shell point life december 2012

December 2012Vol. 7 Issue 12

Also Inside: Sallie’s Santas: Quite a Collection • Sounds of the Season

SHELL POINT CELEBRATESTHE HOLIDAYS

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

December 2012Vol. 7 Issue 12

Also Inside: Sounds of the Season•Holiday Offers at Shell Point Salon & Spa

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

SANTA CLAUS ISCOMING TO TOWN

RESIDENT SHARES 50 YEAR

COLLECTION

SHELL POINT CELEBRATESTHE HOLIDAYS

SANTA CLAUS ISCOMING TO TOWN

RESIDENT SHARES 50 YEAR

COLLECTIONRESIDENT PROFILE:THE IMPACT OFPEARL HARBOR

RESIDENT PROFILE:THE IMPACT OFPEARL HARBOR

2 Shell Point Life | December 2012

When I moved to Floridafrom Michigan back in2007, I knew a total of three

people in Fort Myers – my

husband and my parents.

And just two days after mak-

ing the move, I had an unfor-

gettable first day at Shell

Point. You see, I wasn’t the

only one who was going through her first

day. Jessica Clark, public relations coordina-

tor, was also a new employee. We got to

know each other instantly, especially since

we shared an office!

Of course, we spent a lot of time

together in our combined space, but we also

started hanging out outside of work. Our

instant connection quickly became a true

friendship that I value dearly.

This “connection” is something that you

may relate to since you moved to Shell

Point. Many residents have made meaning-

ful friendships through clubs, activities,

church, events, dining, and more, and often

form great friendships with neighbors from

their court. In fact, I regularly hear about fun

and festive court parties held at each court.

From simple socials to volunteering on

meaningful projects, each

event leaves lasting memo-

ries in the hearts and minds

of all who participate.

While Shell Point Life

and SPTV cannot cover

court parties, we are always

interested in seeing pictures!

You can email photos to me

at [email protected],

or you can send them via intercampus mail

to my attention at the Marketing Office in

The Woodlands. Be sure to include your

court’s name, any special details about the

gathering, and a contact name.

Although Jessica and I outgrew our

shared workspace and have since moved into

separate offices, our bond seems to have

grown even stronger over the years. We have

each personally experienced life-changing

events, such as marriage, children, moving,

and much more. And through it all, we have

been there for one another to offer support

and encouragement. That’s the beauty of

friendship – especially at Shell Point. While

the world is changing around us, we have our

friends standing by us every step of the way.

FAST FRIENDSBy Rochelle Cherniawski, editor

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.

Follow us on:

May the God of hope fill you

with all joy and peace inbelieving, sothat by thepower of theHoly Spirit you may

abound in hope.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you

with all joy and peace inbelieving, sothat by thepower of theHoly Spirit you may

abound in hope.

Romans 15:13

Shell Point Life is published monthly for the residents of Shell Point Retirement Community.

AVP of Communications Lynn SchneiderEditor Rochelle CherniawskiArt Director Rich Cerrina

Senior Graphic Designer Wendy IversonGraphic Designer Kathy Grove

ContributorsMary Franklin, Teri Kollath, Robyn Church,

Bev Chandley, Ginny Miller-Plaza, Suzanne Zavada, Randy Woods, Inga Bredahl,

Dawn Boren, Sarah Nadal, Jessica Clark, Dotty Morrison, Peggy Holton, Susan Uhleman,

Jan Van Laer, Steve and Dianne Morton, Ann Erickson, and Tim and Glenda Stephenson

Do you have story ideas or photos to share?Contact Rochelle Cherniawski, editor, by calling 239-454-2055

or e-mail: [email protected].

Back Issues Available OnlineIs there an issue of one of the

magazines that you just have to have? Was your friend or family member seen

in a recent issue but you lost it? You can find the current issue as

well as the back issues of the magazine at www.shellpoint.net/spl/splife.htm

Don’t miss two outstanding concerts this month as we welcome Spanish Brassand the Southwest Florida Symphony to perform holiday concerts incelebration of the season. Andremember, tickets make great gifts forfamily and friends!

Southwest Florida Symphony Series

Timeless Treasures–Holiday Pops Friday, December 21, at 7:30 p.m.Church Auditorium/IS

Celebrate the joyous music of the holidayseason as James M. Stephenson returns to guestconduct the Southwest Florida Symphony’s annual HolidayPops. This year’s program includes selections from TheNutcracker and traditional holiday favorites, alongwith some of Jim’s own arrangements.

Guest Conductor –James Stephenson

James Stephenson’s works havebeen performed by leadingAmerican orchestras and hailedby critics as having “straightfor-ward, unabashedly beautifulsounds.” His music incorporatesa fresh and energizing sound-scape that delights the audiencewhile maintaining integrity andworthwhile challenges for theperforming musicians. This rare

combination has rewarded Stephensonwith a host of ongoing commissions and

projects. Stephenson spent 17 seasons with the NaplesPhilharmonic as a trumpeter, a position he won immediatelyupon graduating from the New England Conservatory ofMusic. He is currently enjoying a position of composer-in-res-idence with the Lake Forest Symphony.

Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the holiday seasonwith the Southwest Florida Symphony.

Single tickets: $25

For more information about the Shell Point Concert Series, visit www.shellpoint.org/concerts. Tickets for these and all concerts are available at both service desks.

Spanish BrassThursday, December 6, at 7:30 p.m.Church Auditorium/IS

Enjoy the delightful music of the Christmas season withSpanish Brass, a brilliant quintet comprised of two trumpets, atrombone, a French horn, and a tuba.

From classical to contemporary, Spanish Brass has spannedthe globe performing eclectic musical programs from an elegantrepertoire to the delight of audiences from Hong Kong to Brazilto New York and beyond.

Since capturing first prize in the 1996 “Ville de Narbonne”6th International Competition for Brass Quintets (France),Spanish Brass has enthralled audiences at prestigious events suchas the Great American Brass Band Festival, Festival de Musiquede Radio (France), Granada International Festival of Music andDance (Spain), Cheju Summer Festival (Korea), KalavritaFestival (Greece), and many others.

With impeccable phrasing and collaborative chemistry,Spanish Brass offers selections ranging from Bach and Mozartto flamboyant Hispanic works by Albeniz and Turina.Audiences marvel at the dynamic range and rhythmic intensityof this award-winning quintet. Be a part of the excitement asSpanish Brass performs at Shell Point!

Single tickets: $35

Fine & Performing Arts Series

“Stunning!”New York Times

Sounds Seasonof the

“BeautifulSounds”

Boston Herald

10th AnniversaryConcertSeries 2012-2013


Junonia resident Sallie Soule started collecting Santas in 1958, andnow — thanks to gifts from her family, friends, and from purchasingthem herself on trips and vacations — she has more than 147 SantaClaus figurines decorating her home.

B Y S A R A H N A D A L , M A R K E T I N G A S S I S T A N T

SantasSallie’sSantasSallie’s

W hen you arrive atSallie Soule’s frontdoor during the

month of December, you are immediatelygreeted by numerous Santa Clauses. Stepinside, and you fill find Santas of all shapesand sizes everywhere you look – Santason window ledges, Santas on endtables, Santas in the kitchen, andSantas hanging on Sallie’s Christmastree. It’s hard not to feel the holidayspirit in the midst of so many Santas!

Sallie credits her mother with startingher collection. “When I got married, I did-n’t have any Christmas ornaments for ourfirst tree, so my mother gave me a SantaClaus that she had as a child. It was madein 1905 out of paper maché, and she usedto keep candy in it. Also, my niece whohad just seen our wedding that year gaveus a Japanese Santa Claus doll, which I

thought was pretty fun. I display themboth in my living room.”

Sallie has been collecting Santa Clausmemorabilia ever since. “Each year, I getnew Santa decorations to put up in myapartment, and last year I got two! One

of them is from a friend who lives onSanibel. I love the colored shelldecorations, and the beautiful goldbase is eye-catching. He looks likeNeptune; he’s a real Sanibel Santa,”

Sallie laughed. “The other one I boughtlast year was June Lockhart’s latest papercreation and I just love it.”

Sallie made a habit of collectingSantas based on things that interested her.“I love to trout fish, so I found a cutewooden Santa that holds a fishing pole.And I have a Santa with golf clubs in

Shell Point Life | December 2012 5

continued next page

Top: Sallie displays this colorful “NeptuneSanta” in her living room each year. Thecareful detailing along the coat boastsbeautifully dyed sea shells gathered from theSanibel shore.

Above: This humorous Santa sitting on aLabrador is one of Sallie’s favorites. Sallieonce owned a Labrador, so the figurinebrings back happy memories.

Inset: One of Sallie’s favorite pastimesincludes trout fishing, so when she saw thisaccomplished fisherman Santa holding ontoa great haul of trout, she couldn’t resist!

honor of my late husband, because heliked to think he was a pro golfer. I lovebooks, so I collected a reprint of a bookwritten by L. Frank Baum, author of TheWizard of Oz, called The Life and

Adventures of Santa Claus. Andfinally, the Santa that sits on a

large dog is probably my favoritebecause I love Labradors and even

received one as a wedding gift.”Sallie’s Christmas tree displays Santa

decorations that she has picked up throughthe years. “I bought one decorative orna-ment during a trip to Mexico with mydaughter. There is also a series of paintedsand dollars, made by my niece who lives onMarco Island. Some Santas just sort ofappear.”

Tabletop figurines and Christmasornaments aren’t the only Santa col-

lectibles that Sallie displays. “One Santaitem I take out and use each year forChristmas is a little beaded purse. Andwhen my bridge group comes over for alate lunch, I set the table with plates thatare painted with Santa – and each plate isunique! They come from all over theworld. I have Santa plates from the UnitedStates, England, Denmark, and Poland.”

The story behind the tradition ofSanta Claus fascinated Sallie. “I did someresearch and discovered that ‘Santa Claus’originated with Saint Nicholas in what isnow Turkey around the fourth century. Hewas a very kind, wonderful saint who gaveaway much of his money to the poor. Overthe years he’s become known as SantaClaus, Father Christmas, and even just‘Claus.’”

After Sallie’s friends and neighborsfound out about her love of all thingsSanta, she started receiving more Santamemorabilia as gifts. “I used to ride a three-

Continued from page 5

Above: A neighbor gifted this biking SantaClaus to commemorate Sallie’s habit of ridingher three-wheeled bike around The Island.

Right: When Sallie’s bridge group comesover for a late lunch, Sallie sets the tablewith plates that are hand-painted withbeautiful Santa artwork. Each plate is uniqueand originates from a different corner of theworld, including the US, England, Denmark,and Poland.

Ole! This Santaornament is asouvenir from amemorable trip toMexico that Sallietook with herdaughter.

Music is an important part of the holidayseason, and these Santa Clauses arethrowing a concert!


wheeled bike around Shell Point, andsomeone gave me a Santa on a tricycle afew years ago. I think it’s just wonderful.”

Family has been another source ofspecial Santa decorations. “My daughterand son made cards for me when theywere just children, and my grandsons evenwrote me a Santa poem! And my son oncebrought me a Santa while he was living inRussia.”

Where do all these Santa Clauses goafter Christmas? “Well, we have great stor-

age at Junonia, and you’ll be happy toknow that I pack them all away in twolarge, red storage boxes that say Santa onthe outside!”

Sallie watches for Santa each yearfrom her fifth-floor patio. “From mymidrise apartment, I can see all therooftops. I have the best place to watchfor Santa on the whole Island!” Sallielaughed. “Another good thing about thisview is that I can see the Christmas lightsall over The Island. It’s so beautiful!”

This cute little ce-ramic statue is actu-

ally a salt shaker!

Top: : This sledding Santa is ready to deliverChristmas packages to good boys and girls.Sallie displays him on her dining room table.

Above: Sallie’s mother was the first tocontribute to her Santa Claus collection withthis vintage paper mache decoration, madein 1905.

This Santa Clausdecoration has a

distinctly Floridian feel:it is made from a crabshell found on one of

Sanibel’s pristinebeaches.

Left: Sallie fills her Christmastree with festive ornaments likethis Santa with a unique beard.

Below: Family members alwayskeep Sallie in mind when travel-ing during the holidays. ThisSanta was a gift from Sallie’sson who once lived in Russia.

