Americana Cove

We miss our Snowbirds.....it grows quiet and empty!

Apr 30, 2005

PRAYER FOR MAY
Most Gracious, Heavenly God we worship and praise Your holy Name. This is the month we celebrate Mother?’s Day. Mary, the mother of Jesus is the one we all know and hold in reverence. Her devotion and reverence to God are the example for all motherhood. We all had mothers. Some of us are fortunate enough to still have them living. Those, whose mothers have passed on, can still honor their memories in many ways: visit someone who is alone, send a card or pick up the telephone and call someone. Too often we wait until it is too late. And, husbands- remember your wives with a card or flowers, a kind word, or both! Remember?… God created man first so it is up to us to take the first step. May God continue to bless all mothers.
AMEN.
John Whittredge Hill, Chaplain

Only mothers can think of the future-because they give birth to it in their children.
- Maxim Gorky


SUNSHINE REPORT MAY 2005
By Gerri Bassett

DEATHS
Al Best (Former Resident)
Jackie Gerte
C.J. Tietema (Cappy)

Tears are sometimes an inappropriate response to death. When a life has been lived completely honestly, completely successfully, or just completely, the correct response to death's perfect punctuation mark is a smile.
- Julie Burchill


NURSING HOMES
Bob Ortel Carrington Place
Mitzi Delzell Shore Acres
Kay Brownsey Pinellas Park Care & Rehab. Center
Dorothy Goldsworthy Fountains of Boca Ciego Bay
Cameron Shults Abbey
Jan Renaud Marie Manor

When people care for you and cry for you, they can straighten out your soul.
* Langston Hughes


MAY BIRTHDAYS
01 Edith Unverzagt, Fern Eppers, Mike Regan
02 Charlie Smith
03 Teresa Cresse, Claudette LeBrun
04 Marjorie Logan
06 Dorothy Johns
07 Jerry Spetz, Pete Lambert, Ed Boshek,
Rex Eaton
08 Andrea Simmon, Sandra Keller
09 Gene Latreille
10 Jack Keller
11 Nancy Hill, Mike Moschetti, Rudy Ferrara,
Dottie Love
13 Helen Sikorski
14 Ken Garret, Olga Bates, Ed Church,
Joanne Wallace, Linda Gillies
16 Carol Undieme, Lorraine Wallace, Joan Geiger
18 Herb Connolly
19 Jane Archambault, Rita Salter,
Jack Moersdorf , Walter Smith , Betty Davis,
Tom Lambert
28 Jean Hughes
29 Kay Jones, Jean Hughes, Cal St Sauver,
Dottie Kirby
30 Jane Swartout, Gail Jones

We are always the same age inside.
-Gertrude Stein


MAY ANNIVERSARIES
10 Pat and Bernie Ruedy 47 years
Annette and Tom Solomon 52 years
15 Lorraine and Ed Boshek 52 years
18 Cathy and Bob Thomas 48 years
Nancy and Jerry Keen 47 years
Sandra and Jack Keller 48 years
25 Margie and Carl Slaugenhaupt 42 years
29 Norine and Richard Fisher 51 years
30 Claudette and Gil LeBrun 52 years
31 Barbara and Ed Higgins 52 years

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.
- * Antoine de Saint-Exup?©ry

Would you like your Birthday or Anniversary in the Forecaster? Let me know. E-mail me at lyonsbassett@juno.com or see me at one of the park functions I attend.


DAUGHTERS REMEMBER
A loving tribute to my mother
By Gerri Bassett

I listen for her still?… a phone ringing can send me winding back
To memories of her, and I remember her laughter lights my day.
I look for her still in familiar places where the sense of her presence
Lingers like a fragrance and I feel the warmth of her arms around me again.
Forever, I will be her daughter- trusting in her love, delighting in her praise.
These beautiful gifts from my mother live inside my heart and I listen for her still.
I always will.


FROM THE MANAGER
By Dawn Simmons
I have many items to bring to your attention this month. Please take a few moments and review the following information. I hope it will help clarify things and that you find it helpful. I appreciate your cooperation.

