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SHERWOOD OAKS NEWSLETTER
100 Norman Drive, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066
www.sherwood-oaks.com
October 2021 “For the residents, by the residents” Vol. 22, No. 8
Ready or not, Hallowe’en is coming!
Design by Patty Ritter Photo by Rabe Marsh
Display in Backyard of Unit #298
1
Gentle Readers: OCTOBER CALENDAR
Life goes on, pandemic or no pandemic.
As this issue goes to press, we have National Poetry Day Oct. 1
learned that three more couples will be Indigenous Peoples’ Day Oct. 11
moving into Sherwood Oaks. Outside
Global Cat Day Oct. 16
groups are beginning to present pro-
grams for us in the auditorium, and World Food Day Oct. 16
committees are resuming their work. United Nations Day Oct. 24
Little by little, trips and tours are tempting Hallowe’en Oct. 31
us to leave our nests and fly. Meanwhile,
the summer temperatures continue, and
our landscape remains mostly green and
growing. (See the back cover for some of THE ACORN
the current and unusual highlights!) Editor
October also reminds us of Hallowe’ens Rosemary Coffey
of the past. Do you remember licorice rosemarycoffey@aol.com
shoelaces and candy corn? Not being Staff
able to recognize a 4th-grade classmate Ruth Becker, Special Projects
in costume? Being scared when you Rabe Marsh, Photographer
were out after dark? Look throughout this Jan Wendt, Profile Coordinator
issue for memories of seasons past. Production Editor
It’s also not too soon to think about Tabby Alford
Thanksgiving. Do you have memories to Ex Officio
share along the lines of “It wouldn’t be Annette McPeek
Thanksgiving without…,” or maybe “It Submissions for the November issue must
won’t be Thanksgiving without…”? be sent to the Editor no later than
Please share your thoughts (100 words October 15, 2021.
or fewer!) about celebrating the occasion,
to be included in the November issue.
Accompanying photos are also welcome.
Put submissions in the ACORN mail
slot or send them to . Memories are precious possessions that time can
never destroy. For it is in happy remembrance
We’re also always happy to receive that the heart finds its greatest joy.
comments about ACORN content and
suggestions for articles to come. Hugh Moore
August 25, 2021
The ACORN Staff
Maurice Thomas
Pharmacist: A helper on the farm. September 1, 2021
Parasites: What you see from the top of Melvin Judkis
the Eiffel Tower. September 3, 2021
Polarize : What penguins see with.
2
KATHERINE McCORMICK - #188 some 40-50 relatives is held. Her mom
By Barbara Scruggs - #317 was one of 11, and her dad, one of 5.
Kathie was a secondary school teacher,
and she “loved teaching.” She had
majored in history, and, with a BA from
Bucknell and an MAT from Northwestern,
she taught history and geography. Then,
in response to an increasing demand for
the classics, she switched to teaching
Latin in grades 8-12, which she
considered to be “great fun.” To expand
her expertise in this area, she took Latin
courses at Westminster College in
summer school.
Kathie has many interests, which she
actively pursues: classes through the
Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR),
reading (especially historical fiction and
mysteries), attending plays and concerts,
and traveling. A particularly memorable
Photo by Rabe Marsh
trip was a land and small-cruise ship
I have to say that spending time with excursion to Alaska that she and Mick
Kathie McCormick is rejuvenating! She enjoyed immensely.
and Betsy, her very large, very friendly
Then, of course, there are the animals. In
Alaskan Malamute, make one feel most
addition to Betsy, who, she says, will be
welcome and comfortable in a very
her last Malamute, she has two cats, Yeti
relaxing lounge chair on her bright,
and Zoe. Actually, when she was
supersized, enclosed patio!
researching retirement facilities, a major
Born in Toronto, Kathie moved to the factor in favor of Sherwood Oaks was
States when she was six. She continues that she’d be able to keep all three
to hold dual citizenship. In 1965, she animals!
married Mick McCormick, who sadly died
So … weary of caring for a large house
in 2018, after they had 52 years together.
on 36 acres of land in Penn Twp. (Butler
They had raised and trained Alaskan
County), she made the decision to come
Malamutes – a very large and strong
here – and we are very glad she did.
breed, often used as sled dogs. Usually,
they had about 12 dogs at a time. Welcome, Kathie! We are delighted that
you are here.
