Submitted by Bernadette Vespa and photos by Brenda Moody, Rita Jones , Kathy Downer, Mary Ann Gifford. Videos Betmar Video Club
August 18, 2026
BERNADETTE’S MESSAGE
We recently discovered problems with the forms used to submit articles and announcements for Coffee News. While the forms appeared to be sending notifications, they were not actually being delivered. If you submitted an article or announcement through those links and did not see it published in Coffee News, this is the reason.
After several unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue, I have removed the forms and replaced them with a direct email link to activities@betmar.org for submissions.
The new email link can be found in the same location as the old forms, at the bottom of the Coffee News newsletter.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
FUN FACT
August 18th is observed as Helium Discovery Day, commemorating the discovery of helium, which was first identified in the Sun’s spectrum before it was found on Earth.
SHOUT OUT
Thank you Betmar Nurses for giving back to the community. Did you know, they are doing Blood Pressure checks before Coffee Hour every 2nd Tuesday of the month? Just come by to see them, no appointment needed!
BETMAR OFFICE SPIRIT WEEK
This is the last month that the office staff will be holding their Spirit Week, which means the summer is coming to a close! Don’t forget that YOU get to decide who understood the assignment best so stop by the office and vote!
As a bonus, we will have a “Clap Off” every Coffee Hour that coincides with spirit week. The office staff will come up on stage and the employee who receives the largest amount of applause will be the winner for that day.
Residents who stop by the office and join in the festivities will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a fun prize at the end of each month. AUGUST 17–21
Monday — Animal Print Day
Tuesday — Decades Day (80’s)
Wednesday — Garden Day (Wear Flowers!)
Thursday — Favorite Band / Music Tee Day
Friday — Betmar Spirit Day (Wear Blue!)
Today being Tuesday, we got to decide by doing a “Clap Off” at Coffee Hour and the winner of today’s Clap Off is Cora, Congratulations!
ACTIVITIES
*Luau at the Pool
The Luau at the pool area is this Thursday, August 20th! If you haven’t purchased your tickets, this is the time to do so! Lunch served at 12:00 PM followed by games and contests poolside!
The pool will be open to all Betmar residents attending the luau and to their guests, even if they are not Swim Club members.
Come enjoy a delicious Hawaiian-themed lunch featuring:
- Hawaiian cheese skewers
- Chicken and pineapple skewers
- Hawaiian Salad
- Pineapple shortcake skewers for dessert
Water and iced tea and a Hawaiian inspired mocktail will be provided. Feel free to bring your favorite beverage as well.
Tickets are $10.00 and are available for purchase at Coffee Hour and the Main Office. No tickets will be sold the day of the event.
Don’t miss this tropical afternoon of great food, fun, and friendship.
*Movie Bistro
Our next Movie/Bistro night is on August 27th in CH2. We will be watching “The Intern”, starring Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway and will be serving Pizza.
Tickets are $7 with Bistro and on sale before coffee hour and at the Betmar office.
For Movie only, it’s just $2 at the door!
Doors open at 4:30PM /Bistro starts service at 5:00PM /No food served after 6:00PM
Feel free to bring your own comfy chair.
*Labor Day Lunch
Our Labor Day Lunch is Saturday, September 5th at 1:00PM in CH2
You will have your choice of an Italian Sausage with peppers & onions (optional) or 2 All Beef Hot Dogs both include a side of Macaroni Salad and a slice of Angel Food cake with pineapples and whipped cream! Iced Tea and Water will be provided.
Tickets are $7.00 each and are on sale before Coffee Hour and in the Betmar Office.
*Betmar Travel
Attention Travelers – We have several new opportunities for you this September and October:
September 2 is your chance for a delicious dinner at Der Dutchman in Sarasota following a visit to the Toy Museum. At the Toy Museum you will view toys from your childhood and those of your children. It’s not all computer generated games as our grandchildren enjoy. After our dinner we will head for home for a relaxing ride. All this for $65
September 18, we have scheduled a cruise for the Island Sunset and Skyway Light Show with Coastal Cruises out of St Pete. Of course, this is in the evening so you can enjoy the light show under the Skyway Bridge. Total cost is $115
October 7 We go to Lake Panasoffkee for the Swamp Fever Airboat Adventure. Following the airboat rides, we will have lunch (on our own) at Catfish Charlies. (Other items available beside fish) $89
October 23 we have scheduled the Zubrick Magic Show in St Pete. Two of our residents attended this show and said we must schedule this for Betmar. It was the best magic show they had even seen. We have preferred seating for the evening. $85 per person
Please check with Betmar.org for full description of these trips. Note, sign up early. We do issue refunds if you are unable to attend unless it is within several days of the trips and we have to pay them in full. Call Sandy or Bonnie with your questions.
*ONSPOT Mobile Dermatology Unit
Back by popular demand, The ONSPOT Mobile Dermatology Unit is returning to Betmar, October 6th, 8am-3:30pm. They will be parked by CH2. ONSPOT is a full service, mobile dermatology practice bringing a state-of-the-art medical clinic right to our backyard.
Call 941-444-0011or go to onspotdermatology.com/Betmar Acres to make an appointment.
*Chair Yoga
Chair Yoga is held every Wednesday in CH3 at 11:30 AM (prompt start). This will continue year-round and punch cards do not expire.
Punch cards are on sale in the office
- Newcomer Trial: 5 classes for $15
- Regular: 10 classes for $25
Important: A signed Waiver of Liability is required to participate. The office can assist if needed.