BUSINESS OFFICE HOURS:
The Business Office will remain open from 10:00 am to 2:00 PM Monday through Friday. We have a new addition to our staff. Her name is Carolyn Norcross. You all remember her from the gatehouse. She still works there on the weekend with her husband Richard.

PLEASE KEEP AND POST
Below is a list of shelters for evacuation ZONE A. Once you are notified, please collect your belongings and go to the following shelter (unless you have made arrangements to go to family or out of the area):

ZONE A SHELTERS:
SAXTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL [OXYGEN AVAILABLE]
1997 54TH. AVENUE

JOHN HOPKINS MIDDLE SCHOOL OXYGEN AVAILABLE]
701 16TH. ST. S

MEADOWLAWN MIDDLE SCHOOL
6900 16TH. ST. N

MARSHALL MIDDLE SCHOOL
3901 22ND. AVE. S

NORTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH
6000 38TH. AVE. N


TRASH and BRUSH COLLECTION:
All trash and brush must be at street side by 8:00AM. From now on once your street has been picked up, the maintenance crew will not come back. Residents call the office and tell the girls their trash was missed when in fact it was set out after pick up went by. On March 29th I witnessed residents putting brush curbside after lunch. The men do early morning collection in order to leave the rest of the day for other jobs. Please from now on have the trash and brush curbside by 8:00 AM. And PLEASE REMEMBER- When employees have a Holiday (like Good Friday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Labor Day, Memorial Day etc.) we will only have a Wednesday pickup of trash and brush.

WELLS - South Side:
We apologize again for the problem with the sprinkler system on the south side. We are in the process of getting it fixed once again. Many residents take their frustration out on the office help. Limit your calls to them, please. Some residents have sprinklers and no grass. They want their weeds to be irrigated. The rainfall through the month of March has made a big difference in the grass greening up and growing. Warm weather helps flowers and grass to grow. The official growing season in now starting. We are in hopes of getting the system working on the south side very soon. (It may already be fixed when you read this?…)

WATER CUT OFF:
From time to time we have water lines that break underground in the Community. The water main must be shut off to fix the problem. As soon as the water goes off the phones in the office ring off the hook, with a questions like: Is the water off? What Happened?, Where is the break?, How long will it take to fix?When will the water be turned back on? All questions that the office staff most of the time do not know the answer to. If they were to explain to each caller the answer to all these questions -most times the water will be back on. Water shut off is a part of every Manufactured Community as they all are plumbed the same way: One line, one shut off. Here we have the north side and the south side. So PLEASE the next time the water is shut off wait at least 20-30 minutes before calling the office. Many times the water is not off for longer than that anyway. We really appreciate your cooperation.

EXTERIOR HOME UPGRADES - RENOVATIONS:
Before any construction on any home, carport, driveway, shed, raised screen rooms etc. a drawing of such must be submitted to the park manager for approval. A copy of the drawing will be made and placed in your file. That drawing, along with an authorization letter from the office, is what is brought to the City for a permit. After you have received the permit you must bring it into the office. A copy will then be made to put in your resident file. Then you can display it in your window for the Building Inspector to see.

BUILDING PERMITS:
Just a reminder to all residents: If you are doing outside work on your home including painting, you need to submit a drawing, paperwork or color chip to the Manager for approval. If the work being done requires a building permit, the drawing is signed and dated. That drawing is to be taken by the resident or contractor along with a City Permit Letter from the office to the City of St. Petersburg for a building permit. Once the permit is obtained, it is to be brought to the Business Office where a copy will be made and put in the resident file. The resident is then to display the permit in a window of the home. Painting of your home does not need a city permit but it does require management approval. Thank you.

LAWN MAINTENANCE:
It has been requested by our Lawn Maintenance Contractor that residents cutting down trees or trees that have been previously removed be marked somehow with a flag, brick, or large plastic cap to indicate where the tree stumps are located. A mower operator was seriously disfigured after being thrown from a mower after hitting a tree stump covered by grass. (This did not happen in this community and we want to make sure it doesn?’t!). If you have a large tree stump that needs to be removed please contact the office and we will take care of it for you: 526 - 9141. We do not want anyone to get hurt as a result of an undetected tree stump. Please, this is very important.