Kathie and Mick had no children, but
Kathie’s very large family provided lots of
nieces and nephews and cousins to love
and spoil. One cousin actually lived with
them from age 13 to 18. Most of her Never in a million years could I have
family members live in Canada, where imagined I would go up to a bank teller
about every other year a grand reunion of wearing a mask and asking for money.
3
CHAPEL NOTES such as needlework, weaving, etc., or
By Gary Brandenberger - #602, paintings or drawings of any kind.
for the Chapel Committee Also, I hope some of you may be think-
Services begin at 2 p.m. in the ing about what I suggested in the last
Auditorium Acorn ‒ that those who do paint or sketch
EVERYONE WELCOME might consider using Sherwood Oaks
scenes as their subjects, for a display to
Sunday, October 3 be held a year from now. This is to give
Rev. Jean Henderson you time to do works that reflect the four
World Wide Communion Sunday seasons in our lovely location. Wouldn't it
be great if we could feature these paint-
Sunday, October 10 ings in other bulletins such as the UPMC
Rev. David Paul community magazines and the like?
Calvin Presbyterian Church See below for a sample artwork:
Sunday, October 17
Rev. Donna Giver-Johnston
Community Presbyterian Church
Sunday, October 24
Rev. Liddy Barlow
Christian Associates of SW PA
Sunday, October 31
Rev. Jeffrey Sterling
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”
Psalm 23
Painting by Joni Pun
RESIDENTS' ART WALL
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES….
By Joni Pun - #304
By Joan McBurney - #206
I hope you are enjoying the September/
October edition of the residents' wall that Anna (four years old) had a teddy bear
contains art and also crafts done by named “Oatmeal.” One day she put a
various people. I am taking names for doll’s dress on him. I told her that
residents who want to participate in the Oatmeal might not like to wear a dress,
next exhibition, which will start on the since he was a boy; she replied, “It’s
first Monday in November and run until okay, Grandma, because when he wears
the end of January. Generally, it is only a dress, I change his name to ‘Oatmelia’”!
two months long, but, as I will not be Another time, on seeing the first snow of
here in January, I am making it until the the season, she remarked, “I knew it was
end of that month. Please contact me if going to snow, but I didn’t expect a whole
interested in displaying crafts that you do winter all at once!”
4
three of those 57 names. Jean’s opening
prayer concluded: "May the sadness we feel
be offset by thanksgiving for the lives of
those we've lost. Amen."
Alick Kennedy preached honest and con-
soling words. Then, as each of the 57
names was read, Ann Ferguson placed a
rose in one of two urns, and Roberta
Breninghouse rang a handbell. The decline
of the sound and the brightness of the roses
helped us say, "Goodbye."
The flowers were transferred to the side
table in the lobby of the Center. Peace.
Photo by Jan Wendt
VARIATION OF THE 23RD PSALM
CELEBRATION OF REMEMBRANCE FOR A CHILD
SHERWOOD OAKS, 9/18/21
By James Mauch - #263
By Ruth Becker - #340
The Lord is my shepherd
On March 16, 2020, Annette McPeek sent I am his sheep
residents an FYI about the changes at Like a good shepherd he leads me
Sherwood Oaks caused by the COVID-19 and shows me the way
pandemic. Non-essential off-campus trans- He keeps me away from harm, and
portation, as well as SORA meetings and warns me of the evil one
activities, were canceled. On March 18, When I stumble he helps me up,
2020, the Main Dining Room and Café and when I fail he forgives
closed, and home-delivered meals were As I walk through childhood, he holds
offered. Various stages of lockdown, in- my hand and guides me
cluding our gathering for Memorial Ser- Surely love and mercy shall be
vices commemorating the lives of our with me all my days
neighbors who had died, continued for a And at the last he will guide me
year and a half. and protect me from the wolves
Then, on 9/18/21, the Living with Loss He will lead me through the river
Team and the Memorial Services/Chapel of death to the other side
Committee hosted a Celebration of Re- And I shall be with him forever,
membrance in the Auditorium. In the inter- abiding in his loving kindness.
vening months, fifty-seven of our number
had died, thankfully none from COVID.
Jean Henderson, from Living with Loss, The world has turned upside down. Old folks
introduced our time together: "It is an are sneaking out of the house and their kids
especially tender day for those of us who are yelling at them to stay indoors.
lost loved ones during the pandemic and This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her
could not have a memorial service here dog. It was obvious she thought her dog
at Sherwood Oaks." Tender, indeed. understood her. I came into my house and
The spouses of Jean Henderson, Alick told my cat. We laughed a lot.
