Americana Cove

Snowbirds, We Miss You-

Jun 01, 2002

PRAYER FOR JUNE
John Whittredge Hill, Chaplain
Holy God, we praise you for the trees that shade, the breezes that blow and the water that cools us, as we begin to feel the summer heat.
Last month I forgot to give thanks for mothers. They come in all shapes and sizes and with many varying characteristics but they carry us for nine months. Then love and nurture us as we grow. Bless them all!
This month we celebrate Father's Day. Like Moms they too vary. Nevertheless we are grateful for them all.
May Your Holy Spirit guide their thoughts and actions always.
We praise you for the difference!
Amen.


Managers Report by Dawn Simmons
RECLAIMED WATER
I was asked by the Board of Directors to do an in depth research for reclaimed water. First I had Mary pull up the City of St. Petersburg web site, she got the information I needed to start. We currently have reclaimed water on the First Street median and the fence line on Americana Dr. West. The cost to us at this time is $537.24 and is measured and billed in acres. The City approximates our current use at 90 acres. If we went for the additional 110 acres it would cost in excess of $1188 per month or $14,256 per year. Reclaimed water cannot be tied into the current well system. All wells would have to be removed. Each house would have to be plumbed and a back flow attached to each connection. The cost would be astronomical.
We could buy three (3) additional wells a year for the price of just what the water would cost. The gentleman from the City Reclaimed Water Utilities Dept. also explained, the reclaimed water is mainly used on golf courses, park land and city common area.
Economically we would be much further ahead to continue installing wells.

FLAG
When you see a brand new large American Flag flying at the entrance remember it was donated by a new resident: Retired MSGT Hank Novotka, US Air Force and his wife Nettie of 7012 Americana Dr. NE.
THANK YOU FOLKS!

UPDATE ON HOME REMOVAL
By the time this article is printed most of this will be "after the fact" but I still think you should be informed.
The following homes have been sold and will be removed by Purchaser: 6827 Americana Dr, 6902 Americana Dr. - 113 Mt. Piney Ave. - 105 Americana Ct.- 166 Americana Ct. and 7036 Mt. Georgetown Dr. We will have the following homes pulled out: 7233 Mt. Essex Dr. - 112 Mt. Curve Ave. and 6810 Americana Dr.
We know this will please whoever lives in the vicinity of these homes. The major upgrading will continue and hopefully Meadowood Homes will be placing some homes on them. Stay Tuned!

Tie-downs:
At a recent Shareholder's Meeting a question was asked in regard to tie- downs. We did miss the cut off date of April 1st, but we are interested in knowing what the number of interested residents would be, if we applied for April 2003.
Your home has to be off the ground by at least five (5) bricks high. The cost of the tie-downs is free; however there would be a charge to each resident for the removal and replacement of the bricks. This is not a cost Mobel Americana would incur. You can call the office and we will put you on a list.

Wake Zone:
We have contacted Marine Patrol to post "Minimum Wake" signs in our waterways. They told us we have the required number and will leave the "Minimum Wake" signs as they are.
To our Boater Residents - "Please observe the Minimum Wake Signs". Thank You

Brush Pick Up:
Please do not put brush curbside until the day of pick up, also cut it up in 4 ft. lengths and PLEASE tie it up.

Watering:
We all must conserve our water.
Please make sure all sprinklers are turned off by 9:00 AM on Wednesday, as the lawn service will now be mowing on a weekly basis. Watering Hrs. 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM 7:00 PM 11:00 PM

RULE UPDATE:
Rule 13 - Home Upgrades
2). One Utility shed, with minimum size of 36 sq. feet and maximum not to exceed 120 sq. ft.
Any home with 2 sheds prior to Aug. 20, 2001 were grandfathered in under old rule. Any freestanding sheds placed on a lot after that date are illegal.
Anyone selling their home that has 2 sheds must inform the buyers; only 1 shed will be permitted to stay.
Sheds that are not anchored properly become a real danger when the storm season starts as they can be blown into your home or a neighbors. If you see any additional sheds being placed on someone's property Please call Dawn at the office.


PARK STANDARDS
By Wilma Jones
Park Standards will be discontinued for the summer months.
The next scheduled meeting will be Sept. 18, 2002. If you have anyy concerns, please fill out an Incident Report and give it to the Business Office.


MAROA Meetings
MAROA Meetings will begin again September 18, 2002.