Orchids inspire our imagination. We arefascinated by their strength and tenacitybut also paradoxically, their fragile beauty. The sci-entist perceives an orchid flower as an effectivelyconstructed landing pad designed to welcomeinsects to the pollen. The romantic has a much dif-ferent emotional response. Exotic and evocative,gazing upon orchid flowers can allow us to drift offto that personal Bali Ha’i garden in our hearts.

With more than 25,000 distinct species,orchids are native to every continent, exceptAntarctica. Divided into two basic types, they arefound as terrestrial plants, living and growing insoil, and as the plant we are most interested in, theepiphytes. Contrary to popular belief, orchidsgrowing on the tree surfaces are not parasites; theysimply use the tree for support. Living in the treecanopy away from all soil, epiphytic orchids mustforge alliances to survive.

Orchids allow a fungus to live inside their rootsystems. The fungus assists the orchid in up-takingwater and nutrients, while the orchid, in turn, pro-duces carbohydrates for the fungus during the pho-tosynthesis process. Orchids also bargain with theirpollinators. Often, only a single exclusive speciesof bird or insect performs the pollination duties forthe flower. Like us, orchids require help and coop-eration to flourish.

Shell Point celebrates the romantic in us allwith orchids planted in the limbs of the Live Oaktrees at the Administration Courtyard. With morethan 40 individual plant specimens, you can oftenfind a flower to enjoy. We invite you to linger,relax, and dream while you focus upon the Jewelsof the Canopy.


All residents who have travel plans thisholiday season are reminded to fill outa Comings & Goings form. This is especiallyimportant for residents on the MorningAssurance program.

Forms are available online at www.shell-point.net, at either service desk, and in eachbuildings mail area. Be sure to provide a returndate, even if it is an approximation. Also,

include a name with a contact number. Completed forms should be mailed, well

in advance, to the Shell Point Call Center onThe Island or dropped off at either ServiceDesk. Many residents also give copies of theirComings & Goings form to their court repre-sentative. If there are any changes to yourtravel plans, the information on your form canbe updated by calling 454-2190.

Heading Out of Town? Visiting Family and Friends?

Comings & Goings

Brassocattleya ‘Mount Hood Mary’Brassocattleya ‘Mount Hood Mary’

Brassolaelio‘Yellowbird’

Brassolaeliocattleya‘Taiwan Queen’

Nature’s NotebookNature’s Notebook

Jewels of the CanopyB Y S T E V E M O R T O N , L A N D S C A P E M A N A G E R

Brassolaelio‘Yellowbird’

Brassolaeliocattleya‘Taiwan Queen’

On Monday, October 29, approxi-mately 150 men and women fromShell Point gathered in the Grand CypressRoom for the second annual NiftyThrifty Fashion Show. Organized bythe Community Thrift Store, thefashion show featured 31 looks fromthe racks of the thrift store, perfectfor the cost-conscious shopper. Thelineup of 23 models included bothresidents and staff members, with aspecial appearance by Scott Moore,assistant vice president of opera-tions, dressed as Sherlock Holmes.

Dianne Morton, transportationand resource manager, said,“Our Nifty Thrifty FashionShow was well received. It wasa fun event for the participantsand the audience. We had a lotof sophisticated looks as well asevery day looks. Be sure to

think of the thrift store when you are doingyour holiday shopping!”

The Community Thrift Store is located inthe Miner’s Plaza at thecorner of McGregor andGladiolus. The store isopen every Tuesdaythrough Saturday from9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Nifty Thrifty Fashion Show

CarolAshley Carol Mann

Bob Mann

Charlotte Bathon, Lessie Slater, and Lore Rosenstrauch

Marilyn Schmidt and Bev Shubel

Ann Parton

Suzanne Zavada, program coordinator

At the end of the season,while struggling to find aplace to put your decorationsand gifts, embrace the opportu-nity to do some winter cleaningand consider donating unwanteditems to the Community ThriftStore. All donations are trulyappreciated and all proceeds go

back into our community to help local seniors inneed. After you gather your donations, simplycall 454-2190 to arrange a pick up!

Winter Clean OutCommunity Thrift StoreCalling for Donations

Margaret and Ken Axtel


Patty Cox,thrift storemanager


LARSEN PAVILIONRECEIVES 5 STAR RATING!

Shell Point’s Skilled Nursing Facility Officially Recognized

by National Agency

� � � � �

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

The dedicated staff of the Larsen Pavilionprovides an individualized, person-centeredapproach to patient care.

The Larsen Pavilion has earned aFive Star Rating from the Centersfor Medicare and Medicaid

Services (CMS), the national agencyresponsible for overseeing the quality ratingsof skilled nursing facilities that participatein Medicare or Medicaid. The Pavilion wasthe only facility in Lee County to receive

the five star rating. The Five Star Quality Rating System is

used by CMS as part of the agency’s“Nursing Home Compare” public reportingsite, which ranks each nursing facility by aset of criteria. The primary goal in providingthis rating system is to provide residents andtheir families with an easy-to-understand

assessment of nursing home quality, makingmeaningful distinctions between high andlow performing nursing homes.

Measuring PerformanceThe rating system features an overall

five-star rating based on facility perform-ance for four types of performance meas-


ures, each of which has its ownassociated five-star rating.These domains are: healthinspections (measures based onoutcomes from state healthinspection surveys), staffing(measures based on staffing lev-els), RN staffing (measuresbased on RN staffing levels),and quality measures (based onthe CMS Minimum Data Setthat records outcomes of care).

The Larsen Pavilionreceived a coveted five out offive star overall rating, as well asfive out of five stars in the cate-gories of quality measures andstaffing, placing it in the top20% of the best nursing facilitiesin Florida.

“We’re obviously verythrilled,” said Sherry Brown,director of long term care andLarsen Pavilion administrator.“The five star overall rating is a majorachievement and one that is not easy toobtain; we’re overjoyed that the CMS hasgiven us this recognition.”

More than one year ago, Shell Pointcompleted a seven-year, $32.3 million majorrenovation of the Larsen Pavilion thatincluded the addition of a free standingstate-of-the-art rehabilitation center, hairsalon, activity spaces, waterfront walkwayand deck, chapel, dining room, reading area,administrative building, and remodeling ofeach residential room and bathroom.

However, Sherry insists that it isn’t just

the newly modernized building thatachieves these high standards. “I amextremely proud of our staff, as well for thespecial effort they make each day to care forour residents,” said Sherry. “Our goal is toprovide an individualized, person-centeredapproach to patient care. We really look atthe specific needs of each resident to createas much of a homelike setting as possible.”

Shell Point's President, Peter Dys, said,“Whether we’re welcoming people fromoutside or inside our community, it’s ourphilosophy to operate as if we’re going to beinspected every day.”

On-Site FacilitiesLocated in the Waterside Medical

Complex at the entrance of Shell Point’sIsland community, the Pavilion is comprisedof four floors with 219 beds. “The Pavilionprovides residents with a unique peace ofmind, that if they need to stay in the facil-ity – whether it’s for a week or two torecover from surgery, or a long-term stay –they know the quality of care offered is thebest available,” said Sherry.

“More than 60% of Pavilion admissionsare individuals who experience successfulrecoveries and are able to return to theirhomes in a relatively short period of time,”she said. “Our goal is to welcome people, getthem healthy, and get them back to the best

quality of life possible, whichultimately means the mostindependence possible.”

As such, the LarsenPavilion’s on-site medicalfacilities, rehabilitation center,and physical therapy programshave proven to be great suc-cesses. The Larsen Pavilionalso provides superior memorycare for conditions such asAlzheimer’s or stroke-relateddementia. “We dedicate mul-tiple resources to this group,”said Sherry, “including anentire floor of our facility, aspecialized activities staff, andan on-staff behavioral healthteam.” Dr. Chris Votolato,director of behavioral health,is a psychologist who special-izes in memory care and cog-nitive disorders and supportsthe memory care program.

Accepting AdmissionsThe Larsen Pavilion wel-

comes individuals from any-where in Southwest Florida and isMedicare-approved. For information aboutadmissions to the Larsen Pavilion or for out-patient services through Shell Point’sRehabilitation Center, call (239) 415-5432.

“We are honored to be the only skillednursing facility in Lee County to receive thefive star rating by CMS, said Sherry. “It trulyshows that our resident care and quality arethe best based on national, federal ratings.While we celebrate our five star recognition,we will continue to abide by the higheststandards and quality of care that ShellPoint is known to provide.”

“Our goal is to welcome people, getthem healthy, and get them back tothe best quality of lifepossible, which ultimately means themost independence possible.” Sherry Brown

News about the future vision for theIsland Aquatic Center was recentlyshared with residents during a series ofSplash meetings. There was informationshared about the scope of the project, time-frame, costs, and proposed special water fea-tures.

There was great feedback and sugges-tions and high interest from the 350 resi-dents who attended the meetings. Throughvarious discussions following the presenta-tions, we could quickly learn about individ-ual interests. One resident told us how shehopes to plan her family reunion at theAquatic Center at the completion of theproject and looks forward to sharing the cen-ter with her family and friends. Another res-ident is thrilled about the added shadestructure over the exercise pool, as his skinis sensitive to the sun. Several residents lookforward to the easy access entries that boththe Recreation and Therapy Exercise poolswill feature. There was also great interestfrom residents in all neighborhoods whoexpressed interest in swimming and exercis-

ing in the saline-chlorate pools. Shell Point extends a big “thank you” to

everyone who attended the Splash meetingsand to everyone who asked questions andshared comments. We take your feedback seri-

ously and certainly appreciate your support.Additional information will be aired on

SPTV during the month of December, andan informational brochure will be sent to allresidents after the first of the year.


LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTBoard Member Honored at Conference

Donna Duss, vice chair of Shell Point’sdistinguished board of directors anddirector of health services at Vinson HallRetirement Community in McLean,Virginia, was recentlyhonored during a confer-ence held by the VirginiaHealth Care Association(VHCA) where shereceived the James G.Dunton DistinguishedService Award forLifetime Achievement.

The VHCA is anorganization dedicatedto advocating and repre-senting the interests of more than 250Virginia skilled nursing and assisted livingfacilities, as well as their residents and staff.

In addition to Donna’s dedicated serv-ice in her official employment capacity,she has served faithfully as a board mem-ber of Shell Point Retirement Community

since 1994.Shell Point President Peter

Dys shared, “It’s an honor tohave Donna on the Shell Pointboard. Donna represents a ded-icated professional who hasdemonstrated her love andcommitment for the long-termcare profession and the resi-dents served, as well as thoseresponsible for the delivery ofsuch services. Her experience

demonstrates a commitment to a broadscope of the long-term care industry, notthe least of which has been her role as

director of nursing, a long-term care con-sultant, a parish nurse, a board member ofa long-term care facility, and a supervisorresponsible for healthcare delivery, includ-ing assisted living and skilled nursing.”

Donna Duss celebrates the receipt of theaward with her husband, Serge, and sons,Brian and Matt.

Island Aquatic Center

B 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

Upon entering Shell Point’s new Aquatic Center through the plantation-style pool house,residents and their guests will have the choice of swimming in the large, saline-chloratepool, participating in a specialty class in the therapy pool, relaxing in the hot tub, or simplyenjoying the beautiful surroundings while lounging in the sun.

Made a Big Splash!

Donna receives the LifetimeAchievement award from

Doug Suddarth, chairman ofthe VHCA board.

Personal Help in a Digital WorldNew Shell Point Service Offers Face-to-Face Technology SupportB 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

Technology and communicationhave sure changed throughoutthe years. From handwritten letters toyour sweetheart, to phone calls withthe kids, to email or Skype conversa-tions with grandchildren, technologyhas found its way into our dailylives – even when sometimes we didnot want it!

The blessing of technology isthat it allows for a quick message tofamily or a Skype call with friends inanother state or even another coun-try. Communication can now beexperienced as a video phone callwhere you can not only see, butinteract with the individual on theother end of the line. Technology has alsoopened up an entirely new avenue forlearning, as the world of information is lit-erally at our fingertips.