Kennedy, and lector Peggy Meister were
5
HANDBELL PRACTICE AUDITORIUM This project is sponsored by Focus on the
WEDNESDAY, 1:30 p.m. World. Questions? Please call Nancy Paul
(8167) or Rosemary Frelke (8348).
By Rosemary Frelke - #348
2021 SEEN AT THE SCOTTISH FESTIVAL AT
October 6, 13, 20, 27 EDINBORO UNIVERSITY
November 3, 17, 24
December 1, 8
2022
January 12, 19, 26
February 2, 9, 16, 23
March 9, 16, 23, 30
April 6, 13, 23, 27
May 4, 11, 18
Handbell ringers, please mark your calen-
dars accordingly! Interested newcomers,
contact me.
QUARTERLY DONATIONS to Photo by Jane Lavender
GLEANERS’ FOOD BANK These are not Hallowe’en costumes! Bruce
Sun., Oct. 17 – Sat., Oct. 23 Cooper and Monika Dalrymple are wearing
the Cooper tartan at the Edinboro Highland
By Peggy Rubel - #258 Games on Sept. 11.
People in Cranberry are short of food.
Some are parents who don’t eat, so THEY ALSO SERVE WHO ONLY
they can feed their children. Some lack KNEEL AND WEED
access to grocery stores via public By Jan Wendt - #158
transportation. Federal pandemic aid and On behalf of all the raised-bed gardeners,
the eviction moratorium have both ended. The Acorn offers a hearty shout-out to
How can we help? Carol Paul (#148), who has faithfully
Gleaners’ Food Bank is a non-profit, non- weeded the floor of the garden area. Again
denominational organization, run entirely this year, Carol could be seen, as the sun
by volunteers. It provides food to Cran- rose, day in and day out, on her knees,
berry Township residents who meet the pulling out bucket after bucket of the
Butler County income guidelines. weeds, which had as prolific a season as
the tomatoes and peppers.
We can help by making monetary dona-
tions during the week of Oct. 17-23. Thanks to her performing this good deed,
(Food items will not be collected at this gardeners were able to travel a clear path
time.) Did you know that, for every $1 to each raised bed, and the Grounds crew
donated, area food banks are able to didn’t have to deal with the issue.
purchase $5 worth of grocery items? Carol says she “just enjoys being in the
Checks may be made payable to garden” and likes to weed. We are so glad
Gleaners’ Food Bank and left in that she does. Bravo, Carol! And many
cubbyhole #348. thanks!
6
NEW SOUNDS IN THE AUDITORIUM of 53 voices, including Yamaha’s top-
By Jan Wendt - #158 flight concert grand, the CSX; the
Boesendorfer’s flagship concert grand,
In meeting to consider needed reno- the Imperial; a harpsichord, a celeste, a
vations to the Auditorium, it became clear jazz piano, a full church pipe organ, and
to the members of the Auditorium Task much more.
Force that the future of the Steinway
piano needed to be considered. A lovely The Yamaha can record and play back
instrument, it was, nonetheless, well-worn performances, and one can use Blue-
and in need of extensive repairs. tooth MIDI to connect with the Smart
Pianist app. As noted, it weighs in at 277
Additionally, it required tuning four times lbs., with a height of 36.7”, a width of
a year ($250 each time), and was too 56.3”, and a depth of 48.7”.
heavy for our maintenance staff to move
easily, a problem when there were The old Allen organ, which stood for
dramatic productions and other events. years on the left side of the stage, was
donated to a small church in West
Task Force Chair Barbara Dixon turned Virginia. The space will be used for an
to the experts at Modern Piano. Soon, a expansion of the storage room on that
top-of-the-line digital grand piano became side of the stage.
an attractive option. Weighing 277 lbs., it
could be moved by our Maintenance Sherwood Oaks still has two other
Department. It would never need to be Steinways: a console in the Card Room
tuned. Further research indicated that and a baby grand in the Cranberry Lake
trading the old Steinway would net Grill.
$6,199 toward the cost of an $8,199
Yamaha CLP 7795 GP Digital Grand. FALL (from Parallel Worlds)
After several Sherwood Oaks pianists By Mike Rose - #503
went to Modern Piano and “test drove”
Grey world
the Clavinova, they came away as
Mist veils your beauty
converts. Roberta Breninghouse, our
Clouds cover the furnace
Recreation Therapist, was asked to weigh
That heats your heart.
in. She holds a degree in piano perfor-
mance and had played a Clavinova digital Life slows
grand at her church for almost ten years. Leaves that once danced
She recommended it highly. And talked in the breeze
Lie lifeless on the ground.
