Fall 2002

      Fall has arrived here and it is the season when some of us have to go back to routine after having our summer vacation. We are pleased to announce that Don Millwee has an additional duty with LACD because he is now our new treasurer, taking over Frances Skinner's place.

      We must remind you at this time of the year that our next general meeting is on Saturday, October 19th at 2:00 pm. Doughnuts and coffee will still be served as usual. Due to very successful results for the past three months, we, the board, agreed to let the softball ladies continue selling theme-based food and drinks. October's theme is clearly Halloween which means we will wear our costumes! This event is still going to be coordinated by Christina Morgan, the licensed chef.

      Believe it or not, it is only 3 months before our traditional holiday buffet (December 21st from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm) at Castaway Restaurant in Burbank. Because of the limited space at Castaway Restaurant, we can only have 80 seats on a first-come, first-serve basis. John Goul is in charge of this occasion. Once the first 80 people are in, the rest will be on the waiting list, so hurry and seize your seat as soon as possible!

      Paula Farino has moved back to New York and Joan Garas is now living at Pilgrim Towers with other LACD members, such as Mary Greenstone, Elsie Vincent, Vilma Ridler, and others.

      Abe and Rita Winzelberg bought a new 2002 Hyundai SUV last July. With their new toy, they went to Spark/Reno Nevada and visited their daughter, Debbie, and her boyfriend, Mark, for 5 days. Not to mention they also won some fortune at the casino! They enjoyed themselves especially in a lovely weather, and hope to go there again next year.

'02 Women's Softball Team

  4 - Christina Morgan
  5 - Kristine Gray
  6 - Etta Stecker, Statistician
10 - Pam Smiley
11 - Jessica Courthright
12 - Gina Salinas
13 - Patricia Delgado
    14 - Nicole Simms
15 - Sandra DeDios
17 - Traci Price
21 - Sheila O’Connor
22 - Suzanne Stecker
23 - Jennifer "JB" Brezinski
24 - Juliet Maucere
    25 - Nancy Moore
30 - Deb Cole
31 - Teresa Ybarra
32 - Ken Watson, Manager
47 - Howard Sultan, Ass't Manager
52 - Ronda Moriarty


      Some of you have already heard that our LACD women's softball team was placed 4th at NSAD (National Softball Association for the Deaf) in Chicago. The championship went to a Chicago team, Denver was the runner up, and Rochester got the third place. Our ladies did well at the tournament. Two of our ladies were on first All-Star team: Jessica Courtright and Sheila O'Connor with the batting average of .733, and the second All-Star team included Nancy Moore with 3 homeruns and Christina Morgan.

      Christina and Nancy along with Patricia Delgado and Suzanne Stecker had their batting average in .600's. We want to thank Manager Ken Watson and Coach Howard Sultan for their time with the team. Hope we will snatch the championship crown next year in Clearwater, Florida.

      We want to thank our beloved members for coming here and buying food from the softball ladies. We also would like to thank the parents (Joe and Tracy Koolmees) of player Pam Smiley for donating $225 to the women's softball fund.

      Donna Lopaty proudly announced the birth of her first grandson after having four granddaughters. The baby has an Italian name-Nicholes Massino Gasbarri. His mom is Donna's oldest daughter whose name is Carrie Gasbarri. He was born on Sept 5th and weighs 9 lbs 11 oz. and 21 ¾ inches long!

      Roy, Donna's husband and our secretary, has kept himself busy with umpiring games. He now wears a new hat and is involved with FAAD (Farwest Athletic Association for the Deaf) as their softball commissioner.

      We can never get enough of FAAD, Mark Nathanson, a new LACD member and FAAD president, and his wife moved here from Minnesota.

      Some of our members went to Las Vegas for senior citizen's bowling tournament during the first week of October. David Dobrovech won the championship for the singles event and will pocket over one thousand dollars. Congratulations, David!

      Here's a gentle (a very gentle, really) reminder for the 2003 membership dues. You can either mail your due to Marilyn Castaline or give it to her in person at our LACD social gathering. Be sure to fill out the blanks on the form for our annual holiday buffet and/or membership dues.

      See you all at the general meeting on October 19th. Happy Halloween! Happy Thanksgiving! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Oh, what the heck... HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Etta