Neighborly News

Dave Baker thought it would be a good idea to interview Randy.  So the tables were turned and Dave asked the questions with his silky smooth radio voice.  If your travels take you to Green Bay or Door County WI, you might be able to catch Randy's band, Everson Starcheck.  Hear the background stories about the band, the podcast and the "why" behind Randy's pursuits. www.eversonstarcheck.com and facebook.com/eversonstarcheck are the band websites if you are looking for more info on dates and venues.

Chef Justin suggested I interview Ilse Talavera.  You may see her from time-to-time, but she spends a lot of time behind the curtain making sure everything is "just so".  She is highly trained and has worked with a Michelin rated chef.  Enjoy the next 16 minutes getting to know another integral person in the Copperleaf family.

Tom Greenhaw wrote software for a living.  He founded two companies that have processed billions of transactions at thousands of business locations.  As examples, True Value Hardware and Michael's have used his systems for inventory management.  Tom is now retired, but he has many projects he's working on.  His most notable project is building a robotic hand, an incredibly complex undertaking.  He uses artificial intelligence extensively and was instrumental in helping create machine learning before AI was called AI.

Neighborly News talks to Copperleaf Director of Food and Beverage, Alex Satizabal  and Executive Chef, Justin Hornyak to get a behind the scenes look at everything that needs to happen to provide a quality experience to the members. Do you know what the least liked meats are at Copperleaf?  Chef Justin knows and avoids them. Are you aware of the new Chef's Table?  What are the events the members need to be aware of? How does Alex train and motivate the staff?  How does Justin decide the menus?  All of these questions get answered in a short 20 minute interview.  

Mike Vitale is a singer, songwriter and performer currently based in Los Angeles.  We may see someone perform but not realize all the behind the scenes work it takes to be a musician.  This interview pulls back the curtain to the details a musician deals with on a day-to-day basis. Mike recently signed a contract to work for Holland America.  He boarded in October and his contract was extended until March.  I'm sure you'll find our conversation frank and enlightening.   Mike's music is available on all major streaming services.  Here is a link to his webpage.  Enjoy! https://mikevitalemusic.com/ Mike recorded this song on the ship.  Stumbling (Into the Next Thing)  Stumbling  

Carrie and I started 2026 off with a cruise.  The way we did it was interesting.  We cruised standby.  Here is a 10 minute description of what we did, how we did it and the savings that we realized as a result.  Stay tuned.  Later this week, I will release an interview with Mike Vitale, a singer songwriter and performer on the cruise.

Copperleaf resident, Claire Batista is a PGA Class A Golf Professional.  She founded and currently runs the Claire Batista Golf Academy. She competed on Florida's Mini Tours and made her mark in collegiate golf as the founder and head coach of the University of Toledo women's golf team, leading the program to outstanding success during her nine-year tenure.   In 2002, she was recognized as one of the top 50 women teaching professionals in the U.S. This past June, Claire began sharing her expertise through instructional videos on YouTube.  With more than 80 videos now posted, her audience continues to grow steadily.   Here is a link to Claire's channel on YouTube:  Claire Batista

    On October 28, Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica.  Sustained winds were 185 mph.  Some regions had up to 40" of rain.  Homes were leveled, roads were washed out and blocked by debris.  Many rural areas are still cut off from civilization.  72% of the island was without power.  Cell towers are down and the only link to the outside world is the few people fortunate enough to have Starlink and a generator to provide electricity.   Copperleaf has many H2B employees that have been affected deeply by this storm.  Randy interviewed them to get a first hand explanation of how they and their families are affected.

In this episode, we sit down with Patty McPherson, a lifelong animal lover whose passion for wildlife began when she was just a young girl.  Patty shares how her connection to animals has grown and evolved over the years, leading her to become an advocate for wildlife in her community.   We also dive into two incredible rescue stories that took place right in the Copperleaf neighborhood, showcasing Patty's compassion, quick thinking and dedication to helping animals in need.  This heartfelt conversation is a celebratin of kindness, community and the powerful bond between humans and the natural world.  