Welcome New Residents
By Frances McVay
BATOR, Claire P. (IN)
6914 Mt. Orange Drive
Previously Regan

BRANCACCIO, Frank
DAVARESE, Rose
7030 Mt. Arlington Drive
Previously Toomey

CHENEY, Mary L.
7149 Mt. Essex Drive
Previously MAROA Used

EDWARDS, John (TX)
7265 Mt. Fairfield Road
Previously MAROA Used

EMMA, Leo & Lorraine (MA)
7212 Mt. Essex Drive
Previously Perrone

GOLF, Catherine & Joseph (WI)
6815 Mt. Pleasant Road
Previously Clark

PERRONE, Jean (NY)
WENDLING, Harold
7203 Mt. Essex Drive
New Home

STANLEY, Mary A. (Ml)
BRESKO, Linda
107 Americana Court
Previously Tarpley

TARPLEY, Philip & Doris (WI)
7014 Americana Drive
527-9371
Moved from 107 Americana Court
Previously Gillis


MAA News
Paul Mattina, President
My first inclination was to write that there was nothing to write about this month. The park seems almost deserted now that so many residents have left. MAA does not have any events scheduled for the month of June. It was then suggested to me that this is really a wonderful time to take advantage of our facilities at a time when they are little used. Do you think you might have fun playing pool, but want to avoid playing when the room is full of league players? Sometimes, when we want to try something new to us, we feel a little intimidated and embarrassed by those who are more proficient. You could use the billiards room and have it virtually to yourself now. The same with the library, swimming pool, shuffleboard courts, exercise room and almost all of our other facilities. It's a shame to have all these activities so little used at this time of year, so go on out there and try something new.
Water aerobic classes will continue to be held throughout the summer, every day at 9:30 AM. Kay Jones leads the class Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Joan Mitchell leads on Tuesday and Thursday. With much smaller groups than during the winter months, this is a great time to start an exercise program.

Now that the regular instructor of floor exercise has concluded her season, Sharon Miller has taken over and holds classes at the same scheduled time: 8:15am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Atrium. This is a low intensity workout, just right for those wishing to begin a program, especially now that the temperatures are climbing.
This is written in anticipation of next week's Memorial Day service and dinner, which, if the past is any barometer, will be wonderful, thanks to Betty and Jim Chase and their dedicated kitchen staff. This will be their last "presentation" for a month and a half or so, as they will be traveling north to visit kith and kin. We wish them well and safe travel, and anticipate their return. Any MAA events that can be put together and that are not now on the calendar will be well publicized so that all residents will be informed. Enjoy your summer.


SUNSHINE REPORT JUNE 2002
PEGGY HUBRICH

DEATH
Bertha Galleno

NURSING HOMES
Jane Bryan Maria Manor
Mitzi Delzell Shore Acres
Erna Wring Carrington Place
Carl Rosenquist Westminster Shores
Bob Evans Carrington Place

BIRTHDAYS
02 George Cantos
03 Theresa Volk
08 Leo LaForce
1 5 Eileen Latendresse
16 Edna Bolin
Marcia Fay
17 Gerri Bassett
21 Alice Beaulieu
Doris Bolesta
21 Hilda Tschoppi
26 John Layner
27 Leni Lambert
28 Evelyn Dinsmore
29 Ellie Oliviera, Marilyn Breen

ANNIVERSARIES
08 Grace and Hugh Roberts 67 years
Carolyn and Carl Watts 58 years
13 Millie and Jim Dye 45 years
14 Mary and Drew Fairlie 50 years
Evelyn and John Dusza 55 years
15 Mary and Bill Gilfillan 55 years
17 Anne and Bill Kocher 52 years
19 Mary and Cal St. Sauver 09 years
20 Midge and Orrie Bull 54 years
21 Dotty and Gerry Kirby 44 years
24 Lucille and Bill Schatz 63 years
27 Eleanor and Bob Doyle 60 years


MOBEL NOTES
By Ken Hopkins
PICTORIAL DIRECTORY - Can any of us even imagine the pain and effort Gail Jones has gone through putting together the wonderful Pictorial Directory? Lost photos, reprints, and who knows what other problems have all been solved by Gail as they arose and the result is our very useful and enjoyable directory. Thanks for all of your hard work Gail. Did you really go through all of that just to be in a directory with Dick?

