October 3, 2008

News from the Villages

Record attendance at Republican Club meeting

The Villages Republican Club attracted a sell-out crowd on Sept. 22. to hear Bill Whalen (above), a research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He studies and writes on current events and political trends, with an emphasis on California’s political landscape. He has served as a media consultant for such California political hopefuls and winners as Governor Schwarzenegger, Bill Jones, Tom Campbell and Richard J. Riordan. Appearances on CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, C-SPAN, National Public Radio and CNBC are part of this distinguished man’s background. He gave interesting insights from his perspective on the upcoming presidential election campaign.

He told reporters two months ago to look at Sarah Palin. He mentioned that, at a rally at The Villages in Florida, she drew a crowd of 60,000. He said McCain should make points of the extremely low rating and failure of Congress and how he can fix it. He recalled that, against great odds, Truman did in 1948 and won.

Pat Waite, candidate for City Council District 8, made brief comments about his upcoming campaign and encouraged our members to volunteer to help.

Donna Roberson and her wonderful committee served a delicious BBQ lunch in the Foothill Center. (Photo by Lou Rosenberg)

(from left to right) Steve Preminger, Chair, Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee.; Diane Ritchie, Candidate for Superior Court Judge, County of Santa Clara.; Will H. Ector, Jr. Director, Human Resources, Evergreen School District, is shown here holding a sign urging “YES” on “Measure T” for the schools.

Open microphone popular with guests at annual Democratic Club Barbecue

Freedom of speech is alive and well at the Villages. Soon after the invited guests arrived and gathered to speak and interact with the very interested membership assembled at the Foothill Center as the enticing aroma of barbecued sirloin wafted around the doorways on Sunday, Sept. 14 for the Annual Democratic Club at the Villages Barbecue; the open microphone took center stage after being started off by Club President Norm Tarowsky with a hearty welcome for all.

Shanarella

The Brandeis University National Women’s Committee from The Villages presented a musical, Shanarella, at its Study Group Showcase luncheon at Michaels at Shoreline on Sept. 23. The Brandeis players were (left to right): Joyce Mendel, Carol Kulakofsky, Marcia Sternin, Ursula Friedeberg, Gail Fisher, Fred Stern (pianist) and Barbara Tommaney (writer and director). (Photo by Judy Stein)