Americana Cove

Glad you left the cold behind?

Nov 01, 2002

Dear Friends,
I apologize for not submitting a prayer for October. Because I was in hospital twice in September it slipped my mind completely. I thank God that all is OK now.
John Whittredge Hill

PRAYER FOR NOVEMBER
Omnipotent God, this month at least, many Americans remember to give you thanks. We so often take Your gifts without a word of appreciation. We ask Your forgiveness.
Besides Thanksgiving Day we have many special days this month.
The 1st is All Saints Day. Halloween used to be Hallowed Eve in preparation for this day of remembrance.
All good citizens should vote their conscience on the 5th.
On the 11th, we should pray for our Veterans and not forget those who are presently in the Armed Forces. While you are doing this don?’t forget to pray for peace.
Two Religious times are important to some:
Orthodox Advent Feast begins on the 28th.
Jewish Hanukkah begins on the 30th.
God will continue to bless you. Don?’t forget to thank Him!
John Whittredge Hill, Chaplain.


FROM THE MANAGER ?– Dawn Simmons
MAIL BOX:
The US Post Office has taken the mailbox out of the Rose Garden. However, they have placed another smaller one under the portico. The reason for the change was because there is not enough outgoing mail to justify the box being there.
Please use it as often as you can, otherwise they will remove it altogether.

YARD, BRUSH & TREE TRIMMING:
Our residents seem to be getting away from the correct way to set brush, tree trimmings and weeds/leaves at curbside.
Since the Park is so large and there is so much to be hauled, we have to have a system that makes it efficient for the residents and most of all for our workers. These are the guidelines to comply with in yard hauling:
1.
a). It would be a lot easier for you and the maintenance dept. if you had a large trash barrel - (they are very cheap at the Dollar Store).
b). If all your yard clippings, branches, brush, weeds/whatever were placed in this trash barrel, it would not leave a mess on the ground and the men would just have to dump the barrel on the trailer.
c). It would be much neater and save pick up time.
2.
a). My second suggestion would be to place the weeds/leaves in a plastic bag. We can no longer pick up yard trash that is not in either a plastic bag or trash barrel.
b). Palm fronds, tree branches, hibiscus branches must be tied and placed in a pile.
c). Fruit tree limbs/branches must be trimmed of all fruit before you leave for the summer months. Fruit must be placed in trash bags or barrel.
d). Most Important - Do not mix household garbage with aluminum cans, grass clippings, leaves etc. We do not have the time or manpower to separate such.
3.
a). Since a lot of our Northern Residents will have returned by November and January, we are declaring the week of Nov. 18th and Jan. 27th Brush & Weed Pick Up Week. Everyone needs to do a major landscape trim of their yard.
b). Other than the above weeks we will only be doing brush pick up on Monday, since most people do their yard work on the weekends.
c). We have placed the brush trailer at the Americana Drive Compound Area for anyone who wants to dump their own brush.
d). Please do not place yard trash on the lawn to hamper mowing at anytime. Only set it out on the pickup day.

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE
We have contracted with a new service for the year 2003 to do the following:
Mow, edge, trim and blow, weed all flower beds (common area) maintain street fence line, trim all palm trees on an annual basis- keep common area trees trimmed, do monthly check on all common area sprinklers. Pest control 3 times per year on all yards and common areas.

REMINDER
Please remind vendors and guests that there is NO PARKING on street at any time (Fire Dept. Regulation). See Rules and Regulations. It is important to keep the roads open.

Please adhere to the 15mph. speed limit signs and all stop signs. Our Northern Residents are arriving back and with the extra traffic we all need to keep the speed down. This includes all employees on or off duty.

IMPORTANT REMINDER
Any resident who does not occupy their home on a yearly basis must have a caretaker for the months they are away.

CARETAKER MEANS: someone to maintain the yards and bushes, including weeding, look after the sprinkler system if you have one, and check the exterior of your home before and after a storm. Too many residents again this year neglected to hire someone prior to their departure to their ?“Other Home?”. We are going to start earlier in future checking each person?’s file to see if they do have a caretaker. It is not fair to those who live here year around and maintain their yards.

Rule 12: - YARD MAINTENANCE
?“A?”. Each Resident must arrange for the care of their own yard. Anyone not living in the Park on a twelve - month basis must assign a caretaker to weed the planter and trim shrubs in their absence. Failure to do so will result in Management hiring someone to do the work, and the Resident will be billed for such work by applying such charges to Resident?’s rent account. Please come to the office and fill out a Yard Maintenance Form for 2003-2004.

SWIMMING POOL
The swimming pool opens at 8:30 am. The sign on the wall is incorrect and will be changed. Lap swimming is from 8:30 am to 9:15 am. Exercise from 9:15 am to 10:15 am. We ask for everyone?’s cooperation in adhering to this time schedule.