A vote was taken, SORA gave its
approval, and the new instrument was It’s cold
delivered in August. It has been used for And getting colder
Sunday chapel services since, as well as Vivacious green
for the Memorial Service on Sept. 18. Has turned to listless grey.
Although it doesn’t carry the lineage of In time
the Steinway, the Clavinova delivers in The grey will yield
variety and adaptability. The 88 keys To sparkling white
feature keyboard action with counter- And life will begin anew.
weights, so the touch is much like that Until then
of a fine grand piano. It boasts a library Man must face the fall.
7
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES:
A HALLOWE’EN MEMORY
By Jan Wendt - #158
Hallowe’en has never been my favorite
holiday, but it became absolutely daunting
when, as the mother of small children, I
was expected to create prize-winning
costumes. I do not sew. I am not visually
creative.
Needless to say, my son and daughter
THE SERENGETI RULES were often forgettable ghosts or witches.
Once I imposed on their dad or the
Submitted by Nancy Paul - #167 babysitter to escort them on the Big Night
For Focus on the World because I was embarrassed to be asso-
Exploring some of the most remote and ciated with what they wore.
spectacular places on Earth, five young, One year, after the Hallowe’en parade at
pioneering scientists made surprising my kindergarten daughter’s school, I stood
discoveries that flipped our understand- back in the crowd, admiring the amazing
ing of nature on its head and offered new creations the little goblins wore. Soon, my
hope for restoring our world. small daughter was at my side, tugging on
Beginning in the 1960s, these scientists my sleeve. “What?” I inquired. “Ya know what?”
headed out into the wilderness, driven by she said loudly, with her pronounced lisp:
an insatiable curiosity about how nature “Thome Mommieth THOW!”
works. Immersed in some of the most Yeah: Some Mommies sew. Mortified, I
remote and spectacular places on Earth, took her hand, and we headed home.
these pioneers learned that "keystone"
AND ANOTHER ONE …
species can make or break the eco-
systems they live in. Now, in the twilight By Ann Knoop - #261
of their eminent careers, these five When my older daughter was three years
unsung heroes of modern ecology ‒ Bob old, she told me what to expect, in no
Paine, Jim Estes, Mary Power, Tony uncertain terms, in the future: “When I
Sinclair, and John Terborgh ‒ share the grow up,” she announced, “and you grow
stories of their adventures and give down, then we’ll see….” What wonderful
humanity a chance to reimagine the world logic from a small child!
as it could and should be
An Emmy Award winner, “The Serengeti
Rules” is referred to as “a tale with pro-
found implications for the fate of life on
our planet.” It is also listed as one of 25
most hope-inspiring documentaries by
Internet Movie Database.
Showing on Channel 901
Thurs. & Fri., Oct. 21 & 22,
4:00 & 7:30 p.m. October Fruit by Julie Eden
8
WHAT’S NEW WITH SORA? This doesn’t sound like much of a problem,
(SO Residents Association) but, I tell you, it is really annoying. If you
aren’t paying strict attention, you can be
By Jean Henderson, Secretary well into the “next” page before you realize
NOTE: Complete minutes are always that it doesn’t make sense. (Of course, with
available for review on the SORA some authors that doesn’t make much
bulletin board in the mailroom and in difference.)
the SORA binder in the library. My father, a bookseller, taught me to turn
the pages from the top ‒ which I normally
Data from minutes for the September
do. Turning them from the bottom doesn’t
monthly board meeting and quarterly
help, nor does using my other hand. If you
residents meetings, 2021: have any suggestions for possible reme-
SORA Treasurers: Memorial/Special dies, I am eager to hear them.
Projects Fund balance is $117,497.35. The I particularly wanted to bring this new
Employee Appreciation Fund balance is disease to your attention because, alas and
$20,368.47. The SORA bank balance is alack, it seems to be contagious! My wife
$75,192. Financial reviews of the three Barbara appears to have caught it. And, as I
funds have been approved. say, it is getting worse: I’m even starting to
turn three pages at a time. Can four be long
Sherwood Oaks Fund: (supporting charitable
in coming? And after that, le déluge!
fund for SO): Unrestricted - $94,817; Trillium -
$927; Scholarship - $822,685; Special I plan to write a paper describing my
Projects - $957,827; Garden bequest - condition in medical terns for JAMA. I am
$5500. Sixty-eight scholarships were thinking of calling it “Denny’s Duplicitous
awarded to employees in July, totaling Digital Dopiness.” What do you think?