Unfortunately, technology can also bea source of complete frustration, especiallywhen it is not working properly. One of thechallenges is trying to understand and oper-ate a newly acquired gadget. We can spendhours trying to read a manual or discusstroubleshooting issues with someonelocated in another country, only to hang upno better off than when we started the call.

To help residents avoid the frustrationthat can be associated with technology, ShellPoint is introducing a new TechnologySupport Service.

“We are responding to what we have seenas a need for service that assists residents withbasic computer problems,repair, and general regularmaintenance,” explainedDianne Morton, resourceservices manager. “We willoffer everything from pri-vate tutoring sessions tomonthly maintenance con-tracts.”

Private tutoring sessionsfor your computer or otherelectronic-based equip-ment will be available bythe technology servicescoordinator, Brian Gainey.

Brian will be available to make recom-mendations for purchase, set up, andrepair of personal electronic equipment,such as smart phones, tablets, eReaders,and more.

Service Contracts and FeesThe basic maintenance contracts

include a nine-point diagnostic andmaintenance procedure that keepsyour computer running smoothly —no matter if you’re a monthly, weeklyor daily user.

These services will be offered wellbelow the market value of any outsidetechnology company. Fees for serviceswill cover Shell Point’s annual cost

for the technology services coordinator andthe other associated administrative and

marketing costs.Dianne shared, “We are very

excited to be announcing this inno-vative amenity. Residents of all levelsof technical knowledge will be ableto take advantage of this service.”

For more information, or for acomplete listing of service opp - ortunities and fees, please pick up abrochure from either of Shell Point’sservice desks or contact the CallCenter at 454-2190 and they willbe happy to mail you a brochure.To schedule an appointment fortechnology support, call 454-8248.

Brian Gainey, technologyservices coordinator, willhelp residents avoid thefrustration that can be as-sociated with technology.

Onsite Help Now Available with New Technology Support Service

The Technology

Support service

will offer

everything from

private tutoring

sessions to monthly

maintenance

contracts.


At the age of nine, George Chun(Cellana) witnessed something thatcan only be described as truly life-altering.As airplanes circled over the family’s homeupon a hill on the island of Oahu, Hawaii,the little boy and his 13 siblings waved atthe airmen, thinking it was all a show. Butwhen bombs, bullets, and enormous cloudsof black smoke began to appear at WheelerArmy Air Force Base, George — the ninthchild to be born into the family — and theothers knew that it was so much more thana spectacle in the sky.

One of the Chuns’ neighbors hap-pened to have been a sergeant andanother was an Army doctor — yet nei-ther of them could explain what wasgoing on at the time. In the end, this wasone for the history books: the onset of theattack on Pearl Harbor.

Disaster Strikes“Be calm! Take cover!”

bellowed a voice on the radio.Everyone was advised to

remain indoors. Meanwhile,one of George’s brothersinstructed him to keep awayfrom the windows. “It was ascary time.”

The year was 1941, and

Before reaching his tenth birthday, George Chunexperienced, firsthand, a tragedy of epic proportions ashe witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor. Adapting to theunknown prepared George for the many challenges hewould face throughout his life. Now, as a resident ofShell Point, he enjoys the luxuries of retirement.

B Y J A R E D S C O T T T E S L E R

continued next page

Embracing Journey

Through Thick and Thin

Clockwise from top: George Chun was just nine yearsold when he experienced the attack on Pearl Harborfrom his home in Oahu, Hawaii.

The USS Arizona (BB-39) sinking after the attack onPearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

16

George was in the fourth grade. A couplemonths later, students were told to report totheir classrooms to gather their belongings.The school building became a TB hospital.

The people of Hawaii were forced tofollow stringent regulations under martiallaw and were, therefore, required to handover any guns in their possession. Georgesays the noises sounded like thunder a longway off. Two older brothers rushed to PearlHarbor where they worked in their bullet-riddled auto.

News traveled at a snail’space, the top stories few and farbetween, but George’s brotherswho worked at Pearl Harbor reg-ularly came home with importantupdates to share with the family,such as the Battle of Midway — aspart of the Pacific Theater ofOperations of World War II —which took place just six monthsafter the attack on Pearl Harbor.

“The governor and several mili-tary people thought it was Hawaiithat was going to be invaded,”George says, “but, much to our relief,we heard that the battle took place atMidway.”

World War II was over in 1945. In1950, the Korean Conflict began.

Educating Himself, Teaching Others

Once he hit his early twenties,George entered the army and receivedKorean War military training. He was side-lined and sent to Yokohama, Japan, wherehe spent his spare time working with thepastor and young people of a Baptist churchnear Kamakura. During his stay, he learnedto speak some Japanese.

When it came time for him to leaveJapan, the friendly people he knew gath-ered to throw George a farewell party, com-plete with banzais — which he describes asa traditional Japanese expression of “bestwishes for the future,” not to be confusedwith the miniature bonsai tree that is sym-bolic of the very same culture.

He later went on to earn his bachelor’sdegree in biology, with a minor in art, from

Georgetown College, near Lexington,Kentucky, and master’s degree in educationfrom the University of Kentucky. While hewas a student, George spent two summersin Alaska, working for the Fish and WildlifeDepartment.

Following graduation, he headed forthe Appalachian Mountains for a total ofseven years, teaching at an area high

school, college, and boarding school. Healso directed music for several churches.

A Family of His OwnIt was at this point in his life that

George met the woman who would becomehis bride – Mary. Husband and wife left themountain ranges of Kentucky for the FortKnox area, where they refurbished a dete-

Continued from page 15

Embracing Journey


riorating farm property and George contin-ued teaching. After five years of marriage,God blessed them with a family.

Their daughter, Mililani, was born in1973. Two years later, the couple welcomedthe birth of their son, Galen.

George enjoyed a wonderful career asan educator. Though he began teaching atthe college level, the majority of his careerwas teaching science and art to middleschool students.

Up until the age of 60 or so, Georgeremained fairly active, continuing to playsports such as basketball and softball. Asthe Chuns grew slightly older, they decidedthat they wanted to live closer to Galen, aclinical psychologist residing in FortLauderdale, Florida. Having grown up insuch a large family, George sought the sortof individualized attention to which he hadnot previously grown accustomed.

“We were looking for a place on theEast Coast, but we couldn’t find anythingsatisfactory,” he recalls. “My wife was look-ing on the Internet and found Shell Point.We came out here and visited and immedi-ately made up our minds that this is theplace to be. We fell in love with the place.”

The Good LifeOnce they moved in to their new home

in Fort Myers, it did not take very long forthe Chuns to realize that the members of

Shell Point’s tightknit and vibrant commu-nity — including residents, employees, andmedical staff — are truly something special.

“The people at Shell Point are justwonderful,” George says. “Everybody’s afriend. I always wanted to be in a Christianenvironment. I enjoy it very much.”

George fully embraces his retirementwith each chance he gets, taking advantageof every free moment to engage in his

favorite activities. In his spare time, he rel-ishes the great outdoors by going fishing andtending his very own garden. He reads quiteoften and usually assists Mary indoors, too.

“I help around the place,” he says,“doing different kinds of odds and ends.”

For George, the road to retirement hasnot been without its bumps, but the mem-ories created along the way are forever anduniquely his.

Opposite page, clockwise from top: George was the ninth child in a family ofthirteen children.

George and his sister were required to carry gas masks to school.

George and his wife, Mary, visit his mother in Hawaii in 1972.

The front page of the Honolulu Star-Bulletinfrom December 7, 1941, the day of theattack on Pearl Harbor

Once again, George Chun resideson a tropical island surrounded bywater and beautiful landscapes.

Only this time, it’s The Islandneighborhood at Shell Point.

We came out here andvisited and immediatelymade up our minds that this is the place to be. We fell in love withthe place.

18

Throughout the last several months,Dawn Boren, director of resident life,has educated residents on the Shell Pointprogram entitled LifeQuest and the sixdimensions of wellness. Because LifeQuestencompasses so many wellness programs,services, and resources, we recognize thatthere are many individual journeyswith many destinationswhen it comes to resi-dents setting their per-sonal MyQuest goals.We know that residentwellness preferencesand goals will differdepending on each indi-vidual.

It is important for you toreflect and honestly assess your cur-rent state of overall wellness prior to settingyour MyQuest goals for 2013. To assist youin the process, we will be sending you a

LifeQuest assessment tool to help you deter-mine your wellness strengths and weakness.This information is for your eyes only, andwill aid you in identifying and setting yourindividual goals.

Informational Brochure Toward the end of the month, you willreceive a detailed LifeQuest brochure,information letter, and commitmentcard for you to document yourMyQuest goals. The commitmentcard has two sections, one for youto document your personal goalsand the other to mark yourcommitment to LifeQuest atShell Point. Your goals canremain as private and confi-

dential as you choose. Shell Pointrealizes that the dimensions are diversifiedand can hold different meanings to differentpeople.

LifeQuest Expo We will officially kick off this exciting

wellness initiative during the LifeQuestExpo on Tuesday, January 8. Be sure to cometo the church auditorium between 10 a.m.and 2 p.m. to turn in your LifeQuest com-mitment card and receive your free t-shirt!The church auditorium will be set up withbooths highlighting all of the programs andservices offered at Shell Point representingthe six dimensions of wellness:

1. Physical

2. Emotional

3. Spiritual

4. Educational

5. Community & Social

6. Natural Environment

All of the LifeQuest team members willalso be on hand to give you personal advice.

uestLifeA T S H E L L P O I N T

P

What’s Your Quest?B Y M A R Y F R A N K L I N , R E S O R T S E R V I C E S A N D W E L L N E S S M A N A G E R

LifeQuest at Shell PointLifeQuest at Shell Point

LifeQuest Informational MeetingMonday, December 10 • 10:15 a.m. • The Village Church

What is your Quest?

You are invited to attend an informational meeting about LifeQuest at ShellPoint. Dawn Boren, director of resident life, and Mary Franklin, resort servicesand wellness manager, will give residents an overview of LifeQuest at Shell Pointand answer important questions, including:

• Why LifeQuest? • What is wellness at Shell Point?

• What is the history of LifeQuest? •What will MyQuest do for me?

•Who makes up the OurQuest support team and why?

•Why should I set MyQuest goals?

Stay tuned for more information about LifeQuest.

Special DeliveryLook for Your Academy Brochure to Arrive this Month

The spring brochure for the Academy of Lifelong Learning willbe in your mailbox on Wednesday, December 12. Registrationbegins on December 13 at either service desk, or online atwww.shellpoint.net. Classes begin on Monday, January 7.


The hustle and bustle of the holidayseason is now upon us! The HealthConnection is continuing to offer programsand I encourage you to make time to attendthem between your court parties, family fes-tivities, and church events.

Wellness Specialty Classes

Bend, Breathe and Balance instructedby Melanie Brod and Pilates Stretchinstructed by Michelle Smith continuethrough December and can easily besqueezed into your hectic schedule. There isno need to sign up, just come when you canto The Island Health Club. Bend, Breatheand Balance is on Tuesdays and Thursdaysat 7:15 a.m. and Pilates Stretch is onMondays and Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m.

Sign up begins December 3 for theSenior Fitness Test (SFT) taking placethroughout January. The SFT is a series ofexercise-related tests that will measure yourcurrent fitness level in the areas of strength,cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility.The results will allow participants to seewhere they stand based on age and gender.Participants will have greater awareness ofpossible areas of improvement as well as theknowledge to set personal fitness goals forthe future. The Shell Point fitness team willbegin these 20-minute tests in January.

Once you sign up, you will be contacted fora specific test date and time. ContactMichelle Smith, fitness supervisor, [email protected] or 454-2107to sign up.

January brings new and additional fit-ness opportunities. Call either service deskto sign up for the second session of Balanceand Mobility Training and T’ai Chi Chihclasses.

Shell Point as Your Resource

Steve Minniear, vice president of health-care services, and Sherry Brown, director oflong term care and licensed administrator ofthe Pavilion, team up to give a very inform-ative presentation on Larsen Pavilion –Insurance. The presentation will take placeon Wednesday, December 12, at 1:15 p.m. inthe Social Center. It is a great opportunity tohave all of your questions asked and answeredprior to needing the service.

