Want to travel closer to home with a Senior Group Tour on a motorcoach? Janet Karter’s Laughlin Getaway is Nov. 13-15. The trip includes a tour guide, motorcoach, snacks, water, tip, an Oatman day tour and a stay at the Edgewater Hotel for two nights. The cost is $280 with a $50 deposit. Karter is the travel coordinator for the Lakewood Senior Center. Contact her at (562) 924-1938. The

Balkan Lullaby by Sezen Tumer Balkan Lullaby is a nineepisode Turkish-language soap opera based in Macedonia. Balkan Lullaby is a soap opera that can be watched on YouTube with English subtitles. It has everything: excellent actors, beautiful music, colorful folk dances, ethnic wedding customs, tears and laughter. Balkan Lullaby is a beautiful, pure and innocent love story between a Macedonian

This feature showcases original poems by members of the Creative Writers Club of Leisure World and other GRF members. Gerri I have a good friend named Gerri who writes sweet poems that are merry. She writes short stories, too when she’s given a clue, like ghost stories that you’d find scary! —Ethel Ina Carter, member of LW Creative Writer’s Club

Velvetones on Oct. 2 The Velvetones Ballroom Dance Orchestra is Leisure World’s own professional big band, playing big band swing and jazz standards—music for dreaming and dancing. They are back in action on Sunday, Oct. 2 from 6-9 p.m. in Clubhouse 4 and will be back on Oct. 16. The Velvetones play regularly at Clubhouse 4 on the first and third Sunday evenings. The doors open at 5:30. Vinyl

On Sept. 16 the winner for most yahtzee’s was Margaret Desrochers. The winner for the highest score was Lyn Doyle. The winner for the lowest score was Diane Seeger. The door prize winner was Pat Farrell. The next meeting will be Sept. 30 in Clubhouse 3, Room 6, at 1 p.m. There will be a halftime social. The club meets the first, third and fifth Fridays of each month. For more information, contact

North/South winners in a six-table game on Sept. 15 were Joan Tschirki and Sue Fardette with a 64% game. East/West winners were Ellen Kice and Shmuel Fisher with a 59% game. With a 63% game, Joan Tschirki and Priscillia Cailloutte were first North/South in the five-table game on Sept. 16. LaVonne McQuilkin and Carol Murakoshi were the East/West winners with a 58% game. Games are played

AMERICAN LEGION After three years, the American Legion Pancake Breakfast is back. The men will flip pancakes on Saturday, Oct. 22, in Clubhouse 2. The kitchen will be open from 8-10:30 a.m. Tickets will be available for purchase for $7 at the door in advance by calling Lee Esslinger at (562) 430-2891. This year there will be pancakes or biscuit and gravy with sausage and scrambled eggs, as well