‘Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses’ great success

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Julianne G Crane

At last count, more than 60 Timber Valley members and guests stopped by for the 145th Kentucky Derby Party on Saturday, May 4, 2019.

Before the main racing event, people wagered on their favorite horses at the betting table (center) and munched on crackers and donated Rose City Pepperheads ‘Farm to Jar Pepper Jelly.’ Next came the ‘Taste of Kentucky’ ham, turkey and roast beef sandwiches, Kentucky Derby Pie, and bourbon balls prepared by Terry Hilty (#71).

All the Kentucky Derby events and final Running for the Roses were projected onto the Clubhouse Big Screen. Special thanks to Rob Hendershot (# 82) for setting up the race on the big screen; and to Jim McIntosh, Dennis Hellawell and Thom Hoch for technical assistance.

(L-R) Patty and Dal Healey (#117) prepared Mint Juleps for Thom Hoch and Dave Hall.

When not noshing, mingling or drinking Mint Juleps, Derby goers tested themselves by working on several word and trivia games.

Mike Hilty and his new Derby Hat

MC Fred Prout (#44),  kept events entertaining and moving. He also whip up the crowd to raise  $132 for the Sutherlin Food Bank from the auction of Derby Hats. An addition, $9 from betting winnings were also donated, for a total of $141 going to the help our local community fight hunger.

Derby Hat winners (L-R) First place: Dar Hoch (#31), Third place: Toby Anderson (#153), and Second to Marti Cady (#172)

Two dozen folks participated in the popular Derby Hat Competition. First place went to Dar Hoch (#31) for her dazzling red chapeau creation. Second place was won by Marti Cady (#172) for her charming southern ensemble; and Third place was Toby Anderson (#153) with his pink rose production.

For the third year, the event was organized by Linda Zink and David Arndorfer (# 16), assisted by Julianne Crane and Jimmy Smith (#197) and Terry and Mike Hilty (#71).  Other volunteers that made the success happen include Connie Lankford (#121), Jackie Deal (#109) and Patt Anderson (153) registration; Marti Cady (172), Susie and Jack Varner (# 105) at the betting table; bartenders Patty and Dal Healey (#117) and Chuck Williams in the kitchen. Derby hat judges included Micky Thompson (#9); new member Mike Resnick (#53); and Larry Heath (AWL #32).  Lastly, a big thank you to everyone who helped with set-up and clean-up.  Many hands equals fast, fun work.

Posted in Events, Jacks and Jills, Life at Timber Valley | Tagged | Comments Off on ‘Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses’ great success

Welcome Mike Resnick, Lot 53

Posted on May 2, 2019 by Thom Hoch

Mike Resnick, who has actually been a leaseholder for the past 3 years, just arrived in the park for the first time a few days ago. He was given his new member orientation April 29. He comes to us from Florida and has already explored his new surroundings from Crater Lake to the coast. Enjoy a visit with him on lot 53.

Posted in Featured, General Interest, Members | 1 Comment

PCM Projects Update

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Thom Hoch

by Gene Fisher

The Storage Area Takes Shape!

PCM Committee members have been planning, measuring and laying out the Park’s improved storage area. Trees and stumps have been removed, sixty yard of base rock has been spread and walked into the soft ground and two hundred yards of crushed rock will be added to level and strengthen the ground’s ability to bear weight.

In the next few days, more crushed rock will go down, be leveled and compacted. Then a day or two to carefully measure and lay out new spaces and apply paint to mark boundaries. A new space numbering system will be the final step in the project.

The monsoon rains seem gone for now and the ground is already bringing to dry out. We are on budget with the project should be finished by the end of next week.

Storm Cleanup

Dar is doing an incredible job in identifying where and what storm cleanup is needed where and by Park workers or professionals. Oregon Tree Works will come into work for two days in 2 or 3 weeks. As a result the PCM M&O budget will be overspent by about $2,500 for fiscal 2018-19. More work is planned for August 2019.

Water System Upgrade

Botner Excavations will be back in the Park on Thursday next to begin the final service replacements; about 30 to finish!

A few photos from the Storage Area Project:

Posted in General Interest, PCM | Tagged | 2 Comments

The Dam Speaker

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Jackie Deal

The Dam Speaker on April 19, 2019
by Jackie Deal

Blair Nash head of the Sutherlin Water Control District spoke at our Friday 3 pm get-together about Cooper Creek and Plat I reservoir and the Cooper Creek Dam. Over 60 park residents listened and eagerly asked questions about “our” dam and its condition and the potential dangers. Continue reading →

Posted in Emer Prep, Featured, General Interest | Tagged | 1 Comment

Wolf Creek Inn and Tavern

Posted on April 21, 2019 by Jackie Deal

WOLF CREEK INN AND TAVERN
by Jackie Deal

Imagine: you’re a pioneer bouncing over the rocks, hills, mountains, and creeks to get from Grants Pass to Wolf Creek. Four lane highways with nice signs don’t exist. In fact, the way is so steep that they unload your wagon, tie a sturdy rope around it and hoist it up to the top of the mountain, then drop it down the other side by ropes (hopefully they don’t break). But wait a minute, how about the horses? Oh, yes, they rope them up and hoist them up and then down over the mountain too. And You?? Why you climb over the mountain on your own two feet. Would you be glad to see the Wolf Creek Inn and Tavern waiting for you in its pretty little valley? You bet you would. Wolf Creek Inn was on the trail from Roseburg to Redding. Continue reading →

Posted in Featured, General Interest | 1 Comment

Meet HAL

Posted on April 11, 2019 by Helaine Hepworth

from the desk of Helaine Hepworth

Timber Valley is a safe, secure, comfortable place for seniors, especially for single women, but sometimes it is just not quite enough and we get overwhelmed with life’s little problems. I am proposing one more committee, to be called Husbands At Large or just “HAL”. The committee would be run much like a library. Wives would fill out 3×5 cards with their husband’s name, talents, skills, and faults. A librarian will take the cards and maintain the files. Continue reading →

Posted in Featured, Humor | 6 Comments

Scammers, Spammers, and Fishing Cons

Posted on March 21, 2019 by Helaine Hepworth

from the writing desk of Helaine…

I answered the phone and the lady started speaking. Nice voice, no accent. And she said…..

“We are calling from Microsoft security team. We have noticed suspicious activities from your network. It seems like someone is trying to steal your identity, username, password, and financial information. You are advised to be in front of your computer and call 1-844-910-6111 as soon as possible otherwise we have to lock your network and discontinue your services. Please be in front of a computer and call at 1-844-910-6111. thank you..”

Well, that’s scary but instead of following directions I did some checking.

If Microsoft was making the call I am pretty sure it would be identified and not show up as unknown. Snopes had many old reports of MS scam at this number

Just entering the number on the Google line brought up many more reports of this number being a scam.

Be smart out there. Do not fall for this or any other suspicious call. Just HANG UP!

Help spread the word and prevent someone from becoming a victim.

Facts:

ANYONE who calls you and says your computer called/contacted them is a SCAMMER.

Windows Operating System licenses do not expire.

ANY Tech Support Warning pop-ups you get while accessing the internet asking you to call a number or visit a website, is from a SCAMMER.

Web Browsers DO NOT have the ability to determine and warn you your computer has an error. They can only warn you about a potential malicious website. A Browser is software that allows you to surf the Internet, not diagnose a computer or phone.

ANY Tech Support company that insists you need their services because of some error, outdated software or tries to convince you that you need to allow them remote access is a SCAMMER.

Nobody could possibly know if your computer or devices have an issue unless you tell them or gave them access.

Tech Support companies DO NOT call to give out refunds because they are “going out of business”. In fact NO company gives refunds when going out of business unless they did not provide you with what you paid for.

Companies DO NOT call to inform you that your subscription will be charged if you don’t call back, only SCAMMERS do that. If you have a subscription with someone, they automatically charge you until you cancel it.

3rd party Tech services DO NOT include Email account repairing or password resetting, since they can not access the email server unless it belongs to them.

Be careful out there when playing in the internet sandbox.

Posted in General Interest, Safety | 4 Comments

As a senior I often feel like a carnival doll, sitting on a shelf…

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Helaine Hepworth

from Helaine’s writing desk…

As a senior I often feel like a carnival doll, sitting on a shelf as the Scammers and Con Artists toss their pitches at me hoping to knock me down.

Today when I opened the computer I notice I had three messages in the Messenger app that comes with Facebook. All three were names I knew. But still I was going to be cautious. They were all the wave emoji that is used for first messages. Message #1 waved. I waved back, almost immediately she came back with “Hi Helaine, how are you?” “Fine” I replied, “and you?” “Fine” she said and went on to ask if I heard about the EESA… An agency giving money to“needy” citizens. Names had been drawn at random. She said she saw my name on the list. A trip to Snopes web site could not prove one way or the other if this was a scam, but certainly increased my skepticism.