$148,759.
IF. . .
Program: October 28 will feature the
Aeolian Winds at 7:15 in the Auditorium. By Barbara Rankin - #123
Archives: The Rychciks request that any If you have enjoyed doing the Jigsaw
SO historical documents be deposited in Puzzles over the past months – raise your
cubby #297 for use in our SO 40th RIGHT HAND!
anniversary observances in 2022. If you have not enjoyed doing puzzles with
Next Board meeting: October 5 at 1:30 missing pieces not notated – raise your
p.m. All residents are welcome. LEFT HAND!
If you have not enjoyed doing puzzles with
broken pieces (taken apart too fast?) –
THERE’S A NEW DISEASE raise your LEFT HAND!
AT SHERWOOD OAKS If you hope we will again have a puzzle
By Dennis Lynch - #335 table in the Lobby with a puzzle set up for
anyone to work on at any time – raise your
… and I have it. Be warned!
RIGHT HAND!
This scourge has been creeping up on me
for the past year. I read a lot, and when I go If you have really enjoyed this project –
to turn the page, it is becoming harder and raise BOTH HANDS and say:
harder to turn just one. I usually turn two …
sometimes even three at once. “THANK YOU, JOAN McBURNEY!”
9
HI! I’M BETSY…. Betsy is my last remaining Malamute. The
last litter we had was in 2003; when I retired,
By Kathie McCormick - #188
we acquired a male, named Quinn. Mick
Betsy is a 10-year-old Alaskan Malamute called Quinn my “dog in retirement” (I retired
who will greet you with a smile on her face, in 2007). Three years later, we added Betsy,
a wagging tail, and a wiggling body! She whom Mick called my “dog in my dotage” ‒
loves people, but does not care for other yeah, he was a funny guy! We enjoyed
dogs. However, if they don’t bother her, she showing the dogs and getting their
won’t bother them. championships; I did the showing, and he
Her official name is GCh. Arctic Hope’s took the pictures.
Brave Betsy of Taiga, TT, CGC, TD. GCh Life at Sherwood Oaks is suiting Betsy just
stands for Grand Champion; Arctic Hope is fine. We walk for about an hour early in the
the kennel that bred her, and Taiga is the morning, starting out about 6:30 or so. After
name of my kennel. (My late husband Mick that, we take only quick walks. She loves
and I raised, showed, and raced Alaskan meeting people and is always excited when
Malamutes for many years ‒ since 1968.) someone stops to pet her. You are welcome
The TT stands for the successful comple- to visit us in #188 ‒ she will greet you gladly!
tion of a temperament test; CGC stands for
canine good citizen; and TD means that
she is a certified therapy dog. She certainly
has enough titles!
Alaskan Malamutes, which originated in
Alaska, were part of the life of the nomadic
tribes. They are very strong, able to pull
large amounts of freight. They also were
part of Eskimo families. They are not as
speedy as Siberian Huskies, but they can
go and go and go. My husband raced in the
freighting class, which meant that there
were 50-75 lbs. per dog on the sled. He
usually had 5 or 6 dogs on his team. Dog
sled races were held around the area
regularly until the early ’90s, when the
winters became less reliable due to global Photo by Kathie McCormick
warming (sigh). There were races in Ohio,
Cook’s Forest, Chapman Dam near
Warren, Oil City, etc. The farthest away we
ORDER POINSETTIAS FOR
went was to the Poconos. The races were CHRISTMAS!
on weekends, so we raced Saturdays and By Jane Rittelmann - #616
Sundays ‒ after all, we had to go to work
on Monday to support the dogs. Racing
The last day to order poinsettia plants is
season ran from the end of January Nov. 12. Extra order forms are available at
through March. Our kennel averaged about the front desk. Please return order forms to
10-12 dogs in number on a regular basis. my cubbyhole. Your participation is appre-
We lived on 36 acres in Butler County in ciated. Independent residents must pick up
Penn Twp., just a few miles east of here. It or arrange for pick-up Dec. 2 in the audi-
was great fun! torium between 1:00 and 2:30 p.m.