The Shell Point Salon offers anotherSkin: What Type Are You? class onTuesday, December 18 at 3:00 p.m. in theOak Room. The class is hands-on, and youwill learn the dos and don’ts of skin care areat home. The cost is $5 per person andattendees will receive a $5 coupon for ShellPoint Salon skin care products or a facial.

Shell Point Cares

Lace up your walking shoes! Shell PointCares will be supporting the annual HeartWalk on Saturday, December 8. The eventtakes place in Fort Myers at Centennial Parkand supports the American Heart Associationin building healthier lives, free of cardiovas-cular disease and stroke. The CommunityThrift Store makes a donation for Shell Pointresidents and employees to participate.

Choose the 1-mile or 3- mile walk. Allparticipants will be given a Shell PointCares t-shirt to wear to the event.Transportation will be provided and starts at7:00 a.m., or you can meet the group at theShell Point booth at Centennial Park at8:00 a.m.

The Health ConnectionFocusing on Wellness While Celebrating the Season

B Y M A R Y F R A N K L I N , R E S O R T S E R V I C E S A N D W E L L N E S S M A N A G E R

Sherry Brown, director of long termcare, and Steve Minniear, V.P. of

healthcare services present LarsenPavilion Insurance on December 21 at

1:15 p.m. in the Social Center.

Course Offerings

spring2013

A time to learn & a time to teach

sp2013

spring2013

OCo

Offfouur

ir s e

OOfffffeereriinnggss

A ti ti m m e t o le e ar arn & a t & ti ti m e to o t e ach


Under sunny October skies and a briskbreeze, a group of around 100 Shell Pointresidents and employees joined in a united frontto support the Alzheimer’s Association at TheWalk to End Alzheimer’s.

The event started with a group warm-up, fol-lowed by a cheer competition. The Shell Pointcrowd rallied together as they cheered, “Who arewe? Shell Point! What do we want? A Cure!”

After the invigorating cheers, more than600 participants set off for the 2.5 mile walkthrough the streets of downtown Fort Myers.

The positive representation of Shell Pointwas certainly felt at the event. Adrianne Gerard,healthcare marketing specialist, said, “Thank youto all Shell Point residents, employees, and theirfamilies who participated. Not only did we havethe largest group of walkers at the event, but wealso showed that ‘Shell Point Cares’ is more thanjust our team name. A special ‘thank you’ isextended to the Community Thrift Store for theirdonation to this worthy cause!”

Giving a Holiday Food Donation on Sanibel

Recently, a few Shell Point employees donned their Shell Point Carest-shirts and provided a nutritious and delicious food donation to the F.I.S.H.Food Pantry. Located on Sanibel Island, F.I.S.H. stands for “Friends InService Here.” Shell Point’s donation will help F.I.S.H. carry out its missionto: lend a helping hand to those in need who live, work, or visit Sanibeland Captiva by providing free services such as transportation, food pantry,meal delivery, health equipment, and emergency financial assistancethrough a group of volunteers who care about enhancing the quality of lifefor all those who request help.

L-R: Shell Point employees McKenzie Millis, Inga Bredahl, Skyler Bauer, with F.I.S.H. staff members Maggie Feiner, and Christine Swiersz.

100 Shell Pointresidents and

employees tookpart in the walk.

Maracas were used by walkers to make some noise during the cheer:

“Who are we? Shell POint! What do we want? A Cure! ”

The next Shell Point Cares event will be the Heart Walk in

Centennial Park on December 8. Call 454-2152 to sign up!

Making a Difference in Our CommunityWalking to End Alzheimer’s

B Y M A R Y F R A N K L I N , R E S O R T S E R V I C E S A N D W E L L N E S S M A N A G E R


UPS volunteers are hard atwork again, extending their hours to meetthe high demand for shipping packages during theChristmas season. John Bendall (Coquina),Chairman of the UPS volunteers, is proud of hisfellow co-volunteers, stating, “With longer hoursand increased assistance with box selection andpacking, we give many people peace of mind,which is certainly welcomed during the busy holi-day season.”

Please make note that the UPS room acceptscash or checks only.

Extended Holiday Hours: Weekdays December 3 - 14

10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

(Pre-packaged boxes only)

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

(Box selection

and packing assistance)

SPREAD THE JOYHelping Local FamiliesEnjoy the Holidays

During this “season of giving,” ShellPoint and The Village Church havecome together to give you a simple andeasy way to donate toward a great cause.On December 4, as we celebrate the TreeLighting Ceremony and the Shell PointSingers’ Holiday Concert, please bringone or many canned food items todonate to the South Fort Myers FoodPantry.

During the Tree Lighting Ceremony,a collection box will be positioned in theadministration courtyard. During theShell Point Singers’ Holiday Concert, acollection box will be found at TheVillage Church. Those who prefer tomake a monetary donation can make

checks out to the Harry Chapin FoodBank, with South Fort Myers FoodPantry in the memo line, and send themto The Village Church via internal mail.

The simple act of making a donationto the South Fort Myers Food Pantry willmake great strides in helping local fami-lies enjoy the holidays!

Shell Point Market Place FeaturesA SPECIAL DAY OF HOLIDAY SHOPPING!

Jewelry • Plants • Candles • More!

Join your neighbors on December7 for a special extended MarketPlace as the Administration Courtyardfills with special holiday vendors.Mingle with friends, enjoy Christmascarolers , and purchase unique gifts forthe holiday season. In addition to theregular vendors, we welcome gift prod-ucts by Scentsy, Akamai Accents, andStylish Splendor.

Scentsy: Discover fragrances thatfill your home with comfort without therisk of a lit candle. Scentsy is a safe,wickless alternative to a scented candleand comes in fragrances such as gentlerain shower, sweet cherry blossoms, andmany more! A small decorative warmeruses the warmth of a small light bulb toheat scented wax.

Akamai Accents: Akamai Accentscan be found at Market Place every weekwith their beautiful bromeliads, air plants,and orchids. On December 7, they willfeature a special variety of plants for theholiday season. These festive plants wouldmake a great addition to any home!

Stylish Splendor: You may haveseen her at our Market Place before, butnow is the time to really check out whatLisa Earnhardt has to offer. Her line ofhand-picked jewelry brings life to anyoutfit! Her products would make greatgifts for any woman on your shoppinglist this year!

Whether you are able to cross offsome gifts from your holiday shopping list,or you treat yourself to something nice,you will enjoy this festive morning!

Christmas Food Drive to Benefit South Fort Myers Food Pantry

UPSExtended

Holiday Hours

� Market Place Vendors � Scentsy � Akamai Accents

� Stylish Splendor

Special Holiday Shopping Event

Friday, December 7Administration Courtyard

8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.


The holiday season got off to a great startwith the annual resident Holiday CraftBazaar on November 2 and 3. Attracting morethan 1,200 people, this busy two-day event wasmarked by creativity, ingenuity, and talent.Helen Remington (Lakewood), a participant inthe Holiday Craft Bazaar, was all smiles as sheexclaimed, “I thoroughly enjoy par-ticipating in the Craft Bazaar eachyear. It is a pleasure to meet guestsoutside of our community who are soimpressed with the offerings of thebazaar. This event allows an outletfor the imaginative, and in somecases resourceful, talents that ShellPoint residents have to offer.”

Of the 53 crafters that set upbooths this year, there were nine new partici-pants. “The items available at the bazaar contin-ually change and the quality of craftsmanshipcontinues to set precedents,” stated BarbaraHilton (Lakewood), chairperson of the HolidayCraft Bazaar.

From delicate pottery to elaborate jewelry,there was something for everyone at this annualbazaar.

2012 Holiday Craft Bazaar 2012 Holiday Craft Bazaar

Jane Hoden of Oakmont

Crafters offeredand displayedphotos, wood

carvings, fabrics,pottery, jewelery,

and more.

Casual Fare at the Island Café Enjoy a casual breakfast or a light lunch in the Island Cafe on Christmas Day from

7 a.m. until 2 p.m. On New Year’s Day the Island Café will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., offering everything from light snacks to full meals. Take home a mini or regular-sized fresh baked holiday pie! Stop in or call 454-2286 to place an order.

Bountiful Buffet at the Crystal RoomOn Christmas Day, a traditional holiday buffet will be offered in the Crystal Room from

10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Menu choices include hand-carved prime rib of beef, baked salmon, androast turkey. Sides include whipped or sweet potatoes, dressing, green beans almondine, and squash

casserole. The extensive Crystal salad bar and freshly baked breads and rolls are included. There willalso be a wide assortment of festive holiday desserts, all included for the total price of $21.95. The CrystalRoom will also be open for regular lunch and dinner hours on New Year’s Eve. Start your celebration off withlive smooth jazz music provided by Charlie Sherrill during dinner, and a sparkling grape juice New Year’s Evetoast. Then join us on January 1 for a New Year’s Day lunch buffet featuring typical good luck foods for thenew year such as roast pork, sauerkraut, greens, and black eyed peas. The Tuesday night stir fry cooking stationbuffet will be available for dinner on New Year’s Day. Seating in the Crystal Room is available on a first come,first served basis.

Elegant Dining at the Palm GrillThe Palm Grill will be featuring a special Christmas Day dinner served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Start with lobster bisque or North Pole shrimp cocktail. Entree choices include filet mignon,roast turkey, surf and turf (boneless short ribs with pan sautéed sea scallops), or Chilean sea bassand Gulf shrimp scampi. Entrees include a salad and prices range from $21.95 to $25.95. The

Palm Grill will also feature festive Christmas desserts. The Palm Grill will be closed on Christmas Eve. ThePalm Grill will be open for lunch and dinner on New Year’s Eve with a special dinner menu and live musicfeatured from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Palm Grill will be closed on New Year’s Day. Call-ahead seating is availableby calling 454-2059 on Christmas Day.

Order by Noon on Dec. 19 for Family Feast Another very popular option for Christmas Day is the Family Feast meal available from the Crystal

Room. The fully-cooked and ready-to-serve feast includes a whole roasted turkey or slicedbaked ham, potatoes, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, vegetable, and a dozen dinner rollsfor just $54.95. One Family Feast serves six people. Pumpkin and apple pies are alsoavailable for additional cost. Order by noon on December 19 and pick up at theSocial Center on Christmas Day between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call 454-2199or stop by the Crystal Room to place your order.

Enjoy a meal at one of Shell Point’s four dining venues, where theholiday season is always a joyous and festive occasion. The HospitalityServices department also offers the option of ordering pre-cooked mealsavailable to serve in the comfort of your own home on Christmas Day.

Christmas & New Year’s Dining

Ready-to-Serve Ham

or TurkeyDinner

Ready-to-Serve Ham

or TurkeyDinner


Part of the joy of a long and successful life is reaping the benefits of deep rela-tionships and the material benefits of your hard work and careful manage-ment. Careful planning can make a tremendous difference as we face the future.

Think about this: If you needed to locate your financial records and perhaps hand themoff to a loved one or advisor, could you do it easily? Would it take a lot of digging and phone

calls? The truth is that it is often quite difficult to keep track of everything you owe orown, especially if you’ve dealt with various advisors over the years.

The Legacy Foundation has created a special tool forthe residents of Shell Point that we believe you willappreciate. We call it the Life Records Organizer.

The Life Records Organizer is designed as a planningtool with helpful tips about financial and estate planning,as well as a resource of critical information such as a glos-sary of terms and information about advance directives.The planner is also truly a detailed planner that will guideyou through the steps of creating a trustworthy plan, withplaces to record information that will be important to yourfamily and advisors.

We have one for you. Please stop by The LegacyFoundation, introduce yourself, and pick up a copy today!

Introducing the Life Records Organizer…a Gift to You From The Legacy Foundation

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

ANOTHER GIFT ANNUITYB Y T I M O T H Y S T E P H E N S O N , E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R O F T H E L E G A C Y F O U N D A T I O N

1. Satisfaction

Most donors ease into their first giftannuity with a degree of concern. Afterall, this is a new arrangement for themand they wonder how well it will work.Will the payment amount be as promised?Will the checks arrive on time?

It doesn't take long for any uneasi-ness to vanish. Donors soon discover theyare having a positive experience. Theylearn they can count on the income toarrive as promised. And this satisfactiondraws them back for another annuity.

2. Connection

Having a life-income agreement likea charitable gift annuity involves aninterdependence not experienced withnormal annual giving. For one thing, theperson is not only giving financial sup-port, but receiving it. This enhancedsense of partnership encourages the feel-ing that "we are in this together."Additional annuities deepen this connec-tion even further.

3. Better Rates

Gift annuity rates are determined bythe annuitant's age. The older you are,the better rates you receive. For example,current rate for a single-life gift annuityinvolving a 70-year-old person is 5.1 per-cent. The rate increases to 5.8 percent fora 75-year-old. At age 80 it is 6.8 percentand at 85 it is 7.8 percent. A 90-year-old(and older) will receive 9.0 percent. Sofor many annuitants, it makes sense toobtain additional annuities as they growolder.

Why do many people with a charitable gift annuity benefiting Shell Point obtain additional annuities? There are at least three reasons:

Gift annuities offer other advantages in addition those mentioned above. To obtain further information, call the Legacy Foundation at 466-8484. You can receive a personalized illustration to show how a gift annuity can benefit you.


Q&AFineMark National Bank & Trust Answers Your Personal Banking Questions B Y T I F F A N Y W I L L I A M S , M A N A G I N G E X E C U T I V E , F I N E M A R K N A T I O N A L B A N K & T R U S T

ANSWER : Helping finance agrandchild's college education canbring great personal satisfactionwhile also minimizing potential giftand estate taxes. Here are somecommon strategies:

Outright Cash GiftsOne way to contribute is to make

an outright gift of cash. To minimizeany potential gift tax implications,you'll want to keep your gift under theannual federal gift tax exclusionamount of $13,000 for individual giftsor $26,000 for joint gifts made by bothgrandparents. A larger gift may besubject to federal gift tax.

Pay Tuition Directly to the CollegeAnother option is to bypass your

grandchild and pay the college directly.Under federal law, tuition payments madedirectly to a college are not considered tax-able gifts, no matter how large the payment.However, only tuition qualifies for this fed-eral gift tax exemption.

529 College Savings PlanA 529 college savings plan is a tax-

advantaged savings vehicle that can be asmart way for grandparents to contribute totheir grandchild’s college education whileparing down their own estate.Contributions to your account grow tax-deferred and earnings are tax-free if themoney is used to pay the beneficiary's qual-ified education expenses. Funds can be usedat any accredited college in the UnitedStates or abroad.

Before you make any decisions on giv-ing, it’s important to do your homework andconsult with your financial advisor. The pro-fessionals at FineMark are always availableto help. If you have any questions, call us at461-5999 or stop by our office on TheIsland.

2012 Year-End Wrap-Upand the Outlook for 2013

Recent years have each had their own uncer-tainties geopolitically and within the financialmarkets - 2012 has been no exception. We willbe discussing the tremendous volatility in thefinancial markets and the challenges we facedwith the European debt crisis. Join us for thistimely review of the year and a discussion ofwhat we should expect for 2013.

This seminar is free; however, seating is limitedand reservations are required. Please contacteither service desk to reserve your seat.

The Legacy Foundation presents

2012 Year-End Wrap-Up and the Outlook for 2013Wednesday, December 5 at 10 a.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDL

SPEAKERS:David Moreland, associate v.p., and Jason Scoggins, v.p. of

UBS Financial Group - The Scoggins/Moreland Groupand Timothy A. Stephenson ChFC, executive director of the

Legacy Foundation at Shell Point

Q: I have grandchildren getting ready for college and I

would like offer financial assistance.

What is the best way to support their future education costs?

Majorie Rawlings Monday, December 33:00 p.m. Grand Cypress Room/WDLMarjorie Rawlings, a Pulitzer Prize-winningauthor, is celebrated in a special one-womanshow written and performed by Karen DeVos.Karen transforms herself into Rawlings anddiscusses this award-winning author’s personaltriumphs and sorrows. She also brings laughterto the show as she talks about one of her col-orful Florida “Cracker” neighbors, FredTompkins, and his tale about a panther ghost!

Annual Tree Lighting CeremonyTuesday, December 45:45 p.m. Festivities and Entertainment 6:30 p.m. Tree Lighting CeremonyAmphitheater/IS’Tis the season to be jolly! The evening will befull of joy as we kick-off the Christmas seasonwith the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Themusical talents of high school students fromBishop Verot High school will fill the air whileyou enjoy your cookies, mocha coffee, and thecompany of Mr. and Mrs. Claus. In the spiritof giving, bring a canned good to benefit theSouth Fort Myers Food Pantry.

The Shell Point Singers Festive Holiday ConcertTuesday, December 47:15 p.m.The Village Church/ISBecause “the weather outside is frightful,” nodoubt “it’s time for caroling” and celebratingall the things we say “Christmas is.” For sure,it will be “a beautiful sight; we’ll be happy thisnight, walking in a winter wonderland.” Ofcourse, we'll be sure to recall “the most famousreindeer of all” as we designate a guide forSanta’s sleigh. And the “silver bells” will ringout the news that “it’s Christmas time,” andwe’ll sing “glory to God and on Earth be joy”for this is indeed “the most wonderful time ofthe year!” Don’t miss this delightful holidayconcert performed by a community choruscomprised of your friends and neighbors.

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

4

3

4

Bring your cannedgoods to the Shell Point Tree LightingCeremony orShell Point

Singers concert on Tuesday,December 4


Christmas Food Drive to Benefit South Fort Myers Food Pantry


EVENTS • PROGRAMS •PARTIES •MOVIES • OUTINGS • EXCURSIONS

Shell Point Garden SocietyWednesday, December 511:00 a.m.Oak Room/WDL

As you get into the holi-day spirit, be sure toattend the Shell PointGarden Society meetingto get tips on “Preparingfor Christmas with Plants”from the experts at TheDriftwood Garden Center.

It’s Clam Bake Time!Thursday, December 610:45 a.m. Island pickup10:55 a.m. Woodlands pickup11:05 a.m. Eagles Preserve pickup1:30 p.m. approximate returnCost: $7.00 (lunch on your own)Join the group for an always popular lunchtrip to the Clam Bake right here in FortMyers! This unassuming little restaurant

always serves up great“chowda” and friedclams, conjuring up allkinds of wonderfulconversations andmemories of New

England. The Clam Bake is expanding, sothis will be the last time we dine at this loca-tion. Lunches usually run $6 to $19.

Shell Point Market Place Friday, December 7, 14, 21, 288:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.Admin Courtyard/ISEnjoy the beautiful December weather eachFriday morning as you peruse the array of prod-ucts at the Market Place. In addition to yourtypical weekly shopping, be sure to keep an eyeout for special holiday gifts. And mark yourcalendar to shop the extended Market Placeon Friday, December 7, where new vendorswill sell great Christmas gifts!

Information Forum: Computer College Round UpSaturday, December 810:00 a.m.Grand Cypress Room/WDLCome to the Round Up to meet with theComputer College instructors and instructorassistants and findout what will beoffered in the 2013Spring term. Bringyour questions andtake advantage of theopportunity to e-register right at the event!

Saturday DVD: Hugo (2011)Saturday, December 8 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.Grand Cypress Room/WDLJoin Hugo, a wily and resourceful orphan wholives in the walls of a train station, as he dis-

covers a secret left byhis father. As the secretunfolds, Hugo unlocksa mystery and embarkson a quest that willtransform those aroundhim and lead to a safeand loving place thathe can call home.

Dickens Women at Big Arts: Herb Strauss Theatre on SanibelSunday, December 91:45 p.m. Island pickup2:00 p.m. Woodlands pickup2:15 p.m. Eagles Preserve pickupCost: $44.00Award-winning actress Miriam Margolyes,famous for roles infilms such as HarryPotter and theChamber of Secretsand Little Shop ofHorrors, presentsher critically-acclaimed show,Dickens’ Women.Margolyes, whoalso played Madam Morrible in the Broadwayproduction of Wicked, will portray many ofCharles Dickens’ most colorful and entertain-ing literary characters, including those drawnfrom Oliver Twist, Great Expectations andNicholas Nickleby.

Holiday Sounds Monday, December 107:15 p.m.The Village ChurchTalented Shell Point residentstake the stage again this yearfor the annual holiday con-cert! Groups such as thePolished Brass, Tone Chimes,and Rollicking Recorderistswill delight us with special performances anda few surprises. Refreshments will be served atthe conclusion of the concert.

Edison-Ford Estates Behind-the-Scenes Tour Tuesday, December 118:45 a.m. Island pickup8:55 a.m. Woodlands pickup9:05 a.m. Eagles Preserve pickup1:30 p.m. approximate returnCost: $36.00 (lunch on your own)

Join the curatorial staff for a special Estate tourand actually go inside the homes of ThomasEdison and Henry Ford. For the second year, agroup of Shell Point residents assisted in dec-orating the Estates for the holidays. Come seethe Shell Point tree. Wear comfortable shoesfor considerable walking, some uneven gravelsurfaces, and lots of standing; and dress for out-side weather. After the tour, the group will stopfor lunch at Jason’s Deli. Lunch at Jason’s Delitypically runs $5-$10.

Pickleball Exhibition Tuesday, December 119:15 a.m.Pickleball Court/ISLearn more about Pickleball as you get thechance to watch membersof the Bonita Bay PickleballClub come out and play agame on the Shell Pointcourt. For everyone tryingto learn the game, this is agreat way to see howPickleball is played and tobecome more familiar with the rules.

8

5

9

8

714,21,28

6 11

11

10


Photo ClubThursday: December 132:15 p.m.Manatee Room/ISAll are welcome to this month’s meeting asLes Davidson leads a discussion on photo

manipulation: nowand then. Makesure to bring an 8 x10 photographfrom the BabcockRanch trip to sharewith the group. Ifyou were not on

that field trip, bring your favorite picture ofa plant or animal.

Roy’s Hawaiian FusionAlways a Dinner Delight!Thursday, December 134:15 p.m. Island pickup4:25 p.m. Woodlands pickup4:35 p.m. Eagles Preserve pickup8:00 p.m. approximate returnCost: $8.00 (dinner on your own)Location: Bonita SpringsNowhere else will you find a culinary experi-ence encompassing the flavors, textures, andcolors found in Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion

Cuisine. Combiningthe freshest localingredients withEuropean saucesand bold Asian

spices, each creationleaves you with thefeeling that you've justfound paradise.

Apple GroupFriday, December 141:30 p.m.Oak Room/WDLWally Mercer (Lakewood), pres-ident of the newly renamedApple Group, will conductthe annual business meetingand election of club officers.He will introduce the steeringcommittee and present a preview of plannedprograms. Come and enjoy an afternoon withyour Apple Group friends.

Sunday Matinee: Christmas Music CelebrationSunday, December 162:30 p.m. Grand Cypress Room/WDLWatch a festive DVD of a Christmas Concert

with Andre Rienand his orchestraset in Germany.Following theconcert, be sureto stick around to

see a DVD with Christmas Carols from theBethel University Choir in St. Paul, Minnesota,from their beautifully decorated concert hall.

Southwest Florida Handbell Ensemble Monday, December 176:30 p.m.Grand Cypress Room, WDLThe Southwest Florida Handbell Ensemble isreturning to Shell Point for a holiday concert.Under the direction of Michael Helman, thisgroup will bring joy and delight to your ears asthey play holiday favorites, such as We ThreeKings, Silver Bells, and other holiday favorites.

Holiday Arbor Lights: Calusa Nature CenterWednesday, December 196:00 p.m. Island pickup6:10 p.m. Woodlands pickup6:20 p.m. Eagles Preserve pickup9:30 p.m. approximate returnCost: $18 admission incl. (snacks available)All the forested pathways at the Calusa NatureCenter will be lit up for the holidays creatinga fanciful winter wonderland - Florida style!Santa will bethere, holidayssongs will be sungby kids, and theanimals will bethere to celebratethe holidays aswell. This yule-tide trip is bound to make your spirits bright!Considerable walking is required for this out-ing and uneven walkways may be encoun-tered.

