alliance Women. As aspeaker, Charlotte has spokenwidely throughout the UnitedStates and has visited 45 countries!

Shewill bring a unique perspective to this spe-cial morning.

The coffee will also feature a vocal duetand handbell ensemble. Tickets are requiredand can be obtained from the VillageChurch office. Best of all, they are free. Planto make this special coffee a part of yourChristmas celebration! All are welcome.

Char Stemple

Cast Your Sweet Votein the Employees’ GingerbreadHouse Decorating Contest —December 9 - 12

Now that you have cast your vote forall the high-ranking political officials thatwill be running our country, it is time to castthe sweetest vote you will ever make!

The Shell Point Departments will behaving aGingerbreadHouse Contest and weneed your help! The houses will be on dis-play from December 9 through 12 in theRAC — stop by and cast a vote for yourfavorite one! Voting closes at 3 p.m. onDecember 12.Thewinnerswill be announcedshortly thereafter.

Shell Point Life | December 2008 3

Women’s Ministries Christmas Coffee

Christmas GiftsGift Giving Traditions Around the World

Each year Shell Point cre-ates a special wall calendar

for the residents of the community to enjoyand this year the calendar features paintingscreated by residents of the community.

“Creativity is an important element ofthe lifestyle here at Shell Point,” said PeterDys. “Our residents explore various forms ofself-expression through painting, sculpting,pottery, arts and crafts, woodworking, bead-ing, lapidary, and so much more. Many ofthese individuals come to our communitywith fully developed artistic talents and gen-erously share their skills with others. On theother hand, some may be taking the oppor-tunity that retirement brings to explorefor the first timehidden talents thathave yet been undis-covered.”

Shell Point’s ArtDirector, RichCerrinawas able to incorporatetwenty-three paintingsby twenty residentartists into the calendar’sdesign. “This was a funproject to work on,” said Cerrina. “The art-work was very well done and there was such avariety to choose from. Nature played a bigrole in the art,” he said. “Anum-ber of paintings included birds,flowers, and landscapes as resi-dents interpreted the beauty ofthe world around them.”

Such was the case forAugusta Crane of Parkwood,whose painting of peoniescalled Sunny Morn graces thecover of the calendar. Augustareports that she took up paint-ing and watercolors in particu-lar when shewas sidelinedwitha broken foot. “I knew I had tofind something to do while I was recuperat-ing and so I decided to experiment withwatercolors.” To help her get started, Augustatook thewatercolor class taught by Rosemont

resident Phil Hilton. “Hewas great. I learned somuch from him,” shesaid. Phil Hilton has twopaintings featured in thecalendar. One is a palewatercolor that capturesthe Woodlands neigh-borhood perfectly.

Another residentwho didn’t start paintinguntil she came to ShellPoint was Dot Beard ofCellana. Dot’s husband,Ned, was a professional

artist but it neveroccurred toDot to ask him to teachher. Evenafter the couple moved to ShellPoint, Dotwas busywith a num-ber of activities and volunteerprojects. After Ned passedaway, Dot realized that to dealwith her grief she needed tostay busy and keep activelearning new things. She

decided to try her hand at painting and wentto theArt Studio to learn how. Dot’s paintingof white magnolias on a dark backgroundshows the progress she has made in a very

short time.Margaret (Peggy) Richmond

of Sand Dollar featured a beachscene with sea oats blowing in thewind. Peggy painted the scene in theArt Studio using a photograph thatshe had taken at the beach. Sheexplored watercolors in the 1970swhen her husband complained ofthe smell of oil paints! She enjoyscoming down to the Art Studio onTuesday mornings. “I love it,” shesaid as she described the pleasure shegets from taking a brush to canvas.

“I’m always happiest when I’m losing myselfin a painting.”

Jean Gibson of Oakmont has beenpainting since college when she attended

the Cleveland Institute of Art part time.Jean has a background in advertising andworked for a department store in the artdepartment. Jean may have a small problemnow that her painting calledTheMatsumotoGallery has been featured in the calendar –one of the residents in the group jokinglyreferred to her as Miss December.

Marge Williamson of Eagles Preserve isanother resident with a background inadvertising. Her painting of fishing boats iscalled Fleet’s In – Storm’s Coming. Marge’spainting is featured for the month of Juneand will be the perfect artwork for thatmonth of sudden summer storms.

“Shell Point is extremely proud of theresidents of our community,” said Cerrina,“and we were pleased to be able to feature

their work in the 2009 calendar.”

Shell Point’s 2009 Calendar Features Resident Art

A few of the calendar artists, (left to right) Marge Williamson(Eagles Preserve), Augusta Crane (Parkwood), Dot Beard (Cellana),Peggy Richmond (Sand Dollar), and Jean Gibson (Oakmont)

Peggy Richmond(Sand Dollar) viewsher artwork in the2009 calendar.

B Y L Y N N S C H N E I D E R

Shrimp Boat Lane by Ralph

Persson (Oakmont).


Willie Demarest’s painting, Farmer’s Handsis featured for the month of October.


Shine the light of Christmas and celebrate the birth of the Onewho is The Light at the Christmas Eve Carols and Candlelight Service onDecember 24 at 7:15 p.m. Joyful holiday music will highlight the service ledby Senior Minister, Ken Nesselroade. Bring your family and friends for thiscelebration that has become a significant tradition for the church and com-munity as we share the Light of Christmas.

A Special Christmas Eve Service

Wednesday,December 24,at 7:15 p.m.

Lessons & CarolsRejoicethisSeason

RejoicethisSeason Sunday, December 7, at 6:15 p.m.

Carols &Candlelight

Begin the Christmas season by attending TheVillage Church on Sunday Evening, December 7 at6:15 p.m. for a Ceremony of Lessons and Carols. Thiscelebration is modeled after the famous Service of NineLessons and Carols, as presented at King’s College inCambridge, England. The Christmas story will be toldthrough scripture and song. For many, this service marksthe beginning of Christmas. Come lift your heart andvoice and participate on this joyous occasion.

A Christmas CelebrationFeaturing Special Guest KenMedema and The Village Church Choir

Festive carols and improvised songswill lead us all the way to Bethlehem,as the gifted writer, singer, and composer, KenMedema, along with the 75+ voices of theVillage Church Choir, share in this annualChristmas celebration concert.

From the timeKenMedemawas born, hehas been unable to see with his physical eyes.“As a kid I was not widely accepted,” he says.“My experience has led me to feel sympathyfor those who have been disenfranchised.”

“I started banging on the piano when Iwas five years old,” he says. “When Iwas eightyears old I began lessons with a wonderfulteacher who taught me the classics withBraille music, and I learned to play by ear. AsI learned a new piece my teacher would tellme, ‘Now you improvise.’ This way, music

became a second language forme.”

Medema earned a master’sdegree in music therapy fromMichigan StateUniversity andworked for several years as amusical therapist. Hebeganwriting songs abouthis patients’ lives, andthey responded enthusias-tically. In 1973 Medemabegan a career as a per-forming and recording artist, recordingalbums for Word and Shawnee Press.

In 1985 he founded Brier Patch Music,an independent recording, publishing, andperformance-booking company with head-quarters inGrandville,Michigan. Brier Patch

createsmusical expressions that cel-ebrate all aspects of the humanexperience, with an emphasis onspirituality and such universal con-cerns as peace, justice, hunger,homelessness, and the environ-

ment.Today Medema per-

forms in a wide variety ofvenues including worshipservices, corporate conven-tions, high school and col-

lege campuses, and major youth gatherings.Tickets are $10 and are available at the

Church office during regular office hours. Besure to attend this Christmas Celebration asKenMedema and the Village Church Choirherald the birth of a King!

Don’t miss Ken Medema withthe Village Chuch Choir asthey present a Christmas

Celebration.

Sunday,December14, at6:15 p.m.


Ruth RodgersWith a Song in her Heart

Those who know Ruth Rodgers, know that she

was bornwith a song in her heart – the kind that

encourages and inspires others. It is especially

apparent on each Christmas Day at Shell Point.

B Y G L E N D A S T E P H E N S O N


Every Year onChristmas DayFor the past twelve years, residents of ShellPoint have been inspired watching Ruth andher husband,Ted, in action as they direct theChristmas Cantata, written especially for theoccasion by Ruth. Come rain or shine, thecantata is performed in the Resident ActivityCenter on the Island for approximately 300attendees. It is a tradition formany residentsand their families. This year will be noexception. How did this all come to pass?How does she do it? Ruth will tell you in nouncertain terms, “It is a gift!”Ruth, though her formal training was

minimal, has always lovedmusic. When shestarted at Bob Jones University, she dividedher schooling time between Bob JonesUniversity and Philadelphia School of the

Bible, it was her hope that music would beher focus. While there, however, Ruth saysGod let her know that it wasn’t her musicHe wanted first and foremost, it was her life.Ruth married her first husband, Paul

Weir, in 1951, and together they headed outfor missionary service. Paul was a pilot andthe two served with Mission AviationFellowship (MAF) first in Mexico and thenlater in Honduras.

Her First CantataIt was prior to her very first Mexican

Christmas that the missionary staff came toRuth asking for a cantata. Ruth only hadabout three years of piano lessons and a lit-tle bit of voice training. She had never doneany composition before, but she got to workand by Christmas had written her first can-tata - in Spanish! Every year following, itbecame Ruth’s responsibility to provide themusic for Christmas.Life does not always unfold as planned

and in February 1971, Ruth’s husband, Paul,was killed when the MAF plane he was fly-ing crashed over Honduras. Devastated,Ruth returned to Miami to be close to herdaughter who was attending school there.Her son joined her as well.Soon after her return to the States, Ruth

was put in touch with an old friend, TedRodgers, who had just lost his wife, Doris.Ruth understood the grief Ted was dealingwith because of her own loss. As they helpedeach other, they found they enjoyed beingtogether. Ted and Ruth were married inApril, 1972 and have been a dynamic duoever since.

A Perfect PairThe Rodgers spent time in both

Massachusetts and North Carolina – Tedworked as an orthopedic surgeon beforecoming to Shell Point. While in NorthCarolina, Ruth’s interest in compositionwas restored. They were volunteering in asmall church there and every Christmas,Ruth would again write a Christmas can-tata and the area churches would cometogether to sing it.When Ted and Ruth arrived in Fort

Myers, they found their first Christmas atShell Point a bit empty. They missed themusic that had accompanied their celebrationthrough the years and found they had a desireto make Christmas special for the entire ShellPoint family. They got to work and the next

Ted directs the group of singers as Ruth plays thepiano at the cantata.

A large group of residents and members of TheVillage Church volunteer each year to performthe cantata on Christmas Day. Ted and Ruth leadseveral rehearsals prior to the final performance.

Ted helps Ruth transcribe her thoughts intoreadable music.

