The Villages - July 2018 - 2

CheCking in

By Rica Lewis

Block Parties, Backyard Bashes &
Summer Soirees in The Villages
American flags flutter in the breeze, their red stripes rippling in the open
air. It's a patriotic month - a time for sipping lemonade, pitching beanbags
into cornhole platforms and watching in awe as fireworks sputter and splash
their bold colors in the sky. Villagers will gather with friends for Fourth of July
celebrations, summer bashes and block parties.
Welcome to our summer party issue! We have our party hats on and we're
playing your favorite songs.
We've covered backyard games - guidelines for play and how to build your
own yard game with just a few supplies. Our party-planning guide gives you
25 ideas for throwing a themed event. And speaking of themes, we talked to
Village of Charlotte resident Ruthie Altekruse, the queen of royal celebrations.
With a background in the wedding business and a fondness for English customs,
Ruthie threw her first wedding viewing party in 1996, to celebrate Prince
Charles and Lady Diana Spencer's nuptials. In 2011, she hosted a second soiree
when William and Kate got married. After hearing about Prince Harry and
Meghan Markle's engagement, she immediately went into planning mode.
"She must have worked 10 hours a day for weeks," said her husband, Mike.
Find out how Ruthie and 40 friends from varying states came together to
toast a royal moment in history.
We also heard from the Chadwick Villas Social Club, a close-knit bunch
whose frequent gatherings are the highlight of retirement life.
"We have about 80 families in our village and most of us get together at least
once a month," resident Tim Fisher said. "We take turns inviting everyone to our
homes for TGIF parties, and if the weather is nice, we have the parties outside."
Within their party loop, residents bring tables, chairs, outdoor umbrellas and
plenty of neighborly spirit.
"We might be older people, but we never grow up," social club President
Diane Fisher said.
Our Rec 101 story gives you a closer look at the local hubs for friendship, fun
and learning. Check out the question-and-answer segments with John Rohan,
director of the Recreation and Parks Department, and Tracy Matthews, vice
president of Commercial Design. July is National Park and Recreation Month,
and we're celebrating with events throughout the month, including health
classes, yoga, water baseball, nature walks and more. Find out how you can be a
part of the action.
Those are just a few of the phenomenal finds in this issue of The Villages
Magazine. There's more great stuff packed inside our standard departments -
"Home," "Food," "Entertainment," "Pets," "Learning" and more.
Pull up a patio chair and peruse this party edition. It's going to be a blast!
Happy July Fourth and beyond!

2

JULY 2018



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - July 2018

Contents
The Villages - July 2018 - Cover1
The Villages - July 2018 - Contents
The Villages - July 2018 - 1
The Villages - July 2018 - 2
The Villages - July 2018 - 3
The Villages - July 2018 - 4
The Villages - July 2018 - 5
The Villages - July 2018 - 6
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The Villages - July 2018 - Cover3
The Villages - July 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream_Vol6
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream_Vol5
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream_Vol4
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/DreamALittleDream-RRO
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream_Vol3
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream_Vol2
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com