10THE COLETTA MCKENRY LIBRARY ACCESSIONS
FICTION, INCLUDING LARGE TYPE AND DVDs
Bag of Bones King, Stephen c. 2012 F BAG DVD
Beneath a Dragon Moon Redmond, Shirley Raye c. 2021 F RED
The Book of Longings Kidd, Sue Monk c. 2020 F KID
The Bourne Betrayal Lustbader, Eric c. 2007 F LUS L.T.
Brass Chains Kelly, Donna J. c. 2019 F KEL
Breathe Oates, Joyce Carol c. 2021 F OAT
Golden Girl Hilderbrand, Elin c. 2021 F HIL
Grumpy Old Men c. 1994 F GRU DVD
Heat c. 1995 F HEA DVD
The Kingdom c. 2007 F KIN DVD
Legacy Roberts, Nora c. 2021 F ROB
The Madness of Crowds Penny, Louise c. 2021 F PEN
The Man With the Silver Saab Smith, Alexander McCall c. 2021 F SMI
Medals in the Attic Elliott, Cathy c. 2010 F ELL
The Music of Bees Garvin, Eileen c. 2021 F GAR
The Personal Librarian Benedict, Marie c. 2021 F BEN
The President's Daughter Clinton, Bill c. 2021 F CLI
Rendition c. 2007 F REN DVD
Seven c. 2004 F SEV DVD
Storm of the Century King, Stephen c. 1999 F STO DVD
Suburban Dicks Nicieza, Fabian c. 2021 F NIC
The Sweetness of Water Harris, Nathan c. 2021 F HAR
Troubles in Paradise Hilderbrand, Elin c. 2020 F HIL
True North Gould, Leslie c. 2021 F GOU
Unfinished Business Jance, Judith A. c. 2021 F JAN
Unraveled Tidings Fields, Jan c. 2020 F FIE
While Justice Sleeps Abrams, Stacey c. 2021 F ABR
The Women's March Chiaverini, Jennifer c. 2021 F CHI
NONFICTION, INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES
Haydn: His Life and Music Landon, H. C. Robbins c. 1988 BIO HAY
The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder McDowell, Marta c. 2017 BIO WIL
Crying in H Mart Zauner, Michelle c. 2021 920.7 ZAU
Nanaville: Adventures in Grandparenting Quindlen, Anna c. 2019 306.874 QUI
The Outlier: The Unfinished Presidency of Jimmy Carter Bird, Kai c. 2021 973.926 BIR
11WORTH A LOOK sion, this book will thrust you back into
BOOKS NEW TO OUR LIBRARY pioneer life with all its challenges and
By Barbara Christy - #237 rewards. From Wisconsin through the
Dakotas, until finally settling in Missouri,
Nanaville: Adventures in Grandparenting the Ingalls family stories captured the
by Anna Quindlen. Non-fiction. Remember hearts of millions. This book brings to
the first time your grandchild squealed life the plants, animals, and landscapes
with delight to see you come through the of their world. With historical and
door? Remember wanting to give advice contemporary photographs and even
but knowing you shouldn’t? Anna Quind- directions on how to visit those sites
len has written in the past about mother- today, readers will relive a portion of our
hood and growing older. Now she is shar- country’s history. BIO WIL
ing her insights about the joys, fears, and
humor of being a grandmother. A joy to The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin.
read. 306.874 QUI Fiction. Three unlikely strangers find
each other on a honeybee farm in
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of Oregon. Alice, 44 years old and recently
an American Family by Robert Kolker. widowed, is a bee hobbyist delivering
Non-fiction. Twelve children in 20 years ‒ 120,000 bees in her old pickup truck,
to all appearances a happy, loving, when she nearly collides with paraplegic
middle-class family. But behind the teenager Jake. Despite his enormous
façade is a family living with heartbreak, Mohawk hairdo, she responds to his
despair, and even fear, as, one after genuine interest in her bees, inviting him
another, six of the ten boys are diag- to her farm, where she has just hired
nosed with schizophrenia. As one of the socially inept Harry; the three bond over
first families to be studied by the National threats from a pesticide manufacturer
Institute of Mental Health, their experi- newly moved into the area. F GAR
ences and their genes are shedding light
on the mysteries of a long-misunderstood Unfinished Business by J. A. Jance. Fic-
illness. 616.89 KOL tion. Wrongfully-convicted Mateo Vega,
newly released on parole, is rehired by
Haydn: His Life and Music by H. C. the computer tech firm for which he
Robbins Landon. Biography. For music previously worked. Ali Reynolds, CFO
lovers everywhere. This rich compen- and wife of the company owner, is
dium of Hayden’s life and music includes balancing business challenges and
maps, a chronology of his works, and personal life when one of the firm’s
assessments of the impact of family, tenants, deadbeat Harry McCluskey,
friends, patrons, and contemporaries. As goes missing. Also missing is their tech
the father of the string quartet and the expert, Cami Lee. With her husband in
symphony, Haydn’s life and world are Norway chasing new contracts, Ali is left
vividly captured in this volume. BIO HAY to deal with the mess. F JAN
The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly.