Ted and Ruth enjoy performing together andsharing their many talents with the residents. Continued on next page

Celebrate the Season at the Annual Christmas Cantata

Celebrate the Season at the Annual Christmas Cantata


Christmas, in 1996, Shell Point had its veryfirst annual Christmas cantata written byRuth and directed byTedRodgers. This yearwill be number thirteen!The process is laborious. Ruth begins

with a thought, an idea, a phrase, or melodicline and builds from there. Sometimes thelyrics come first; sometimes it is the musicthat influences the lyrics. Sometimes thenarration drives themusic and at other timesthe music inspires the narration. She beginsto jot down her thoughts. Ted looks overher shoulder, takes her jots and tittles, andbegins to transcribe them into readablemusic. The notes have to be correct, theparts well-written, the meter and rhythmschecked and re-checked, and the orchestra-tions developed. As soon as one cantata isperformed, the writing for the next onebegins. It is a process that takes the entireyear to complete.This year, practice began with the choir

and orchestra in October. Alltogether, there are between 60 and70 loyal participants. Some arefamily members who jump in andjoin the choir or orchestra whenthey arrive for the holidays.Ted calls each member to

remind them of practice schedulesand Ruth bakes cookies for everyrehearsal. Ted directs the choir andplays trumpet in the orchestra.Ruth accompanies. They are quitea team! Ruth declares, “We love tomeet the needs of Shell Point peo-ple and we consider this a need.We want to make Christmas here

something special.” Their passion is conta-gious.Erma Bombeck once said, “When I

stand before God at the end of my life, Ihope that I will not have a single bit oftalent left and can say, ‘I used everything

you gave me.’” This quote hangs onRuth’s refrigerator to give her inspirationand Ruth embraces life with that kind ofabandon. She gives all she has to give!

Ruth Rodgers With a Song in Her Heart—Continued from page 7

Ruth is frequently asked to play piano at resident functions.

Ted and Ruth Rodgers

The title for this year’s cantata is “Let’s Party!” Thecantata will be narrated by Mary Fountain and GordonCathey and will have all the elements of a party - a party towhich everyone at Shell Point is invited. Following thecantata, refreshments will be served. It is a wonderfully warm

way to celebrate Christmas Day with the Shell Point family.

Let’s Party!The singers and musicians for this year’scantata are looking forward to theChristmas Day performance.

You’re Invited!2008 Christmas Cantata

Thursday, December 25 • 4:15 p.m.Resident Activity Center on The Island


AUDITIONSANNOUNCED

Interested in Hitting the Boards?

Shell Point's Own Theater (SPOT) will beholding auditions for its next production, EveryFamily Has One, a comedy written by GeorgeBatson. “One of the things to remember aboutour performances is that we do play readings,”said Ruth Deuber, the group’s volunteer leaderand artistic director. “All of us enjoy the oppor-tunity to act with other amateur thespians, butnone of us want the pressure of having to mem-orize lines. We spend our time in rehearsalsworking on character development rather thanmemorization. It’s a fun experience and you

meet a lot of new people too.” The auditionswill be held Friday, December 19, from 3 p.m.to 5 p.m. in the Social Center on The Island.“There are roles for five women and five menavailable,” said Ruth. “Only one part hasalready been cast and that was for a precocious,little girl.” The performance will be January 29in the Village Auditorium and rehearsals willbegin after Christmas.

Please join in the fun as SPOT tells the storyof this family of unusual, but lovable characters—after all, every family has one! If you have anyquestions please call Ruth Deuber at 433-9520.

Time to Shine in Shell Point’s “SPOT” Light

As the holidays draw near, volun-teers in theUPS room, located in theIsland tunnel, are preparing for a busy sea-son of shipping. In an effort to meet yourholiday shipping needs, they are offeringextendedholiday hours during the first twoweeks in December.

Shipping Your Wrapped ItemThe UPS shipping hours of 10:00 a.m. -

11:30 a.m. are reserved specifically for cus-tomers with packages that are ready to beshipped. Please do not arrive with unwrappeditems expecting to have them wrapped andshipped at that time.

Please take a number when you arrive.Volunteers work with two customers at atime and will serve customers in numericalorder. Never drop off a package, or leave anitem unattended, in the UPS room. It isimportant to stay with your package until thetime of payment. After processing the pay-ment, the UPS volunteer will present a

tracking number which can be used to checkthe status of the shipment.

Paymentsmay bemade by cash or check,credit cards are not accepted. When usingcash, please use denominations of $1, $5, or$10, as the UPS room has limited amountsof change.

Help with PackagingYour Items for Shipping

Preparing your packagesahead of time will allow for thequickest service in getting aspecial package en route to itsfinal destination. However, ifyour package requires prepara-tion and packaging, help willbe available from 1:00 p.m. –2:00 p.m. The UPS room willremain unlocked during the

day, so you can utilize the pack-ing supplies. Please note thatglass and ceramic items are notguaranteed.

The dedicated UPS volun-teers take pride in offering this convenientservice to their fellow residents. If you haveever wondered about the background of thefriendly faces who help you with shipping,take note of this sampling of their pastcareers: educator, thoroughbred horseracingofficial, a priest, professional manager, steelmaking manager, textiles manager, a citymayor, engineer, insurance exec., physicist,Army Colonel, human resources, and evenmanager in a springs business. Now you cantrust this team will get the job done!

UPS Room Volunteers OfferExtended Hours for HolidayShipping Convenience

If you have questions regardingUPS services and hours please

call 466-1111 x 2423.

Santa’s Little HelpersAre Ready to Deliver!

Shell Point Gift ShopOffersOne-of-a-Kind HandcraftedGifts

he origin of the Shell Point Gift Shop can be traced back to 1988, when a res-ident began selling greeting cards from the Island Tunnel. This year marks the20th anniversary of the resident run Gift Shop. Throughout the years, as itmoved up to the Administration Circle – a home it still holds – the collection ofresident-made items has continued to grow in both number and diversity.

T

Gifts to Treasure

Although theGift Shop is relativelyquaint and appears small on theoutside, it doesn’t impede the wide variety ofunique products displaying the talents of eachresident supplier. A stroll through the GiftShop reveals amyriad of items handcrafted byShell Point residents, including: jewelry, pot-tery, baby clothes, books, cards, andmore. Inthewoodworking area, there is every-thing from simple picture frames tointricate clocks. The only commer-cial items sold in the gift shop arethe greeting cards, which aresold for fifty cents each.Resident made greeting cardsare sold at prices determined byeach resident supplier.

Gift Shop volunteer Sara Peed(Lakewood) is proud of theassortment of handcrafteditems on display in theGift Shop, “It is truly aconglomeration of all kinds of gifts,” she said.“You name it, we’ve got it!” Sara added thatas the holiday season approaches, the popu-larity of the Gift Shop increases. “Visitorscome in from Sarasota and the surroundingareas just to be able to shop in the treasurechest that is the Shell Point Gift Shop.”

Grayce Gore (Periwinkle), the currentGift Shop president agrees, “The holidaysbring specialty items to theGift Shop such asChristmas cards and holiday jewelry. Withgifts that are useful in purpose and beautifulin creation, the Shell PointGift Shop has thevariety to fit everyone on your shopping list,including yourself!”

Each trip to the Gift Shop unveilsnew items, as shoppers make purchasesand merchandisers restock theshelves with the one-of-a-kindcreations. The success of theGift Shop is made pos-sible by the organiza-tion of the operation.

There are more than 100suppliers and 50 volunteers.

Every April, all GiftShop suppliers andvolunteers have the

opportunity to vote fornine board members. The board, madeup of suppliers and volunteers, thenelects the president, vice president, mer-chandiser, treasurer, and secretary. The GiftShop also holds annual training sessions forall volunteers, which are led by vice presi-dent Jean Arndt (Lucina). Suppliers are notrequired to volunteer in the Gift Shop.Likewise, volunteers are not required to sup-ply items in the Gift Shop.

In order to sell items in the Gift Shop,suppliers are required to submit their itemsfor review by the merchandiser. Onceapproved, suppliers simply sign an officialdocument, price their merchandise, anddisplay it proudly.

A6%sales tax is added to eachpur-chase.And 10%of each sale goes into afund that theGiftShopdonatesback tothe community. A volunteer entersthe day’s sales into a computerized

spreadsheet. And anothervolunteer sends checks ofearnings to the suppliers.

The money theGift Shop raisesthroughout theyear has beenused in a variety ofways. For example, they have pur-

chased the piano in the Arbor, madedonations to the Bakeless Bake Sale and thelibrary fund, allowed for a lit Christmas tree tofloat in the lagoon, purchased chairs for thePavilion patio and a lectern for the Pavilionchapel, and added angels to wreaths through-out the community at Christmastime.

“All the money we make goes backinto the community,” explainedGrayce. “The only problem with theGift Shop is that we don’t haveenough room to accommodate every-one. That’s why we whole-heart-edly support the annual craftbazaar and art shows.”

While Shell Point’s art andcraft shows showcase the talentsand works of the community’s cre-ative residents during annualevents, the Shell PointGift Shop isan art show and a craft sale yearround. Stop by theGift Shop today,located in the lobby of the GuestHouse on The Island, to peruse the

selection of gifts found onlyhere at Shell Point.

Shell Point Gift ShopCurrent Seasonal Hours:

Monday – Saturday:9 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Summer Hours:Monday – Saturday:9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Phone number: 466-1111 EXT. 7534

From heirloom quality to fun andwhimsical, the hand crafted items for sale

in the Shell Point Gift Shop are sure todelight those who receive them.

In one section of theshop, buyers can findhand-knitted babyclothes, toys, and theperfect quilted handbag.

Thesounds of Bing Crosby’s Christmas classic floated overthe airwaves and into my kitchen as I finished the last ofmy breakfast. White Christmas? I have lived all my lifewhere the possibility at least existed that Christmas

could be white. Nostalgia swept over me as I pictured a typicalChristmas card scene - snow falling gently, coating everything in asoft blanket of white. I longed for a cozy fireplace and dreamed ofsipping hot cocoa, wrapped in a soft, fleece sweater. I thought of thetimes my kids headed outside to enjoy God’s beautiful winter won-

derland, all bundled up, eager to build a snowman or make angelsin the snow. They would come in, rosy-cheeked, looking for some-thing warm to drink.

I thought of the nippy days before Christmas when I would puta pot of soup on the back burner of the stove to simmer, filling thehouse with the wonderful anticipation of what would welcome ushome when we returned from our Christmas shopping excursion.Oh my, homesickness was setting in.

I was lost in my reverie when I noticed someone jogging by my

As Christmas approaches,

I can’t help but look back to

last year when my husband

and I had just arrived in

Florida from Colorado and he

started his position here at

Shell Point as the Executive

Director of the Legacy

Foundation. Things have

certainly changed for us in

the past twelve months as we

have adjusted to our new

home, but looking back to the

holiday season of last year,

I can vividly recall the

feelings I was experiencing

at that time...

“I’m Dreaming of a WA Colorado Girl Reflects on Her First

White Christmas…”Christmas in Florida

B Y G L E N D A S T E P H E N S O N

window in shorts. It jolted me back to reality and I began to ponderthe past week. The pendulum began to swing - ever so slowly.

Was it just yesterday that I had called my daughter back inColorado? Her first words to me were, “Mom, it is so cold here, the tem-perature is in the teens, the wind chill is below zero, and I have to golook in the mirror to see if my ears are still attached to my head!” I mustconfess, that did not sound like fun, and I felt just a bit guilty because Iwas lounging at the pool at the time.