WELCOME NEW RESIDENTS by Frances McVay

ADAMEK, James
6906 Mt. Pleasant Road
Previously MAROA Used

GRAY, Larry & Gevona (MO)
341 Mt. Isle Avenue
Previously Myers

HOPKINS, Mary E. (MA)
7226 Mt. Georgetown Drive
Previously Rogers

KIRKPATRICK, Kathleen (TN)
6827 Americana Drive 522-7422
Previously MAROA Used

RICHTER, Joya L. (MI)
7118 Mt. DeLeon Road
Previously MAROA Used


SUNSHINE REPORT NOVEMBER 2002
Peggy Hubrich

NURSING HOMES;
Jane Bryant Maria Manor
Bob Evans Carrington Place
Erna Wring Carrington Place
Mitzi Delzell Shore Acres
Carl Rosenquist Westminister Shores
Mimi Edwards Maria Manor

DEATHS
Carl Martin

BIRTHDAYS
02 Margie Slaugenhaupt
03 Peggy Pippenger
05 Mary Kelm,
Herb Steele
06 Ruth Rosebush
07 Frank Wright
08 Ginger Phillips
09 Doris Dion
14 Eleanor George
15 Lou Lauzier
16 Ed Mosakowski,
Hugh Roberts
21 Bonnie Parr
23 Emma Hubartt
24 Connie Mattina,
Sandy Wilkinson,
26 Curt Sigourney
27 Ann Berdeen,
Bob Paige,
John Wadsworth
28 Evelyn Dusza
29 Conrad Weiser

ANNIVERSARIES;
09 Carol and Ed Slade 51 years
19 Beverly and Donald Parks 25 years
Gail and Dick Jones 05 years
Edith and Stan Harmon 37 years
25 Peggy and Ed Church 21 years

If you would like to see your birthday or anniversary in the Forecaster call me or write your name and your dates and drop it off at my home. Also if you know of anybody sick in the hospital, in a nursing home or has passed away, please let me know so I can send a card. I don?’t always have this information.


MAA NEWS
Paul Mattina, President
Pour yourselves a cold drink and pull up a comfortable chair. Now that November has brought many Snowbirds back, activities are ratcheting up and the calendar is filling quickly.
The MAA Council meeting scheduled for 10 AM Tuesday, November 5th, will be held in the Atrium instead of the Clubhouse. This date is Election Day, and the Clubhouse will be set up with voting machines. All are welcome to attend the MAA Council meeting.
On Wednesday, November 6th, we will precede the MAA lunch meeting with a slide show, which will start at 11:15 AM sharp. Sharon Miller will give a presentation, titled ?“My Bike Freedom Ride?”, describing her trip up the Northeast Corridor. The MAA lunch and meeting will follow.
On Friday, November 8th, starting at 9 AM until noon, flu shots will be given to those who signed up for this date or who were unable to make the October 30th date. A Consent Form must be filled out and signed by each recipient. If you have not already taken home a form, please be sure to fill one out when you arrive for your shot.
Another celebration taking place this month is the wedding of Virginia Novak and Don Letterman, who have recently purchased a home in our park. The wedding will take place on the 23rd at 2 PM in the Atrium, with a reception following in the Clubhouse, ending at 5 PM. As are all events that take place in a park facility, it is open to all residents.
On Wednesday, November 27th, the Old Timers luncheon will be cancelled due to the number of events taking place. Please note that Bingo will be held on Wednesday night, instead of Friday, at 6:30 as usual. The Clubhouse will be closed Friday to allow time to set up for the Bazaar. Please check your calendar.
Thanksgiving Day dinner, November 28th, will begin at 3 PM with appetizers and entertainment by Peggy Church and Sunny Knutson on the sax and guitar. Dinner will follow at 4 PM and will include coffee and soda. Please bring your own beer, wine or booze. Set-up will be at 10 AM Thursday morning. Tickets will be $7, and will be on sale at 9 AM on Monday, November 18th in the Clubhouse. As usual, we urge you to purchase your tickets when they go on sale. Last minute ticket sales play havoc with the ordering of food.
On Friday, November 29th, the Clubhouse will be closed as of 10:30 AM for the setting up of the Bazaar. The Bazaar will be open from 10 AM till 2 PM on Saturday, the 30th. In addition to all the ?“goodies?” available for sale there will be various raffles and many other offerings. Bonnie and Jim Parr will don their aprons and will be preparing pizza by the slice as well as ?“all you can eat?” omelets. Notices will be placed in all the usual places very early this month with much more detail on these activities, so keep an eye out for them.


