By June Smith
Stay Home, Stay Safe, Stay Connected” is the mantra of Santa Cruz County residents due to the coronavirus shelter-in-place order, and owners at Capitola’s Park Avenue by-the-Sea complex are taking it to heart.
Sherry Arndt, a retired nurse, plays music for her neighbors at her Park Avenue condo complex every night at 8 p.m. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
When Sherry Arndt, a retired registered nurse, heard that the queen of Denmark chooses a song for her subjects to sing every day, she got the idea that her neighbors could also find a way to honor frontline workers. Although some neighborhoods choose to howl, condo residents chose to sing instead, convening each night at 8 p.m. in corridor walkways.
Many of the units are used as vacation homes and not all are occupied, so social distancing poses no problem. The Fleming family of five finds their own way to observe distancing by cavorting outside on the community lawn in the center of the complex.
Gae La Torre, a retired special needs teacher, extended the invitation to all by placing notes at all the building entrances.
“I loved the idea of songs rather than howling,” she said. “In my sister’s complex, they sing ‘God Bless America,’ or play an instrument. It’s a great idea since we rarely see anyone during shelter-in, and at least we can wave.”
Sho-Li Cheng and her husband I-Ming Cheng dance to the music. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
Arndt brought her Sonos speaker system outside onto the walkway of her unit and from then on, two new songs blasted throughout the complex every night.
Suggestions for songs were welcome. As a lover of music and dance and, I jumped in with favorites like “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” and “Dancing Queen.”
Many of the residents are seniors who love the all-time favorites, so “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer, “I Feel Good” by James Brown, “Simply the Best” by Tina Turner, and “Jump” by the Pointer Sisters got everyone grooving.
International Nurses Week was honored with “Rescue Me” and a tribute for Little Richard featured his best-loved song.
For residents having a birthday, the whole congregation sang the Beatles “It’s Your Birthday!” By then, the Sing-a-Long had morphed into a dance party.
On Cinco de Mayo, Bob Suess, president of the Homeowners Association and wife Debra danced with bongos, maracas, and tambourines to accompany “La Vida es un Carnaval” by Celia Cruz.
Suess, a retired middle-school teacher, is a musician and a member of the “Santa Cruz Beach Cowboys.” The couple soon became designated dance captains.
Cameras flashed thanks to homeowners/designated photographers, Linda Batey and Francine Thomas.
Sho-Li Cheng, a nurse-midwife, and her husband I-Ming, civil engineer, both retired and originally from Taiwan, are living part-time in Capitola. Having taken dance lessons in the past, they rarely miss the chance to participate.
Sho-Li said, “I love the body movement when the music is going; we are so blessed to have such great neighbors here at 850!”
A video taken on the night of “All You Need is Love” by the Beatles was shared with family and friends, prompting positive comments: “Cool Hood!” “This makes me so happy!” and “You folks are simply terrific, Party on!”
Adding her special brand of joy by frolicking through the halls greeting one and all is a rescued Jack Russell pup named Lily. Her owner, Susan Weeks, proclaimed the nightly gathering to be the highlight of her day.
Margaret Hammond Larson, a resident of 20 years, said, “Sherry’s music idea is bringing joy — truly!”