The Savoy

 

Most longtime Second Life residents have probably heard of Creations for Parkinsons, a beautiful area created years ago by Barbie Alchemi for her mother Fran Seranade. Reporter Netera Landar went there to check out the location, and had a few words with it's manager, Mathew Kosse. The place has evolved over the years, continuing to both entertain and impress. 

 

Read the article in Places.

 

A Few Events This Weekend

 

A number of events went on this past weekend. On Friday July 30, Creations for Parkinsons held the last of their events for their "Back to 1955" fundraiser. DJ Piper would play the music for the event, and there was a 1950s trivia contest.

The event took place on a recreation of the town of Hill Valley, the scene of the "Back to the Future" movie. Michael J. Fox, who stared in the movie, would later come down with Parkinsons. The Creations for Parkinsons area and group raises money for Team Fox, a charity raising money to research treatments for the disease.

On Saturday July 31, the pub crawl took place in the Confederation of Democratic Simulators. From Noon to 2 PM, people at the commuity would party at three different pubs, hoping from one to another. Among those taking part was Chancellor Kyoko Furse-Barzane

Saturday was also the scene of the "Summer at the Beach" party at Steelhead Bay. The event was to help raise Lindens for the upkeep of the sim, and a number came over, the majority in their swimsuits. Andrea Jones and Cynthia Farshore were the DJs for the event. Among those there were Sunweaver chief Rita Mariner, and Fuzzball Ortega, Steelhead's leader.  

Stay tuned for more news

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Fran Seranade Dies at 92

Some sad news for Second Life. One of it's oldest and inspirational residents, Fran Seranade, has passed away. She had celebrated her 92nd birthday just a few days before. She was the inspiration for the Creations for Parkinsons sims and group, run by her real-life daughter Barbie Alchemi.

*  *  *  *  *

Our family is so sorry to share the sad news that our mom, Fran, passed away on Sunday morning March 3rd.

As you know our dad died with Parkinson's 16 years ago. Much to our surprise, one year later mom was also diagnosed with the same disease. In spite of the challenges, Mom gallantly kept going, enjoying her life right up to her 92nd birthday. A few days later we shared an especially happy and precious day. She said "Today would be a good day to die." I asked if she would like to move into my home and have me call Hospice. Her face lit up with a smile and she told me it was the right time.

For 15 years Mom has been a Hospice volunteer. It was my honor to care for her as she had cared for so many others at the end of their lives. I spent the last 84 hours by her side, nursing her round the clock with the guidance of Hospice. I will be forever grateful for the precious opportunity to be with her for this time.  During her final hour as I held her hand, I could feel love and wisdom pouring from her heart and flowing into my own heart. As she exhaled for the last time, I knew her spirit was lifted into perfect peace and she was united again with our dad.

We will be planning a memorial service in SL in about a month. I will keep you informed as soon as we know the date. I will set up a special L donation Kiosk in her memory.

Please read more about her life of love and service at this link https://fundraise.michaeljfox.org/tf-2019/FranSwenson
If you wish, you may make a RL donation in her memory.

Here is the link, if you would like to watch the remarkable video made 6 years ago about the benefits of SL for our RL Mom. This will touch your heart! The Drax File: World Makers- Episode 13 Creations for Parkinsons
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyiiWxNguGo&feature=youtu.be

Please share this note card with your friends so we can reach as many people as possible.

We are so grateful for your caring and love,
Barbie Alchemi and AlmostThere Inventor

2017 Person of the Year Runners Up: Barbie Alchemi and Fran Serenade

The Newser's choice of Man of the Year for 2017 as Ajit Pai, as expected, did not sit well with everyone. Several people talked to me or otherwise left messages, saying either our concerns on the issue of Net Neutrality were misplaced, or that the title should have gone to someone who made a difference for the better. But Time Magazine's Man of the Year annual magazine, which was the inspiration for our annual article, does not always chose a force for good, just the person, persons, or object that has done the most to influence events, for good or ill.

Still, there were plenty of movers and shakers in Second Life that made an impact. And so we can chose someone for runner up. It was not an easy choice, but we have picked two.

Barbie Alchemi and Fran Serenade are the women behind Creations for Parkinsons. While Barbie is the owner and leader of the sims and the groups involved, Fran is the inspiration for them. Having been earlier aflicted with Parkinson's, her time here has been atributed to not only halting the progress of the illness, but reversing it.

This year, they were mentioned in the Newser a number of times, such as when a 90th birthday party for Fran was held inworld, and they held their Gotham Island Hallowen fundraiser for money for Parkinson's research. And earlier articles and videos, notably Draxtor Despress' video of them, continue to draw attention to both them and the virtual world of Second Life. In the case of the latter, it offers people a view of the virtual world that's world's apart from the tabliodish depiction the public has often gotten.



