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Volume 37, Issue 1 January - February 2020

Villa Marin Homeowners Association | 100 Thorndale Dr., San Rafael, CA 94903

Yes! Villa Marin residents can take action on climate change. Join the Environmental Committee. Educate yourself and residents about the effects of climate warming with big fires and

electricity outages. The committee recruits speakers on environmental issues.

On December 9th an expert on climate change spoke. Dr. Andrew Gunther, Ph.D. UC Berkeley, an outreach speaker on the Board of the Union of Concerned Scientists, is an environmental scientist with extensive experience in applying science to the development of air, water, and endangered species policy. Dr. Gunther was the first manager of the State of California’s program that monitors for toxic substances in the San Francisco Bay. He explained why the most expensive choice is to do nothing.

While the committee has no budget, we save Villa Marin money.

• We persuaded our board to choose the cheapest electricity option for our business account: Marin Clean Energy (MCE). LightGreen is the cheapest choice and releases fewer greenhouse gases than the PG&E option. Half of our residents now have active MCE accounts and 25% enrolled in the Deep Green option. Check your bill and call to change to Deep Green.

• We helped arrange for Villa Marin’s kitchen to join the Marin Food2Energy Program. Now our kitchen separates food scraps during food preparation, and puts them into Marin Sanitary Food2Energy pails at a discount collection price. Methane from the scraps helps power Marin’s sewage processing plant, rather than being released as a greenhouse gas from the dump.

Villa Marin’s Environmental Committee is concerned with matters of ecological interest, including energy conservation,

recycling, and current regulations and practices in these fields. The committee plans excursions and provides reminders of what is recyclable and where to recycle. We advise on good ecological practices in private units and in facilities used by all the residents. Chair Anne Cohen can provide information on green steps: ancohen2@gmail.com.

Time to Celebrate with FORTUNE COOKIES! By Eli Goodman

January 25 marks the beginning of the Year of the Rat in the Chinese New Year cycle. If we celebrate at a Chinese restaurant, chances are we'll end our meal with a fortune cookie. What are these "fortune cookies"? Who makes them? Some are made at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in Chinatown at 56 Ross Alley, just o� Jackson Street.

In this small shop two cookie folders work. Owner Kevin Chan reports that this factory has been in existence since 1962. Kevin took it over four years ago. First the dough is prepared using a recipe consisting of �our, eggs, vanilla, sesame, butter, and sugar in secret proportions. �is dough is rolled into round disks about 4 inches in diameter and baked quickly. Removed one by one by hand, a slip of paper with a printed fortune is inserted in each one, then folded quickly. �ey're all made by hand �e two women who make the cookies work fast: their hand-made fortune cookie production is about 10,000 pieces a day!

If they prefer, visitors can bring in their own slips of paper with whatever messages they like printed on them, and the factory will fold them on the spot into freshly made fortune cookies.

And where did fortune cookies originate? �ey are unknown in China, but were invented early in the 20th century by a Japanese entrepreneur in San Francisco!

BOARD ELECTION 2020

Environmental Committee

Act on Climate ChangeBy Anne Cohen

Village Health Services Offers “Independency”

NANCY DAVIS By Barbara Cummings

Nancy Davis was born in St. Louis but moved frequently during her

childhood and adult life. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in Arts and Architecture. Nancy's �rst job after graduation was in Basel, Switzerland, working for CIBA, a pharmaceutical company. She has enjoyed sailing, skiing, and camping. She �nally put down roots in Marin in 1979. Nancy lived in Corte Madera for forty years before moving to Villa Marin. After her divorce she was involved in real estate, then moved on to selling software and computers, as well as organizing seminars in that �eld. She has two married daughters and two grandchildren. Nancy served as President of Cal Singles four times; was active in TEAM, a senior social club; and also in PEO, dedicated to women's education. She was also a Board member for her previous HOA. She enjoys bridge, movies, and travel throughout the world.

DONNA BARKERBy Heidi Meyer

Born and raised in Port Chester, New York, Donna

Barker at the age of 15 met her future husband-to-be, Sloane. He was in the eleventh grade in a di�erent high school, but they created a lifelong connection. �ey attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, where they were married in September 1959.

While Sloane studied for his Masters in Retailing, Donna became secretary to the assistant dean of admissions at the University of Pittsburgh. Associated with Saks Fifth Avenue, they lived in Palm Beach, Florida, in winter and Southampton, Long Island, in summer.

After Sloane became manager of the Saks Fifth Avenue stores in Florida, they had their children Chip, Scott and Glenn.

In 1971 the family moved to Menlo Park, California. Donna became school secretary in the Menlo Park School District and retired after 13 years in 1993. Home bases were Grass Valley, CA, and Oro Valley, AZ. �eir exciting lifestyle included gol�ng, entertaining friends and volunteering. �ey traveled to Scotland and Ireland and enjoyed cruising to Hawaii, the Panama Canal and other destinations.

When Sloane became ill in 2014, they moved into a continuing care retirement community in Oro Valley. Donna became his caregiver until he passed away in 2018. As Donna said, “We were in love for a total of 63 years.” After Sloane’s death, Donna moved to Sausalito in 2018 to be near two of her sons. �e third lives in Southern California. Donna’s older sister Sandra and family live in Santa Rosa. �ey recently enjoyed a cruise together.