Beach DayFriday, December 218:30 a.m. Island pickup8:40 a.m. Woodlands pickup8:50 a.m. Eagles Preserve pickup3:00 p.m. approximate returnCost: $16.00 (ice cream on your own)A favorite outing for many residents, beachday gets us all out in the sun, shade, and surf!The group will head to Delnor Wiggins PassState Park for fun, food, and frolic. A picniclunch will be served and a traditional stop forice cream will be included on the trip back toShell Point.

Christmas Cantata Tuesday, December 254:15 p.m.Resident Activity Center/ISFor the 17th year in a row, Shell Point will becelebrating Christmas with the ChristmasCantata. A Time for Joy, written by RuthRodgers (Palm Acres), willbe presented by a groupof residents, visitingfamily members, andguests. This holi-day tradition con-sists of choirselections, soloists,orchestral selections, and favoritereadings. Delightful refreshments will beserved following this festive Cantata.

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

13

17

19

16

13

14

21

25


Stroll Through the Four Mile Cove Ecological PreserveWednesday, December 269:00 a.m. Island pickup9:10 a.m. Woodlands pickup9:20 a.m. Eagles Preserve pickup1:30 p.m. approximate returnCost: $8.00 (lunch on your own)What a wonderful way to spend the day afterChristmas! The Four Mile Cove Ecological

Park is located just overthe bridge in Cape Coral.This mangrove-canopiedboardwalk trail beginsand ends at the VisitorCenter. This is a greattime of year for viewingseasonal birds and walk-

ing the 1.2 mile boardwalk at a leisurely pace.Several benches are available along the way,but there will be substantial walking on aboardwalk and even some gravel.

The Wolves of Yellowstone: The First 15 YearsFriday, December 283:15 p.m.Social Center/ISWith the help of the “Ding” DarlingWildlife Society, Douglas Smith, the sen-ior wildlife biologist at YellowstoneNational Park, will be here to talk abouthis involvement in reinstating wolves tothe park. A sweet treat will be provided byCakes, Bakes and More, who visits theShell Point Market Place each week. Thisis sure to be a fun and exciting event forthe entire family.

Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings at Big Arts Herb Strauss Theatre on SanibelSaturday, December 296:45 p.m. Island pickup7:00 p.m. Woodlands pickup7:15 p.m. Eagles Preserve pickup11:00 p.m. approximate returnCost: $44.00Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings, a musical revueby Stuart Ross, finds our favorite vocal group,The Plaids, visiting from Heaven to deliversome much-needed holiday cheer. Filled withChristmas standards that have all been “Plaid-erized,” the boys’ Christmas Special is packedwith all your holiday favorites, including LetIt Snow, I'll Be Home for Christmas, Carol of theBells, It's Beginning to Look a Lot LikeChristmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town,Jingle Bells, and many more.

Movie Night: The Bishop’s Wife (1947)Monday, December 316:45 p.m. Manatee Room/ISThe Bishop’s Wife, starring Carry Grant,

Loretta Young, andDavid Niven, fol-lows the story of abishop who praysfor guidance as hetries to have a newcathedral built.An angel arrivesto offer guidance,but not in theway that thebishop had

asked for. This is a romantic com-edy that you will definitely enjoy this holi-day season!

New Year’s Eve Dinner Monday, December 314:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. –Entertainment at the Crystal Room5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. –Entertainment at the Palm GrillRing in the New Year with fine dining andentertainment at the Crystal and the PalmGrill. Enjoy excellent food, friends, andentertainment as Charlie Sherrill performsat The Crystal and Dan Klimoski performsat The Palm Grill.

Save the Date

Shell Point Gala 2013 Portrait – Celebration of Life Friday, January 112:45 p.m. or 6:45 p.m.Church AuditoriumThe Legacy Foundation at Shell Point ispleased to announce Portrait, the 2013Celebration of Life Gala at Shell PointRetirement Community. Please join us forthe afternoon or evening celebration of thegenerous spirit that sets Shell Point apart asa wonderful community in which to live.The 2013 Gala is hosted by the LegacyFoundation at Shell Point.

2013 Pavilion Auxiliary Annual Meeting — Auxiliary Volunteers are Super Stars!Thursday, January 172:00 – 3:30 p.m.Church AuditoriumWatch for the January issue of Shell PointLife for more information.

Walkingrequired

Walking up anddown stairs

Special event buswill be running

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

31

31

28

26

29

11

17


LARSEN PAVILION

THE ARBOR

KING’S CROWN

DecemberHighlightsDecember

HighlightsSun 2 ....1st Advent Celebration (GS) ............................6:00 p.m.Mon 3 ....Tone Chimes Holiday Melodies (COM) ..........2:00 p.m.Mon 3 ....KC Tree Lighting Ceremony (GS) ....................6:00 p.m.Tue 4 ....Shell Point Tree Lighting (IS) ..........................6:00 p.m. Tue 4 ....Shell Point Holiday Singers (VC) ......................7:15 p.m.Tue 4 ....December Birthdays w/ Patrick Nolen (COM) 2:00 p.m.Wed 5 ....Kingdom Kids Performance (COM) ..................3:15 p.m.Mon 5 ....St. Nicholas Night ................................................BedtimeFri 7 ....Lunch Trip to First Watch (L) ..........................10:15 a.m.Fri 7 ....Holiday Card Sale (GS) ....................................11:30 a.m.Sat 8 ....Lee County Junior Drill Team (COM) ..............2:00 p.m.Sun 9 ....2nd Advent Celebration w/ Santa (GS)............6:00 p.m.Tue 11 ....Canterbury Christmas Cheer (COM) ..............10:00 a.m.Tue 11 ....King’s Crown Candlelight Dinner (DR)............5:00 p.m.Thu 13 ....Jean Packard Trio: Holiday Classics (COM) ....2:00 p.m.Fri 14 ....Evangelical Christian School (COM)..............10:00 a.m.Fri 14 ....Holiday Lights Tour (L) ......................................5:30 p.m.Sat 15 ....Tom Cannon, Entertainment (COM) ..............2:30 p.m.Sun 16 ....3rd Advent Celebration (GS) ............................6:00 p.m.Mon 17 ....Lunch Trip to PF Changs (L) ............................10:15 a.m.Wed 19 ....Sounds of Christmas (COM) ..............................1:30 p.m.Fri 21 ....Christmas Spirit Sing-a-long w/ Charlie (GS) 10:30 a.m.Sun 23 ....4th Advent Celebration (GS) ............................6:00 p.m.Mon 24 ....Christmas Eve Candle Light Service (VC) ...... 7:15 p.m.Tue 25 ....Traditional Christmas Dinner Buffet (DR) ..11-1:00 p.m.Tue 25 ....The Nativity Story (SCR).................................. 6:30 p.m.Fri 28 ....Wellness Series: Staying Healthy (COM)........10:15 a.m.Mon 31 ....New Year’s Eve Dinner & Countdown (DR)..4-6:00p.m.

Sat 1 ....Musical Trip Down Memory Lane (CMR) ........3:00 p.m.Sun 2 ....Advent Candle Lighting & Cookies (Chapel) ..6:30 p.m.Mon 3 ....Brain Teasers & Puzzles (1FL) ..............................9:00 a.m.Mon 3 ....Cards by Karen (1FL) ........................................ 11:30 a.m.Tue 4 ....Birthdays w/ Patrick Nolan (CMR) ....................3:00 p.m.Tue 4 ....Shell Point Tree Lighting Ceremony (IS) ..........6:00 p.m.Wed 5 ....Decorate a Christmas Cookie (2CK) ................10:00 a.m.Thu 6 ....Arbor Tree Lighting Festivities (1FL)..................6:00 p.m.Fri 7 ....Lunch Trip to First Watch (1FL)........................10:30 a.m.Fri 7 ....Tone Chimes Christmas Concert (CMR) ..........3:00 p.m.Mon 10 ....Sing Praise w/ Graham Milligan (CMR) ............1:00 p.m.Wed 12 ....Craft: Scented Christmas Ornaments (4CR)....10:00 a.m.Thu 13 ....Arbor Candlelight Dinner (DR)..........................5:00 p.m.Fri 14 ....Classical Holiday Music (Mez) ..........................10:30 a.m.Fri 14 ....Holiday Lights Tour (1FL)....................................5:45 p.m.Mon 17 ....Lunch Trip to PF Changs (1FL) ........................10:30 a.m.Mon 17 ....Curio Cabinet Contest Award (1FL) ..................3:45 p.m.Wed 19 ....National Hard Candy Day Sweet Shop (1FL)..11:30 a.m.Wed 19 ....Sounds of Florida Concert (CMR) ......................3:00 p.m.Thu 20 ....Cantata w/ Shell Point Singers (1FL)..................2:00 p.m.Mon 24 ....Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (VC) ..........7:15 p.m.Tue 25 ....Traditional Christmas Dinner (DR) ................4-6:00 p.m.Thu 27 ....Karate Demonstration (1FL) ............................ 10:45 a.m.Fri 28 ....Quilters Showcase (1FL).................................... 10:00 a.m.Mon 31 ....New Year’s Eve Countdown (DR)............5 p.m. & 6 p.m.

Tue 4 ....Piano w/ Ruth Rodgers & Violin w/ Kathy (3 DR)..........................................10:00 a.m.

Wed 5......Birthday Bash (2/3 DR) ........................................2:30 p.m.Thu 6 ......Resident Council (3 DR)......................................3:00 p.m.Thu 6 ......Tree Lighting Dinner w/ singer Ali (1 DR) ........4:15 p.m.Fri 7 ......Decorate your tree w/ Kathy (3) ........................10:00 a.m.Mon 10 ....Graham Millligan, Singer (2 DR) ....................10:00 a.m.Thu 13 ....Nativity (1 DR) ....................................................2:00 p.m.Fri 14 ....Entertainment w/ singer Ali (2 DR)....................2:30 p.m.Sat 15 ....Entertainment w/ Tom Cannon (3 DR)..............1:00 p.m.Wed 19 ....Ice Cream Social (3 DR) ......................................2:30 p.m.Thu 20 ....Entertainment w/ Vicky Lei (3 DR) ....................2:30 p.m.Thu 27 ....Crafting w/ Kathy (3 DR) ....................................2:00 p.m.Every Mon...Sing-a-long with Dot (2DR) ..........................10:00 a.m.Every Tue.....Piano w/ Ruth Rodgers (3DR) ........................10:00 a.m.Every Wed ...Music Social w/ Art (3DR) ............................ 10:00 a.m.Every Wed ...Pet Therapy w/ Eli (3/2 DR) ....................2:30-3:00 p.m.Every Fri.......Pet Therapy w/ Bella (3/2/1)......................10-10:30 a.m.Every Sat......Pet Therapy w/ Sammie (3/2 DR) ............10-10:30 a.m.Recurring Activities:• Catholic Communion will be held each Sunday at 10:00 a.m.• Vespers meet on Sundays at 2:45 p.m., and Mondays and

Wednesdays at 3:45 p.m. • Bible Study with Eleanor will be held on Mondays at 9:30 a.m.• Bible Stories & Songs with Bud will meet Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m.• Hymn Sing will take place on Saturdays at 3 p.m. on 3rd floor.


Alcoholics Anonymous MeetingThursdays, December 6, 13, 20, and 274:30 p.m.Sabal Room/WDLAlcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship ofmen and woman who share their experi-ence, strength, and hope that they maysolve their common problem and help oth-ers recover from alcoholism. This “open”meeting of AA welcomes anyone whothinks they may have a problem with alco-hol. The loved ones who support them arealso welcome. For more information, call275-5111.

Cancer Support Program 1-on-1 mentoringThe goal of this resident-led program is toestablish group mentoring connectionsbetween newly diagnosed cancer patientsand cancer survivors. Contact BarbaraMaruchi (Lakewood) at 433–9488

Cancer Support Group Wednesday, December 51:30 p.m.Osprey Room/ ISLadies and gentlemen are all encouraged toattend the resident-led Cancer SupportGroup. The intent is for a meaningful anduplifting session. Contact Barbara Maruchi(Lakewood) at 433-9488.

Caregiver Support Group TherapyTuesdays, December 4 and 18Group 1: 9:15 a.m. or Group 2: 10:30 a.m.2nd Floor Educational Room #2Pavilion Rehabilitation Building/ISThis therapeutic group is aimed at helpingresidents deal with issues of being a care-giver for someone with a memory disorder.The resident with a memory disorder maybe cared for in independent living, assistedliving, or skilled nursing. Dr. NancySpencer facilitates the group and can bereached at 454-2043. Sign up is required.

