Project Mercury and the Faith-7 Landing

From: Array

In the 1960s, America was in a two-way race to be the first in space. With the establishment of Project Mercury, we were getting closer and closer. During one instance in particular, a man almost lost his life. Trilogy Member Nick Nickelson, a member of the underwater demolition team, gives his first-person account.

The early 1960’s was an era filled with many ambitious and challenging programs, but the Space Race was what truly captivated most Americans. President Kennedy brought a close to the Cuban Missile Crisis and now all eyes were on sending an American into space. We were in a two-man race with Russia and it seemed that we were playing catch up.

America’s first two sub-orbital flight attempts to put an astronaut in space took place in May and July of 1961 and lasted only 15 minutes each. The second flight failed when, after splash down, the escape hatch was prematurely blown, causing the capsule to fill with water and sink to the ocean’s depth. Gus Grissom barely escaped with his life by slipping out and swimming free of the capsule – NASA hadn’t anticipated this problem and realized that something had to be done to ensure that this would not happen on future flights.

NASA came up with a plan to develop a flotation collar and asked the Navy to provide men from underwater demolition teams (UDT), also known as frogmen, to attach the collar after splash down. Frogmen would be used based on their prowess in all matters related to the ocean and their ability to work well in stressful situations with two recovery teams, consisting of three men each, assigned to each of the next four flights. The primary recovery team would attach the flotation collar and the backup team would be there in case something happened to the primary team.

I was not involved with launches three through five and, in fact, was just going through Basic Underwater Demolition Seal (Bud/s) training at the time John GLenn made his historic three-orbit flight in February 1962. Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth; Scott Carpenter followed as the fourth American in space with a three-orbit mission. on October 3, 1962, Wally Schirra was the fifth American in space and orbited the earth six times. While Schirra was in orbit, I was in Cuba assigned to a detachment of frogmen in support of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

I returned from Cuba at the end of 1962, happy to be back in Colorado. In early February 1963, our Executive Officer (XO) made an announcement that two new members would be added to the Astronaut Recovery Program to replace two men being reassigned. He asked for a show of hands if anyone was interested and, of course, 70 men raised their hands. Our XO instructed each man to put his name on a piece of paper and he would draw the lucky winner at noon. After muster, 70 men formed a line which I was at the back of, thinking that my chance of being selected was slim at best. I stepped out of the line, went to the XO’s office and knocked on his door.

When granted permission to enter and speak, I asked why he was choosing a replacement by drawing a name from a hat when I was obviously the man for the job and he would be making a huge mistake by selecting any man other than me. He listened intently, smiled, and said, “I like what you did here. The job is yours.” He then confronted the men still standing in line and told them he had made his selection – Nicholson was his man.

At that point I was temporarily relieved of routine UDT duties and started training in earnest for the May 16, 1963 recovery of astronaut Gordon Cooper’s Faith-7 Capsule by working with a replica Mercury Capsule and flotation collars provided by NASA. Two crews from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Six, the Navy’s best, were teamed with us while we worked tirelessly for the next several months, both day and night, jumping into the ocean and attaching the flotation collar. NASA and the Navy department provided us with training manuals that covered every aspect of the mission. We had to know what to do if the astronaut became unconscious or injured. Various colored flares, with their own specific meaning, would be used to communicate with the recovery ship USS Kearsarge. The training was thorough, exciting, and fun. Cooper would be the first astronaut to spend a prolonged period in space, orbiting the earth 22 times in roughly 33 hours. A lot was expected of Cooper, as NASA had no idea how man would react to weightlessness over a prolonged period of time, and he would prove that he was up to the challenge.

It was finally the big day, May 16, 1963. We boarded our helicopter at approximately twelve-hundred hours and lifted off from the deck of the USS Kearsarge. Over our headsets, we were informed that Cooper had lost communication with the cape. This meant that Cooper would have to bring Faith-7 in manually, something that had never been done before. On all previous flights, NASA would basically fly the spacecraft and when it was time for re-entry, NASA would tell the astronaut when to fire the retro-rockets, then the capsule would come back to earth. Chuck Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier, referred to the Mercury-7 astronauts as, “spam in a can,” because they did not fly the spacecraft, and simply went along for the ride. This was certainly not the case with Cooper – he was out there on his own and about to be tested to his limits.

On its twenty-first orbit, the Faith-7 Capsule lost all electrical power. That meant Cooper would have to rely on his wristwatch to time the firing of the craft’s retro-rockets for re-entry. He would also have to manually adjust altitude, pitch, and yaw of the spacecraft by firing six small thrusters located on the spacecraft. Using a grease pencil, Cooper marked the curvature of the earth on the capsule’s window; this and his view of the stars would be his only guide for re-entry. If the descent of the capsule was too steep, the G-Force would be so great it would kill Cooper; too shallow, and the capsule would skip off into space. Once everything was in place, Cooper would use his wrist watch to correctly time the firing of the retro-rockets. While everything was happening NASA could only standby and listen; they could hear Cooper but could not communicate with him. Cooper had now been in space for nearly 33 hours and was completing his 22nd and final orbit of the earth. So exact was the timing of the retro-rockets that missing the mark by one second could put the spacecraft as far as 100 miles from the primary recovery area. Two seconds, 200 miles, and so on until 10 seconds, and at that point the spacecraft would skip off into space, never to be seen again.

We waited impatiently and just when all seemed lost, we witnessed the impossible. Floating down under a bright red and white parachute was the Faith-7 Capsule and Gordon Cooper. He had actually pulled it off and brought the Faith-7 Capsule within four miles of the recovery ship, manually. Once the capsule splashed down and the parachute separated from the craft, we were inserted by the helicopter and started to perform the task we trained for. Bert Swift swam to the capsule to make contact with and assess the condition of Cooper while R.E. Saillant and I swam the flotation collar to the capsule. Everything was moving along smoothly, and in a very short period of time, the flotation collar was attached. The recovery had gone perfectly. We were now able to communicate with cooper who was one very happy astronaut. We asked Cooper if he wanted to egress from the capsule now or wait until the craft was towed back to the Kearsarge, where a boat had been dispatched with a long tow line. Cooper opted to stay with the capsule until hoisted aboard the ship.

Upon boarding the Kearsarge, the hatch was blown and Cooper was given the hero’s welcome he so rightly deserved. The Space Program had been given a huge boost because of this remarkable flight and Cooper’s unbelievable accomplishments.

Our job was now complete – we had done what we had so rigorously trained to do. The Navy and Cooper were pleased with our performance. During our debriefing one of the reporters asked if we were aware that a number of sharks had been seen swimming near the capsule. None of us had seen the sharks, probably because we had been so focused on the job at hand. We were then asked what we would have done had we known, and to that, R.E. Saillant simply replied, “It would have been very crowded in that tiny capsule, the three of us and Cooper.”

Nick Nickelson has lived in Trilogy® at Monarch Dunes with his wife Doris for the past five years. His time in the Navy inspired him to write a book titled Hooyah! UDT/ Seal Stories of the 1960s, where he shares his knowledge with the world through his literature and occasional speaking opportunities. Nick maintains contact with SEAL team members to this day and even made a trip to NASA on the exact anniversary, 54 years from the infamous day that the Faith-7 Capsule splashed down. Now retired, Nick spends his free time reading books and enjoying the community he lives in through rounds of golf and taking walks around the neighborhood with Doris.

If you’d like to hear more stories from nick and his time in the Navy, his books are available for purchase on UDT-SEAL-STORIES.COM OR AMAZON.COM.

The Trilogy® 10: Wining, Dining, and Uh Oh…Ten Pounds Later

From: Array

Life at Trilogy is often a food and wine scene, people gather around meals, appetizers, at wine tastings, progressive dinners, and special occasions. It would be great if our bodies could handle all that without revealing the damages on the scale or in the mirror. Here are five simple tips for keeping your energy up and your weight down while enjoying paradise at Trilogy!

1 | Find Fitness Friends

The chance to move, stretch, and strengthen your body is everywhere here at Trilogy. If you play pickleball, go to the gym regularly, hike the surrounding areas, or ride your bike around the community, you’re probably nodding in agreement. Kudos to you! For you, a great additional exercise would be to reach around with your right arm and pat yourself on your left shoulder. Keep up the great work!

Others might find more excuses not to move than reasons to move. If you’ve caught that “too busy” bug, it’s time to shake it off. Remind yourself how much real time you can save yourself by keeping your heart healthy, your joints mobile, and your waistline trim now. It is more fun to move your body when you are able, and it certainly takes less time than it does to repair the parts that have partially worn down from lack of use. The “use it or lose it” refrain has some truth to it.

If it feels too hot to take a walk, then wait until the sun sets. That is among the most beautiful times of day to take a self-guided tour of your neighborhood. This will help you feel fantastic and give you energy back. my husband and I walk the dogs and meet fantastic new people all the time. People at Trilogy are so friendly!

Finally, have friends who will move with you. A walking buddy will inspire you to get those sneakers on. My husband and I ride our bikes everywhere around Trilogy because, well, frankly, it is more fun than driving. When you find what you most enjoy doing, surely you can make friends with someone who will do it with you.

If you do have restrictions due to health issues, please consult an exercise-oriented practitioner who can help you come up with a plan. There is always something you can do to move your body.

2 | Choose Wisely at Social Gatherings

Recently I attended an afternoon gathering for an organization I wanted to learn more about, and the hostess put out a bountiful buffet; cheeses, wines, champagne, crackers, cookies, and fruit covered her kitchen island. The event was held from 4:00 to 5:30 in the afternoon. Pop quiz: what if you attended an event like this and you were not hungry? What if you had dinner plans with your spouse or friends? Did it ever occur to you that you don’t always have to eat at these gatherings? You need not feel guilty, either. You get to choose what you put in your mouth and when. Sipping bubbly water with lemon is refreshing and socially acceptable. When I have refrained from eating at these events no one noticed and, frankly, no one cared.

If you share a meal with friends in their home, it’s okay to say “no, thank you” when you are offered food that either does not appeal to you or if you are comfortably satisfied. I often hear from my clients that they struggle with food choices because of what others expect them to eat; maybe because food is love and others want to please you by preparing food for you. However, it’s worth getting in touch with what you feel like eating and drinking and not allowing others to dictate your choices. someone may say, “you must try that delicious Cabernet that was just opened!” If you are finished drinking, you can just say, “sounds yummy” and let it go.

3 | Avoid Dieting

What happens when we deprive our bodies of what we really want to eat? When you tell yourself that you cannot have something, this can lead to binging and over-indulging. It’s better to gradually make some adjustments with which you can live and thrive with for a long time. A healthy lifestyle is the best long-term strategy for optimizing your weight, your health, and your experience of longevity.

Avoid jumping on a diet bandwagon just because one of your buddies told you that he just lost ten pounds by drinking coffee when he got hungry. Some things work and others are potentially dangerous. Try to avoid gimmicks and consider working with a health and nutrition coach.

For instance, you are better off having an occasional cookie than going on a diet that forbids it and then eating an entire box in retaliation afterwards. It is important to develop a trusting relationship with your body. over time, you can learn what foods and how much food you can eat and enjoy, while maintaining your weight goals. We don’t do this one time or try to achieve results overnight, we practice this over time.

If you’re on a diet that forbids you eat any fruit (due to some crazy reason that fruit contains too much sugar), you may find yourself craving a peach, which is an incredibly healthy food. It is at this point that you should switch your practice. Making choices based on providing your body with nourishment in the form of whole, fresh, delicious food from nature becomes part of a healthy approach to food and nutrition.

4 | Mindless Snacking

Only eat when you are hungry. This is fundamental to you and your body being on the same page. When you are not hungry, dive into life because you are free from needing to think about or act on food and eating. What activities are held at Trilogy that can help you turn your focus to more fun and less food?

There is some strong evidence of the benefits of intermittent fasting, and it’s worthwhile to learn about this. I recommend reading The Obesity Code by Dr. Jason Fong. The more you snack between meals the more your body learns to rely on these available calories instead of the preferred method, which is to use stored fat as fuel. The longer you feel good – meaning energetic, clear-headed and able to focus – the more your body is utilizing the calories you consumed to your benefit. Making the switch is gradual as your body discovers healthier and more efficient ways to provide you with energy.

5 | Eat in Technicolor

Many of us at Trilogy have worked long and hard to live in our beautiful homes. For my husband and I, this was decades in the making. This mindset of being a good steward of our finances extends to our bodies as well. So invest in your health. your body is your most precious asset. And it’s the only one you get this time around. Unlike your car, you cannot trade it in.

You can, however, make healthy choices. Whether you are a carnivore or a vegetarian, adding whole fresh fruits and vegetables has a place at every table and within any dietary practice. Eating in technicolor means a wide variety of nature’s own creations.

A spinach salad instead of macaroni and cheese means the difference between consuming life-enhancing phytonutrients versus artery-clogging saturated fat. Raw almonds over salami and cheese is a chance to get extra fiber as opposed to exposure to carcinogens associated with processed meats. Eating whole grains, such as slow-cooked oatmeal, instead of processed flour, such as a bakery pastry, means providing your body with vitamins, minerals and more fiber instead of increasing inflammation.

You live in a beautiful home. Don’t you deserve to live in a beautiful body?

There are countless moving parts when it comes to enjoying radiant good health, abundant vitality, and the shape and size you desire for your body. It’s never just one thing. The smartest thing you can do is to allow your body to gradually transform as you improve your practices over time. Weight loss happens gradually and remains permanent as you evolve into someone who knows how to take care of and provide nourishment to your body. You are worth it. Your health matters, and so do you.

About Rosie Bank

Rosie Bank is a Board-Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. She is the founder of Health Matters Coaching, is an international speaker, and the author of “Health Matters.” Rosie has been helping people live more successfully in their bodies since the mid-1970’s. Rosie maintains a practice locally and throughout the U.S. via video conferencing. Rosie leads the Vitality Club in Trilogy® at The Vineyards and offers workshops in meditation and mindful eating.

For more information on Rosie, visit BankOnYourBody.com and HealthMattersCoaching.com.

A Dog-Gone Good Time

From: Array

According to a survey of Trilogy Members conducted in 2017, about half of all Members own a pet. And if the entries into last year’s #MyTrilogyLife Magazine Pet Photo Contest are any indication, a vast majority of those pets are of the four-legged, always-excited-to-see-you variety!

This pattern is definitely true at Encanterra, a Trilogy Resort Community in San Tan Valley, Arizona, where the monthly “Bark in the Park” events hosted at the community’s Algarve Club are an absolute can’t-miss.

“Bark in the Park is one of our favorite events,” Angel Bender, Lifestyle Director of Encanterra Country Club, explained. “We see our Members together all the time, but it’s a totally different dynamic when their furry family members come along.”

One of the Members who particularly enjoys the Bark in the Park events is Leni Cayabyab, who enjoys the break from the usual scenario of walking the dogs in the neighborhood. Leni’s two Yorkshire terriers, Chloe and Leah, have a fun time as well.

“The events allow our puppies to interact with other dogs – big and small – and to feel free by running around,” said Leni. “They enjoy the attention, and, of course, the yummy treats.”

Bark in the Park allows Members’ dogs to run and play with each other while enjoying puppy pools, plenty of tennis balls, and the quickly-becoming- famous “Pup Cup” treats of whipped cream.

“For lots of reasons, most of the Club areas aren’t able to be dog-friendly. So when we can open up some of the facility to dogs, the Members seem to really embrace the experience,” Angel said. “We’ve gotten some great feedback, and some adorable photos!”

Not only are the events fun for Members and their pets, they typically benefit other animals in the local community as well. “We encourage Members to bring donations with them to benefit area animal shelters,” Angel explained. “It’s been amazing to see how much they care for not only their own animals, but animals in general. it really speaks to the spirit of the people who live here.”

The Pursuit of Happiness

From: Array

Let’s start with a hearty congratulations and happy anniversary!

“Thank you. 2018 marks the twentieth year of Trilogy® and looking back on the past two decades – of which I’ve had the privilege of being a part – I couldn’t be more proud of our progress.”

What have you learned in those twenty years?

“Lots. But what stands out is that while we build homes, we aren’t simply homebuilders. We develop land, but we do much more than most developers. What we work to do is create environments where people live a richer life than they would otherwise.”

Trilogy has developed a reputation for having some of the friendliest, happiest communities around. Why is that?

“Living happier is huge part of what Trilogy is all about. In the 2017 Member Survey, 84 percent of Members said they were happier since they moved to Trilogy. We believe that a lift in the true, genuine happiness of our Members – not just superficial fun – is the ultimate measure of our success. I want to see that number at 100 percent in the future.”

What advice do you have for people approaching the next chapter in their lives?

“Here are some of my favorite bits of counsel I’ve heard from Trilogy Members as I’ve visited the communities. It’s simple but seems to be working for them.

1. Make more friends.
2. Try more things.
3. See the world.”

There’s also an incredible amount of diversity at Trilogy. Do you find it easy to relate to the Members?

“People who come to Trilogy usually do so at a point in their lives when they want to start a new chapter. I do feel like I can relate to that experience. My wife and I are recent empty-nesters. Our kids remain a hugely important part of our lives, but on a day-to-day basis, it is different. We are building a new rhythm with one another, and, pleasantly, rediscovering the joys that brought us together in the first place. This includes developing new friendships, something we see happen all the time in our communities.”

Thank you, Jeff. Any parting words you wish to share?

“I believe to my core that living in a Trilogy community provides the opportunity to live a richer, more fulfilling, happier life. To those who have already made the choice, I say thank you. And to anyone currently considering Trilogy, I encourage you to visit and spend time with some of our Members. If it feels right to you, you’ll know it.”

Here’s to the pursuit!

Jeff has been with Trilogy since its inception in 1998, progressing to the leadership role he has today in 2015. He and his wife Kim live in Phoenix, and enjoy a variety of outdoor pursuits.

The Director of Fun

From: Array

National Director of Lifestyle is a title that seems both fancy and fun. What exactly do you do each day?
That title is both fancy and fun – l like that! I do lots of different things each day, but at the core of it, my job is to help our teams in each of the communities make sure that we are developing innovative, interesting, and diverse events and activities for all our Trilogy® Members and their families and friends.

Do you have any favorite examples of “innovative and diverse events”?
Our teams in the communities are coming up with new ideas all the time, so most of the credit goes to them. But I am responsible for the national programs we do, like the Explore 360 travel program, the Club Connect™ inter-community broadcasts, and all of the fun restaurant celebrations like the Craft Beer Weeks, Summer and Winter Wine Weeks, and Spring and Fall Restaurant Weeks.

What is your background?
Well, I’ve always been in hospitality. I started with large resorts in the banquet and events department and grew my responsibilities there. When I joined BlueStar in 2010, it was as the Lifestyle Director at Encanterra®, a role I held for seven years. I took on my current position in January of 2017.

What do you enjoy when you’re away from work?
I really don’t think about what I do as work, so I’m never fully away from it. I’m always looking for fun and fulfillment in my personal life, and what my husband and I enjoy when we travel or dine out influences what I try to bring to Trilogy. Full disclosure though – I have a regular rotation of rescue cats in my home, and I love every one of them.

What do you see as the next big thing Members should expect in the communities?

Our team has been spending a lot of time with a book called The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath, which is about how the “peak” aspect of an experience is what really creates the magic. For example, people don’t remember all the hassle and fuss it can take to get to the Grand Canyon – they remember the magic of standing at the rim at sunrise and taking it all in. Our teams want to bring those magical moments to every event and activity we do.

Sara Rainey is the National Lifestyle Director for BlueStar Resort & Golf. She has been in the luxury hotel and resort business for over 20 years. She thrives on finding innovative events and ideas to bring to Trilogy Members nationwide. Sara and her husband, John, live in Scottsdale, Arizona, and enjoy trying new local restaurants, practicing yoga, and traveling.

Venetian Splendors: Food and Wine and Boat Rides – Yes, Please!

From: Array

Last fall, 10 Trilogy® Members from four different communities – Encanterra®, A Trilogy® Resort Community, Trilogy® Lake Norman, Trilogy® at Monarch Dunes, and Trilogy® at Verde River™ – headed to Italy for an amazing 11-day journey through the Veneto region. With days spent in local cafés and beautiful landscapes to excursions straight out of a movie scene, these Members experienced it all!

Day 1 | Benvenuto (Welcome)! After arriving in Venice at the Venice Marco Polo Airport, we journeyed to a small, picturesque village, Limone sul Garda, situated on the shores of Italy’s largest lake – Lake Garda.

Once settled into our hotel, our driver took us on the Strada della Forra, a very scenic, but narrow, winding road up the mountain up to Terrazza del Brivido for a delicious welcome dinner. We toasted to the “Good Life” while enjoying the stunning view of the dramatic surrounding mountains and Lake Garda!

Day 2 | Our day began with a walk to the center of Limone sul Garda, a fascinating village on the shores of Lake Garda. A short ferry ride across the lake took us to Malcesine, another quaint village full of crafts, arts, cafés, and history, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch at an outdoor restaurant. Part of the group chose to take the Funivia, a gondola that rotates 360 degrees while ascending the village’s 6,000-foot Monte Baldo mountain.

After returning to Limone sul Garda, everyone enjoyed a leisurely uphill stroll back to the hotel where we enjoyed a fantastic dinner. Each of the four courses was paired with a local wine.

Day 3 | Day three began with an exciting hydrofoil boat ride to Sirmione, an ancient walled town on the southern part of Lake Garda. After strolling through the charming alleyways and streets, where every corner seemed to be home to a different gelato shop, our group enjoyed a lengthy, typical Sunday afternoon meal at Ristorante Il Girasole, which translates to “Sunflower Restaurant”.

After some shopping and gelato tasting, we boarded a private boat that took us to the upscale resort town of Salò, known for its beauty and unusual dark history tied to one of Italy’s most controversial dictators – Benito Mussolini. However, on this day the weather was picture-perfect: partially sunny with highs in the low to mid-70’s. For a moment, as we sailed past the massive lakeside villas in our private boat, we felt as if we were on an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous!

Day 4 | Italy is known for many of its tasty delicacies, and we were lucky enough to visit one local farm that raises cattle in the mountains and produces fresh Alpine cheese. The highlight of the morning was our tour of the cheese-producing facilities, which required the group to make quite a fashion statement with mesh hats and blue booties!

A group lunch at the farm followed with local dishes, all very rich with lots of butter! After the short ride back to our hotel, everyone enjoyed some free time exploring the historical center of Limone sul Garda, enjoying the lakeside cafés, bars, and shops.

Day 5 | Mother Nature was the star of day five as we headed to the Dolomites, otherwise known as the Italian Alps! Heading northward into a region known for both Italian and German cultures, the style of the homes and the languages on the road signs changed as our bus navigated the switchbacks up and through the mountains to our lunch stop at Maria at Passo Pordoi. The menu included a delicious dish of mushrooms, cheese, and polenta!

Some Members then ventured even higher in a gondola, taking us up to almost 11,000 feet above sea level to view the highest peaks in the Alps, including the Marmolada Glacier. Leo, our tour guide, took the others on a trail leading to a small chapel that was built as a tribute to those soldiers that lost their lives in this area during World War II.

Our journey continued with a stop in a charming Alpine village before arriving at a medieval castle for another amazing dining experience! Like a scene from a Harry Potter™ movie, we walked up a dark, narrow road through the woods, through the archways of the castle entrance, and up a stone, spiral staircase to the dining hall of Castel Pergine. It was a long day, but one we will remember for a long time!

Day 6 | This day was all about the food! The group enjoyed a cooking class at La Rocchetta, a local family-owned restaurant in a very small hilltop village. Despite our best efforts, some of us decided to keep our day jobs. However, the pasta we made was delicious!

Day 7 | Addio (Goodbye) Limone sul Garda! On our way to our next destination, we made a stop for lunch at a family-owned Trattoria – one of the area’s top restaurants. The chef gave us an amazing pasta-making demonstration, too!

After lunch, we continued on to the 13th-century Castello di Bevilacqua, where we spent two nights. After exploring this medieval fortress and the grounds (including the torture chamber exhibit!), we enjoyed another fantastic meal in one of the castle’s dining rooms prepared by a private chef.

Day 8 | Day eight’s journey took us to the Valpolicella area, known for is world-renowned wine production. After a private tour of an award-winning, family-owned vineyard, everyone enjoyed a fantastic lunch, where each course was paired with wine produced by the vineyard.

Our next destination was the romantic city of Romeo & Juliet – Verona – which has a well-preserved Roman arena, beautiful piazzas, and palaces dating back to the Middle Ages. Our local guide took us to all the main sites, including an archeological site in the basement of a Benetton store! And some of us took a moment to affectionately rub the statue of Juliet outside the Gothic-style house once owned by the Cappelletti family, which is supposed to bring one good luck!

On our way back to “our” castle, we stopped at Montagnana, a medieval walled town for dinner in one of its historical restaurants.

Day 9 | Venice at last! As we arrived at Piazzale Roma, we traveled on foot to Hotel Canal Grande, which we would call home for our final two nights. After checking in, we enjoyed a casual group lunch at Trattoria La Rosa dei Venti, a popular spot for gondoliers!

They say the best way to see Venice is by boat, so we did exactly that! A private boat picked us up at right outside the hotel, took us down the Grand Canal, under the Rialto Bridge, and to St. Mark’s Square as we toasted “La Dolce Vita!”

Day 10 | Our final full day began with another private boat ride to the nearby island of Murano, where we visited a traditional glass factory, enjoyed an amazing glass-blowing demonstration, and had free time to stroll the quaint, quiet streets.

Our next stop was the island of Burano, known for colorful houses and traditional handcrafted linens, tablecloths, and other decorative items. We enjoyed our final meal together as a group on an outdoor patio of the Trattoria Maddalena before exploring the island’s winding streets.

Day 11 | Arrivederci! ‘Til we meet… and eat, again!

Sun, Fun & Friends | Trilogy® Takes its 18th Adventure to Club Med

From: Array

In May of 2018, Trilogy took its 18th Trip to Club Med, this time to the beautiful islands of Turks and Caicos! Over 100 Members from Trilogy at Vistancia®, Trilogy at Verde River™ and Trilogy at The Vineyards, spent eight days in paradise taking in the gorgeous views, exceptional customer service, and fun activities.

“My husband and I heard about the trips that Gregg [Snyder, longtime Lifestyle Director at Vistancia] and his team have planned in the past,” Trilogy at Vistancia Member Amalia Schwerdtmann explained. “Having been an executive for a major airline for 35 years, I know how important customer service is. Gregg and the team delivered on every detail, which was exactly what we needed to really enjoy the vacation.”

Since 2010, Gregg and his team have been organizing trips for their Members. On each trip – including the most recent one to Club Med Turkoise – Gregg and his team work very closely with the Club Med team to ensure each Member’s needs are met and that their experience is above and beyond.

“The Club Med Team helps us make each day special for our Members,” Gregg explained.

From the private welcome reception, to exclusive themed meals, nightly entertainment, and daily activities, Members truly got the Club Med VIP experience.

“When we weren’t on the beach, we were experiencing all of the fabulous food and entertainment Club Med had to offer,” Sherman Carden, Member of Trilogy at The Vineyards, said.

One highlight of the trip was a visit to Da Conch Shack a world-famous spot right on the beach in Turks and Caicos. Members were treated to a private tour of the Conch Farm and a live demonstration of how the conch is harvested by the owner and his staff. This was followed by an over-flowing buffet dinner of conch fritters, ceviche, and a few other local favorites, not to mention the bottomless rum punch!

Other highlights at the resort included snorkeling, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, a sailing regatta, and the bocce ball tournament!

“I did a lot of snorkeling and free diving,” Sherman said. “I even went on a boat ride to a snorkeling spot about a mile out in the ocean, which allowed me to see an amazing array of sea life.”

Each day, you could find Members doing something they had never done before.

“My husband is very sports-oriented, so he has done most of it,” Amalia said. “However, I participated in kayaking for the first time, which I found to be really fun. I laughed so hard!”

No matter what people were doing, it was almost guaranteed their fellow Trilogy Members were right there with them having a great time.

“It is always awesome to see Members interacting with one another,” Gregg said. “Sometimes it’s with Members they’ve never met from their own community, and other times they’re hanging out with residents of other Trilogy communities. Either way, it’s great to see.”

After what was intended to be a single trip eight years ago, Gregg’s trips to Club Med have become the most popular events on the Vistancia calendar each year – and a beloved memory for those Members lucky enough to snag a seat. Hundreds of Members have been a part of the 18 trips so far, and with each new trip there seems to be a perfect blend of veterans and first-timers.

Where will your next adventure take you? For more information on all upcoming Explore 360 Trips, visit MyTrilogyLife.com.

Capturing the Spirit of Trilogy

From: Array

OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST TWO YEARS, Trilogy’s community marketing team has been making a concerted effort to change the way the story of Trilogy® is communicated. Most notably, this has included a new tagline (“Live Happier.”), a new call-to-action (“Join the Movement.TM”), and the replacement of all models and stock imagery with actual Members doing the things they love to do. Our underlying belief is that the more authentically we share the story of our Members, the more likely others will be compelled to learn more about what we offer.

