October was the month that WAS. It began with Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year and for everyone, it continued to remind us of the beauty, the wonder and the miracles of life. This is followed 10 days by Yom Kippur another holy day for the Jewish people of the Jewish faith. One week later we thanked Columbus for discovering America and for all the sales in every retail venue. The coast of Africa gave birth to Matthew, which certainly disrupted our lives. Hopefully, all the trick and treaters received enough sweets to hold them until the marshmallows appear on the Thanksgiving sweet potatoes.

Nice things happened to nice people right here at home. Joan and Vince Marini’s son,Richard, a feature writer for the San Antonio Express News, was honored by the American Association of Food Journalists for the “Best Newspaper Food Column in 2016” He was one of 3 finalists competing along with writers from the Washington Post and Mother Earth News. Live long enough and children do give pleasure. It came for Penney and Felix Fischler when their first great-grandchiId, Lucian, arrived, putting them in the club of lucky greatgrandparents. Marcia and Jerry Kopelman both celebrated special milestone birthdays locally with family and friends. Up in the air again, Sally Sage and Herb Schwab flew to NC for a cousins reunion at a resort. Jane Bartecki, who doesn’t like to fly, arrived at JFK on her way to Malvern LI for a reunion with friends of 62 years from elementary school. They had so much fun remembering what wasn’t funny in Parochial school back then. Welcome home Millie Kirrnayer, but you really didn’t have to prove that Bethesda Hospital’s coronary unit was up to snuff. So glad you’re feeling better. We bid a fond farewell to Elaine and Morty Warshaver who with their furry friend Jazz, will be moving to independent living in Delray Beach; an easier existence. One pet gone and another arrives. Donna Colucci has an apricot poodle puppy named Dolce. In case the dog doesn’t know it’s sweet, just translate from Italian.

All humor aside, please remember to vote; the lines at Aberdeen are never long. This is a privilege as an American citizen that many have risked their lives to obtain. An abstained vote is a vote for the candidate that you hope doesn’t win!

Canterbury Communique
Greetings from the Canterbury Community! It’s already November, and we’re looking forward to what promises to be an eventful and exciting month. A new President will be elected on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November, and, hopefully, he/she will be the one of our choice. We’ll also honor all of our veterans on Veterans Day (Nov. 11), Daylight Saving Time will end Nov. 6, and we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of the month. For sure, it’s going to be a stimulating time of the year!

Our newly elected Canterbury Board of Directors continues to work on improvements to the community, and we thank them for their enthusiasm and dedication. We also want to recognize one of our residents, Lou Levy, who was the guest speaker at Book Club II’s October meeting. “Molokai’o” a book about leprosy, was the selection of the month. Lou, a retired officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, specialized in the treatment and control of leprosy for most of his career. A medical doctor with a Ph.D. in pharmacology, he did extensive research in the field. He ran a research laboratory in San Francisco, worked in collaboration with the World Health Organization, and, upon retiring to Israel, established a research laboratory at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem. When asked to tell us about the disease, he submitted the following narrative:

“Leprosy is a contagious disease caused by the bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae, a “cousin” of the organism that causes tuberculosis. The infection is transmitted from the patient to his uninfected contact via the respiratory route, much as in tuberculosis. The infectious patient broadcasts the organisms into the environment with every cough and sneeze; the contact becomes infected by inhaling the organisms. The great majority of people infected with M. leprae do not become clinically ill – i.e. they have an “inapparent” or “subclinical” infection, as is the case in infection with the tubercle bacillus. Only a small fraction of those with a positive patch test become ill with tuberculosis.

Leprosy has been controlled (i.e., transmission of M. leprae has been interrupted) in most of the world by the administration to the known patients of the antibiotic, rifampin, in combination with one or two other antimicrobial drugs. Each drug acts on the organism by a different biologic mechanism. The treatment, which is reasonably cheap and well-tolerated, and which is self-administered by mouth, is effective. Although deformities that have already resulted from the disease may not be reversed, the patient is rendered non-infectious by the first dose. And he may be considered “cured” after 6 months. Control may fail in third-world countries where access to the patients is often difficult.”