Lessees - Did you realize we have three groups of residents at Mobel who are referred to as "renters or lessees?" First there are residents who own a home but have chosen to not purchase a share but rather pay lot rent for the land under their home. We call them "Lessees". Their lot rent benefits our community in the form of providing operating income for MAROA. Then there are those visitors who come down for a couple of months of vacation during the winter and rent a home owned by MAROA. We call them "Seasonal Renters". Wilma Jones and Pat Ruedy manage this program. These rentals also provide operating income for our community. By our rules, these renters can only rent two seasons and then they are asked to either purchase in the community or find other living accommodations. Finally, there are those residents who rent from a private party rather than through MAROA. We call them "Third Party Renters". That type of rental provides income to the homeowner but nothing to the community. Pat Ruedy and Wilma Jones remind everyone that Third Party Renters must all be approved with the office. A homeowner who does not have their tenant approved may be subject to a fine. When there is an emergency, we need to know how to contact everyone who lives here. Just a little information for you the next time you hear residents talking about "renters".

BOARD MEETING - For those of you who have already fled north, here are some thoughts from the recent board meeting. The issue of roof drains being connected directly to the seawall came up again and it was clear that there is still some confusion as to whether this is an acceptable practice or not. The Board has promised to explore the issue and report back to the shareholders. Dawn Simmons reports that the tie down project is still active and has a report in this issue. Bill Hart will explore the possibility of augmenting or replacing our limited wells with reclaimed water. Dawn also has a report on this in this issue. The Board will not meet again until September.

HANDICAP RAMP - A concrete sidewalk leading down to the floating boat dock (the one right next to the launch ramp) has been built. Kudos to the Board for that forward thinking step. Surely, our residents with limited mobility will appreciate the opportunity to wheel down to that dock to enjoy the sights and sounds of our watery backyard. But how about some handrails! Once that project is completed, we hope the Board will exercise the same degree of forward thinking and consider the long-sought handicap access door for the Clubhouse.

SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR NEIGHBOR
The first time I played golf with Ted Latreille, he kept stopping to pick up empty Coke cans and I thought, "What in the world is he going to do with all those cans?" Of course later I found out that Ted not only contributed the cans to Old Timers but he was also the former Chair of Old Timers. In fact, since he and his wife Gene moved into Mobel 13 years ago, Ted has done a bunch of things for the community. Ted is not only a shareholder but he was involved in helping sell shares when Mobel went resident owned in '94. He has also been chair of the Par Seekers golf group.
Ted is a proud Canadian, originally from Sudbury, Ontario and now resides in Thornbury, Ontario, on Georgian Bay. Before retirement, he worked as a Materials Coordinator for a Nickel mining company. He is active with Kiwanis and was the chair of his local horticultural society (begging the question why he is not active with the Mobel Garden Club). Ted even found time to umpire the local ladies slow pitch softball team. Ted is truly a man of many interests and accomplishments. When I asked Ted about the biggest changes he's seen here in his 13 years, he pointed to the many new homes and the improvements in landscaping. Hope you'll have a chance to play golf with Ted sometime.

COMPUTER CLUB After many years as a special interest group, our computer group has asked MAA for official "club" status and will be known as Mobel Americana Computer Club. The club has decided to wait until November to elect officers. In the meantime, plans are to try and keep the club going through the summer if there is enough interest. The club also voted to change their meeting time to the third Tuesday of the month at 10:00 A.M. All interested computer hobbyists are invited to participate either to learn or to share your knowledge with others.

ONLINE BRIDGE - Hey, you bridge players. . . Away from Mobel Americana and your bridge pals for the summer? Looking for action? How about trying Internet Bridge. I play bridge on the Internet several times a week. Abdul from Egypt, Pedro from Argentina, and Queen from Ft. Myers are my frequent companions. Yes, I play with people from all over the world just by sitting down in front of my computer. You can play both duplicate and social bridge and one of the benefits is there are no grueling three hour sessions (unless you want them) but typically you can sit down to play for as little or a long as you wish and then leave with a simple, "well I've got to cook dinner now."
To try your hand at this interesting pastime we'll assume that you are already on the Internet. Here are some suggested sites:

OKBridge - www.okbridge.com - This is a fee based system with all sorts of tournaments, learning sessions, practice, and similar. One of the best but costs about $100/year. Free trial sessions are available. MSN Zone - www.zone.com Part of the Microsoft empire, this is a free system and very easy to play including "robots" that fill out a table if there are only 2 or 3 players. You'll find me on here as "hopken". Swan Games - www.swangames.com a newer, free system with excellent graphics. Not as busy as some of the others; you might have to wait a while to get a full table to start a game. BridgePlayer www.bridgeplayer.com Based in England, they are fee based but also offer free play to guests.

All of the above require that you register with them and then download their software. Zone includes a "friends" system so you can immediately tell when your favorite partner shows up online. Hope to see you soon!