So for their continued work for charity, for their continuing to be an inspiration for others in Second Life and showing people unfamiliar with the virtual world the good it can do, the Newser names Barbie Alchemi and Fran Serenade as it's runners up for Person of the Year.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor
SL Newser

Fran Seranade of Creations for Parkinsons

Deaflegacy recently went to Creations for Parkinsons. There she met Barbie Alchemi, who wanted to talk about the person who was the real driving force behind the place in Second Life: her mother Fran Serenade. Fran, who recently turned 90, has been an example of how Second Life can help those with disabilities as despite her Parkinson's, she describes herself as getting better in recent years, attributing the improvement in her well being to Second Life and the friendships she has made there. Her daughter Barbie talked about the Parkinson's Support Group, of which Fran has made a number of friends, and the two birthday parties she had, including one in real life which included some she knew from Second Life.

Read Deaflegacy's story in People.

Fran Seranade's 90th Birthday Party

On Saturday February 18, Creations for Parkinsons was the scene of a 90th birthday party for Fran Seranade. The party actually got an early start the night before for a couple hours. But the main event was from 3PM to a bit past 8PM SL time. At one point, there were close to forty people crowded in the CP Swing Ballroom, which unfortunately resulted in me crashing before I could get a good picture. Yours truly would have to wait until later for a clear one without they grays and glitches.

Barbie Alchemi, Fran's daughter, had stated her mother wasn't planning a party in real life. She would just enjoy the event with her friends in Second Life. The theme of the party was 40s sing and big band. And people either dressed in formal outfits, or in clothing that could easily have been of the era. There would be various live performers singing throughout the party, such as Max Kleen, "We had so many great performers here today."

While at the party, I would see the black and white photos of Fran and her family change like a slide show.  "Fran was the 6th of 7 children," Barbie told the crowd, "she was born in Brookly New York in 1927." Other pictures included her and a childhood friend, "they were both very limited sight and were considered blind at that time," and her high school photo, "she was the first in her family to go past elementary school and graduate."

While most of the musicians were experienced performers in virtual reality, one was making his Second Life debut as a singer: Ron Rosa. A singer in the style of the "Rat Pack" yours truly got a couple requests to mention him in the article, saying for a beginner he was too good not to name, " his voice is nuanced and spot on.  I think he is going to really do well when he gets tuned up."

Following Ron, it was time for the party to wind down. And Fran herself was ready to head to bed herself, "Good night everybody! Thank you all for a GREAT night!!!!!!!!"

Creations for Parkinsons raises funds for Team Fox, a Parkinson's charity. During the course of the party, a substantial amount of Lindens were raised.

Creations for Parkinsons has events on a daily basis, sometimes a few to several on a day. The CP Swing ballroom itself has events just about every day.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Creations%20Park/35/52/28

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Creations for Parkinsons. Whatever this girl is doing with a prim build of Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, one only can only guess.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: "Birthday Bash" at Creations For Parkinsons

Birthday Bash Benefit - Fran Turns 90
Saturday February 18th 3-9pm slt
6 Hours of Live Music
CP Swing Ballroom on Creations Park
All donations go to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
Attire: Formal or 40's vintage
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Creations%20Park/35/52/28

3:00 Max Kleene
4:00 Agatha
5:00 Greg Kat
6:00 DirtyDee Sweetwater
7:00 Robbie Downing
8:00 Quartz

Fran said she did not want a 90th Birthday Party in Real Life, she only wanted a party in Second Life. And this will be a Birthday Bash to remember with 6 hours of live music.

Fran became famous in Second Life through this heart touching video: The Drax File: World Makers- Episode 13 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyiiWxNguGo&feature=youtu.be

Fran says "I may have Parkinson's, but it does not have me." At 90 "years young," she is active in Second Life and is thrilled to see herself running and dancing again.

Fran's daughter Barbie Alchemi tells us that their RL Dad died with Parkinson's. Exactly one year later Mom was diagnosed with the same disease. However due to the time Fran spends in Second Life her progression has been noticeably slower.

In honor of this remarkable woman, five years ago their family started Creations for Parkinson's and has raised 9.5 Million Linden which is approximately $38,000 US Dollars for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. "We are hoping to raise another 500,000 Linden this week to reach our 10 Million Linden goal." The Creations Park sim has was built with love to include all of Fran's favorite activities. We hope you can feel that love while you are enjoying yourself here.

Fran's party will have six live singers performing during the day at Creation Park's newest addition, CP Swing Big Band Ballroom. It is a 40's era ballroom built as a re-creation of the Savoy Ballroom which was the birthplace of swing dancing. Here we can all enjoy the wonderful music of Fran's teen years. It brings back happy memories for Fran of "taking air" which are those amazing areal Swing dance moves. The crowd used to make a circle around Fran and her partner as they became the floor show.

The Birthday Bash Benefit will be held in this Ballroom. Attire for the event is formal or 40's vintage. There will even be a short slide show of Fran in the 40's.