In closing, we want to thank Lou for sharing his expertise. We also want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving holiday. The words of Oprah Winfrey seem very appropriate at this time. “Be thankful for what you have: you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

Greetings from The Harbours!

Fall is in the air and we want to welcome our winter residents back to The Harbours. We have missed you and look forward to seeing you at clubhouse activities, the pool and just walking around the neighborhood.

The Harbours Board of Directors has engaged a new landscaper the last couple of months. We hope everyone is enjoying the much improved landscaping in the Harbours. Looks are everything, so they say.

November is the month of Thanksgiving. We wish everyone a bountiful Thanksgiving. If you have guests who will be staying with you who drive RV’s or trucks, they can park their vehicles in the clubhouse back parking lot, with permission from Lisa Stoler, the clubhouse manager.

Nov. 8th is Election Day. It’s important that everyone vote for our next President as well as other offices in the Senate and the House.

Nov. 6th is Daylight Savings Time. Don’t forget to turn your clocks back an hour.

Now for some happy, good local news:

Anita Kaplan visited her children for the Jewish holidays in October.

Congratulations to Mary Pastore, whose granddaughter was married in St. Pete last month. Congratulations to Fran and Mike Caesar on their grandson’s bar mitzvah in October.

We had a sighting of our winter residents, Michael and Marion Freedman, who visited The Harbours briefly to be close by for their grandson’s bar mitzvah. Congratulations!

Get to know your neighbors:

Shirley Weinstein writes: “I have been volunteering at Ru4Me Pet Rescue on Congress Ave. The cats and a few dogs are fostered during the week and brought in for adoption Saturday and Sunday, although there are a few resident cats in Petsmart, which can be viewed during store hours on weekdays. Knowing the animals are going to good homes is so rewarding. It’s personally pleasurable to observe the interaction of the children who visit and communicate with the cats.”

I mainly work at the front desk where we accept donations and sell cute cat items as well as answer questions about the organization.

Gail Peele reports that she likes to take her darling dog, Roxie,to the malls pushing her in a stroller. She takes advantage of the air-conditioning, the stimulation and the exercise. She tries not to buy on each trip, but she says, “Sometimes I weaken and can’t help myself”. She reports that her next door neighbor spends most of her time taking care of a husband with a disability, and her sick sister. She is smart, funny, generous and beautiful.

The Hospitality Committee would like to take this time to wish Ray Kunkel, who served this community for so many years, a speedy recovery and good health.

Residents who would like to share their news or let your neighbors know a little bit about your interests, please e-mail your information to Wendy Latman: [email protected].

Hospitality Committee of The Harbours @ Aberdeen

What causes a company’s stock price to rise? Although there are several factors, one of the most important is revenue and income growth. For a company’s shares to rise in value, it must continually sell more goods and/or services. In other words, revenue must increase. Revenue is the total amount of money received by a company for goods sold and/or services provided for a specific time period. Companies listed on the US. stock exchange are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to re-port quarterly and annual earnings. If a company’s revenue increases from one quarter to the next, this is viewed positively by investors and will most likely be reflected in a higher stock price.

What is troubling in the current economic environment is that stock prices are increasing as revenue and earnings decline. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) (8/16/16, C4) reported that the earnings of companies in the S&P 500 have been falling for the last eighteen months. This trend is likely to continue. Ac-cording to the WSJ (9/3/16) “Third-quarter profits … are projected to contract by 2.1%.”

There are several factors that suggest revenue for many companies will not rise in the coming quarter. First, government reports note a decrease in inventory investment. In other words, companies are not building up inventories to the same extent as in previous quarters. Companies reduce inventory lev-els when consumers are not expected to buy at past levels. This reduction is true not only in the manufacturing sector but in the housing sector as well. Less inventory available to purchase results in a decrease in the number of items sold resulting in lower revenue and net income.

A second factor that could adversely affect stocks is the current political situation. The market does not like uncertainty. As the elections approach and there is a greater distinction between the economic plans of the candidates, the ambiguity of the results could affect the stock market.

