SPECIAL COVID-19 ONLINE EDITION #10 SPECIAL ONLINE ISSUE! Learn from yesterday, live for CLUBHOUSE VIDEO today, hope for tomorrow. page 10 ~ALBERT EINSTEIN FLASH BACK! page 12 VOLUME SIXTEEN, ISSUE ONE JANUARY 1, 2021 Wishing THE VILLAS AT FIVE PONDS a happy, healthy & safe 2021 The Villa's Voice Publisher & Staff THE VILLA’S VOICE | JANUARY 2021 | 1 otes from the Board of The Villas at Five Ponds Nn THE VILLAS AT FIVE PONDS EXECUTIVE BOARD SNOW DETAILS In most cases, not all, our driveways are cleared as follows: In big storms our roads are plowed after each 6 inches of accumula- • A pickup truck with a plow pushes the snow from the tion, ”give or take,“ this is to keep our roads passable for emergen- beginning of the driveway at the street to the “back-up area.” cies. That is just one reason you can get fined $100 for leaving a • Then sometime after that, and it can be quite a while, so please vehicle out on the street or driveways, during the storm; the other do not call and say; “they only did half my driveway,“ a tractor will reason is your vehicle will be “buried.” go behind each garage door area and pull the snow toward the center. If you have an emergency call 911 • The pickup truck then returns and pushes that snow toward the DRIVEWAYS back up area. As a reminder and as information to our newer residents, be aware of the following: • At some point 2 or 4 people arrive to snow blow and/or shovel your homes walk way. • The Builder and The Township did us no favor when they allowed the builder to decrease the average width of our driveways, from • Do they always do it that way?No, but that is the basic plan. his other similar developments—from 16 feet to 13 feet wide. This Under no circumstance should anyone come out of their homes allowed more homes to be built on less land. But, it left us with while their driveways are being plowed, it is extremely unsafe. If driveways that are more difficult to clear of snow, especially behind they cause damage you will report it to the property manager and the garage doors. it will be taken care of. FYI; they are not responsible for damage to • This past Saturday (the Saturday before the storm), the builder pathway lighting or snow sticks. dropped off three tractors and a storage van full of snow blowers Finally, during snow removal after a big storm, you cannot get and shovels on our clubhouse lot. out of your driveway until the plows and tractors clear your drive- ways. Time wise there is big difference between when the first home • In a large storm, we should have 3 crews working our develop- is cleared and the 280th home is cleared. Therefore, patience will ment. Keep your fingers crossed and let's hope the vendor will be be needed. able to hire "temporary" workers to complete each crew. IMPORTANT NOTICE! Please be aware that during to the Corona Virus crisis (COVID-19) all Clubhouse activities are on “hold” until further notice. Please take that into consideration when planning for “in-house” activities, private rentals and events. We will notify you of actual dates & times as they become available. Your understanding and cooperation is needed and appreciated by the entire community. The Villa’s Voice Publisher/Owner: Ron Dorfman The Villa’s Voice newspaper Design, Graphics, Advertising is an independently owned 97 Villa Drive, 215.328.9255 and operated enterprise providing information as a [email protected] public service. www.RonaldDorfmanDesign.com All views expressed in credited columns are those The Villa’s Voice Staff: of the individual writer(s). They are not necessarily Ronda S. Dorfman the opinions of The Villa’s Editor & Special Assignments Voice staff, The Villas at Five Ponds management Al Wiesner, Editorial Cartoonist company, Board or of the All staff can be reached via email at: VFP Association. [email protected] As our community members, your comments Introducing my and remarks are invited on any shared topic new associate— ©2021 Ronald Dorfman, of interest. Mary Pearce, Realtor® Warminster, PA 18974 ~The Villa’s Voice Staff 215-355-5100 ext. 2945 All rights reserved. 