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? We're in Wisconsin for the summer so email us at "hopken@mindspring.com". Since we are away, we're particularly anxious to receive news items from those of you who spend the summer at Mobel!


NOTICES
Forecaster Deadlines

All items and other information for the Forecaster may be placed in the box just inside the entry doors to the Atrium. All items to be in BLACK INK on full size 81/2 by 11 paper. Deadline for July (now 5:00 pm for general articles, the 19th of June, for last minute items, the 21st. Please note that the minimum font size is number eleven.


Monthly Bridge will be held June 19th at noon. It will be a brown bag luncheon. Dessert will be furnished, so bring a dollar. Prizes will be given. We need you to come or we will have to cancel for the summer.


Thank you from Tee and Ginger Phillips - We wish to thank the many people who visited, called, and the expressions of sympathy extended to us on the death of our eldest daughter, Cindy Phillips. Our return to the park was made so comforting by all of you and thank you for all your prayers.


From Peggy Hubrich I had a wonderful birthday, thanks to all my friends and family. Thank you all for sharing the day with me. I would also like to thank you all for the cards I received. Bless you all!


Dear Friends - Thank you so much for your cards and your good wishes and kind words in my commemorative Birthday Book! Sincerely, Olga Bates.


Thank you. Ed and Jeanette Imbrogulio wish to thank all our friends for the prayers, cards, flowers and calls during Ed's recent hospitalization and surgery. Your support made this difficult time much easier. We are pleased with Ed's results and look forward to a complete recovery. We are blessed to live in this caring community.


Dear Crafters
By Annette Solomon
The Crafters and all interested residents in our community are meeting all summer in the clubhouse craft library area. Our gifted hands are never on vacation. We are there every Monday from 6 to 8 pm and every Thursday from 9 to 11 am. Join us and enjoy the air- conditioned room and the friendly atmosphere instead of being home alone. You may bring a friend. A friend of yours is a friend of ours.
See you there


God's Love Revealed
By E.S. Williams, submitted by Al Nosek
I have seen the shining dewdrops
Dropping softly from the eaves.
I have seen the lovely songbirds
Scratching softly through the leaves.
I have felt God's love in the morning
As the sun breaks for the day.
I have shared His tender blessings
Felt His guidance all the day.
I have seen it in the sunset
Spreading glory in the sky,
Revealing God's Heavenly love for us
And only ask us for His trust.


The devil and St. Peter had an agreement that they would take turns fixing the gate between Heaven and hell, when it broke. The gate broke and it was the devil's turn to fix it. "When are you going to fix it", asked St. Peter. "I'm not going to fix it", said the devil. "But it's your turn", replied St. Peter. "Tough", replied the devil. "Why, I'll sue", said St. Peter. "Ok", responded the devil. "But where are you going to find a lawyer?"


My sister wanted to marry a ghost. I can't imagine what possessed her!


Church Bulletins (again) - Low self esteem support group will meet Thursday at 7pm. Please use the back door.


Friends of the Library
By Nora Adell Andrews
Questionnaire:
What changes have you seen in the Library? "It is amazing how much the Library has changed in the past four years, all due to Rita Lewis, Jim Lewis, and all the helpers that care for the books." Shirley LaForce

Our Library is there all year for you to use, although the meetings are not to begin until the fall. On November 7th we will have out first book club meeting at 1:00 p.m. Until then we will be asking your opinion about the Library and putting it in the Forecaster and on the Web Page. Please check out what your neighbors have to say, and we are looking forward to seeing you at our November meeting. For more information please contact Rita at 527 0693.


Duplicate Bridge
Gerri Bassett Director

Howell Movement
Sunday April 21

1. Joan Dell Angelo & Don Delzell
2. Esther Israel & Anne Kocher
3. Tie
Maretta Dimke & Elizabeth Copeland
Gerri & John Bassett

Sunday April 28
1. Esther Israel & Anne Kocher
2. Jo Waldron & Esther Louzon
3. Gerri & John Bassett

Sunday May 5
Howell Movement 1 .Tie
Mary Jane Hill & Don Marsh
Jo Waldron & Esther Louzon

Sunday May 19
Howell Movement
1. Lucy & Roger LaBerge
2. Esther Louzon & Joe Waldron
3. Gerri & John Bassett


ALKA-SELTZER USES submitted by Lucy LaBerge
1. Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer. Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China.
2. Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.
3. Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
4. Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary)
5. Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water.

