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Branching Out
Sharing Stories and Information through Outstretched Arms
June 2023
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"Summer is a time when wonderful things can happen to quiet people. ... Summer just opens the door and lets you out."
Deb Caletti, from Honey, Baby, Sweetheart
Let's welcome a season that begs us to throw off routines, stretch out in the sunshine and explore the seemingly endless possibilities that beckon when days grow longer and evenings turn balmy. Join us for a hike, a thought-provoking discussion, an outdoor meetup, a stimulating workshop.
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On May 23, 2023, Arbor West Neighbors Members bid farewell to Barb Bodner with toasts, tributes and a serenade at American House's Wright Way Bistro.
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Charile Hoch, Barb Bodner and Susan Stall
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Margaret Burk and Sun-Hee Yoon
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John and Elisabeth Muhlenberg
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Louises Corzine, Bonnie Jordan and Sunny Hall
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Barb was drafted as AWNs first president in 2016 and led the work of building a vital nonprofit:
- surveying community needs and clarifying AWN's mission
- writing bylaws and obtaining nonprofit legal status
- building partnerships and obtaining a grant to hire an intern
- spearheading the development of a website and newsletter.
Among the many tributes: "She kept providing the foundational structure to keep moving forward” "Her touch is everywhere in the organization". She “had gumption” and a “let’s do it” spirit! Barb is a collaborative leader who turned the founding group's vision into reality.
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Don Burk and Judy Smith
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Peggy Conlon-Madigan
and Barb Bodner
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Barb Bodner and Trudy Doyle
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Marc Blesoff and Brooke McMillin
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YOU WILL BE MISSED, BARB!
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Arbor West Neighbors Ramblers
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On May 25, the AWN Ramblers traveled to Starved Rock State Park. They went into St. Louis Canyon (pictured) in the morning, had lunch on the lodge patio, then went on another hike in the afternoon – taking in the top of Starved Rock, the waterfalls in French Canyon and Wildcat Canyon, and Eagle Cliff and Lovers Leap overlooks.
Interested in the Ramblers?
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Jeanette Mancusi, Jane Wood and Melissa Mickelberry
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Sandra Sokol, Alonzo Pruitt
and Ruth Reko
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Mary Hagen, Esther Brodsky and Robert Mutter
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Marian Sirefman, Victor Yipp and Iris Yipp
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A new meetup record! 46 members and guests gathered at the Dole Library Branch for the April Members Meetup!
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Arbor West Neighbors Members introduced presentations by local volunteer organizations.
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Chris Hauri discussed Arbor West Neighbors' Asset Mapping Project during Celebrating Seniors week.
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Congratulations to Arbor West Neighbors Member, Janis Johnston, on the publication of her third book: Transforming Retirement: Rewire and Grow Your Legacy (2023). She shares insights from a survey of 125 participants (ages 55 to 96) on retirement beliefs and time management.
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Retirees are encouraged to rewire their personalities and skillsets applying to both work and non-work scenarios. "'Seasoned' citizen years have the possibility of becoming your greatest life plots when you rewire for new possibilities."
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Meetups for
Arbor West Members and Guests
Mark your calendars and watch for details on these opportunities to visit with old friends and make new ones.
Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Margaret Prechel hosts a BYOE (Bring your own everything: chair, drink, lunch) picnic gathering in Oak Park's Maple Park--always a hit.
Tuesday, July 25, 2023, 10:00 - 11:30 am
Sandra and David Sokol will host
in the courtyard of their building at 222 N Marion, Oak Park.
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Programs
Summer offers two workshops to educate and engage you with your Arbor West Neighbors.
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Sexuality and Intimacy Among Older Adults
What do sexuality and intimacy mean to you? Aging brings life transitions that can create opportunities for older adults to enhance or redefine what these experiences mean to them. In this interactive workshop, we will explore how physical and emotional changes affect your sexual health.
Come participate with Catherine Marienau, PhD, Carolyn Torkelson, MD and one another.