And yet, stock prices are hitting new highs. A WSJ article (8/15/16) suggests the market is overvalued. According to one long -term valuation indicator, the price/earnings ratio of companies in the S&P 500 index stands at 27.1. This is well above its long-term average of about 16.

So what is driving up the market? It has been suggested that investors seeking higher yields are mov-ing their money from lower-yielding investments (e.g. bonds, CDs) into the stock market. This factor could explain the highly volatile week of Sept. 12. Indications that the Federal Reserve might raise interest rates at its September meeting caused a triple-digit stock decline. The following day when a Fed member suggested rates would stay the same, the market rose nearly erasing the loss of the prior day.

Why does a rise in interest rates significantly and negatively affect the stock market? If bond yields rise many investors will sell their stock holdings to buy bonds, putting downward pressure on share price. Bonds are less risky than stocks and therefore preferred by risk-averse investors.

According to the WSJ, the projection that consumer spending would grow and the market would be stronger in the second half of the year also sent stocks soaring. However, the most recent WSJ projection is that real consumption growth for the third quarter will come in around 2.7%, down sharply from the second quarter’s 4.3% rate.

What should an investor do in these uncertain times? Like most investors, I only know 2 things with any certainty: The market will go up and the market will go down. No one can predict what will happen with stocks. However, whatever action you take should be based on sound reasoning and research.

It’s hard to believe it’s already November! I’m anxiously waiting for the leaves to change and to en-joy the cool, crisp air of fall. (Oops … we’re in Florida now, aren’t we?) We survived the Jewish High Holidays, including the Yom Kippur fast (L’Shana Tova to all those who celebrate), and Halloween; not many trick-or-treaters, but we still bought (and ate) plenty of candy. Before we lose the pounds we put on from eating those treats, it’ll be time to overeat at Thanksgiving. Football, basketball and hockey seasons are in full swing. What a glorious time of the year!

Our Bermuda Isle snowbirds and summer vacationers have returned (welcome back!), and have been pleasantly surprised by all the changes that have been made, especially at the entrance to the neighborhood. New lights, new signs, new landscaping, new entry system … a refreshed look in every way. Neighborhood activities are getting back in full swing, with our Ladies’ Lunch Bunch about to start up again, and the monthly men’s dinner (no fancy name for the guys’ night out) has been going strong all through the summer and fall. Lots of new social events are in the planning stages for the upcoming season, too.

Every season brings changes to Bermuda Isle, some happy, some sad. On a happy note, we welcome our newest neighbors, James Culver and Janet Montalvo-Henderson; their 110-pound Malamute adds to the menagerie on the “Shoe.” Lenore and Harvey Schwartz have decided that they love life in Bermuda Isle too much to continue to be snowbirds, and they’ll be giving up their house up north to be with us full time; they are also looking forward, with great excitement, to the marriage of their first granddaughter in early November. On a much more somber note, we join our neighbor Estelle Halperin in grieving for the unexpected loss of her son, Bruce.

Bermuda Islers are a peripatetic bunch, and the last month or two has been no exception. Art and Sheryl Feuerstein made so many trips that it’s hard to remember all the places they’ve been; New Orleans, Connecticut, Portland … and who knows where else? Jake and Diane Kamp and Leon and Juliane Haimes spent long stretches up north. Marshall and Kelty Williams had a busy month. They spent a beautiful weekend in Naples last month, and pass along their highest recommendation for the “Inn on 5th” as the place to stay; they also had a surprise four-day vis-it from their 6-year-old grandson, Kaeden, and his mom. Ron and Susan Tabin took to the road in an RV, and covered a large swath of the country, including Mt. Rushmore, Chicago, and Colorado, to sightsee and visit family. My wife, Ronnie, and our daughter, Jessica, met in Denver for an extended Labor Day girls’ weekend, while I flew up to Wisconsin to drive back here with our son, David, who finished up a several-year stint at Marquette in Milwaukee, where he finished up a JD-MBA program.