I answered the next wave message with a wave, I get back “ Hi, How are you?” “Fine, You.?” I replied. She says “Fine”… and she goes on to ask if I heard about an agency called National USAID. They give out grants. Another web trip to Snopes. Again no actual proof of a specific scam but more suspicions. I uncovered this sentence. “May 22, 2018 · Scammers continue to con Facebook users out of thousands of dollars with phony government grant offers. You may be among the many Facebook users who have been approached by “friends”

On to message #3. I know her better than the other two and have had messages from her before. They should have displayed over the new message. I didn’t answer it.
I dug deeper. In Messenger, conversations are kept so you can go back to the very beginning. Just above that is the picture of the “Friend” and how you were connected. All of mine say that we are Facebook friends. Except all three of these latest accounts say they were formed without Facebook, using a phone number in USA. Or something close to that. I felt that all three were scams that would some how cost me money if I were foolish enough to follow them through. One of the ladies posted on Facebook that she had been hacked and to not accept “friend” requests from her.

What can we do to protect ourselves?  I will not be answering messenger notes that are just a wave until I make sure they have come to Messenger thru Facebook and not by some secret way. If I find it appears to be a phony account I will report it as someone pretending to be a “Friend.”  If you write me a note please say something “real” that I would recognize. If I have your phone number I will likely call you to make sure you sent it. Know that the mere mention of money or grants will cause me to slam the computer shut.

I like messenger and use It frequently.  It is a quick way to send or receive information. I will not let the cyber crooks take that away from me.

Facebook Messenger: Here’s How to Block and Unblock Someone:

Step 1: Open the conversation with the person you wish to block.
Step 2: Tap the user’s name at the top of the screen.
Step 3: Scroll down and tap “Block.”
Step 4: Tap the toggle next to “Block Messages” to stop the user from being able to send you messages and calls on Messenger.

Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and any of the associated Facebook apps are one of the main sources of scams against seniors. They always coming up with a new approach. Be extremely cautious.

Posted in Featured, General Interest, News | 4 Comments

Photos from the Big Snowfall and Power Outage

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Thom Hoch

I’ve started an online album to help preserve our photos (and memories) from the big snowfall and power outage.  It’s here…  <click>

Any photos that you have and would like to share with our community are welcome. You can send them to me any way you’d like – email, text, or just hand me a memory card.  Please send in original size or at least big enough that they’ll present well on the screen.

I think we’ll find them very interesting in a few years after the memories have faded.

Posted in General Interest, Life at Timber Valley | Comments Off on Photos from the Big Snowfall and Power Outage

Communication within Timber Valley during Emergencies

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Rick De Young

On March 7, Timber Valley’s Emergency Preparedness Committee asked the Communications Committee to come up with a plan for handling emergency communications in the future. Marc Stalnaker agreed to chair an emergency communications sub-committee and called for a meeting of residents in the Park to discuss this, which was held was held on Saturday, March 9, 2019.

Marc and Emergency Preparedness Co-Chair Julianne Crane conducted that meeting. Marc stressed the need for residents to be as self-sufficient as possible. Julianne presented examples of readily available communication devices, such as color-coded window cards to indicate a resident’s status. Those residents present also offered many valuable suggestions.

The residents present adopted by consensus a proposal that eleven emergency communication teams be formed (one for the neighbors on each street in the Park), with volunteer captains and co-captains, who will be responsible for disseminating information to residents of those streets. They are to confirm contact information about each neighbor and it will also be their responsibility to know which lots are occupied, or not, during the next emergency.

Nine residents volunteered at that meeting to be team captains and several others volunteered as co-captains. Two captains (plus co-captains) are still needed, for the “Creekside Team” (Lots 1-19 & 206) and for the “Upper Hilltop Team” (Lots 88-114). Please contact Rick De Young (phone 541-315-2830) if you are willing to be a captain of one of these teams..

It was also agreed that the emergency communications group (subcommittee members and team captains and co-captains) will meet weekly, on Saturdays at 10 a.m., to hear and implement more ideas and plans for communicating in the next emergency.

Many residents present at the March 9 meeting recognize that, while it is tempting to believe our February 2019 “Snowmegeddon” is not likely to happen again, we could face some other emergency situation as early as tonight! So, we agreed, now is the time to decide and implement steps to improve our communications to better deal with the next emergency.

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