September Newsletter 2025

September 1, 2025    News   

SPECIAL EDITION:

The TICKET ORDER FORM for the upcoming season

Along with

A Summer with Lu Way

But first, the latest in our series…

The People of the Park

FINDING JOY: A Visit with Betty Shanley

By Dale Dauten
You’d think that right after 2+ hours of rehearsal with some fellow members of the Golden Grannies dance troupe, a person would be running on empty. Not Betty Shanley. She left rehearsal and bounced into our meeting with so much energy that it was contagious, like downing one of those energy drinks. So, looking back, it made sense when we asked her our favorite question, the one about the best advice you’ve ever gotten or given, Betty thought just a moment and said,

“Find joy every day.”

She added,

“There’s always something there.”

(Notice how that simple statement, “there’s always something,” provides a nifty counterpoint to the familiar pessimism of “it’s always something.”

Betty with her husband Steve

GROWING UP and COMING BACK

So let’s back up and figure out how Betty came to have that spirit. She grew up near her grandparent’s farm near Ludlow, Pennsylvania. While an only child, Betty never lacked for relatives: on her dad’s side alone, he came from a family of ten kids that included three sets of boy-girl twins. After her time at a rural school, just 10 in her class, Betty went on to Kane High School and then graduated from Slippery Rock State College (now University) in Education and later added an Master’s from Edinboro University. Then it was back to Kane, PA, to teach first grade for 30 years. That’s photo of her, below, from those teaching days.
Betty developed something of a specialty over those 30 years in the classroom. “I had a way with autistic kids,” she explained. “Anywhere in the district, they’d send those kids to me. I totally enjoyed them. No way they’d sit all day, so I’d created a set of stations in the classroom and they’d move through different types of learning, including bodily/kinesthetic and musical/rhymical.” We wondered if she had a memory of any of those kids that came to mind: “There was a girl, Beth Ann, who could repeat dialog from Disney movies. One day, the last day of the first week of school, I was waiting with her to be picked up. When I mentioned it was the end of the week, she loudly announced, ‘OK everybody, drinks are on the house!’”

 

STEVE AND COMING TO SILVERIDGE

We always look forward to hearing how couples met and for Betty and husband Steve it was as simple as “Hi, how the hell are you?” Those were Steve’s first words to Betty, spoken as he came into her dad’s hospital room, doing his rounds as a respiratory therapist. While her dad soon checked out, the romance did not and the two eventually married, the wedding at a lighthouse in Maine.
Steve eventually left his therapist career to become a preacher, and that helps explain the white board in front of their place at Silveridge, the one that you probably passed by and noticed a Bible verse. Betty told us, “Steve comes up with a scripture every week and I add it to the board with my first-grade teacher printing.”
As for finding Silveridge, Steve’s stepfather lived in Arizona and when they started planning retirement, they found a place at Silveridge for themselves and also one for Betty’s mom. In the photo below, that’s Betty and mom, Ardell Lindquist (who passed a couple of year ago), at a Phoenix Suns game.

THE GOLDEN GRANNIES

That visit to the Phoenix Suns game turned into something more for Betty. That’s where she first saw the dance troupe called the Golden Grannies and thought to herself, “I could do that.” So when she saw that auditions were coming up, she called to ask for specifics, including wondering if she was old enough. The response? “You sound like fun! – Just show up!” She not only made the team, she went on to become the leader of the group’s Outreach program.
Although the Suns no longer involve the Grannies, they are now a fan favorite with the women’s team, the Phoenix Mercury.
Not content with those brief in-game performances, Betty has led the broadening of the group’s performances, now to include Golden Grannies Outreach. They appear all over the Valley, often serving as greeters and/or performers in community events. Betty tells us that one of the joys of their appearances is seeing the reactions of the audiences, young and old, when the hip-hop music and the dancing begins. She passed along a couple of audience reaction photos…
And here’s a link to one of their performances, just double-click the photo or click the button below…
Click to Watch Golden Grannies Dance Routine
 

Finally, let’s end where we began, with Betty’s stated goal in life…

 

“Find joy every day.”