In addition to new words, new images, and new ads, the team has also undertaken new projects with the goal of communicating – in unexpected ways – what Trilogy is all about. This magazine is one example, and soon the team will be debuting a new film which is designed to bring to life what it feels like to live in Trilogy.

Featuring a cast of Members, the film hopes to capture and reflect the true character of our culture as a brand, brought to life through our Members’ everyday lives. Their generosity and enthusiasm made it easy to show our spirit.

Professional filmmakers Mark Kohl and Rob Rasmussen were engaged in early 2018, and filming began later in spring, first with Members from Trilogy® at The Polo Club in Indio, California, and then with Members from Trilogy® Lake Norman in Denver, North Carolina. Venues for the shoot included, of course, the communities themselves, but Members and the crew also travelled to Joshua Tree National Park to capture what our director Mark Kohl believes will be the iconic shots of the film.

“My favorite part was interacting with the film crew, the producer and the director,” Gerri Langley, a Polo Club Member said of the experience. “It was fun to see how the ‘behind the scenes’ plays out.”

Thanks to the many cooperative Members from The Polo Club and Lake Norman – along with the hundreds who submitted photos and videos via MyTrilogyLife.com – the film is expected to debut in late 2018.

Q&A WITH THE CAST

Lauren Del Sarto has lived in Trilogy at The Polo Club with her husband Tom since December of 2016. We caught up with her after filming wrapped to get her take on the experience.

HOW DID YOU GET TO BECOME PART OF THE TRILOGY® BRAND FILM?
We were recommended as fun people, which we were glad to hear.

WHY DID YOU AGREE TO BE PART OF IT?
Trilogy at The Polo Club is a special place. The camaraderie and positive energy of the community is something we love and are very proud of. We are cheerleaders for the community and constantly telling friends about how great this place – and the people – are, so we were honored to be invited.

WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE?
It was friends – and new friends – getting together in beautiful environments, trying to act natural in front of the camera, laughing with and at each other, and drinking beer on the sidelines. Doesn’t get any better than that.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE EXPERIENCE?
The crew actually pulled off a surprise birthday party for me and I had NO IDEA until I arrived. The hide and seek at the Clubhouse in the hours proceeding my arrival (I was not where they thought I would be) sounded hilarious! I had family members hiding in the bushes and good friends at the bar lying through their teeth as to why they were there at 4 o’clock. And to top it off, when my husband said, “they want us for another shoot” and he wanted to go, I thought the spotlight had gone to his head and put my foot down. He dragged me there (somehow) and I was completely shocked and humbled that they went through all of this for me. How fun is that?

ABOUT THE FILM TEAM

MARK KOHL is a Los Angeles- and Capetown-based cinematographer with a rich history in television and feature films. In his nearly 30-year career, he has worked with the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Aaron Spelling, John Travolta, Dennis Leary, and James Gandolfini. For Trilogy’s film, he acts as director and lead cinematographer.

ROB RASMUSSEN became an extended member of the Trilogy team in 2016, when he helped lead the group’s brand evolution, the ultimate expression of which is the brand film, of which he is the Creative Director. Rob’s career successes are nearly unparalleled, as for years he led award-winning campaigns for some of the world’s best-known brands, including Nike, Sprite, Ally Bank, Twitter, and ESPN.

Trilogy Stars

From: Array

Legendary food icon Julia Child once said, “The loveliest thing you can cook for someone who’s close to you is about as nice a valentine as you can give.” Truer words have never been spoken, especially when talking about Trilogy® Orlando resident Dale Roland. Dale has become a fixture in Emma’s Culinary Garden, where she teaches how to create delicious dishes to residents in the area.

But it’s not only her cooking that has made her so popular — Dale is also an active member of a variety of causes and initiatives, supporting both civil rights and an animal adoption advocacy.

We were lucky to ask Dale a few questions about her love for cooking, her experience on the Food Network and her commitment to the local community.

We have to start with the Food Network appearance. What was it like?

Dale Roland (DR): I was a contestant on a show called “Clash of the Grandmas” on Food Network, where I competed for a $10,000 prize—and won! The whole experience was truly amazing. There was so much action and excitement with the cameras and all the people around—it was pure adrenaline.

You spend quite a bit of time in Emma’s Culinary Garden. What goes on there?

DR: Emma’s Culinary Garden, named after one of the early founders of the Groveland area where we live, is, to me, the heart of the Magnolia House [the resort club at Trilogy® Orlando]. We have several events that take place here, including a cooking club where I teach. We do recipe demonstrations, live cooking classes and seasonal get-togethers. We even do wine, scotch and bourbon tastings here as well.

How did you get into cooking?

DR: When I was young, probably as early as age 4 or so, I would watch my grandmother teach my mom the fundamentals of Italian cuisine. But it wasn’t so much the food that captivated me. My grandmother had such passion about the food and techniques she was teaching—I was hooked from that moment on. I sometimes think of my grandmother when I teach a new class, and hope to have half as much energy and passion as she did!

Did you work in restaurants?

DR: Back in the 1970s I worked as a chef at an Italian restaurant in New Jersey. Later, in Brooklyn, N.Y., I worked as a Director of Recreational Youth Programs where I often taught students how to cook.  I continued to teach cooking as a special education administrator and educator, and catered all of the holiday celebrations held at the school. Since moving to Trilogy in 2015, I still teach cooking and absolutely love it.

What are some of your specialties or what’s your favorite dish?

DR: I don’t have a particular specialty, but if I had to choose one it would be Italian seafood dishes and soups, with everything made fresh with wild seafood and organic ingredients.

Cooking for you seems to be more of a passion than a profession, right?

DR: Absolutely. Cooking is a way for me to share my passion and love of preparing various foods with my own recipes in the kitchen and cooking club.  I am a foodie and the techniques I’ve learned throughout my life, sharing my knowledge with others, and watching my cooking club members grow gives me much joy and happiness. In addition, I find cooking is a form of meditation and love for me.

We’ve come to know you as a foodie and chef, but you’re involved in a variety of other causes too. Can you tell us more?

DR: First and foremost, I am a woman that believes in civil rights for all. Since I was 16, I’ve been involved in fighting for all by protesting, petitions, fundraising and speaking engagements to promote civil rights and equality for all people, regardless of race, religion, age or sexual preference. Also, my animals are my heart and soul and I view any animal/pet as a family member. I’m an active supporter of a variety of initiatives including The Annie Appleseed Project, Pasadena rescue No Kill, Dachshund rescue South Florida and equality of Florida.

You’re an inspiration to us, and we want to give you the opportunity to share some advice for people who are thinking about trying something new (like cooking) or getting involved in helping a charity or good cause.

DR: Believe in yourself and never be afraid to take risks. Try new things that you might enjoy. In your travels, be sure and experiment by tasting food from the land. No matter where I am, I bring home ingredients to cook from so I can try and replicate what I liked. As for getting involved in causes that matter, don’t feel limited by what you think you can or can’t do. Speak up and get involved and you’ll discover how you can make a difference. The key is to just do it!

Our Journey to Living The Good Life

From: Array

Although New York City is often touted as “the city that never sleeps,” Washington D.C., was the center of the world for us. It’s the city that seats our government, and the place where Pennsylvania Avenue is its “Main Street” with the Capitol on one end and the White House at the other. Amongst all the history, and hustle and bustle, Washington, D.C., is the place where thousands of regular citizens call the Federal Government their employer, and the place they call home.

Our story begins in Washington, D.C., in the late 1970s. My wife, Connie, and I met while working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), after both of us had moved to D.C. Soon, our marriage was approved by the FBI (yes, you read that right), and we were married in 1980 in Alexandria, Virginia.

Our son, Christopher, was born a little over a year after we were married. We found Washington, D.C., to be a great city to raise a family with museums galore, all free and open on government holidays, and one-of-a-kind holiday celebrations like the Fourth of July fireworks display and the White House Easter Egg Roll.

For the next four decades, Connie and I worked for the United States government and later for government contractors; Connie was a librarian and research analyst for a large corporate library, while I worked in Contract Administration and Management. As our son grew older and began his own life by joining the Peace Corps, we started to ponder what was ahead for us as we approached the end of our working lives.

Florida had always been our destination of choice. Our parents both lived in Ocala, so we knew Florida well. But after visiting several communities, Connie and I deter-mined that Trilogy® Orlando was the best. In January of 2017, we packed up our lives near our nation’s capital and moved south to our new home in Trilogy.

As soon as we arrived, we wasted no time getting involved in the community’s activities. There are activities at Trilogy for everyone, from the least active to the most active, and we are a perfect example of why that works so well. Connie enjoys playing cards such as Hand and Foot, Samba, and Canasta, while I play pickleball and participate in some of Trilogy’s national contests like the

Gait-to-Gate step challenge. However, there are plenty of things we enjoy doing together. We both love to swim, so going to the pool every day is a real pleasure. Typically, she and I will head up to the pool around 2:00pm to enjoy the refreshing water and conversation with friends.

Connie and I also enjoy many of the events put on by the Resort Club, as well as the ones created by our fellow Members. Trilogy Orlando is a bustling community with regatta boat races in the pool on the Fourth of July, Glow Parties where ultraviolet lights light up the evening, Pet Halloween Dress Ups, and our own local group of musicians called the TMI, or Trilogy Musicians Initiative, who put on concerts. TMI even performed at our nearby sister community – Trilogy® at Ocala Preserve. For our veterans, there’s the Trilogy Orlando Veterans Association, which organizes blood drives, Flags for Fallen Vets at local national cemeteries, Veterans Bingo, Wreaths Across America during the Christmas season, and hosts great guests at their meetings. There is something for everyone here.

Trilogy is located near some amazing experiences outside the gates, so we try to explore our greater community of Lake County, Florida, as well. There is so much to do, with local theatres in the nearby towns of Clermont, Eustis, Leesburg, Mt. Dora, and Tavares; minor league and collegiate baseball teams; professional sports teams; Spring Training; cruise ports; and of course, Walt Disney World®. We even have a Disney® Club here at Trilogy Orlando, complete with our very own Subject Matter Experts who can tell you all you need to know about the Magic Kingdom.

While there are activities galore, the greatest benefit to Trilogy Orlando is the sense of community. To us, Florida feels like a microcosm of Washington, D.C., as a very large percentage of people who live here are not from here, just like in D.C. From Connecticut, Missouri, Maryland, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and New York, we are all starting the second half of our lives in a new place.

This sense of community expands beyond simply having fun with like-minded people; we are all here to help each other as well. Whether it is making meals for those who are under the weather or driving neighbors to medical appointments and checkups, you name it, we are all here to support one another.

Our son, Christopher, who now lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, often comes to visit us on the weekends and has become a part of our community as well. He works for the Social Security Administration and is quite a popular man in Trilogy as he offers to visit people’s homes to give them updates on their benefits. He loves Trilogy and people love him, too.

Retirement is not for the faint of heart. There is never a dull moment. We can honestly say moving to Trilogy Orlando was the best move we have ever made, and we are looking forward to our twilight years in the Florida and Trilogy Orlando sunshine.

Happier & Healthier: Reflecting on 15 Years of Integrative Medicine at Trilogy®

From: Array

In the last 15 years, we’ve seen integrative medicine come a long way. What used to be considered alternative and to many, a little out there, is now considered mainstream. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), more than 50 reputable institutions around the country – including Harvard, Duke, Stanford, and the Mayo Clinic – go so far as to include the word integrative in their name. In many ways, the “alternative” methods of nutrition, acupuncture and similar modalities have become a standard part of the treatment process.

As a matter of perspective as to just how fast this increase in acceptance has been over the last 15 years, when I started, it was typical for patients to be apprehensive about telling their primary care physicians that they were seeking integrative care. Now, integrative care is often within the same building. Much of the progression is due to the healthcare community listening to what patients wanted, and also realizing that complementary medicine is just that: complementary, and not an attempt to completely abandon conventional ways. In fact, the word “alternative” is rarely used today because it denotes that one has to choose between traditional treatments or other options, when ideally, healthcare is a blend of many types of practitioners and modalities.

I am still blown away that so many years ago, Trilogy was progressive enough to include a naturopath to help build their wellness program. In a time where most active adult communities settled for vans pulling up to give wellness screenings, Trilogy went further in thinking about ways to educate their Members in becoming healthier and aging better. Most Members have their traditional doctors already, but bringing in an integrative provider allowed for a comfortable exploration into complementary treatments and prevention.

I hope that I have shown Members that most integrative medicine is indeed science-based, which is another reason that we have seen more acceptance from the traditional community over the years. These days, your conventional doctor is likely to recommend the use of supplements once thought to be alternative, such as CoQ10, fish oil, or probiotics. Likewise, conventional medicine offers some irreplaceable treatment options, and even integrative physicians like myself will often dip into the world of pharmaceuticals when needed. You should never have to decide strictly between traditional and integrative medicine, as both worlds can provide keys to your health.

As much as I am an advocate for seeking integrative medicine, I want to share with everyone how important it is to find the right practitioner. There are many companies that provide weekend trainings in supplements and “health” that churn out “experts” handing out advice. Even with those who seem to hold legitimate titles, it is necessary to do your research. Naturopathic medicine, for example, varies from state to state. In Arizona, where I practice, naturopaths are licensed as general practitioners and have prescriptive and diagnostic rights. Some states don’t yet provide licensure and your naturopath might be more limited. When looking for a practitioner, it is a good idea to ensure that they hold a license in a licensed state (properly trained naturopaths will have an undergraduate degree plus four years of naturopathic medical school and will typically maintain a license somewhere even if they are practicing in a state that does not yet license practitioners).Naturopathic doctors are currently licensed in about 17 states and Washington D.C. If your practitioner doesn’t hold a license, they may not have completed all of the necessary training. On the other side of the coin, if your traditional doctor is claiming to be integrative, seek information on where that additional training occurred as most medical schools don’t include much integrative training in their typical curriculum.

There is no doubt that integrative medicine is growing. It will be exciting to watch it become even more mainstream. If we are all diligent in securing properly trained providers, we can rest assured that we will have access to the best, science-based integrative medicine alongside traditional medicine, allowing us to blend the best of both worlds for prevention and treatment. In the meantime, I’ll continue to try to relay the best information to Trilogy and its Members, and in doing so, keep us all on the progressive side of health.

FINDING AMY
Dr. Amy Whittington practices naturopathic medicine at the Alvea Spas at Trilogy at Vistancia in Peoria, Arizona and Encanterra Country Club in San Tan Valley, Arizona. She has been Trilogy’s chosen naturopath for more than a decade. Dr. Amy publishes a monthly Wellness Journal on MyTrilogyLife.com, does presentations via Club Connect, and, in Arizona, provides individual consultations. Among Dr. Amy’s offerings include full-body health assessments, acupuncture, collagen injection therapy, skin-tightening treatments and detoxification programs.

Heal Your Body With Plants

From: Array

Here at Trilogy®, many of us understand the importance of being active in order to have great health for decades. We want to crush it on the pickleball court, keep up on group bike rides, and boogie in Zumba without restriction.

But it takes more than exercise to stay healthy. What we eat and how we nourish our bodies have a lot to do with living with vitality. As common as they are today, diets high in saturated fat, processed and refined flours, commercial fats and oils, imbalanced macro-nutrients (fats, carbohydrates, and protein), and insufficient micro-nutrients can seriously hamper our health.

The antioxidants and phytochemicals that are essential to our health come from fruits and vegetables. Eating whole foods in the form of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, and legumes ensures that we are taking in an abundance of macro-and micro-nutrients. These foods are like medicine for our heart, brain, gut, weight, kidneys, liver, prostate, breasts… well, all of us.

Doctors like Neal Barnard, T. Colin Campbell, and Caldwell Esselstyn even use plant-based whole foods to help reverse heart disease and diabetes in their patients. The traditional approach to treating these diseases does not address the underlying causes, which are often diet-related. I saw this firsthand with both of my parents. They were treated by top medical specialists, and neither received more than a couple of passing comments from their doctors about the possibility of using food to heal their bodies instead of (or in addition to) medicine.

My dad was morbidly obese, yet none of the experts talked about how he was feeding his body and the adverse impact this was having on his health. My father lived short and died long from heart disease, while making no adjustments to his diet or his weight. I often wonder how his life could have improved if his doctors had been more aligned with the connection between food and health.

Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Many doctors today are realizing that the right food is fundamental to good health.

Where Does One Start?

Are you thinking of improving your health by eating more fruits and vegetables? My first tip for you to move toward eating more plants is to avoid doing this simply because it’s trendy or fashionable. How you nurture your body and the choices you make are personal. When I decided to eat only whole foods from plants and to eliminate all animal products from my diet, I had a conversation with myself to be sure that this was not just for show. On the contrary, my choice came from a real desire and a firm commitment to be a good steward of my own health.

There are two schools of thought; a moderate one is to ease into this way of eating gradually. “Meatless Mondays” describes having one day a week when you give up all animal products. You add fruits, veggies, whole grains, seeds, and nuts to your meals. Whole foods like this bathe your cells with powerful plant-based phytochemicals that heal your gut, reduce inflammation, improve your sensitivity to insulin, and help quell some of the lingering cancer biomarkers. Living enzymes from vegetables feed the healthy bacteria in your gut, which supports hormonal health and keeps your body’s hunger signals on track. Leafy greens promote nitrous oxide in your blood vessels, which helps your blood flow, enabling you to get more nutrients to every cell in your body. Blood that flows freely is very good for heart and vascular health.

Let yourself be pleasantly surprised. Although not all of my clients are ready to give up animal products, every one of them notices how delicious a robust green salad is with lots of tasty fixings. This includes any of the following: cubed tofu, olives, grilled tempeh, toasted nuts and seeds, beans, store-bought or home-grown sprouts, any and all veggies (grilled, steamed, or raw), berries, orange slices, and cooked quinoa or brown rice. I’ll spare you the details, but I’ve gotten great reports of improved digestion and energy from folks who swapped out animal products for more plants.

The other approach is to jump in with both feet. Dr. Neal Barnard, who wrote Program for Reversing Diabetes, encourages his patients to commit to his 21-day program. He believes that after three weeks, you’ll feel so much better that you may want to switch from a program mentality to a full-on lifestyle change.

What About Protein & Fiber?

You may be asking, “where do I get my protein and fiber?” And the truth is, plants alone offer plenty of both.

Protein deficiency is rare. In fact, to optimize heart health and to dial back the challenges and risks associated with diabetes, less protein has been proven effective. There is adequate protein in vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, beans, and whole grains. Soy-based products like tofu, tempeh, miso, and edamame are excellent sources of protein.

Fiber is only found in plants; there is none in animal products. Heart health, insulin sensitivity, feeling satisfied after a meal, managing your weight, and promoting gut health are all correlated with plant-based fiber. While you can get some of your fiber from pills, they do not contain the same soluble and insoluble fiber that needs to be chewed and mixed with your saliva in order to do its magic.

I recommend eating more veggies instead of relying on a fiber supplement. Some good options include vegetables in the cruciferous family (cauliflower, cabbage, kale, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts). They are not only loaded with fiber, but also sulforaphane, a compound associated with reducing cancer, improved digestion, and heart health.

Love Your Body

Approaching what you eat with an attitude of gratitude and respect for your body will be its own reward. If you feel like you want to make the leap toward a plant-based diet and learn more about where most food in our society comes from, I recommend you watch the documentary films Food, Inc. and Food Matters or read The World Peace Diet by Will Tuttle. Learn how you can become proactive about your health and reap the benefits.

Giving up all animal products is not for everyone. But hopefully, loving our bodies and getting our bodies to love us back is. Jim Rohn says, “If you don’t have a body, where will you live?”

Try eating like this until you have what I love to call a “bump.” A bump of more energy. A bump of better elimination. A bump of clear-headedness. A bump of freedom from craving processed food. When this happens, you will have arrived at a new level of providing your body with optimal nourishment and love. At this point, your body really will love you back.

Everything To Lose: How One Trilogy® Member’s Weight-Loss Transformation Changed His Life

From: Array

For most Trilogy® Members across the country, retirement brings with it a wealth of opportunities to pursue lifelong passions and hobbies, travel to distant places, and make new friends. It’s a time in life that’s earmarked by some monumental life changes such as relocating to a new area, buying a new home, and, perhaps most significant of all, finding something to do with what’s arguably life’s most precious gift: free time.

But for Trilogy® at Lake Frederick Member Kevin Walek, retirement meant something far greater than what most empty-nesters and newly retired people encounter. For him, retirement meant it was time to focus on one thing – saving his life.

After a long and successful career as a managing attorney in Washington, D.C., Kevin’s journey towards retirement was marred by several health-related issues, mostly due to being chronically overweight.

“I spent most of my career working on the Hill, which often meant I worked long hours,” said Kevin. “And when you work in the kind of environment I was in, there was little time for exercise and eating healthy. I got used to two very unhealthy habits: a sedentary lifestyle and grazing on easy-to-find, fast foods. However, as much as I want to say it was a function of my profession, my unhealthy habits began when I was young.”

Growing up in a modest household in Perry, New York, Kevin was raised not knowing any better.

“We didn’t have much growing up, which meant we often resorted to cheap food that typically was high in carbohydrates and fat,” said Kevin. “I got away with it when I was younger, but by the time I was in high school, I already weighed more than 300 pounds.”

Kevin continued to gain weight after college, with the biggest gains occurring later in life when his career was in high gear. At his heaviest, he topped the scale at more than 360 pounds.

“I wasn’t just overweight, I was unhappy,” said Kevin. “But instead of focusing on my physical and mental well-being, I turned my attention towards proving that being overweight wasn’t a professional liability. Meaning, I worked hard at proving myself instead of improving myself.”

Kevin’s aversion to facing his weight problem led to some serious health scares, including having two dangerous heart cardioversions and Type 2 diabetes.

“Towards the end of my career and not long before I retired, it finally hit me hard,” Kevin said. “I could have died or lost a leg to diabetes. My obesity exacerbated some serious problems that needed to be dealt with immediately.”

Kevin and his wife, Dee Walek, moved to the Lake Frederick community before Trilogy® arrived on the scene, meaning he found himself not knowing where to start on a journey towards better health.

“Prior to Trilogy being a part of our community, I floundered for a while, not knowing what or how I should go about getting in shape,” said Kevin. “However, since becoming a part of the Lake Frederick community, Trilogy’s commitment to wellness was and still is an absolute lifesaver for me. Dare I say, it’s been infectious. With the help of the local wellness team, I quickly felt like I had a new partner on this mission to living a happier, healthier life. I also learned that wellness isn’t just about losing weight.”

According to a recent report by the Center for Disease Control, upwards of 40 percent of all adults over 60 are considered obese, often due to lifestyle patterns similar to Kevin’s. This is a big reason why Trilogy’s dedication to wellness includes helping Members with weight loss. It’s also designed to help Members focus on overall physical and mental health — two things intertwined in the pursuit to living happier.

“When we think of wellness, we think about not only helping the whole person, but also the community as a whole,” said Jessica Bowling, the Wellness Director and one of Kevin’s biggest cheerleaders. “Our goal is to offer something for everyone so each Member can feel they are supported on their path to wellness, whether or not the goal includes weight loss. We can accommodate everyone.”

“I tried group classes, but I tend to work best on my own where I can remain singularly focused,” said Kevin. “My inner attorney really came shining through when I was getting started. I asked more questions than I can list! I inquired about different programs and options, sometimes incessantly. I even got Jessica to allocate a folder in her email inbox just for me! And even with my inquisitive nature, no matter how many times I asked, the Trilogy team extended warmth, friendliness, and true graciousness. They demonstrated incredible patience and willingness. I can’t say enough about how instrumental the wellness team has been in helping me improve my life.”

Jessica describes her relationship with Kevin with similar passion and respect. “He is inquisitive and thoughtful and willing to push himself. It’s an inspiring attitude to be around.” Kevin’s regimen begins at dawn in the fitness center, six-days-a-week, usually with two to three hours spent mixing cardio, weights, stretch training, and sometimes, snorkeling in the pool.

“I gradually worked my way up to where I am now, and in doing so, have lost 150 pounds from my peak weight,” said Kevin. “I also changed my diet to include smaller portions and healthier options thanks to Jessica’s educational series on how eat better. But, let’s get real! The process wasn’t easy or fun to begin with. It’s the beginning that’s the hardest part. I can attest though, after you cross the two-week mark of staying true to your commitment to whatever plan you’re on, you’ll quickly realize that it actually gets easier to do more. Kinda funny how that works out.”

With a new zeal for life and for staying active, Kevin recently hiked the trails at Iguazu Falls in Argentina and summitted several peaks at Machu Picchu in Peru.

“I reached a checkpoint on a trail at Machu Picchu that left one guard in awe of how far I’d come,” said Kevin. “Because you sign your name and age at the checkpoint, he said I was the oldest person of the day – by 23 years!”

Taking care of oneself not only helped transform Kevin physically; the effects it’s had on his mental health have been just as drastic.

“I knew I was overweight, but I didn’t really think my weight would prevent me from living a happier life,” said Kevin. “Trilogy helped me realize there was a whole lotta living I could be doing if I was in better shape. I have more positive energy. I feel more confident. Taking care of myself has changed my life in ways I could never have expected.”

Kevin’s story is one that hopefully inspires other Trilogy Members to get moving.

“Kevin’s road to wellness began with some serious health scares,” said Jessica. “We’d like to see more Members embark on the wellness program here, before facing the kinds of problems that Kevin had. It’s truly never too late — or too early — to get started.”

As a result of Kevin’s determination, his Type 2 diabetes is in remission, his heart is healthy, and he’s off most of his medications. He’s also playing golf more often and actively participating in community-wide events such as Trilogy’s Gait-To-Gate competition.

“Gait-to-Gate was a blast last year!” said Kevin. “I surpassed 100,000 steps. And even though I put in the work to be able to accomplish that, I couldn’t have done any of it without the Trilogy team behind me. Also, I’m living proof that it’s never too late to embark on a wellness program — in a way that best works for you. I’m 66-years-old, and if I had a wish to make, it’d be that I didn’t wait so long to finally take care of myself. The Trilogy team truly has the tools necessary to help every Member live life to the fullest every single day.”

A Step in the Right Direction: Gait-to-Gate, Connecting Trilogy Step by Step

From: Array

In November 2018, Trilogy® introduced a new wellness program called Gait-to-Gate. This month-long inter-community step challenge encouraged each community’s Members to collectively walk the equivalent distance of the path of the entire network of Trilogy communities – a total of 6,429 miles!

The challenge urged Members to compete individually within their community for the title of “Top Stepper”, but also collectively to help their community become the Gait-to-Gate champions.

Congratulations to Trilogy® Orlando who took home the prize for walking the most steps during our inaugural competition! In total, Trilogy Orlando Members collectively walked 36,502 miles, equating just over 73 million steps.

“This was an exciting opportunity for our Members to unite as a community and as Trilogy Members,” stated Fitness Manager Billie Wartenberg. “It was the perfect time for Members to get up and moving during the holiday season when health usually takes a back seat.”

While each of the 231 participants contributed to the community’s success, Trilogy Orlando’s top three steppers –Cheng Saing, Hermine Dober, and Dolores Alvarez – accounted for nearly 3 million steps!

Each pushed themselves to new levels during the month-long challenge by devoting time each day to finding the best walking routine, joining fitness classes, and setting rigorous personal goals.

“Exercise is a part of my daily life,” Hermine said. “I walk at least six miles a day, but during November’s Gait-to-Gate challenge, I often doubled that.”

However, it wasn’t something they accomplished completely on their own.

“Gait-to-Gate helped me to connect with family, friends, neighbors, and other Members in our community, especially with my wife as we have made walking together a daily routine,” Cheng said. “It has been a major mental and physical health improvement to our lives.”

In addition to their peers, many steppers credited their success to Billie Wartenberg. Throughout the challenge, Billie reassured and encouraged Members to maintain their motivation by consistently showing her own enthusiasm for Gait-to-Gate in Coffee Talks and Fitness Classes. She stated that “our Fitness Classes were instrumental in getting Members to participate. But Members who were excited about the program and got other friends involved impacted participation the most.”

Billie’s efforts did not go unnoticed in the community. According to Hermine, “…with all the classes offered here in Trilogy Orlando, I think many more people are exercising. Plus, Billie is fabulous. We are very lucky.”

Even as the challenge ended, the healthy habits Members created during Gait-to-Gate have made a lasting impression.

“Gait-to-Gate gave me a deeper sense of how I can challenge my body and an ‘I can do it’ mentality,” Cheng said.  “All I had to do to win was just walk. I feel like nothing will stop me, no ache and no pain. In my mind at that time… I felt young again.”

As November quickly approaches and Members start to gear up for another year of Gait-to-Gate, Billie has some words of advice for anyone looking to participate.

“Walk at your pace. Don’t overdo it. Shoes are a big key, so be sure to wear athletic shoes with good support for your feet. This is an excellent opportunity to work at your pace and level, meet new Members, and create more of a bond with existing friends!”

From Coast to Canyon

From: Array

When Tom and Lorraine Brodek moved to Hawaii five years ago, they had a plan. The goal was to retire in paradise and enjoy all the majesty and splendor that you’d expect (and envy) from living high on a hillside in the quintessential Hawaiian town of Hana, Maui.

