November 14, 2008

News from the Villages

Stone speaks to SIRS

“Schools drive property values. Anyone who votes against a school measure is not acting in their best financial interest.” Larry Stone, Santa Clara County Assessor (center), and Larry Martinson, Big Sir (left), and Burt Lancaster, Little Sir, are all smiles here prior to Stone’s talk to the members and guests at the Sons in Retirement, Branch 114 luncheon meeting at the Villages Clubhouse on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Stone was first elected to his present position in 1994 after serving as mayor in Sunnyvale. More information on the Office of the Assessor is available at www.scc.assessor.org.

Photo/Caption by Thom Harney.

Pat Heffernan receives Distinguished Member award

Sons in Retirement, Branch 114 presented Pat Heffernan (left) the “Distinguished Member Award” at the luncheon held at the Clubhouse at the Villages on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Heffernan is currently serving as Treasurer and has done so for the past five years. The “Distinguished Member Award” is made twice yearly.

Photo/Caption by Thom Harney.

Bob Denike named Member of the Month

Bob Denike received the “Member of the Month” award from Burt Lancaster, Little Sir, at the Sons in Retirement, Branch 114 luncheon at the Clubhouse at the Villages on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Photo/Caption by Thom Harney.

Local educator/writer to address ‘Villagers’

In November and early December, Dr. Rod Cryer will lead a series of workshops at the Villages Golf and Country Club about the ecology of the Villages and the prospects of installing alternative energy systems at the Villages.

The presentations, sponsored by the Senior Academy for Education, are titled, “What you never knew about the Villages” to be presented on Nov. 17 and Nov. 21 (3 to 5:30 p.m.) and “How we can keep the green in Evergreen” on Dec. 4 (7 to 8:30 p.m.).

As a former teacher and school administrator, Cryer has maintained lifelong interests in both science and writing.
For the last three years he has been accumulating out-of-the-ordinary information about his “Villages” retirement home. Information from the United States Geological Service concerning the local area’s geology, together with his ongoing studies of indigenous plants and animals in the area have lead him to discover a series of unexpected facts about the immediate area.

Republican Club prepared to vote

By Gary Hill
Special to the Times

Dr. Gloria Hom and Club vice-president Bill Eckert discussed the propositions on the General Election ballot.

More than 150 Villagers attended the Oct. 28 general dinner meeting of the Republican Club to hear Dr. Gloria Hom speak about the upcoming election. Dr. Hom reviewed the pros and cons of the 12 propositions to be voted upon in the General Election. Her analysis was in depth, impartial, and non-partisan so that attendees would unbiased information with which to make their decisions.

Dr. Hom is a favorite speaker of the Villages. She has an MA in International Relations from San Jose State and a doctorate in Organization and Leadership from the University of San Francisco. She has taught at Mission College, West Valley College, Foothill and DeAnza Colleges and San Jose State. Hom has received numerous awards from the California State University system, California State Board of Education, U.S. Department of Education and the White House.

Prior to Dr. Hom’s presentation, Cliff Black, superintendent of Evergreen Elementary Schools and Kathy Shepard discussed Measure T. Measure T would raise revenue to provide smaller classroom sizes and more instruction in music and arts for Evergreen elementary students.

The next general meeting of the Republican club will be the annual Christmas luncheon in the Clubhouse on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Officers for 2009 will be installed and Toys for Tots will be collected with the San Jose fire department.