Donna enjoys playing bridge, singing in her church choir, and doing water exercises. She is an avid sports fan and enjoys watching all forms of pro and collegiate sports. Her favorites include pro golf, basketball, baseball and football. �e Warriors, Giants and 49ers have an enthusiastic addition to their fan base.

Also, our dog community has a new member: Coco, a Yorkie Poo mix, Donna’s companion for four years.

SUSAN BULLBy Heidi Meyer You may see double when Susan Bull becomes a resident. She is the

identical twin of Mary Garrison, who moved here earlier this year. �is may be

a �rst. �ey will live down the hall from each other. �ey claim you can tell them apart: one wears glasses and the other doesn’t.

Susan was born at Stanford Hospital where her grandfather had chaired the Ob/Gyn department. Her family lived in San Francisco until they moved to Ross in 1943. She was in the �rst class when Drake High School opened in 1951.

�en Susan enrolled in Marin Junior College (MJC). She subsequently joined a college group to study French history at the Sorbonne. She lived in Paris and traveled all over Europe. When Susan returned to the States, she went back to MJC, took a secretarial course, and worked at the college handling personnel matters. She then moved on to an advertising agency and �nally to a position at Stanford Hospital.

Susan met her husband Donald in 1961 at a friend’s birthday party. �ey have two children: Douglas lives in Greenbrae and Catherine lives in London. Donald‘s career was in industrial manufacturing where he focused on sales. �ey lived in Kent�eld, but traveled all over the world. �ey enjoyed trips to Antarctica and to Southeast Asia. �ey shared a love for reading. Susan is still an avid reader. Susan and Donald were married for over 57 years. She was recently widowed.

ETHEL KIRSCHNERBy Cece Silver At my �rst meeting with Ethel Kirschner, she told me

her new home is like an art gallery. I was intrigued! Apparently, in doing extensive travels around the world she has managed to collect a notable amount of art which she loves. She wants to keep all the art works even if they occupy more space than she does!

IN MEMORY: Barbara Berlenbach (11/20/1928 to 10/13/19) | Roy Farrington Jones (2/28/1925 to 10/16/19) Clare Jurvig (2/7/1920 to 11/5/19) | Vivian Felton (9/21/20 to 11/30/19)

Welcome TO NEW RESIDENTS

Celebrate Kenneth Merklin and His Garden Miracle MARIN SHAKESPEARE

PLAYING FOR GOOD

RESOLUTIONS for 2020 Take the SMART Train:

Make New Friends:

Broaden Horizons:

Exercise:

Plan more Fun:

Step into Leadership:

Barbara Costello ( 7/17/1921 to 11/5/19) Clista Quilici (1/13/1918 to 12/1/19)

Lesley and Bob Currier, theater visionaries, plan for their new space on Fourth Street

She was born in Israel, next went to Brooklyn, then to the Philippines, and �nally settled in San Francisco where she graduated high school. After she joined the folk dancing group at the Jewish Community Center, she met and soon married her husband, Gary. �ey have two daughters who reside in Terra Linda and Sonoma. Before her husband passed in 2015, she and he were avid folk dancers in between all their travels.She is fortunate to "have been there and done that." Ethel is quite interested in art projects and planning events.

Celebrate Kenneth Merklin and His Garden MiracleBy Annie Moldafsky

"Kenneth Merklin is Villa Marin’s Captain Marvel," according to resident gardener Sherrill Fallat: "When he took on the re-

creation of Villa Marin's resident garden in 2001, he performed a miracle for all of us."

Kenneth, an 18-year resident of Villa Marin, smiled when told of his recent "Captain" title. �e retired former corporate president, international mining engineer and world traveler shakes his head as he remembers, "We didn't have a master plan. I was just going to replace rotting wood planters on the upper level with new concrete pavers. �en we had truck loads of pavers delivered to Villa Marin. Each paver weighed 17 1/2 pounds. When you picked up a paver it was like holding a baby grandchild."

Four years later in 2005, Kenneth's personal investment of time, energy, garden expertise and money had evolved into the multi-level Villa Marin miniature botanic garden complete with

planters, individual private planting plots, a small orchard of fruit trees, and a complete irrigation system.

Today, the garden continues to thrive as new residents sign up for individual plots.

"Captain" Kenneth will be 100 on January 6, 2020. He continues to enjoy the "important parts of life." �ey include his four grandchildren and �ve great grandchildren, his painting, his �ve-times-a-week golf game, working-out and going down to the garden to pick fruit from his remaining trees. Happy Birthday to our hero!

MARIN SHAKESPEAREPLAYING FOR GOOD By Alice Remer

Since 1989 Marin Shakespeare Company has performed Shakespearean plays at the Forest Meadows Amphitheater at Dominican University. Lesley and Bob Currier, who direct the company, originally focused only on producing the bard’s plays. �e Company then added a mission of taking Shakespeare into our local schools.

