Published by The Towers Items of interest to Towers residents should Editor, Kristen Orr be submitted by the 15th of each month.

The Mutual Fifty Board of Directors met on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. The Board of Directors voted on several items, including:

Approving new rules for unit alterations.

Approving new Mutual No. Fifty Traffic and Parking Rules.

Creating a Food Service Ad Hoc Committee.

Approving Mutual No. Fifty Committee Appointments and GRF Committee Assignments.

Approval of a Laguna Woods Village Select Audit Task Force Charter.

Approving a Saddleback Emeritus program survey.

Approval of purchasing lapel microphones in Lortscher Hall and the Key Club. The Board of Directors and members also discussed several items at length including, a legal review of creating a caregiver agency registry, a building security audit in coordination with the Security Division, the formation of one Traffic Committee for all of Laguna Woods Village; a requirement for all Towers’ staff to wear their ID badges on their lapels while working at The Towers. Jerry Storage gave an update on the Golden Rain Foundation’s (GRF) January 6th, 2015 meeting. Mr. Storage also performed the Resale and Leasing Report. During the Administrator’s report, Ms. Katy Howe, Towers Administrator, discussed updates on the Holiday Fund, strategic planning by the Board, building painting progress, LED lighting upgrades, hearing loop installation, kitchen upgrades, and food service contract bids. She also answered questions from the Board and Members and presented a report from Guckenheimer. Financial Data – Mutual Fifty’s 2014 preliminary financial data was presented at the meeting. For the period ending November 30, 2014, Mutual Fifty had operating revenue of $6,226,000 and operating expenses of $6,073,000 leaving a year to date surplus of $153,000. As of November 30, 2014, Mutual Fifty had $4,066,000 in its reserves funds.

Power Outage Our recent unanticipated power outage highlighted some questions that I feel should be noted and answered again: 1. Can I get emergency power to my unit for my medical equipment? No. The building’s design is for independent living. In the case of a power outage, we have an emergency generator that runs the elevators and emergency egress lighting in

the hallways and common areas. All other power (to the units, kitchen, heating and air systems) is unavailable. 2. Will someone from The Towers check on me in the case of a power outage (or any

other emergency)? No. We do not have staff to perform this type of service building-wide, nor is this part of the independent living service level of The Towers. Also, a power outage may occur at night, when there are only 2 staff members in the entire building. Please make sure you have a plan for emergencies, with an emergency light source (either a battery operated flashlight or lantern, with fresh batteries) in your unit, a phone line that is not dependent upon the unit’s power supply (such as a cell phone), a plan of action for when you cannot be without power (i.e. staying at a friends or relatives, or at a hotel), and friends or relatives nearby who can support you in the event of an emergency. 3. Will someone from The Towers check on me in the case of a natural disaster? In case of a natural disaster (fires, earthquake, flood), if your floor has a Floor Captain, they may come check on you. Floor Captains are residents like you and may not be in the building/on your floor when disaster strikes. Make sure you have a 3 day supply of food, water, and medicine (or medical supplies) in your unit, in case you have to shelter in place, to wait for emergency service personnel. During a natural disaster, delivery of food supplies or emergency services to The Towers may be impacted.

In anticipation of a new food service contract in August, the Board of Directors created a Food Service Ad Hoc Committee to develop a survey on food service levels.

Food Service Ad Hoc Committee Charter

RESOLVED, January 15, 2015, that the Boards of Directors of this Corporation hereby assigns the duties and responsibilities of this Food Service Ad Hoc Committee, as follows:

1. The Food Service Ad Hoc Committee will meet to develop, with Staff, the questions to pose to residents of The Towers, about potential changes to Food Service at The Towers.

2. Once questions are developed, and the Survey is performed, the Committee will present its findings to the Mutual No. Fifty Board of Directors. After the findings are presented, the Committee will be disbanded.

Please let the Administration Office know as soon as possible 949-597-4228, if you are interested in participating on this Committee.

Upcoming Events From the Activities Department…

Coming to the towers in February!

Sunday, February 1st at 4:30 p.m. – Super Bowl Party in The Key Club

Saturday, February 7th at 7:00 p.m. – Papa Joe & The Darden Sisters in Lortscher Hall

Saturday, February 14th at 7:00 pm. – Valentine’s Day Bingo and More in Lortscher Hall

Sunday, February 15th at 7:00 p.m. – Peter Small as George Washington in Lortscher Hall

Tuesday, February 17th at 7:00 p.m. – Chinese New Year Celebration in Lortscher Hall

Saturday, February 21st at 7:00 p.m. – Game Night in The Key Club

Sunday, February 22nd at 5:00 p.m. – Academy Awards Party in The Key Club

Thursday, February 26th at 2:00 p.m. – Food Services Forum in Lortscher Hall

Friday, February 27th at 3:30 p.m. – Cocktail Party in The Key Club

Saturday, February 28th at 7:00 p.m. – Prelude String Orchestra in Lortscher Hall

Future Happenings!!!

Thursday, March 12th – East meets West: Gene Autry

National Center and lunch at Benihana

*Guided tour through the history of the American West!