*Pictionary Game Night
You still have time this month to come see what all the talks about! Join us Wednesdays at 5pm through August, in the Annex after Teenie Weenie for some fun and laughs
*Teenie Weenie
Teenie Weenie runs every Wednesday through August at 4:30PM. Come to CH2 and enjoy food, fun, and fellowship. Bring a dish to share and you eat for free (only $4.00 if nothing to share). Hot dogs, both jumbo and regular, are always only $1.00. Tea and water are provided. Just bring a table setting for yourself. See you there!
*Let’s Dress the Girls (The Pillowcase Project)
The Pillowcase Project of Let’s Dress the Girls will continue!! During the first round 119 pillowcases with a boyish theme were made and donated to the boys ICU wing at John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St Pete where Ann and Reggie Jean’s grandson was a patient most of the summer. He is now home and able to go back to school along with his continual PT/OT.
We received a request to continue making pillowcases not just for boys but for girls too!! Anyone in Betmar can join in to make the cases. If you need girl-ish fabric please contact Connie Simoneau as she has plenty of donated material in the Let’s Dress The Girls stash. She also has some boy-ish fabric left to make cases as well. Finished pillowcases can be given to Connie or Ann to be transported to the hospital. Let’s try to make as many pillowcases in Round 2 as we did for Round 1!!
*Painting on the Rocks
Rhonda Pomerleau will be hosting the second round of “painting on the rocks “, Sept. 12th at 6pm in the annex. She will bring everything needed (rocks, paint, etc.) You bring a snack and some friends, and something to sip! The last one was wonderful, don’t miss out!
What-Not-Barn
The What-Not-Barn hours will be Friday 8:00am – 11:00am for the months of August and September.
*Women’s Bible Study
It’s never too late to join Women’s Bible Study. Every Monday at 10am in The Maple Room of Apache Clubhouse. Call Lisa Peters if you’d like more information. 615-824-8025
BINGO
To all Betmar Residents
Bingo is open to anyone in Betmar or Family or Friends, but they MUST be 18 years of age or older.
Bingo is held every Monday. We start selling at 3:30PM and Bingo starts at 5:00PM.
All monies are returned to Betmar Owners. NO money goes to Golf. Everyone should come out and support Bingo at Betmar!
Bingo Bistro is serving Pizza on August 24th!
George
LIBRARY
A positive attitude can act like a fork in the road and effectively alter the course of your life for the better. Powerful stuff right!
Good morning. What a wonderful rain we had Friday. We sure needed it. By morning you couldn’t tell if it rained but my plants loved it.
We have added about 15 new books. Come and see if we have anything you are interested in.
The library will start full-time hours in Oct. We will keep you posted. Our workers are starting Library bingo in October stay tuned for more details.
Toni
DANCE CLUB
We’re still line dancing every Monday in CH3 from 10:30-12:00. It’s a mix of beginner and improver dances. Give us a try, you’ll exercise and meet new people.
GAME CLUB
Please note that PONY is played in Clubhouse 4 Sunday nights 6:00PM – 8:30PM
THOMAS PROMISE
Schools in Pasco County are now back in session so please be alert to students walking or waiting for the school bus. Thomas Promise Foundation is continuing to pack weekend food backpacks for the underprivileged students in our area. There is a need for more volunteers to help pack the bags on Monday mornings at their warehouse on Gall Blvd. If interested, please call their office at 813-782-0000 to speak with Joe. There are gray bins between CH#2 and the Annex to place food items (individual non-perishable size or large for the family pantry shelves), school supplies or clothing. A list of items to donate is located above the gray bins. Items can also be dropped off in a bin at Connie Simoneau’s garage door on Jodi Ave.
Mark your calendars for the Toy Drive at the Betmar Bandstand’s concert on Wednesday, December 2nd.
JOKE OF THE DAY
A burglar breaks into a house one night. He is shining his flashlight around looking for valuables, when he hears a low voice out of the darkness say, “Jesus is watching you”. The burglar freezes, shuts his light off, and listens. Nothing. He shakes it off, turns his flashlight back on, and starts unplugging the TV. The voice comes again, clearer this time, “Jesus is watching you.” Terrified, the burglar shines his light into the corner of the room. There, sitting on a perch, is a parrot. The burglar lets out a huge sigh of relief. “Whew! Did you say that?” “Yes,” the parrot squawks. “Man, you scared me to death,” the burglar laughs. “What’s your name?” he asks the bird. “Moses”, replied the parrot. The burglar snorts, “Moses? What kind of people name a parrot Moses”? The parrot blinks and says, “The same kind of people who name a 150-pound Rottweiler Jesus”.
COMMUNITY CARE & CELEBRATIONS
Anniversaries
George and Holly Hefner will celebrate 27 years on August 14th!
Birthdays
Mac McKinnon-Betmar President celebrates his birthday on August 2Oth
John Vanderworth turned 86 on August 15th
Anne Brown turns 89 years young tomorrow and is feeling very blessed!
Chester “Chicken” Cutshall turned 97 on August 6th!
Sick Bay
Tammy Heon is in the hospital please send prayers
Marge Broadbent is now home from the hospital; however she does need rest so please give her some time to heal but keep your prayers coming.
Have something you’d like included in next week’s Coffee News? Send it to activities@betmar.org no later than 7:00 PM on Sunday.
