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SEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665 | 27TH STATE MEDIA, LLC LANDINGS EVENT HAPPENINGS
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Back to School Bash a Splashing Good Time By Rose Goncalves
Jack LeFrock: A Jack of All Trades
The Landings Kid’s Club in collaboration with The Landings LMA and The LRC held the “Back to School Bash” on August 5th. The morning started with beautiful blue sky, and we were hoping for the sunny weather to continue in the afternoon. Unfortunately, around 4pm, the dark clouds s t a r t e d r ol l i ng i n w it h thunderstorms warnings, so pool activities had to cease prematurely. Despite the weather not fully cooperating, it was still a big success. Many new and existing families showed up to mingle, relax, and eat some food. It was an unusual scene at the LRC with many kids running around, playing with frisbees and water toys. The usually quiet community pool was filled with colorful inflatables and laughter. The Landings Kid’s Club wants to thank everybody who gladly volunteered their precious time in making their first event such a success: the LMA for their financial support, the LRC and tennis team for making themselves available to provide tennis lessons to the kids, Silke Cuff and Paige Packman for help coordinating the event, Ronnie Day and Bethany Wood for the decorations, Tina Granthon who provided the lively music, Rose Goncalves and Carly Dazing for coordinating the food and refreshments, and finally Monica Barth with the Hedge Team at Premier Sotheby’s for
By Emma Shaughnessy
sponsoring the Kona Ice truck! We would like to encourage all the families with kids to register for the Landings Kid’s Club at email landingskids@gmail.com. You will receive updates on all upcoming events so that our community can learn about neighbors and make new friends in the process. We hope to see you soon.
Landings kids enjoyed delicious treats provided by a Kona Ice truck on Aug. 8, sponsored by Premier Sotheby’s. For more photos, turn to page 4.
Life is full of unexpected events. People usually anticipate certain outcomes in line with their dreams and goals, but often get discouraged when faced with adversity along the way. When things do not work out like people hope, it can be challenging to get up and try again. However, even though an unforeseen injury jeopardized his baseball career, one Landings resident, Jack LeFrock, decided to devote his life to a new goal: giving back to the community as a doctor and a volunteer. Born in Brooklyn, New York, baseball was a large part of Jack’s life. He played in many neighborhood leagues, and often received pointers from his neighbor and professional baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson. In addition to baseball related advice, Robinson stressed the importance of receiving a good education saying, “an educated ballplayer is a better ballplayer.” Jack honed Robinson’s advice and went to school at Lafayette College on scholarship for baseball and basketball. After college, Jack was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers, following in Robinson’s footsteps. Early in his career, Jack slipped on ice and fractured his skull, leaving the left side of his face paralyzed. Rather than allowing his incident to deter him, Jack continued his educational path by pursuing a master’s degree in pharmacology at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. He then decided to become a doctor and attended medical school at the University of Amsterdam, where he also got his PhD and learned how to speak Dutch. Over the course of his career as an Internist and Infectious Disease Physician, Jack wrote over 250 papers, for which he won the Golden Quill award six times, presented over 200 scientific papers, and lectured around the world. He also taught and held academic positions at Tufts University, West Virginia University, Albany Medical College, and Hahnemann University School of Medicine. Some of his accolades include numerous honors in medicine and humanitarian awards, as well as positions on many medical boards including the Florida Infectious Disease Society (FIDS). Jack initially retired when he was 70 but said he “got bored” and decided to start a pain management practice, Continued on p. 8
Landings’ Volunteers Who Work For You This is the second in a series of articles highlighting the work of special volunteers who help to make our community so special. The Eagle interviewed Paul Weiner, chair of the LMA Landscaping Committee. Paul, and his wife Jo, moved into their home in The Landings in 2013 from McLean, Virginia. In Northern Virginia, Paul was in an Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology practice serving several hospitals and Jo taught school. Prior to his work in Virginia, Paul served as a radiologist in the Air Force, stationed at Andrews AFB outside of Washington, D.C. Paul and Jo have two grown children and seven grandchildren. In addition to being an active tennis player, Paul has taken on many leadership positions in The Landings. He serves on the LMA Board, and works with the roads committee, signage committee and has chaired the nominating committee. He also serves as secretary on the Board of the Racquet Club and is chair of the fitness center. Formerly he was Vice President of the LRC. Paul’s responsibilities as Landscaping Chairman are to maintain the physical appearance of our community. He does this by working with vendors such as grounds keepers, tree trimmers, irrigation company and landscape designer. He frequently makes the rounds to inspect all our 60+ islands and areas that are owned by LMA, including the main gate entrance and areas around each of
our other gates. There are also landscaping needs along the west side of Phillipi Shores Rd. He makes note of problems such as sick or dead plants that need to be replaced, or problems with irrigation. Paul also reviews and authorizes for payment, invoices from vendors. He spends at least 25 hours/month serving our community as Landscaping chairman. Most of the landscaping in The Landings are the responsibility of individual associations and homeowners. Irrigation issues are one of the main challenges of his position. A variable frequency device has been installed to help keep the pressure in pipes balanced. Paul works closely with the lakes committee and the roads committee. Five islands will be reconfigured requiring changes in landscaping and irrigation. One small island on Kestrel Parkway South will be removed for pedestrian safety. He worked with the signage committee to ensure that maintenance of the grass around the signs can be accomplished without damage to the signs. Upcoming on his plate will be to design and implement landscaping on the reconfigured islands and do more work on our entrances, especially plantings around the entry sign and main gate. When ask why he agreed to be chair of the committee and what his experience has been like, he said: “I had a lot of experience doing yard work in Virginia. Coming to Florida, there was a lot to learn given the different plants,
Paul Weiner, LMA landscaping chair ecology, and weather. My work has been made easier with the new landscaping company (Greenscapes). They have been easier to work with and have provided us with good advice. One of the things that has been most satisfying is my work with individuals in the community on irrigation issues or questions about land use and who has responsibility for particular areas in The Landings. People have been very responsive, understanding and helpful.”