RAIN SENSORS
Free for do-it-yourself residents, an automatic rain sensor is available for your sprinkler system. You only need to show a copy of a utility bill as proof of residency and you may pick one up at the Water Resources Complex, 1635 Third Avenue N., St. Petersburg. The telephone number is 892-5688. The sensor is adjustable and reportedly easy to install. For those that want one installed call Greg Cook for information at 727-823-1836. He has done others in the park. Management encourages everyone with a sprinkler system to install one to conserve our water supply.

Know what's weird? Day by day, nothing seems to change, but pretty soon...everything's different. -Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes


FROM THE BOARD
By Bill Stanford, President of MAROA Board

The next major project facing your Board is adjusting the quad lots, in some cases so that three homes can be put on four spaces. This change has been discussed off and on for many years. It is the only way to fit the new homes on these smaller lots. Not all the quad lots would be affected. In order to do this; we would need to change our bylaws to eliminate the one hundred percent agreement of all the certificate holders for changing lot boundaries every time there is a need to do this. We can change that requirement by a two-thirds vote of certificate holders. For single lots (those lots served by individual driveways) a 2/3rds approval vote of the members would be required to make a change. This is what is required in Florida statute 719. However where quad lots are involved, the Board is requesting the administrative capability to propose and recommend such changes, but would need the approval of all the affected contiguous member quad lot owners, and of all abutting member owners for any changing/merging of lots etc. With proper approval of 2/3 of certificate holders the Board would have this capability.
The change in the bylaws is being prepared by John Bassett and will, of course, be presented to our attorney to ensure compliance with Florida statutes. The change will only pertain to lot lines inside the Park and not in any way to the selling of the Park. That will still require a 100% approval of the certificate holders to accomplish. At this same time, you will be asked to vote on minor changes correcting grammatical and punctuation errors in the original bylaws. The questions will be presented separately for clarity's sake. Please carefully consider these items when they are presented to you. This subject will be thoroughly discussed in coming weeks at Board Workshops, in writing and in person with any Board member. It is important to the future of our community that we proceed with this program now.
I would like to assure all residents that we are not going to be making wholesale changes. Only about half of the quad lots would be eligible for adjustment. None that have waterfront lots included or shared lines would be involved. We have 66 buildable vacant lots right now and 60 of those are quad lots. We propose adjusting one or two quads in the first phase. If that turns out well then we would proceed to one or two more. This will all take time, perhaps years and years. But we must start. We must start now. The vitality of the Cove depends on it.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
-Frank Outlaw


WELCOME NEW RESIDENTS
By Frances McVay

BOWEN, Brian & Barbara (ONT)
156 Americana Court
Previously Powell

COOPER, David & Susan
7186 Mt. Arlington Drive
Previously Gee

DAVEY, George & Mary (ONT)
207 Mt. Isle Avenue
Previously Mayo

DIEDERICH, Winifred (CT)
7101 Mt. Arlington Drive
Previously Richards

PARKER, Paula
7134 Mt. Essex Drive
Previously Ripley

THOMPSON, Lloyd & Linda (MI)
116 Mt. Isle Avenue
Previously LaLiberte

Go oft to the house of thy friend, for weeds choke the unused path.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson


A NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR
By Linda Lou Fairbanks

For those of you that don?’t attend the luncheons I thought it might be helpful to let you know what is happening with the Forecaster over the summer season. I recently sat down with our publisher, Lynda Ferrera and Associates, along with John Bassett and Ken Hopkins, to discuss the future of our newsletter. I am pleased to report (for now) it looks like we have ironed out some of the major stumbling blocks we faced over the winter months and the Forecaster will continue to be published as is, at least through October. It was agreed we would continue to partially subsidize printing costs and the MAROA Board and Americana Cove Association have agreed to split the cost of $600.00- this will mean $300 for each and will cover costs through the October issue. We then expect the publisher will be able to pick up the $100 we have been paying since January 2005.
We are looking at samples of other newsletters and thinking ahead to what changes might be necessary, as well as whether we want to go to a larger page format, with larger print. But do not despair- for now; things will stay the same. I will continue to write/edit/prepare the issues from my northern home in Maine over the summer and ask if you have information to submit, you email me at: mspiglover@aol.com, or call me at 207-585-2182. John Bassett has graciously agreed to coordinate delivery and act as an on-site point person. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions. And remember- if you have something you want the Cove to know about, let us know! I also didn?’t want to let this opportunity pass without mentioning how truly grateful I am to all the wonderful people who have helped me through my first year as Editor. You know who you are?… I couldn?’t have done it without you. Thank you!