Actually the festivities will start the night before on Friday February 17th 7-9 with a tribute to Vaugn Monroe and the Moon Maid. One of Fran's closest friends Tinker was one of the original Moon Maids.

We are thrilled to have this wonderful article release 2 days ago in BackChannel:
https://backchannel.com/first-they-got-sick-then-they-moved-into-a-virtual-utopia-1dc6c165f3e9#.o6sz3eo2t

Creations for Parkinson's

Becky Shamen's latest journey took her to a spot that has been mentioned a number of times in the Newser, but seldom described in great detail: Creations for Parkinson's. Noted for it's inspiring tale of being originally built by Barbie Alchemi for her real-life mother Fran Seranade to help her with her Parkinson's, the place has over time grown in size from it's original sim and it's purpose, now helping to raise funds for Team Fox: the Parkinson's charity founded by Michael J. Fox. Activities go on there several times a week, once where a blind DJ was playing music for some. But what about the sims themselves, the ground levels and the higher levels up above? Becky Shamen visited, and found them so stunning that before she knew it it was way past Midnight and had to continue her explorations the next day, and the day after that.

Read Becky's article in Places.

Interview with DJ Keao, Creations Park's "Blind DJ"

Second Life Newser recently heard about the debut of a new DJ at Creations Park, the home of the Creations for Parkinsons group, Keao Resident. While this might not seem like news outside the group, Keao was advertised as a "Blind DJ."  Bixyl Shuftan recently had an interview with Keao, and she had a few things to say about how she came to Second Life, and eventually to Creations Park.

Read the interview in People.

(Some corrections and an addition at the end after she contacted us later)

Press Release Branwen Arts Presents "Sergeant Peppers Tiny Hearts Band"

Saturday August 9th  at 1 PM SL time

A concert for Creations for Parkinson's Team Fox for The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

At Brandi's Coffee house on the Bran Estate

1pm : The unrivalled Pitter Patter Dance troupe in Sgt Pepper's Tiny Hearts Club Band - a tribute to the Beatles.

2pm : Nance Brody - Singer/Songwriter, performs her own beautiful acoustic original songs, in her rich, uplifting voice.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bran/181/167/2367

Brandi's Coffee House, Bran (181, 167, 2367) - Moderate

100% of all donations go to Creations for Parkinson's Team Fox for The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Press Release: Gala at the Rose Theater at Angel Manor

TOMORROW ~ Monday July 21st, 1-4 PM SL time

We have an awesome line up of performers for this event
1:00 ~ Xander
2:00 ~ Tamra Hayden
3:00 ~ Mankind Tracer / Seth Regan

ATTIRE: festive
Everyone is invited, please bring your friends

Angel Manor (213/215/34)

A Creations for Parkinson's Team Fox Benefit Concert

Grand Opening of Peace Nation at Creations Park

Last weekend, The Creations Park sim opened a new area, Peace Nation, with a Grand Opening party. Sim owner Barbie Alchemi was there along with her real-life mother Fran Serenade, and a number of friends. Besides announcing a new place to explore and relax, the event was also to raise funds for Parkinsons.

See more in Events. 

The Drax Files: "World Makers - Episode 13: Creations for Parkinson's "

(Click Here if the video fails to load)

"My avatar represents how I truly feel inside" says 86-year old Fran Seranade. And despite her Parkinson's condition she navigates her blond, blue-eyed and stunningly dressed digital alter ego with bravura through the immersive universe of Second Life: one moment she is a mermaid and another she ice skates with her friends in winter wonderland.

"The effect of engaging in a virtual world on her condition is being closely studied by her personal doctor and although conclusions can't be drawn without further research, the exhilaration of being able to engage in activities like horse back riding and boating in SL suggests that so-called mirror neurons are at work here: identifying with the avatar and the action happening on the screen makes Fran's muscles feel less rigid and increases dopamine production in the brain.

"'Second Life just might be the fountain of youth' Fran is saying with a smile and the in-world community 'Creations for Parkinson's' run by her daughter is trying to make this statement a reality by bringing people together to celebrate the power of creativity every day, regardless of age, origin and physical location."

Direct teleport to Creations for Parkinson's is at Creations Park (149/94/23)"

 Second Life Newser wrote about Creations for Parkinsons about a year ago in October 2013.

Update on "Creations For Parkinsons"

In October, Second Life Newser did an article on the "Creations of Parkinsons" sim, ran by Barbie Alchemi. She was inspired to create the place due to her mother, known in Second Life as Fran Seranade, whom had the illness. Recently, Hamlet Au interviewed Fran, which can be seen Here, in which she talked about how her journey in Second Life has helped her recover much of her physical ability.


Speaking to Barbie, she was happy for the attention this new article brought, and informed the Newser there would soon be some new developments at "Creations." In the meantime, they were still running events there, in addition to the Sunday night "Demo Derby" in Random.

Stay tuned for more.

Image credit: New World Notes