PJ Shanahan is the son of Copperleaf resident Carol Shanahan.  You may have seen PJ on the golf course, but you might not know his name.  He is paralyzed from the chest down after being shot in the back during a robbery attempt.  July 16 will mark the 15th anniversary of that tragic event.  Two young men left him to die in the street, but God had other plans for him. Hi story embodies perseverance, faith, and postivity in the face of tragedy.  I got goosebumps while listening to his inspiring journey. Toward the end of the 30-minute interview, he also revealed his passion for The Grateful Dead.  You would be amazed at the number of Dead concerts he has attended. The next time you see PJ, be sure to say "hi."  I'm certain he will have a captivating story to share!

Josh is a husband, father of 3 and has a determined spirit.  He is also the new General Manager of Copperleaf Golf Club.  He is looking forward to carrying the Club to new levels of excellence.  Listen to our brief but informative conversation.

Toni Marotta is a captivating interviewee, brimming with energy, wisdom and personality.  She was a devoted wife and mother of five while also pursuing her entrepreneurial ambitions by launching a company that helps people with weight loss. Toni is the author of two diet books.  Her business gained significant momentum when she organized a "diet cruise" from New York to the Bahamas, featuring a New York Times writer on board.  The resulting full-age article propelled her business to a successful 31-year run.  

Dr. Greg Davis retired from Eli Lilly as Executive Director and Senior Principle Fellow in Global Regulatory Affairs. Inronically, Greg suffers from a disease that has no pharmaceutical treatment.  Huey Lewis suffers from the same disease and is unable to perform due to his disease. We discuss the epiphany that allowed Greg to circumvent the symptoms of the disease. If you suffer from balance issues or tinnitus, you may want to listen to this interview. Are you on a low-salt diet?  We discuss the challenges and Greg's workarounds. He is also a volunteer recipe tester for "America's Test Kitchen" on PBS.  The daughter of a Copperleaf member happens to be a cast member of the show and creates instructional YouTube videos.  Here is a link to one of Christie's videos.  Once there you can see some of her other videos.   America's Test Kitchen We also discuss the pros and cons of drug advertising and share our optimism about the future of cancer therapies.

Dan Stary is 35 years old but possesses more than 35 years of wisdom.  This podcast interview was his idea and features an unscripted conversation between a son and father that delves into mental health, songwriting, the loss of a good friend and how Dan's struggles have led him to a better place. The interview includes snippets of songs that Dan has written and recorded.  You can listen to his music on Amazon, Spotify, and various other streaming platforms.  All of Dan's music is under his band name, Polite Strangers. Polite Strangers on Amazon Music During Covid, the band also recorded video in a studio.  They have four music videos on YouTube from this session.  The unique aspect of the videos is that you can get a 360 degree view of the studio and the band by moving your cursor over the video. Polite Strangers on YouTube Finally Everson Starcheck was mentioned in the podcast.  If you ever get to Door County or Green Bay this summer, look us up.  You'll be able to see Randy playing with his son's, Preston & Dan and his good friend Eric Everson. EversonStarcheck

Norma Quine has had an interesting life.  Her father was world renowned philosopher W.V. Quine.  He had books published in several languages, received the Nobel Prize and a Kyoto Prize.  He was a also a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy.   She had an interesting childhood dealing with a mother who experienced the highs and lows of bi-polar disorder.  She was a model, actress and ultimately owned a wholesale fashion house in London. Here is the link to the film trailer, "The Proper Time":  The Proper Time. 

General E. Gordon Stump began his military career in 1965.  In 1966, he completed his pilot training as the top person in his class and was assigned to the F-102. He then went on to further training in the Fighter Interceptor Program.  Shortly thereafter, he headed to The Phillipines.   He flew 241 combat missions from South Vietnam and Thailand.  41 of his missions were flown over North Vietnam.   This interview will give you insight into the General's 38 year career and how he eventually became the Adjutant General of Michigan to complete his service.  He is highly decorated.  Here is the link so that you can read the remainder of his achievements.  https://www.michigan.gov/dmva/about/history/military-personalities/team-listing-page/e-gordon-stump You should find some of the stories in the interview enlightening.