On the drive with my son, we meandered through eight states in the midwest and south, catching base-ball games in Milwaukee, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, visiting the Rock ‘n’ Roll and Pro Football Halls of Fame, and spending some time at the flight museum at Warner-Robins Air Force Base where in the country to indulge my penchant for the odd. In fact, there’s something for everyone! For lovers of the fine and performing arts among you, you won’t want to miss: Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Art Museum in Alamo Heights, TX (hey, guys, at least we’d get to see the art sometimes); and the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame in Cleveland (who knew there was something called Cleveland-style polka?). For foodies, there’s: the Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot; the International Banana Museum in Mecca, CA; the Spam Museum (yes, Spam in a can) in Austin, MN, the home of Hormel; the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, TN (something else to do on our next trip to Gatlinburg); and the Beer Can Museum in East Taunton, MA. Then there are the places that are sort of food-related: the Trash Museum in Hartford, CT (how many of you folks from Connecticut have ever been there?); the Cockroach Hall of Fame in Plano, TX (seems like it should be next to the Trash Museum, doesn’t it?); and the Moist Towelette Museum in Dimondale, MI (another one that would have been nice to have next to the Trash Museum). For sports fans, there’s: the Stickball Hall of Fame in NYC; the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in Utica, NY; the Roller Derby Hall of Fame in my hometown of Brooklyn, NY; and its more genteel cousin” the National Museum of Roller Skating, in Lincoln, NE. If you’re looking to relive your youth, there are plenty of opportunities for that, too: the Museum of Pez Memorabilia in Burlingame, CA; the Spinning Top and Yoyo Museum in Burlington, WI (what … spinning tops, but no dreidels?); and the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, NY. Manly men aren’t left out: The Bordello Museum in Wallace, ID (that’s one that I thought would be in Nevada); and the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas (aah, my faith in Vegas has been restored); the Hammer Museum in Haines, Alaska (yes, it’s devoted to the tool, and not to be confused with the Armand Hammer Art Museum in Los Angeles); and, of course, the International Tow-ing and Recovery Museum in Chattanooga, TN. Finally, for those of you who have retired, but haven’t quite gotten your profession out of your blood, may-be the Insurance Hall of Fame, on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the California Social Work Hall of Distinction on the USC campus in Los Angeles, or the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston, TX will satisfy your needs. So many must-see places, so little time! I guess I’ll get on to Google Maps and start planning my road trip. Or maybe I should check with my wife first and see if she’ll go with me; these are experiences that have to be shared with someone you love, don’t you think?

Happy Thanksgiving to our friends and neighbors in Aberdeen from all of us on The ‘Shoe’!

(Editor’s Note: While lengthy, I left Eliot’s travelogue intact since it provides such a thorough, interesting itinerary for all the ardent U.S. travelers out there!?

BEEN RIPPED OFF? SCAMMED? NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE? We may have a solution for you.

We are Seniors vs. Crime, a Special Project of the Florida Attorney General’s Office. Our mission is to assist in resolving cases committed against the elderly.

No case or matter is too large or too small “Don’t feel embarrassed or guilty.”

We are a FREE service and invite you to call or stop in to discuss your problem. All cases are kept strictly confidential.

Our office is located in the Kings Point Professional Building just south of Atlantic on the west side: 15127 Jog Road, Delray Beach, Fl. 33446 Tel: 561-865-1571 Fax: 561-865-1572

We are here to help you 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Monday through Friday.

We can alert and educate you about Consumer Fraud, Con Games, Scams and other criminal acts that target seniors. Our Speakers Bureau will be happy to send a representative to a group meeting to discuss crime prevention. Please call to arrange a time and date.