Diabetes Group AppointmentFriday, December 71:00 p.m.Social Center/ISBoth insulin and non-insulin diabetics are encour-aged to attend this meeting.Each monthly meeting covers adifferent topic and includes opendiscussion.

Healing Journey Grief SupportWednesdays, December 5 and 122:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.Village Church/ChapelHealing Journey is a series of sessions whichexamine the physical, emotional, mental,and spiritual effects of grief. Dotty Morrison(Cellana) and Judy Mayer (Junonia) willlead the series that runs through December5. Please call Dotty at 337-4015 to make anappointment.

Memory Care GroupsNote: Individual assessment is requiredbefore joining one of the following groups:Tuesdays, December 4 and 18Group 1: 9:15 a.m. or Group 2: 10:30 a.m.2nd Floor Educational Room #1Pavilion Rehabilitation Building/IS

Wednesdays, December 5 and 193:00 p.m. 3rd Floor Game Room/Kings Crown

These are therapeutic groups designed toprovide education and support to those res-idents who have some type of memory disor-der. The objectives of the groups are toidentify practical strategies that would helpresidents manage their memory loss better,to address long-range planning, and to offeran environment that fosters a sense of pur-pose and heightened self-esteem. KathyFratrick, L.C.S.W. facilitates the group andcan be reached at 454-2073. Individualappointments are available as well.

Neuropathy Support GroupWednesday, December 1911:00 a.m.Oak Room/WDLThe group provides support and education.Contact Lenny Wodarczyk (Parkwood) at443-4769 and Mel Bleiberg (Eagles Preserve)at 693-3016.

Parkinson’s Support Group Monday, December 310:15 a.m.Village Church Hospitality Room/ISThis group provides support to Parkinson’spatients, as well as their family and friends.

The Vision Enrichment GroupTuesday, December 1110:15 a.m.Social Center/ISThis group is a place to network and to sharestories and information. Florence Putman(Eagles Preserve) is the chairperson. Formore information, contact Angie Prichard at454-2134 or Sandee Weber at 225-2929

Walk With Me Caregiver Support GroupThursday, December 27Coffee and dessert 1:30 p.m. Meeting at 1:45 p.m.Village Church Hospitality Room/ISShare your caregiver experiences withfriends. Embrace spiritual support and renewinner strength. Contact Joyce Seckinger(Lucina) at 466-1354 for more information.

SUPPORT GROUPS


Caring for Caregivers

The Importance ofRecognizing Caregiver Stress

B Y D R . N A N C Y S P E N C E R , P S Y C H O L O G I S T

Caregivers often report that caring foranother person has created a posi-tive emotional change in their lives. In fact,many caregivers say their role has had avariety of positive effects on their lives. Forexample, caregivers report that caregivinghas given them a sense of purpose. They saythat their role makes them feel useful andcapable and they enjoy knowing they aremaking a difference in the life of a loved one.

Yet, there are also very serious healthrisks associated with serving as a caregiver.First of all, many caregivers experience care-giver stress – the emotional strain of care-giving. Studies show that caregiving takes atoll on one’s physical and emotional health.Consequently, caregivers are more likely tosuffer from depression than their peers.Limited research suggests that caregiversmay also be more likely to have health prob-lems like diabetes and heart disease thannon-caregivers.

Caring for another person takes a lotof time, effort, and work. In the process,caregivers often put their own needs aside.Caregivers often report that it is difficultto look after their own health in terms ofexercise, nutrition, and doctor’s visits. So,caregivers often end up feeling angry, anx-ious, isolated, and sad.

Caregivers for people with Alzheimer'sdisease or other kinds of dementia are par-ticularly vulnerable to burnout. Researchshows that most dementia caregivers sufferfrom depression and stress. Also, studiesshow that the more hours spent on caregiv-ing, the greater the risk of anxiety anddepression. Furthermore, research showsthat people who care for their spouses aremore prone to caregiving-related stress thanthose who care for other family members.

The Challenges of CaregivingThe stress of caregiving can be ampli-

fied when the person you're caring for does-n’t know you anymore. He or she may betoo ill to talk or follow simple plans. This

may make it hard for you to think of thatperson in the same way that you did beforehe or she became ill. This may be especiallytrue if the person you're caring for suffersfrom dementia.

The person you're caring for may alsohave behavior problems, like yelling, hit-ting, or wandering away from home. Thisbehavior may make you feel angry and frus-trated.

Because being a caregiver is so hard,some doctors think of caregivers as "hiddenpatients." If you don't take care of yourselfand stay well, you won't be able to help any-one else.

It is important for caregivers to keep intouch with friends and family, talk abouttheir feelings, and ask for help in giving

care. It is also important for caregivers tohave opportunities to seek peer support.

Caring for another person takes a lot of time, effort, and work. In the process, caregivers tend to

put their own needs aside.

Caregiver Support Group

All caregivers are encouraged toattend the Caregiver Support Group.The therapeutic group is aimed atoffering education and support to resi-dents who are providing assistance to aperson with dementia. Members of thegroup are able to learn strategies to dealwith the always changing symptoms ofdementia and feel understood by otherswho are going through similar circum-stances. See page 31 for informationabout the Caregiver Support Group.

Fundamental strategies for havinga better memory include spendingmore time with information or skills andspending more time organizing and practic-ing the information and skills. Developingstrategies to help you organize your life andbetter manage your memory loss is a key tomemory management.

The important factor to keep in mindis that it is essential to identify and masterthese techniques before you need them,because if you wait until you need them itmay be too late to learn new informationand skills in order to use them.

There are specific techniques thatallow you to become more efficient atlearning and recalling new and old infor-

mation. These are assistive strategies andexternal memory aids such as calendars,lists, clocks, computers, and possibly evenother people.

When a person needs more help thanbasic memory management strategies, ShellPoint offers a support group for those deal-ing with the challenges of memory condi-tions.

Memory Care Support GroupsResidents who have a type of memory

condition, such as mild cognitive impair-ment or mild/early dementia, are encour-aged to attend the Memory TherapyGroup. The therapeutic group is aimed atproviding education and support to resi-

dents with memory conditions. In addition,residents will learn to identify practicalsolutions and strategies that will improvemanagement of their memory loss, as wellas address long-range planning, such astransitioning to a higher level of care whenneeded. Lastly, the group is aimed at creat-ing an opportunity for support and social-ization in a comfortable setting.

Please see page 31 for informationabout the Memory Care Support Groups.

Memory Management Helpful Strategies & Tips to Use Each DayB Y K A T H Y F R A T R I C K , L C S W

To Help You Keep Track of Dates, Schedules, Tasks, and Phone Numbers:

� Leave yourself notes or make checklists.

� Put appointments and important dates on calendars,planners, or electronic organizers.

� Keep a notebook for phone numbers, addresses, andother contact information.

� If you have trouble remembering how to do some-thing, write down the steps.

To Remember Where You Put Things:

� Put the things you use regularly (keys, glasses, purse,watch) in the same spot when you are not using them.Designate a valet or jewelry box as your special mem-ory container and use it routinely.

� If you have to put something down in a differentplace, look at the place when you put down the objectand say the location out loud.

� If necessary, write down where things are.

To Help You Track Time and Navigate Your Environment:

� Set an alarm clock or timer to remind you when to leavefor an appointment or do something in your home.

� Use a map or GPS to help you get from one place toanother. Write down landmarks and/or street names,number of miles, and the length of time it takes toget there. Practice these routes by taking trial runs.

� Enlist friends and relatives to remind you of whereyou need to be and what you’re supposed to do.

To Help You Learn New Information:

� Listen closely when someone talks to you and repeatback the information.

� Try to talk with people in quiet places.

� Focus on one thing at a time; screen out distractions.

� Keep information simple. Break down new tasks oractivities into small stages, then establish a pattern orroutine and stick to it.

MEMORY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

34 Shell Point Life | December 2012 34

The Legacy Foundation at Shell Pointhosted a successful 9th annual ShellPoint Open Golf Tournament. The tourna-ment raised nearly $25,000 for theWaterside Medical Complex at Shell Point,which offers medical and healthcare servicesto residents of Shell Point and the surround-ing local community.

The tournament hosted 98 participat-ing golfers, as well as volunteers from thecommunity. Everyone involved had a greattime while helping support the healthcarein our community.

Timothy A. Stephenson, executivedirector of The Legacy Foundation, thankedthe sponsors, participants, and volunteersfor their outstanding support of this worth-while cause. “This was our 9th year hostingthe Shell Point Open. Golfers and sponsorsalike continue to support and enjoy thistournament each year because of developinglifelong friendships, and the opportunity tohelp with a worthwhile cause. This tourna-ment is just one way that we can help indi-viduals receive the best healthcare possible,while also having some fun.”

The event was supported by TheScoggins/Moreland Group at UBS FinancialServices, as well as many other businesses inthe Fort Myers community.

Golf bags lined the practice range as players prepared forthe tournament.

Golf tournament title sponsors David Moreland and Jason Scoggins from theScoggins/Moreland Group of UBS Financial Services present a check to Timothy Stephen-son, executive director of the Legacy Foundation, and Peter Dys, president of Shell Point.

To view more photos from the golf tournament, visit

www.faceboook.com/shellpoint.

Shell Point

Charity

GolfTournament

The first place team from Alexander & Hoover includedJim Givens, Bill McCrone, and Ray Racila.

The 2012 Shell Point OpenScored a Hole-in-One forWaterside Medical Complex


Experience the Holidays at The Arbor and King’s Crown

Celebrate the holiday season with tours of Shell Point’s beautifullydecorated assisted living facilities, The Arbor and King’s Crown.Experience a glimpse into the lifestyle and care that assisted living provideswhile mingling with Shell Point case managers and assisted living staff. Enjoy a

holiday treats and music as you take a tour and explore the various floorplans that are available. Rita Southern, director of assistedliving and the resident support services team, will be avail-

able to answer questions.

A part of celebrating the holidays is spending time with goodfriends. Residents from King’s Crown, The Arbor, and The Springsenjoyed a beautiful afternoon aboard an authentic paddle wheelboat and travelled the back bays of Fort Myers Beach.

The Arbor Holiday Open House

Thursday, December 131 p.m. to 3 p.m.

King’s Crown Holiday Open HouseTuesday, December 181 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Each event is free, but space is limited. Please call 239-454-2077 to reserve

your space for one or both of the Assisted Living Holiday Open House events.

Celebrating the Holidays

FLORIDA STYLE!


A HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTION

Resident Makes Donation to Museum of Medical History

A Bright Holiday SightEach December, volunteers from thelocal community assist in decoratingthe Edison and Ford Winter Estates forHoliday Nights. This year, one tree has a spe-cial Shell Point connection. On the frontporch of the Henry Ford house stands a Santatree that was decorated by residents LynnSmith of Rosemont, Barbara Milligan ofPeriwinkle, Ellie Whiteside of Royal Bonnet,and Jeanne Allison of Periwinkle.

Ellie said, “It’s been a lot of fun. This wasmy first time visiting the Edison home, andnow I’m looking forward to seeing it all lit upand decorated for Christmas.”

The tree harkens back to the days when Henry Ford himself would dress up as Santa anddeliver gifts to children. Lisa Sbuttoni, volunteer coordinator for the Edison & Ford WinterEstates, said, “Holiday Nights are a 37-year tradition at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates.This is the second year Shell Point has helped us decorate, and we are thrilled that they havejoined us to decorate the Henry Ford Santa tree.”

On October 18, a group of Shell Point residents traveled toEdison State College for a tour of the Museum of MedicalHistory. During the tour, Harry and Evelyn Landbo (Sand Dollar) madea donation to the museum to enhance its collection of historical memo-rabilia – an ink drawing of a physician examining the contents of a lab-oratory beaker in the late 1800s.

Harry and Evelyn have had the detailed ink drawing since 1968.Harry explained, “The drawing was in the pathologist’s office in the lab-oratory of Lutheran Deaconess Hospital in Chicago when I was the assis-tant administrator there. Whena new hospital was built, it wasdecorated with all new itemsand nobody seemed to wantthat piece of artwork, so I heldonto it.”