So, how did they end up in a cowboy town in the Arizona desert?

“Living in Hana was a dream of ours for many years,” said Lorraine. “We lived most of our lives in and around the hustle and bustle of Beverly Hills, Hollywood and Los Angeles, raising a family and pursuing our careers. Hana was to be our refuge away from it all.”

Speaking of hustle and bustle, it’s worth stating early in this story that Tom and Lorraine both had spectacular careers in the entertainment industry. Tom is a longtime film and television producer, having cultivated hit films such as Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and the Stephen King miniseries Rose Red. Lorraine’s accomplishments are also far and wide, which includes becoming KUSC-TV’s first female station manager, pioneering the Friends of Public Television (Channel 8) volunteer program, and working as Vice President of Direct Marketing for Warner Bros. Hana, Maui was to be the celebration of all their hard work.

According to the Brodeks, living in Hawaii had tremendous benefits. “For starters, I loved that we could roam the island without the fear of bears, lions or other human-eaters,” said Lorraine. “And all the islands of Hawaii have no snakes!”

Other perks that came from living on Maui included awe-inspiring sunsets and 360-degree panoramic views. “Where we lived, we had a view of the ocean that harbored some of the most incredible vistas you can imagine,” said Tom. “And when it rained, the clouds and rainbows were truly something to behold.”

As remarkable as Maui was — and still is for the Brodeks — living in such a remote place meant they had to make sacrifices. The first of which was convenience. “Hana is an extraordinary location, but it’s certainly not convenient,” said Lorraine. “there is one highway to get to Hana from other cities on the island—which sometimes, meant commutes were gridlocked. getting to and from simple places like Costco or a local shopping center could take hours.”

It’s a treat to take a vacation to a remote place, but sometimes living in one presents significant challenges. Case in point, there are 57 bridges on Highway 360, which makes it difficult to travel – especially in inclement weather.

Before we go any further, the Brodeks want to make something abundantly clear: living in Maui was a wonderful experience and they were extremely happy and incredibly fortunate to have lived there.

“Despite the remoteness and the challenges with daily conveniences, our time spent in Hana was tremendous,” said Lorraine. “But something was missing in our lives. There was just something that we wanted to experience that we just weren’t finding — even in paradise.”

Family played a big part of the Brodeks’ island fever. The Brodeks were far removed from their daughters (one lived in Southern California, the other in Delaware). Being far meant missing opportunities to make quick visits and connect in person. “We needed to be closer to our family,” said Lorraine. “We hoped to find somewhere we could live that our daughters could visit frequently.”

The Brodeks had no idea where to start, but they did know one thing: they loved Arizona. Tom and Lorraine lived in Paradise Valley at one point in their lives, and have fond memories of their time in the Grand Canyon state. “We’ve always loved Arizona—we have history here. Tom worked in production, I worked in public television and our daughters went to college here,” said Lorraine. “We figured it was a good place to consider relocating to.”

A simple internet search led the Brodeks to sheaHomes.com, then to TrilogyLife.com. “We were intrigued with both the homes and lifestyles that Trilogy presented online,” said Lorraine. “Since we were making the complex move from Maui to the mainland, we were committed to making sure wherever we decided to live, was the right place for our lifestyle.”

The Brodek’s journey began with a three-night stay at another Trilogy® community, Encanterra®.

“We were hooked after night one,” said Lorraine. “We knew Trilogy was right for us because it had the sense of belonging that we hadn’t found anywhere else. From neighbors to staff, to the local mail carriers—there is a friendliness at Trilogy that we have never experienced before.”

“We loved Encanterra, but wanted a location that was a little closer for family in Southern California to visit without having to fly. Our daughter drives from the Los Angeles area and is in Wickenburg in less than 5 hours,” said Tom. “Even in just a few months since moving in, our home in Wickenburg has been an absolute blessing.”

The Brodeks moved into their new home at Trilogy at Wickenburg Ranch in May 2017, combining residences in Hawaii and also from Beverly Hills. “We’re here for the long haul, having combined our homes to one central place of belonging,” said Lorraine. “What we found here is a community that truly enjoys living an active, healthy lifestyle. and we especially like how convenient everything is.”

Furthermore, both tom and Lorraine have found what so many fellow Members attest to being what makes Trilogy so special. “To us, this is the perfect mix of community and independence,” said Lorraine. “Whether involved in the community or spending time to ourselves, there is never a sense of pressure or any fear of missing out.”

They’ve come to love the desert landscape too. “The desert has a beauty all to its own,” said Lorraine. “At our home, we swapped a coast view with a canyon view—both are beautiful. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the one thing that I’m still not used to—snakes! Yes, even with snakes and other desert critters, we still feel more at home here at Trilogy than we have anywhere else in a long time.”

Without question, the Trilogy movement is felt by the Brodeks. “The folks say they’re dedicated to helping us live happier,” said Tom. “For us, that’s just the beginning. We’ve discovered that no matter where you live, no matter how beautiful, remote or idyllic the setting, Ultimately, it’s the people in your life that matter most.”

Passionate Pursuits

From: Array

When Marian Sommers first began teaching art classes from her garage in 2017, little did she realize that her art instruction would instigate a huge following.

“As a retired art teacher, I’ve long been passionate about not only creating art but also teaching and helping others express themselves creatively,” said Marian, founder of the Encanterra® Fine Arts League (EFAL). “Art is best learned in a community setting where people can share and grow as artists together. Little did I realize that starting a fine art club in my garage would grow into something that not only helped people learn but also helped them feel more connected to our local community.”

EFAL began humbly with five members seeking not only a place to learn about art, but also to meet and make new friends.

“I’m not an experienced artist – I retired from a career in corporate America,” said EFAL member, Johnene Adams. “For me, the club is about so much more than fine art. Sure, we love learning and trying new things, but it’s the community atmosphere that really makes EFAL special. It’s also more fun than I could have ever imagined.”

The EFAL’s mission is to provide the Encanterra community with a stimulating environment to experience visual art through classes, guest artists, workshops, art museum and gallery tours, critiques, and art exhibits. The Member-led EFAL meets weekly and is open to any Member wanting to learn and try their hands at creating fine art. No experience is necessary.

“We’re a fine art club, not a craft club,” said Marian. “A big part of what we do is studying how to create various types of fine art and helping more people learn to appreciate the thoughtfulness that goes into creating such things. Because we do it as a group, we’re able to ask each other questions and learn about one another. It’s always a great time no matter what we do.”

This passion for art is a driving force behind EFAL and one of the reasons the club has grown to include 45 members, from all walks of life at Encanterra.

“There’s really nothing more exciting and fun than sharing experiences with people who are passionate about what they do,” said Johnene. “The same can be said for Marian and all the members of EFAL. They’re passionate about art, learning, and forging new friendships.”

EFAL has also partnered with other Member-led clubs such as the Museum Club and Photography Club, sharing in experiences and learning sessions.

“One of my favorite things about EFAL is not only getting to know fellow art enthusiasts, but also how we’re able to work with other clubs that share similar passions,” said Johnene. “It’s a thrill to find out how much creativity and talent we have here at Encanterra. It’s so inspiring!”

“The community is exceptional,” said Marian. “I’m single, and so having a group that I can align myself with and associate with on a regular basis has improved my quality of life in ways I never imagined. I’m so thankful to the team at Encanterra for having such an open mind for Members such as me who are willing to start or join a club. It’s all about inclusiveness here at EFAL. Anyone and everyone, no matter what their skill or proficiency in fine art, is welcome to join. The only requirement is that they have fun, get engaged, and let their creativity take over.”

“Member-led clubs like EFAL and many others are at the foundation for what we do at every Trilogy® community,” said Sara Rainey, BlueStar Resort & Golf’s National Lifestyle Director. “They’re also what makes Trilogy special for so many people. If you live here, it’s likely you’ll find it easy to join a group of people who share common interests. And in the rare instance you can’t find a club that’s the right fit, you can start one of your own.”

Finding Love Down the Street

From: Array

When someone moves into a Trilogy community, they can never be sure of who they might meet – from retired Hollywood producers, to military veterans, to old friends from their past. Each day is a new adventure, and a chance for real serendipity.

“When I finished my career, my brother encouraged me to come check out Wickenburg and I immediately fell in love with the town,” Scott Stephens said.

After checking out the options available, Scott moved into Wickenburg Ranch, a Trilogy Resort community in March 2017, in a home which turned out to be just 12 houses down from the other player in this amazing story.

Kay Carson was a longtime Wickenburg resident who had chosen to move to Trilogy as well. It was a chance for her to be around new people, and, she hoped, a chance to share her passion for her hometown with others.

Despite their close proximity, for nearly a year and a half, Scott and Kay had almost no interaction. But that all changed in the summer of 2018 following the encouragement of a few of the staff members at the Club.

“I had met some of Scott’s previous dates,” said Sue Dubois, a concierge at the Club. “They seemed nice, but I always thought that Kay would be a good match for what he was looking for.”

After some behind-the-scenes matchmaking, on June 1st, Scott and Kay went on their first date to a local taco joint. The rest, as they say, is history.

“We shot pool and we were both such terrible players, but we were pretty much just focused on each other from that day on,” Scott reminisced.

Over the course of the next two weeks – yes, two weeks! – the couple fell more and more for each other and quickly realized what their next step was going to be.

“It was kind of a magical connection we had, and we fell in love,” Kay said. “He asked me to marry him and, as crazy as it sounds, we decided – why wait? We decided to go ahead and get married.”

So, just 20 days after first meeting, Kay Carson became Kay Stephens when she married Scott, making them the most recent in a growing list of couples who have met and then married while living in a Trilogy community.

“We got the official license and had the pastor come up to my house along with my daughter, Scott’s brother, and his wife, and we did it there very simply,” Kay said. On the evening of their wedding, Scott moved down the street into Kay’s home because, he said, jokingly “it’s bigger, nicer, and she wouldn’t leave.”

Kay’s heart isn’t the only one Scott has won over. Harry, Kay’s 1-year-old labradoodle, is fond of him as well. “He’s crazy about Scott,” Kay confirmed. The couple is aware of their unusually short courtship, but their rationale was simple: “Time is of the essence. Why wait?”

Puppy with a Purpose

From: Array

Of the 47 percent of Trilogy® Members nationwide who have pets, more than 75 percent are dog owners; and while these four-legged friends are a cherished part of the family, for some, having a dog is not just a joy, it is a necessity. According to ShareAmerica, there are approximately 500,000 service dogs working in the United States, providing support in many ways, including vision assistance, blood sugar monitoring, anxiety relief, and more.

One group of Members in Trilogy® at Monarch Dunes recently put one puppy on the path to helping others. We were lucky enough to ask Trilogy Service Club President Nancy Kraus and Member Robin Schneider some questions about their “Puppy with a Purpose.”

Q: WHAT IS THE TRILOGY SERVICE CLUB?
NANCY KRAUS: The Trilogy Service Club, or TSC, is a philanthropical Member-led Club whose mission is to volunteer and fundraise for non-profit charitable organizations in the local area serving men, women, and children. Over the last eight years, through the efforts of our dedicated volunteers, we have raised and donated over $400,000 to local non-profit organizations.

Q: HOW DID THE TSC GET INVOLVED IN THIS “PUPPY WITH A PURPOSE”?
ROBIN SCHNEIDER: I approached the TSC because I wanted to hold a Mah Jongg Tournament/Fundraiser that would benefit a local organization called New Life K9s Service Dogs. I have partial vision and have had guide dogs for about 12 years now. They have had a profound effect on my life, especially since my husband passed away three years ago, so I thought why not help others who could use these special animals?

Q: WHAT DOES NEW LIFE K9S DO?
RS: In a nutshell, they train dogs to be given to local veterans or first responders who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Each dog goes through a two-year process where they are trained by inmates at state prisons, including the nearby California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. Inmates are interviewed, accepted into the program, and taught a “bond-based” training method by New Life’s professional dog trainers, which helps prepare the dogs for life as service dogs. Throughout the process, the dogs learn numerous skills associated with daily living, as well as responding to triggers that PTSD can bring on.

NK: After Robin approached us with her idea, she, TSC member Myra Akel, and I decided to visit New Life’s facilities to learn more about the program firsthand. I’m so glad we did, because we were able to meet with their Director of Administration, Dillon Jamison, along with a First Responder named Greg Gallo and his service dog, Eddie. This really sealed the deal for us, and we decided to move forward with our fundraiser.

Q: SO, WHAT WAS THE GOAL OF THE MAH JONGG TOURNAMENT AND FUNDRAISER?
RS: Our goal was to fully fund a dog. Each New Life K9s dog is specially bred and costs about $1,500. Add the costs of food, staffing, and veterinary care for each dog during their two years of training – roughly $8,500 – which brings the grand total to $10,000 to “fund” a dog.

Q: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EVENT?
NK: Knowing how many dog lovers we have in our community, we put this opportunity to fund our “Puppy with a Purpose” out to our entire Trilogy community and were overwhelmed with the amount of support that we received. With over 100 Members in attendance, we wanted to ensure that we properly shared New Life’s mission with the event’s attendees and help them understand how a service dog can impact a veteran or first responder’s life.

RS: We invited Greg Gallo (and his dog Eddie) to be our guest speaker during lunch. He spoke about his personal experiences as a Crime Scene Investigator for the local police department. He shared how he suffers from PTSD, extreme depression, and how he was even suicidal before Eddie came into his life. You could have heard a pin drop in the room. When asked how Eddie helps him, Greg explained that the dog would sense when he was beginning to relive an experience from his past and Eddie would nudge him or put his head on his lap to help bring him out of it. When he was having a nightmare, the dog would stand on his chest, which made Greg laugh and brought him back to the present time and place.

Q: I HEAR YOU REACHED YOUR GOAL PRETTY QUICKLY… TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.
RS: Yes! After we reached our goal, we were able to pick out “our” puppy – a female yellow Labrador Retriever who we’ve named Miss Trilogy, or Misty for short. She started her training in July of 2019.

NK: Because Misty will need to interact with other dogs, adults, children, and to learn to go to places such as grocery stores, the movies, restaurants, and anywhere else that her future owner(s) would go, the program requires volunteer “Puppy Parents”. A group of Trilogy Members are Misty’s “Puppy Parents,” and for the next two years, they’ll bring her to Trilogy at Monarch Dunes each Friday evening before returning her on Sunday to the California Men’s Colony. We are all looking forward to watching her grow and transition into a companion for a deserving veteran or first responder.

Robin Schneider is already working on next year’s Mah Jongg Play Day. She hopes to interest more Trilogy Members in volunteering and donating to the New Life K9s organization and bringing several additional puppies and Puppy Parents to the community. For more information on New Life K9s Service Dogs, please visit NewLikeK9s.org.

Grilling the Judge

From: Array

When you think of traditional American foods, a few things probably come to mind, including hot dogs, hamburgers, and apple pie, but none are more popular than what is both a cooking method and style of food – barbeque. Few know this better than Trilogy® Lake Norman Member and Master Certified Barbeque Judge, Ron Smith.

We were lucky enough to “grill” Ron on his love of barbeque, his experience judging it, and whether or not he can cook it as well as he eat it!

BEING A BARBEQUE JUDGE IS A PRETTY SWEET GIG, HOW DID YOU GET STARTED JUDGING?
RS: I always enjoyed grilling in the backyard, and when a friend and co-worker of mine told me he was on a BBQ cook team and told me about the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), my interest in becoming a judge piqued. That same friend asked if I wanted to judge an upcoming event he was participating in, and 17 years later, the rest is history!

WE HEAR YOU’RE A MASTER BBQ JUDGE – HOW DID YOU GET TO THAT STATUS?
RS: First, you have to become a Certified Barbeque Judge with the Kansas City Barbeque Society, which requires you to take a class where you learn how to grade world-class chicken, pulled pork, ribs, and brisket (and taste them during the process!). Then, after you judge 30 barbeque cook-off events, participate in a competition with a cook team, fill out some forms, and pass the KCBS Master Test with a 90% or higher, you become a Master Certified Barbeque Judge.

WOW! HOW MANY COOK-OFFS HAVE YOU JUDGED?
RS: So far, I’ve judged 54 events as a Certified Barbeque Judge, and at least another 25 prior to my KCBS certification.

WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN JUDGING?
RS: As KCBS judges, we always look for appearance, taste, and tenderness. It takes a dedicated team of judges to decide which is truly the best of-the-best.

DO YOU ENJOY EATING BARBEQUE OUTSIDE OF COMPETITIONS? WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE KIND OF MEAT TO EAT?
RS: Yes, I do, but in most cases, the meat in BBQ restaurants does not compare to competition BBQ. Pork ribs are my favorite, but for example, most BBQ restaurants think that fall-off the bone ribs are the bomb and that is not so. In a competition, fall-off the bone will draw a low score; you take a bite and it should come clean off the bone, not fall off the bone.

HAVING EATEN BBQ FROM A NUMBER OF AMAZING COOKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DO YOU LIKE TO COOK?
RS: I do like to cook barbeque. Before we left Colorado and moved to North Carolina, I gave away all my smokers because I didn’t want to take them cross-country. So, my next challenge is learning how to cook on my new smoker, the Pit-Boss Rotisserie Smoker.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING YOU COOK?
RS: I cook pork butt and chicken well, and I’m still working on the pork ribs and brisket. At my last place of employment, I would sneak in large pans of BBQ pork butt, and chicken hot links, along with rolls, just to practice. The people really liked the food, and most thought the meat tasted pretty good!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE LOOKING TO GET INTO COOKING OR JUDGING BARBEQUE?
RS: If you’re looking into becoming a barbeque judge, I would check out the Kansas City Barbeque Society. That’s how I got into judging. To become a Certified Barbeque Judge, just attend one of the hundreds of classes conducted by KCBS every year throughout the country.

Ron Smith moved to Trilogy® Lake Norman in March 2017 along with his wife Beverly. For years, he worked in Data Configuration Management in Colorado, and now, when he’s not judging, cooking, or eating barbeque, he enjoys being outdoors and staying active.

Totally Groovy

From: Array

In 1969, a three-day music and arts festival in upstate New York changed the landscape of music and a generation for decades to come. Few cultural touchstones continue to resonate the way Woodstock does, which is why its influence on music and art is still felt to this day.

In September 2019, Trilogy® at Vistancia® celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the iconic event with a concert held at their Mita Club.

“We decided on the Woodstock theme due to the concert being so close the original festival’s 50th anniversary,” said Gregg Snyder, Vistancia’s longtime Lifestyle Director.

The Woodstock concert featured a local Arizona band who is well-known around Trilogy’s Arizona communities – Thaddeus Rose. The group performed a variety of covers including “Southern Cross” by Crosby, Stills & Nash; “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones; and hits by Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who, and other iconic artists from the 60s and 70s.

“No question about it, my favorite part of the event was the great songs played by the talented Thaddeus Rose band, and sharing memories of that era with our friends and neighbors,” said Trilogy at Vistancia Member Jim Swinehart.

With over 600 in attendance, Members danced and sang to the sounds of the 60s while enjoying delicious barbeque, a beer garden, and other cold beverages.

“It really was a great event,” said Lifestyle Coordinator Danielle Campbell.

“We know our Members remember Wood-stock well, and some even attended the 1969 festival in the mud pits and their own tie-dye!”

While Jim didn’t attend the original Woodstock festival, he loves the music from that era.

“In 1969, I was in a rock band that played songs made popular by several of the original Woodstock performers including Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Jimi Hendrix,” Jim recalled. “Here in Vistancia, we have several bands that are playing Woodstock-era songs today. I play bass guitar in one of the bands called The Part-Timers. So, the music of the Woodstock age is still going strong!”

Kitchen Confidential

From: Array

On any given night, the signature restaurant within Trilogy® at Verde River™ – Needle Rock Kitchen and Tap – is buzzing. Members and guests fill the tables while sipping on carefully curated wine or thoughtfully crafted cocktails. Needle Rock’s prompt service, comfortable atmosphere, and scenic views of the nearby Mazatzal Mountains make you forget you are in the middle of a master-planned community.

In the last two decades, Trilogy’s idea of the food and service provided in their restaurants has shifted. Today’s dining experience is reminiscent of a trendy new American restaurant; a pleasant surprise and departure from the tired, traditional white tablecloth or greenside grill experiences at most country clubs.

“When we started Trilogy, all of our restaurants were really just small grills connected to the golf courses,” says Jeff Hinkle, Senior Vice President for Trilogy and one of three team members who have been with Trilogy since its inception. “We sold a lot of hot dogs, hamburgers, and breakfast burritos, but we certainly weren’t breaking any new culinary ground. Today, our restaurants are the hearts of our communities.”

So how did the transition take place? And what tools and processes are in place to ensure that the critically important dining experiences continue to draw Members and guests in? Well, the answer is many-fold and more layered in nature than most might expect.

A New Way of Thinking

In the late-90s and into the mid-2000s, it started to become clear that people were thinking about food in a whole new way. Forces were converging, including a burgeoning movement toward healthier, cleaner eating buttressed by the emerging popularity of the Food Network and ultimately cooking shows on every major broadcast network and multiple cable channels. As a society, we were becoming more focused on food as an expression of who we are – a window into our priorities and personalities.

Thus came the birth of the celebrity chef, a trend which impacted numerous industries, and, ultimately, the experience at Trilogy. From a development standpoint, the real lynchpin moment had actually come nearly a decade earlier, with the debut of the Bellagio Hotel & Resort in Las Vegas. For the first time ever, the entire marketing plan was built around the idea of “chef as star”. Jean Georges, Wolfgang Puck, and others opened restaurants in the hotel, and customers flocked. The formula was a winning one.

Trilogy took note, and when Trilogy began its first from-scratch community in a number of years in 2008 at Encanterra® in Arizona, food & beverage was leading the charge. While there was no Gordon Ramsay-style celebrity auteur, there was an unbelievable focus on the various dining experiences in the creation of the amenity package. The community launched with four distinct dining experiences, and the success there has influenced every Trilogy community since.

Structuring for Success

Building a great restaurant is one thing – operating one is another. There is a reason why more restaurants close each year than any other type of small business. Between hiring and leading the right people, ordering and managing the inventory in the kitchen, and being ready for “opening night every night” 52 weeks a year is a pressure that is seemingly endless, and it wasn’t something that Trilogy had been structured to support in the past. But with the cooperation of its hospitality partner, BlueStar Resort & Golf, Trilogy was able to pivot and become a successful operator of more than 20 restaurants in six states across the country.

“When the Trilogy team and I first started discussing the future of what Trilogy would be, with the reliance on the restaurants as the social center, I was immediately excited for the opportunity,” said Tim Steckbeck, president and founder of BlueStar Resort & Golf and a 30+ year veteran of the F&B and hospitality industry. “Restaurants are my passion, and I knew that working together we could create some pretty special places.”

Tim has turned out to be right, as over time each new restaurant introduced has seemingly opened to more and more fanfare. Most recently, Needle Rock Kitchen and Tap was honored with a national Golden Fork Award from Golf Inc. Magazine, along with numerous accolades from OpenTable diners including Best Value and Best American restaurant.

Today, restaurants in Trilogy communities account for nearly $30 million in revenue annually, and that number continues to grow each year. The team at BlueStar has a full-fledged food & beverage department supporting those operations, including a vice president of operations, an executive chef, two analysts, and a creative team responsible for making the menus all look as beautiful as the food.

This group has led the development of an ever-changing set of signature menu selections available across the Trilogy portfolio and has furthermore implemented a stringent 173-point “secret shopper” inspection process which evaluates every part of the dining experience.

“We know we are only as good as the last meal we served, so we put in place as many processes and fail-safes as we can to try to maximize consistency,” said Tim. “Are there times when we need to be better? Of course. But I’m incredibly pleased with the progress we’ve made and the opportunities we have for the future.”

Looking Ahead

In some of the new communities, Trilogy may be pivoting again. While most communities will continue to be centered around a Resort Club with a feature dining space, in some markets, the choice has been made to put the community in the middle of exceptional restaurants versus the restaurant in the middle of the community. One example of this is Trilogy® in Summerlin®, which sits within five miles of hundreds of dining options of all shapes, sizes, and flavors. From the five-star steakhouse, Echo & Rig Steakhouse & Butcher Shop, to the local’s favorite, Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar, Members have the chance to gather together and suit any craving they might have.

But for those communities with a signature restaurant, Trilogy is always thinking of the next evolution – whether it be Wine and Craft Beer Weeks, Restaurant Weeks, private wine lockers, innovative menu items, and more. In the next 20 years, you can bet that Trilogy’s focus on food & beverage will continue to evolve. After all, what’s more communal than sharing a meal among friends and neighbors?

Traveling with Trilogy

From: Array

In 2017, Trilogy® Members had the opportunity to participate in a number of once-in-a-lifetime adventures as part of Explore 360, Trilogy’s inter-community travel program. From a National Parks adventure (which included some unexpected summer snow) to a trip through Europe on a small-ship cruise, Members from across the country came together to enjoy one of the most common interests in the communities – travel.

In a 2016 survey of Trilogy Members, 96% said they want to take a trip at least once annually, with destinations of choice touching all ends of the globe. (We even had someone who placed a SpaceX trip to the moon on the top of his bucket list.)

Whether it’s Club Med or the Galapagos or a golf trip to Bandon Dunes, Members can expect more fun adventures in 2018 and beyond as the Explore 360 program continues to expand.

Flagship National Parks

MAY 13-19 | Eight Members from four different communities went on a whirlwind adventure through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Accompanied by Nicole McShane, Lifestyle Director from the Verde River Golf & Social Club in Rio Verde, Ariz.; Trevor Sunderlage, Lifestyle Director from the Twin Mills Club in Denver, N.C., and two guides from Off The Beaten Path, Members spent the week admiring some of the United States’ most beautiful sites, all while developing new friendships.

Trip Highlights:

• MAMMOTH TERRACES | The first stop in Gardiner, Mont. was the Mammoth Terraces where guides from Off the Beaten Path guided Members on a hike along the boardwalk of the geothermal hot springs. The day concluded with exploring the Albright Visitor Center and touring the historic Fort Yellowstone. The first of many buffalo was seen here!
• GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER | From 1,200 feet above the Yellowstone River, Members took in breathtaking views of the canyon and Yellowstone River. Some even spotted water falling for hundreds of feet to the mouth of the river!
• OLD FAITHFUL GEYSER | While the group experienced all seasons of weather on this trip, the journey to Old Faithful screamed wintertime with crisp temperatures and even some snow. Members explored the boardwalks as the thermal pools boiled beneath their feet.
• JENNY LAKE BOAT TOUR | Despite the winter weather, the group braved the conditions and gained a different perspective of the Grand Tetons from the waters of Jenny lake. While bundled up in blankets and winter gear, they learned about the history and geology of the area.
• JACKSON, WYOMING | A trip favorite by far was the quaint cowboy town of Jackson Hole, Wyo. Comprised of local shops, restaurants, and live music, this must-see is surrounded by the natural beauty of the Grand Tetons. The group made a stop at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar where the manager shared the history of the world-famous spot.

The Glitter and Glam of the Rivieras Cruise

JULY 18-27 | Bienviendos! Estas listo para una adventura?  – “Welcome! Are you ready for an adventure?” in Spanish.

Twelve Trilogy Members said “Si!” to an adventure through the Mediterranean Sea. Accompanied by seasoned traveler and Lifestyle Director from the Kiva and Mita Clubs in Peoria, Ariz., Gregg Snyder, these couples, girlfriends, and a mother-daughter duo spent their days feeling like a local on the Riviera.

“This was the most fun I’ve ever had with my daughter,” Mayren Arredondo said. “The excursions were wonderful and the scenery over the top. My favorite part was learning how to make pesto in Portofino.”

Members cruised the Mediterranean aboard the Windstar Breeze, a smaller cruising yacht which accommodates 220 passengers and 170 staff to see to their every need.

“The smaller ship allowed for our group to enter breathtaking smaller ports that larger cruising ships can’t squeeze into,” Snyder said. Each port featured fresh markets, small cafes, boutiques and breathtaking surroundings, sprinkled with several historic castles, villas and museums which Members visited while on shore.

“I think one of the highlights for everyone was the farm-to-table bistros with the local cuisines, cheeses, desserts, cafes and wines at each port location,” Snyder explained.

Among the beauty of the ports and all of the amazing things Members experienced, one of the biggest takeaways was that they did it together. “Meeting other people from different Trilogy properties was so interesting and fun. We already have plans to meet up with some of these people,” said Margaret Szulwach. “I hope everyone in the communities takes full advantage of these adventures. You will not be disappointed!”

Trip Highlights:

• MONACO | One of Europe’s most exclusive ports, Members enjoyed a full day in Monaco. Must-sees included The Grand Casino, the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace, and the tomb of Philadelphia-born Princess Grace.
• PORTOFINO, ITALY | a favorite stop for many Members was at the Villa Durazzo where they experienced a pesto making lesson, Italian wine pairing and cuisine tasting along with live music while overlooking the bay of Portofino.
• PORTOFERRARIO, ITALY | The port of Portoferrario immediately made the group feel welcome with its laid-back Italian atmosphere and abundance of historical sites. The group stumbled onto a local farmer’s market and then strolled through the old quarter full of quaint shops. This stop made for some amazing photos!