I thought about a recent shopping trip, just days before. My husbandand I had bopped around themall –me in a sleeveless shirt – enjoying thebeautiful breeze. The flower baskets hanging from lamp posts were gor-geous. Petunias at Christmas? What a joy! We even enjoyed an icecream cone together - sitting outside!

Then it hit me! I haven’t even scraped ice from my car once this season. I haven’tcleaned black slush from my floor mats or washed the salt from my truck bumpers beforeit pitted the paint. My teeth haven’t chattered, and I haven’t gripped a steering wheel socold it felt like hanging on to a popsicle. I haven’t slipped on the ice. In fact, the only iceI have seen in the past few weeks was in my Diet Coke!

Last night I called my son who is attending college in Indiana. In the course ofour conversation, I reminded him to pack shorts and a swimsuit when he comes forChristmas. I remember his delight. It had been 17 degrees there andsince it was early evening, it was 71 degrees here. Hey, you can invertthe temperatures! 17 becomes 71 – 28 becomes 82 – 37 becomes 73– I think you get the idea.

Tonight, I plan to sit on the beach, watch the waves dance inthe moonlight, and think about what Christmas really means to me.Sand is white, isn’t it? It dawns on me that as a child, I pictured babyJesus freezing in his bed of straw. Perhaps that first Christmas nighthad much more in common with my present circumstance. I don’tthink they had snow in Bethlehem!

As thisChristmas season encompassesme, I find that I amvery con-tent and grateful. We are enjoying anewhome, new jobs, andmanynewfriends. Perhaps celebrating Christmas in sunny Southwest Florida isGod’s very special gift to us this season.

Okay, the nostalgia has passed and now, before I begin my day, Iam going to go pick a fresh orange from my backyard tree. WhiteChristmas, indeed!

Yankees, eat your heart out!

Tim & Glenda Stephenson at Pike’s Peak, CO in 2006.

A Coloradomountainscape.

A family Christmas portrait withtwo of Glenda’s three children,

Heidi and Chad, with Glendaand Tim (circa 2005).

Tonight, I plan to sit on the beach, watch the wavesdance in the moonlight, and think about what Christmasreally means to me.


This year’s October event, A Stroll on theChamps-Elysees, was a departure fromthe traditional Fall Event themes of the past.Held on October 23 in the Village ChurchAuditorium, this event brought residents fromacross Shell Point together for music, food, andan evening of elegance. Fears of rain earlier inthe day brought the event indoors, but the audi-torium proved to be a beautiful location thathighlighted the quality of theevening’s entertainment.

French jazz cabaret music wasprovided by native Parisian AnnieRoyer and her band. Themusic wascomplemented by French inspiredhors d’oeuvres includingNapoleons,strawberry filled crepes, grapes andcheese, and mini chicken cordonbleu. The auditoriumwas decoratedto feel like the party was held inCityof Lights itself; complete with theEiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, acaricature artist, and plenty of flow-ers. While the Resort Services staffprovided excellent service, the fun times withfriends and neighbors are surely what residents willremember most about the elegant event.

A Stroll onA Stroll on the Champs-Elysees

Bob and Bobbi Phillips (Lakewood)

Annie Royer entertainedthe audience with herupbeat performance.

John and Lee Garbutt (Cellana)

Ted Yeatts and Dianne Morton

Ruth and Dr. Harold Greenlee (Coquina)

Caricatures provided by former political cartoonist, Bill Sanders Dawn Boren serves up dessert

Laurel Werner(Lakewood)


Recently, 115 golfers teed offto raise funds for the MemoryCare Unit at the Larsen Pavilionduring the 2008 Shell Point OpenGolf Tournament hosted by theLegacy Foundation. TimothyStephenson, Executive Director of TheLegacy Foundation, thanked the sponsors,participants and volunteers for their out-standing support of this worthwhile cause.

“Everyone has known afriend or loved one who hasbeen affected in some wayby memory care issues, suchas dementia or memoryloss,” said Stephenson.“The support that players,volunteers, and businessesshowed for this event makeit evident that MemoryCare is important to manyin our society.”

The tournament wasgenerously sponsored by Jason Scoggins andDavid Moreland of the Scoggins/ MorelandGroup at Morgan Stanley, as well as manyother businesses in the Fort Myers commu-nity. Moreland welcomed the golfers andshared how his grandmother had lived atthe Larsen Pavilion. “We are pleased to beable to contribute so that others may bene-fit from these essential services,” he

said. “This is some-thing that is very closeto our hearts.”

The $20,000 goal for the2008 Shell Point Open was met,thanks to all who participated, as

well as many generous donations. Thesefunds will help operate the Memory CareUnit, and purchase state of the art equip-ment that can offer many individuals a

chance to live a more independent lifestyle.Shell Point’s Memory Care Unit serves

those in our society who have loss of memoryand dementia, due to Alzheimer’s Dementiaand other progressive brain diseases. Anentire department of resources is dedicated toserving these unique individuals and theirfamilies. Therapeutic recreation programsare tailored to strengthen both mind and

body, along with ensuring that patientsreceive appropriate care to enhance the high-est degree of independence possible.

Healthcare is at the heart of the ShellPoint community and the health care serv-ices team is focused on meeting the needs ofthe residents served in the Memory CareUnit. Shell Point is advancing in the field

of healthcare by workingwith local communitygroups so that LarsenPavilion residents receivethe best care available.

“Memory care isabout unconditional loveand caring,” said SherryBrown, Director of LongTerm Care. “The LarsenPavilionAuxiliary, a 200-member volunteer groupcomprised of Shell Point

residents, can always be seen in the halls,delivering mail, arranging flowers, assistingwith activities, and adding special touches tothe lives of the residents of the LarsenPavilion,” she said. “Talk with any Pavilionvolunteer or staff member and you will seethat certain something that sets Shell Pointapart.”

Jason Scoggins and DavidMoreland of the Scoggins/Moreland Groupat Morgan Stanley sponsored the golf tournament.

First place: Jim Burch,PeteMaastricht,and Gary Rashford of DRMP.

Third place:Jeff Kelly,Scott Loiacano,TomStoots andTimMcGillof Wright Construction and Service Painting.

Shell Point’s MemoryCare Benefitted fromLegacy Golf TournamentB Y J E S S I C A C L A R K , T O U R N A M E N T O R G A N I Z E R


Growth and ProsperityIn the early tomid-1990s economic

conditions across the nation wereimproving and Shell Point was experi-encing the benefits of the improvedeconomy. Growth and prosperity wereoccurring at every level; however, thelessons learned over the previous yearshad underscored the importance of fru-gal, conservative management to keepthe community fiscally sound. As theShell Point community continued toimprove its commitment to quality andthe delivery of its services, the man-angement andboard of directors turnedits attention to a situation that existed outside Shell Point’s borders thatcould permanently impact the community’s future.

ExpansionShell Point enjoyed a very private, tranquil location along the

Caloosahatchee River, just minutes from Sanibel Island. Access tothe community was gained through a single entrance located at theend of Shell Point Boulevard. Shell Point Boulevard was a two-milestretch of two-lane roadway which bisected several hundred acres ofundeveloped property, which was situated between Shell Point andMcGregor Boulevard—in essence, along Shell Point’s “driveway.”

For years, management watched this piece of property as theowners planned its development. There had been a great deal of spec-ulation regarding the property because a lawsuit had been filed inFederal Court between the property owners and Lee County overthe number of residential units that could be built, as well as which

types of commercial enterprise might beconsidered. In 1986, after years of fight-ing and negotiation, the property ownersand Lee County agreed to abide by aFederal Consent Order that establishedthe maximum density allowed on theproperty. Included in this consent orderwere all the necessary zoning and den-sity approvals effective 1986.

However, the consent order still didnot clear the way for development tooccur. For another decade, a lengthylegal and engineering effort was made toobtain Army Corps of Engineers con-ceptual approval for development. This

was received inApril 1996. Suddenly, development was not only fea-sible, but imminent.

CHAPTER TEN – THE VISION REALIZED

In last month’s chapter we saw the retirement of Bernard King and the establishment of Peter Dys as Shell Point’s newleader. The 1980s and early 1990s were spent in revitalizing the community, increasing sales, establishing financial viability,and improving nearly every aspect of the community’s infrastructure to accommodate the demands of a growing popula-tion. This month we begin the final chapter that brings us to the point in our community’s history when the early visionis fully realized and Shell Point becomes the vibrant community you see today.

New fountain installed in 1993.

THEHISTORY OF SHELL POINT

Aerial view of Shell Point Boulevard and the undeveloped property.


Shell Point’s management was very concerned about the natureof the proposed development. When development of the propertybecame possible, themanagement of Shell PointVillage (as it was stillcalled at that time) decided to take action to protect the integrity ofthe location and to ensure compatibility of the development with theexisting communities of Shell Point, PalmAcres, and Sanibel Island.

An additional factor in determining a course of action was that,while Shell Point was experiencing success in its operation, the sizeof the 75-acre island was beginning to introduce some constraints onprograms and services that could be successfully provided to the res-idents. The island was bursting at the seams, and there was no roomfor expansion.

New state-of-the-art practices within the retirement industrydemandedmore space if they were to be provided at Shell Point. Also,an analysis of Shell Point’s financial records indicated that additionalfounder’s fees generated by new residences would strengthen the com-munity’s financial base for the provision of future life care services.

Therefore, it was decided that Shell Point would privately pur-chase the land and onMay 28, 1997, Shell Point purchased the 695-acre parcel of land from Stardial Investment Company for $7.5million for the purpose of expanding and enhancing the continuingcare community.

Immediately, Shell Point informed the residents as well as thepublic of Lee County regarding its intentions for this property. Theresponse was overwhelmingly positive and the general feeling wasthat Shell Point would do a much better job of creating somethingappropriate for the area. Expansion of Shell Point would beapproached in a conservative manner and master planning for thenew development began immediately.

The new piece of property was extensive and encompassed bothsides of Shell Point Boulevard but it was mandated that all of theacreage located on the western side of Shell Point Boulevard wouldbe set aside as a nature preserve and wetlands area. Shell Pointreturned this property to its native state by removing all exotic treesand brush as well as the mosquito ditches that had been dug by theprevious owners. The property to the east of Shell Point Boulevardwas earmarked for Shell Point’s expansion. Months of planning ses-sions were held and a general land use plan began to take shape.Decisions had been made that would one day make Shell PointVillagemore than triple in size. Exciting new opportunities lay beforethe community.

What’s in a Name?Although the property was located very near the existing island,

it was separated from the original Island community by the PalmAcres neighborhood. What should the expansion be called? ShellPoint Village had developed a national reputation and was known asa leader within the retirement industry. This name recognition wasinvaluable, but how could it be linked to the new expansion?

A new name could not even be consid-ered. After all, the expansion was to be justthat, an addition of services to the existingcommunity rather than an independent devel-opment. Yet, did the name “Shell PointVillage” convey the sense of size and type ofamenities that were available within the com-munity?