When Harry learned thatShell Point would be taking atour of the Museum of MedicalHistory, he immediately knewhe wanted to donate the draw-ing. “I thought it would be aworthwhile donation for aplace where more people couldenjoy it!”

Harry presents museum curator Dr. RogerScott with his donation, an ink drawing of aphysician examining the contents of a labo-ratory beaker in the late 1800s.

B Y J A R E D P I K E , S P T V S U P E R V I S O R

Harry Landbo

Edison & Ford Holiday Nights

December 1 - 30 5:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Guided tours at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.(Closed Dec. 24 & 25)

For information call 239-334-7419.

Do you have itchy, dry skin?The winter air has low humidity, and the air is evendrier inside our homes when we have the heat on.Almost everyone suffers from dry skin related to the environ-ment, lifestyle, and even genetics. Dry skin develops whenthere is a lack of natural oils and moisture. This can be a sourceof discomfort for many people. THERE IS A SOLUTION!

1. Take a warm shower (not hot). Hot water eliminates natural oils from the skin.2. Don’t use soap. Stick with a body gel and facial cleanser. Soap is very drying.3. Don’t rub your skin. Pat yourself dry so some moisture remains on your body.4. Help lock moisture in the skin. Apply body lotion and face moisturizer within five

minutes of showering or washing your face.5. Look for products rich in moisture for dry or sensitive skin. 6. Avoid fabric softeners. Try fragrance-free detergent.7. Try shampoo with tea tree oil for itchy scalp. A light spray to the scalp with a

vinegar and water mixture after shampooing can provide relief. Mix one part vine-gar to three parts water in a spray bottle and spray lightly on the scalp. The odorof the vinegar disappears relatively quickly.

Of course, if you need assistance selecting the right products for you, the Shell PointSalon & Spa is always happy to help. Simply stop in to any one of our three locationsor call us at 489-8400.

Give the Gift of Relaxationand Rejuvenation

Gift certificates from the Shell PointSalon & Spa are a nice surprise for those spe-cial people on your Christmas list. When youpurchase a gift certificate, add quality hair,skin, and nail products at 25% off. As anadded bonus, every Christmas gift purchasedfrom the salon will be delivered in a holidaygift bag the week before Christmas. Tobrighten the day of someone special, call TheIsland Salon & Spa at 489-8400 ext #1.

Raffle Winner

Penny Modrich (Nautilus) recentlyrelaxed and rejuve-nated with a thera-peutic massage forthe first time. Herspa visit entered herin our raffle for a“Pamper Me” giftbasket. Penny won aone-hour massage aswell as hair care products with a retail valueover $100. Penny said, “I am so happy Iwon! I was just thinking I needed to maketime for another massage. It felt so good!”Congratulations Penny!

There is a second chance to win a “pam-per me” gift basket. All first time facial andmassage customers from now through theend of March will automatically be enteredfor the second drawing. As an added bonus,

all first time facial and massage customerswill receive 20% off their service! The win-ner of the next “pamper me” gift basket willbe drawn on Friday, March 29.

Appointments call:489-8400Island Salon

M-F: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.SAT: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Arbor SalonM-F: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pavilion SalonM-F: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Purchase a Gift Certificate This Holiday

Season

Pumpkin BlendOne-HourFacial $65

Pumpkin BlendOne-HourFacial $65


Back by Popular Demand

Holiday Pumpkin Facial

Our one-hour pumpkin facial willleave your skin soft and smooth. It isfull of anti-oxidants, natural exfoli-ates, and moisture! Pumpkin facials,available for a limited time only, areoffered at the Salon & Spa for $65.

Escape to the Salon this SeasonEnjoy Special Holiday Services, Buy Gift Certificates, & Learn What’s New

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

Purchase a Gift Certificate This Holiday

Season

Filling Shoeboxes & Sharing Joy


Since its inception in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has hand-delivered Christmas shoebox gifts to needy children around theworld. The boxes, packed with clothing, school supplies, toys, and personalhygiene items, represent more than smiles and laughter. They are opportunitiesto share God’s love in tangible ways during the Christmas Season. This year,The Village Church and Shell Point Retirement Community packed and sent329 boxes to Samaritan’s Purse! From there, they will be delivered to boys andgirls in need throughout more than 130 countries.

All of history came together 2,000years ago in one little town in thehills of Judea. Everyone is invited to take abreak from the pressure-filled busyness ofthe Christmas season, and return to thatspecial Bethlehem Morning on Wednesday,December 19, at 10:15 a.m., in theChurch Auditorium. Join us for a new lookat the familiar story in the drama, Live at

The Manger, directed by Ruth Deuber. EnjoyChristmas music and refreshments with aMiddle Eastern theme, as you are chal-lenged to consider the meaning ofBethlehem, "Then and Now."

Women's Ministries encourages you toinvite your Shell Point friends for this spe-cial event. Complimentary tickets are avail-able at the church office.

Global Outreach

Annual Christmas EventSponsored by Women's Ministries of the Village Church

Thank you for your generosity and support!

Consider the Meaning of

BethlehemMorning on December 19

at 10:15 a.m.

Register for AlphaB Y D A V I D P A V E Y ( C O Q U I N A )

Now is the time to register for theAlpha course by calling The VillageChurch office at 454-2147. Alpha will beoffered on Tuesday evenings from January 15to March 19, and one Saturday morning,March 2. Each session begins with a PalmGrill catered dinner served in the GrandCypress Room, followed by a video lectureand a small-group discussion. Each sessionbegins at 4:30 p.m. and ends at 6:45 p.m.sharp. The course is free to participants; thecost being underwritten by The Village

Church. However, space is limited and fillsup very quickly. Registration for this sessionof Alpha ends December 31.

An Anglican vicar, NickyGumbel of Holy Trinity BromptonChurch in London, gives the videolectures. His humor and clarity ofexpression, coupled with a low-keypresentation style, make the fast-moving talks the focus of eachevening and a natural lead-in to small groupdiscussions.

These informal interchanges focus ondiscovery rather than dogma. There are no

dumb questions or wrong answers.As people share experiences andopinions, new friendships form andwe learn from each other.

Alpha is of special appeal topeople who are not church-goers,uncertain of their beliefs, or youngin the faith. For more information,

or to register for Alpha, call The VillageChurch office at 454-2147.

Nicky Gumbel

Invitation to Participate in FaithExploration Series


The four-word phrase “the Wordbecame flesh” may be both themost grand and most profound phrase in thesecond Testament. F. W. Borham called it“The ideal Christmas greeting.” His insights,found in the 1919 classic, Faces In the Fire,are well worth sharing.

Four words, yet the implications are life-transforming. Few Christmas greetings couldcontain more meaning. Not only are thesewords full of mystery, but they personify love,care, and human tenderness.

What’s In a Word?Words are really the storage vaults of

life’s profundities and sensibilities. Over theyears, each age has deposited a writtenrecord of its beauty, power, tragedies, andtriumphs in the unique new words givenvoice from previous ages. Words are likediamonds with multifaceted shades ofbeauty and richness waiting to be discov-ered. Look further, they beckon.

“The Word” is never meaningful untilit can be grasped by human understanding– that is, until it becomes flesh.

Consider a young five-year-old girl withbright eyes and a sweet disposition. No per-son who knows children would hand a childa book on, “Dick and Jane” and expect themto read it. Place that child in the hands of akindly teacher with an alphabet book andgenuine love, however, and the child willsoon be reading. The need is for a real, live,dedicated teacher. “The Word becameflesh!”

In his eighth-grade literature class, ayoung lad churns over all the syrupy-sweetverbiage of Robert and Elizabeth BarrettBrowning. “Yuck, who cares how I lovethee? Why must everything be about love?”His response is not unusual for his age, butwe know how quickly that passes.

A few years later, he is smitten with thefair and beautiful form and voice of a class-mate who has been there in the same classwith him since first grade. But now, she issweet, kind, with bright eyes and a dash ofélan! Life will never be quite the same!

Now love is finding a place! “The Wordbecame flesh.”

In George Eliot’s book, Scenes fromClerical Life, we read, “Ideas are often poorghosts; our sun-filled eyes cannot discernthem; they pass [across] us in their vapor andcannot make themselves felt. But sometimesthey are made flesh; they breathe upon uswith soft responsive hand, they look at us withsad, sincere eyes, and speak to us in appealingtones; they are clothed in a living human soul,with all its conflicts, its faith, and its love.Then their presence is a power, then theyshake us with a passion, and we are drawnafter them with gentle compulsion, as flameis drawn to flame.”

Dead words spring to life in real people.Now the frightening image of an abstract andaustere God is beginning to yield to a muchmore peaceable vantage! The greatness ofGod is coming into view – not fully, mindyou, but in part. “The Word became flesh!”

True MeaningWe see God by looking into the manger

at His humble enfleshment. Later we catch aglimpse of His mind as He confounds templeleaders. We see Him identify with us in thewaters of Jordan; His power is thrust upon usas He stills the Galilean tempest. In tendercare He weeps over the Jerusalem thatrejected Him. His love bursts from theGarden of Gethsemane as He expresses Hisselfless commitment to mankind’s redemp-tion. At Calvary we trace the full extent ofthat love – “even unto death on a cross.”

Now there is light. The Word of theFather is made flesh. The Word spoken beforecreation in Genesis 1:3 “and God said” wasnone other than the Word come to humanlife in John 1:14, “the Word became flesh.”

Jesus is God wearing human flesh. God,who fully understands man, now throws openthe window so man may begin the journey ofknowing God, Merry Christmas!

Exploring a Phrase with Life-Transforming Meaning

B Y P A S T O R K E N N E S S E L R O A D E , S E N I O R M I N I S T E R

The Word Became Flesh – Four words of mystery,which personify human tenderness, care, and love.

Begin the Advent Season with this traditional worship celebration which willinclude scripture readings and hymn singing. The congregation will enjoy there-telling of the prophecy of Christ through the singing of familiar advent carols and hymns.Several readers will speak the scripture lessons that recount the Advent message. Attendingthis service is the perfect way to prepare for the Christmas Celebration.

Come join in this Christmas celebrationled by Randy Woods, minister of worshipand music, with the more than 90 voices of The

Village Church Choir and a 35member Festival Orchestra consist-ing of area symphony musicians.

The Many Moods of Christmas,first released in 1963, is among themost popular and frequently pro-grammed works for the Christmasseason. The program is a significantcollaboration by two Americanmusical legends, Robert RussellBennett and Robert Shaw. The

eighteen carols in this choral master-work are familiar to all audiences,but the imaginative instrumen-

tation and complex choral singing lift them farabove traditional holiday music. You’ll enjoy hear-ing familiar carols such as: What Child Is This?; ISaw Three Ships; Good Christian Friends Rejoice;Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light; andFum, Fum, Fum. Enjoy the thrill of joining yourvoice with the choir and orchestra to sing favoritecarols including: O Come, All ye Faithful; Hark!The Herald Angels Sing; The First Nowell; SilentNight, Holy Night; and Joy to the World! The musi-cal expressions alternate between the reflectiveand the joyous, which provides full expression formeditation and celebration certain to instill theChristmas Spirit in all of us.

Tickets for this concert are $10 each and areavailable in the church office or online atwww.shellpoint.org/seasonofpraise.

Celebrating the Season

Many MoodsoF

The Village Church invites the entire communityto attend a festive Season of Praise concert as wellas special holiday services this Christmas season.

Sunday, Dec. 2 at 6:15 p.m.

Come celebrate the birth of Jesus as we re-tell theChristmas story and sing our praises to the Christ Child bycandlelight. This service has become a tradition embraced by theentire Shell Point community, along with many families and friends.

Christmas Eve

Carols & CandlelightMonday, Dec. 24 at 7:15 p.m.

Advent Service of Lessons & Carols

Season of Praise Concert • Sunday, Dec. 16, at 6:15 p.m.

Presented by The Village ChurchChoir & Festival

Orchestraof ChristmasThe

shell point life december 2012

Documents

shell point lifeand

god of hope

townresident shares

peace inbelieving

thepower of theholy

funand festive court

fort myers myhusband

neighbors fromtheir