OLD TIMER'S CLUB
By Marcia Fay
Dick and I are very glad to be back HOME. After receiving our new van May 18th, we put over 12,000 miles on it over the five months we were gone. Dick finally met all 6 of my children and 22 Grandchildren by traveling to Unionville, Ontario in May and to Fayetteville, Arkansas in June. Of course we spent the month of August in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire and enjoyed being at Dick and Gail Jones gathering for Mobel Americanans at Sunset Lake before returning to Michigan.
Our summer was good except for the fact we both had relatives who passed away with cancer while we were in Michigan.
We finished the summer with a trip to Toronto to help Dean and Vera Myers celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on October 4th. It snowed heavily while we were at the party, but it all melted before the time to go home.
We drove home by way of Pennsylvania, W. Virginia and Virginia, then 95 to 4 and home at last, 1450 miles. Beautiful scenery but too early for Fall colors.
I want to thank Esther Louzon and the rest of the crew for a good job done while I was gone. Looking forward to a great season with all our friends and family. See you again at the next luncheon.


MOBEL NOTES
By Ken Hopkins
INS RULES IN FAVOR OF CANADIANS ?— In the aftermath of 9/11, there was an immediate outcry against foreign visitors to the U.S. In fact, there was sentiment within the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) to restrict all visitors to only 30 days. Cooler heads have prevailed and at the request of the Canadian Snowbird Association, FMO, and others, the INS has ruled that any such 30 day limitation will NOT apply to Canadian citizens who can demonstrate a reasonable need to be in the U.S. for longer than 30 days and that they will continue to be welcome for their customary 6 month stay in the U.S. Welcome Canadians!

CONGRATULATIONS TO PAUL MATTINA ?— Join me in congratulating Paul Mattina and welcoming him as our newest Board Member. After Ed Kelly?’s resignation, the Board initially opted to wait until the Fall elections to fill the vacancy. However, consistent with our by-laws and previous practice, the decision was made to fill the vacancy with the candidate who came the closest to election the previous year. Paul, who lost by only one vote, was then appointed by the Board to fill the vacancy. We are sad to lose Ed but think Paul will be an excellent addition to the Board

MY FRIEND MICHELLE - Michelle Bergeron is a fisherman, actually a shrimper. He?’s also a Cajun. I just met him. He really does speak French and lives where Forrest Gump went fishing for shrimp. I?’m in Houma, Louisiana doing disaster relief with FEMA. Michelle lives on a bayou near the Gulf of Mexico. He had a 24 foot boat that he used to fish for shrimp, with a big net. A few weeks ago tropical storm Isadore sank his boat and with it, his means of earning a living. He lived in what they call a ?“camp?” down here. Literally a shack on stilts. Two weeks after Isadore, Hurricane Lily came along and knocked his home off the stilts and it sank like his boat. Michelle is a proud man with a wife and two kids. He came to FEMA for help. We?’re going to give it to him. He?’ll get a new boat (well, a used new boat) and enough money to build a new shack on top of those stilts. When I met Michelle and his family, he could still smile, was quick to laugh at my slight joke, and still believed in his God. The next time things at Mobel seem really important like the $10 rent increase you got, the potatoes that were cold at the Saturday night dinner, or the group that grabbed your space in the Atrium, I?’d like you to think about my friend Michelle. I certainly will.

LISTBOT REVISITED ?— Conrad Weiser would like to remind all listbot users that sometimes it is possible to ?“fall out of the system?”. If your Internet service provider changes or you discontinue your Internet service while you go north for the summer, it is possible that you are no longer registered with the listbot. If it has been a while since you received any email messages from the listbot, it is easy to check your status. Just address a test email to ?“maa200l@yahoogroups.com?”. If you are still OK in the system, you will shortly receive a copy of your email. If not, contact Conrad to be reinstated in the system. It goes for new residents who have not yet registered for our listbot.

SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR NEIGHBOR ?— ?“My heart is with this park.?” That?’s what Ed Kelly told me when I interviewed him for this column. It certainly is, Ed. With half of his 14 years at Mobel spent on the Board, Ed has truly demonstrated his concern for our community. Ed served as first vice-president to Virginia Curtis and then took over as Board President succeeding Virginia. You may have heard that Ed recently stepped down from the Board due to health issues.
Ed?’s roots are in New Jersey, South River to be exact. Ed?’s career was in law enforcement with 30 years service as a professional police officer ending with the rank of captain. Ed?’s career with the police force was terminated in 1978 when he suffered a gunshot wound. Ed has always been active and enjoys bowling, swimming, and taking walks with his sweetheart, Doris. You still see Ed and Doris going for a walk.
When asked what the greatest change he has seen at Mobel, Ed responded, ?“how the park has grown and the influx of new people.?” Thanks for your years of service, Ed.

SUGGESTIONS WELCOME ?— Have some news from your club or group? Have an idea that you?’d like to express in this column? Want your chance to be heard? Email us at hopken@mindspring.com. or call us at 525-8411.


FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
By Nora Adell Andrews
Questionnaire: What are the nicest things you have noticed about our Library?
?“This Library is very well organized. It is the neatest library I have ever seen.?” Adele Thomas

?“It is a very nice library, up-to-date, with a good variety.?” Emma Hubartt.

?“I like the latest novels. I have just read Mary Higgins Clark and I loved it! When I go on a plane I try to borrow several to read. It saves me a lot of money.?” Peggy Hubrich

?“I like the part that you don?’t have a time limit on the book, so I can take them when we travel.?” Mary Ann Fairlie

?“I really like books about collectibles, such as antiques, buttons, and jewelry. I would like to see more reference books.?” Kay Jones

?“I think we have one of the best libraries in any mobile home park. It is nice that you can take a couple of books at a time and then bring them back for someone else to enjoy.?” Betty Forbes

?“I like our library really well! It is open from morning till night. As a shuffler I?’ve been around at many mobile home parks and we have the biggest selection. I like the idea of exchanging puzzles also.?” Wanda Spetz

?“I like Catherine Coulter books and I like the variety of authors in our library. There is a good selection of books here.?” Pauline Macomber

?“I like the non-fiction books in our library. I like the biographies and history subjects. The library is well organized and cared for.?” Lucille LaBerge

?“I really enjoy the Library and recommend it.?” Ben and Carol Weir

?“I think the library setup is absolutely marvelous. My all time favorite books are a series of 35 books by Dana Fuller Ross. It is biographical fiction and this library has the books.?” Carol Undieme

?“I like the fact that you can go in anytime to take out books and they trust you to bring them back. There is no time limit or amount of books you can take.?” Claire Barrett

?“I use this library in the summer to relax and catch up on my reading. I really admire Rita and her staff for the care that they give to make it a professional atmosphere. I see people in the library all the time. It is well used.?” Connie Mattina

We wish to welcome back all of our snowbirds, and hope that they had a safe trip back to Mobel Americana. We are looking forward to resuming our meetings on the first Thursday of every month. Our first meeting will be in the Library at 1:00 p.m. on November 7th. The book we will be discussing will be ?“Things I Know Best?” by Lynne Hinton. We hope you can join us. Call Rita Lewis at 527-0693 for additional information.


EXERCISE CLASS
Exercising with Sally will begin Monday, November 4 at 8:15 AM in the Atrium. Forty-five minutes of exercise will include warm-ups, stretching, aerobics, strength and tone, use of lightweights, and a cool down time. All are encouraged to take part at their own pace. This exercise experience leaves participants applauding the expertise of the instructor as well as their own efforts! A $3 donation is suggested for each class attended.
An informal group continues to exercise to one of Sally?’s tapes on the regular days of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:15 AM. If questions, please call Sharon Miller at 527-8150


SHUFFLEBOARD NEWS
By Jo Waldron
The official opening of the shuffleboard season is our meeting on November 2nd at 9 a.m. in the Atrium. Everyone is invited to attend; if you are new this is a good opportunity to see what we are all about. See you there. Happy Shuffling


CUE CLUB NEWS
By Brian Birch
For those of you just returning, a sincere Welcome Back! On Monday, November 4th at 11:00 am we will hold our first Cue Club meeting for the 2001-2002 season. And what an important one it is!!! We will be voting on our Constitution & By-laws, along with new rules governing membership and 8-ball play. We will also be deciding dates for Men?’s and Women?’s League to commence. Once again, I will be offering billiard instruction for anyone interested, on Thursdays from 5-6:00 pm in the billiards room. Our first class will begin on November 7th and I hope to see lots of new as well as ?“old?” faces in the class. We also are pleased to offer the Mixed Doubles Evening again this year on Sundays, beginning at 7:00 pm. We?’ll see you there for our first night of fun on November 10th Just a reminder- you don?’t need to have a partner to come out to play. It?’s a time to come and enjoy each other?’s company, have a little fun, meet new friends, and maybe even learn something in the process... See you soon!!!


VESPERS
By Don Delzell
Please mark your calendars for the following dates in November:
Fridays at 8:45 AM Vesper Choir rehearsals.
Saturday, November 16th at 5:00 PM for the ?“Welcome Back Dinner?”
Gospel Trio ?“His Song?” will sing. Tickets are $7.00; see Faith Brundage or Don Delzell.
Sunday Vespers at 4:50 pm, Clergy for the following dates are:
November 3rd ?— Father Tim Sherwood, Holy Family Catholic
November 10th ?— Gil Bonton, St. James Methodist
November 17th ?— Rev. Randy Weekly, Grace Brethren
November 24th ?— Rev. Glen Quam, Retired United Methodist