To address both the improvement of serv-ices on the island and the addition of the newproperty, it was decided that Shell Point Villagewould now be called Shell Point Retirement Community – one com-munity with multiple neighborhoods. In addition to the namechange, a new logo was designed to update the decade-old logo.

InApril of 1999, Shell Point Retirement Community sold a totalof $150 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds through the LeeCounty Industrial Development Authority. The proceeds from thesale of the bonds were used to finance construction of the expansion,complete certain renovations and expansions to the existing Island

Original version oflogo before namechange. Below:current logo.

The Island wasliterally bursting at

the seams, and therewas no room for

expansion.

The clearing of land that would one day become The Woodlands.


campus, retire the existingdebt of Shell Point and theAlliance Retirement inDeLand, FL, and to establisha debt service reserve fund.

The Woodlandsat Shell Point

Enthusiasm was at an alltime high as Shell Pointannounced The Woodlands,the first neighborhood to bebuilt on the new property.Design and pre-sale of the firsttwo buildings began in thelate 1990s. Shell Point held a major groundbreaking event for thefirst phase of TheWoodlands onMarch 4, 1999 under a tent on thesite. Dignitaries from Lee County joined representatives from ShellPoint and The Christian and Missionary Alliance at the event.

The project wasdesigned by a team ofarchitects from RDGSchutte Wilscam BirgeInc., headquartered inOmaha, Nebraska andbuilt by WrightConstruction of LeeCounty. Since The Islandat Shell Point was locateddirectly along theCaloosahatchee River andoffered the casualambiance of a waterfrontisland setting, it was determinedthat TheWoodlands would capi-talize on the beauty of a naturalFlorida-style woodland setting with scenic views of not only theCaloosahatchee River to the north, but the protected nature pre-serves and wetlands areas to the south and east. A large man-madelake surrounded by a picturesque boardwalk and bridge were alsocreated to add to the charm of the natural setting and to provideviews in every direction.

Oakmont and Rosemont were the first two out of four inde-pendent buildings to be built and were located in the center of thecommunity, surrounded by lakes and a golf course that would pro-vide residents with views of the Caloosahatchee River or the barrier

islands of Sanibel andCaptiva. Locatedbetween the two build-ings was a two-storyactivity center calledThe Commons, whichincluded restaurants,meeting rooms, class-rooms, and other spacesfor general resident useand provided an entirely

new level of sophisticationfor the community. Plans foreach building consisted ofeight living floors above twolevels of covered parking.The atrium-design providedeach home with a private,recessed outdoor entranceand each floor of the build-ing opened onto an open-airatrium, which spanned 80feet to the sky above.Oakmont was the first resi-dential building to be com-pleted and residents moved

in during October of 2000. Rosemont was completed a year laterand the certificate of occupancy was granted on March 30, 2001with residents moving in shortly thereafter. The Lakewood buildingquickly followed with residents moving in September 2002 and

Parkwood was the finalindependent buildingto be built in theneighborhood with res-idents moving inNovember of 2004.

As the final inde-pendent buildings werebeing constructed inThe Woodlands, ShellPoint moved forwardwith the construction ofits second assisted livingfacility, TheArbor. The

Arbor featured a state of the artdesignwith spacious residentialsuites, country kitchens, a fine

dining room, theater room, arts and crafts spaces, amen’s retreat withpool table and big-screen television, a fitness center and an on-sitemedical center. The first residents moved into the Arbor on August11, 2005. With the addition of The Arbor, The Woodlands neigh-borhood was complete.

Continued from page 17

The Arbor assisted living facility.

Shell Point’s Board of Directors visited the project during early construction.

The Woodlands Lake

The Woodlands at Shell Point consists of four residential buildingsand one assisted living facility.


Eagles Preserve IntroducedThe economy continued to boom and

increased demand for units at Shell Point whichled to the creation of Eagles Preserve. This neigh-borhood was nestled in the back nine of ShellPoint’s championship golf course and featured 10free-standing buildings with one, two, and three-bedroom floor plans. Sales of the Eagles Preserveneighborhood were brisk and the community wasalmost sold-out before construction even started in 2004.

Construction of the community was well underway when ShellPoint experienced an extreme set back as Hurricane Charley cameboiling up the Southwest Florida coastline and residents of the entirecommunity evacuated into the hurricane shelter for safety during thestorm. When the storm had passed the residents emerged from theshelter unscathed; however the community had received moderatedamage inmany areas and substantial damage to severalmid-rise res-idences. However, the most significant damage occurred in EaglesPreserve where the buildings, in partial stages of construction, hadbeen hit with strong winds and rains. The community’s constructionprogress slowed as contractors and sub-contractors were busy repair-ing storm damage throughout Lee County. Plus, materials and sup-plies became scarce due to the high demand in the area. Constructiontimeframes were delayed considerably.

Meanwhile Lee County was experiencing a boom in the con-struction and real estate industry unlike any time in the region’s his-tory. In 2005, homes and undeveloped lots were selling at anunprecedented rate causing evenmore strain on the building indus-try. However, Shell Point persevered and many of the residents ofEagles Preserve moved into units on The Island as they awaited thecompletion of their units.

In spite of the earlier difficulties, Eagles Preserve was completedand occupied in the summer of 2007 and immediately became a pop-ular residential concept. The residences of Eagles Preserve are locatedin multi-residential Mediterranean-style buildings dotted along ameandering brick paved roadway that crosses awater feature and endsat a beautiful fountain with the sculpture of a majestic eagles risingabove it.

As the saying goes, “what goes up must come down” and as LeeCounty experienced the unprecedented highs of the real estate boomin 2004 and 2005, it experienced the unpleasant realities of the bustin the real estate market when the bubble burst. While the market

continues to present challenges, ShellPoint was able to introduce several newcontracts and financial options to assistindividuals who were interested in sellingtheir homes and moving to Shell Point.

Shell Point Celebrates 40 YearsCurrently, Shell Point consists of three

independent neighborhoods – eachwith itsown unique style and personality. Residents enjoy the benefitsof a water-front location but also the beauty of a well-maintained championship golf course. Amenities,services, and programs provide an abundant andfulfilling lifestyle for those who have chosen thevery best that retirement has to offer.

The future of Shell Point includes additionalplans for further development as the communitycontinues to enjoy the benefits of its prime locationand the opportunities that the site still provides. Thecurrent resident population is over 2,200 and Shell Point is one of theleading employers in Lee County with more than 850 employees.

As Shell Point reaches the end of its fortieth anniversary andlooks back over the past four decades there is a sense of awe andhumble gratitude for God’s faithfulness as he has protected, guided,and sustained the community, its management and staff, and the res-idents who live here.

Through it all, the good times and the hard times, the very sameheart for ministry and a sincere desire to serve our gracious God stillguides Shell Point today – now and into the future.

18 hole championship golf course.

Eagles Preserve is nestled in the heart of Shell Point’s championship golf course.


Each Sunday morning in the VillageChurch, Bob Stouten (Rosemont), JackCooper (Rosemont), and Jack Hall(Junonia) fit seamlessly in with the congrega-tion. At first glance, the gentlemen seem likeacquaintances who found common ground atShell Point. A closer look reveals that thethreemen are actually bound like brothers, ina relationship stemming back to their days ofattending elementary school together inGrand Rapids, Michigan.

Stouten and Hall were the first to meet,following the Stouten family’s many movesthroughout the neighborhood. “We movedhouses, on the same block, so many times,thatmymother used to say that the neighborsknew everything that we had because it hadbeen wheeled past all of their homes,”explained Stouten. “And each move broughtus closer to the Hall family’s home.”

In the third grade, Hall and Stoutenbegan walking to school together each day,forming a friendship that would come tomeanmore than either boy could imagine. WhenCooper moved into town in the 6th grade, itwas as if he had always been friends with Halland Stouten. He fit right in to their routine ofplaying softball and going roller skating. Backthen, the boys were inseparable.

“Whenwe played softball, we’d win some,and we’d lose some, but we always had a greattime,” explained Cooper.

“When we weren’t playing softball, wewere roller skating,” added Stouten. “We

would go roller skating four times a week.”“And when it came to cars, we would

divide and conquer so we always hadwheels!” Hall laughed.

Those days, the boys were care free andstuck together like glue. But even as theygrew older, and the war threatened to tearthem apart, they found a way to sticktogether. All three enlisted in the Navyand began boot camp, side-by-side, onDecember 7, 1942. Although the three

were split after boot camp, receiving differentassignments, their friendship remained intact.

After the war, eachman continued on hispath of life. Even without one another, theirpaths followed similar landmarks: gettingmar-ried, starting families, finding success, andgrowing in faith.

While their days of ball games and rollerskating had come to an end, they still kept intouch. “Even though we were busy trying tofind our way after the war, we would still gettogether occasionally,” recalled Hall. “Andwhen we did, it was like we never evenskipped a beat. The bond was always there,”added Cooper.

Stouten and his wife Alice began takingtheir family on trips to Florida in the 60s.They stayed at the Island Inn for 25 consecu-tive years before purchasing a condo on

Sanibel. AfterHall and his wifeMary Lou vis-ited the Stouten family on Sanibel, theydecided to settle into a place of their own inBonita Springs. Cooper and his wife Josephineended up catching the Florida fever too, andpurchased a condo on Sanibel.

As the men and their wives traveledbetween Sanibel and Bonita Springs, for din-ner outings and events at the Barbara B.Mann, and the Naples Philharmonic, theyoften passed a familiar landmark – Shell PointRetirement Community.

One by one, they did their research. Andone by one, they decided tomake Shell Pointtheir home. “We were drawn in by the loca-tion, the Village Church, and the opportu-nity to receive health care,” said Stouten.“On top of all that, I was ready to get out of

caring for my yard,” Halladded. “And, having ourfriends here helped, ofcourse,” Cooper said.

Throughout the years,as their lives have changedaround them, their friend-ship has grown evenstronger. And as they reflecton their many memories,Stouten thinks that onlyone thing has changedamong the group, “We havea lot less hair!”

Stouten, Cooper, andHall, who share a uniquefriendship and bond that

has lasted their entire lives, still get togethereach Sunday morning to celebrate the wor-ship service at the Village Church andenjoy a meal at the Crystal Dining Room.Although they blend right in with thecrowd, the boys who have grown into menknow they share something unique.

“I feel so blessed to have experienced thekind of friendship I have shared with Jack andJack,” said Stouten. “I think it’s rare that realbrothers would be this close, let alone a fewboys that met back in Grand Rapids.”

Jack Cooper, Jack Hall, and Bob Stouten at Shell Point.

BoundLike

BrothersB Y R O C H E L L E C H E R N I A W S K I

Lifelong Friendship Continues at Shell Point

Stouten, Cooper, and Hall at Great Lakes Naval

Training Station Boot Camp, 1942.

On Friday, November 7, a widevariety of beautiful, unique anduseful crafts were unveiled to residentsand visitors to Shell Point. Evenlarger and more successful than theprevious year’s event, the 2008 ShellPoint Crafters’ exhibits filled morerooms and tables of handmade itemsthan ever. Headed by HelenRemington and Barbara Hilton as co-chairmen, the event was efficientlypromoted and presented, includingwide advertising and well-plannedtable layouts. Even Santa and Mrs.Claus (Penny and Steve Modrich ofNautilus) were present handingout candy canes and adding tothe festive holiday spirit.

An almost full page pictorialwrite-up in the News-Press wasundoubtedly responsible forgreater than ever attendance bynon-residents. Of course, manymeetings and phone calls amongthe Crafters preceded the actualevent, but all who participated feltit was well worth the effort. Even the

Promenade Café and the Palm Grillbenefited from the crowd attending, aswaiting lines formed to enter bothfacilities during the noon hour.

A critique was held by interestedcrafters soon after the event to capi-talize on suggestions for next year’sbazaar. Everyone present agreed thatthis year’s show was a huge success,and all comments were positive. Asizeable committee was formed to han-dle the many tasks involved for 2009,but any and all new crafters are wel-come to join in the fun.

The Holiday BazaarSpotlights Resident Crafts

Craft Show pictorial and write-up appearedin the Fort Myers News-Press.

B Y P H I L H I L T O N

Photos at left, top to bottom: MerlynLonghurst (Junonia), Bob Dornburg(Oakmont), Judy Dirks (Oakmont), DeloresPyle (Nautilus), and Rose Hesser (EaglesPreserve).

L-R: Mike Klein (Nautilus), Helen Remington (Lakewood), Claire Smythe (Lakewood),Merlyn Longhurst (Junonia), Marilyn Schmidt (Lucina), Barbara Hilton (Rosemont) andLessie Slater (Sand Dollar).


TheSpiritof the

Shell PointOlympics

On Monday, November 10th the flags of 23 Shell Point courts wereproudly carried in to the Church Auditorium and Fushu Diako presented a heart-pounding drum program officially kicking off The Shell Point Olympics. Diversephysical and mental competitions took place indoors and outdoors, over a 3day period. More than 400 athletes participated in 39 events, and won 161medals. Events included tennis, bocce ball, and walking; as well as, a chesscompetition, timed-puzzles and a spelling bee! Medals were presented to thewinners of the events at the Closing Ceremony on Friday, November 14th.

Celebrating the Games2008 Shell Point Olympics November 10-14

Annual Tree Lighting EventTuesday, December 25:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.Administration Courtyard/ISEnjoy holiday cookies and punch whilesinging along to Christmas favorites and

other tunes pro-vided by ShellPoint’s own DanPhilgreen on gui-tar. Be there asShell Point’slongest-lived resi-dent lights the

giant floating Christmas tree in the lagoon.The Shell Point Singers Christmas Concertwill follow in the Church Auditorium.

Shell Point SingersChristmas ConcertTuesday, December 27:15 p.m.Church Auditorium/ISCelebrate the holiday seasonwith your friendsand neighbors as the Shell Point Singers filltheVillageChurchwithChristmas carols andholiday sounds, including a Big Band carolmedley.

Mac User GroupThursday, December 41:15 p.m.Manatee Room/ISDid you know that your Mac computer canbe used as a gaming system? Visit the Mac

User Group to hear guest speaker,Arline Ford, share some of theentertaining things that are avail-

able on your Mac computer.

Lunch Outing:McGregor CaféFriday, December 510:30 a.m. Island pickup10:40 a.m. Woodlands pickup10:50 a.m. Eagles Preserve pickup1:30 p.m. Approximate returnCost: $9.00 (lunch on your own)

McGregor Caféis a friendly localfavorite lunch-eon spot offeringboth indoor andoutdoor seating.

It’s a great spot to enjoy lunch with friends.We will get there early to beat the dailycrowd. Prices range from $8 - $20.

Holiday Shopping EventMonday, December 81:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.WoodlandsCommons/WDLThis year, makeyour Christmasshopping funand easy. Bringa friend andshop from over20 area vendorswho have items tosuit everyone on yourshopping list. You canhave your items gift wrapped at the event.And, as an added bonus, you can even shippackages from the event using the U.S.P.S.Mobile Retail Unit.

To include a listing for an upcoming event or activity, please contact Mary Franklin, Resort ServicesManager, at 454-2152 or email: [email protected]

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Holiday Sounds ConcertTuesday, December 97:15 p.m.Resident Activity Center/ISEnjoy a showcase of talented resident musi-cians, including The Tone Chimes and

Recorderists alongwith special resi-dent performancesand a carol sing.Refreshments willbe served follow-ing this festivemusical event.

Great GetawayDeep Sea Fishing TripWednesday, December 107:15 a.m. Island pickup7:25 a.m. Woodlands pickup7:35 a.m. Eagles Preserve pickup4:30 p.m. Approximate returnCost: $45.00 (lunch on your own)Wow! A half day of deep sea fishingat half price! GetawayMarina of FortMyers Beach is offering a group of tenor more Shell Point residents the chanceto enjoy a 50% discount for a fishing trip.They will even provide all necessary fish-ing equipment required to “bring in the bigone.” Appetites can be curbed on the boat

with made toorder meals andcold drinks.They also allowpassengers tobring smallcoolers aboard.

This trip is sure to be fun for both expertsand beginners. Sunscreen recommended.

Pianist Don Irwin in ConcertThursday, December 117:15 p.m.Church Auditorium/ISDon Irwin returns to Shell Point for anevening filled with enchanted piano tunes.Don will play timeless music along with afew of his own works. Be prepared to beimpressed at this very special performance.

Dinner Outing: Coconutswith music by Michael AnthonyFriday, December 124:30 p.m. Island pickup4:40 p.m. Woodlands pickup4:50 p.m. Eagles Preserve pickup8:30 p.m. Approximate returnCost: $11.00 (dinner on your own)Shell Point’s own bus driver MichaelAnthony will treat diners to flamenco gui-tar music as they dine at Coconuts water-

front restaurant inNorth Fort Myers.Coconuts specializes inCaribbean cuisine witha Cuban twist. Entreesinclude unique selec-tions such as Kettle

cookedMahiMambo, The FlyingHog, CastIron Baked Crab Stuffing Shrimp, and ElViejos Roasted Pork. They also have a hugeselection of shareable appetizers and evenmango guava cheesecake! Prices range from$8.95 - $21.95. For additionalmenu options,contact Bev Rademacher at 454-2239.

Information Forum:Background andBenefits toElectronic Medical RecordsSaturday, December 1310:00 a.m.Grand Cypress Room/WDLTara Hazard, Informatics Specialist andCorporate Compliance Officer, will pro-

vide an update onShell Point’s initia-tive to establishelectronic imagingof resident medicalrecords. The securedelectronic file con-

tains patient history, prescriptions, medicaltranscription notes, and other informationnecessary for a complete patient profile.Learn about the benefits to physicians andto patients, anddiscuss cost andefficiency issues.This high-techmethod of keep-ing pace withvarious patientrecords is quickly changing the way med-ical services are administered; bringing newopportunities for doctors to easily review apatient’s medical history.

Saturday DVD: RatatouilleSaturday, December 132:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.Grand Cypress Room/WDL“Ratatouille” is an animated comedy withsomething for everyone! In one of Paris’finest restaurants,Remy, a determinedyoung rat, dreams ofbecoming a renownedFrench chef. Tornbetween his family’swishes and his truecalling, Remy and hispal, Linguini, the garbage boy, set inmotion a hilarious chain of events thatturns the City of Lights upside down.

Island Shop HopMonday, December 159:15 a.m. Island pickup9:25 a.m. Woodlands pickup9:35 a.m. Eagles Preserve pickup2:00 p.m. Approximate returnCost: $11.00 (lunch on your own)On Sanibel Island, there are fivequaint retail centers located within justone mile of each other. The island hopshopping trip willstop at TahitianGardens, The VillageShops, Olde SanibelShoppes, The TownCenter, and TheTarpon Bay Center.Each nook style retailcenter offers its owntaste of island shopping fun. Some shopson the agenda include: the SeaweedGallery, Needful Things, C.Turtles, PolishPottery Shoppe, Suncatcher’s Dream,Shiny Objects, and Kelly’s Cocoons.

Lunch will beenjoyed togetherat the Over EasyCafé located atthe Olde SanibelShoppes center.For an intriguingand varied islandshopping adven-ture sign up today!

EVENTS • PROGRAMS • PARTIES • MOVIES • OUTINGS • EXCURSIONS

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“Gifts of time and love aresurely the basic ingredients ofa truly merry Christmas.”~ Peg Bracken

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PLACES TO GO, PEOPLE TO MEET, & THINGS TO DO

Beach DayThursday, December 188:30 a.m. Island pickup8:40 a.m. Woodlands pickup8:50 a.m. Eagles Preserve pickup2:30 p.m. Approximate returnCost: $15.00 (BBQ included)We are firing up the grills for a Beach Day

Barbeque! Grab yourbeach essentials andbring your friends!Vanderbilt Beach is aquiet beach site withall the conveniences.And at this time of

year, Southwest Florida shorebirds areplentiful. They may even provide naturalentertainment.

Holidays at the EstatesTuesday, December 235:30 p.m. Island pickup5:40 p.m. Woodlands pickup5:50 p.m. Eagles Preserve pickup9:00 p.m. Approximate returnCost: $20.00

Spend the holidays with SouthwestFlorida’s first snowbirds, the Edison andFord families, at the 33rd annual Holidaysat the Estates event. The Estates will be litup for the season. There will be music inthe air and dancing all around. Seasonaldecorations will fill the 20 acres of gardensand trails. Docents and volunteers will beon site to field your questions during theself-guided tour. Make this special trip apart of your holiday celebration!

Christmas CantataThursday, December 254:15 p.m.Resident Activity Center/ISA chorus of Shell Point residents, alongwith their friends and families, present,“Let’s Party,” under the direction of Ruthand Ted Rodgers (Palm Acres). Your par-ticipation will make this a memorable fam-ily event. Refreshments will be served.

Movie Night:Race to the Moon:The Daring Adventureof Apollo 8 (1968)Monday, December 297:15 p.m.Manatee Room/ISOn Christmas Eve 1968, one of the largestaudiences in television history tuned in toa live telecast of the moon’s sur-face as seen from Apollo 8—the first manned space flightto orbit the moon. The his-toric journey captivated peoplearound the world and brought a

triumphal ending ofa year marked byassassinations, riotsand war. The inspir-ing documentaryreveals that withonly four months toprepare for the bold

and daring mission, the Apollo 8 astro-nauts were up against enormous odds. Itincludes images and audio of never beforebroadcast interviews with the astronautsand their wives, as well as journalists.

New Year’sEve Partyat the Crystal

Wednesday, December 314:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.Crystal Dining Room/ISEnjoy dinner at the Crystal complete withtheir signature spectacular service on NewYear’s Eve! Musical entertainment will beprovided by Patrick Menzies and the HighTide Steel Drummers amidst a colorfularray of decorations.

New Year’s EveElegance at thePalm GrillWednesday, December 31Dining: 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Entertainment: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Palm Grill/WDLThe Palm Grill will be hosting an eveningof elegance and serving New Year’s Evespecials, including a shrimp cocktail appe-tizer and rack of lamb entrée. Jazz musicwill be provided by the Repartee Duo fea-turing Dan Klimoski, who performs regu-larly at upscale establishments.

HAPPENINGS

23

25

“We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.”–Winston Churchill

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3118

31


Sign-up required for this activity. Call Island(454-2282) or Woodlands (454-2054)

Walkingrequired

Walking up anddown stairs

Boatingattire

Special event buswill be running

Mark Your Calendar

The following activities are planned by a variety of groups. All Shell Point residents are welcome to attend.Check your currentWeekly Reminder, or watch SPTV for locations and/or changes.

Sunday9:00 Christian Studies (WDL)9:15 Christian Life Studies10:15 Morning Worship1:15 Mixed Golf League6:15 Evening Service

Monday8:45 Lap Robes (Dec 1, 15)9:15 Billiards9:15 Pottery10:15 Virtual Bowling10:30 Disciple Men’s Bible Study12:00 Mah-Jongg (Sabal Rm./WDL)1:15 Table Tennis1:15 Scrabble1:15 Shuffleboard1:15 Tone Chimes2:00 Beading Club4:30 Bourne Jewelers (Egret Rm./IS)7:00 Pinochle6:45 Duplicate Bridge

Tuesday8:15 Stamp Project (Stamp Rm/IS)8:30 Women’s Golf League9:15 Painting Class10:15 Trim & Healthy12:45 Intro to Duplicate Bridge1:00 Mixed Progressive Pairs’ Bridge

1:30 Stamp Project (Sabal Rm/WDL)1:45 The Rollicking Recorderists6:45 Hymn Sing (Dec 16)

Wednesday7:45 Men’s Bible Study9:00-12:00 Geraci Travel9:15 Model Yacht Club (Dec 3)9:15 Watercolor Group9:45 Ladies’ Bible Study10:15 Model Yacht Club

(Garden Apt Pond)11:15 Computer Q & A (Dec 10

Osprey Room/IS)1:00 Chess1:15 Table Tennis2:15 Knitter’s Anonymous (Dec 17)2:30 Jazz ‘N Stuff3:00 Bible Study (King’s Crown)5:45 Village Church Choir Rehearsal7:15 Bible Study & Prayer

Thursday8:00 Men’s Golf League9:00 Paddler’s Club/IS9:30 Current Events Group10:15 Online Investors (Dec 18)1:15 Mac User (Dec 4)1:15 Mah-Jongg

(Library Lounge/RAC)

1:15 SPOT Play Readers (Dec 4, 18)2:15 Handwork Group (Dec 11)2:15 Photo Club (Dec 11)2:15 Computer Club (Dec 18)7:00 Trailblazers Bible Study resumes

in January

Friday8:15 Stamp Project (Stamp Rm/IS)8:00 Intrepid Bike Riders

(Dec 12, 26)10:15 Inquiring Minds10:15 Genealogy (Dec 12)1:00 Mixed Progressive Pairs’ Bridge1:15 Quilters1:15 Table Tennis1:30 Vespers (Arbor)2:00 Diabetes Group Appt. (Dec 5)2:45 Vespers (KC)3:15 Great Decisions (Dec 5, 19)6:45 Game Night

Saturday8:00 Adopt-a-Road (Dec 20)9:00 Coffee Social9:45 Bridge Supervised Play10:00 Information Forum (Dec 13)10:15 Model Yacht Club

(Garden Apt Pond)1:00 Chess6:45 Duplicate Bridge

Mark Your Calendar for 2009 ECHO’s 2009 Passport to the World Travel AdventureFilm and Luncheon Series at The Broadway PalmTheater — January, February, March 2009Enjoy up to four exciting films that will take you across the worldfrom Scotland to the Pacific Coast highway. Enjoy a buffet lunchat the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre and explore these exoticdestinations!

Friday, January 23 — Etched in Stone: Scotland toProvenceFriday, February 6 — Return to SwedenFriday, March 6 — Italy’s Fabled IslandsFriday, March 13 — Pacific Coast Top to Bottom

Sign up for the individual films begins in January. Tickets areavailable in limited quantity. Pick up begins at 10:30 a.m. Lunchat 11:30 a.m. Films begin at 1:00 p.m.

2009 Gala will be Unforgettable!Friday, January 9Church Auditorium/IS

The 2009 Gala hosted by the Legacy Foundation will beheld on Friday, January 9, 2009. There will be two seatings:afternoon and evening. The event will feature the music offavorite Broadway shows.Invitations will be mailed toresidents in December, butmark your calendar now forthis exciting event!


Recently a group of Shell Point resi-dents ventured off for an outing toKoreshan State Historic Site, which wasoffered through Shell Point’s “Academy onthe Go” program. Established in 1894, by Dr.Cyrus Teed, this historic site was to be the“New Jerusalem,” a utopian communal soci-ety based on hard workand a life free of crime,tobacco, and drugs.

Located directly onthe Estero River, theKoreshan site was once atrading post. TheKoreshans produced andtraded fruit, vegetables,baked goods, tools,kitchen items, art andmore. They even had

their own 1920 version of a 7-11 conven-ience store, right on the county road wenow call Tamiami Trail.

During the tour we learned about theKoreshan people, their way of life, the

history of the Koreshan State Historic Site,and the rise and fall of the community— allfrom tour guide, Claire Embrey. She sharedher vast knowledge of the historic site’sgrounds, it’s flora and fauna, and it’s monu-ments and many historic buildings.

Claire explained the Koreshan theory ofhow theybelieved life existed insidethe earth rather than on it’s surface.She pointed out some interestingvegetation that is found at the sitewhich often times originatedfrom the Thomas Edison Estate,like themonkeypuzzle treewhosecones weigh up to 18 pounds.

We learned about the cul-tural performances which theKoreshans held at their EsteroRiver stage, where boaters and

traders alike would stop by for a bit ofentertainment. It was a most enjoyable andinformative day at Koreshan State HistoricSite as we took a step back in time and theylearned about this very unique turn of thecentury community.

Trip to Koreshan State HistoricSite Enjoyable and Informative

Claire Embrey, pictured withGail Baumgarten (Rosemont),shared her wealth of knowledgewhile guiding the tour.

Above: The “Academy on the Go” group moves onto the next point of interest at Koreshan StateHistoric Site. This building, the Art Hall, displayedartwork and had a stage for small indoor musicalperformances.

The Damkohler House, 1882. The onlystanding structure on the property when Dr.Cyrus Teed arrived to begin the KoreshanSociety. The building served as the first liv-ing and dining quarters for the Koreshans.

Planetary Court, was home to the womenwho comprised the “Planetary Chamber”the governing council of the community.

B Y B E V R A D E M A C H E R P H O T O S B Y J A N V A N L E A R ( T U R B A N )

This year, millions of children around theworldwill experienceChristmas joywhenthey receive gift-filled shoeboxes sponsored bySamaritan’s Purse, an International ReliefAgency headed up by Franklin Graham.The Village Church participated in thisannual program and 122 boxes were con-tributed in an outpouring of generosity andlove. These boxes will follow a journeythat began with the individuals who

packed the box withtoys, school supplies, and necessity items andprayed for the child who will receive it. Theboxes were then dropped off at the Village

Church to be shipped to the offi-cial Processing Center wherethey will be inspected and pre-pared for shipment. The boxesare then shipped overseas tomore than 90 countries and dis-tributed by National LeadershipTeams to children in poor neigh-borhoods, refuge camps, orphan-ages, and hospitals.

Boxes of BlessingsVillage Church Participates inOperation Christmas Child

Left: Jerry Palmquist wheels them in.Right: Priscilla Waltz, Robert Waltz and DougJueckstock load the van.


Hospitality Services invitesyou to celebrateChristmasand New Year’s Day bychoosing one of our Shell Pointdining locations where the hol-iday season is always a joyousand festive occasion. Otheroptions are also available fortasty holiday food prepared foryou to serve in the comfort ofyour own home.

Island CafeThe Island Café is available for a casual

breakfast and lunch on Christmas Day.Whether you prefer a fresh baked pastry anda cup of coffee or a complete breakfastcooked to order from the grill, the IslandCafé staff will be ready to serve you. Or ifyou are having a traditional dinner later inthe day and would like a light lunch, theIsland Café is sure to please. The IslandCafé is open from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. onChristmas Day, and you can dine in or carryout. Regular hours 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. and serv-ice will be available on New Year’s Day.

Crystal RoomA traditional Christmas buffet will be

offered in the Crystal Room from 10 a.m. to2 p.m. Menu choices include hand-carvedprime rib of beef, roast turkey and bakedham, holiday favorite vegetables, and anarray of holiday desserts. The extensivesalad bar and freshly baked breads and rollswill also be ready and waiting. Seating in

the Crystal Room is based on the availabil-ity of tables. Parties of six or more can beaccommodated in the Social Center, but byreservation only. The same menu will beoffered in both locations. The deadline forgroup reservations in the Social Center isWednesday, December 17. Call 454-2199to make reservations. The Christmas buffetprice is $18.95.

Ring in the New Year on Thursday,January 1, at the Crystal Room with aSouthern traditional menu featuring roastpork and sauerkraut, black eyed peas, greensand cornbread. The Crystal Room will beopen for buffet service with our regularhours of 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. for lunch and4 – 7 p.m. for dinner.

Palm GrillThe Palm Grill will be featuring a spe-

cial Christmas dinner served from 11 a.m.until 3 p.m. Choose from appetizers likelobster bisque and North Pole shrimp cock-tail. Entree choices will include filet

mignon, roast turkey, surfand turf (boneless shortribs with pan sautéedscallops) or seafoodscampi. Entrees will beserved with a reindeersalad. Prices range from$20.95 to $23.95.Manager Tom Irwinreminds diners to make

sure to save room for Chef Joel’s homemadechocolate and raspberry Yule log, a PalmGrill tradition! For waited table service onChristmas, plan on dining at the PalmGrill. Reservations are not accepted. ThePalm Grill will be open for regular hoursand service on both New Year’s Eve andNew Year’s Day. Live music will be featuredfrom 5 – 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

Christmas Day HoursIsland Café: 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Crystal Room: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Promenade Café: closed 25th & 26thPalm Grill 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

New Years Day HoursIsland Café: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.Crystal Room: 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

and 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.Promenade Café: closed

Palm Grill: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.and 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

FIT FOR A FEASTCHRISTMAS & NEW YEARS DINING GUIDE

L I N D A R A K O S ,A S S I S T A N T

D I R E C T O R

H O S P I T A L I T Y

S E R V I C E S

ChristmasDayFamilyFeast

Make dinner easy on Christmas Day with theFAMILY FEAST, a deliciously-prepared dinnerincluding all the goodies: a whole-roastedturkey or baked ham, potatoes, dressing, gravy,cranberry sauce and a vegetable, all for just$45.95, Serves 8 people.DELUXE FEAST Add a pumpkin pie to theabove and one dozen dinner rolls for $49.50.To place your order call 454-2199, or visit theCrystal Room. Orders must placed by Dec. 17.

Have a traditional Christmas meal deliciously preparedfor you and ready to serve in your own home!