~ Calling all Mahjong

and Bridge Players ~

Are you interested in playing

Mahjong and/or Duplicate or

Contract Bridge? Call the

Activities Department at (949)

597-4250!

Towers Bridge Club News

Monday Bridge Every Monday afternoon at noon

Duplicate Bridge Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m.

Contract Bridge Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m.

Pan Games Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in the Rendezvous Room

Men’s Poker Friday at 12:30 p.m. in the Key Club

Gin Rummy Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings

Congratulations Duplicate Winners!

12/3 N/S 1st Janet Seroff – Leonard Seroff E/W 1st Laura Husak – Zyta Grzywacz

2nd Richard Hanna - Florence Boggio 2nd Larry Pooler – Joe Zeno

3rd Lynn Austin – Ernest Scherer 3rd Eve Levy – Lucia Teulecke

12/10 N/S 1st Neil Diorio – Lynn Austin E/W 1st Beulah Gross – John Dalis

2nd Sharon Tobin – Robert Horn 2nd Barbara Metselaar – Louis Dubin

3rd Richard Hanna – Florence Boggio 3rd Laura Husak – Zyta Grzywacz

12/17 N/S 1st Janet Seroff – Leonard Seroff E/W 1st Marcia Chertow – Barbara Hack

2nd Raquel Unger – Irwin Rosenfeld 2nd Larry Pooler – Joe Zeno

3rd Shirley Corey – Norma Koskoff 3rd Mark Dimond – Riva Morton

TOTALS FOR DUPLICATE: 20½ TABLES – 82 PLAYERS

Contract Bridge Scores

December Scores:

12/2 – Anne Gilbert 4070

12/9 – Peggy Callahan 5370

12/16 – Anne Gilbert 3550

12/23 – Susan Hansen 2940

12/30 – Susan Hansen 3560

29 Tables – 116 People

January Scores:

1/6 – Anne Gilbert 3110

1/13 – Anne Gilbert 6050

1/20 – Julie Davis 2930

1/27 – Coming next month!

19 Tables – 76 People

Congratulations to Anne Gilbert for

the highest Contract Bridge score to

date!!!

February Resident of the Month – Ruth Stern

Friends we will dearly miss…

Phil Borden, Pauline Duffield, Joe Wilkins, Phyllis Benveniste

Ruth Seidel Stern has lived an amazing life! She was born in New York City, New York on

February 11, 1915. Along with her older brother, Jules, they were raised in The Bronx as well as in

Queens, New York. At age 16, she graduated from Julia Richman High School. She continued her education at

Hunter College in New York, where she joined the sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon. In 1933, she went with her

sorority sisters to the Century of Progress World’s Fair in Chicago, Illinois, and stayed at the Edgewater Beach

Hotel. She was a subject of a PBS documentary, about her visit to this now legendary hotel! A year later, at

the age of 19, she graduated from college.

Ruth held many different jobs after college, until she was hired by Schenley Corporation, as an executive

secretary. While she was working there, she met her future husband, Harold Stern. They actually met on a

blind date and he instantly fell in love with her! After a long courtship, Ruth married Harold on September 2,

1943 at the age of 28. They are blessed with two children, Hermine and Harvey. As a family, they took many

trips in New York State and along the East Coast, visiting many historical and cultural sites and family. They

loved museums, theatre and restaurants. She travelled to Europe with her daughter and took a cruise with

her son, through the Panama Canal. She and her husband travelled all over the world. Ruth even enjoyed

travelling by herself, and visited Africa and other destinations. After 66 years of marriage, Harold passed

away in 2009.

Ruth attributes her longevity to staying active. As a young woman, she was an ice skater and an avid skiier.

She would travel to Canada by train, to ski in the Laurentian Mountains. She swam and played golf as well.

Along with the passion for sports, she loved to play bridge, read, work on cross word puzzles, go to the theatre

and the opera.

Ruth is most proud of her academic accomplishments and her kind and accomplished family. Before her

marriage, Ruth finished her Master’s degree at the Teacher’s College of Columbia University, in New York.

She was a substitute biology high school teacher, in the New York suburbs, until she retired. Both of her

children became attorneys. Her son, Harvey, dedicated a seat in his law school’s Moot Court, in honor of her

academic acheivements. He is retired and lives in Laguna Niguel, California. She is grateful for the loving

attention he has given to both his parents. He has been her primary caregiver for the past 15 years. Her

daughter, Hermine, lives in Chicago with her husband and has two grown children, Jill and Eric. Ruth is very

close to both of them and their spouses. They all continue to surprise her with lots of love and attention on a

regular basis. Her granddaughter purchased an honorary seat for her, at the Metropolitan Opera!

After retiring in August 1979, Ruth and her husband moved from Merrick, New York to Poway, California. In

October 2001, with the help of their son, they moved from Poway to The Towers, to be closer to him. Until

recently, she enjoyed the balance and excercise classes. She participated in Bingo and attended the lectures,

movies, musical productions and parties. Her most favorite activity is Bridge.

