Dear Members, 

It was necessary to cancel our regular meeting of the Polish Genealogical Society of California scheduled for May 22, 2010, because of the lack of wireless Internet services at the Weingart Senior Center where we have been meeting this year. 

Instead, we have reserved our place for the group tour of the Arden Home of Polish Actress, Madam Helena Modjeska located near Lake Forest in Santiago Canyon, Orange County.  A check to cover the total fees of our group, estimated at 30 members, has been issued by our program chair, Annette Gathright. The State Park Service charges a fee of $5.00. You can send a check to our mailbox or give it to our treasurer Nancy Stiefeling or program chair, Annette Gathright, at the tour.  The tour begins at 10:00 a.m. sharp and concludes before noon. . (The gate opens at 9:40 – please plan to arrive at this time.). No formal lunch has been arranged and members can seek their own interests for the afternoon. The closest LDS Family History Center is located in Orange, CA.

There will NOT be another PGSCA meeting after the tour. 

Maps are being provided and are attached to this message to provide directions to the Arden Modjeska Home. 

Directions Summary:

1. Take the El Toro Road off-ramp from the Interstate 5-freeway, which is just south of the merging of the 405 with the Interstate 5 ("El Toro-Y").

2. Make a left at the off-ramp and another left turn at the signal, which will place you on the eastward drive along the El Toro Road.

3. Follow El Toro Road a few miles until it turns into (left) the Santiago Canyon Road that continues northward. There is a "COOKS CORNER CAFE" at the end of El Toro Road at this transition to Santiago Canyon Road.

3. Continue on Santiago Canyon Road a few miles to Modjeska Canyon Road. There may not be a visible sign, so judge your map distance carefully. Modjeska Canyon Road will be a right turn and proceeds up the canyon.

4. Please park at the auxiliary parking area just 1/8 mile after the turn onto Modjeska Canyon Road (see the map). The dirt area is located on the right side of the road and is marked by a line of trees. This area is used by the Park Service to store larger equipment/vehicles. There is limited parking at the Arden Modjeska home, so please carpool from this first parking area.

5. Drive up Modjeska Canyon Road for 1-1/2 miles to Olive Hill Road. Turn right and you will cross over a small creek. Immediately after the creek is the parking lot for our tour on the left of the road. Walk about 80 yards up past the gardens to the Arden House, where the tour begins. Bring layers of clothes because the area is higher in the mountains and a bit cooler than the city of El Toro. Part of the tour is outdoors, so bring a hat and sunglasses.

Please make your reservations with Annette Gathright or me:      

programs@pgsca.org and president@pgsca.org

Then send your checks to our mailing address:

See you at the Arden Modjeska House,

Robert

Robert Sherins, M.D., President PGSCA

Following are several differnt maps for your use: