Amy Jackson
Amy is a documentary filmmaker who likes taking pictures, hiking, traveling, vegan cooking, and Tibetan Buddhism. Amy volunteers with animal rescue groups and has four rescue animals: three dogs, one Karma Kitty, plus a foster dog, Skippy. Amy says it is wonderful living near her mom in the beautiful mountains of WNC.
Josefa Mandarino
A native New Yorker who lived and worked in the Hudson Valley for more than 30 years, Josefa retired as a civilian from the US Military Academy at West Point in 2006. She then moved to Hendersonville with her husband, Sal, where they have lived for the past 10 years.
Josefa’s interests revolve around art, nature/gardening, and the transpersonal. She has been a long time practitioner of raja yoga and has a Master’s degree in Transpersonal Studies. Since moving to Hendersonville, Josefa received a certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Haden Institute and has both facilitated and participates in dream and spiritual direction (both one-on-one and group work). She currently mentors students enrolled in the Spiritual Direction course offered at the Rowe, MA, UU Camp and Conference Center.
She is taking classes in abstract painting; continues to work with gourds, creating lamps and other decorative pieces; has sold at the Wickwire Gallery, and presently has pieces at Art on 4th.
Sal Mandarino
Sal grew up in Astoria (Queens), New York. He trained and worked as a printer in NYC, then moved to the Hudson Valley where he lived for more than 30 years. After retiring as a civilian from the US Military Academy in 2006, Sal moved to Hendersonville with his wife, Josefa. He has been a long time practitioner of raja yoga, and his current interests and hobbies include Tai Chi (White Crane and various other styles), golf, and music.
Sal has been a member of the Hendersonville Chorale since 2009, and after joining UUFH, became a member of the choir.
Jeff Shields
Jeff was born and raised in South Dakota, attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, graduating with a B.S. in Mathematics. His first job was with the Federal Government (Department of Veterans Affairs) in Maywood, IL, where he met his wife, Joan. Married now for 39 years, Jeff and Joan and their five Shetland Sheep Dogs (Shelties) moved to Hendersonville in May. Jeff describes himself as a “wanna-be computer geek,” and lists his passions as the outdoors, environmental issues, landscape photography, and basket-weaving, which he has done for more than 20 years. He says he would be pleased to make baskets to order – a great gift for that special occasion – and will gladly show samples of his work.
Joan Shields
Joan grew up in a suburb of Chicago, attended Triton Junior College for Computer Science, and later went to Northeastern Illinois University, majoring in Business Administration. Joan is retired from the IT field after working for numerous organizations and as a contractor for the Federal Government. She likes to garden, sings in the choir, plays the French horn, and is involved in the dog world (obedience training, tracking, agility, pet therapy, etc.) Joan bred Shelties and has worked with Sheltie rescue.