HELPFUL HINTS
1. If you are a victim of Identity Theft:
A. File a police report. Be sure to keep a copy
B. Report the ID Theft to the 3 major credit agencies
Equifax 800-525-6285
Experian 888-397-3742
TransUnion 800-680-7289
C. Report the ID Theft to you local Postmaster
D. Be prepared to cancel all credit cards
E. Obtain a copy of the 3 agency credit reports to review and correct
F. Call the FTC’s ID Theft Hotline at 877-438-4338 or file for an FTC Identity Theft Affidavit at www.ftc.gov/complaint

2. To obtain a free copy of your credit report go to www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228
3. To place a FRAUD ALERT on your credit agency reports, call any one of the 3 agencies noted above. By putting a Fraud Alert on your account, each agency will also provide you with access to a free copy of your credit report. The Fraud Alert lasts for 90 days (7 years if a fraud victim) and can be renewed.
4. Check privacy options at www.ftc.gov/privacy/protect.htm
5. To Opt Out of receiving offers for pre-approved credit cards, go to www.optoutprescreen.com or call 888- 5OPTOUT (888-567-8688).
6. To check an investment broker’s status go to www.finra.org/brokercheck or 800-289-9999
7. To check a broker’s license or if an investment is registered go to SaveAndInvest.org or call 888-295- 7422
8. To visit the website of the Florida Department of Financial Regulation go to www.FLOFR.com
9. To test how well you protect yourself take a quiz about yourself at www.idsafetv.net/guiz,oho
10. www.freshfromflorida.com has an A to Z Resource Guide on hundreds of topics. MyFloridaCFO.com/OnGuard provides educational help about financial and insurance issues

By: Mickey Gussow (Waterford)

At 9:40 PM on the night of Feb. 15, 1898, the American battleship USS MAINE exploded and sank quickly in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. The sunken ship was standing upright on the bottom. Its stern superstructure was above the water with the mainmast nearly vertical; amidships was a twisted wreck; and the forward part, about one third of the ship’s length, was completely below the water.

There were 2 possible explanations for the disaster: the ship had been sunk by an accident or by a de-liberate act. If it were an accident, the commanding officer CaptainSigsbee had to explain how it occurred on board since he was responsible for the safety of the ship. If it were a deliberate act performed by the crew, Sigsbee was still responsible. However, if the act had been carried out by the Spanish authorities in Cuba, by dissident Spaniards acting against their government, or by Cuban insurgents, Spain then was at fault because she was responsible for the safety of the ship in the harbor provided the ship obeyed port regulations.

If the explosion originated inside the ship, then the sinking was probably accidental and Spain was guiltless. If the explosion originated outside the ship, then it probably was deliberate and Spain was to blame. Given the strained relations between the U.S. and Spain, determining the cause of the disaster was a very serious matter.

Politics became rampant as to what sunk the MAINE. The Spanish Minister of Colonies cabled “…it would be advisable for Your Excellency to gather every fact you can to prove the MAINE catas-trophe cannot be attributed to us.” Captain Sigsbee cabled Secretary of the Navy, John Long: “Probably the MAINE destroyed by mine, perhaps by acci-dent. I surmise that the berth [moored to a buoy] was planned previous to her arrival, perhaps long ago. I can only surmise this.”

In Washington, people were taking positions even when there were no technical facts upon which to base a conclusion. Some who felt the U.S. should stay out of Cuba were certain that the MAINE was destroyed by an accidental explosion. Their view was that the Spanish did not have an opportunity to sink the ship. And others who believed the U.S. should intervene were convinced that the Spanish had destroyed the ship. They were confident that adequate precautions were taken by the Navy to make an accident impossible. With no knowledge of technology, Secretary Long was inclined that the cause was an accident because he viewed that a modern warship with explosives was liable to sudden destruction.

Popular opinion was fanned by inflammatory articles blaming Spain printed in the “Yellow Press” by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. The phrase, “Remember the MAINE, to Hell with Spain,” became the rallying cry for action. Yellow Press is considered unprofessional journalism by presenting little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead using eye-catching, sensational headlines to sell more newspapers.

The sinking of the MAINE was the dominant topic of discussion in the Navy bureaus. Possibility of an accident seemed to have the most adherents. Lieutenant Frank Fletcher on duty at the Bureau of Ordnance wrote that “…Everybody is gradually set-tling down to the belief that the disaster was due to the position of the [ammunition] magazines next to the coal bunker in which there must have been spon-taneous combustion.” Engineer-in-Chief George Melville suspected a magazine explosion.