Erin Hills Golf Experience

OCTOBER 10-14 | Ever wanted to feel what it’s like to win a U.S. Open Championship? Our Members were able to feel what golfer Brooks Koepka felt (well, almost!) when he won the 117th U. S. Open at Erin Hills Golf Club in Erin, Wis.

Members enjoyed playing three of Wisconsin’s best courses: Erin Hills Golf Club and two other Wisconsin staples: The Bull at Pinehurst Farms and Hidden Glen Country Club.

“The fact that our top golf destinations are all public is what makes a golf trip to Wisconsin so appealing,” said Jason Kauflin, owner of Wisconsin Golf Trips. “You don’t have to have an ‘in’ or know somebody special to enjoy courses that you have seen on TV hosting major tournaments.”

“Generally considered to be one of the more difficult tracks around, The Bull showed off the beautiful fall colors that many Wisconsin courses are able to offer,” Kauflin said. “Hidden Glen Country Club is one of the top private facilities in the Milwaukee area. Compared to The Bull, there are barely any trees that come into play during your round. it has modern country club styling with some amazing green complexes and tricky greens.”

Accompanied by Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia General manager Scott Mattiello, the Members enjoyed four days, and a lifetime of memories in America’s Dairyland.

“It was the trip of a lifetime for me, and I think everyone who came along agreed,” said Mattiello.

Trip Highlights:

• THE BULL AT PINEHURST FARMS | A top-ranked course in the United States and the only Jack Nicklaus Signature Design in Wisconsin.
• ERIN HILLS GOLF CLUB | Home of the U.S. Open and the group had the opportunity to stay on-site in the luxurious clubhouse accommodations.
• HIDDEN GLEN COUNTRY CLUB | The challenge of 100 bunkers and 11 holes with water in play.

Paint & Prose

From: Array

When it comes to creative expression, Trilogy® at Lake Frederick residents Frank and Josie Tilton have no shortage of inspiring stories to tell.

Josie Tilton, a German-born immigrant, escaped the clutches of Soviet-led East Germany when she was just 11 years old. Frank Tilton met Josie while stationed in Germany and they married six months after their first date. He’s had a storied career with the U.S. Air Force and as a middle school German and English teacher.

An accomplished artist in multiple mediums, Josie began painting in 1978 while still living in Germany, and since moving to Trilogy®, she strives to paint something almost every day. “When I paint, I let nature and music influence how I approach the canvas,” said Josie. “Growing up under the oppressed, gray and black colors of the Iron Curtain, I now look towards the expressive use of vibrant colors in all of my paintings.”

“Being a German immigrant opened my eyes to the world and the contrasts and colors from one place to another,” said Josie. “Also, my career with the Department of Defense, Department of Commerce and the International Trade Association has inspired me to paint in vivid colors and draw experiences from various times and places in my life.”

In addition to painting, Josie is also an autobiographer, having written a book that chronicles her family’s escape from East Germany to the western side of the Berlin Wall. “When I worked for the Department of Defense, I used to give interviews to local journalism students about my family’s history. When I finally retired, I was able to write a book and tell how the experience shaped the rest of my life.”

Frank has a longstanding career as a master expositor, having recently penned five books. “When I was with the U.S. Air Force working stateside, my assignments were with Air Defense Command and NORAD.  When in Europe, I was with units committed to NATO,” said Frank. “My assignments involved writing and public affairs. I also wrote newspaper and magazine articles, radio/television scripts, and history books. My experiences provided inspiration for my writing then and now.”

Additionally, as Frank matured as a writer in his profession, he took college level courses anywhere he could near where he was stationed. in doing so, he acquired two bachelor’s and one master’s degree. “Those degrees became stepping stones to my second career,” said Frank. “I then taught English and German to a thousand middle school kids.”

Frank credits his writing acumen to his inquisitive nature, and draws inspiration from the people and places in his life. “My characters are people I have known, though I have identified them anew and located them elsewhere,” said Frank.  “My writing addresses problems and human shortcomings, then wrangles with solutions.”

Together, Frank and Josie have held art and book shows (sometimes together at the same show) to share their passions with members of the local community. “Being part of the community here at Trilogy is truly special and it’s a privilege to be able to give something back,” said Josie. “With several other Members, I was able to start an art club that has grown to 25 Members who meet every week, many of whom have never painted before. When it comes to being creative, you’re never too old or young to start!”

According to both Josie and Frank, the beauty in both painting and writing is in the creative expression, not necessarily selling art pieces or books. “We encourage anyone to be creative, no matter what artistic medium it is,” said Josie. “I like to tell people at our art club that painting is cheaper than going to a psychiatrist. It works wonders for your well-being.”

“There’s no time for boredom,” said Frank. “We stay active in our passions and in our community here at Lake Frederick. It’s easy to do when you feel like you live in a five-star resort.” A five-star resort indeed, however the friendly community vibe isn’t what first led the Tiltons to Trilogy.

“We actually got to Lake Frederick by accident—literally,” said Josie, reflecting on a car accident that left them stranded in Virginia for three weeks as their car was repaired. “We have a daughter nearby so we were able to stay with her and her family. And during that time, we ventured up into the Shenandoah Valley and stumbled upon Lake Frederick. Three days after that ‘stumble’, we signed a contract for our new home, headed back to Indiana, sold our Indianapolis home, and happily settled in May 2010 here at Trilogy.”

“If you’re not sure how to get started on something creative, check with your local activities coordinator,” said Josie. “And don’t be afraid to try different things! Your passion may lie in painting, writing, photography or something else. And you’ll never know what it is until you actually try.”

Learn Live Thrive

From: Array

It’s been more than a decade since I began providing naturopathic and integrative medicine for Trilogy® Members. Since then, we’ve published well over a hundred articles; seen thousands of patients; coordinated group wellness efforts; and given countless lectures on naturopathic remedies. I can say with full confidence, I have the greatest set of patients and participants any practitioner could ask for!

You might be wondering, what is integrative and naturopathic medicine in the first place? Well, integrative medicine takes into account a person’s whole being (body, mind and spirit) and naturopathic medicine emphasizes optimal health through the use of natural ingredients and therapeutic methods to promote self-healing.

If you want to know whether a naturopathic or integrative provider might be able to help you, just ask yourself a few simple questions. Do you have good daytime energy? Do you sleep well? Do you have good metabolism? Are you happy and not anxious?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, alternative medicine can probably help. Our first step in integrative care is to look at your diagnostic work with a finer-toothed comb than other providers might have done.

Frequently, hormones, blood-sugar balance, thyroid, and even adrenal health can progressively, although sometimes only slightly, decline over the years. However, even slight declines can begin to add up, ultimately producing symptoms. Weight gain, lowered energy, mood disturbance, poor sleep, and other symptoms associated with aging don’t have to be accepted as inevitable. Often, hormones, thyroid medication, and/or blood sugar support are initiated to combat metabolism and circadian rhythm errors that we find on diagnostic work or suspect from your symptoms. Other times, nutrients, herbs, and acupuncture can be used to support the function of these systems to make you sleep better, feel better, and use energy more efficiently.

In addition to investigating the errors in metabolism listed above, an integrative provider will focus on prevention. Prevention is important throughout life, but as an active adult, it becomes imperative. With every patient, the goal is to determine risks based on personal history, symptoms, diagnostic work, and family history. In many cases, we can decrease those risks with lifestyle modifications and nutrition. Particular vitamins and nutrients can improve heart health, kidney health, brain function, and digestion to ensure many more healthy and happy years.

I also recommend my patients seek a review of their medications. Sometimes it can be your medications keeping you from feeling your best. Common prescriptions can easily deplete nutrients vital to energy production.

Digestive aids and heartburn medications deplete B12, magnesium, and other nutrients. likewise, common heart medications, diabetes medications, and anti-depressants all come with their own risks for nutrient depletion. An integrative provider can review your medications and help you to fill nutrient gaps.

Thousands of patients and countless presentations later, my goal remains the same: to help my patients feel their best. Come in to see me, or find a provider in your area, to help you investigate what is limiting you.

Finding Amy

Dr. Amy Whittington practices naturopathic medicine at the Alvea Spas at Trilogy® at Vistancia in Peoria, Ariz. and Encanterra Country Club in San Tan Valley, Ariz. She has been Trilogy’s chosen naturopath for more than a decade. Replete with a wide array of spa and salon services including massages, facial and body treatments, hair and nail services, Alvea Spas offer a variety of custom wellness treatments. Among Dr. Amy’s offerings include full-body health assessments, acupuncture, collagen injection therapy, skin tightening treatments and detoxification programs.

To learn more or to schedule a visit, call 623.215.6290.

Trilogy® Connections

From: Array

Thanks to social media, it’s never been easier to connect. Friends from high school, past jobs, old neighborhoods – finding friends, for those who want to reconnect with people from their past, is as easy as the click of a button. That said, not every friendship is rekindled through the internet. Sometimes, an old friend is right before your eyes.

Before we share how Bob and Karen O’Brien reconnected with Ron and Rosalie Keefer, let’s go back in time a bit. The year was 1958, and Rosalie and Ron were Karen and Bob’s Maid of Honor and Best Man. In 1959, Karen and Bob returned the favor when Ron and Rosalie were married. The four had been friends since their high school years and into the 1960’s. But both couples became busy raising families and pursuing careers, and over time they drifted apart and lost contact.

“We didn’t separate deliberately,” said Karen O’Brien. “Our lives got so busy with children and work that we just didn’t have the time to keep up with one another.”

Karen and Bob lived in Alameda, Calif., in the same house for 56 years while working careers and raising children and grandchildren. Rosalie and Ron lived in Discovery Bay, also working careers while raising children and grandchildren too. “Because we are all roughly the same age, our lives have been quite similar,” said Karen. “We were all still in the Bay area, going through similar phases in life at the same time.”

Speaking of same time, the 40-year absence between the two couples came to an end in 2015. While shopping at a local grocery store Karen noticed a woman who looked familiar but wasn’t sure who it was. “I kept looking up at this woman in the same aisle as me as I pushed my cart back and forth past her,” said Karen.

“Then I realized exactly who I was looking at. It was my dear friend and Maid of Honor who I hadn’t seen in more than 40 years.”

Elated but nervous with anticipation, Karen approached the woman. “Rosalie Keefer, is that you?”

“Karen O’Brien! I can’t believe it!” exclaimed Rosalie, who recognized Karen right away. “What are you doing here?”

Karen went on to explain to Rosalie that she and Bob had recently toured Trilogy at The Vineyards and had decided to relocate there and were moving into their new home in a few months.

“Ron and I live nearby!” said Rosalie. “I can’t believe this!”

It wasn’t long before Rosalie and Karen were reconnecting in the middle of a grocery store, hugging one another and catching up. “We were getting excited about our new home, but we had no idea it would also be the place our friends from 40 years ago would be living as well,” said Karen. “What a treat!”

Since reconnecting after 40 years and living a mere four blocks from one another, the two couples have rekindled their friendships and now share in all the community has to offer. “The beautiful scenery, the wonderful clubhouse and pool—truly, the lifestyle at The Vineyards is what brought us all back together,” said Karen. “We are having so much fun reconnecting not only with Rosalie and Ron, but their families, too. And it’s not just about us four friends, there are so many wonderful people we’ve come to get to know since relocating here. It’s been a dream come true.”

Get Up and Go! Training Together at Verde River

From: Array

Long before most Trilogy® at Verde River™ residents are up and enjoying their first cup of coffee, many of their neighbors have already checked off their daily dose of wellness. Runners and walkers begin hitting the trails at dawn. Bikers head out early, hoping to catch the morning coolness. It’s a committed group who share these early-bird hours and a love of fitness.

Verde River’s fitness center begins to buzz at daybreak as a small but dedicated group tackles their workouts before taking on the rest of the day. Neighbors nod, sometimes chat, but always remain focused on their goals.

Front and center are four women who have been training together since January 2018 – Cindy Mikulecky, Terri Hatleberg, Lesley DeHoney, and Linda Roberts. The group trains bright and early, Monday through Friday, rain or shine, 12 months of the year.

Cindy and her husband, Dan, moved from Racine, Wisconsin, to Verde River in October 2017. The couple left their lawn-care business in the capable hands of two of their three grown sons and headed to Arizona with their Golden Retrievers, Lily and Cody.

Cindy began competing in bodybuilding competitions in her 40s and is studying to become a personal trainer. She has completed two full and seven half Iron-man competitions (swim, bike, and run) since 2014.

Terri had moved from Eugene, Oregon, to Trilogy at Verde River with her husband, Jeff, six months earlier. She met Cindy while walking her dog, Callie (also a Golden Retriever). The women started playing pickleball and then working out together at a local gym. In 2018 when Verde River’s Afturburn fitness center opened, the duo made it their training center and started thinking about competing in local events.

That’s where Lesley found them. A long-time racquetball and league soccer player who moved locally from Scottsdale to Verde River in June 2017 with her husband, Barry, and their two French bulldogs, Axel and Rose, Lesley had never trained to compete in a triathlon. “Cindy invited me to join them, and the rest is history,” she recalled.

Linda met the group on the pickleball courts. She moved locally to Verde River with her husband, Norm, in 2018 and was looking for a way to stay healthy and fit. Joining a training group seemed like a good strategy. “Training with a group is easier and harder,” she noted. “The group pushes you, but it also cheers you on.”

The four women made training a commitment: two hours each morning, five days a week. They follow training routines that Cindy has found or created, but everyone takes a turn leading the workout.

“We lift (weights) a lot and do some high-intensity interval training,” explained Cindy. “Come April, we get out there and start biking, swimming, and running.” The group also plays pickleball and POP Tennis regularly.

Lesley works full-time, Linda and Cindy work part-time, and Terri is retired. The Members also hike, swim, and work out on their own.

How do they fit it all in? “Training needs to be a priority. You have to treat it like an appointment,” explained Linda.

“Our goal last year was for Terri, Lesley, and Linda to each do their first triathlon,” added Cindy. “I set up a 12-week training guide and we ran the whole event (400-meter swim, 12-mile bike, and 3.1-mile run) a few weeks before the race so they could feel what it would be like to compete.”

In September 2018, each woman completed the full Mesa Sprint Triathlon. Since then, Members have also run in 10k and 6k events, and Cindy personally checked off another Half Ironman. Cindy and Terri will tackle another Half Ironman – Terri’s first – as part of a relay team in October 2019.

Throughout the process, each woman has gained new skills. Lesley learned to bike long distances, Linda became a stronger walker, and Terri learned to swim better. “Cindy gave me tips, filmed me, and then showed me what was wrong with my strokes,” said Terri. “It worked.”

“Cindy is bossy, but bossy is good for you,” agreed Lesley. “It pushes you. Without bossy, you would do the same thing again and again and never improve.”

“These women are incredible,” said Cindy. “They push through everything that I throw at them. It is hard to find people who are this dedicated.”

Cindy’s advice for starting a new fitness routine or group: “Get out there. Find your tribe and do something that you enjoy. Move your body and work on flexibility. It will reward you as you grow older.”

Raising Hope

From: Array

What began in 1929 as an organization for developing guide dogs to help the blind live full and productive lives, The Seeing Eye has become a preeminent U.S.-based organization for helping the visually impaired. How it works is simple: The Seeing Eye breeds German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and Labrador/Golden crosses. When the puppy is about 7-8 weeks old, it’s given to a volunteer “puppy raiser” who cares for the puppy until it’s about 12-18 month of age. It then goes back to The Seeing Eye to be trained and matched with a blind or visually impaired person.

Roger and Sheila Woodhour of Trilogy® at Lake Frederick know The Seeing Eye program very intimately, having fostered an astounding 32 puppies, all of which are part of the program.

“It’s a joy to be part of such an amazing organization as The Seeing Eye,” said Roger. “Our job is to help every puppy acclimate to living around other people, in everyday situations around the neighborhood.”

When a puppy is delivered to a volunteer puppy raiser, it’s the responsibility for the volunteer to teach basic commands, instill discipline and also to develop a sense of belonging and purpose for each puppy. “The most important part of what we do is to let every puppy know what it feels like to be loved,” said Sheila. “Eventually, they will be relied on by those who can’t see, and we want every puppy to feel valued, loved and properly cared for in their early formative weeks.”

Seeing eye dogs are legally allowed in places where pet dogs aren’t. Even though not fully trained, part of the process in raising these puppies means they go where fully trained guide dogs will, but only with permission from the venue since they have not completed their training.

“With permission we take puppies everywhere,” said Sheila. “This includes restaurants, swimming areas, airports, trains, buses, cars, a person’s workplace —virtually anywhere a blind or visually impaired person may visit during the course of their daily lives.”

In addition to Roger and Sheila’s involvement with fostering puppies for The Seeing Eye, the couple also helps Trilogy residents learn more about getting to know their puppies and inquire about how they too can help support the mission of The Seeing Eye.

“We don’t just develop a connection with animals,” said Roger. “It’s also about connecting with those who need guide dogs to restore their dignity and independence — which is the motto behind all that The Seeing Eye does.”

Meet Roger & Sheila

Roger and Sheila Woodhour have been raising and providing basic training of puppies for The Seeing Eye, located in Morristown, NJ, since 1991.Their 32nd puppy, “Granite,” a male German Shepherd, arrived earlier this year at the age of seven weeks and will stay with them for training and exposure to a wide variety of environments until he is approximately 15 months old.

Roger is the retired President & CEO of RollEase, Inc., an engineering/manufacturing company located in Stamford, Conn. Since his retirement in May of 2005, Roger has devoted additional time to his volunteer work at The Seeing Eye. His own dog (Luke) was a certified therapy dog through Therapy Dogs International. Roger and Luke visited a variety of health care facilities including hospitals, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Also, Roger and Luke participated in the R.E.A.D. Program, a children’s reading program that involves animals, at a New Jersey Middle School.

Sheila, in addition to being a puppy raiser, has been involved with The Seeing Eye as a long-term volunteer working at The Seeing Eye’s main campus as a receptionist, escorting puppy raisers on their “Town Visits” and working with blind students and their guide dogs at The Seeing Eye Downtown Training Center.

To learn more about The Seeing Eye and the puppy raising program, visit seeingeye.org.

Top Golf: An Explore 360 Travel Log

From: Array

Sometimes the best ideas are right in front of you. This turned out to be the case in the spring of 2019, when, instead of traveling to a new destination, we chose to create an Explore 360 trip right in our own backyard – 24 Members, five days, four Trilogy golf courses, and countless good times.

The Arizona Prospector golf event featured rounds at all four of the Trilogy golf courses in Arizona, which includes the award-winning Verde River Golf & Social Club, Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club (both the Big Course and Li’l Wick), Encanterra Country Club, and Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia. Plus, there was an opening reception at Topgolf® Scottsdale and evening festivities each night at Talking Stick Resort & Casino, the “home base” for the trip.

“The trip exceeded all of our expectations by a mile,” said Tom Lindeland, a Member from Trilogy® at The Vineyards. “We really enjoyed meeting golfers from other Trilogy communities.”

Trip organizers from BlueStar Resort & Golf were pleased with the overwhelmingly positive feedback.

“This was our chance to shine. We could control the experience at every venue, and so we did,” said Sara Rainey, National Director of Lifestyle for BlueStar Resort & Golf and one of the co-hosts of the trip. “We were so pleased to get the great feedback from everyone following the trip.”

The Arizona Prospector was the second Explore 360 trip focused around golf. The first was in 2017, when a group went to Erin Hills in Wisconsin to play the same venue where the U.S. Open was played that year. In 2020, the plan is to go to Northern Ireland and Lake Tahoe to experience the tremendous variety of golf available in both destinations.

“It’s a tough gig I’ve got, being a host on all these trips,” joked Scott Mattiello, the longtime General Manager at Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia and the unofficial steward of the all the Explore 360 golf trips. “But I’m like a postman – neither rain nor sleet nor wind will keep me away from my appointed rounds!”

Explore 360 trips are available throughout the year and include destinations and activities of all types in all parts of the world. Trilogy Members are welcome, and information is always available on MTL or by visiting the kiosks in the Clubs.

Monarch Radio

From: Array

In 2012, Mike Stephens, a Trilogy® at Monarch Dunes resident, had an idea. He wanted to see if it was possible to contact the Federal Communications Commission and apply for a license to broadcast over the FM airwaves. He had hoped to get permission to broadcast, but deep down knew it was a longshot – there are thousands of submissions sent to the FCC every year asking for airtime on one of the limited frequencies available.

Only, his idea was far from a longshot—it became reality! Stephens, along with several Members of the Trilogy at Monarch Dunes community, were granted access to 107.9FM, which broadcasts throughout Nipomo and other nearby communities.

“We were surprised at first, and didn’t expect to get approval with the FCC,” said Judith Richards, a member of the Trilogy Media Club and host on Monarch Radio. “We had essentially no resources, no equipment, no show schedules and no experience running a radio station! But after some hard work, we were able to procure all the tools necessary to start broadcasting. And since 2014, it’s been more fun than any of us could have imagined.”

Monarch Radio, which is aired from 6 to 10 a.m. every day, includes a wide array of programming, all run by active members of the Trilogy Media Club. The station is non-profit and community/listener supported, and can also be accessed via online streaming.

“The old-time radio shows are an absolute blast,” said Stephens. “We try and do them the same way they were done many decades ago, with multiple speaking parts and actors, sound effects and more. It’s truly a lost art and we’ve found our audience absolutely loves to tune in.”

Additional programming on Monarch Radio includes live broadcasts from community events, restaurant reviews, travel tips, interviews, music and more. Monarch Radio also implements the Emergency Alert System, which a national public warning system to rebroadcast emergency information provided by local, state and federal officials.

“Whether it’s our very own rendition of a War of the Worlds alien invasion, an interview with a local politician or a review on a new restaurant in town, it takes a lot of teamwork behind the scenes to make each and every Monarch Radio show happen,” said Richards. “It’s a labor of love for us all and intensely gratifying. Better yet, we encourage all our local Trilogy Members to bring their ideas to the table and consider the possibility of their own broadcast about whatever it is they are passionate about. We make it fun for everyone to get involved and who knows, you might become a star!”

To learn more about Monarch Radio and how you can tune in, or better, support the Trilogy Media Club, visit monarchradio.org.

Escaping Paradise: One Couple’s Journey to Paradise & Back

From: Array

When most people think of the Caribbean, they think of palm trees, crystal clear blue waters, or fond memories of family vacations, but for one couple, it’s a bit of a different story.

In 2006, Cal and Joan Coolidge were living in Washington D.C. when they decided to uproot life as they knew it and seek a new adventure in the Caribbean. The idea sparked when Joan and a friend joked about quitting their jobs to run a “cute little B and B” in paradise. Cal overheard and thought it might just be a good idea, and a few months later, the historic Pink Fancy Hotel on the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Croix was theirs.

The couple had no experience in the hotel or hospitality industry, but they weren’t afraid of the challenge and hard work it takes to grow a business. Previously, Cal worked in the financial services industry where he was constantly calling people, and the idea of running a hotel made him think “hey, here’s a business where they call you.”

“I knew the hotel had low occupancy, but I was convinced I could improve it greatly just by better marketing and hard work,” Cal explained.

Once the Coolidges got into the thick of running the Pink Fancy Hotel on their own, reality set in. Aside from the memorable, however less-than-desirable guests, there were maintenance issues, lots of work to be done, and, most importantly, a lack in bookings.

“The hardest part was realizing that there were too many factors you had very little control over,” Cal said. “As an independent hotel in the middle of the Caribbean, you were at the mercy of air fares, the weather, the broader economy as well as air schedules from Europe. Trying to do everything ourselves was not unrealistic at age 55, but I quickly realized that as we aged it would become even harder.”

Which is why not soon after their venture began, Cal began looking for a way out.

“I really tried to keep plugging along,” Joan said. “So, when Cal brought it up, I was totally shocked! It was so out of character for him, but once I thought about it, I was surprised I hadn’t realized it before he did.”

Just four months after officially taking over ownership and management of the Pink Fancy Hotel, the Coolidges put the bed and breakfast they had never really dreamed about back on the market.

“We got our first offer about November 15th and closed the deal to sell before Thanksgiving,” Cal explained. “That timeline is nearly unbelievable; nothing sells on the island that quickly.”

Soon after the calendar flipped to 2007, the Coolidges were on a plane back to the main-land United States, with no home and no jobs, but they weren’t worried or nervous.

“Under the circumstances we were in, it was a big sigh of relief,” Joan said. “It was just a weight lifted off me.”

“It was a liberating feeling,” Cal explained. “It was liberating that we were off the island and all that, but it was a feeling that not many people ever have at all. Even if we had just sold everything and quit our jobs, I don’t know if we would have felt quite as liberated as we did when we left.”

After retiring from a second stint in the finance industry, Cal thought it might be time to share their experience beyond stories around the dinner table or on the golf course. So in 2017, the Coolidges documented their endeavor in their self-published book titled Seventeen Steps of Stone… Escaping Paradise.

“We knew we had a great story to tell from the moment I wrote my 2006 Christmas letter,” Cal said, which is included in the book. “I have told the stories so often. Having repeated the story about the mortician and how the final negotiation went down so many times, I could have written those in my sleep.”

The response to the book has been extremely positive, with dozens of 5-star reviews on Amazon, and even more spoken directly to the couple.

“Many people say, ‘I can’t believe how honest you were about everything,’” Cal said in regards to the response they’ve received from the book. “I guess they are saying not many people would publicly admit to a failure. my view is everyone has a few failures and if you can find humor or excitement in your failures, more power to you.”

Despite all of their hardships during their time at the Pink Fancy Hotel, would they do it all over again?

“We would not try anything like this again and are very happily retired in Trilogy at Lake Frederick,” Cal said. “When we made the decision to go to St. Croix, it was not only to pursue what seemed like a stimulating next chapter of our lives, but also to escape the rat race we had lived.”

Joan’s answer is a bit more emphatic: “Absolutely not!” She continued. “Age is now the main reason, but also – I try to learn from my mistakes.”

There are certainly mixed emotions for both Cal and Joan, but overall, they still feel great about their decision to take the leap.

“I was generally happy in my career… but there’s a lot of people who might feel trapped and it becomes their life’s defining event to make a change,” Cal said. “Go for it. Don’t be afraid of taking on something totally different, but also be realistic.”

What’s up with the Pink Fancy Hotel Now?

Since Joan and Cal’s time at the Pink Fancy, the hotel has changed hands a few times. Its most recent owners have taken it through a slight remodel (while keeping the charm that made it so special). The new Sugar Apple Bed & Breakfast is now open.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Dress

From: Array

Ever read the book or seen the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? If not, here’s the premise: four friends are linked together through a single item of clothing that each teenage girl wears at different times in their lives. The pants link the girls together and help them stay in touch.

Inspired, a group of friends at Trilogy® at Vistancia® in Peoria, Ariz., passed along a black and white summer dress as they traveled to different places throughout the year. The dress, which according to Trilogy at Vistancia Member Barbara Ohme, “Magically fits anyone who wears it,” has been worn by 10 women (and counting) to more than 17 countries and has taken several trips across the United States.

“The best part of the experience is getting together and sharing stories with other likeminded and adventurous travelers,” said Ohme. “Whoever wears the dress, it’s required that they post a photo and short article about their experiences wearing it on Facebook. And by the way, the dress has become so popular, we have a waiting list to get their hands on it!”

“The diverse styles in which the dress is worn shows our uniqueness,” said Jan Crawford, who has traveled internationally while wearing the dress. “The fact that the dress fits us all, shows how alike we are. Also, to have a ‘sisterhood’ at this time in our lives is very special. Oh, the places we’ll go!”

The “Trilogy Traveling Dress” has its own Facebook group and has inspired more women to join and be part of the fun. “The dress is fun to wear, it’s comfortable and it really does fit anyone who wears it!” said Nancy Rehm, who has worn the dress to multiple states in the U.S. “Everyone who wears it brings a new style and look to the dress, and it’s been so much fun to participate.”

“If you ask any of the women who have worn it and they’ll tell you—the dress has personality all to its own,” said Ohme. “It makes both traveling with and wearing it so much fun!”

Boogie Nights

From: Array

Encanterra’s® springtime concert series, The Good Life Festival™, typically attracts more than 5,000 guests to each show. It’s not surprising since the outdoor setting has views in every direction and the artists, food, and libations are all top-notch.

“The festivals have become signature events for our Members, and they bring a tremendous amount of exposure to the community,” said Trilogy’s Area President for Arizona, Hal Looney. “Each year, we aim to host a diverse lineup that the community will be excited to see. Thus far, the formula has worked better than we ever could have expected.”

Over the years, the concerts have showcased a diverse array of acts, including Chicago, Lynyrd Skynyrd, BTO, Huey Lewis & the News, Michael McDonald, Kenny G, Heart, Kenny Loggins, and many more. Each year the goal is to branch out more and more, and look at artists from new genres.

“Classic rock is definitely our wheelhouse, but we’ve also seen success with artists like Rick Springfield and Pat Benatar, and, on the country side, The Band Perry,” said Looney.

The venue takes place on Encanterra’s expansive golf practice facility, where in addition to music there is a variety of activities that celebrate “The Good Life,” including gourmet food and cooking demonstrations, specialty shopping, wine tasting, craft beer tasting, spa and golf demonstrations, and more.

