Club of the Month

A league of their own

Club of the Month, Village Edition | October 1, 2014

PHOTOS: James Combs Beautiful artwork portraying Tuscan fields, white egrets and New England resorts grabbed the attention of several hundred curious onlookers at The Villages Art League’s “Silver Anniversary Art Exhibit.” The opening of the exhibit, held Aug. 18 inside the Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center, showcased watercolors, oils, acrylics and pastels from 10 current and former VAL presidents. Among them is 90-year-old Eleanor Simmons, who…

CLUB OF THE MONTH: The Villages Geocaching Club

Club of the Month, Village Edition | September 1, 2014

Gotta ‘cache’ ’em all Julie Wheeler is living proof you’re never too old for a little high-tech hide and seek. A Villager, Julie Wheeler spends much of her time geocaching, a fun-filled treasure hunt that blends outdoor adventure with new technology. But she’s not seeking gold or silver; instead, she’s searching for hidden containers — caches — that contain a logbook and small items. Finders…

CLUB OF THE MONTH: A collection of memories

Club of the Month, Village Edition | August 1, 2014

PHOTO: JAMES COMBS Villager Stu Sachs has a treasure trove of baseball memorabilia. When it comes to preserving baseball tradition, Villager Stu Sachs is batting a thousand. He has a collection of more than 500 baseballs signed by the greats, among them Willie Mays, Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. He even has a ball that was autographed by the entire 1955 World Series champion Brooklyn…

CLUB OF THE MONTH: Band of brothers

Club of the Month, Village Edition | July 1, 2014

Police officers and firefighters share camaraderie and good times. STORY: James Combs PHOTO: Matthew Gaulin As a New York City police officer, protecting Pope John Paul II was one of Jack McTigue’s most memorable duties. “My biggest fear was something would happen to him on my watch,” says Jack. “Fortunately, nothing bad happened. To this day he was one of the most special people I’ve…

CLUB OF THE MONTH: Fab Four-ever

Club of the Month, Village Edition | June 1, 2014

When it comes to The Beatles, Jim Fraser is a walking encyclopedia. “I read books on The Beatles all the time. I am a Beatle-ologist. But I only have a bachelor’s degree, not a doctorate,” he jokes. As a resident of Boston, Jim was lead guitarist in a Beatles tribute band that played together from 1990 to 2011. The band, called Magical Mystery Four, performed…

CLUB OF THE MONTH: ‘Paws’itive interaction

Club of the Month, Village Edition | April 1, 2014

STORY: James Combs PHOTOS: Provided Dogs that visit local health care facilities are cute, cuddly, and calming. It seems like an ordinary day at a local nursing home, but suddenly the facility comes alive. The sounds of paws marching across the tile floor soon follow with conversation and laughter. As assisted living residents bond with the dogs, smiles form across their faces, a sure sign…

CLUB OF THE MONTH: Armed with love

Club of the Month, Village Edition | March 1, 2014

story: Fred Hilton photo: Fred Lopez Operation Shoebox supports the needs of troops serving abroad and returning home. They sacrifice their time, their families and in some cases, their lives. They suffer through daily assaults of missiles, bullets, and grenades. And the emotional and physical wounds they bear sometimes never heal. No wonder many people are so enthusiastic about supporting American soldiers. That’s precisely what…

CLUB OF THE MONTH: Eating Raw

Club of the Month, Village Edition | January 1, 2014

For the past four years, 80 percent of what Jean Sumner has eaten has been raw, unprocessed food. Among her favorite entrees are raw spaghetti, raw tacos, zucchini noodles marinara, and raw pumpkin pie. Maintaining a raw food diet takes an incredible amount of willpower, especially in today’s world where fast-food restaurants and microwave ovens adequately accommodate busy lifestyles. Still, Jean says the health benefits…

CLUB OF THE MONTH: The Villages Straight Shooters Club

Club of the Month, Village Edition | November 1, 2013

STICKING TO THEIR GUNS story: James Combs photo: Fred Lopez If you hear residents of The Villages say they are going to the range, you cannot automatically assume they are looking to improve their golf swing or increase their driving distance. An increasingly growing number of Villages residents are going to the range to learn how to shoot firearms effectively and improve their marksmanship. They…

CLUB OF THE MONTH: Two for the road

Club of the Month, Village Edition | October 1, 2013

STORY: James Combs // PHOTOS: Bob Anderson Many people jokingly refer to tandem bicycles as divorce machines. In fact, tandem bikers have a popular saying: “However your marriage is going, riding a tandem will get you there faster.” That’s understandable, as couples who typically argue over everything may find that sharing intimate space on a bicycle can be potentially disastrous. However, it has had the…