Phillip Alger, the Navy’s leading ordnance expert, in an interview published in the Washington Evening Star on Feb., said: “When it comes to seeking the cause of the explosions of the MAINE’s magazine, …the most common cause of these is through fire in the bunkers…I shall again emphasize the fact that no torpedo to our knowledge can produce an explosion of a magazine within.” He also pointed out that a fire on board the CINCINNATI’s coal bunker actually set fire to the fittings and wooden boxes within her magazine. He predicted that if the fire had not been discovered in time, the result would have been an explosion similar to one on the MAINE.

Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, was upset. He was convinced that there had been no accident. Roosevelt, therefore, considered Alger’s comments very disturbing because he was taking the “Spanish side.”

Roosevelt was concerned that such views would weaken the Navy’s standing before Congress. He was shocked to hear some Republican congressional leaders state that the MAINE disaster demonstrated the U.S. must stop building battleships. Roosevelt argued that the advanced naval powers also had accidents and that the loss was the price the U.S. paid in its role as a great naval power.

Note: Primary reference is HOW THE BATTLE-SHIP MAINE WAS DESTROYED by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, 1976.

By: Rob Tanenbaum

As my passion and occupation, sports has been a dominant element in my life. Yet the transformation of sports from live entertainment to big business evaporates much of the joy.

Every sport has been affected by dollar signs. Every level of every sport suffers. It’s not just professional sports anymore. College sports are cancerous. International soccer is a shameful example of how money tarnishes athletics. The Olympics are a sham of individual and national cheating and have been since Hitler and Avery Brundage poisoned them in 1936. And high school and youth sports are being corrupted by money as well as overzealous parents looking to produce superstar kids and live off them.

As a fan, I remain seduced by the often-compelling human drama that often evolves. This spring’s Masters golf tournament is an example. I’m still hooked on baseball, European soccer and golf. But I rarely watch basketball, tennis and hockey anymore and I really hope to cast aside football.

My biggest gripe is with baseball. My attitude is that baseball should know better. It’s the team game that led the sports revolution in the 1920s when boxing and horse racing were the major competitions. Baseball gave us the World Series so America could always think it was best. Baseball gave us Jackie Robinson so America could always think it wasn’t racist. Baseball gave us numbers like 56 and 60 and 511 and 714 that became ingrained in Americana and set metrics for our lives well before we knew the word “metrics.”

Now what does baseball give us? Mostly cheaters. Yes, there were cheaters 100 years ago too. The pitchers threw spitballs. The batters altered their bats. The runners sharpened their metal spikes. But those were insider deceptions and the players governed themselves — mostly by pitchers throwing beanballs or an occasional free-for-all fracas on the field.

Today’s cheaters alter their bodies and dishonor the game, its numbers and themselves. And, of course, they could care less. They still get more money each year than most of us see in a lifetime.

The most recent cheater to be unmasked is Dee Gordon. South Florida baseball fans, no matter whom they root for, know him well. He plays second base for the Miami Marlins. We all were so proud of him on the last day of last season when he beat out bad-boy superstar Bryce Harper for the National League batting championship, Yes, Dee, the son of major league pitcher Tom Gordon from Avon Park, FL, which is about two hours away by car, took performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) so that his 170-pound body was strong enough to win a batting title. Then he signed a $50 million contract during the off-season and, having scored the big money, foolishly continued to cheat, thinking he couldn’t get caught.

Gordon, in reality, ain’t so stupid. He’ll be docked a pittance for the standard 80-game suspension. Current major leaguers Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta, Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon also signed enormous contracts after being outed as PED-users. When Gordon returns to the Marlins lineup on or after July 28, he’ll be greeted as a hero as were Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, all among the large group of superstar cheaters.

The baseball owners and the union talk a good game about stamping out cheating but, in fact, they condone it, allowing these players in the game and a path to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Baseball also offers a convenient excuse for the players to cheat. Did you realize that baseball squeezes each team’s 162-game schedule into a 183-day date range? And the scheduling also includes many multiple-time-zone road trips without a day off. Man, doesn’t your heart bleed for these entitled brats – especially considering that the average baseball salary today is above $4 million?