Members at Encanterra are provided advanced access to tickets and, when possible, preferred seating areas.

“My husband and I are fortunate to have lived at Encanterra since that start of the Festival,” said Tina O’Connor, Encanterra resident since 2009. “We bring our friends and family and look forward to them each year. We would be crazy not to go—it’s right in our backyard!”

For more information on The Good Life Festival, including dates and where to buy tickets, visit www.thegoodlifefest.com.

It’s A Good Life in Florida, Too

Beginning a few years ago, The Good Life Festival headed east to Trilogy® Orlando. A more intimate indoor venue with fewer than 600 seats brings guests closer to the music acts they love. The hope is to, over the course of time, expand the concert series throughout the Trilogy network.

Carving Out a Win

From: Array

Don Maher follows a simple philosophy, which was made famous by former South African President Nelson Mandela: it always seems impossible until it’s done.

Last year, Don, who has been practicing the art of wood carving for only five years, seemingly accomplished the impossible when he won first and second place in the Wood Art/Wood Carving category at the California State Fair. Furthermore, his first-place creation, “Whimsical Tower of Power”, won a special California Carver’s Guild Award.

“I guess my carving skills come naturally,” says Don, who has lived at Trilogy with his wife, Terri, for two years. “I can look at a piece of wood and see it finished.” He added, jokingly, “Then it just takes 250 to 300 hours of carving to bring it to life!”

Don’s father was a carpenter, and his grandparents were Cherokee and Choctaw Indian, so his carving expertise may be in his DNA.

As a kid growing up, he used to make a lot of balsa-wood cars. today, Don carves only with plains cottonwood bark. Every year he drives to Wyoming or Montana and brings home half a pickup truck-full of wood.

“The size of the bark is larger there,” Don said. “The tree has to be dead for approximately two years before the bark will separate from the trunk, and that’s what I use. It is soft and very easy to carve, allowing you can do very small details without it chipping off.”

Don has about $500 invested in carving tools, and typically uses 10 – 15 different tools to create the intricate details and special effects in his creations.

“I only try to do a few pieces a year just because of the hours involved and the detail I try to incorporate into each piece,” he said.

Occasionally, Don attends carving shows to buy tools and examine other carvings for ideas, “but never to copy someone else’s work.” His second-place state prize was for “Casa Verde,” a beautiful depiction of southwestern cliff dwellings, which he created after spending two weeks in New Mexico.

“The Cliff Dwelling is probably my favorite piece,” Don said. “I felt really connected while working on it.”

In addition to wood carving, Don frequently performs in the Rio Vista Guitar Club’s this ‘n that Coffee House shows. “I’m a better carver than I am a guitar player,” he joked.

Turning Passion into Purpose

From: Array

Since moving into Trilogy® Orlando in 2015, Marianne Becton has been teaching weekly fitness classes at The Athletic Club including Cross Train, Body Tone, Spin and Healthy Movement.

“I’ve been privileged to teach classes that enable me to share my fitness philosophies and knowledge among my peers,” Becton said. “Keeping fit is an ongoing balancing act that is one of the key pillars of a healthy lifestyle. As we age, and things become more challenging, staying active is imperative for a long and healthy life.”

A healthy lifestyle is nothing new to Becton. “I started teaching classes in the evening and weekends when I was about 27,” Becton said. “I continued to do it part-time and in 2007, I became certified as a personal trainer.”

In 2008 she started her business, Fit For You Personal Training, part-time. In January 2009, it became a full-time gig.

“I simply love to teach and the best part is the difference it makes in people’s lives,” Becton said of her business. “Understanding movement and the relationship between activity, nutrition and wellness is the key to a healthy life.”

Since then, Becton’s added a specialty in spin, strength conditioning and barre, as well as becoming certified as a Health Coach.

So, who’s benefitting most from Becton’s Passions? Definitely her fellow Trilogy Members.

“Not long after I started taking [her] classes I had a tight trap, neck and shoulder issue and after class she got to work on me, which was totally unexpected,” said fellow Member Sherry Welsh. “Fifteen minutes later I felt so much relief! I was just amazed that someone I was just getting to know would take that much of a personal interest in my well-being.”

“When I started I couldn’t get up from the floor without help,” said another frequent participant. “Her instruction, guidance and encouragement resulted in significant strengthening of my core as well as improvement in my balance, flexibility and overall strength. I love going to that class!”

If you’re around or visiting Trilogy Orlando, be sure to sign up for one of Marianne’s classes. She’ll guide you through a workout you won’t forget!

Finding Purpose

From: Array

Winston Churchill once said, “You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.”  At Trilogy® communities throughout the country, many residents take Churchill’s motto to heart and spend their free time giving back to local charities and organizations in need of volunteer help. Of the many who spend their precious time volunteering, we were able to sit down with Roger and Mardel Tanquist at their beautiful home in the Trilogy at Tehaleh community located in Washington’s South Sound. We wanted to learn more about how they turned challenge into celebration, hardship into happiness and how giving back led to getting more.

Let’s start at the beginning. How did you two meet?

ROGER: Funny you should ask. Mardel used to be my boss when I worked as a volunteer at Ocean Park Retreat Center up here in Washington. I was also a substitute teacher at the time and Mardel had served as a disaster volunteer coordinator for several months. We found a shared passion for volunteerism. And in case you were wondering, she’s still my boss!

That’s funny, Roger. But tell us more…

ROGER: I moved to the Northwest in 1993 because I was facing some major challenges in my life. I had become newly single and both my parents were ailing, so I relocated up this way to be closer to them and help when and where I could. During that time, I met Mardel, who had recently lost her husband. I was smitten with her love for adventure and her zeal for helping people. Volunteering, if you have the time to do it, is incredibly rewarding and helped me get through some tough times. And it’s even better if you can participate with someone special in your life.

Mardel, what was your first impression of Roger?

MARDEL: Roger has a real gift with people. He often says, “I’m the bright light in his life,” but if that’s the case, he’s the light switch. Together we’ve shared some truly extraordinary experiences in helping people in times of need. I’ve seen Roger’s upbeat personality make a huge impact on people, not just in times of distress, but also in daily life. When we met in 1993, he had recently volunteered with flood victims in Iowa and Missouri, whereas I had just returned from helping those affected by Hurricane Andrew on the East Coast. Roger’s passion was, and still is, in serving others. In 1994, we got married.

How have you two juggled volunteering with the rest of your lives?

MARDEL & ROGER: Volunteering is something anyone can do, and better yet, it’s often something you can do with friends and loved ones. We look at volunteering as an opportunity to not only help others, but also to share in doing something meaningful together. Through the years, we lived a modest lifestyle, even spending several years living in a travel trailer so we could volunteer full-time. It was a choice we made so we could have more time together, without our work or careers getting in the way.

That’s incredible and a real breath of fresh air in today’s hurry-up lives that we live.

MARDEL & ROGER: Thank you, and we appreciate that. But it wasn’t always easy! In 2001, we lost our trailer in an accident and we were forced to relocate. With new expenditures, we couldn’t do the kind of volunteering that we wanted to do. But, we had a plan. Mardel went back to get her degree in Social Sciences (which she started working on 40 years prior) and Roger went back to substitute teaching. We worked hard for a few years with two goals in mind — to relocate and find a vibrant community that we can be a part of. And of course, to find time to start volunteering again.

How did you settle on Trilogy® at Tehaleh®? What is it about the community that reeled you in?

MARDEL & ROGER: We may be in our golden years, but we thrive on being around families of all ages. With 15 shared grandchildren between us, we love being around children, young parents and senior citizens all the same. In the Trilogy neighborhood it’s always peaceful, but in the rest of Tehaleh it’s mostly families, which is a perfect blend for us. The people are friendly, and there are plenty of activities. It’s just such a beautiful place to be and the community is growing by leaps and bounds.

Are you still volunteering?

MARDEL & ROGER: Oh yes. It is and will always be a central part of our lives. We spend our winters in California and Arizona working with NOMADS, a faith-based volunteer labor organization that helps a wide variety of causes from building and repairing homes and schools to disaster relief and much more.

You’re an inspiration to us. We’d like to give you the chance to tell other Members at Trilogy communities across the country why they should consider volunteering, too.

MARDEL & ROGER: Volunteering brings a real sense of value, especially in your retirement years. A common cause for depression is a lack of purpose — a reason for living if you will. Volunteering brings that purpose back. And the best part is, it doesn’t matter how you help a person, place, cause or organization. The key is to get involved and help. Finding time to do unto others is the best medicine and for us, and volunteering has brought us more happiness and contentment than we could’ve imagined. Living in the comfort and security of Tehaleh has provided us with the ability to continue pursuing our passion for volunteer work. It’s a blessing to both be able to help and share in the fellowship with friends, neighbors and family—and to help anywhere, anything or anyone in need.

Thank you, Mardel & Roger!

Angel Volunteers

From: Array

 All across the country at various Trilogy® communities, you’ll find a wide array of extraordinary people doing amazing things. Among those are people who have dedicated their lives to helping those in need of moral support as they endure a variety of physical and mental challenges.

Lending a hand to residents throughout the Coachella Valley, the Angel Volunteers at Trilogy at The Polo Club in Indio, Calif. have helped dozens of people facing difficult challenges in their lives.

“We are a group of neighbors looking to help each other in a time of physical or emotional need on a short term or emergency basis,” said Janet Malek, an Angel Volunteer board member. “Our team of volunteers is here to assist people in many ways such as transportation to medical appointments throughout the area, delivering prepared meals, grocery shopping, picking up mail or prescriptions, and more.”

“The most amazing thing about the Trilogy Angels is their ability to rally behind a neighbor in need whether they are a stranger or friend,” said Jackie Guy, Lifestyle and Membership Director at The Polo Club. “The immediacy of their action in providing meals, driving assistance, walks and much more with dedication and anonymity is a breath of fresh air. I am humbled by their kindness, it makes me emotional just thinking about it.”

Thank you, Angel Volunteers!

Exploring Wine in Walla Walla

From: Array

When you think of wine country, two places probably come to mind: Sonoma and Napa Valley, California. However, there are a number of up-and-coming regions quickly becoming popular wine destinations, one of them being Walla Walla, Washington.

Featured on both Vogue.com and Forbes.com in 2018 for its burgeoning wine-making culture, Walla Walla is a quaint town located five hours southeast of Trilogy at Tehaleh. Earlier this year, a group of 17 wine loving Members – plus two hosts from the Resort Club team – ventured to Washington wine country for three days of wining, dining, and good times.

“Walla Walla is a cute town with a booming wine industry,” said Seven Summits Lodge Lifestyle Director Elizabeth Glassgen. “Many of our Members are new to Washington and enjoy exploring their new home state. Eastern Washington, where Walla Walla is located, is very different from Western Washington where we live, so we wanted to take them out of what they’re used to.”

In the beginning stages of planning the trip, Elizabeth knew of just the person to help – Member and former winemaker, Steve Bailey.

In 1985, long before moving to Trilogy, Steve had gone from simply an enthusiast to a home vintner, crafting wines at home as a hobby.

“A coworker of mine had attended a seminar on winemaking and he gave me some basic ideas, then I took it from there,” Steve said. “In my initial years, I was able to make a few good wines, but I also made a lot of bad ones. Back then there was no internet or YouTube to help educate and give you tips. It was just trial and error.”

Just before retiring from his career in Homeland Security, Steve enrolled in South Seattle Community College’s Winemakers program in 2006.

“After I retired in 2007, I worked as a Winemaker’s Assistant for two years before I was approached by a friend who was interested in opening a winery,” Steve explained.

The winery, Sigillo Cellars, opened in 2010, and Steve worked there as the winemaker for five years before hanging up his hat to focus on other things. And while he no longer makes wine, the love and passion he has for it is still there, making him the perfect person to help plan a trip to Washington wine country.

“Steve was a huge help with the whole process of planning our trip to Walla Walla,” Elizabeth explained. “He gave suggestions on everything, from which wineries we should visit to which hotel we should stay at.”

With Steve’s help, Elizabeth organized a stay at the historic Marcus Whitman Hotel and tastings at five different wineries. At one of the stops, Members got the VIP experience thanks to Steve’s connections in the industry. At Saviah Cellars, owner and winemaker rich funk gave the group a personal tour of the winery and an overview of the Walla Walla grape growing region.

“I’ve been going to Walla Walla once or twice a year for the last seven years,” Steve said. “I always enjoy going. It was a pleasure to be able to share my knowledge and experience with wine, winemaking, and the unique wine region of Walla Walla with my fellow Trilogy Members.”

Putting the “Resort” in Resort Community

From: Array

Let’s begin with an easy one –

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHERE BLUESTAR FITS IN WITH TRILOGY®?
TS: Absolutely. BlueStar Resort & Golf was formed in 2005 with the goal of bringing a true hospitality spirit to the Trilogy brand. Most simply put, the Trilogy® by Shea Homes® team handles what happens during the homebuilding process, and BlueStar is responsible for delivering amazing resort experiences to Members once they move in.

SO BLUESTAR IS A DIVISION OF TRILOGY?
TS: BlueStar is an independent company owned by the Shea family. Our clients include Trilogy communities and others throughout the country. We work very closely with the Trilogy team, with whom we share core values and culture. Ultimately, we’re in the business of creating the best experience we can for Members.

HOW DO YOU MEASURE BLUESTAR’S SUCCESS?
TS: There is a question in the Member Survey each year about happiness. Basically, are you happier now than you were before you moved into the community? When people say yes, I feel like we’re succeeding. And when the occasional person answers no, it gives us a chance to understand how we can continue to improve.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU’RE DOING WELL?
TS: Our group has grown to nearly 1,500 employees. To a person, I think they genuinely care about the Member experience and want to be great at their jobs. Hiring, training, and retaining talented people is both our biggest challenge and also what we do best.

WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU CAN IMPROVE?
TS: Hospitality is a 365-day-a-year business. Yet at the same time, every night must feel like opening night. Putting in systems and processes that let us be consistently great is where we’re focusing our energy.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE FUTURE FOR THE COMMUNITIES?
TS: The best thing about Trilogy communities is the Members who live there, and that’s not going to change. But, what trends do I see coming? I think our Members are going to continue to have higher expectations when it comes to communications, programming, service quality, and more, and that means we need to keep challenging ourselves to uncover and incorporate the next great thing.

ANY CLOSING THOUGHTS?
TS: I’d like to thank the Members for the chance to be a part of their lives. Their enthusiasm is what keeps us excited, too!

Tim Steckbeck is the founder and president of BlueStar Resort & Golf. He had a 20-year career in luxury hotels and resorts around the world before starting the company. Tim and his wife Lynne live in Scottsdale, Arizona, and enjoy supporting their daughters as they finish college and begin careers of their own.

Vegas’s Hottest New Club

From: Array

Trilogy® in Summerlin® Members embraced the grand opening theme of “Light Up the Night” during the unveiling of the community centerpiece, Outlook Club, in April 2019. Dressed to the nines in anticipation of the on-site entertainment and the dazzling views of the Las Vegas strip – and the sparklers they all lit as part of the ceremony – Members along with a number of VIP guests celebrated the official opening of the Club over the course of three spectacular evenings.

While the pomp and circumstance that comes with the opening of a Club should never be overlooked, what is perhaps most meaningful about the debut of Outlook Club is its completion so early on in the community’s lifecycle. When Outlook Club debuted, there were fewer than 100 people living in the community. And while that number is growing quickly – nearly 200 Members have moved in as of this publication date – the idea of a “completed” amenity experience as such an early milestone is something that could influence future Trilogy communities as well.

“When we decided to launch Trilogy in Summerlin – the first Trilogy with exclusively condominiums and townhomes and the smallest in our history – we were taking the leap that people would enjoy the option of having what Trilogy offers, but in a more urban setting,” said Jeff McQueen, President of Trilogy by Shea Homes®. “We are, in fact, finding this to be true. But we’re also finding that the Club itself remains the heartbeat of the community, and that the earlier we have it, the happier our Members are.”

To that point, the scores in the spring survey sent to all Trilogy Members support Jeff’s assertion. Trilogy in Summerlin finished first in Member Satisfaction, first in Lifestyle, and second in Happiness, and overall, they were the highest ranked community by Members.

“The Grand Opening of Outlook Club made a world of difference,” said Diana and Tom Ward. “Now we have a place to enjoy the community’s activities.”

So, is Outlook Club the hottest new club in Vegas? Well, maybe that’s a little bold. But the success here in Summerlin has led Trilogy to both add a new community in the Las Vegas area (Sunstone, coming in 2021 and featured on page 84 of this magazine) and to look at other, smaller footprint options in other markets.

“I’m happy for our Members to have such a great Club, I’m happy that I’m able to speak with new people considering the community and share with them how much fun we’re having, and I’m happy that we’re helping Trilogy be more successful,” said Club General Manager Matthew Reidt. “It’s a win-win-win – isn’t that what people come to Vegas for?”

Giving Closure: How a Forensic Archaeologist Uncovers the Past

From: Array

For more than 25 years, Trilogy® at The Polo Club Member Deborah Gray has provided closure to thousands of families as a Forensic Anthropologist and Archeologist. By blending a mix of history and science, Deborah’s work has helped tell the story of those who are no longer here to tell it themselves.

“I entered the field of Forensic Anthropology by accident,” Deborah shared. “I started out with a bachelor’s and master’s in fine art with an emphasis in drawing and painting. But after graduation, I discovered that there weren’t a lot of full-time art positions unless you were teaching.”

When Deborah and Maurice, her husband of 41 years, moved to Riverside, California, in 1984, Deborah started substitute teaching. After deciding to go back to school to get a master’s degree so she could become a teacher full-time, her first discovery occurred.

While at Cal State Fullerton, Deborah took a class in anthropology – the scientific study of humans and human behavior, and societies in the past and present – by Professor J. Suchey who eventually became her mentor. She found that she loved the combination of history and science and her professor soon hired her while she continued her master’s.

“Somehow, I convinced my mentor that we should be looking at crime scenes like an archeologist would,” Deborah said. “While still in school, I essentially invented my job and became the Forensic Anthropologist for the Los Angeles County Coroner’s and the Riverside County Coroner’s Offices.”

Deborah’s studies continued, adding a master’s in history focused on archeology – the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture – and eventually a third master’s in anthropology to her resume. As her mentor was starting to step back from the Riverside County Coroner’s Office, Deborah was assigned that same office as a Forensic Archeologist.

As Deborah’s career continued to grow, she began looking for more financial stability and a pension. So, she progressed her career to become the Deputy Coroner for the Riverside County Coroner’s Office where her archeology and anthropology background proved to be handy.

During this time, she signed up for the Federal Disaster Response Team working with the Public Health Service. Her first assignment was in 2000, when an Alaska Airlines plane crashed off the Los Angeles coast killing 88 people. The extreme impact of the crash and loss of space within the passenger cabin made it virtually impossible to identify remains, so a team was called in to collect fingerprints, dental records, personal items, and conduct anthropological examinations.

Deborah has since worked at a number of federal disaster sites, including in New York after 9/11, both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010.

The work Deborah and others on the Federal Disaster Response Team do isn’t easy, but it’s a necessity. Identifying remains is an integral task to the process of supplying justice for survived family members and communities. In addition, it is also required for closing out wills, assigning insurance benefits, and prosecuting any crimes.

“Finding and identifying someone was overwhelming, but knowing that it would provide a family closure made our search worthwhile,” Deborah said while describing her time in New York after 9/11. “In 2001, DNA research was more simplified than it is today. The search continues 18 years later as it’s extremely hard to distinguish among billions of fragments. That being said, serious advances in DNA applications have been made, leading to new discoveries today.”

When she wasn’t aiding in disaster relief, Deborah’s work as a Forensic Anthropologist and Archeologist in California consisted of examining skeletal remains and unique buried artifacts, mostly of the Native American variety.

“When people ask me what I do, most people think I lead an exciting life as Indiana Jones,” Deborah explained. “That’s not the case, but my career is certainly exciting to me. I have the opportunity to uncover history and see if it is true. How people were working, eating, materials used, all blended with unusual treasures that you sometimes discover.”

In 2015, Deborah retired from the Riverside County Coroner’s Office, but it was short-lived, as she returned three days later as a consultant. Her expertise was irreplaceable, especially being located in the Coachella Valley, where a multitude of Native American tribes have, and currently, still live.

“There is so much history in this valley that you never know what you will uncover,” Deborah said. “There are historic cremation sites all over the valley. My most interesting find was when I uncovered a ceramic vessel that was almost entirely intact. It was filled with ash, but within the ash we discovered these beautiful glass beads. It was an unusual find, as they turned out to be Russian trade beads from the 1600-1700s. Artifacts like these beads often give you a story of what was possibly going on at the time.”

Deborah’s work as a consultant continues today, more than four years after her “retirement.” She’s often called in on investigations with unidentified remains, which is more rewarding than one might think.

“Our focus is on identifying who the person was and how they died,” Deborah explained. “When you have a name, it’s powerful. At first, I didn’t want to have to speak with families, but what I found is that it’s the most rewarding aspect of the job. You have a set of circumstances, how and where it happened, and people who loved this person have been waiting to simply know. It gives them a sense of peace to know, a chance to say goodbye, and bring them closure.”

Verde River’s Going Solo: Something for Everyone

From: Array

Like the first day at a new school, moving to a new community can be intimidating. Forging new friendships can be challenging-whether you are relocating alone or with a spouse. The unknown can be daunting, but as Trilogy at Verde River Member and Co-Founder of Going Solo, Lori Martinek explains, it’s not as scary as it seems.

Tables for one are a rarity in Trilogy at Verde River where a new kind of ‘solo’ club is bringing single, married and partnered Members together in a true spirit of community.

Late last year, a group of Members, including myself, came together to form Going Solo, a Member-led club which puts a new spin on the traditional idea of a singles club. Going Solo is an inclusive club that is open to all Verde River Members (male and female, single, partnered and married). Because of its inclusive, all-aboard concept, the club has grown to more than 50 members in just six months.

Going Solo is keeping our community tables busy and social calendars filled. About half of Going Solo’s members are married or partnered. Some find themselves in town alone while their partner is working in another state. Others have interests or schedules that differ from their mates’. Others participate in club events as a couple, which is always okay.

What is unique about Going Solo is that it has nothing to do with dating and everything to do with sharing good times with our Verde River neighbors. Single members, like myself, join the club to make new friends and find people who have shared interests. Some have been single for a while; others are more recently widowed or divorced. This club is a wonderful way to meet people to travel or workout with (not to mention it’s nice to have a “plus-one” for events and outings).

Finding a mate is not the objective. Going Solo members are looking for companionship and a sense of community – a trait that most Trilogy residents share. And they’re not alone.

A recent study completed by Lifestory Research surveyed over 1,000 home shoppers above the age of 50 nationwide and found that – of the 62 percent of respondents who indicated that they were single and that they would consider moving to a community which would increase their chances of meeting a partner or companion — 80 percent also said that they were not looking to get married again, indicating a significant preference to remain single throughout retirement.

Regardless of their response, most survey respondents said they would prefer to live in a community where they can have opportunities to develop new friendships, try new activities, and enjoy new experiences. Enter the Going Solo concept.

Living in a fast-growing, activity community can be daunting. Going Solo provides a way to meet other residents who are also exploring active adult living.

When I visited the Verde River discovery Center in 2016, I was in search of a community where I could develop solid friendships and have activities and adventures within reach. I was single, and I wanted to meet other active people who liked to do the same types of things that i do, such as hiking, traveling, and socializing (aka drinking wine and having fun).

I had two key questions: Was I too young? Not by a long shot. Was I too single? No. Nationally, seven to eight percent of Trilogy residents are single, I was told.

Then, I knew that I had found my new home.

I met fellow Verde River Member, Elise Butler, on a Trilogy-sponsored day trip to Jerome, where we talked about a new vision for a ‘solo club’. Elise also liked the idea of creating a more inclusive club – more of an activity group than a singles club. She also agreed to become the club’s leader.

Elise moved to Verde River after 17 years of living in the Paso Robles wine region of California. She was widowed in 2015 and now, at 62, lives with her 92-year-old mother, Margaret, and her 32-year-old daughter, Morgan. Elise chose Verde River for its resort-style amenities and activities, and to find a sense of community. The idea of starting a club that would make it easy to make new friends was appealing.

“Moving to an area where you don’t know anyone can be stressful,” Elise explained to me. “Going Solo is an easy way to become part of a fun and friendly group of people.”

“We give club members opportunities to explore new places and try new activities that they might not otherwise attempt on their own,” she noted. Group activities typically attract 16 to 24 people, making it easy to get to know other members.

“You can show up solo and feel right at home,” she added. “That’s not as easy to do at the large Club mixers.”

Going Solo member Cheryl Heley spends half of the year in Arizona and the balance in Minnesota, where her husband Mark still works full-time. “I am mainly at our Verde River home by myself,” she explained. “Mark comes down about once a month, I go back to Minneapolis or we meet somewhere else for a getaway.”

“I really enjoy the Going Solo club and am glad that it is not just a singles club,” she said. “I fall between the single and married categories, but no one really cares about your status.

“There is no judgement here – single, married, whatever. everyone just hangs out together.”

The club uses email and social media to promote its events, including bulletins on MyTrilogyLife.com. The first Going Solo event was a New Year’s Eve dinner at a Scottsdale resort. But it’s become just one of many. My fellow members and I have gone to The Good Life Festival™ at Encanterra®, traveled to Turks and Caicos with Trilogy Members from Vistancia® and The Vineyards, and enjoyed wine tastings, boat trips, and even a line dancing lesson or two.

The meet and greet happy hours are the club’s most popular events. We often check out local venues but prefer to stay close to home at Verde River’s own Needle Rock Kitchen and Tap, where views of the Mazatzal mountain range are awe-inspiring, the patio has community tables that accommodate large groups, and the nearby firepits are set up for evening conversations.

“It’s a relaxed, casual setting where you can really get to know people on a one-on-one basis,” Cheryl said. “The club has introduced me to people with similar interests whom I can reach out to and do things with.”

Diane and Steve Collins are active members of the Going Solo Club. The couple spends about nine months at Verde River each year and the summer season traveling, or at their townhome in Winter Park, Colorado.

“We joined the Going Solo club because the group was doing a lot of fun things and we thought it would be a good way to meet other fun-loving residents of Verde River,” said Steve. Their theory was proven right.

“Going Solo allows us to participate in a wide variety of activities with a great group of people,” he added. “It has exposed us to activities and places that we otherwise would not have known about.”

“We particularly enjoyed a club happy hour that turned into an impromptu birthday celebration for three club members, including Diane,” said Steve. “The biggest challenge of the evening was choosing what wine to pair with Needle Rock’s famous butter cake.” (Sparkling Rose was the answer!)

Married members like Steve and Diane are sometimes asked why they belong to what some residents believe is a ‘singles group’. “We generally have to explain that you don’t have to be single to be part of the Going Solo club,” explained Diane. “It’s a fun group of people who like to do a variety of fun things.”

A little more than half of the club’s membership is single, whether by choice or circumstances. Each of us has embraced our solo Verde River experience wholeheartedly.

When Susie Roe packed up and moved to Arizona in 2017, she had lived in the same Nebraska community for 56 years. She chose Verde River because it was a brand-new community and she felt that would make it easier to meet people.

“I will never forget my first Going Solo event,” said Susie, who had been divorced for five years at the time of her move. “It was the club’s first meeting and I had been at Verde River for less than a month. After listening to everyone introduce themselves, I knew that I would never be ‘alone’ in my new community.”

“Since that day, we have had many dinners, celebrations, excursions and happy hours with singles, couples, and anyone who wants to join in,” she noted. “I am thankful every day for my Going Solo friends and experiences.”

Going Solo gatherings held at Needle Rock or Eddy’s Poolside (Verde River’s resort pool bar and grill) are often joined by Verde River neighbors who happen by and pull up a chair. “Going Solo is a large, fun group where everyone is welcome,” noted club leader Elise Butler.

“The word is getting around that it is an active group and, solo or not, people want to be part of it.”

Going Solo, like Trilogy itself, is all about creating community – in our social lives, our support networks, and how we live. When my book, Retiring Solo, was published in the summer of 2016, I was getting ready to move into my Verde River home. I planned to blog about my active adult resort community experience after I moved in, but I have been too busy having fun organizing and participating in activities (I lead the hiking club and organize a monthly activity called Ladies Liquid Lunch, which really is as fun as it sounds) with my Verde River neighbors to do so. Which, if you think about it, is exactly how it should be when you are busy living the Good Life!

An Alternative to Consider: How Acupuncture Can Help in Ways You Might Not Expect

From: Array

When anyone asks me how I came to offer acupuncture as part of my practice, I typically begin by explaining that it wasn’t part of the original plan. As a naturopathic physician receiving training in Arizona, it was part of the curriculum. Of course, that didn’t mean I had to actually include it in my practice. I am an integrative physician, yes, but I’m also typically driven by Western science. As a general rule, I prefer to treat with nutrients, hormones, or medicines that work in a predictable place in our biochemistry. Although there is an attempt to explain acupuncture by Western standards, its roots are undeniably Eastern, and it may never be a perfect fit in a Western-based protocol. So, why is it a part of my repertoire? Simply put, it often works.