GARDEN CLUB NEWS
By Jerry Regan
We held our first Garden Club Meeting of the season on October 15th with 30 people attending. Randy Rogers was our guest speaker. Randy is a landscaper for our park and is the son of Diana and Ralph Rogers. Randy told us of the major face-lift that is taking place in the park and brought us up-to-date on a new company that will be taking over the duties of landscaping and mowing after the first of the year. Randy is an excellent speaker and gave us some good tips on easy plants to grow.
One of the items on the meeting agenda was the Rose Garden and the condition it is in. It seems someone has been trimming the roses at the wrong time of the year and it has weakened them. We wish to thank whoever it is for taking such an interest in the plants, but we ask that you please refrain from trimming the roses. They should only be trimmed at certain times of the year, and we have experienced people from the Garden Club who work on them.
We are in the process of researching our records of contributors of plants to the rose garden, and find there are some who no longer want to participate. This process has made available some spaces for new bushes. If you would like to contribute a rose in memory of a loved one please contact Nancy Hubartt.
The Garden Club calendar for November includes a ?“Welcome Back?” luncheon at the Colonnade Restaurant on November 12th at 11:30. There is a sign up sheet in the Club House if you would like to attend, or call Ralph Rogers or Frank Perry if you have questions.
The Garden Club meeting on November 26th will feature Andy Wilson who will speak on Container Gardening. Please don?’t miss it. If you are new to our community we invite you to come and join us at each of these functions.


MA?’S KITCHEN
By Jo Waldron
I think my motivation for writing this article was to learn why anyone, not on a salary, would spend so much time and effort cooking for others. Thanks to our chef Betty Chase, I found my answer.
Betty?’s experience in the kitchen began at an early age, she was part of a large family and her home was the gathering place for special events and holidays. Cooking for a crowd continued after she and Jim were married. He was the Director of Support Services for a public school system and they would invite his 100 or so co-workers over for ?“thank you?” and holiday parties. They both love to entertain, which you can see when you join them at their yearly open house party.
She began her Mobel Americana cooking career in 1998, back then all the dinners were catered. The clubhouse was badly in need of a new sound system and Betty thought that if they put on a dinner, the profit could be used for the sound system. Now, four years later, the total amount that the kitchen funds have given back to the park is in excess of $46,000!
The largest expenditures have been on our ?“state of the art?” kitchen appliances, which have improved the quality of our meals and helped to keep the costs down. The new additions include refrigerators, convection ovens and stove. The cost of the hood over the stove, including installation was a whopping $10,000. plus - take a breath - a commercial mixer, food processor, cost of repairing the ice machine, new chairs and tables, the clubhouse floor tile, library area furniture and stage drapes. Recently, they contributed funds to help our park manager Dawn with clubhouse decorations. As I am jotting down these notes from Betty?’s records, she is saying, ?“Oh, you don?’t have to mention all that!?” But I do.
This is definitely a team effort, Jim drives Betty around bargain hunting, each dinner will take from six to eight stops at different stores for the best quality and price on foods. Jim also does all the loading and unloading of the heavy groceries and anything else that?’s needed. Most of us have seen him doing just about everything. More on that later.
It all starts, of course with the menu, then the ticket sales, which Barbara Magada handles. Both Barb and Betty stressed that it is important to purchase your tickets at the scheduled times, they need to know how many to plan for. Jim & Betty do the shopping, then the day before the event the kitchen crew will come in and start the preparation, this takes about four to five hours. The day of the event they usually work all day.
The planning is much easier now than when they began four years ago, Betty keeps very detailed records. When she started, she had no idea of how much food to order, by trial and error, she learned and now just refers to her notes on previous dinners.
In addition to the dinners, the kitchen prepares the food for the club banquets, the MAA and Old Timers luncheons, she is also asked to do the cooking for memorials, birthday and anniversary parties. She organizes tours for the Garden club and this month they will take a group of approximately 40 residents on a bus trip to Branson.
She and Jim are the crew chiefs, but they will be the first to tell you that they couldn?’t do it without the crew. Betty and the kitchen crew that I spoke to, all said the same thing ?“we?’re like a family, all working together.?” And there is love. I told Betty about my feelings during my brief stint, working in the kitchen, I felt like Cinderella, out there in the kitchen when everyone else was sitting down to enjoy their meal. She looked at me in what I interpreted as disbelief. Then she said ?“When everyone has been served, we look at the group, enjoying their food and having a good time, then we feel good too, knowing that we had a part in bringing them enjoyment.?” Seen through her eyes, I understood.
Try to make it a point to put names to the faces that you see working in the kitchen regularly. Let them know you appreciate their efforts, John Laynor and his soon to be bride, Louisa Hall, Mary Cameron, Barbara Magada, Nancy Hubartt, Peggy Church and Tom and Nita Lambert. Lou Lauzier sells the 50/50 tickets at all the dinners, this adds nicely to the kitchen fund. There are many others that share the load in the winter and they are always grateful for their help. Betty added, ?“We all still miss Marion Mann and Gerry LaChapelle, who worked so faithfully for years, although gone from the park they remain in our hearts.?”
Being part of a family means you share certain traits, and they do. Patience is just one of them. Let your mind wander back to the last big event, remember how starved we were and how we all wanted to be first in line? Think of how, if they weren?’t really swamped, they took the time to hand pick your piece of meat and give you just the right portion of other foods? This one? Too big? Too small? How patient. We thank you!
Betty said one of the biggest challenges of the job comes after the dinner; doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen, they are all exhausted by this time and the clean up is a chore. I suggested a ?“clean-up crew?”, maybe several, to take turns each month. But at the very least, let?’s pretend we?’re part of the family or even polite guests and say, ?“Let me help with the dishes.?”
We are fortunate to have this team of Betty and Jim Chase, wherever Betty?’s name has been used in this article think Betty/Jim. He is her rock, biggest cheerleader and most of all ?“The Wind Beneath Her Wings.?”