Kent Moors, Ph.D.International Oil Policy Expert

Friday, January 16at 7:00 p.m.

With crude oil, gasoline and diesel pricesreaching all-time highs, the availability andpricing of oil products have become majornational concerns. The effects extend wellbeyond the pump. Economic prospects,employment, national security, and theAmerican way of life are a stake. In a highlyengaging presentation, recognized interna-

tional oil authority Dr.Moors will answer the fol-lowing questions:

Howmuch oil is left?What causes the fluctu-ation in oil prices?What can the publicand the governments

do about it?

Moors is an internationally recognizedexpert in oil policy and finance, as well asnew techniques in energy risk management.He has been an advisor to the highest levelsof theUS, Russian, Kazakh, Bahamian, Iraqi,and Kurdish governments. He has also servedas a consultant to private companies, finan-cial institutions, and law firms in 23 coun-tries and has appeared over 1,000 times asfeatured television and radio commentator.

A professor in the Graduate Center forSocial and Public Policy at Duquesne

University, where he also directs the EnergyPolicy ResearchGroup, Dr.Moors has devel-oped international educational programs, rantraining sessions for agencies of the US gov-ernment, and served as an external implica-tions consultant to strained policy areas.

Chris WallaceVeteran Journalist and Host of Fox

News SundayMonday, February 9, at 7:00 p.m.

Veteran broadcast journalist ChrisWallace is the host of FoxNews Sunday withChris Wallace. As host of FNS,Wallace hassecured interviews with many leading news-makers, including all of the leading con-tenders for the 2008 Presidential campaign,top national and of international figuresincluding former President Bill Clinton.

Before joining Fox, Wallace worked atABC News for 15 years, where he served asthe chief correspondent for PrimetimeThursday, and as an alternate for Nightline.During his career, Wallace has won everymajor award for broadcast journalism.

In 2004, Wallace wrote Character:Profiles in Presidential Courage. The book waswidely touted as an informative study ofAmerican presidential leadership. Prior tojoining ABC News, Wallace was with NBCNews, where he served as the chief WhiteHouse correspondent from 1982-1989.While at NBC News, Wallace covered the1980, 1984, and 1988 presidential campaignsas well as the Democratic and Republican

conventions in those years. Wallace alsoanchored Meet the Press from 1987-1988,and anchored the Sunday edition of NBCNightly News from 1982-1984 and 1986-1987. He joined NBC as a reporter withWNBC-TV in New York City in 1975.

Barrie M. SchwortzShroud of Turin Photographer

Thursday, March 19at 7:00 p.m.

The Shroud ofTurin is a centuries oldlinen cloth that bearsthe image of a crucifiedman, that millionsbelieve to be Jesus ofNazareth. Is it reallythe cloth that wrappedhis crucified body, or is it simply a medievalforgery or, a hoax perpetrated by some cleverartist? Modern science has completed hun-

A Cultural Extravanga!Well-known Speakers Bring Interesting ProgramsB Y D A W N B O R E N , D I R E C T O R O F R E S I D E N T L I F E

Wearepleased tooffer somethingnewin the 2009 program line up, the inau-gural Speaker Series. We introduced ourFine and Performing Arts Series to bringquality musicians to our community, and itis our same goal to bring quality speakers toour Shell Point stage.

This Speaker Series addition was areflection of our resident’s interests. Overthe past several years we have seen a grow-ing interest by our residents for intellectual

offerings, in addition to the Academy lec-tures and courses offered at a higher scholas-tic level. Last spring we asked the question,“Would you support a ticket Speaker Series,similar to the caliber of the Fine andPerforming Arts Series?” The response wasvery favorable, so we went forward in ourplanning.

We believe our line of distinguishedspeakers, along with timely topics of inter-est, make for an exciting series. One of the

reasons Speaker Series are so popular is thepersonal engagement with the audience.One can see and hear these popular speakers“live” as they tell you their experiences,behind-the-scenes stories, and field ques-tions from the audience. Each speaker givesyou an opportunity to learn more whileassessing, developing, and coming to yourown conclusions about the speaker andtopic.

Wallace

Moors

A Look at The Upcoming Speakers Series:

Continued next page

Schwortz


Great GivingThe IRS has made a GivingOpportunity Available

InOctober, Congress approved andPresident Bush signed into legislation theimmediate and retroactive extension of thepopular Pension Protection Act of 2006provision, which allows taxpayers over 701/2 to make tax-free distributions fromtheir traditional and Roth IRAs directly tocharity in 2008 and 2009.

For more information on how to takeadvantage of this tax-wise giving strategy,please contact Timothy Stephenson at TheLegacy Foundation at 466-8484.

Claudia and Mike Bourne, bothcertified bench jewelers, have ownedand operated Bourne Jewelers since1994 and have been providing finejewelry sales and repair service toSouthwest Floridians and residents ofShell Point for more than 30 years.

Bourne Jewelers will come to ShellPoint’s Egret Room each Monday at4:30 p.m. to provide jewelry repair;pearl and bead stringing; watch repairand battery replacement. They alsooffer the option to custom design orredesign a piece of jewelry youalready own.

Minor repairs will be completedon site. For more precise repairs orcustom designs, your jewelry will betaken to their shop and returned toyou on the following Monday. All jew-elry will be insured the entire time it isin the possession of Bourne Jewelers.Bourne Jewelers looks forward toserving Shell Point.

2008 Financial Market Wrap Up

dreds and thousands of hours of detailedstudy and intense research on the Shroud. Itis, in fact, themost-studied artifact in history.

Barrie Schwortz was the OfficialPhotographer for the Shroud of TurinResearch Project, the team that conductedthe first in-depth scientific examination ofthe Shroud in 1978.

Mr. Schwortz has conducted Shroud lec-tures around the world and is often calledupon as a leading imaging expert. He hasparticipated in programs on the many cablechannels, CNN,CBS,NBC, PBS, and BBC.His photographs have appeared in hundredsof books and publications including TimeMagazine, Life, Newsweek, and NationalGeographic, as well as in countless television

documentaries. He continues to participatein Shroud research using the latest digitalimaging technologies and has co-authored abook with Ian Wilson, titled, “The TurinShroud: The Illustrated Evidence.”

Barrie Schwortz will share the 30 yearhistory of the Shroud, key scientific elementsabout the Shroud, behind the scenesaccounts with the research team, and hisown personal story of how the Shroud ofTurin has impacted his life.

We invite you, and look forward to see-ing you at the first Shell Point SpeakerSeries. Tickets for the entire SpeakerSeries, including all three speakers, areavailable for $90.00. Call 454-2067 forinformation.

Jewelry Repairand Design

Service Comes toShell Point

Give the Gift of Culture toYourself or a Loved OneFour concerts remain in the Shell Point Concert Seriesand there is a special opportunity to save when youpurchase the remaining series for $120, that’s just $30per concert! Take advantage of this special offer toattend these wonderful concerts and enjoy the tal-ents of so many highly talented performers. Call 454-2067 to order your specially-priced four-pack ofconcert series tickers today.

Save on These Upcoming ConcertsChanticleer • Butch Thompson •

Cherish the Ladies • Peter Richard Conte

L E G A C Y S E M I N A R

2008 Market Wrap UpDecember 1010:00 a.m.

Grand Cypress RoomSpeakers:

David Moreland, Associate VicePresident, and Jason Scoggins,Vice President, Financial Advisors

with Morgan Stanley

By any measure the investmentmarkets have been as volatile as wehave seen for many years. It hasimpacted many and caused uncer-tainty about our investment strategiesand portfolio composition. JasonScoggins and David Moreland willdiscuss what has happened in 2008and their take on the outlook for2009. Join us for this practical discus-sion of money, markets and investing.

4 concerts

for $120

Continued from previous page


The trackgang, engineandcarmechanics, electricians,and landscapers, have been busyupgrading and beautifying theGulf Coast Model Railroad.Resident volunteers have addedmore than 30 feet of passing sid-ings and yard tracks for storage,and over 35 turnouts andcrossovers to allowmore realisticoperation of the trains. Theyhave also added new trains andrepainted and re-lettered some ofthe existing stock to recapture the era of the50’s and 60’s. The railroad now features theAtlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard AirLine railroads, which operated over most ofFlorida; the Florida East Coast Railway,which still operates in Florida; and theLouisville and Nashville railroad whichcame to Florida from the west. This pastspring volunteers created their ownTropicana juice train, depicting the unit

train of refrigerator cars that still runs dailyfrom the processing plant in Bradenton tothe distribution plant in New Jersey.

The improved model railroad now alsofeatures the Autotrain, the presentAmtrack, and the more colorful predeces-sor, carrying passengers and their automo-biles between Sanford, Florida, andLorton, Virginia. They even incorporateda “Doodlebug,” a self-propelled two-car

train, which was used in branch-line oper-ation between Tampa and Fort Myers dur-ing that era.

The landscaping upgrades include more

Gulf Coast Model Railroad Volunteers Spruce Upthe Track with Upgrades and New Additions

The Edison House building is built to scale.

Engineering manager,Denny Arndt (Parkwood),adjusts the tracks. Denny

engineered new trackadditions to allow for a

more realistic layout.

Paul and Babs Schnoes (Eagles Preserve) addtrees to the Everglades section of the railway..

We’ve Been Working


than 300 additional trees built by members.In addition, people, cars and buildings suchas the Edison house, have been added toreflect our era. Each addition has been part ofamulti-year plan to upgrade all of the displayto conform to these criteria.

The new engine roundhouse includes aworking turntable with caboose and locomo-

tive storage tracks that are filled with equip-ment ready for service.

Model railroading is a terrific hobby.Besides running and working on the trains,one can learn about electronics, model build-ing and painting, landscaping, and more.Many volunteermembers welcome and assist

our visitors as greeters and docents. Join in onthe fun! Visit the train room and talk withone of the volunteers to find out how you canbe a part of this ever growing hobby.

Plan a Visit Today!The Train Room is located in theTunnel onThe Island. Regular operat-ing hours for guided tours areMonday,Wednesday, and Friday 1:30 p.m. to3:30 p.m. Group tours are also avail-able by appointment. To schedule agroup tour for your court or family,please callMary Franklin at 454-2152.We also welcome outside groups suchas churches, schools, or local civicgroups. So, be sure to include a visit tothe train room in your court’s socialcalendar soon!

Phil Steen (Coquina) adjusting the Autotrain.

Engine and car mechanic, Bill Benysh (SandDollar), works on a car adjustment at his station.

Ann Cassidy (Lucina) builds treesfor the railroad’s landscaping.

Above: The engine roundhouse includesa working turntable with caboose andlocomotive storage tracks that are filledwith equipment ready for service.

on the Railroad BY PHIL STEEN

The Doodlebug entering Fort Myers Depot.


Oh, Canada!In October, nearly 40 Shell Point residents packed

their warm coats and headed to Montreal for the startof their 10-day cruise on the Holland America,Maasdam.

After spending the first night in downtown Montreal,everyone embarked the ship. The first day in port wasspent in the historical Quebec City which was celebratingits 400 year legacy. The crisp air was a reminder thatFlorida was thousands of miles away as residents strolledthrough the city. A few Canada cruisers even enjoyed teain the charming Chateau Frontenac.

