Letters to the Editor
Editor:
I want to pay tribute to a neighbor I barely got to know but I admired her sense of wit and loving heart! Jackie Clarkson of Mutual 11 made such an impact on the neighbors, always making a point to stop to chat when I was tending the garden getting a dose of Vitamin D, and I loved it!
The other day, when I introduced my 13-year-old granddaughter Evelyn to her as Jackie walked her dog Sparky, she learned Evelyn is from Texas. Jackie jokingly said, “Shame on you!” during our friendly conversation. True to her character, Jackie returned soon after and profusely apologized to Evelyn for the comment, which she then deemed inappropriate to make to a young child. I have no doubt she made positive impact on Evelyn, and she caused me to respect her even more.
Soon after I came back from a recent trip, I was informed that Jackie was not well. Little did I know how seriously ill she was. I was crestfallen when I couldn’t see her again, at least, not here on earth.
We will all miss Jackie, but I am sure she is in a better place where there is no more pain, and no more sadness and suffering. It seems I can almost hear the laughter among friends over there enjoying her presence and her wit!
So, good night, Jackie, and see you again!
Sun Han Mutual 11 Editor:
On the front page of the LW Weekly (Sept. 7) was a long justification why our assessments will increase dramatically. The author said, “The GRF Board has not voted on the amount yet, but by law, the most it can be raised is 20% of the current monthly assessment.” The author goes on to say wage increases were a minimum of 20% last year and construction costs have gone up 25% to 50%.
You can be guaranteed a couple of things.
1. Even when the goal is met, you can bet our assessments will not go down. GRF will get used to being flush with money. 2. You can bet the increase will be 20% because they are complaining about wages and costs having been increased by that amount and more.
Most of the people living here are retired. Our income has not gone up 20%. Many people here are primarily dependent on Social Security.
The GRF is spending our money with wild abandon, buying $13,000 electric pianos and other unnecessary items.
I will be watching this vote very carefully, and I will talk to everyone I know, trying hard to convince them to vote out anyone who supports this increase.
The GRF needs to be more careful of our money, not pillage our assets.
Edward Hickman Mutual 3 Editor’s note: The cost to replace the piano is incorrect. The actual cost was $11,000; the piano will replace a heavily used one that was damaged in a fall. The item had support among clubs, and LW musicians and performers. Editor: I read with great dismay the article written by GRF President Marsha Gerber regarding the 2024 monthly GRF assessment increase (Sept. 7). It sounds like the GRF Board is preparing us residents for a 2024 20% increase which would be $38.65 per month per unit then add on the Mutual fee. That is simply incredulous.
I’m fairly sure that every resident is aware of our aging community and the need for infrastructure improvements, but I truthfully question some of the spending this GRF Board has approved that has placed us in this low reserve quandary with spending such as the new gate system.
If our reserves are low (which should have been projected 1-2 years ago), why go forward with the gate project? I’m not opposed to a new/improved entry system but if our reserves are dangerously low why spend more money? Why not slow down on project spending for, say, 12 months to build back our reserves? Why did we need to purchase a digital piano at $11K? Why would we even consider a projected $100,000 sound system for the Amphitheater that has 12 concerts per year? Why not vastly increase the new buyer fee? Yes, that might slow down folks buying in here, but it would create revenue for the reserves.
Ask any resident and they’ll agree: stop spending money we don’t have and keep our monthly fee low.
We can’t run our households by overspending and the GRF Board needs to also think along those lines. Donna Hughes Mutual 15 The GRF Board has not yet approved the 2024 budget, and so the final assessment has not been determined, although an increase is anticipated as inflation and other costs are on the rise. The gate access system, among many other ongoing projects, won’t affect the GRF reserve fund balance, as they were budgeted as capital projects with costs covered by capital funds. As far as the reserve fund goes, GRF’s “fund strength” is rated at 62.8%, according to the August 2023 reserve study conducted by Association Reserves, considered the nationwide leader in the preparation of such studies. This is classified as a “fair” position for the fund to be in; by comparison, a “strong” rating starts at 70%. GRF projects identified in its reserve study are built into a multi-year funding plan far in advance based on the reserve fund’s current strength. This allows ongoing amenity repair and replacement to be completed in a timely manner to keep pace with deterioration. Failure to complete scheduled projects adversely impacts reserve funding because inflation drives up pricing, and/ or equipment and structures fail due to lack of maintenance. Editor: A big thank you from the Seal Beach Animal Care Center to all the animal lovers of Leisure World. Because of you, we raised $2,139 in cash and item donations at the Stone Soul concert on Sept. 7.
All proceeds will go toward feeding, housing, and caring for our animals.
The winners of the gift cards were Barbara Glass, California Pizza Kitchen; Nina Selleck, Home Goods; and Debbie H., Target. Many thanks again and see you all next year! Christina Miller Seal Beach Animal Care Center Editor: Our Theater Club did it
again! Its Sept. 4 presentation of “The Spawn Family Reunion OR Who’s Your Daddy” had me either laughing or clapping almost non-stop from when the presentation started until it ended.
The play was all original material. Thank you to Theater Club members for sharing their writing, acting, singing and piano-playing talents. Also appreciated are your talent in stage set management, costume design and prompting, not to mention your commitment to untold hours of rehearsals. Debbie Fudge Mutual 1 Editor: I sadly read last week about the passing of Herman Fogata, a dear neighbor.
I had the honor of getting to know this amazing man, not just casually as neighbors tend to be, but because he was in one of my legacy writing classes.
I saw in his obituary that he continued writing his autobiography, and I am grateful for that, as his family now has a treasured gift that he left for them.
Thank you, Herman.
Doris Sandrick Mutual 10 Editor:
Since joining the GRF team in May, I have enjoyed taking my breaks and lunches outside at the various tables located around the Administration Building.
A few weeks ago I was sitting at the tables under the trees on the side of the Amphitheater when I heard a strange noise. It sounded like a scraping noise. I looked all around, and I didn’t see anyone. I continued to eat my lunch, and I heard it again! This time I looked under the table, and I found the culprit. A squirrel! He was scraping the metal off the bottom of the chairs with his teeth! I found this to be very odd and chalked it up to a one time deal.
A few weeks later, I saw the squirrel again, this time at the umbrellaed tables between Optum and the Administration Building. He was scraping the metal off of those chairs! What’s going on with this squirrel? Is it just one squirrel that has the taste for metal? Is it multiple squirrels, and they are sharpening their teeth for a nighttime rumble with the coyotes? I don’t know if I’ll ever get the answer so I’m believing its for the rumble.
Next time you walk by the tables, take a look at the bottom of the chairs, and you will see that the bronze coating has been scraped away. If I was a betting gal, I’d put my money on the squirrels…they’re nuts!
Andrea Matteucci GRF Cashier