Other Useful Household Hints
Submitted by Lucy Laberge
To fit a candle in a tight holder, hold the bottom end of the candle under hot running water, softening the candle enough to place it in the holder.
For a nonabrasive cleanser, use Baking Soda on fine China, porcelain appliances, and the inside of the refrigerator, stainless steel, cast iron and aluminum. Use in powdered form or mix with water to make a paste. Works well on everything from countertops to rolling pins to gold-trimmed dishes, and removes offensive odors.
To stop bathroom mirror fog, apply 1 tsp. shaving cream to the mirror and rub in until all streaks are gone, use more for a large mirror.
Clean the bathroom after a steamy bath or shower. The walls, fixtures, etc., will be much easier to clean because the steam will have loosened the dirt.

Rubbing alcohol cleans caulking around bathtubs, shines chrome and glass. Liquid chlorine bleach (1/4 cup to one gallon) will also clean caulking.
If you have a small bathroom or a tile entrance and don't have time to use a scrub bucket, an all-purpose spray cleaner and a damp sponge works great for quick clean up.


Potpourri - from the Editor's desk (additional contributions from Gerri Bassett, Lucy Laberge and Nancy Hubartt)

Thought - Why is it the only exercise some people get is jumping - to conclusions that is.

Remember when - (from John Stewart). Hula-hoops and sunflower seeds.

Translations - We share the housework. Translated; I make the messes, she cleans them up.

Wise Sayings - The best way to get even is to forget!

Things you really need to know?? - Coca- cola was originally green.

Words to Live By
Take time to laugh for it is the music of the soul.

Life's experiences - Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.

Things to think About - If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe the water bill is too.

Random Thoughts - You know when people see a cat litter box, they say, "oh, have you got a cat?" Just once I'd like to say, "No, it's for company".

Did you know - that drive by shootings were on ongoing problem in the Old West? Teenage boys galloped their horses down the streets in towns like Denver shooting at everything in sight.


My Name Is Mom
By Maisie Kirk
The girl said, "write a waltz"
There is no waiting now,
We shake our arms, we twirl our seat,
We listen to a way out beat,
And this is good when teen-age meet.
Now slow your time and listen to,
These words, they're for a teen age too.
When will you come home?
When can I expect you?
Tho' the world you roam,
Dear Bette, Dear Bette, come home.
I know it broke your heart,
When first you lost your love,
But then you broke my heart,
So far, so far to rove.
Sweet bride of seventeen,
And groom with hair tossed wide,
You smile with sheer delight,
As you drive out of sight.
But troubles would not hide,
Poor babe that was not born,
Gone separate ways untied,


NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME WATCH
By Barbara Magada
Our next meeting of the Crime Watch/Prevention/Patrol will be held in the Clubhouse on Friday June 14, 2002 at 1:30 P.M.
SUBJECT will be Hurricane Preparation presented by the St. Petersburg Fire Dept. Also, the proper use of the new A.E.D. Defribulator that is being used extensively by the Fire Dept. and also on Airplanes and many other places that will be explained to you.
A report on our Crime Watch Patrol, which is back in operation.
June 14th is FLAG DAY and we will honor that day. Of course, there will be refreshments available.
Please mark your calendars when you read this notice because it will be the only reminder you will have after the Old Timers Luncheon on May 22nd, when I will announce the meeting other than the poster on the outside Bulletin Board. See you all at the meeting and remember to bring a friend or a new resident. Thanks
Coordinators: - Barb Magada, Esther Louzon and Jim Chase


Canada
By John Bassett
I thought that some of you might be interested in a little geography and history of Canada, and I mean a little. If you want to know more then you can go online or go to your library.
Canada's Independence Day, or Canada Day, as it is officially known, is July 1st each year. Naturally, because there is much in common between the two countries, including friends and relatives, this is one of the busiest travel times of the year for both countries. When combined with the US Independence Day there is a lot of travel back and forth, particularly in the northeast, where there are many related families on both sides of the border.

Canada was originally a group of individual settlements, very similar to the US colonies that were settled by Europeans, mostly in Canada's case by French and English. The struggle in the early days was between the French and English, and of course the native populations, but eventually the English took control, but allowed the French speaking areas, mainly the Province of Quebec, to continue with their own language and customs. There was one exception to this and that was the French-speaking people in Acadia, along the Nova Scotia shore of the Bay of Fundy. Most of these settlers were relocated to Louisiana, where we presently know them as Cajuns. I have not given a timeline here, but most of these disputes and struggles for territory took place in the 18th and 19th centuries. In any event on July 1 1867 Canada was formed out of four original settlements, being Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Upper and Lower Canada, now respectively known as Ontario and Quebec. Other provinces followed until there were 10 in all. The last to join was Newfoundland in 1949. There are also presently three territories, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, the latter being carved out of the eastern part of the North West Territories just a few years ago.
Settlements with the native populations are currently ongoing, as similar to the USA, there were many injustices and inequities early on, and today both countries are trying to correct the mistakes of the past, or at least as many as is possible.