3:00 to 5:00 pm, Thursday, June 8, 2023,
Oak Park Main Library, 834 Lake St.
Veterans Room, 2nd Floor
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Greats and Grands:
How to Have a Blast with the Young People in your Life
Chris Hauri will lead us with prompts and props to explore fun ways to tackle topics like foods, animals, sports and outdoors. Come share stories, ideas and experiences. Leave with a list of activities and a new appreciation of what fun you can have together. Workshop for adults only; no children.
10:00 to 11:30 am, Thursday, July 12, 2023
Lindberg Park Picnic Shelter,
1150 N. Marion St, Oak Park
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Do you knit, crochet, embroider, appliqué or work with any other fiber arts? Join us on the first and third Fridays of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, usually in different members’ homes.
Contact Denise Poncher, drponcher@gmail.com, or
Bonnie Jordan, jordan-bonnie@hotmail.com
for information and locations.
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The group meets the second Monday of each month, 3:00 - 4:30 pm, to discuss thought-provoking articles chosen by group members on a rotating basis.
June 12, 2023
"AI Is Like...Nuclear Weapons?," by Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic, March 23, 2023.
and
"The AI Disaster Scenario," by Derek Thompson,
The Atlantic, February 27, 2023.
July 10, 2023
"Quit Your Bucket List," by Richard Friedman,
The Atlantic, April 10, 2023.
Oak Park Main Library
834 Lake St, Oak Park
Second Floor, Small Meeting Room off the Art Gallery
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Movie Group members independently view a movie (or sometimes at small group watch parties) in advance and gather for Zoom discussion. Volunteer facilitators rotate monthly, choosing the movie (ideally available via free streaming), offering background and leading discussion.
Next Movie
June 16, 2023, 4:00 pm
Red Violin, available free on YouTube
moderated by Peter Notier
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Arbor West Ramblers
Forest Preserve Hiking Group
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The next Ramble will be
1:00 pm on June 23, 2023
at Fullersburg Woods, Hinsdale
Contact Peter Notier, pnotier@gmail.com, for information. |
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Meet Your Arbor West Neighbors Members
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Pat Curtis recently moved back to Oak Park after living in Chicago for 17 years. Now retired, she worked as a school psychologist for District 97 in Oak Park from 1986 to 2009 and lived in Oak Park from 1988 to 2005. Her daughter, Amanda, and granddaughters, Jada and Jolie, live in Oak Park as well, and Pat enjoys spending more time with them.
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Two other daughters and their families live in the Chicago area, while her son and grandson live near Seattle. Pat's favorite leisure-time activities include live theater, reading, movies, and hanging out with family and/or friends. She rarely says "no" to a chat over a glass of wine. Pat looks forward to participating in activities sponsored by Arbor West Neighbors.
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Val Lester and Geof Greer moved to Oak Park in 2005 when Val's job with Sara Lee relocated to Downers Grove. Geof chose Oak Park for the architecture, and they love it for the community. Since Val retired, they split their time between traveling and enjoying Oak Park. They enjoy skiing and spending time at family "lake houses" in Bay View, MI and Brant Lake, NY; venturing off in their camper van with their dog, Bella, and exploring places further afield. They've been to 49 of 50 states (and will get to South Carolina some day), as well as 211 National Parks, Monuments and Historic Sites with plans to see at least nine more this year in Alaska, Hawaii & American Samoa.
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Dottie Hetzel has been an Oak Parker for 40-plus years. She's an interpreter at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio and has volunteered at Ten Thousand Villages, a non-profit, fair trade retailer offering handicrafts by artisans in more than 35 developing countries. She sings in the Sounds Good Choir. Dottie is getting ready to downsize and to move to Brookdale Senior Living in Oak Park.
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Branching Out will appear bimonthly in your inbox.
Member submissions to arborwestneighbors@gmail.com for the August edition are due by Monday, July 16, 2023. Please add NEWSLETTER in the subject line.
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