By Mark Marotta
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

The arrival of winter in Bucks County certainly does not mean that people who live at Ann’s Choice have gone into hibernation.

In fact, there are a number of ways for residents to remain active during the cold months ahead. Among some examples are a walking club, indoor bocce, Wii bowling, and a club for model airplane enthusiasts.

Walking through the winter
According to member Dave Podietz, the Walkers Club has been going strong for at least four years. It gathers on  Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to walk in the neighboring Warminster Community Park.

“There’s nothing formal about the walking club. All we do is meet at 8 o’clock in the morning and walk. That’s all there is,” says Podietz. “We walk straight through the winter. Bad weather doesn’t mean anything.”

If there is rain or heavy snow, he adds, the club walks inside the buildings at Ann’s Choice since all buildings are connected with glass-enclosed, climate-controlled walkways.

But as long as the weather is good, the club walks for an hour on a paved three-mile route within the park, Podietz says.

“It’s a 20-minute mile,” he adds. “[We] walk at a moderate pace.”

The terrain has some gentle rises, and there are shortcuts for newcomers to use.

Typically, Podietz says, two to five people come out on any given morning. The number tends to increase with cooler weather, he says.

He adds that the walkers tend to stay together as a group. Walking together encourages people to complete the route.

Indoor bocce
For those who want to head indoors, try indoor  bocce. As resident Russ Neiger explains, bocce is an Italian game in which each team seeks to have its colored balls stop closest to a little yellow target ball.

Traditionally, he adds, it is typically an outdoor game that can be “played just during the good weather.” But, Neiger says, the indoor version “can be played all year long.”

Another advantage of bocce is that “anybody can play it,” he adds.