COVE CORNER
By Ken Hopkins

INCIDENT REPORT - The other day one of our residents was out walking her little dog and came upon a much larger dog, not on a leash. The little dog lady expressed concern to the big dog lady who said, ?“Don?’t worry; he won?’t bite.?” Now, to me, that statement is right up there with, ?“I?’ll always love you?” or ?“The check?’s in the mail.?” The little dog lady did worry and in fact reported the entire episode on our Listbot creating a flurry of messages back and forth. Pretty soon we were talking about cats instead of dogs and again, everyone had an opinion. The purpose in my re-telling this story is that, to the best of my knowledge, the little dog lady never actually filed an incident report with the office, the one thing she should have done. That means NO action can or will be taken. Now I suspect that the little dog lady might not know the big dog lady or maybe she did know her but didn?’t want to be a ?“tattle tale.?” Whatever the reason, the result is clear. The big dog lady still has her dog outside the house, not on a leash, and the potential still exists that the big dog will indeed attack someone else?’s little dog. So the moral to the story is clear. When you see a serious and flagrant violation of our rules, you help not only yourself, but also everyone else in the community by taking the time to prepare an Incident Report in the office. You?’ll feel better and your neighbors will appreciate your efforts.

CAN CAN - No, not the dance. It?’s my way of reminding you that our able bodied can collectors have requested that you limit your aluminum donations to beverage cans for the summer. Effective June 1, 2005 the can collectors will NOT be able to handle any aluminum products other than beverage cans. There are simply too few people around during the summer to handle any of the larger items that come off houses. So, please, beverage cans only during the summer. Anything else will just be discarded as scrap.

SPAGHETTI SUPPER - On behalf of the Americana Boat Club I would like to thank all of you who purchased tickets for the March 30th Spaghetti Supper. We sold 150 tickets and everyone seemed to have a good time. Apologies to those of you who wanted a ticket but couldn?’t get one. We purposely set the limit at 150 so that we could keep the event manageable and ensure good customer service and a quality product. This was our first attempt at a modest fund-raiser and it was highly successful. Special thanks to all of the boat club members who worked tirelessly to make sure that you had a hot plate of spaghetti (well, almost hot) and a good time. Yes, we will probably do it again next year and will increase the number of tickets sold to 200. Thank you again and special thanks to our crew of kitchen workers and servers.

DAYSTAR MEDICATION ADVOCACY PROGRAM - Daystar Life Center, Inc. offers a program to help limited income seniors obtain needed medications at little or no cost. The pharmaceutical industry offers many different drugs at no charge to different communities to help those who do not have an insurance benefit covering medications. Daystar acts as an ?“ombudsman?” to help steer you through the necessary paperwork and forms so that you might take advantage of the offerings available from these various pharmaceutical companies. In addition to this medication program, Daystar offers other support services to limited income seniors. To find out more about their programs call them at 825-0442 or 823-5993. Daystar is located at 226 6th Street South in St. Pete. Daystar can always use a few more motivated volunteers and would love to hear from you if you have some free time on your hands. Ask for Jane Walker.

FURNITURE BORROWING - It used to be the accepted custom that if you were having a party and needed a few extra chairs, you went down to the Atrium and borrowed a few. Sometimes you left a security deposit; often you didn?’t. Sometimes the chairs were returned; sometimes they weren?’t. All of the old brown folding chairs that were used for this purpose were sold at the White Elephant sale. The ACA recently discussed this issue and decided that for the good of all; we would discontinue the practice of loaning community furniture. We would appreciate everyone?’s cooperation with this policy. It is a firm and simple policy. We cannot loan any furniture from either the Clubhouse or the Atrium. Thank you for respecting this policy.