Marta McDowell. Biography. If you were Fiction. When the Civil War breaks out,
enchanted by the Little House series of Georgeanne Woolsley, a polite society
children’s books or by the television ver- misfit, sees an opportunity to do some-
12thing more meaningful. She and her sister taken in the community. From Armand’s
become battlefield nurses, much to the perspective, reality and confusion be-
annoyance of the military doctors. At come so intermingled, it’s impossible to
Gettysburg, they see firsthand the horrors tell them apart. Then a murder is
of slavery. In Maryland, enslaved Jemma committed. F PEN
escapes during the confusion of the The Eagle’s Claw: A Novel of the Battle
Union Army’s passage through the area. of Midway by Jeff Shaara. Fiction. This
Her owner, Anne-May, is left at home to author brings us yet another masterpiece
manage the plantation, while her husband of military historical fiction – the Battle of
joins the Union Army and her brother Midway in June, 1942. The Japanese
goes over to the Confederates. Inspired military code has been broken by Joe
by true stories, this novel provides vivid, Rochefort, and Admiral Nimitz is planning
detailed accounts of society during the his approach based on its incredible
Civil War as well as experiences on the value. Using “first person accounts” by
battlefield. F KEL fighter pilot Perk Baker and Gunnery
Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie. Master Sergeant Doug Ackroyd, and by
Fiction. Kyoto, Japan, 1948. Noriko Ka- Japanese admirals Nagumo and Yama-
miza is abandoned by her disgraced guchi, Shaara provides electrifying detail
aristocratic mother and sent to live – about one of the world’s most significant
locked in the attic – with her humiliated battles. F SHA
grandparents. Product of a liaison with a
black GI, Nori represents a threat to the TEN ADAGES FOR SENIORS
royal pretensions her family is struggling From
to uphold in a changing post-war Japan.
When her legitimate half-brother arrives, 1. It’s okay to talk to yourself. There are
times you need expert advice.
he opens a new world to her, where she
can question and discover new ideas. 2. “In Style” are the clothes that still fit.
They form a bond that lasts for decades 3. You don’t need anger management. You
and spans continents. This epic story need people to stop annoying you.
explores ties that bind, ties that free. 4. Your people skills are just fine. It’s your
F LEM tolerance for idiots that needs work.
The Madness of Crowds by Louise 5. The biggest lie you tell yourself is “I don’t
Penny. Fiction. A visiting Professor of need to write that down. I’ll remember it.”
Statistics will be giving a lecture at the 6. “On time” is when you get there.
nearby university in Three Pines, Que- 7. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could put
bec, and Armand Gamache is asked to ourselves in the dryer for ten minutes and
provide security. When Armand looks into come out wrinkle-free and 3 sizes smaller?
her résumé to see why a statistics 8. Lately you have noticed that people your
professor needs security, he is horrified age are so much older than you are.
by what he finds and asks the university 9. Aging has slowed you down, but it hasn’t
to cancel her visit. Citing academic shut you up.
freedom, they refuse. After her speech, 10.You still haven’t learned to act your age
her views begin spreading, and sides are and hope you never will.
13COOPER’S CLIMATE CAPSULE
By Bruce Cooper - #715
In the struggle against the climate crisis to
keep our planet from heating no more than
1.5º C, most of what we hear about is the
need to substitute renewable energy for
fossil fuels to reduce, and then eliminate, the
emissions that are warming the planet. But
the problem is bigger than most of us realize
– if we were to bring those emissions to zero
tomorrow, the level of CO2 in the atmosphere
– some 420 ppm – is already more than
sufficient to heat the earth well beyond the
1.5 degree target. We must find ways to
reduce the emissions already in the
atmosphere if we are to keep the planet
livable for our children and grandchildren.