Ottawa is the National Capital, located in Ontario on the banks of the Ottawa River. Toronto is the Ontario provincial capital. I'm not going to list them all, but just to dispel any misconceptions, Quebec City is the Capital of the Province of Quebec, not Montreal, and Victoria, on Vancouver Island, is the capital of British Columbia. The city of Vancouver is not the capital.

As I said there were early struggles for power and territory and one of those involved the American War of Independence. When the war began there were many settlers who wished to remain under the British flag, and most of these settlers moved north into the Canadian settlements. They were known as United Empire Loyalists, and as in any struggle of this kind, there were cruelties, injustices and many were killed. But time heals and that is one reason today why there are so many people in the New England states with relatives in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. And while we're on that subject let me clarify the expression "maritime provinces". There are three of them, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Now if you add in Newfoundland you call the collection of four provinces the "Atlantic Provinces". Got it. Sorry, but even though Quebec province also borders the Gulf of St. Lawrence it is not included in the terms, Maritime or Atlantic.
Canada stretches about 5000 miles from coast to coast, Halifax is the major city on the Atlantic Coast, and the capital of Nova Scotia, and Vancouver is the major city on the Pacific coast. Canada also stretches about 2500 miles from the American border north into the high Arctic, and thus it is in terms of landmass, the second largest country in the world. It has seven time zones. Newfoundland Island, not including the Labrador mainland, is one half hour in advance of the Atlantic Time zone, which includes the three Maritime Provinces. I know, I know, if the Atlantic time zone is only three provinces, why is it not called the Maritime time zone. I have no idea why not. Then there are five more time zones culminating in the Yukon Time zone, although I'm not sure if that is its official name. How many time zones are there in the USA? Something to think about, but I can think of at least five. How about you?

The main economy of the Atlantic Provinces used to be fishing, but with the collapse of the cod stocks, they have had to rely on other activities such as mining iron ore, coal, and other minerals - forest products, hydroelectric power, and lately gas and oil wells in the Atlantic. Of course tourism is alive and well in all four Atlantic Provinces.

The heavy weights in the Canadian economy are the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, and they produce, mine and manufacture practically all those products and services similar to the USA. Again tourism is a major activity.

The Prairie Provinces are the grain producers, as well as mining fertilizers, - potash - and again a lot of oil and gas wells. British Columbia is mainly forest products, along with a fishing fleet in the Pacific. There is also a lot of coal mined, which is sent mainly to Japan.

The Northern Territories have a lot of mining activity, -gold being one of them - and there is also interest in oil and gas, but it has not been developed very much, so far.

Canada's political system is modeled after the British system, with 301 Federal members of parliament being elected in the various constituencies. (At least it was 301, who knows how many now) The party with the most seats forms the government, and they chose the Prime Minister from amongst the elected members. He/she is not directly elected by the people. Each province also has a provincial government, and they follow very closely the system used in the Federal elections, although the names of the elected representatives are not the same. They are quite often called deputies, but different provinces use different terminology. The provincial government leaders are called Premiers, to distinguish them from the country's leader, the Prime Minister.

There is a Senate, but its members (97 at present) are appointed by the party in power. All bills, that is, pending legislation, have to be approved by both houses, but the House of Commons, or the lower house, as it is sometimes called, can override the Senate under certain conditions.

This is a very brief overview of Canada's economy, and it is tied in very closely to the USA. The two countries have the largest trading volume between two countries in the world, so what is good for one is usually good for the other.

Of course like any family, or any neighborhood, there are sometimes differences of opinion, but these are usually worked out. Compromise is a very important part of getting along between the two countries.


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 Old-timers Aluminum sheds. Do not put in the garbage compactor. It is for household garbage only.

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 hauled away.

Help the Park - There is a shed at the Americana Drive compound where you can place your old phone books. By keeping as much as possible of all these materials out of the garbage we save on garbage hauling costs as well as generating some funds, not only for us, but also for a school that turns these in for recycling to raise school funds.
Bertram Zanaglio, MAROA Board member.