Ruth considers herself an ordinary dame, but, it is apparent, she is not! She is a very intelligent, well travelled

gal who is surrounded by such a loving family. What a remarkable lady! I have been very fortunate, to not

only get to know, Ruth, but her daughter as well, who was gracious enough, to share this information with me.

How applicable is Ruth’s one wish, “ To have my loved ones be as happy and healthy, for as long as I have, and

continue to enjoy their lives, with a positive outlook and great sense of humor.”

BR = Bridge RM LH = Lortscher Hall L = Lounge (I or II) KC = Key Club

CR = Board Room RR = Rendezvous HR = Hearth Rm CP = Crystal Patio

February 2015 – Activities Calendar 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Everyday - COFFEE SERVICE – Hearth Rooms I & II

10:00 a.m. – Monday through Thursday – EXERCISE – Lortscher Hall 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Everyday – DO DROP IN – Hearth Rooms I & II

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1

3:30PM Super Bowl KC Party

2

10:00AM Exercise LH 12:00PM Mon. Bridge BR 1:25PM Emeritus: Int. LH Sketching Class 7:00PM Bingo LH

3 9:00AM Ping Pong LH 10:00AM Exercise LH 11:00AM Tai Chi LH 7:00PM Contract BR Bridge

4 10:00AM Chair Yoga LH 1:15PM Balance Class LH 2:00PM Women’s Group RR 3:30PM Emeritus: KC Western Civ. 6:00PM Duplicate Bridge BR 7:00PM Golden Girls KC

5 9:00AM Ping Pong LH 10:00AM Exercise LH 11:00AM Tai Chi LH 7:00PM Movie LH

6

9:30AM Group Walk 10:00AM Emeritus: LH Contemp. Mid. East 11:00AM Billiards KC 12:30PM Men’s Poker KC 3:15PM Sabbath LH Service

7

10:00AM Men’s Forum RR 7:00PM Papa Joe & LH The Darden Sisters

8

1:00PM Laguna Beach Playhouse – Irving Berlin 7:00PM Movie LH

9

10:00AM Exercise LH 10:00AM Marketing MtgCR 12:00PM Mon. Bridge BR 1:25PM Emeritus: Int. LH Sketching Class 7:00PM Bingo LH

10

9:00AM Ping Pong LH 10:00AM Exercise LH 11:00AM Tai Chi LH 7:00PM Contract BR Bridge 7:00PM Golden Girls KC

11 10:00AM Chair Yoga LH 1:15PM Balance Class LH 2:00PM Finance Mtg CR 3:30PM Emeritus: KC Western Civ. 6:00PM Duplicate Bridge BR 7:00PM Charles Wilbourn LH

12 9:00AM Ping Pong LH 10:00AM Exercise LH 10:00AM Agenda Prep CR 11:00AM Tai Chi LH 5:00PM Birthday DinnerLH 7:00PM Movie KC

13

9:30AM Group Walk 11:00AM Billiards KC 12:30PM Men’s Poker KC

14

10:00AM Men’s Forum RR 7:00PM Valentine’s LH Day Bingo & More

15

11:00AM Brunch (Tickets $22.00) 7:00PM Peter LH Small as George Washington

16

10:00AM Exercise LH 12:00PM Mon. Bridge BR 7:00PM Movie LH

17 9:00AM Ping Pong LH 10:00AM Exercise LH 11:00AM Tai Chi LH 7:00PM Contract BR Bridge 7:00PM Chinese LH New Year Celebration

18 10:00AM Chair Yoga LH 1:15PM Balance Class LH 2:00PM Women’s Group RR 3:30PM Emeritus: KC Western Civ. 6:00PM Duplicate Bridge BR 7:00PM Golden Girls KC

19

9:00AM Ping Pong LH 10:00AM Exercise LH 11:00AM Tai Chi LH 1:00PM Board Mtg KC 7:00PM Larry Maurer LH

20

9:30AM Group Walk 10:00AM Emeritus: LH Contemp. Mid. East 11:00AM Billiards KC 12:30PM Men’s Poker KC 700PM Movie LH

21

10:00AM Men’s Forum RR 7:00PM Game Night KC

22

5:00PM Academy KC Awards Party

23

10:00AM Exercise LH 12:00PM Mon. Bridge BR 1:25PM Emeritus: Int. LH Sketching Class 7:00PM Bingo LH

24

9:00AM Ping Pong LH 10:00AM Exercise LH 11:00AM Tai Chi LH 7:00PM Contract BR Bridge

25 10:00AM Chair Yoga LH 1:15PM Balance Class LH 3:30PM Emeritus: KC Western Civ. 6:00PM Duplicate Bridge BR 7:00PM Golden Girls KC

26 9:00AM Ping Pong LH 10:00AM Exercise LH 11:00AM Tai Chi LH 2:00PM Food Services LH Forum 7:00PM Movie LH

27

9:30AM Group Walk 10:00AM Emeritus: LH Contemp. Mid. East 11:00AM Billiards KC 12:30PM Men’s Poker KC 2:00PM BINGO LH

3:30PM Cocktail Party KC

28

10:00AM Men’s Forum RR 7:00PM Prelude LH String Orchestra