After a day at sea, everyone was anxious for a visit toCharlottetown, Prince Edward Island, which is the smallestand greenest province in Canada. Of course, a lot of trav-elers enjoyed a tour of the Anne of Green Gables home-stead including horse drawn tours and the first glimpse offall leaves.

The next two days were spent in Sydney and Halifax,Nova Scotia. In Sydney, many were in awe over the dra-matic sights along the Cabot Trail. Others enjoyed therich history of music the area had to offer. Also intriguingwas the influence of the native culture and of AlexanderGraham Bell.

A lot of pictures were taken at the rustic but charming fish-ing village in Halifax at Peggy’s Cove. No matter if travel-ers toured the titanic museum, or learned the history ofHalifax, they were delighted with the town’s charm.

Dr. George Irwin of Oakmont (right) with daughter and JanetJohnson and son-in-law Michael Johnson.

A busy street in Quebec City

Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City

caption


The fist sight of clear sun-shine day was in Bar Harbor,Maine. Of course, those whowent to Acadia National

Park raved about the views on top of the highest peak alongthe Eastern Coastline, Cadillac Mountain. Many savored adelectable lobster lunch while on land as well as during theCaptain’s Farewell dinner the next night on the ship. Thethree relaxing days at sea on the Maasdam were just what thetravelers needed before returning to their busy lives of volun-teering, attending events and visiting with their friends at ShellPoint. It was a wonderful trip, with fond memories!

Peggy’s Cove in Halifax

Almost 40 Shell Point residents enjoyedcruising together on the Maasdam.

Paul and Lois Marino(Rosemont) at Captain’sDinner

Above: Joan Hackle (Rosemont)and Martha Holmes (Parkwood).Left: Pat Webster (Sand Dollar)and Sharon Bermel (Cameo).

Never underestimate the powerof love to change the world. Agroup of residents of ShellPoint have been doing just

that – one ball of yarn at a time – for morethan thirty years.

KnittersAnonymouswas founded at ShellPoint in 1974 byHilda Doane whowanted touse her knitting ability, and the talents of otherretired ladies, to give to those inneed. She andsix other ladies became the firstmembers of theministry group, which beganworking throughTheChristian andMissionaryAlliance to knitand donate a variety of useful items to severalorphanages, organizations helping Vietnamrefugees, and Native Indians in Arizona andNewMexico.At its peak,KnittersAnonymoushad about eighty volunteers.

In addition to founding the KnittersAnonymous group, Hilda set up an endow-ment so that the interest pays for all thesupplies and for the cost of mailing. Anyfunds left over at the end of each year goesto the Great Commission Fund (GCF).Since its beginning, there have been fundsleft over from the Knitters Anonymousgroup and a donation has been madeevery year. This allows the money fromthe foundation to go twice as far, first asthe actual knitted items that are distrib-uted to those in need and then as a finan-cial gift to the GCF.

In 1998, Irene Shareski (Sundial)came to the Knitters Anonymousgroup. At that time, there were thirtyactive Shell Point volunteers withseven to eight additional knitters inPort Charlotte contributing to theministry. That number has stayed rel-atively the same for the past ten years.Irene is the Knitters Anonymous coor-dinator, which means she buys all thesupplies, organizes the monthly meetings,and (with the help of her husband) packsand ships the finished products. Irene sends

out a final shipment at the end ofJune – the end of the annual cycle.

In addition to the caps, sweaters,scarves, and afghans the group nowknits for the Indian Mission Group

and World Relief, volunteers make babyitems for a Crisis Center for Teens inPennsylvania. They also make lap robes andsocks for Shell Point’s Larsen Pavilion asneeded. Since 1974, more than 27,000 itemshave been sent out from the KnittersAnonymous group, including caps, sweaters,scarves, afghans, and more.

Irene has a book packed full of thankyou letters, cards, and photos expressingheart-felt gratitude for these gifts. One let-ter reads, “Thank you so much …Last win-ter we were able to supply numerous refugeefamilies with your gifts to keep them warmduring the cold weather.” Another one fromthe Crisis Center for Teens says, “Yourefforts have blessed many moms and babieswith that rare itemmade by hand. You haveprovided warmth and comfort for manybabies.” A letter from the Indian MissionGroup reads, “Thank you one and all who

had a part in these most beautiful gifts. TheIndian people who receive these gifts appre-ciate all your loving work…” And, fromWorld Relief “… we are welcoming a num-ber of new families from Russia at themoment. They are ethnic Turks who haveendured years of discrimination… enclosedare a few photos… Thank you…”

What a great ministry! Although thevolunteers take the summer off from hold-ing monthly meetings, many continue toknit during the off-months of June, July,August, and September and bring the fin-ished items with them to the first meetingin October. If you have a desire to partici-pate, Knitters Anonymous meets the thirdWednesday of the month, from October toMay, in the resident activity Osprey Room.

Arnie and Irene Shareski get ready to shipanother batch of knitted items to those in need.

Several Knitters Anonymous members withtheir creations, clockwise, leftto right, Florence Vanatta;Rachael Fox; IreneShareski; Nancy Cleaver;Sue Goodell; andNancy Steiner.

Knitters Anonymous:Spreading LoveKnitters Anonymous:Spreading Love One Ball of Yarn at a Time


Aromatherapy uses liquid plantmate-rials, knowas essential oils, for the pur-pose of affecting a person’s mood or health.The use of aromatherapy is becoming morepopular when addressing a person’s totalhealth of mind, body and spirit.

There are a variety of ways to fill yoursurroundings with the pleasant aromas ofessential oils. Essential oils can be added tocandle wax, diffusers or water in a spray bot-tle, a satchel of dried herbs, or moisturizinglotions and oils. Humidifiers and vaporizerscan also be used but are not recommendedfor asthmatics.

Popular aromas for the holiday season arecinnamon and peppermint. Cinnamon datesback to biblical times. Moses was told byGodto take cinnamon with him from Egypt.Psychologically, cinnamon is said tostrengthen resolve, banish depression, andfight melancholy feelings. Cinnamon iswarming and encourages the joyful feelings of

Christmas and the holiday season and a cupof hot tea offers soothing comfort.

Peppermint makes us think of candycanes on a Christmas tree. This sweet scentalso empowers us and strengthens swift clearthinking. Psychologically, it is also said thatpeppermint allows us to digest new ideasmore easily. Peppermint can aid in the set-tling of an upset stomach, quiet the symp-toms of a cold as a decongestant and work asan antiseptic.

For some, the holiday season can be adifficult time of the year. Surrounding your-self with uplifting aromas can help improveyour spirit of joyfulness. Geranium,Chamomile, Jasmine and Lavender arecalming and peaceful scents. They battledepression, sadness, and tension. Listed is a

summary of each aroma and some of the pos-sible benefits.

Geranium: cuts, sores, fungal infections,skin problems, eczema, bruises, anti-depres-sant and insect repellant.Chamomile: indigestion, acne, eczema,soothing to skin conditions, calming.Jasmine: anti-depressionLavender: headaches, wounds, bruises,antiseptic, insect bites, oily skin, acne,swelling, calming insomnia, mild depression.

One essential oil to steer clear of is win-tergreen. Wintergreen is listed as a toxin inregulatory agencies of many countries.Some aroma therapists are calling for a worldwide ban of this aroma due to its potential tobe toxic.

Essential oils are extremely beneficialwhen used during massage and skin caretreatments to further enhance the experi-ence. For a limited time, aromatherapy iscomplimentary with all facials and massageperformed by The Salon. This is a savings of$8. Ask your salon professional what essen-tial oil is best for you.

Enjoy the holiday season with warming,calming scents and, of course, the companyof good friends to celebrate the birth of ourLord Jesus.Merry Christmas from all ofthe Salon staff!

Scents of the SeasonComforting Cinnamon Lifts Your Spirits

B Y R O B Y N C H U R C H , M A N A G E R O F T H E S H E L L P O I N T S A L O N

Receive 5% additional value FREE on

Gift certificates$20 - $149

Receive 10% additional value FREE on

Gift certificates$150 and up

*Additional value will be added to gift certificate total.Not valid with any other offer. Expires 12-31-08.

*Additional value will be added to gift certificate total.Not valid with any other offer. Expires 12-31-08.

This holiday season, give the gift of a haircut, pedicure, manicure, facial, or massagetherapy. Get 10% more free when you purchase gift certificates over $150!

For information call 489-8400.

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Have you heard? There’s a newSuzy Q at Shell Point!

According to resident Jim Kessler(Nautilus), a captain on the Suzy Q, “TheSuzy Q got her start twenty-five years ago asa small boat, holding just 4 to 6 people, offer-ing Shell Point residents the opportunity totake short tours of the local area mangroves.”

As the popularity of the river tours grew,the original Suzy Q became worn down andoutgrown. She was offered a relaxing retire-ment and was replaced by the Suzy Q II.However, following years of loyal service, theSuzy Q II faced a similar fate. She passed thetorch onto the Suzy Q III, which broughtmore space, more charm, and allowed foreven more passengers to enjoy scenic toursof the waters surrounding Shell Point.

The Suzy Q III, and her crew of volun-teers, devoted eight years of service to ShellPoint residents and their guests. So when Ed

Budd (Turban) made a generous donation topurchase a new boat, in memory of his wifeEllen, the Suzy Q III was sold and this final-ized the ability to purchase the Suzy Q IV.

Dedication CeremonyIn October, the Suzy Q IV and her crew,

along with members of the Shell Pointadministration, welcomed residents and theirguests to the boat docks for a dedication cel-ebration. The 26 foot Fiesta Tritoon boatfloated proudly along the dock as TimStephenson, the Executive Director of theLegacy Foundation; Dawn Boren, theDirector of Resident Life; and Peter Dys, thePresident of Shell Point, discussed the his-tory of the Suzy Q and the continuing valueof philanthropy.

Pastor KenNesselroade brought the ded-ication to a close with a blessing of the boatand crew. Following a ceremonial ribbon cut-ting, the first passengers boarded the SuzyQ IV while zipping up the brand new lifejackets that were donated by Jackie Jackson(Eagles Preserve). As the Suzy Q IVembarked on her maiden voyage the crowdcheered from the shore, no doubt lookingforward to their opportunity to set sail onthe new boat.

Whether you prefer to stick aroundShell Point for a mangrove tour, ventureout for lunch at Rumrunners, or spend the

day on a shopping excursion, the Suzy Q hasthe trip for you. Mangrove and lunch toursare offered each Monday through Thursday,and shopping trips take place on the secondFriday of every month.

Book Your Next TripYou can schedule your trip on the Suzy Q IVby visiting the greeter desk in the ResidentActivity Center or by calling 454-2136. TheSuzy Q tours will depart from the new dock-ing location behind The Village Church.

Ed Budd and Jackie Jackson cut the ribbon atthe new boat’s christening party. Budd donateda gift to purchase the boat and Jackie gave a

gift to purchase new life jackets.

There’s a New Suzy Q in Town

President Peter Dys

Shell Point Life December 2008

Documents

Transcript of Shell Point Life December 2008