MY BIKE FREEDOM RIDE
By Sharon Miller
Your resident bike-touring enthusiast has been at it again. This past summer I joined two other cyclists in a ride celebrating the Bicentennial of Wilton, CT. We received an official proclamation from Connecticut Senator Dodd?’s office in Washington, DC. We then served as ?“couriers?” of the proclamation by riding with it some 400 miles through Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. It will be my pleasure to share some slide pictures and insights from the trip at the Luncheon on Wednesday, November 6. The presentation will begin promptly at 11:15 AM. I do so as a special ?“tribute?” to the freedoms we enjoy in this great land of ours.


DEAR CRAFTERS
By Annette Solomon
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! What a very special group of people you are! The many supplies given to us by our friends in Mobel Americana are wonderful! Your generosity is unbelievable. You really want us to keep busy making items for the coming Bazaar. Our gifted hands love every minute of it! Join us! You may be able to help us. The Crafters are making many unique and one of a kind articles for your shopping pleasure. All items made at our meetings will be displayed on the MAA tables. We have received many handcrafted items for the MAA tables for us to sell. If you plan to donate items, please drop them off at any meeting or at any crafters home and we will store them in the clubhouse attic until the Bazaar. Thanks again!
Our Crafters workshops are in full swing every Monday evening from 6 to 8 and every Thursday morning from 9 to 11. All are welcome to attend!
I also have application forms, if you are renting a table to sell your own things. Call me for details at 527-5151.
We are still looking for small plastic shelves of any kind to display items for the tables.
Hope to see each and every one of you at the Bazaar on Saturday, November 30. Come and shop and support your MAA. We need you there to make this a successful event.
See you there.


NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME WATCH UPDATE
The next Crime Watch/Crime Prevention/Crime Patrol will be held on Friday, Nov. 8th, 2002 in the clubhouse at 1:30 P.M. Speaker and Program will be announced at the Wednesday Luncheons. Please mark your calendars. Refreshments as usual!
Coordinators:
Barbara Magada, Esther Louzon & Jim Chase


BOWLERS
By Peg Truex
I want to take this opportunity to thank all my fellow bowlers for the very enjoyable past (7) seven years. However it is time to let some new ideas and games take over.
Also thank you for the retirement gifts that you gave me at the banquet. They were greatly appreciated.
It is my privilege to inform you that ?‘Carol Durfey?’ and ?‘Diane Turner?’ will be taking this activity over. Good luck ?— see you at the lanes.
Sincerely,
Peg.


THANK YOU
From Esther Louzon
To all my friends, who have called, visited, said prayers, brought food, drove me to the doctor and for tests. A heartfelt Thank You.
God bless you all.


POTPOURI - from the Editor?’s desk (additional contributions from Gerri Bassett, Lucy LaBerge and Conrad Weiser)
Thought ?— The surprising thing about young fools is how many survive to become old fools.
Wise Sayings ?— Sorrow looks back, worry looks around and faith looks up.
Things you really need to know?? ?— Honey is the only food that doesn?’t spoil.
Words to Live By ?— Do what you can, for whom you can, with what you have, and where you are.
Life?’s experiences ?— My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
Things to think About ?— That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
Truths ?— You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can never fool Mom.
Did you know? ?— That conception occurs more often in December than any other month.
Random Thoughts ?— The Fall colors in New England are wonderful, but look at the price they pay a month or two later!
Silly quips ?— Two aerials met on a roof, fall in love, and get married. The ceremony was nonsense but the reception was brilliant: Are you an organ donor? No, but I once gave an old piano to the Salvation Army: A three legged dog walks into a saloon in the Old West. He slides up to the bar and announces: ?“I?’m looking for the man who shot my paw?”.
The Problem with cooking ?— two confirmed bachelors sat talking, and their conversation drifted from politics to cooking. ?“I got a cookbook once?”, said one, ?“but I could never do anything with it?”. ?“Too fancy??” asked the other. ?“You said it. Every one of the recipes began the same way ?—?“take a clean dish....?”.

Burma Shave
Submitted by Conrad Weiser
For those of you who never saw the Burma Shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the 1930?’s and ?‘40?’s.
Before the Interstates, when everyone drove the old 2 lane roads, Burma Shave signs would be posted all over the countryside in farmers?’ fields. They were small red signs with white letters. Five signs, about 100 feet apart, each contain 1 line of a 4-line couplet and the obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream. Here are a few of the actual signs:

DON?’T LOSE YOUR HEAD
TO GAIN A MINUTE
YOU NEED YOUR HEAD
YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT
***Burma Shave***

DROVE TOO LONG
DRIVER SNOOZING
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
IS NOT AMUSING
***Burma Shave***

BROTHER SPEEDER
LET?’S REHEARSE
ALL TOGETHER
GOOD MORNING NURSE
***Burma Shave***

CAUTIOUS RIDER
TO HER RECKLESS DEAR
LET?’S HAVE LESS BULL
AND MORE STEER
***Burma Shave***

SPEED WAS HIGH
WEATHER WAS NOT
TIRES WERE THIN
X MARKS THE SPOT
***Burma Shave***

THE MIDNIGHT RIDE
OF PAUL FOR BEER
LED TO A WARMER
HEMISPHERE
***Burma Shave***

AROUND THE CURVE
LICKETY-SPLIT
IT?’S A BEAUTIFUL CAR
WASN?’T IT?
***Burma shave***

NO MATTER THE PRICE
NO MATTER HOW NEW
THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE
IN THE CAR IS YOU
***Burma Shave***

A GUY WHO DRIVES
A CAR WIDE OPEN
IS NOT THINKIN?’
HE?’S JUST HOPIN?’
***Burma Shave***

AT INTERSECTIONS
LOOK EACH WAY
A HARP SOUNDS NICE
BUT ITS HARD TO PLAY
***Burma Shave***

BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL
EYES ON THE ROAD
THAT?’S THE SKILLFUL
DRIVER?’S CODE
***Burma Shave***

THE ONE WHO DRIVES WHEN
HE?’S BEEN DRINKING
DEPENDS ON YOU
TO DO HIS THINKING
***Burma Shave***

CAR IN DITCH
DRIVER IN TREE
THE MOON WAS FULL
AND SO WAS HE.
***Burma Shave***

And my all time favorite

PASSING SCHOOL ZONE
TAKE IT SLOW
LET OUR LITTLE
SHAVERS GROW
***Burma Shave*

Now do these bring back memories??
If not, you are such a child. OR, if they do, you?’re older than dirt!


FAVORITE THINGS
Submitted by Dotty Kirby
There are rumors that Julie Andrews recently did a concert for the AARP and sang a favorite from the Sound of Music, ?“My Favorite Things?”. However, there were a few changes to the words, to fit in with the AARP theme.

Here are the new words:

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillacs and cataracts and hearing aids and glasses
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak,
When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don?’t feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets, and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heat pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no fear of sinnin,
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin,

And we won?’t mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache, when the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I?’ve had,
And then I don?’t feel so bad.