The most common use for acupuncture in the West is for pain management. Pain management is a difficult realm of medicine because so many of our options for treatment carry risks for side effects or addiction. (Think of the growing epidemic of opiate addiction, which many people trace back to the over-prescription of pain medications.) Acupuncture, conversely, has very little potential for harmful side effects, so long as it is performed by a qualified practitioner.

Acupuncture dates back at least 2,000 years, and although it has been in the West since the 1800s, it only began gaining popularity in the last 30 years. With a more recent need to deviate from the use of addictive pain medications, its popularity is surging. In today’s world, it’s not uncommon to find yourself in your orthopedic or neurological doctor’s office getting referred for acupuncture before more drastic steps are taken.

It seems that every year we see more and more studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture for musculoskeletal pain, migraines, depression, anxiety, and more. It is not uncommon for practitioners to use acupuncture for allergies, sleep, hormonal symptoms, or nearly an endless list of complaints. Seeing this trend in referral volume, the National Institute for Health conducted and then published a large study showing a decrease in osteoarthritic pain as a result of acupuncture treatments. Furthermore, research in the diabetes field has shown significant results in peripheral neuropathy. Migraine studies have shown benefits equal to common prescriptions. These studies on usefulness are numerous and informative; the studies for how it works are, well, a little less satisfying.

The traditional Chinese explanation for acupuncture centers on the flow of energy, known as “qi,” throughout the body. Qi is thought to travel in different paths around the body known as meridians. The belief is that disruptions in health, including pain, are caused by a disturbance or blockage of this free-flowing qi through the meridians. Typical acupuncture treatments target as many as 20 meridians, and each relates to different organ systems. Each meridian then has several “points” which are chosen depending on your symptoms, and fine needles are placed in the area. Many people are hesitant because of the needles, but I assure you that most people are pleasantly surprised by a painless and relaxing experience.

As mentioned before, there have been numerous attempts to explain the acupuncture process and effects by Western standards. The better studies published are placebo-controlled, which depicts that results from those treated with real acupuncture points are compared to a group treated with sham or fake acupuncture points (it would be assumed that this group was having a placebo effect). Studies have shown that real acupuncture points increase the production of hormones including endorphins and serotonin. Endorphins are “feel-good” chemicals that generally improve mood and can block pain signals. Serotonin is our natural anti-depressant. MRI studies during the placement of acupuncture needles have shown physiological response to points.

Perhaps the most simplistic component to how acupuncture might help, especially for pain, is the attraction of circulation to the area being needled. Circulation brings other hormone messengers, oxygen, and nutrients to the area to encourage healing. These effects likely contribute to its success in osteoarthritic pain such as knee, hip, and back pain.

In summary, studies confirm that acupuncture often works and that it does do something physiologically and/or biochemically, but we don’t really know how it is doing it. Many years ago as a practitioner, I chose to let the relief I was seeing patients receive outweigh my need to know the full scientific explanation behind it, a choice I believe has served me and my patients well.

So, if you are in pain or struggle with constant pain or even your mood and you haven’t tried this safe alternative to more complicated medicine, it might be time to consider acupuncture as an alternative as well. You may be surprised at just how powerful these well-placed needles can be.

Finding Dr. Amy

Dr. Amy Whittington practices naturopathic medicine at the Alvea Spa at Trilogy at Vistancia in Peoria, Arizona. She has been Trilogy’s chosen naturopath for more than a decade.

Dr. Amy publishes a monthly Wellness Journal on MyTrilogyLife.com, does presentations via Club Connect^TM, and provides individual consultations in Arizona. Among Dr. Amy’s offerings are full-body health assessments, acupuncture, skin-tightening treatments, collagen injection therapy, and detoxification programs.

Orlando Dragons

From: Array

Ed Flora is truly a positive force and the kind of Member whose lifestyle reminds us what we love about Trilogy: the opportunity to spend our “next chapter” pursuing passions, expanding and sharing talents, exploring new pursuits, and connecting and giving back to our communities.

A retired corporate executive, Ed moved from Southern California to Trilogy Orlando with his wife, Sandra. Now, the former church worship leader and high school football coach splits his time between journalism, songwriting, and a host of other activities. He’s recently written his first book, A.L.I.V.E. (Answers to Living In Victory Everyday), as well as a companion album, COME ALIVE, and is the current president of the Voices of Trilogy chorale group. As if all that wasn’t enough, Ed clued us in to an outstanding experience he had as part of a Trilogy Dragon Boat team, and we just had to share the fun! Here’s Ed’s story in his own words:

It was March 2018 and I was sitting with my wife, Sandra, in the Events Center at Magnolia House at Trilogy Orlando.

Several charitable organizations were giving presentations on ways they meet the needs of the less fortunate in our surrounding communities, and more importantly, how those of us in the Trilogy community can lend a hand. they were looking for volunteers as well as financial support.

I didn’t know it at the time, but the scene was set for something remarkable to come.

At the event, I met Eric Segalini, Director of Community Relations for new Beginnings, an organization giving the homeless in Central Florida an opportunity to get their lives back on track by providing shelter, education, and food. Eric and I were able to connect New Beginnings with our own Lakeside Church’s homeless feeding project and it was while we were working together that he mentioned something intriguing to me.

Eric was very excited about a charity event new Beginnings was hosting called the Clermont Waterfront festival. This event included live entertainment as well as a 5K and a Dragon Boat Race on Lake Minneola. I’ve spent more than 20 years traveling to Asia and have visited China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong each more than 100 times. I tried for years to field a Dragon Boat team with my former employer to no avail; something always just seemed to get in the way.

A few days later, I saw a post on our local MyTrilogyLife.com website that Bill Gates (no, not that one) was trying to put together a Dragon Boat team. Well, that’s all it took for me throw my hat in the ring. Shortly after that, I met Bill and we were equally enthusiastic about having a team participate in the Dragon Boat Festival. Bill, through his perseverance, was able to find five men and five women to join, as well as a drummer and two alternates.

Luckily, one of our team members, Karen Standfest, had some Dragon Boat experience in her previous community. The rest of us had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, but being able bodied, relatively fit individuals, we were all up for the task.

We had our first organized meeting in mid-April with Coach Rod Price from a local team, who was also the Race Director for the upcoming event. We met in the Movement Studio and sat on chairs to simulate our positions in the boat. We had to go over everything, from what to wear and how to sit down, to how to hold the paddle, stroke in unison, and most importantly, how not to tip the boat!

Needless to say, this was all somewhat overwhelming; but again, as “aged veterans,” we did manage to get it. We survived our live practices without tipping the boat and learned a lot about what it takes to go all out for 350 meters in a dead sprint!

Other than being exhausted from training, we were fired up for race day. Team member Don Dingee made us some great t-shirts for the event. Our drummer, Patsy Kennedy, made her own Dragon Hat, which she proudly wore for all of our races. And who could ever forget the U.S. Army chant that Mike Young had us cheering?

Swirl & Sip Right from Home

From: Array

Wine culture is an integral part of many social gatherings within the Trilogy® network. It has evolved as a part of the lifestyle experience and makes an excellent complement to dinner parties, conversations with neighbors, or a quiet night in curled up on the couch with a movie. At Trilogy, Members have found an even greater appreciation for wine, and it only felt natural to create a program specifically geared towards our wine lovers: Barrel Masters.

As a Barrel Master, Members may participate in special events hosted by their Club including wine festivals, tastings, special pairing dinners with local winemakers, and so much more. While these events are widely enjoyed, we know that schedules may not always permit making it out to the Club to attend – but there’s no reason to let that prevent Members from letting the good times roll! That’s why we’d like to share some tips from our very own teams to help you recreate the magic from your own home.

Hosting From Home

Have you ever wanted to host a wine pairing dinner for your friends and neighbors? It’s time to turn your home into a tasting room with the ultimate experience surrounded by good eats, delicious wine, and great company.

When preparing your menu, there are a few things to keep in mind. Are you hosting a small group, which would allow for a more complex menu or a large group, which may be best suited for simple options? Base your starters and side dishes around your main entrée. If your main attraction is complicated, make the sides simple and vice versa!

Seasonality is another key factor when com-posing your menu. Cooler temperatures often lead to cravings for comfort foods, whereas the hot summer months are great for lighter, chilled dishes to help beat the heat. Whatever you come up with, maintaining a good balance – sweet and savory, hot and cold, large and small – should be the main goal.

In addition to the actual menu selection, a few personal touches will add to the overall experience for your guests. A lovely tablescape will bring a touch of elegance to spice up the ambiance. Type up your menu, listing each course and paired varietal, then print a copy and place it on each plate. Name tags may also add to the wow-factor to make each per-son feel extra special. It’s the little details that will make your event most memorable.

While the menu is a key piece of hosting a successful dinner party, we can’t forget about the libations. A bottle of wine is about 24 ounces, or roughly four glasses with party-size pours. Depending on the number of courses that will be offered at your party, we recommend two-ounce pours to nicely complement each dish without overwhelming your guests. Make sure to also serve wines at the right temperature – 53 degrees for most whites and 65 degrees for most reds -to get the full experience with each course. And don’t forget to have plenty of water strategically placed along the table.

There is nothing better than gathering your friends together for a fun night. Become your own Barrel Master and enjoy an entertaining evening while you swirl and sip with your neighbors around the dinner table from the comfort of your own home. Good luck planning your wine dinner party!

The Story of Personal Transformation

From: Array

So why is a homebuilder talking about personal transformation?
That’s a great question, right? First, I’d tell you that Trilogy®’s charter is really to be a creator of communities, communities which feature Shea Homes® as well as, in some cases, homes built by other companies, so we aren’t simply a homebuilder. Second, Shea Homes’ Purpose is to enhance people’s lives, and Shea developed Trilogy as a brand of resort lifestyle communities to help our Members transform their lives on a daily basis. Yes, we deliver incredible Shea Homes for Members to live in, but the communities are really focused on creating an opportunity for Members to experience the power of personal transformation.

And why is transformation important to Trilogy? Why does it matter?
The idea of transformation matters because happiness matters, and people have trouble being truly happy if they are not living in a place where they find comfort and a sense of well-being, where their life feels whole. Life is short, and honestly, none of us ever really know how much time we have left. That simple, honest truth becomes more and more clear as you age, and now that I’m in my 50’s, it becomes more and more motivating to me both professionally and personally. Every day really does matter, and how you feel about your life – the people you love in it, how you spend each day, what you do to maintain health and well-being, how secure and financially comfortable you are – these things all impact your happiness, regardless of your age.

When you meet the Members who move in, what do they talk about?
Usually they talk about the friends they’re making and the fun they’re having. But when I get the chance to sit down for a more personal conversation, they talk about how much their life has changed. They talk about having the chance to own their story. They’re ready for a new chapter that they can author. If there is a passion, they want to pursue it, and they want others around who are willing to cheer them on. They talk about having the freedom to continue to evolve and transform and show gratitude for the gifts they’ve been given. They talk about feeling younger and more energized. How awesome is that?

How does Trilogy deliver on its promise in such a diverse array of communities?
We state in our Trilogy “Why” that we are “committed to creating communities which are unique in execution but consistent in promise.” Over time, we’ve grown into seven states, in traditional sunbelt areas as well as four-season markets, and we now have a combination of age-qualified and all-ages communities serving Members of all shapes and sizes. In all cases, our commitment remains unchanged – to provide Members the opportunity to live a happier, healthier, more enriched version of their lives.

What is important for you in your role?
The team leading the Trilogy division at Shea is incredible. They challenge me to share the Trilogy message with as many people as I can, because they truly believe that people are missing out if they don’t at least take the time to consider Trilogy as an option. So many times we hear people say, “I don’t know why we didn’t do this sooner!” The better I am at sharing what Trilogy offers, the less we’ll hear that refrain. Because people will recognize that Trilogy can play a role in them living healthier, happier, more socially connected lives.

How would you grade your efforts so far?
Overall, I feel really great about the progress we’ve made. Last year we asked Members at our Trilogy Clubs three basic questions: Do you feel like living in Trilogy helps you live a healthier life? A happier life? A life where you can make more friends? Their responses were overwhelmingly “yes”, which to me is evidence that we are delivering on the promise we make to people about what their lives can be like if they choose to make the move to Trilogy.

How has Trilogy transformed over the last 20 years?
It’s funny, because I’ve been part of this team for 17 of Trilogy’s 20-year history. I’ve seen a change that has been a lot like the transformation I’m talking about in our Members’ lives. When we started the company, our marketing was often centered around our “stuff” – the homes, the buildings, the amenities, etc. Then, largely in response to the economic conditions of the times, we focused a lot on the value of Trilogy and talked about how prudent a decision living in one of our communities can be. Most recently – and I think most perceptively – we’ve tried to focus less on us and more on those who really matter, our Members. The people who live in our communities are what make Trilogy, well, Trilogy. Their stories, their personalities, their excitement for life is what differentiates us from others. We’re a better group today than we were 20 years ago because we have learned from the 30,000+ Members who all make up the tapestry which is Trilogy.

Over the next 20 years, how do you see Trilogy evolving as a community brand?
What I’d love to see is that our Members become more deeply integrated into what takes place in each of our communities. Members already are so key in creating clubs, directing how they celebrate, where they travel, how they meet new people, to what causes they give back, and in what ways they have fun. The next evolution of that idea is Members expanding that influence, maybe via a charitable foundation, or through a start-up lab to consult with young businesses, or in a more active role in our community development process. As we grow, the possibilities are limitless.

Shauna Farmer is the Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Trilogy® by Shea Homes®. Her career has spanned over 25 years connecting consumers to top brands in a number of industries, including the last 17 years at Shea. Shauna is passionate about helping customers learn how Trilogy can help deepen their happiness and sense of well-being at a unique point in life. She and her husband, Alan have a high schooler, Jane, and college student, Max. Free time finds her family enjoying the Arizona climate, traveling, and relaxing together at home.

Vamos a Bailar!

From: Array

Central Florida’s Latin culture has grown over the last 30 years, with a large number of Puerto Ricans and people of Caribbean descent living in Florida. This is no different in Trilogy Orlando where Members Miriam Valentin and Brenda Satz saw this as an opportunity for their local community.

“Many Trilogy Members within the Latin community shared with us the desire for Latin dances and that’s how our first ‘Latin night’ dance was born in October of 2017,” Miriam said.

These Latin night dances occur on a monthly basis with the mission to “surround ourselves with friendly, fun-loving neighbors to exchange cultures and develop lasting friendships.” What was once a small affair with 20-30 people at the grille, Magnolia House’s signature restaurant, has grown to over 140 Members in attendance in the Club’s Events Center.

According to Orlando resident Kim Burrell, “It’s the best night of the month!”

In May 2018, with a need to promote their events to the larger Trilogy community, the group became an official club and added another piece to their name – Trilogy Latin-Caribbean Club.

“We felt the need to include Caribbean music as well for our Caribbean neighbors, and that’s why it became the Latin-Caribbean Club,” Miriam explained. “We wanted to include all our wonderful friends and neighbors from the Caribbean islands who share our culture.”

Attendees of the dances and members of the Club do not need to be of Latin or Caribbean descent to partake in the dances.

“We love the energy and the camaraderie of the monthly dances, as well as the diverse people who attend,” Anabelle and Ronnie Schuster said. “Every month we are meeting new people and it’s so special how they share their excitement about how much they look forward to coming.”

So, what’s next for the fast-growing club? They’d like to launch philanthropic endeavors.

“We have not yet set aside time to do anything other than the monthly dances, but we have philanthropic causes that we will be looking into such as a clothing drive or can food collection, etcetera to help our community,” Miriam said. “There have been talks but not definite decisions yet.”

Balancing Act

From: Array

We are all training for life. No matter our age or level of fitness, it’s critical that we maintain our minds and bodies for as long as we can. Having great balance is a critical part of this pursuit. Balance helps to support the musculature system and aids in our overall strength, agility, and perhaps most importantly, postural stability.

Without proper balance and upper body strength, our bodies can become subject to a flood of physical health problems in the long run, and may make existing health disorders worse. Things like neurological disorders, nerve damage, poor eyesight, and head injuries can increase the risk of falls and accidents, but that’s where good balance can help.

The key to balance training is to stay ahead of the game in order to maintain your flexibility, athleticism, and coordination. Doing so now will help you to lay a solid foundation which can help you recover faster should you become injured or ill.

So, how does one get ahead of the game and start improving their balance? The most important thing to note is that our balance comes from our feet and core. You’ll want to work from the bottom up, starting with the dorsiflexors in the feet (the muscles that allow you to flex your ankle or take the stairs). Then, you’ll move up to your stabilizers (hamstrings, abdominals, quads and glutes) which help other muscles accomplish movement and strengthens them for posture, balance, and stability.

In order to challenge the body and manipulate these muscles to make them stronger, it’s imperative to work different sensory systems and switch up styles of movement. I like to think of balance work from five related perspectives.

1. PROPRIOCEPTION & VISION | This is your body’s awareness of the position of its limbs. Completing a single leg stand with your eyes both opened and closed sends signals to your brain, telling your joints and muscles where and how to move.
2. THREE PLANES OF MOTION/MULTI-DIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT | Our bodies are meant to move in all directions. If we get too used to moving in a linear plane of motion (moving forward, like walking), our abs become weak and unstable, so it’s imperative to include all types of functional movement into your routine to promote good balance.
3. SUPPORT BASE & WEIGHT SHIFTS | When you stand up, your legs are the base of your support, but the closer your legs are, the narrower your base of support becomes. Shifting 80% of your weight and holding for 10 seconds will help to strengthen all your leg muscles (hips, quads, hamstrings, knees and ankles) safely.
4. AGILITY |This is specific to your action/reaction where your fast and/or slow twitch muscle fibers activate, creating coordination, cardiovascular endurance, and balance.
5. UNILATERAL BALANCE AND STABILITY | Here, you want one leg or side of the body to work independently to create enough instability on the other side to challenge balance in order to build strength.

Movin’ On: How The Vineyards Drama Club Celebrates Aging

From: Array

When Susan and Steve Shear moved into Trilogy® at The Vineyards in 2017, they quickly observed the community lacked something that had been near and dear to their hearts for over three decades – a theatre program.

“We’ve been involved in theatre for 30-plus years,” Susan explained. “We started a senior theatre program in Tucson at a similar kind of community, where we built that program over 11 years. It was very well-received and successful, so we decided to start one here as well. There hadn’t been a theatre program here in Trilogy before.”

While the Shears and Dan Berns were the group’s three founding members, they were not the only ones who were excited; Member Patricia Pillard McCulley was delighted to hear of the new club.

“I am an experienced community theatre actress, but had gone into retirement,” Patricia said. “I remember remarking ‘I will never audition for anything again,’ as I know the dedication of time, travel, and energy it takes to be involved in community theatre. I’m a senior now, but to have a drama club at my doorstep was enticing.”

The Drama Club quickly grew with members of all acting and technical talents, growing to over 40 members today.

In 2017 and 2018, the Drama Club produced three plays – House of Tomorrow (which Susan wrote), Love Letters by A.R. Gurney, and Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play by Joe Landry. All of which were met with praise from the cast, crew, and audience. However, their most recent production has seen the best response yet.

Earlier this year, Susan wrote her second play for the Trilogy at The Vineyards Drama Club titled Movin’ On, a story, Susan says is about “us.”

“With over 20 independent scenes, music, and songs, we told the story of us – people at our age facing the challenges and joys of aging,” Susan explained. “Our stories told of finding love late in life, keeping one’s independence, age discrimination in the workplace, downsizing and retirement, trying new things, adult children, friendship, changes, memories… letting go, holding on, but always Movin’ On. It was the essence of what it means to live in a Trilogy community! The play was filled with humor and heart-warming tales that touched the audiences and our cast and crew because it was personal and real.”

From the moment Susan presented the play to the rest of the Drama Club, they all knew it was going to be something special because it was something that related to them.

“I thought the script for Movin’ On was wonderful from beginning to end,” said Ruth Costa, who had three parts in the production. “It was funny, touching and so relevant to the experience of aging. It cap-tured all of the awkwardness, love, loss, courage, and hope with truth and humor.”

“When I first read the Movin’ On script, I was intrigued by how Susan wove comedy, drama, and music into the play where the audience experienced a myriad of emotions of the issues of growing old,” said Drama Club member Glen Birch.

Glen played the part of a son who comes to help his ailing father, a part which mirrored his own life. “My wife and I are caring for our parents, and we realize how vital family can be in times of need,” Glen said.

Many of the cast members shared that same sentiment, feeling a strong personal con-nection to the characters they played or the lessons they learned through the process.

“Acting has taught me to be a more com-passionate person,” Patricia, who had two parts in the production, said. “With each role, I have to dig inside myself to be that person with their actions and attitudes, and through this I become more understanding with others in real life. This lesson has been one of the most profound in my life.”

While each of the three previous plays prior to Movin’ On were performed for The Vineyards community, the group took their production of Movin’ On to local senior retirement facilities.

“It seemed like the right thing to do,” Susan said. “The residents were so thrilled and grateful. Some said they hadn’t laughed like that in so very long! They too related to the topics and the songs.”

At the end of the day, members of the Trilogy at The Vineyards Drama Club are not in it for any recognition – it’s something they truly enjoy.

“Although Trilogy offers a multitude of activities, nothing really suited me until Susan and Steve brought a Drama Club to our community,” Ruth explained. “This was finally my chance to develop and explore a very dormant creative side.”

Community Bonds

From: Array

There’s nothing quite like the bond between community members and the peace of mind that comes with knowing that there are others nearby who care about you and your well-being.

“The recent hurricanes that struck us in Florida really showed what our friends and neighbors are made of,” said Trilogy® at Ocala Preserve Member, Bill Isaza.

“We had neighbors in our community helping Floridians affected by Hurricane Irma, and several of us took special care to look after the homes of neighbors who are out of town. It’s like one big family, and that’s why I love it here so much.”

Hurricane Irma hit Ocala, Fla. as a Category 4 Storm in September. With it came high winds, heavy rains, power outages, and debris around the community. While residents may have lost their power for a short time, everything and everyone came out mostly unscathed – a result which can be attributed to a combination of good fortune and the caring nature of their neighbors.

“Not that anyone wants to go through something like Hurricane Irma, but if there’s anywhere I’d want to be during a storm like this, it would be here,” Lifestyle Director Olivia Lopez said. “It just helps knowing there are people around who are willing to help you out no matter what.”

From before the storm blew in until after the sun returned, residents were helping one another; from moving outdoor items inside to shield them from the storm, to sending photos to neighbors who elected to go north out of Irma’s way, to simply offering an open door and a warm meal so they could wait out the storm together, among friends.

“My wife Martha and I make a point to get to know [other Members] so well that we can count on each other in times of need,” Isaza said.

The relationships forged paid dividends as the storm came through. Between efforts to help not only their immediate neighbors but their fellow Floridians, Trilogy Members came together and did what they do best.

“It’s truly heartwarming to see,” Lopez said. “Our community has always felt pretty tight-knit, but seeing how our Members offered assistance to not just each other, but to the team here at the club as well, has been awesome. It’s really what being a community is all about.”

Good Tidings & Cheer

From: Array

Let’s go on record and just say it: nobody does the holidays better than our Members at Trilogy®! Among our favorite holiday celebrations is one that takes place every year at Encanterra®, located in San Tan Valley, Ariz.  Dubbed the “Christmas Stroll,” the event was spearheaded seven years ago by Encanterra Member Bob Turner, who rallied more than 50 neighbors to meet on the first Sunday evening of December to donate toys for the local Toys for Tots program.

“I wanted to jumpstart the holiday season by doing something the whole community could do together to benefit a local charity,” said Turner. “And it had to be something uniquely Arizonan to take advantage of the beautiful weather we have in December.”

Once everyone arrived at the meeting spot the inaugural Christmas Stroll commenced with Mr. and Mrs. Claus riding a motorcycle through the community. “It was so fun to see Santa roll up on a motorcycle and kick-off our ‘stroll’ through the neighborhood, caroling and collecting toys as we headed towards the clubhouse,” said Encanterra Member Tina O’Connor. “And that magic feeling gets better every year.”

Fast forward to today, and the Encanterra Christmas Stroll is one of the community’s most popular fundraising events. Just last year, more than 350 Members participated in strolling through the neighborhood collecting toys, which are then donated to the U.S. Marines to hand out to needy children.

“The fun doesn’t stop with the stroll,” said Turner. “We fill the evening with all sorts of great holiday traditions including my favorite — the best golf cart decorations contest. We also have lots of wonderful food such as homemade chili and delicious cider. It’s truly an incredible event to be a part of and gets everyone at Encanterra in the holiday spirit.”

Last year, the Christmas Stroll provided 80% of the total donated toys needed in the local county. “It’s an honor and privilege to be able to hold an event and spend quality time with fellow Members,” said O’Connor. “And to do so while giving back in a meaningful way is icing on the cake!”

Hiking the Appalachian Trail

From: Array

2,160 Miles. 10 Years. 1 Hiker. On May 14th, 2002, in the small “trail town” of Damascus, Va., Trilogy® at The Vineyards Member Frank Kaylor completed the last of 21 sections of the Appalachian Trail totaling 2,160 miles in what became a nearly decade-long adventure.

“I celebrated with my wife, who had driven 750 miles from Boston, Mass.,” Kaylor said.  “I was elated with this accomplishment!”

Kaylor completed the Appalachian Trail as a section hiker, which is someone who completes the full trail in sections rather than a straight through hike.

What was Kaylor’s favorite section of the trail? “Hiking across New Hampshire including the well-known ‘Presidential Range’ first with my son Scott, and then with my daughter Carolyn, is my most memorable section of the trail,” said Kaylor. “How many fathers get to spend a full week alone with each of his adult children like that? It was so great!”

However, Frank spent most of his trip hiking alone, as many often do when they hike the Appalachian Trail. “Even though my favorite part was with my children… I backpacked solo for 75-percent of the total miles on the trail” said Kaylor. “It wasn’t uncommon to go days or nights without seeing another hiker [on the trail.]”

Since completing the Appalachian Trail, Kaylor has joined the 4000-Footer Club of the White Mountains by climbing to the summits of all 48 peaks, thru-hiked Vermont’s 270-mile Long Trail, thru-hiked California’s 220-mile John Muir Trail, section-hiked the 800-mile Arizona Trail and hiked nine times to the bottom of the Grand Canyon including three rim-to-rim trips.

Today, Kaylor leads the Hiking Club at Trilogy at The Vineyards, where he’s led neighbors on more than 130 hikes since 2011.

Taking a Gamble: when Betting on a Life in Las Vegas Pays Off

From: Array

Las Vegas is known for being “The Entertainment Capital of the World,” where visitors from all over flock to for its luxurious resorts, epic entertainment, world-class restaurants, and, of course, gambling. And while many have visited this tourist destination, who are the people who live and work there full-time?

The people behind the scenes who make all the “magic” happen each day are not the celebrity chefs, mobsters, or glamorous promotors you see in movies or on TV. They are real, everyday people – just like Trilogy® in Summerlin® Member Bruce Herman.

After growing up in Michigan and living in Ohio for a number of years, Bruce Herman and his wife, Vicki, were looking for a lifestyle change – somewhere with a warmer climate outside of the Midwest. They contemplated a number of your typical “resort towns” in Florida and Arizona before ultimately deciding to take a gamble and move their young family to Las Vegas.

The Hermans chose Las Vegas because they felt like its economy was about to “explode,” and with that, jobs would be easy to come by. Bruce has a background in marketing and Vicki was an educator, so they figured with all these new hotels and casinos, there would be opportunities for both marketers and teachers. It was the perfect fit.

“When we told people we were moving to Las Vegas, they would ask questions like, ‘Where do people live?’ ‘Do you live in a room above a casino?’” Bruce exclaimed. “They couldn’t comprehend normal people moved to Las Vegas to live and work in a similar environment to anywhere else.”

After “pounding the pavement” and handing his resume to every major hotel and casino, Bruce found himself working for one of Vegas’s biggest names – Steve Wynn.

In 1989, around the time the Hermans moved to Las Vegas, Wynn’s company owned and operated the Golden Nugget Las Vegas and was getting set to open its first major hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip – The Mirage. Bruce was able to land an interview and, eventually, an opportunity within the growing company.

“I got hired for a job they were just creating, which was basically a position in marketing for both the Golden Nugget and The Mirage,” Bruce said. “I was trying to sell the newly opened Mirage to tour and travel operators around the world.”

After three years of traveling and selling both Las Vegas properties, Bruce’s role transitioned to one within the Golden Nugget’s operation, to entice tourists, and specifically gamblers, to make their way to the downtown Las Vegas staple.

“There was so much competition in Vegas, so as a consumer and tourist, you would have 15 to 20 high-level properties to choose from,” Bruce explained. “So our goal was to try to create events in order for people to say, ‘The Golden Nugget is doing this, and that’s really cool, so I’m going to go there.’”

For over 15 years, Bruce and his team were the magic behind the casino’s atmosphere by hosting all of their events, from slot tournaments to New Year’s Eve parties and everything in between. It was up to his team to create the memorable, glamourous, and sometimes outlandish experience people expect.