This situation of cheating-pays is going to get far worse in sports. In fact, it’s already a disaster in pro football. Who’s going to do something about it? The players and owners? No way. They’re making too much easy money. The government? Well, Congress has stuck its nose in big business sports in the past but just enough so be repelled by the hideous odor and duck into a dark corner.

There’s only one group that can save sports from itself and it’s you and me. Enough fans have to be a Howard Beale and raise the window and shout, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” Enough fans have to stop going to games, watching games on cable or buying licensed gear so the money- grabbing Ivy-educated MBAs and lawyers in the Commissioner’s office and the sports networks get the message.

The odds of that happening are greater than me taking PEDs and winning a batting title. Yet, if such a grassroots movement of angry, aware fans was started, I promise you I’d be the first to join. Passion be damned.

By: Sheila Hyman

We won’t be having summer bulletins, so I’d like to wish everyone the best summer. If we are lucky, we will not have any unfriendly hurricanes. Those who vacation in the summer, have safe goings and returnings.

Our summer birthday list includes Leah Bulger for July, Ruth Katz, Sandy Simelson and Carol Wallach for August.

I am so happy to tell you we will have 2 sets of new neighbors. The family that bought the Pollacks home hail from Canada. They have a cute dog: watch out Sophie, you have competition! And we have Amy Hastings and Eric Strom from Binghamton. They too will be snowbirds. Some families are very lucky that their children wish to move near them. Amy’s parents live in Aberdeen. Amy and Eric bought Zina’s home, but Zina will still be nearby, in the east of Aberdeen.

I am pleased to see that the tree trimmers are here taking off loose limbs and pruning the tress. I understand that we have a new irrigation company for our community. Hope this one works better than the last one.

Congratulations to Rachel Levy Montalbano, who will be attending Ohio State U. in Columbus, OH after graduating from Syracuse U. in May 2016. Her master’s degree program will be in medical nutrition. Her proud grandparents, Renee Engel and Isaac Levy, are happy to share this info with all of you.

By: Eileen Hahn

Is there a message here? My first article was the April fools issue and my second article after editing became invisible ink. Of course, I do not have a copy, because the minute the printer works, my greatest pleasure is hitting DELETE.

The political season ended in the Moorings with a dance called the “shuffle” as Jane Halley became vice- president and John Unger assumed the presidency. Alfred Lubell was re-elected treasurer, while he and Marilyn were testing another cruise for stability. Jack Miller was appointed to the board, replacing Richard Bond.

Our snowbirds have slowly flown the coop, but Linda Pagoulatos and Carol Hyndman were soaking up our Florida’s Sunshine at the Isles pool to take north with them. Happily next year, our renters, Cheryl and Mike Kreps will return and Eve and Milt Goldshein will be permanent residents in July. Travel has begun and Mitzi Licht and Simon Glastein had a short jaunt to Aruba to be with his family and Helen and Joe Fradella flew to NY to see their kin.

Harriet Fishman had a farewell party before her daughters whisked her off to California for R & R.

May our long-time resident, Ralph Chalmers, RIP.

Since this is graduation season, I had asked for more input in last month’s invisible article, so anyone omitted, I would still like to hear from you. Jane Halley’s granddaughter is graduating and off to college. Laura and John Unger’s grandson, Jacob, is going to the U. of Arizona in Tuscon and Sally Wallet’s granddaughter, Kayla, will be at the U. of Virginia. Eileen and Joe Hahn have a double occasion, grandson, Peter, is graduating from Tulane medical and beginning residency at Long Island Jewish and grandson, Stephen, is beginning at Tulane on an academic scholarship. Marcia and Jerry Kopelman’s grandson has so many scholarship that he can’t decide whether it’s Alabama or Tennessee, but meanwhile, Marcia has enrolled at Palm Beach State College going for her AA degree. Lola Greenberg has the best of both worlds for her granddaughter, Gabrielle is graduating from UCF and she was lucky enough to have her great granddaughter visiting here.

Have a wonderful summer and remember it gets hot all over and we will cover vacations in October, so keep me informed – I’m in your directory.