On Mon., Oct. 11, Channel 901 will broad-
cast an episode from the PBS show NOVA
titled, “Can We Cool the Planet?” It will
highlight the many ways that scientists are
experimenting to either draw carbon dioxide
and other fossil fuel emissions out of the
atmosphere or find ways to limit the amount DOCUMENTARY – 60 min.
of sunlight that reaches and warms the As global temperatures continue to
planet. Carbon capture and storage rise, scientists are wondering if we
technology are being hyped in the news
need solutions that go beyond
these days; but the billions of dollars so far
spent haven’t produced an economical way
reducing emissions. From sucking
to isolate CO2 coming out of the stacks of carbon straight out of the air, to
coal- or gas-fired power plants. Moreover, geoengineering our atmosphere to
‘geo-engineering,’ the idea of sending reflec- physically block out sunlight, to
tive particles into the upper atmosphere to planting more than a trillion trees,
block sunlight, has the climate science the options may seem futuristic or
community on edge, because we just don’t tough to implement. But as time
know what unintended consequences might runs out on conventional solutions
arise from such an experiment. to climate change, scientists are
Congress is currently developing climate asking the hard questions: Can
legislation. Let’s hope they get it right. new, sometimes controversial, solu-
tions really work? And at what cost?
For constantly updated information on the Tune in on Monday, Oct. 11, 10
climate crisis, follow the Slippery Rock chapter a.m., 4 p.m., and 7:30 p.m., on
of Citizens’ Climate Lobby on Facebook at
@CCLSlipperyRock. Channel 901 to find out!
14ARE YOU WAITING, TOO? has been incredibly slow, and that has
impacted those tenants who are truly in
By Rabe Marsh - #187
need and those landlords who are not
In February 2021, I filed my IRS 1040 being paid,” said Tom Bannon, President
income tax return for the year 2020. This of the California Apartment Association, to
was done electronically, with directions to the New York Times.
deposit any refund in my personal check-
On the other hand, we at Sherwood Oaks
ing account.
are fortunate indeed. Any annoyance we
Since then, I have been waiting, patiently, might have in waiting for our tax refunds to
for the refund (which was not small), with arrive pales in comparison to the distress
no success. Fearing that something had being suffered by the unemployed,
gone wrong, I went to the IRS website landlords, and their poor tenants.
and clicked on the “Where is my refund” P.S. After this report was submitted, Rabe
button. After entering the required did receive his full refund from the IRS!
information, I received a message that the
IRS was still checking my return.
According to the IRS website, 8.5 million
SHERWOOD OAKS AND
individual returns were unprocessed as of
September 2, 2021. That means that I am APPALACHIA
one of eight million who is still waiting for Submitted by Barbara Brock - #360
a refund — are you one, too? According Whatever we at Sherwood Oaks dispose
to cnet.com, the IRS ran at restricted of affects our neighbors “down the Ohio.”
capacity in 2020 because of the According to “ReImagine Appalachia,” this
pandemic, which put a strain on its ability region has powered the economic pros-
to process tax returns and created a perity of the nation. Yet many com-
backlog. munities there have been left behind,
The combination of the shutdown, three exploited by absentee corporations in
rounds of stimulus payments, challenges extractive industries. An estimated $23.6
with paper-filed returns, and the tasks billion in federal investment, annually over
related to implementing new tax laws and ten years, will be needed to transform the
credits created a “perfect storm,” accord- region. At the same time, these invest-
ing to a National Taxpayer Advocate Re- ments would create over half a million jobs
view of the 2021 filing season sent to in OH, PA, and WV. Here’s what we need
Congress. to do: repair the damage from the last
It seems that the virus pandemic created century; modernize the electric grid;
delays not only for tax refunds but also for create universal broadband access; grow
unemployment payments and landlord/ clean, efficient manufacturing; build a
tenant relief. The articles in indicate that unemployment and relaunch the Civilian Conservation
payments are weeks late in nearly every Corps.
state. According to “Yahoo News” and the What does this mean? It means thou-
Treasury Department, through July, just sands of jobs created in these areas, and
$4.7 billion of the $47 billion appropriated a healthier environment and population.
by Congress had reached landlords and Visit for more information.
15When the mushrooms take over at
Sherwood Oaks, this is what we get:
Photos by Diane Neely
16You can also read