While the extravagance of the events brought new players into the casino, there was something else that kept the loyal clients coming back.

“My bottom line has always been to create the highest level of customer service, no matter the event or theme,” Bruce said. “I wanted to create that sense of service to gain a customer’s loyalty, so that they would come back, not only for the events and the fun, but because of you.”

In 2006, he had the opportunity to do something different as the Golden Nugget’s Human Resources Manager. In this role, he organized weekly new hire orientations, oversaw all internal communications, planned social events and secured discounts throughout the Las Vegas community for employees, and even sat as the Director of the Community Outreach Committee.

Bruce worked on behalf of the Golden Nugget’s employees until he retired in 2016.

Despite nearly three decades working in Las Vegas casinos, the Herman’s lifestyle never swayed. These days, Bruce and Vicki spend their time enjoying retirement in Trilogy in Summerlin. Their days are spent working out in Outlook Club’s Afturburn Fitness, attending events like Friday Night Jams or cooking demonstrations, and spending time with new friends. However, visiting the Golden Nugget is not often in the Hermans’ plans.

“Ironically, we are as far from the typical Vegas stereotype as you can imagine,” Bruce laughed. “We aren’t gamblers and we’re not nightclubbers. We don’t eat at fancy restaurants – we’re just your typical easygoing Midwesterners.”

Bruce and Vicki took a chance moving to Las Vegas without knowing exactly what the outcome would be. Even though many questioned their motives and the reasoning behind the move, like in Vegas, sometimes you have to roll the dice and take a chance. For the Hermans, it worked out in their favor.

Better Together

From: Array

The relationship between the staff and the Members of a Trilogy® community is a unique one in the hospitality world. As a hotelier, guests come and go, and even the “regulars” are only there a few times a year. In traditional country clubs, yes, members are there more frequently, but they still have a home in another neighborhood where much of their social life happens. But at Trilogy, nearly all things exist in a single environment, and that leads to relationships between staff and Members which is unlike anywhere else.

In Trilogy® at Vistancia®, the strength of this inherent bond is even stronger due to the tenure of the core leadership team. The community, which debuted in 2004, has two dozen team members with more than 10 years’ experience at the Club.

Plus, golf General Manager Scott Mattiello was on the opening team of the golf course in 2004, and, after stints at other Trilogy communities, returned in 2014.

The core group staying together so long is impressive, particularly in the context of the typically transient hospitality industry. According to findings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual employee turnover rate in hospitality companies was nearly 74 percent in 2018, meaning that three of every four employees turns over each year. At Trilogy at Vistancia, that rate is just 42.5 percent, with some years as low as 27 percent.

“Really, I just enjoy what I get to do every day,” said Paul Casartelli, the current Club Operations Manager who, in his decade-plus with Trilogy at Vistancia, has provided support in all aspects of the operation.

“Trilogy is a great place to be, BlueStar is a great company to work for, and Michael [Santonino] is a leader we all respect.”

Paul’s progression isn’t necessarily unusual within BlueStar, as many young leaders looking to build a career in hospitality are drawn to the culture, locations, and the opportunities that come with working on such a broad array of service offerings. For example, Trilogy at Vistancia – the longtime flagship of the Trilogy portfolio – includes golf, spa, food & beverage, fitness, lifestyle programming, special events, two Resort Clubs, and nearly 5,000 Members to serve.

“The community has grown since we arrived in 2008, but what hasn’t changed is the team’s commitment to the Members,” said Member Chuck Blick. “They make us feel special every time we’re at the Club.”

As for the longest-tenured team member Luis Fernandez (who started at the community on day one after having served at Trilogy La Quinta before), he’s got a nice perspective on his time: “I had no gray hair when

I started, and as far as anyone knows, I have no gray hair today!”

What Makes You Happiest?

From: Array

JOYCE FALCO | TRILOGY® LAKE NORMAN
Meeting new friends, exploring new places, good food, and wine. I experienced that when I moved to Trilogy. I arrived here with a serious medical condition, and our neighbors, whom we had never met, stepped up, bringing food, friendship and support; I am so grateful for them. Most importantly, it is the little things in life and spending time with my husband and our dogs.

LORI MARTINEK | TRILOGY® AT VERDE RIVER™
Hiking with my neighbors in the pristine Sonoran Desert surrounding our Trilogy at Verde River community. There are hundreds of nearby trails, giant rock formations, towering saguaro cacti, and desert wildflowers in every color. the cool waters of the Verde River are little more than a mile away. The Trailblazers Hiking Club loves exploring it all!

SARA THISSEN | TRILOGY® AT TEHALEH®
Walking the trails with my dog, Laika, makes me happy!

BRUCE BECKER | TRILOGY® LAKE NORMAN
Yellow sunny days, blue skies, powder puff white clouds, a brisk fall walk in a colorful forest, riding in a red convertible (top down), a walk in a light rain, eating a bright red tomato off the vine with a touch of salt, a wet puppy kiss, an unexpected surprise from my wife, Irene.

LEXI SARGENT | TRILOGY® AT THE POLO CLUB
When my favorite football team (New Orleans) wins. A good movie that makes me laugh. Simple pleasures like hugs and kisses from my Shih Tsu. Surprises from my garden like a perfect rose or cute baby eggplants. happiness involves a full moon, a gentle breeze, a glass of buttery chardonnay, and music to match the mood.

JOEL ARKER | TRILOGY® AT LAKE FREDERICK
Looking at this dramatic landscape inspired the fantasy of drum rolls and the hoofs of wild mustangs running across the desert rocks. Instead, the scene was quiet with only the wind rustling the leaves of the trees and the soft flow of water over the rocks in the stream. I felt in awe of the natural beauty and peaceful in its presence.

LINDA CREVISTON | TRILOGY® AT OCALA PRESERVE
Watching my daughter show her horse, Everest, right down the road at hits post time farm, makes me happiest!

ALVAN WALCOTT | ENCANTERRA®, A TRILOGY® RESORT COMMUNITY
I’m happiest at home in beautiful surroundings, spending quality time with family and friends. I’m happiest when I enjoy good health and my favorite past times like bike riding and watching movies in my home theater. I’m happiest when good friends – old and new – gather together to enjoy music or sports events. I’m happiest traveling with my wife and enjoying new adventures.

Breaking Bread

From: Array

Since members Lyn and Brad Bimonte moved into Trilogy at Ocala Preserve, one thing has proved a certainty – they thoroughly enjoy the food scene brought to life by Executive Chef Wallace Phaire.

Between frequent outings to The Club at Ocala Preserve’s signature restaurant, Salted Brick, and attending numerous cooking demos, a friendship between the Bimontes and Chef Wallace quickly began to emerge.

So when it came time to celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day, the Bimontes knew just where to go. Salted Brick was having a special prix-fixe menu for the holiday.

Unfortunately, a last-minute emergency caused the couple to cancel on their actual anniversary, but Chef Wallace assured them they would be able to have their special dinner when they were able.

“A couple of weeks later, we got together with him and chose a day and time,” Brad said. “It was, indeed, one of our most memorable anniversary dinners.”

With a presentation “worthy of a five-star restaurant,” Chef Wallace and his team prepared a four-course meal which was served by Chef himself.

“It was me just having fun,” Chef Wallace said. “I was proud of the food, but they made it special and memorable. The team and I were just excited to play a part in their celebration.”

Chef Wallace has become more than just a special occasions resource for the Bimontes. in fact, Brad frequently pops back into the kitchen to get baking advice from his friend.

“As much as I like to cook and bake, I have always had issues with baking bread,” Brad explained. “Chef Wallace told me exactly how to bloom the yeast and my next attempt was perfect.”

The two now find themselves exchanging baking ideas regularly.

“We’ve talked about chemical versus biological leveners, quick-proofing cheats using the microwave, laminating dough, and enriching his coffee cakes for family get-togethers,” Chef Wallace said. “He’s really into the science of baking, which is something I enjoy as well.”

This just goes to show that new friendships aren’t always exclusively made with other Members.

“Our common bond has been butter, sugar, and chocolate,” Chef Wallace said. “That’s a pretty great recipe for anything, particularly friendship.”

How Members Give Back Across the County

From: Array

Across the country, Trilogy® Members are dedicating their time, intellect, and elbow grease to a myriad of charities covering a wide range of worthy causes. From the results of a recent Member survey, we have been able to estimate that Trilogy Members are responsible for 60,000+ hours of service each year. That number is staggering, and the stories of hard work are endless.

This year, we’ll feature four of these amazing stories, knowing there are hundreds more that could be told.

Trilogy® at Ocala Preserve | Creative Arts Group

When Trilogy® at Ocala Preserve Member Kathleen Wolfersberger’s grandson asked for some help on his Boy Scout Troop’s service project, she jumped right in, and enjoyed it so much she brought it back to her own community.

“I really got hooked on how worthwhile and satisfying the project was,” Kathleen said. “So, I brought it back to the Creative Arts Group at Ocala Preserve, and we are off and running with our service project.”

The group crafts sleeping mats for the homeless population of Marion County, Florida, offering a more cushioned surface to sleep on. An additional benefit is that these mats help the environment due to the unusual product used to make them: “plarn” or “plastic yarn”.

“It takes about 1,000 plastic bags for one 3.5 by 6-foot mat,” Kathleen explained. “There are several steps to the project, from shopping and collecting the bags to processing them into ‘plarn’ and finally crocheting them into the mats.”

For the group, it’s more than just a service project; it’s a way for them to be creative and make art that benefits others.

“One of our members is an artist and she dreams up these patterns for us,” Kathleen said. “We name all the mats, such as ‘Buttered Popcorn,’ ‘City Scapes,’ ‘Field of Flowers,’ ‘Beaches,’ ‘Chocolate Mint,’ and more.”

To date, the group repurposed more than 15,000 plastic bags in the creation of 15 completed mats, and more are in production. Each takes a tremendous amount of time and effort, but, as the group is quick to point out, all things that matter inevitably do.

Trilogy® at The Polo Club | W.O.W. Club

In Trilogy® at The Polo Club, a group of women known as the “Women of Wisdom” (or the W.O.W. Club) believes there is truth in the quote: “The more we give, the happier we feel.”

In the three years since Trilogy® Member Janet Malek began the W.O.W Club, the group has embraced this notion wholeheartedly.

“W.O.W. believes that the benefits of giving back are enormous,” Janet said. “It strengthens our ties to the community and makes it a better place to live. Giving back not only helps people in need and supports worthwhile causes, but it also has a profound effect on one’s well-being and sense of purpose.”

Their efforts include supporting causes such as Desert Best Friend’s Closet, a non-profit dedicated to helping low-income Coachella Valley residents by providing them with professional interview and work attire; and Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, which provides emergency food, clothing, shelter, and spiritual guidance to homeless and needy men, women, and children. However, W.O.W. Club’s largest charitable cause has been their “adoption” of a local elementary school.

Since 2017, the W.O.W. Club has volunteered in the school’s classrooms, sponsored “Back to School” supply drives, and has hosted a large holiday blanket and book drive called “We’ve Got You Covered” to benefit the school’s kindergartners.

“In 2017 and in 2018, W.O.W. members donated 126 children’s blankets and books each year, to the surprise and joy of the kindergartners,” Janet explained. “W.O.W. ‘Elves’ delivered the gifts the following morning to the students, and there were plenty of smiles and hugs to go around!”

The group views “We’ve Got You Covered” as an annual event, and they look to continue to help their local community wherever they can.

As Janet explained, “Through our actions and involvement, we hope to make the world a little brighter and kinder.”

Trilogy® at Tehaleh® | Trilogy Serves

When Mary Lee and Skip Sherwood moved to Trilogy® at Tehaleh® in 2016, they both were looking for new ways to volunteer. After realizing there were others in their community who were also new to the area and had similar philanthropic interests, they began thinking of ways to get them all involved, which eventually led to the creation of the Whitman Homeowners Association Community Service Activities Committee. Or, “Trilogy Serves” for short.

“Originally, Mary Lee and I decided that creating a ‘directory’ of donation, volunteer, and fundraising opportunities aimed specifically at our residents might be useful,” Skip explained. “The whole thing took off, then the committee was chartered, and the events followed.”

As the committee’s original chair, Skip (with the help of his wife) and the eight other committee members have planned charitable events for the community to partake in. Helping Bonney Lake’s youth population has been a main focus for the committee and the driving force behind two of their recent events.

In November 2018, Trilogy Serves held an event called “Baby’s First Christmas,” where 100 Tehaleh Members came together for an evening to donate over 6,500 diapers, 17,500 baby wipes, and a variety of other items. Several local organizations benefitted from Trilogy Serves’ efforts, including the Bonney Lake Food Bank, Prairie Ridge Community Center, Sumner/Bonney Lake Family Support Center, and Step by Step, which supports economically at-risk women who are pregnant or have newborns.

Then in May, Trilogy Serves hosted “Bingo 4 Youth” as a way to help summer youth programs in the area. More than 100 Tehaleh Members came out, once again, to donate more than 7,000 food items for two local programs – Prairie Ridge Community Center and Mother2Many.

“Prairie Ridge Community Center conducts summer activity programs for youth from low-income families and provides lunches every day,” Skip explained. “While Mother2Many goes to skate parks and gives out snacks and hydration items. Their goal is to let kids know that they matter. A major goal of both organizations it to reduce violence among youth.”

In addition to the donation of items, both events featured a raffle aspect that allowed the committee to raise monetary funds. Thanks to some help from Shea Homes® and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the committee raised over $26,000 during the two events.

As Skip’s time as the committee chair comes to a close after a two-year term, he looks back fondly at what the committee has been able to accomplish so far and looks forward to its future.

“My wife, Mary Lee, and I will continue to attend committee meetings and help out where we can,” Skip explained. “For a while, I will be that guy with the institutional memory, who sits in the back row, available if needed.”

Trilogy® at Wickenburg Ranch | Wickenburg Cares

When Trilogy® at Wickenburg Ranch Members Donald Hoover and Dwight Zemp started the “Wickenburg Cares” group, it was in an effort to educate their neighbors on the needs of residents in their larger community of Wickenburg, Arizona.

“Our mission is to share our good fortune with those not as fortunate as we,” Donald explained. “We’ve noticed that many retirees tend to enjoy the good life and not notice the tremendous need of other less fortunate townspeople.”

The group’s goal is to support local 501(c)(3) corporations in their efforts, by encouraging Trilogy Members to donate however they feel appropriate, be it time, talents, or money.

“We want Wickenburg Cares to be a place that our residents can be informed of the needs of the community and its citizens, while not feeling pressured or coerced into volunteering or giving,” Dwight explained. “It’s a place to learn about the needs and opportunities so they can decide when, how, and what opportunities they would like to support.”

In the short time since Donald and Dwight began the group, their efforts are already being felt in the local Wickenburg community.

“We’ve been successful in raising several thousands of dollars, and the Wickenburg Community Development Corporation’s new Senior Center will open at the end of this year, partly from our efforts,” Donald said.

The pair feels it’s important to give to those less fortunate because they’ve been so fortunate in their lives. “When we raise others, we also raise ourselves.”

Our Journey to Living Happier

From: Array

When Tom Grasso and Jim Martinez Jr. moved into their home at Trilogy at The Vineyards in April of 2018, their expectations were audacious. They wanted this move to be the start of something new, bold, and, hopefully, awe-inspiring.

The couple of 24 years, who married just six years ago, spent most of their lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, minutes from the Manhattan skyline. Both commuted to – and worked in – the metropolis for all those years, running the fast-paced, proverbial rat race.

Tom was a longtime advertising copywriter, spending his tenure at institutions such as Macy’s and Simon & Shuster. Jim dedicated years to the Marine Corps before working in finance. Though they had affection for the city, days, weeks, months and then years began to feel similar, and it was time for a new journey. A new adventure.

After previously spending time in the Northern California area, Tom and Jim chose The Vineyards as their new destination, in part because they have family who also live in the community, a mere “20-second golf cart ride away.”

While ready and eager to start their new journey, moving 3,000 miles from the place they called home for so many years did not come without some trepidation.

“Before we moved here, I really didn’t know what to expect,” said Tom. “I wasn’t sure if we would meet friends quickly or could foster strong relationships like we had in New York. I was at times anxious of the unknown.”

After a few months into building their new life, the couple has not only found their way – they have had more fun, made more friends, and are ultimately living happier than ever before.

“Instead of tackling the daily grind like we did for so long, our mornings now start at the fitness facility and that’s followed by a few hours of lounging at the pool,” added Tom. “We have met so many interesting, wonderful people who have embraced us immediately. From hosted dinner parties to enjoying the wine club’s education classes, each day is more fun than the last. We now live a lifestyle we could have never imagined prior to moving here.”

In addition to enjoying amenities and events hosted within the community, Tom and Jim have been trying new activities and exploring new interests. They plan to start hiking, biking, visiting farmers markets and discovering new sites the area has to offer.

“We’re excited about the future here at Trilogy, and what’s to come next.”

An Un-Bee-Lievable Passion

From: Array

From a career life that included medicine, motherhood, and 20 years as a professional clown, Sandy Ross never expected that there’d be one more twist in her story. But this Trilogy® Orlando Member has found a unique way to enjoy retirement, as the community’s resident Bee Whisperer.

These days Sandy Ross spends her time enjoying life at Trilogy Orlando. She moved to the central Florida community with her husband a few years ago to be closer to family, and ultimately to start enjoying the retirement life they worked so hard to earn. By “worked hard to earn”, we really mean it. Prior to retiring, Sandy spent years in both the education and health fields, all while juggling her career progression and motherhood.

In Sandy’s case, the “juggling” wasn’t just between work and home, for nearly 20 years, she moonlighted as a professional clown, finding joy in creating memories for others at numerous birthday parties and special events. It’s an unusual background that most would assume might be the most interesting part of Sandy’s story. Think again.

After a year of reveling in retirement bliss, Sandy discovered an unexpected interest, in beekeeping! That’s right. After her son become a beekeeper, she had the opportunity to learn more about it, and was drawn in immediately.

“The role of the honeybees in our ecosystem can’t be overstated,” said Sandy. “If we aren’t careful in preserving their existence, we could profoundly affect our environment.”

Sandy joined the Lake County Beekeepers Association to learn more about these creatures and how she could play a role in positively impacting their survival. today, as a registered beekeeper with the state of Florida, Sandy inspects hives, checks for mites and queen activity, as well as the overall good health of the hive.

Additionally, sandy pulls fresh honey off the hives and bottles it for sale. In the past six months she’s collected more than 150 pounds of delicious, ready-to-stick-to-you honey, all of which she sells at the community’s Garden Club Plant Sale.

In addition to packaging and selling honey for Members, Sandy and the Lake County Beekeepers have also come to the rescue when bees have swarmed trees of neighborhood homes, ensuring they are properly collected and transferred to a safe environment, earning Sandy the nickname “The Bee Whisperer” at Trilogy Orlando.

“I’m 64 years young, passionate about this cause, and looking to help the honeybees as much as I can,” added Sandy. “They play such a crucial role for us humans, it’s time for us to give back to them.”

Someday, its Sandy’s hope to further help the honeybees at Trilogy by planting wildflowers and plants native to the area in the community’s open spaces. Sandy says the new landscaping would add habitat and food sources for not just the honeybees, but also wild songbirds and hummingbirds.

More Than Sport: How Social Meets Sport with the Wickenburg Ranch Pickleball Club

From: Array

Sports are inherently competitive in nature. Players put in hours of skill-building practice, all with the end intention of coming out of their next game a winner. This is no different in the sport of pickleball, but in Trilogy® at Wickenburg Ranch, members of the Pickleball Club are in search of more than just their next “W”.

A new sector of players is emerging, players whose main goal is to simply have fun and make new friends through the game. Like many other Member-led Clubs at Trilogy communities across the country, the Wickenburg Ranch Pickleball Club (WRPBC) is becoming more of a social club than simply a sports club.

Before moving into Trilogy at Wickenburg Ranch in May of 2016, Helen and Glenn Saucier had never even heard of pickleball.

On one side of the coin, Glenn began playing immediately and has since won a Gold Medal in his skill/age group at the 2018 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships in Indian Wells, California, with his partner, Carrie Lane. But as for Helen, her journey to pickleball was much slower, and more focused on the social aspect of the game.

“As a novice player, I wanted to play with other beginners, so I started a group of ‘Kinder & Gentler’ players,” Helen explained. “We focus on learning the game, encouraging each other’s progress, enjoying ourselves, and making new friends. It started with four players and now regularly fills the courts!”

Two newer residents of Wickenburg Ranch, Robin and John Jaques, who moved in January 2019, also found the social nature of the WRPBC to be an exciting addition to the sport they loved.

“Joining the club is like an instant community,” Robin said. “When you move to a new place, like we did from California, it’s like an instant family.”

In April 2019, the shift from sports club to social sports club became extremely apparent to both Helen and the Jaques.

“We (the Pickleball Club) had begun hosting large, informal parties off the courts in our homes,” Helen explained. “Glenn and I hosted a large party in April (2019) right before the club’s first tournament, which had over 75 members in attendance.”

This party spurred the idea of a Social Committee, a sub-group of WRPBC members whose focus would be to emphasize the social aspect of the club.

“Helen had asked if we could start a social committee, and I immediately knew where she wanted to go with it,” Robin explained. “Pickleball is so much fun, and you want to give the group more than just playing on the courts.”

When Helen and Robin met about the committee for the first time after the approval of the Board of Directors, they established some goals. The first was to throw quarterly parties in which all mem-bers could attend. After noticing how some members only played on specific days, they realized people were missing out on getting to know members who didn’t play on the same days, so these parties became priority number one.

The second goal was to introduce Round Robin play. Less competitive than a tournament, Round Robins allow club members to get to know a wide variety of other players in a short amount of time.

“We have held two Round Robin events so far, with both events reaching full capacity,” Helen explained. “In addition to our regular pickleball play, these events are meant to be semi-competitive, social, and fun for all levels of players. When the snowbirds return in the fall, we definitely plan on adding more to the schedule.”

While the group does have its fair share of competitive pickleball events, such as tournaments, the Social Committee has made the group an inclusive place for players of all skills.

“We work with the Board of Directors to make sure we keep the fun and that everyone is included, because you don’t want to end up in a situation where you just have the 12 best players in the club always doing stuff,” said John, who is also part of the Social Committee.

“If you want to be competitive, and involved in all the competitions, then there’s still a lot out there,” Robin said.

For both the Sauciers and the Jaques, the Wickenburg Ranch Pickleball Club has become an integral part of this chapter in their lives.

“Everybody moves to a place like Wickenburg Ranch, or a Trilogy-style community, because they’re not ready to grow old yet; you still want to be physically active, you want to be social, you want to meet other people, you want to do other things – and pickleball provides all that,” John explained. “It provides an instant community of other like-minded people and that’s what pickleball is. It really isn’t tons of competition. Any given morning you might go out and play 6 to 12 games and it really doesn’t matter if you won or lost.”

Joining Forces to Make a Difference

From: Array

Generosity is a priority for Members living in Trilogy at Vistancia, as evidenced by the nearly 50 Member-led clubs and volunteer groups giving back to the community.

In 2007, Trilogy Wings at Work (TWAW) was created as a way to help Member-led clubs and volunteer groups give back to the local community.

“Trilogy at Vistancia is always giving back,” Gregg Snyder, the community’s longtime Lifestyle Director, explained. “Our goal was to reach out and, with our Members, help create the best possible program, charitable event, fundraiser, walk, race, or food drive we could to make the greatest possible impact.”

The process is simple. A Member-led club or volunteer group will work with the Resort Club’s lifestyle team to talk logistics, marketing, and fundraising in order to make their philanthropic event a success. That way, all of the resources – volunteers and otherwise – are aligned to ensure maximum impact.

Over the past decade, Trilogy Wings at Work has organized over 100 philanthropic events and initiatives; from seasonal food drives and Petstock® to blood drives and silent auctions. Two of their biggest events are typically the Trilogy Veterans Club Toys for Tots drive and the Food for Kidz Pack Day.

PARTNERSHIP WITH TRILOGY VETERANS CLUB

The Trilogy Veterans Club began in 2014 with just three members, and today, the club is up to 158 members from all different branches of the military. In January of 2018, Scott Duke was elected as president of the club and has since ramped up the amount of charity work they do.

Currently, the Veterans Club works on 10 different “missions” with local organizations including the Veterans Outreach Center, U.S. Vets and the Grand Veterans Village, Soldier’s Best Friend, and one of the year’s biggest missions, Toys for Tots.

“Every year, we surpass what we did the year before,” Scott said about Toys for Tots. “You cannot imagine the residents in this place, we collected over 19 bikes last year and over 2,000 toys.”

Each November and December, the resort Club team sets up two large holiday trees – one at Vistancia’s Kiva Club and another at the Mita Club – where residents drop off their donations.

“As soon as you walked in here [to the Kiva Club] you’d see this huge tree and it just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger with toys,” Scott explained. “These toys were very nice toys too – Barbie™ dolls, basketballs, and all sorts of stuff.”

In addition to setting up the trees, Trilogy Wings at Work helps the Veterans Club organize the Toys for Tots Holiday Salute which includes a holiday performance, a salute to our troops, and a special visit from Santa. however, their presence isn’t just felt around the holiday season; Trilogy Wings at Work assists the club throughout the year.

“If I need a room for a kick-off meeting, Gregg and his staff are always there to help us,” Scott explained. “He [Gregg] says they’re a small part, but I’ll tell you they are much larger than that. They are very receptive to the needs of our club. I’ve told Gregg this before, but I find it absolutely amazing how they can juggle all the demands on their time.”

PARTNERSHIP WITH FOOD FOR KIDZ

Food for Kidz is a Minnesota-based non-profit organization whose mission is to package and distribute nutritious meals to hungry children and their families in crisis-torn areas. over the last 13 years, Trilogy’s Food For Kidz group has packed over 1.5 million meals for kids in need; all in a single day each year, “Pack Day.”

“Our ultimate goal is for Pack Day,” Vistancia Food For Kidz Chairperson Susan DiGiovanni explained.

Pack Day, which is typically held in March, is when the group and their volunteers spend five to six hours packing meals of rice, soy, protein, and dehydrated vegetables. At any given time, up to 200 volunteers fill the Kiva Club’s Tewa Ballroom preparing, packing and sealing meals. At the end of the day, over 800 people will have lent a hand.

“When we put together all these meals, 50 percent of them stay in the Phoenix area going to food banks locally to help starving children,” Susan explained. “The other half goes elsewhere around the world. Last year [2017], it was sent to Texas and Florida because they experienced big disasters.”

Don’t be fooled though. The group isn’t busy for just one single day in March, as much more work goes into the cause throughout the rest of the year to even make Pack Day happen.

“Before and after Pack Day, we have fundraisers so that we can raise the $25,000 needed to pay for the ingredients of the meals that we pack,” Susan explained. “Last year, we packed over 140,000 meals. This year our goal is 150,000 meals.”

To meet that goal, the group raises funds throughout the year with various events and help from Trilogy Wings at Work.

“A lot of their fundraisers and awareness strategies happen right here at the Club,” Gregg Snyder explained. “Food For Kidz volunteers or Susan herself will come to Coffee Talk and speak or recruit volunteers during Happier Hours. The Resort Club team also helps to organize and facilitate their events like the annual fundraising dance, the coin dump fundraiser, and even Pack Day itself. A lot of work goes into getting the ballroom ready for Pack Day, but we couldn’t be happier to help!”

Volunteers include other Member-led clubs and organizations as well. Last year, the entire Trilogy Softball Team was on hand to load a semi-truck full of meals, and the Trilogy Veterans Club worked alongside the airmen from Luke Air Force Base to pack meals for those in need.

And while each club has their own events and causes they support, one thing is for certain, Trilogy Wings at Work is a force behind the scenes to help make it all happen.

“We’re trying to assist them, so that they can reach their goals,” Gregg explained. “This community is full of people who are ready to give. our Members give so much of their money, time, and energy to make Vistancia and the surrounding communities a better place. It’s amazing.”

Pioneering Spirit

From: Array

For many, what makes Trilogy® such an attractive place to live is the opportunity to drop into a world that can provide dozens of friends in an instant. Seemingly behind every front door are people who have shared similar experiences, made similar life choices, and, like those coming in, prioritized living in an environment which is social and active. So, what happens when you’re among the first in?

Over the course of the past two decades, Shea Homes® has introduced 17 new Trilogy communities across the country, meaning that 17 times someone has been the first to close – owners and residents on a street where, quite literally, there are no neighbors. For an idea so fundamentally rooted in the idea of social connection, it’s a stark contrast to what develops over the months and years.

To get a sense of what life is like for these pioneers – and what draws them to being the early adopters – we tracked down a few from the communities. While we weren’t able to connect with the very first arrivals, we were close, and their perspectives are no less interesting.

The experiences are enlightening, and we hope it will make us better as we introduce new communities – like the most recent Trilogy in Summerlin, Nevada. They too will evolve from quiet enclaves to vibrant and active neighborhoods, with early adopters remembered fondly by others as trail-paving “pioneers”.