 

 

THE NEW SEASON… Ticket Time

Speaking of finding joy, it’s time to look ahead to the new season of Activities. Below you’ll find the Ticket Order Form, along with a Table diagram, and following that you’ll see that we got a chance to catch up with Activities Director Lu Way.
Download Ticket Order Form
Download Seating Chart

LU’S SUMMER ADVENTURES

We asked Lu to tell us what she’d been during over the summer. We’re pleased to pass along her reminisces about her time away from the park.

_____
We got home later than usual. We stopped in Las Cruces, New Mexico to visit our friends Scott and Betsy Gubin. Scott and Betsy have spent many seasons at Silveridge. While in Las Cruces, we got to experience our first dust storm. That was a new experience. Luckily, it was over in about 30 minutes. We still had time to enjoy a delicious dinner with our friends at the Sonoma Ranch golf course.

Once we arrived back in Quincy, IL, we had time to unpack the motorhome and then pack our suitcases. We always make seeing family a priority when we are home. First, trip was to see Ed’s granddaughter Vanya graduate from high school. It was a lovely ceremony followed by a party that included family and friends.

I took up a new sport this summer. I took private shooting lessons and learned how to shoot. We had a familiar scare almost 50 years ago that had created a fear of handguns. As a teen, I learned how to shoot a shot gun and would go trap shooting with my sister and brother-in-law but never wanted anything to do with handguns. Ed has slowly helped me to face that fear and I wanted to learn how to shoot. Ed had to requalify for his Illinois Conceal Carry permit and we spoke with his instructor who offered to help me. It is something I wish I would have done years ago. I enjoyed shooting so much I registered for his conceal carry class and now I have my permit too. Oh, and to celebrate my accomplishment, Ed bought me my own Smith & Wesson 380 EZ…and yes, it’s PINK!

Then, we were off to visit my niece and her family in Zionsville, IN. My great nephew turned 13 this year. Whenever I visit, it is tradition that we play a lot of games. Auntie Lu always has to bring a new game for us to learn. This year, I brought Uno No Mercy! It was a bit confusing. We played it a couple of times but always end up with our favorite Spoons. I think it’s a favorite because the young pups can’t believe how sneaky or fast the old farts are with grabbing those spoons. We always have fun and laugh a lot too.

Next stop was my sister’s in Antioch, IL. She is my quilting mentor. I wanted to start a quilt for Ed made with his favorite colors are orange and royal blue. So, we jumped in the car and spent the day exploring quilt shops in Wisconsin. I had so many beautiful fabrics to choose from it was overwhelming. But I found 4 and then off to her sewing cave we went. I cut and sewed while she supervised. We made great progress when it was time for us to leave. I brough it home to Quincy with the intention of finishing it. (Haven’t touched it since I’ve been home.) ☹

We continued to visit family and friends around the Chicago area before heading home to Quincy.

At home, we like to gather with our amateur radio friends and take my bonus mom out to lunch. She is 92 is this year. Mom is legally blind and hard of hearing but she loves to be social. I have been a part of this ham family since I became a licensed ham in 2008. We try to take mom out at least once or twice a month while we are home. Everyone has a great time. We still have 2 lunches already planned before we take off again. You might recognize Silveridge residents Ann and Larry Lauer. I’ve known them for many, many years.

 

We recently ventured to Red Bay, AL where we left our motorhome to get some work completed on it. Tiffin coach owners are familiar with Red Bay because Tiffins are made there. The manufacturing of Entegras, our motorhome, is being moved to Red Bay, AL soon. So we took advantage of the change. I had to go see the steam engine and the Illinois Central railroard caboose. (Ed worked on the Illinois

Central Railroad when it merged with his the G,M & O.) When we go back to pick it up, it will be time to head west to Mesa.

In between our travels I have continued to work on our entertainment and newsletters. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a date for the Strolling Strings this year. We are on a waiting list. We might be able to squeeze in a concert. I’m still working on it. Otherwise, I have most of the contracts signed and returned for hopefully another great season.

The 2025-2026 ticket order form in enclosed. Please be sure to include your payment with any preticket orders. We will process ticket orders on a frist come, first served basis. You always have the option to wait and purchase your tickets once you arrive. Please be sure the floorplans you are looking at say 2025-2026 on the top of them.

October will be here quickly. I’m looking forward to another fabulous season at Silveridge.