2 | THE VILLA’S VOICE | JANUARY 2021 WINTER 2021 AVAILABLE FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE & INSTALLATIONS 24/7 DURING COVID-19 Expires 01/31/2021 $500 $1,450 $1,750 Expires 01/31/2021 1005 STUMP ROAD, FEASTERVILLE, PA 19053 On this New Years Day, we wanted to take a moment to thank the majority of you for being supportive members of our Association. We are grateful that you have trusted us to serve our community trying our best to keep you safe as possible, while in our community during this extraordinary period. While many things this past Holiday season were different this year, there are a few things we can promise you that have not changed; the Boards determination to insure that The Villas at Five Ponds Homeowner Association, is one of the best and most admired 55+ H.O.A.s in the Bucks and Montgomery County area and that we will always make the safety and well being of our residents our top priority. The Villas at Five Ponds Executive Board wishes all of you a safe New Year, we look forward to serving you in 2021! —The Villas at Five Ponds Executive Board— Rick Rodgers Joel Mickelberg Paul Luff Mark Schwartz Tina Talansky THE VILLA’S VOICE | JANUARY 2021 | 3 Entertainment Theater • Exhibitions • Reviews FLIPPING THE CHANNELS: "STRUGGLE: THE LIFE AND LOST ART OF SZUKALSKI" n RON DORFMAN “FROM PRODUCER Leonardo DiCaprio comes a Netflix original documentary film about Stanislaw Szukalski, an eccentric artist and self proclaimed genius from Poland. After gaining fame leading up to WW2 he fell into obscurity only to be re-discovered late in life. He’s one of the greatest artists you’ve never heard of.“ THIS IS a beautifully produced documentary film about an amazing illustrator/sculptor I'm sure you've never heard about. Stanislav Szukal- ski was an egaging, down to earth, delusional megalomaniac. He should easily be held in the same regard as Picasso, Matisse, Dali, and old masters, but due to bad luck and his own questionable racial biases he was forgotten about. His story is one of the most engrossing biographies possibly maniac— because he is— but you will end up dearly missing a man ever. His art is described as being inspired by another dimension, a you never met. “His art, story, and words, will touch your soul in a dimension where the gods reside. He was even called “the Polish way you didn't know you need and your expectation of what the Michelangelo.” best art humanity can produce will be forever elevated.” Anyone interested in creativity must watch this movie. The man Check out the video trailer at https://youtu.be/sPkoW4cmqT8 was an absolute artistic genius. You will think he’s a crazed ego Available FREE with a NETFLIX / COMCAST subscription. 4 | THE VILLA’S VOICE | JANUARY 2021 THE VILLA’S VOICE | JANUARY 2021 | 5 Join us for… HELP IS AVAILABLE! n MARY LANGDON Your Special IF YOU ARE RECOVERING from an illness or are home-bound Celebration! we would like to help. Would you like a visit? Need errands run? Reserve NOW for family Please consider using Helping Hands. & group events. We have “Hands” ready to assist the needs of our residents. Contact Mary Langdon, 30 Villa Drive, 215-441-8093, HOURS [email protected]. Lunch Everyday— Except Mondays: 11AM–3 PM CLOSED MONDAYS Dinner— Tuesday–Thursday: 4 PM–9ALSO PM OPEN HELPING HANDS Friday: 4 PM–9:30FOR PM n MARY LANGDON, CHAIR Saturday: 4 PM–9:30 PM CLUB Sunday: 3TAKE-OUT PM–9 PM TO OUR NEIGHBORS who are celebrating a birthday or anniversary & DELIVERY during the month of January, the Helping Hands Club of The Catering & Special Events Villas at Five Ponds wish you a happy day. • Private Room • Rehersal Dinners • Club Dinners • Get well wishes to those who are ill. • Baby/Bridal Showers • Special Banquet Menus Available • Our condolences to Debbie Klein & family on the passing of $ $ our dear friend & neighbor, Phil Klein. 10 off 15 off any 2 entrees party of 5 or more Please tell us if you know of anyone who is ill/ ——Dinner Only—— ——Dinner Only—— hospitalized, lost a loved one, or just needs a “helping Order over $40. Holidays & Saturdays Order over $50. Holidays & Saturdays excluded. Not to be combined with any other excluded. Not to be combined with any other hand.” You may contact any of the following residents: offer. One coupon per table. Expires 01-31-21 offer. One coupon per table. Expires 01-31-21 Lana Skwer 215-328-6227 Reba Grossman 215-675-5883 Bev Kelly 215-672-6348 Cheryle Goldberg 215-682-7733 Joyce Van Ness 215-441-4691 Bill Van Ness 215-441-4691 Lorraine Incollingo 215-674-0817 6 | THE VILLA’S VOICE | JANUARY 2021 Sports News • Trips • Events • Special Presentations 2020–2021 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: Kentucky with an incredible work ethic should fit right in. Keep an What’s new, who’s back, eye on Isaiah Joe too, a sharpshooter out of Arkansas. and predictions. WHO’S BACK n JAKE SAMSON, THE VILLA’S VOICE GUEST SPORTS REPORTER Joel Embiid & Ben Simmons: The cornerstones of the franchise are back for their fourth season playing together. This could be their MY FAVORITE TEAM is back and I am here to last shot as a duo if things do not go well, but under a new coach, preview the roster, make some predictions and hopefully Doc Rivers can find something that clicks.