TERRI FORMOSA | Trilogy® Lake Norman

From the time Terri and her husband first started considering a “half-back” home in the Carolinas to the time they selected Trilogy Lake Norman was quick. Very quick, in fact. They arrived at the community for a drop-in visit, and within the weekend they had selected a home and homesite and were underway.

“As soon as we got there I knew it felt right,” said Terri. “We were a little concerned about being so early in the community, but it’s turned out to be a great experience. I feel like we’ve had a chance to form a real bond with everyone who has moved in after us.”

Over time, Terri has become an integral part of the community culture, a benefit of early adoption. “A lot of what we try to do from a lifestyle perspective relies on the first residents being willing and active,” said Trevor Sunderlage, Lifestyle Director at Twin Mills Club. “Terri’s contagious energy really got us started on the right foot, and she’s still one of our best ambassadors today.”

DJ FOURCHALK | Encanterra®, a Trilogy® Resort Community

DJ Fourchalk was among the first to purchase in the age-qualified enclave of Encanterra, one of the four actively-selling Trilogy communities in Arizona. Despite the fact that he had never lived in Arizona and spent most of his time back home in western Canada, DJ settled right in. “It’s almost hard to remember now, but I guess I was an early adopter. I don’t think it really mattered – seemingly every time I walked down the street I’d meet someone new and make a connection.”

The street – Laddoos Avenue – transformed quickly from dirt lots to completed homes, but for DJ, the charm of the “frontier” remained. “I joked with many neighbors at the time about how the ‘neighborhood was changing.’ In all honesty, I enjoyed the extra space for a while, but I much prefer having neighbors to connect with.”

ANN & JEFF FELD | Trilogy® in Summerlin®

The first time I met Jeff Feld, he was quick to tell me that he and his wife Ann were “Members #3!” (considering that the entire community at that point still felt like a construction zone, it was surprising to hear there were two before them). This enthusiasm continued as we spoke more at the groundbreaking of what will soon be the community’s centerpiece, Outlook Club.

“I’m looking forward to all kinds of new experiences,” Jeff explained. “We’re going to maximize use of the Club for sure. In talking to our neighbors, it’s something we’re all excited about.”

While the Felds are technically “members #3,” they were the first to move into the community, which has been a positive experience.

“Being the first ones here, we get to know everyone who is moving in,” Ann explained. “It’s been really nice because they all ask us ‘what’s it like living here?’ and ‘what’s it like to move in?’ and we feel like we’ve been able to help everybody.”

“All of a sudden, we have all these brand new, best friends that we didn’t have before,” Ann continued.

“It’s incredible meeting all these new people, making new friends, and exploring new opportunities,” Jeff added.

Michele Chovan Taylor, the Club and Lifestyle Director of the Outlook Club, agrees. “Without people like the Felds, communities like ours simply can’t launch properly. You need energy, you need excitement. They bring that in spades.”

35,000 Miles and Counting

From: Array

Robert and Denise Hertzberg have a penchant for adventure and discovery. The couple had lived in the Philadelphia area for more than 30 years, and upon retirement, sought to explore the country and hopefully find the perfect place to relocate and retire. A little more than four years ago, the couple embarked on what was to be a one-year RV expedition across the country to visit several national parks, landmarks, cities and towns. The journey they ultimately made turned out to be much longer, and much more rewarding.

“Our adventure was originally planned to last one year,” said Robert. “But we had such an incredible time in our RV that we extended our journey to two years, then to three!”

Along the way, the Hertzbergs visited 43 national parks (with plenty of hiking and mountain biking at several of them) and traversed in their RV more than 35,000 miles across the United States and Canada. “We could have gone anywhere, but there is so much of the U.S. and Canada that we hadn’t seen,” said Denise. “it was also a tremendous opportunity to visit different communities and consider where we wanted to live after our extended road trip.”

The Hertzberg’s journey led them to not one, not two, not even three or four visits to different Trilogy® communities. in total, they visited seven before settling on the one that best accommodates their newly nomadic lifestyle.

“Even though we were searching for a home, we still had plans to keep exploring in our RV—at least during the summer months,” said Robert. “Summer is the best time of year to drive an RV. It’s when the weather is best, most national parks are open and when many cities host festivals and events.”

“This is why we chose to build a home at Trilogy at Verde River, (near Scottsdale in Arizona)” said Denise. “It has everything we could ask for in terms of beautiful scenery and a home that has the perfect look, feel and floorplan to match our ‘on-the-go’ lifestyle. And it’s not uncommon for residents here to take extended vacations in the summer like we do—meaning when we are home and not on the road, it’s likely our friends and neighbors are home at the same time.”

“We’ve gotten to know several other snowbirds who spend their summers on vacation elsewhere,” said Robert. “We’ve also had a tremendous time sharing with our new friends and neighbors about what it’s like to travel the country in an RV. Recently, we hosted an open house to show people what our RV is like, and to answer questions about life on the road.”

“Once a neighbor of ours saw that our RV had a washer and dryer in it, she and her husband went and bought one of their own,” said Denise. “I’ve explained to many people that when you travel in an RV, home is wherever you are! But even still, with all the modern-day conveniences available in today’s incredible RVs, it’s always nice to know you have a real home somewhere to go back to.”

Since visiting multiple Trilogy communities across the country, the Hertzbergs realized a distinguishing trait that separates Trilogy active-adult communities from non-Trilogy ones. “No matter what Trilogy community you live in, you’ll find people who are looking to make new friends,” said Robert. “We toured several communities on our journey and the single-most important deciding factor for us was the friendly people. There’s just a particular vibe we were drawn to that we didn’t find anywhere else.”

What’s next for the Hertzbergs? “Among our favorite areas to explore is the Pacific Northwest,” said Robert. “The scenery there is so different from where we come from and where we live today. Plus, summer is a wonderful time to visit there.”

“We love calling Trilogy our home,” said Denise. “And we love being on the road, too. To be able to live in a community with other like-minded adventurers and travelers like us is a dream come true!”

Traveling The World On Two Wheels

From: Array

Some explore on foot, many explore by car, and others see the world from the air, but for Gail Johnson and other members of the Bicycle Club in Trilogy at Vistancia, their preference is to explore the world on two wheels.

“Riding a bicycle in a foreign country allows us to go places that most people never see unless they are riding, hiking, or live locally,” Gail Johnson, founder of the Bicycle Club at Vistancia, explained. “We have seen spectacular scenery and met locals, immersing ourselves in the culture along the way.”

Their first group trip was to Italy in 2012 where they sought out a specialized bicycle hotel that offered programmed tours.

“We all had a wonderful time riding and exploring together, forging friendships and creating memories through this shared experience,” Gail said.

Since then, members of the club have traveled all over, from Spain and Switzerland, to France, New Zealand, and beyond. In July 2017, the club took one of its biggest trips yet: US and Canadian members hosted a grand Canadian adventure in honor of the country’s 150th “Sesquicentennial” anniversary.

“This event took over a year to plan,” Gail said. “We offered rides for several levels of riders based on mileage and ability. Detailed routes and maps were created with events by day online.”

With nearly 40 members and their spouses along for the ride, the group converged in Vancouver before making their way to Victoria, British Colombia where most of their time was spent. From urban environments to the lush summer countryside, and inland to the seaside, members pedaled an average of 30-40 miles per day, with plenty of stops along the way for leisure.

“Other events included a tour of Butchart Gardens, a zipline experience, a brewery tour and tasting, golf, and, of course, there was always time for shopping,” Gail explained. “We also had three group dinners – one in Vancouver and two in Victoria – and two appetizer and wine gatherings hosted in Victoria at the home of two of our members.”

One of the highlights of this particular trip was when the group stumbled upon a working piano sitting right on the beach during a seaside ride. A rider named Murray sat down and began to play while the cyclists gathered around him. as the music drifted across the sand and out to sea, a seal swam by and waved its flippers at the group as if to say “thanks for the music, my biker friends! Happy Canadian Sesquicentennial!”

With each trip that has passed, the group has built more camaraderie as they face challenging terrains, unpredictable elements, and even occasionally getting lost. But to the club, it is a gift of shared memories.

“We all have the attitude that ‘yes, we have to grow older, we just don’t have to grow up,’” Gail laughed. “We will continue to have fun and explore together creating more and more treasured moments along the way.”

Looking Ahead: Trilogy® Doubles Down in Las Vegas

From: Array

Just more than three years ago, the Trilogy® team opened a new resort-style community in the heart of the No. 1 master-planned community in Las Vegas. Trilogy® in Summerlin® was the first resort community in a truly urban setting, located in one of the most sought-after parts of the Las Vegas valley. This new Trilogy concept gave us the opportunity to expand our condominium offerings, with an enclave of 354 attached, single-level home designs, some with attached casitas and lofts. With success in market now proven, the coming months will see us expand the Trilogy portfolio to another highly desirable area of Las Vegas.

Located in the northwest part of the city near the foothills, Shea Homes® has partnered with Lennar® and Woodside Homes® to create a dynamic new master-planned community called Sunstone, the location of our newest Trilogy-branded 55+ resort community. Conveniently located with easy freeway access off the newly completed I-95, Sunstone is set at the gateway to the adjacent recreation in the foothills and canyons of this spectacular area.

At full build out, Sunstone is a collection of neighborhoods with approximately 3,000 homes, focusing on modern style, distinct architectural details, and expansive outdoor living that takes advantage of the sunbelt climate. The community features access to miles of open space with recreation that’s easy to explore at nearby Red Rock Canyon, Mount Charleston, and Lee Canyon.

Trilogy® Sunstone is planned to include approximately 1,000 new homes featuring Shea Homes’ newest floorplan designs. Pricing is expected to range from the mid-$300s to the high-$400s, with homes and homesites that provide a variety options based on style and budget.

The centerpiece of Trilogy, as always, will be the Resort Club – the hub and heart of the community. Plans are currently underway, with the goal to create a stylish, modern environment that celebrates Trilogy’s core brand values of Wellness, Connection, and Freedom.

Details on homes, the Club lifestyle, as well as additional pricing information will become available in the coming months, so be sure to join the interest list at SheaHomes.com/Trilogy and sign up for regular updates!

Scarves For Life

From: Array

All across the country at various Trilogy® communities, you’ll find a wide array of extraordinary people doing amazing things. Among those are people who have dedicated their lives to helping those in need of moral support as they endure a variety of physical and mental challenges.

Marcie Schwartz, a Member of Trilogy® at The Vineyards, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994. An aspiring fashion model at the time, Marcie went through chemotherapy, losing her hair in the process.

“I faced cancer head on,” said Schwartz. “Through my experience, I learned how important it was to keep a positive mindset and to remember that cancer doesn’t make you any less beautiful.”

Using her fashion background, Marcie learned how to wrap her head with designer scarves—a trick she learned working in a Christian Dior fashion show back in the 1970s. “I have seen and met many women who just don’t know what to do once their hair starts to fall out. I then give them a bit of a makeover to help lift their spirits while undergoing treatment.”

In addition to helping cancer patients facing chemotherapy feel more confident, Marcie also provides moral and emotional support. “I offer contact information for women to call me 24/7 if they have questions or wake in the middle of the night and are frightened,” said Schwartz. “I want them all to know they are not alone, that there is hope and most of all, they have a friend they can talk to about anything.”

Thank you, Marcie!

If you’re interested in learning more about Marcie and her scarves for life, you may contact her at marcieschwartz1@gmail.com.

Home is Where the Horses Are: How Equestrianism Plays a Part in Life in Ocala

From: Array

When you think of equestrian sports, some big names come to mind – Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, Pimlico Race Course – but what about Ocala? Ocala, Florida, and surrounding Marion County are home to more horses than anywhere else in the United States. The area houses hundreds of horse farms, breeding and training facilities, and is host to dozens of events each year. Because of this, Ocala is known as the “Horse Capital of the World.”

The first thoroughbred horse farm in Florida was founded by Carl G. Rose who, originally in the asphalt business, took a gamble in 1943 and bought an Ocala acreage that would become Rosemere Farm. It took just one year for one of his horses, Gornil, to win at Miami’s iconic Tropical Park. Amaz-ingly, Gornil was the first Florida-raised thoroughbred to win a Florida race. (As an interesting aside, Rosemere Farm is the inspiration for the name of “Rose Farm’s Kitchen,” the culinary studio in Oak House at Ocala Preserve.)

Later in 1956, a horse named Needles out of the Bonnie Heath Farm in Ocala, became the first Florida-bred Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner. Since then, multiple world champions and Triple Crown Winners have been bred and/or trained in Ocala, putting the area on the map as a top equestrian destination.

Situated right in the middle of horse country, Trilogy® at Ocala Preserve is home to many horse lovers, including Member Eleanor Metelits.

When Eleanor began riding horses, many things in her life were changing. “My kids were out of the house and my husband had other interests, so I started trail riding with a friend,” Eleanor explained.

Eleanor enjoyed it so much that she bought a horse and began trail riding competitively (an equestrian sport where riders cover a marked trail that can range up to as much as 40 miles per day).

“When I bought my second horse, who I had a lot of trouble with, I started working with a trainer doing dressage to get him to obey me,” Eleanor said. “I started to do eventing with him, but as I got older, the jumping became a little more dangerous, so I just went into dressage.”

The eventing work helped prepare Eleanor and her horse Sunny for their career in dressage, as eventing challenges riders across the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping.

In the midst of her equestrian career, Eleanor, her husband, and their horses moved from New Jersey to Ocala where they lived on a 3.5-acre farm. After her husband’s passing and some issues with her health, Eleanor moved to Trilogy. And while she is no longer able to ride, it doesn’t stop her from enjoying the equestrian world. She still has friends who compete, many of whom she’ll go watch and support.

Nowadays, Eleanor spends her days playing Mah Jongg, participating in Water and Dance Aerobics, and going to shows at the Symphony and the Reilly Arts Center. But there’s one special guy she makes sure to visit each day –her horse, Pluto Chantella.

“He has taught me so much,” Eleanor explained. “Things like patience, relaxation, and consideration for others.”

Even though she can no longer ride Pluto Chantella, living in Trilogy, just 10 minutes away from him, keeps her close to home.

Looking Ahead

From: Array

In 2016, Trilogy® began to think boldly about the way active adult communities are envisioned. We took it upon ourselves to answer a question that had been brewing in our collective consciousness for some time:  Is there a way to incorporate Trilogy into a more urban setting?

Never shy to take on new challenges, we’ve embarked in doing just that with the all new Trilogy in Summerlin® Las Vegas, where home sales began in fall of 2017.

Set on just about 50 acres in debatably Las Vegas’s most desirable master-planned community, Summerlin, Trilogy is a cosmopolitan enclave of just more than 350 residences. A blend of patio homes, duplexes, and condominiums, the community has one feature noticeably absent — there are no detached homes. This is one part by requirement, and another part by design.

“There are many elements that make the Trilogy environments distinct,” said Jeff McQueen, president of Trilogy. “The most important is the way the community design encourages meeting neighbors, making friends, and experiencing life. I suspect we may be even more successful at delivering on those goals as we increase density.”

While the freestanding homes may be absent, the resort club continues to act as the community centerpiece. Case in point is the community’s Outlook Club, a nearly 15,000 square-foot desert contemporary clubhouse complete with fitness, relaxation, pool, courts, a dramatic rooftop deck with views of the Strip, and much more. Expected to be unveiled as soon as late 2018, Outlook Club will include some of the boldest design choices Trilogy has ever made – a luxury made possible by the progressive designs showcased at the resorts throughout the city.

Homes in the community are expected to begin in the mid-$400’s and range in size from 1,500 to nearly 3,000 square feet. Summerlin Village – which includes restaurants, shopping, attractions, and more – is just minutes away.

Early interest in the community has been strong, reinforcing Trilogy’s long-had interest in southern Nevada. “One of our tenets since the beginning has been innovation,” said McQueen. “As we now craft a community in one of the boldest, brightest cities in the country, we see this as another step in keeping Trilogy at the forefront of the active adult space.”

Information on Trilogy in Summerlin is available by visiting TrilogyLife.com

Gonna Party Like it’s 1999: Celebrating Trilogy’s 20th Anniversary

From: Array

The year was 1999. ER and The Sopranos were the top TV shows; Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time” and “Mambo No. 5” ruled the radio; The Sixth Sense hit the big screen along with The Matrix. Bill Clinton was in the White House and the Denver Broncos were Super Bowl champs. The world lost Joe DiMaggio and JFK, Jr.; the Dow closed above 11,000 points for the first time ever; and Netscape was the browser of choice for those who were even on the internet at that point.

And in a kitchen in Scottsdale, Arizona, over an informal dinner, two of Trilogy®’s founders were writing what they saw as the vision for a new concept for 55+ age-qualified communities. Now, 20 years later, what started as an impromptu conversation has developed into one of the most respected brands in community development, and one that has expanded beyond its 55+ roots.

When Trilogy first began, success was far from fait accompli. The landscape in real estate was changing. Demographics were shifting, and the formula that had been working in the past – largely “build it and they will come” – was no longer a reliable business model. The team at Trilogy understood that it needed to create some-thing truly distinct, truly special. So, what did they do? First, they looked at the opportunity from the customer’s perspective.

“We realized pretty quickly that everyone else was focused on the hardware. ‘How quickly can I build a home, and what feature and functions can I include?’” remembers Jeff McQueen, the President of Trilogy today and one of those at that fateful dinner two decades ago. “While we obviously know building high-quality homes is critically important, what we recognized is that what our homebuyers wanted then – and what they still seem to want now – is a place where they can live happier, healthier, more socially connected lives. And to do that, you need more than great homes; you need a community.”

This thinking led to a focus on the amenities and bringing in partners who could help ensure that the experience provided was world-class in all ways. That meant architects, interior designers, landscape planners, and hospitality operators who were working outside of the active adult space and who could bring in new, unique perspectives.

“Looking back now, our choice to break the mold was the smartest choice we made,” said McQueen. “I joke with the team now that we were disrupting before ‘disruption’ became a thing.” The successes over the past 20 years speak for themselves:

• Developing master-planned resort communities in seven states in sizes ranging from fewer than 400 homes to nearly 4,000 homes.
• Successfully delivering more than 20,000 new homes to more than 30,000 new Members.
• Investing billions of dollars in land, infrastructure, and community development.
• Winning many awards along the way, from such trusted sources as J.D. Power & Associates, Urban Land Institute, Builder Magazine, and more.

To say a lot has changed over 20 years is an understatement. As the scale of Trilogy has expanded, so too has the responsibility the founders feel to the Members.

“We come to work trying to create environments where Members have the chance to live truly happier lives, where they are inspired and motivated to make the most of every single day,” said Jeff Hinkle, Senior Vice President for Trilogy and a 20-year member of the team. “When we get feedback that our Members believe they are trying more new things, living healthier, and making more new friends, it makes me proud and gets me excited for what’s ahead for the next 20 years!”

Monarch Magic

From: Array

Since the first Trilogy community was created at Power Ranch in Gilbert, Arizona in the late 1990’s, the butterfly has been the symbol of the brand. Representing “reinvention, renewal and new beginnings,” the Trilogy butterfly has become a recognized symbol in the 55-plus space. In most communities, the butterfly is seen on the entry signage and some of the street signs as well. But in Trilogy at Monarch Dunes, the butterfly is more than a logo – it’s the most prominent aspect of the community ecosystem.

Trilogy at Monarch Dunes sits directly adjacent to a protected monarch butterfly overwintering site. Each year, tens of thousands of butterflies make their pilgrimage to this spot. Judy Richards, a Member in Trilogy at Monarch Dunes, has been the chairperson of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Volunteer Committee since its inception in 2010. We think you’ll enjoy hearing that group’s story in Judy’s own words.

During the June 2018 Monarch Butterfly Habitat Volunteer Committee (MBHVC) meeting in Trilogy at Monarch Dunes, MBHVC members gathered around Melanie Sundstrom and her phone. She wasn’t showing off the latest photo of her new puppy, grandkids, or prize-winning apples. We were all entranced, and a little jealous, that she had photographed the metamorphoses of 12 monarch butterflies raised on milkweed in her own backyard.

We’re very lucky here in Nipomo. At the very heart of our community is a 19-acre monarch butterfly overwintering habitat that comes to life every October as we begin to welcome thousands of butterflies for the winter. It’s a mystery why the insects return to the same areas at the same time every year – and even the same trees each year, but along the Central California Coast, several such areas have now been identified and protected from development to provide overwintering sanctuaries for the Western Monarch Butterfly’s annual migration. The filtered sunlight of our plentiful eucalyptus groves attracts clustering monarchs on winter afternoons, and we know the monarchs enjoy the temperate climate here – just like us.

Our grove was identified as a model for other overwintering sites which might be harmed by housing developments. Beginning back in 1999 with cooperation between the property developer and San Luis Obispo county officials, a plan was formed to preserve the site, and a monetary fund was established to ensure maintenance of the grove. In 2010, the MBHVC was chartered to manage the sanctuary under the direction of our HOA. We are advised by former Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Biology Professor, Dr. Kingston Leong, who has been a valuable resource and whose enthusiasm matches our own.

MBHVC volunteers are in charge of the habitat, doing everything from managing the grove to educating our neighbors about the Western Monarch Butterfly’s migration patterns. We’ve developed a computer program to analyze our data, created our own website monarchdunesbutterflies.org, directed new plantings in the grove, and have given regular informational talks in the park during the overwintering season. One year, volunteers even tracked down butterflies when they mysteriously clustered in trees outside our preserve! Our volunteers are citizen scientists who are dedicated to preserving our site for future generations to enjoy here at Trilogy.

Every year we call for new members to join the MBHVC. Our work has been a terrific community builder, as we share our interests working toward the common goal of maintaining this treasure at the heart of our community. And as our reward, we celebrate the monarchs’ arrival each fall as we see the clustering butterflies up close. a few fortunate members even have the opportunity to experience the miracle of metamorphosis right in our own backyards.

ABOUT THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY
The story of the monarch butterfly is an amazing one. Every fall, North American Monarchs on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains make a migration that can be over 2,000 miles long from Southern Canada all the way down to the Oyamel Fir Forests of Central Mexico. however, monarchs on the western side of the Rockies head to the coast of California, from Santa Cruz down to San Diego, with the highest concentrations on the central coast.

The normal lifespan of a monarch butterfly that emerges from its chrysalis in the spring or early summer is just a few weeks long. The monarchs we see here are the great-great-great- great-grandchildren of those that were present last winter. When the nightly temperatures get cold enough, usually around November 1, they hang in jewel-like clusters, one on top of another, leaving those nightly clusters only on days when it is sunny and very warm. they do not go far from the habitat and return in the late afternoon to re-form the nightly clusters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Judy Richards has lived in Trilogy® at Monarch Dunes since 2006 and has been the chairperson of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Volunteer Committee since it began in 2010. Judy is not a scientist by training, but she does love the monarchs and earned the MBHVC position through her passionate appeals about the habitat’s status at the Nipomo, California town hall meetings. She enjoys working with the volunteers, promoting butterfly stewardship opportunities within Trilogy, and participating in monarch butterfly preservation efforts throughout California.

From Behind the Lens: How Trilogy has Impacted its In-House Film Crew

From: Array

When it comes to shooting a film on behalf of Trilogy®, I’ve discovered a common thread that binds all of what we’ve shot together. It’s not the beautiful locations, or the wealth of fun information we’ve compiled about the various activities and amenities found at different communities. Those things are well and true – and my team and I have had a blast learning about what makes Trilogy tick as well as getting to know Members and staff at different locations (which, speaking of, have all been truly fantastic).

But it’s more than pretty places and fancy buildings. What I think separates Trilogy from other communities and it’s easy to surmise into a single word: Authenticity.

The content we strive to create on behalf of Trilogy Members, staff, and guests is some of the most faithful footage any active lifestyle community has ever captured on film. In other words, the stuff we shoot is made by real folks – in every sort of way.

Case in point: In every Trilogy film that we’ve produced this year, not one has featured a model, actor, or outside representative. Every film stars Members like you and the team located at Trilogy Clubs.

Secondly, we rarely, if ever, use scripts when interviewing Members and staff. This isn’t because we think it will be easier, or that it will make the process move along faster. We do this because we want authentic responses, genuine reactions, and honest interactions. We want casual, comfortable language, not something scripted.

Along with this authentic approach, we strive to create content that inspires Members with real stories about real people. When we produce a film about a program or amenity, we feature the actual staff and team members who are invested in making them great. No spokespersons. No talking heads. Again, the folks you see and hear are the real deal.

There are also similarities that we’ve found at every Trilogy community that we’ve visited: things like phenomenal service, outstanding restaurants, resort-style amenities, and a wide variety of experiences for Members to partake in every single day. What’s fascinating to me is how none of the commonalities we’ve found at different communities impede or hinder on the unique ambiances and cultural representations that each Trilogy has to its own. It’s awesome to see a community fit perfectly in its natural environment by integrating elements germane to the local area.

The same can be said for the people, too. We’ve gotten to know some amazing Members, who have not only lived fascinating lives, they keep living fascinating lives. We’ve met artists, business professionals, Hollywood producers, attorneys, veterans, singers, teachers, and many more. And thanks to Trilogy, many of these Members are able to network and share their passions with likeminded Members or, often times, are able to seek and discover new pastimes and talents that, in some instances, they didn’t know they had. The diversity in people at every Trilogy is remarkable.

With such a great year, what lies ahead? There’s still plenty of film work to pursue ahead, helping more communities and Members tell incredible stories. To do that though, we need your help! Consider this issue of #MyTrilogyLife as a casting call to each and every Member to let us know of any life-changing stories you think are worthy of telling through film. We want to hear from you.

To get the camera rolling, reach out to your local Lifestyle Director and let them know that you have a story worth sharing on MyTrilogyLife.com about someone or something that has happened to help you Live Happier®. If it seems like a great fit, we’ll reach out and start creating together. Lastly, there’s so much to be proud of at each and every Trilogy, and we’re excited to get to know more of you next year. And, next time you see us filming at your Club, don’t hesitate to stop by and say hello. We’re always on the lookout for our next breakout Trilogy star!

That Magic Element

From: Array

The experience of breaking bread with one another has long been a sacred ritual. When we share a meal with others, we share so much more than food. We share a small part of ourselves, and that sharing, over time, weaves the social fabric which connects communities together.

In celebration of these experiences, each year we ask Members about their favorite foods and recipes. On the heels of some incredible feedback, we felt it was the perfect time to start our own ritual and feature a “Trilogy Member-chef” in the #MyTrilogyLife Magazine. To kick things off, we’d like to introduce you to Trilogy® Lake Norman resident Mitch Hadley, who shared with us his culinary origins along with a sampling of his favorite Southern recipes.

#MTL: Mitch, can you tell us a little bit about your origins in the kitchen?

Mitch Hadley (MH): As a child, I would get up early and pull a chair up to the stove and attempt to make pancakes or cook bacon. There were times when my grandmother was certain I would burn the house down, so she always stood with me as I learned to prepare food for others. Her influence is a big reason I love cooking so much.

#MTL: How often are you able to cook for others these days?

MH: As often as I can, and as the community here at Lake Norman grows, I hope to be able to host more dinner parties and holidays among friends.

#MTL: What’s the most important thing you think about when preparing a meal now?

MH: I always start with the most crucial element there is to any meal: how it tastes.

#MTL: In your lifetime, what meal would you say tasted the best?

MH: Among my favorite flavors are those that come from the Carolinas, otherwise known as the “low country.” One of the best-tasting meals I’ve ever had came from a restaurant in Charleston called Poogan’s Porch, and it was their Country Ham and Gouda Macaroni & Cheese. I often try to recreate this at home with a similar recipe.

#MTL: Sounds delicious! Would you say that taste is what makes a meal great?

MH: Admittedly, no. For me, taste isn’t the only thing that goes into a great meal, but looks too! I’ve had some incredibly beautiful meals in my day, and among them is the Thanksgiving dinner served at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Beautiful ice sculptures, a harp player in the lobby, multiple carving stations, beautiful art and furniture, porcelain dishes, crystal wine glasses and desserts as far as the eyes can see. That meal was certainly the best-looking meal I’ve had.

#MTL: Was that thanksgiving Dinner your favorite meal of all time?

MH: No way! While it tasted delicious and was the best presentation I can remember, I don’t think it was the best overall. for me, a great meal should be all-encompassing – good friends, good laughs, and, of course, good food. [I find that] food memories can really be impacted by smell, which is why one of the best foods I still love to this day, is fresh, homemade pound cake cooking in the oven!

#MTL: So, then your favorite meal is made up of those key elements: taste, look, and smell?

MH: Yes. But for me, the key ingredient which helps make the perfect meal is love! I was raised in a home where fresh bread was cooked for every meal, and living in the South meant cornbread was our staple. Every time I taste or smell that bread, I think of my grandmother, grandfather, and other family members sitting across the table or gathered in the living room eating together, breaking bread as one. So, that is my answer: my all-time favorite meal is each meal we’ve had, and will have, as a family. And love is the ingredient which makes a meal the “best meal I’ve ever had!”

#MTL: Thanks, Mitch. Any final thoughts?

MH: Please pass the cornbread, y’all!

Find some of Mitch’s favorite recipes in the #MyTrilogyLife Magazine section on MyTrilogyLife.com!