“LONGVIEW HILLS MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR”

Your neighbor Marie Jelen is a native of Oregon and can tell you a lot of the history about Oregon and the changes that have occurred around the Newport area. Marie and her first husband Eldred Long first moved to Newport in 1942 started a business of growing and selling Dahlia bulbs and would sale and ship them all over the United States. They did this for 12 years, before they moved on to other interest. Marie and her first husband Eldred were married for 41 years before he passed away. They raised twin boys, who now are almost 60 years old, one lives near by and the other son lives in Portland, she is very proud of her sons. They have given her 5 Grandchildren, 4 girls and one boy. There are also 3 Great grand Children, 2 girls and one boy. Marie remarried and has been married to her current husband Alvin Jelen for 18 years, who now lives in an Assistant Living facility in Portland do to poor health. Marie and Alvin used to travel all around the world when his health was better; she told me she got to see a lot of wonderful places. Marie has a younger sister Nellie living in California, Marie said that her sister is the taller one of the two. Marie’s sister was here to visit for Marie’s 90th birthday parties. Marie’s favorite buddy Sally, who is a Lab Mix, keeps her company. Sally follows her about her home and is always near by. Sally has a sister who now lives in the state of Michigan and Marie stated to me that having both dogs was just a little too much. Sally has kept Marie Company now going on `12 years and you will see them out for their daily walk here around Longview Hills.
Marie has been a resident of LVH’s for almost two years and loves living here and happy to be back in Newport. Before coming back to the Newport area, she lived in Yachts and enjoyed that area very much also and was very much involved in the community.

On Marie’s 90th birthday the last year, she was delighted to share with me photos from her 90th birthday celebration. She was honored with two parties, the residents of Longview Hills at the Club House gave one to her and the next week her family surprised her with a birthday party at the Embarcadero.
Marie’s hobbies are gardening, which she has done all her life, sewing is another enjoyment she has, although she is not able to sew like she use too. Her interest include playing Pinochle and watching her favorite TV programs, taking her dog, Sally for their daily walks. She also seems to enjoy playing dominoes, so maybe we need to get a domino night going here on the hill.
Marie shared some other information with me during this visit, which she has allowed me to share with the viewers. One is that her Dad lived until he was 101 years old; there is a lot of longevity in her family. Her parents came over from Holland originally.
Marie ended our interview with these words “that she has had a very full and wonderful life, that she enjoys living here a LVH’s very much and the residents up here”. Thank you Marie for letting myself and the residents here at Longview Hills into your life.

“MEET YOU NEIGHBOR AT LVH’S”

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Meet your neighbors Ruth & Lee Watkins who have lived at Longview Hills since 1989, they are one of the first residents. The Watkins can tell you many stories how our community became the way it is today, they both had a major role in putting this community together.
At this time, Lee is writing his memoirs from the beginning to the present; still working on this task. Ruth hasn’t started hers yet, their kids asked them to do this, so they will have a written history of their parents (Great Idea). They have been married for almost 55 years and have a wedding anniversary coming up soon, they raised 2 boys and 2 girls. Today the off spring from their kids has blessed them with eight Grandchildren and 5 Great-Grandchildren.
Ruth was born in the State of California and Lee came from way across the Mississippi River from Indiana. I asked Ruth what her hobbies and interest are, she told me that taking care of Lee over all these years has became her hobbie, Lee has been through many medical problems over the years and this has taken up a lot of her time. She enjoys laying games on the computer and reading, one day also to write her own memoirs for their kids. Her interest are keeping up with their Grandkids, playing the organ, which she has played for 35 years, doesn’t play much these days.
Now Lee’s hobbies and interest are many, his hobbies are fishing, woodworking, music and he plays a tenor saxophone and we might have to ask him to bring it out of moth balls, he also enjoys doing the repair work around the park when someone calls for his help. His interest at this point is writing his memoirs for their kids.
Ruth & Lee are both retired from John Deer Implement Company in Idaho, Lee worked in sales and Ruth was in parts, I think that’s where she orders parts for Lee, right Ruth? Ruth’s sister and brother-in-law lived down the road at other retirement community; they would come out here for visits and fell in love with this area and went back home and packed up the house for the move.
The way Lee and Ruth became involved with LVH’s back in the late 80’s, is Lee was hired on has the maintance/salesman. The add ran in the local paper, it had a separate listing for each job. Lee arrived for his interview and they asked him which job he was applying for, he told them both. So during the week he was the maintenance man and on weekends he would relieve the regular salesman. Lee became the General Manager in a short time and if you ever want to hear the history of Longview Hills, then best give Lee a call or if you ever see him around the park, stop and chat with him. Lee, told me when they first moved here there was only six houses on site, now look at it.
He told me when they first came on the scene there were only 25 lots ready for houses and winter was coming on, so there was a lot of work to be done during the winter to get more lots ready. Ruth use to clean the houses up here before they were sold, that’s after Lee and his crew finish their work on them, she told me that the house Frida and I live in, was the last house she cleaned. I ask her if she mind coming over to do some more cleaning, but she turned me down. Oh well, that’s my part time job now, along with a few others.
Here are some history tidbits for you, Club House is called Watkins Hall, there is a plaque on the wall in the Club House showing him the first park manager here. Also, the kitchen is called Ruth’s Kitchen, the reason for this, she use to have coffee and sacks ready for the construction crews while they were working here. Ask them about the music gatherings that occurred at the Club House…sounds like fun…. strike up the band.
One thing to keep in mind is if your interested in the history of the park, then these are one of the residents to talk to. I thank Ruth and Lee for letting me interview them, I enjoyed it very much, learned a lot of history about the Longview Hills from them. Thank You!

“MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS AT LVH’S”

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Meet your Longview Hills Neighbors Elaine and Vernon Lund, who have lived here for almost 13 ½ years and moved here from Palm Springs, California. Elaine and Vern have been married for almost 55 wonderful years; there is still a very noticeable sparkle in their eyes when they look at each other.

They raised three girls, now have four grandchildren (1 Girl and 3 Boys). Elaine is a Oregon native, being born in Baker City, Oregon. Vern came all the way from Luck, Wisconsin where he was born.

Elaine is a retired Registered Nurse, she is very proud of taking care of many people over the years and was able to make a difference in their lives.

Vern retired from construction and was a elctrician for many years. He did mention that in his younger days he was in the Merchant Marines and got to see a lot of countries.

Some of the hobbies they enjoyed at one time or another in their lives are for Elaine, Cross Word Puzzles and also enjoys doing Zig Saw Puzzles.

Vern’s hobbies are fishing, hunting and playing golf, but he said since his health has not been the best lately, he now is not able to enjoy the hoppies and interest like he use to, but has a lot of great stories to tell. They work in their yard and Vern grows some very good vegetables, which he shares with the residents here on the hill each year. He told me he can’t wait to get his hands in the dirt and start working in the garden. They enjoy traveling around the country and learning about all the history at the different places they stopped, but now days it’s getting harder to get around. Like they told me there is a lot to see in our wonderful state of Oregon, specially when one travels off the beated path and back down some of the country roads. Also Vern shared with me that in Oregon, there is a canyon in eastern Oregon that is deeper than the Grand Canyon. If you would like to find out about great spots in the state to visit, give Elaine or Vern a call and they would be more they happy to share the information with you.

Next time you see them on the hill, let them know how much we enjoy having them as neighbors and friends here at Longview Hills.

"MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR AT LVH'S"

Our resident Nancy Moore along with her two companions Gigi and Jack have lived here at Longview Hills for around seven years. Nancy and her husband Tom moved to Newport from Indiana to Portland, where they lived for a short time before moving to Newport, where they lived at South Beach for a time before moving to Longview Hills to enjoy this community. But sadness happen to Nancy only after a few months here, her beloved husband Tom passed away. They were married 31 years and raised three girls and three boys, Nancy shared with me a little about her adult children today, she is very proud of what they have accomplished in their lives. She is a very proud Grandmother of 5 Grandchildren and 2 Greatgrand children.

Nancy was an Elementary teacher in Indiana for 33 years, she enjoyed her teaching career very much. Her eyes lit up when she spoke of her teaching career and so many good memories of the children she taught over all those years. One would stop and wonder when all those children are today, what they grew up to be.

She enjoys her two wonderful companions Gigi and Jack, who are miniature poodles. They are her kids now, you can tell they enjoy each other very much, and when someone comes to Nancy’s door they work as her doorbell. They stay close to each other and you can feel the love they have for each other.