FREE CREDIT REPORT - The three major credit bureaus, Trans Union, Equifax, and Experian are offering a free report to you as a tool to fight identity theft. Through this report you can confirm that all is right with your credit and there has been no abuse that you might not be aware of. This free service goes into effect next month on June 1st. You simply log on to their website at www.AnnualCreditReport.com and request your report. There is no charge. Or, if you are not comfortable with Cyberspace, you can call 877-322-8228 to obtain your report. This is an annual service so you will be able to do this once a year to make sure that all is well.


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.

Phone books should be taken to the dumpster on Mt. Piney. Do not put them in with your regular trash.

Aluminum Cans/Can Tabs
Please put these out on Tuesdays only (or late Monday evening) for very early Tuesday pick-up, or take to one of the Old Timers Aluminum sheds. Do not put in the garbage compactor. It is for household garbage only. As the sale of aluminum contributes money to our social activities, please take the effort to segregate the cans from the regular trash. Aluminum can top tabs can be placed in the jar provided in the clubhouse.

Yard Brush and Tree Trimmings
Pick up days is Tuesday and Friday. Place all brush and tree trimmings at the side of the road separate from the garbage. It must be contained in trash bags, plastic containers or bundled.

Dumpster
The dumpster at the Mount Piney location is for the use of residents who have scrap materials from work that they themselves have done. Contractors doing renovations or repairs to your property are to remove any such materials from the community and dispose of it at their cost.

KITCHEN KREWE Ice Machines To all residents and guests: Do not use ice from the kitchen supply for your personal home use or for your coolers. Ice in the kitchen is required for activities in the Hall and Atrium. Traffic through the kitchen area creates sanitary problems. Thank you! From Betty Chase, Kitchen Manager


FORECASTER DEADLINES
All items and other information for the AMERICANA COVE FORECASTER may be placed in the box just inside the entry doors to the Atrium, or may be sent electronically to our Editor- Linda Lou Fairbanks at: mspiglover@aol.com. All items are to be in the original type- no photocopies, please, in BLACK INK, on full-size paper (8 ?½ by 11). The DEADLINE for June for all articles is SATURDAY MAY 14, 2005. The font size is number twelve (12).

FORECASTER SUBMISSIONS
If you can, please send me your items by email, either by attachment, or as part of your email text. You will save yourself money and perhaps a little time as well. Thank you for your cooperation. If you are sending me an email for the first time, please let me know by phone what your email name is. I get so much spam in my mailbox and if I don?’t recognize a name I may inadvertently delete your item(s). It would also be very helpful if you could identify ?“Forecaster?” in your subject line.

FORECASTER CALENDAR
The deadline for the calendar is different from the articles, so please make note of this. Deadline for entries will be the 13th of each month, except for December and January. These months require submission two (2) days prior to the Forecaster entry deadline. AND PLEASE NOTE: ALL calendar submissions must come from, and be approved by the ACA! Please contact President Ken Hopkins if you need/require information. Coordinator for the calendar is Nora Adell Andrews, 528-9888. THANK YOU!


ADULT EDUCATION AT THE COVE CLUBHOUSE
By Conrad Weiser

Have you ever enrolled in, (or thought about enrolling in), an Adult Education class at one of the city?’s recreation centers? The city operates over a dozen of these facilities, the closest, Willis S. Johns, is just a few blocks west of us on Ninth Street. Some years ago, I was trying to persuade Lee Metzger, Director of Leisure Services at City Hall, to convert the old Cardinal?’s Clubhouse into a recreation center for my then home neighborhood, Edgemoor. He explained that if I could enroll a sufficient roster of students for any one of the many adult education classes listed, the city would bring that program to our neighborhood facility. Recalling Lee?’s promise, (I meet Lee in our Kash & Karry occasionally), to bring the city classes to the an adequate enrollment of students at any local venue, it seemed appropriate to publish this possibility in our Forecaster, tossing out the idea for other interested neighbors to discover their shared interests. The class offerings at the Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N., are posted out front at our Clubhouse, but the other recreation centers offer an even wider variety. Painting, languages, sculpting, even roller blading are among the wide offerings. I think these opportunities, offered right here in the Cove, would appeal to many that would not consider trying to reach the other city venues.