In 2003 they added a focus on social justice by bringing Shakespeare into prisons. It started at San Quentin, where Lesley introduced theater to the inmates. �e men attending the year-long program learned to speak publicly, to memorize, to appreciate, and �nally to perform a play. Lesley is an actor, a director and an unintimidating mentor.

�e program has now expanded to 13 California facilities housing men and women. At Solano State Prison, a 23-year-inmate, named Dameion Brown found Shakespeare transformative. �e program changed his life and those around him as well as the institution itself. When Brown was paroled, he became a professional actor

and also speaker about the power of the arts in correctional facilities.

�e Marin Shakespeare Company recently bought a large building which originally sold baby items on Fourth Street. With a great deal of renovation planned, it will be home to a new theater. A second story houses props and costumes.

Lesley recently spoke at a Town Hall about their mission. She and Bob Currier are an amazing couple whose vision and perseverance have and will continue to have an enriching e�ect on so many lives.

RESOLUTIONS for 2020 Take the SMART Train: Hop the shuttle and take the train to Larkspur and the ferry or head north to lunch in Petaluma or Santa Rosa

Make New Friends: Sign up for the Dinner Lottery Table. Explore new avenues with new people!

Broaden Horizons: Take an excursion in Marin, to San Francisco, or other places.

Exercise: Join an exercise class!

Plan more Fun: Put the Reader’s �eater February 28th performance on your schedule!

Step into Leadership: Join a committee that calls to your interests and passion from Activities & Entertainment to Welcoming: Make a di�erence in our community!

Villa

Members: Barbara Cummings, Eli Goodman, Anne Irwin, Heidi Meyer, Annie Moldafsky, Alice Remer, CeCe Silver Board Liaison: Dick Atwood Photographer: Donna Casella

Newsletter Staff: Editor: Kat Braemankatbraeman@gmail.com

Time to Celebrate with FORTUNE COOKIES!

BOARD ELECTION 2020

Environmental Committee

Act on Climate Change

Candidates forVilla Marin Board

Meet the six candidates for the four Board of Directors seats on December 20th at 2 p.m. Ballots must be returned by 10 a.m. on January 13, 2020. �e Annual Meeting will be January 14 at 2 p.m.

Bob MaloneyMy wife Jo Ann

and I are beginning our 7th year at Villa

Marin. I have served on the Finance Committee and on the Property Reserve Committee for most of those years. I consider my time spent on these committees a success in representing the residents and providing oversight for the board. Today in Northern California, there is much competition for retirement living. Villa Marin stands out among the best. My purpose in joining the board is to enhance that reputation to attract new residents and to improve the quality of life for everyone in our community.

Marilyn McConnell I believe that the

residents of the Villa Marin community

are all volunteers charged with the responsibility of helping each other create a friendly and successful environment to enhance our independent lives. If elected to the Board of Directors, my focus will be on learning more about the challenges

that face a HOA such as ours. I also intend to listen to my fellow residents to hear what needs are being met. I also want to know what ideas the current residents have that would be bene�cial to all of us. Of course, in this challenging time, my top priority will always be �scal responsibility.

Sharon Rettenberg I came to Villa Marin

with my husband Frank in 2012. I have served

on the Dining Services Committee, the Admissions Committee, the Grounds Committee, the Library Committee. I was newsletter editor for three years. I have a bachelor's degree from Park University in Kansas City and have been a secretary, an o�ce manager, an editor, and a household manager, having set up households in four countries. I hope to see the installation of a new, modern bu�et and a point-of-sale system in the dining room. And I want to see that we spend our money wisely.

Fran ScherI have been a resident

of Villa Marin since 2015. I think it is a

wonderful place to live and that is why I am running for the board. I have had 45 years of public sector experience in teaching and administration at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Concurrently, I have had 35 years of private sector business experience. At Villa Marin I have served on Property Reserve, Finance,

and many other committees. I hope my experience will enable me to represent you in addressing the challenges of an ageing building and a world growing more complex.

Tony Sowers I thrive on problem

solving. I am an advocate for long-

term planning. I want to work on improving communication between the board and residents. I believe in consensus decision making when possible. I have experience that bears directly on the governance of Villa Marin: municipal and non-pro�t boards, business, building operation and maintenance, HOA ownership, and community development. I currently serve on the Facilities and Engineering, Finance, and Reserve Committees. I would appreciate your vote.

Sally Williams�e skills needed are

Fiscal Responsibility, O r g a n i z a t i o n ,

Communication, �oroughness, Listening, and Teamwork. By profession I am a nurse. I have served my church for several years as both Deacon and Elder and maintain an active role. I have been the Chair of the Welcoming Committee for the past three years. It has become a signi�cant part of our community. I have also sailed across the Atlantic three times in a sailboat. I am well equipped to serve on our Board, and it would be an honor.

Village Health Services Offers “Independency” | Fostering wellness and “independency” is the goal of Village Health Services, LLC (VHS). Owned by Luke Hirschmugl, VHS contracts with Villa Marin to provide expertise for residents. An important new feature is private �tness coaching with Carl Albarastine either one on one or for couples for 30 minute or 60 minute sessions. Luke can be reached for details at 415/492-2419 or luke@villagehealthservice.com.