Nancy told me her hobbies are music and oil painting, which she hasn’t done for a while. But is happy to show you the paintings she has done, that are hanging on her walls. Her interest includes Kids, Dog’s and just being able to visit with others. She is also a LVH’s board member and enjoys helping in putting together the different events we have here. So next time you see Nancy tell her how much you enjoy having her here on the hill as a resident and a Good Neighbor.

"MEET YOU NEIGHBOR AT LVH'S"

JAN 22nd, 2006
Donna Pierce as lived at Longview Hills since it started and was about the only house here. Her and her late husband moved here in 1988 and Donna can tell you about all the changes that has happen over all those years. They were married for over 30 plus years before his passing. I will try to get some of the pictures of this area and display them on the web site. Donna just this past year moved into a newer home at the south end of the park and is very pleased with the move and has a lovely home. She shares it with her two dogs, named Annie and Callie. They enjoy running, fitching a ball, of course running on the beach. Donna was born in the state of Illinois and retired as a Insurance Agent, she has lived on the wonderful Oregon Coast since 1985. Her hobbies and interest include wood working, reading, agate rock hunting and then tubbing the rocks to make them shine. Use to be a full time traveler in a Rv for over 20 plus years, she now in the process of letting go of her fifth wheel and hanging up the RV life. She use to enjoy back packing , canoeing and just enjoying the great out doors and of course couldn´t ask for a better place than right here in Oregon, so much to offer. Thank you Donna for taking time to talk with me and share little about your life with us all.
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"MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS AT LVH'S"

JAN 15th, 2006
Jack and Betty Owens have been residents at Longview Hills for over ten years. They have been married 57 wonderful, enjoyable and great years. Raised three children over those early years and from this they have been blessed with 10 Grandchildren and 5 Great Grandkids. Betty was born in the state of California and Jack was born in the Terriorty of Hawaii, wasn't a part of the USA yet. Betty's hobbies and interest are Travel, some crafts, church work, genealogy and also volunteers at the local hospital gift shop. Jack's hobbies and interest are collecting hats and does he every have them, at this date he has collected over 2400 plus hats from all over the world. He always enjoys talking to you about them and showing them to anyone who might stop by. He also has other collections, I'll cover those at another time. He also is a charter member as a volunteer at the Oregon Coast Aquarium here in Newport. Betty use to also volunteer at the Aquarium in the past, but elected to use her needs elsewhere. You can say they are a very busy couple and Betty makes a great meatloaf, I know I tried some just this past week. Oh, best not forget to mention Muffit their dog, he make a great door bell and will greet you each time. Next time you see them here on the hill, tell them you heard about all they do on the "Meet Your Neighbor's at LVH's".

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS AT LVH's"


This is Jessie and Margaret Stogsdill who have lived here at Longview Hills since 1994. They have been married for 26 years. Margaret was born in the state Minnesota and Jessie comes from the state of Texas. I'm not going to give their ages away, but you can see they make a great looking couple. I hear Jessie is a great bowler and enjoys it very much. Margaret enjoys taking a dip in the Newport swimming pool and goes there every week.
So next time you see either one of them, tell them hi and you saw them as the first couple to be on the Meet Your Neighbors at Longview Hills Web Site.


PS: I will be doing this and so hope I can get everyone to respond when I come knocking at your door, I'll call first. Thanks ......Charles Burke Posted by Picasa
posted by Charles 5:17 PM

"MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS AT LVH's"



Ron and Jacky Thomas have lived at Longview Hills for the past nine years. They have been married for 45 wonderful years and raised two kids and also have two grandkids. Jacky was born in Florida and Ron comes from the state of California. Jacky enjoys crafts and she is very invovled with gettting things done on the hill, like social functions and you always see her working very hard. Ron has so many interest, he is the webmaster for LVH's web site, has worked very hard in getting the numbers and emergercy lights system on the lamp post. He is working on starting a computer lab with10 computer's that were donated to LVH's and I could go on and on for all he and his wife have done for Longview Hills, always there to lend a helping hand. We are very lucky to have such caring people as Jacky and Ron, to call them friends and neighbors. They give 100 per cent to this community and we thank them very much for the hard work they do. Kudo's to them!! Jacky, next time I'll get you with your eyes open, OK?