THE HISTORY OF MOTHER'S DAY

The earliest tributes to Mother's Day date back to the annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to Rhea, the mother of many deities, and to the offerings ancient Romans made to their Great Mother of Gods, Cybele. Christians celebrated a Mother's Day of sorts during a festival on the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of Mary, mother of Christ. In England the holiday was expanded to include all mothers. It was then called Mothering Sunday. In the United States it started with one woman named Anna Jarvis. Jarvis was an Appalachian homemaker and she organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions of her community. She thought the day would be best advocated by mothers and called the day "Mother's Work Day". When Anna Jarvis died in 1905 her daughter, also named Anna, began a campaign to memorialize the life work of her mother. Anna remembered that her mother said there were many days dedicated to men but not for mothers. Anna then began to lobby the politicians of the time to support a day dedicated to mothers. Anna Jarvis talked to many politicians including Presidents Taft and Roosevelt hoping they would support her campaign. Jarvis organized a church service to celebrate her mother in 1908 and Anna handed out white carnations to those in attendance because the white carnation was her mother's favorite flower. Anna Jarvis'
hard work began to pay off five years after that service in 1913. The House of Representatives adopted a resolution calling for officials of the federal government to wear white carnations on the day many began calling Mother's Day, the second Sunday in May. Finally on May 8, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.
That was the first official Mother's Day and the tradition carries on to this day. In fact, Mother's Day has flourished in the United States. The second Sunday in May has become the most popular day of the year to dine out, and telephone lines record their highest traffic, as sons and daughters everywhere take advantage of this day to honor and to express appreciation of their mothers.

A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity; it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.
-Agatha Christie (1890 - 1976)


MOTHERS' DAY PROGRAM
ByVirginia Curtis & Vivian Linville

The ACA will have a dinner on Saturday May 7, 2005 in the Clubhouse. Following dinner we will have a Hat Parade and Contest. Prizes will be awarded! Ladies are asked to create a special hat. Mothers Day is Sunday May 8,2005.


SUMMER BROWN BAG LUNCH The second Wednesday of June, July, and August we will meet in the clubhouse at 12:00 o'clock noon. Check the bulletin board for more information.

Never eat more than you can lift. -Miss Piggy


MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY
By John Layner

A special Memorial Day celebration will be held on Monday May 30, 2005 at 10:00 AM. Plan to be at the Clubhouse, where impressions of the forgotten past will be recreated by the Melodears?’ beautiful renditions of yesterday?’s songs. We will also hear numerous quotes from our famous leaders of past wars, narrated by the Master of Ceremonies and other volunteers. Participants will have the opportunity to honor our beloved deceased Veterans of all wars. Please plan to attend this wonderful occasion. Refreshments will be served after the ceremonies.

Laughter sets the spirit free to move through even the most tragic of circumstances. It helps us shake our heads clear, get our feet back under us, restoring our sense of balance and purpose. Humor is integral to our peace of mind and to our ability to go beyond survival.
-Captain Gerald Coffee POW in Vietnam for seven years


VETERAN'S CLUB
By Dave Vogle

We had our first meeting of the newly formed Veteran's Club on March 29th, and elected officers for the coming year: Dave Vogle, President, and John Layner, Vice-President. We had fifty veterans in attendance. Our last meeting was in April, planning the Memorial Day Service to be held on May 31, at 10:00am. We would like everyone to attend. Our next meeting will be held on November 18, at 10:00 am, and we will have a guest speaker from the VA Regional Office. In December, the speaker will be from the VA Hospital. Thanks to all whom have participated, and we hope to see you at the Memorial Day Service, and again at our meeting in November.

If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
-Thomas Paine (1737-1809


MEMORIAL DAY
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11 and was first observed on May 30 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every state on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (PL 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

We cherish too, the Poppy red That grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies.
- Moina Michael


ANOTHER ROUND OF THANKS?…
A huge ?“Thank You?” to Ruth Healy for the great job she did painting the Americana Cove Logo on the back wall in the Clubhouse! We all appreciate the outstanding job you did. It looks fantastic!!!

A big ?“Thank You?” to Pat Feighan, a resident, who helped figure out the electrical problem at the south side well to get it up and in running condition. Thank you Pat.