Future as Seen in 1950
Submitted by Lucy LaBerge
(1). ?“I?’ll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, its?’ going to be impossible to buy a weeks groceries for $20.?”
(2) ?“Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won?’t be long when $5000 will only buy a used one.?”
(3). ?“If cigarettes keep going up in price, I?’m going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.?”
(4). ?“Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter??”
(5). ?“The Government wants to get its hands on everything. Pretty soon it?’s going to be impossible to run a family business or farm.?”
(6). ?“If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.?”
(7). ?“When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 50 cents a gallon. Guess we?’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.?”
(8). ?“Kids today are impossible. Those ducktail haircuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls.?”
(9). ?“Also, their music drives me wild. This ?‘Rock Around The Clock?’ thing is nothing but a racket.?”
(10). ?“I?’m afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying ?‘damn?’ in ?‘Gone With The Wind?’, it seems every movie has a ?‘hell?’ or ?‘damn?’ in it.?”
(11). ?“Also, it won?’t be long until couples are sleeping in the same bed in the movies. What is this world coming to??”
(12).?”Marilyn Monroe is now showing her bra and panties, so apparently there are no standards anymore.?”
(13). ?“Pretty soon you won?’t be able to buy a good 10 cent cigar.?”
(14). "I read the other day where some scientist thinks it?’s possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas.?”
(15). ?“Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn?’t surprise me if someday they?’ll be making more than the president.?”
(16). ?“Do you suppose television will ever reach our part of the country??”
(17). ?“I never thought I?’d see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.?”
(18). ?“It?’s too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.?”
(19). ?“It won?’t be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.?”
(20). ?“Marriage doesn?’t mean a thing anymore, Those Hollywood stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat.?”
(21). I?’ll tell you one thing. If my kid ever talks back to me, they won?’t be able to sit down for a week.?”
(22). ?“Did you know the new church in town is allowing women to wear slacks to their service??”
(23). ?“Next thing you know, the government will start paying us not to grow crops.?”
(24). ?“I?’m just afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.?”
(25). ?“Thank goodness I won?’t live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to congress.?”
(26). ?“Why in the world would you want to send your daughter to college? Isn?’t she going to get married? It would be different if she could be a doctor or a lawyer.?”
(27). ?“I just hate to see the young people smoking. As I tell my kids, ?“Don?’t take a cigarette from ANYONE. You never know what might be in it.?”
(28). The drive?—in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.?”
(29). ?“There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend. It costs nearly $15 a night to stay in a hotel.?”
(30). No one can afford to be sick, $35 a day in the hospital is too rich for my blood.?”
(31). ?“If a few idiots want to risk their necks flying across the country that?’s fine, but nothing will ever replace trains.?”
(32). ?“I don?’t know about you but if they raise the price of coffee to 15 cents, I?’ll just have to drink mine at home.?”
(33). ?“If they think I?’m paying 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it. I?’ll have my wife learn to cut hair.?”
(34). ?“We won?’t be going out much anymore. Our baby sitter informed us she wants 50 cents an hour. Kids think money grows on trees.?”
(35). ?“Cars which dim their lights by sensors, automatic transmissions, and who knows what else? Pretty soon they will drive themselves.?”


EMPLOYEE CHRISTMAS BONUS
Submitted by Chick and Mary Pollock
Once a year we are given the opportunity to show our appreciation for our hard working, conscientious, Mobel Americana employees. They have been very busy this past year and the beauty of our community is a reflection of their hard work.
Later this month, around Thanksgiving, there will be a jar in the office where you can put your contribution. Let?’s make this a great Christmas for our whole community, including those who take such good care of our surroundings and us.


DEAR READERS
From the Editor
The Forecaster is primarily for advance news of Park activities by the various clubs and Park management, and reports of those events as they occur. The Forecaster should also include items of human interest and entertainment. To this end I encourage you, the residents, to submit articles, short stories, poetry, jokes, pet peeves, how we met, and anything you think might be of interest. For example, I know that many of you have learned, from experience, little tricks of life, cleaning tips, how to make travel reservations, where to go, where to eat etc. With the amount of life experiences and talent that exist in this Park I should have no trouble in being inundated with your first person stories of whatever you choose. If you have ever wanted to be published, now?’s your chance. I only ask that your entries be based on your actual experiences, or at least direct knowledge of the story you submit. You can submit under a pen name and change the names in the story to protect the innocent-a la Dragnet (I will need your real name). Anyone can copy from other sources, and don?’t get me wrong, those items are welcome too, but I know there is lots of original material out there.
I would also like to point out that all submissions for publication become the property of the Forecaster and as such can be edited for content and clarity. If this is a problem for some then please say so when you submit your item. And as the notice says at the airport, you do not have to go through this screening, but you may give up your right to fly. Now don?’t get too excited. I?’m not planning on changing how I edit. Mostly I correct grammar and spelling and try to eliminate repetitious information and keep writers on their subject. However I do want to make it clear that criticism of individuals and/or derogatory remarks are not permitted. Major edits have been and will always be referred back to the author. So thanks to all for your contributions.
Also on a final note the Forecaster will not accept, or at least will edit out, any articles praising or criticizing announced candidates for the MAROA Board. This will ensure a level playing field and you, the shareholders, can all make up your own minds. Usually there is a meeting where all candidates explain their positions, so be sure to attend.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving.


COMMUNITY NOTICES
There is located at the maintenance shed on Mount Piney Avenue an air pump that you may use to inflate your bicycle tires.

Newspapers and Magazine Recycling
All newspapers are to be placed in the newspaper bins. Please do not put brown paper or plastic bags in the newspaper bins. The bins are only for newspapers.
A magazine bin is located at the storage compound on Americana Drive. Please take all your magazines to this bin.

Aluminum Cans and Scrap Metal
Please put these out on Tuesdays only or take to one of the Oldtimers Aluminum sheds. Do not put in the garbage compactor. It is for household garbage only. Aluminum cans may be put out Monday evening for early Tuesday pickup.

Yard Brush and Tree Trimmings
Place all yard brush and tree trimmings at the side of the road separate from the garbage and it will be picked up. Do not put it with the regular garbage. This only increases the amount we must pay to have it hauled away. Use a trash barrel or plastic bags.

Old Phone Books ?– Place these in the large dumpster at the Piney Avenue location. Bertram Zanaglio, MAROA Board member.