Tom Fries, another member of the Copperleaf Community, was a catcher in the minor leagues during the early 1960's.  His teams were associated with the Washington Senators and the Minnesota Twins.  He played with many players who became familar faces in the major leagues.  You will find his stories very entertaining.

Kevin Dooley had a colorful and rewarding career.  He began that career in 1980 as a state prosecutor in the Broome County D.A.'s Ofice in Binghamton, NY.  In 1998, he became a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Nothern District of NY.  From 2005-2007, Kevin spent two years in Iraq assisting the Iraqi High Tribunal in the investigation and prosecution of Saddam Hussein and other members of the former regime for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.    He culminated his career on the bench as a  Broome County Court Judge.  You should find these 40 minutes very interesting.

General Manager of Copperleaf, David Dore-Smith, sits down with Randy to talk about FRASS, Love Grass, Project 2024, staffing at Copperleaf and many other interesting topics.

Four couples of the Copperleaf Community decided to rendezvous in Central Wisconsin at Sand Valley Golf Resort.  The cocktail hours were expecially entertaining and include some of our triumphs and frustrations playing the courses there.  I'm sure this will give you a chuckle or two.  I listed it as explicit in the description, but it's really only kind of PG-13.  

Parker Ferren is Director of Golf Course and Grounds Maintenance at Copperleaf.  He is a Certified Golf Course Superintendent and President of the the Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association.  We discuss government regulation of golf courses, work/family balance, wildlife and we reveal a secret most of you would not be aware of, a Copperleaf branded natural product soon to be released!  You would've known the secret if you had read Parker's blog from April:  http://www.copperleafgcm.com/2024/04/april-2024-update.html  

Brad Breedveld saw it all in his tenure with Michigan law enforcement.  His stories show the compassionate side of those who are trying to maintain order in our society.  He dealt with the homeless, broke up biker fights and provided security for the President of the United States during a Superbowl.  

We have a few more stories from Dave Phillips before we move on to other topics.  The retired MLB umpire "ran" many players and coaches.   Here are the stories about the Gaylord Perry spitballs, Joe Niekro ejection and a description of one of the "lush" hotel rooms that Dave got to sleep in.  

This is the continuation of an interview with retired MLB umpire, Dave Phillips.  This is 30 entertaining minutes of Dave's recounts of the ecapades of Billy Martin & Earl Weaver. We'll be back with one final morsel from Dave in a subsequent episode, so keep tuned in for more fun stories.   Special thanks to Dave Baker for assisting with this series.

In an earlier podcast, Dave Phillips began his story of becoming a MLB umpire.  This is the continuation of that story.  He quickly worked his way through the minor leagues to become one of the youngest MLB umpires with a long and story-filled career. He eventually earned four World Series rings (had he not been injured one season, it would've been five rings). Dave has an entertaining way of telling his story.  We will also shortly be releasing his stories about Earl Weaver, Billy Martin, Nolan Ryan and many more.  Special thanks to Dave Baker for helping to work through some of the questioning for Dave.

Here is a short eight minute story about retired MLB umpire Dave Phillips' first ejection and the unusual rule that led up to the ejection of a now famous player.

Dave has an expression.  "Here's another cute story".  These are the cute stories that I excerpted from the original interview, but were such enjoyable stories that I had to make sure you can listen to them too!

Dave Phillips was a MLB umpire in the American League for 32 years.  He was one of the youngest umpires in Major League history.  He umpired for four World Series. He has many stories of his encounters with Billy Martin, Earl Weaver and his friend, George Brett.  He presided over four World Series, including the 1982 Cardinal/Brewers series and the 1987 Twins/Cardinals series. This episode features stories of how he trained to become an umpire.  There is another link that includes outtakes of funny stories Dave told along the way. Special Thanks to Dave Baker.  Dave helped develop the questionning for this and the follow-up episode.

Miss Kentucky 1961 was Marcia Crumbler. She resides in our community and shares her stories with Neighborly News. An entertaining listen for your 30 minute walk.

This is a story about someone who is unrelated donating an organ to someone in need. It occured back in 2006, but it gives you insight into some of the wonderful people we have in our community. If you would like to view videos of news reports go to YouTube and MrDabake73. If you or someone you know has an interesting story, please contact Randy at [email protected].