ACA NEWS FOR MAY
By Ken Hopkins, President

Adios, Y?’all. Yep, Beck and I are leaving for Wisconsin right after this month?’s ACA luncheon. We know we are leaving the Cove in good shape and I have secret information that there will be no hurricanes this year. Yipee! Although away, our hearts are always with Americana Cove. If you need to get in touch with us for any reason, just leave word on our cell phone (727-804-5496.) That?’s a local call from St. Pete or send me an email at hopken@mindspring.com.
We would like to thank Rex Eaton for his service as our Chaplain during the past year. Rex has found it necessary to step down from this position and the Council has appointed John Hill as the ACA Chaplain. Thank you for your help, John.

During the summer there will be no ACA Council meetings or luncheons. However, Virginia Curtis and Vivian Linville will provide monthly ?“Brown Bag?” luncheons with a variety of activities. Keep an eye out in the Forecaster and on the bulletin boards for details and schedules.

Our newly formed Veteran?’s Club will host Memorial Day this year. All veterans are urged to participate and represent their own branch of service as we honor those who have paid the ultimate price in defense of their country. Details of the service will be found elsewhere in this issue of the Forecaster and on the bulletin boards.

Virginia Curtis and Vivian Linville will chair the Mother?’s Day celebration to be held Saturday, May 7, 2005. There will be a contest for the ladies to make hats from original materials (i.e. Pots and pans, real flowers, etc.) No real hats should be used. Prizes will be given.

Our next ACA luncheon meeting will be Wednesday, May 4, 2005 in the Clubhouse. That will be our last luncheon until the October meeting. Our monthly Council meeting will take place on May 3, 2005 at 10:00 AM, in the Atrium. We wish everyone a happy and safe summer! See you in October.


CALLING ALL KNITTERS!
By Linda Lou Fairbanks

I recently had a conversation with my friend and fellow resident Rita Lewis. She was explaining to me that her neurologist suggested she find an activity that would exercise her hands on a regular basis, preferably every day. While searching for something to do, she discovered that she could knit items for wee babies and at the same time do something that would be a blessing to others. When she told me this, her generosity and kind spirit struck me and it occurred to me there are many others here in Americana Cove who might like to join Rita and help the cause! Last year Rita knitted and donated 45 baby hats and 6 blankets to the All Children?’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. This year she discovered a website that outlines specific items and patterns for babies. They include Snugglies, IV covers, NICU tiny blankets, hats and booties. So far she?’s completed 22 hats, 3 blankets, 5 Preemie NICU packs (1 blanket, hat & booties), 6 IV covers and 3 Snugglies. The Crafters Club has generously donated some of the yarn and has agreed to continue the supply as long as there are knitters! (Thank you Annette and crafters!) Rita has knitted and sold dishcloths as well and is using 100% of the proceeds to put back into supplies. So?… if you have a generous spirit and love knitting simple patterns, please let Rita know and you too can join in giving loving gifts to needy babies! Call Rita at 527-0693.


DUPLICATE BRIDGE By Directors
Gerri Bassett & Shirley Beauchamp

Sunday March 13, 2005
North & South
Jo Waldron & Shirley Beauchamp
Michelle Willett & Joan Dell?’Angelo
East & West
Helen & Walter Smith
Linda Cook & Bev Hamel
Gerri & John Bassett

Sunday March 20, 2005
North & South
Jo Waldron & Shirley Beauchamp
Milene & Al Wingrove
East & West
Gerri & John Bassett
Helen & Walter Smith

Sunday April 3, 2005

Howell Movement
Lenore Helson & Shirley Wadsworth
Joy & Bill Slepin
Gerri & John Bassett

Mitchell Movement

Sunday April 10, 2005
North & South
Joy & Bill Slepin
Lucy & Roger LaBerge
East & West
Lenore Helson & Shirley Wadsworth
Helen & Walter Smith

To those leaving have a good summer and Happy Mother?’s day to the Mothers.

A BIG THANKS !
What a nice surprise! On Sunday April 17th John, Shirley and myself were presented with a generous gift from all our friends in the bridge club!Your kindness brought a special touch to our lives that brightened our day. Some of the money we received will be used to get the electronic program for scoring. Thank you! By the way?… the cake was delicious and we are looking forward to another great duplicate season. With our new bidding boxes (thanks to the kitchen fund and the ACA), and the new electronic program for scoring, are you ready to play Bridge in the fall? Again Shirley, John and I appreciate the gift and will try to make next season a bigger and better one.

Half the game is 90% mental. -Yogi Berra


DO YOU SUPPOSE?
An original poem by: Richard H Fay

Do you suppose Jesus will be waiting,
When you pass from this earthly vale?
Do you suppose St. Peter will open the gate,
Without you reciting your woeful tale?
Do you suppose the loved ones who went before
Will be waiting for you to arrive?
And greet you so lovingly,
That you?’re glad you?’re no longer alive?
Do you suppose?


SHUFFLEBOARD CLUB NEWS
By Jo Waldron

Just a few loose ends to tie up before we say goodbye to another shuffleboard season.
Pat McCarthy and I won 3rd place in the Main Event Friendship doubles. Lenore Helson came in 3rd in Consolation in the Friendship singles. What a terrific year Lenore had! She won three trophies. The Master of Ceremonies who awarded her this trophy called her ?“the little tiger?”- very appropriate! We salute you Lenore! And?…we can add one more name to our list of Pros- Nick Misciagna. Congratulations Nick! There are now six Pros in our park. That must be a record. Goodbye all and have a safe, healthy summer. See you in the fall. Happy Shuffling!


NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME WATCH
By COORDINATORS: Barbara Magada, Jim Chase and Conrad Weiser

The next Crime Watch/Crime Prevention/Crime Patrol meeting will be in the Clubhouse on Friday May 13,2005 at 1:30 PM. The following speakers will present information from their crime awareness division with the St. Petersburg Police Department: Officer John Harris, Officer Tonia Nave, George Billias and Duke Stern. As always these fine individuals will provide us with valuable information we can use in our every day lives. Please plan to attend and bring along a friend. We?’ll have refreshments available!


DEAR CRAFTERS AND OUR FRIENDS
By Annette Solomon

The Crafty Crafters thank one and all for a great and productive season! We were busy creating items for sale at our Crafters Corner held at the Wednesday luncheons and at the Holiday Craft Bazaar. Your support is greatly appreciated. And for any newcomers who may want to become crafters: Yes, the Crafters meet every Monday evening in the Clubhouse from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Yes we still meet during the summer. Yes, free supplies are always available. Yes, free lessons and free patterns are available for the asking. Yes, summer projects are being planned; and, Yes, new and exciting techniques will be offered in the fall! Our first monthly business meeting for the 2005-2006 Season will be held on Monday October 3, 2005 at 6:00PM. Please plan to attend and become a member. We?’d love to have you join our group. Bring your ideas and creativity along with you! Our success depends on every Crafters interest and participation. We?’ll all be busy this summer with our homework assignments and are looking forward to seeing everyone again in the fall with many new, wonderful items. Until then, HAPPY CRAFTING!!!


WANT TO BECOME A SHUFFLER?
By Nette Novotka

An interest has been shown in possibly forming an INTRA-AMERICANA COVE SHUFFLE LEAGUE for beginners. This would mean several Nova Teams within the community would have an opportunity to play against each other. It would not effect the
regular Nova League Play but would give anyone interested in playing a chance to try it and see if they like it! We would probably get things up and running in the fall of 2005 and plan to play on a day of the week other than Thursday. This would give regular Nova players and golfers an opportunity to participate as well. We want everyone in the community to know you are cordially invited to join.
The game of Shuffleboard is for all ages, and for people of all physical and mental abilities. Lasting friendships can be made on the court. You get to interact with your neighbors. You get to laugh often and have fun. The physical challenge is great exercise and the social benefits include picnics, cocktail parties, dinners and pancake breakfasts. The game of shuffleboard transcends all ages and abilities. So, if you have the desire to have fun, meet new people, revive that old competitive spirit, come join us as we welcome the new Intra-Americana Cove NOVA TEAM! You can sign up on the Shuffleboard Bulletin Board or contact Tom Solomon, President of the Shufflers. Stay tuned?…we will keep you posted on our progress and let you know what?’s happening in the months to come. We truly hope you?’ll join us and can?’t wait to welcome you aboard!