Nearly every evening I actually “circle the Coves” walking the “Figure 8 lane” that connects our community … the East Circle and the West Circle connected by the “street” between Buildings 6 and 13 (and yes, our entryways as well). I enjoy looking at the well-maintained landscaping and the open green spaces, as well as meeting up with dog-walkers, others out for an evening stroll, friends and neighbors. Because of (or sometimes, despite) the weather, it is almost always pleasant and peaceful. I am always grateful to see so many appreciating this seemingly simple opportunity as well those on bicycles and 3-wheelers, those using walkers, canes, and even wheelchairs show me that fresh air and exercise is important to all of us.

Which brings me to an important topic. Whose job is it to make sure these beautiful surroundings, responsible and cooperative neighbors, and well-maintained buildings are ours to enjoy? The condominiums, of course, belong to YOU, the unit owners; however, the “buck stops” on the desk of our Board of Directors and GRS Management Team. Boards of Directors sometimes get a bad rap – – like Boards of Education, Corporate Executives, Professional teams’ Boards of Directors. Sometimes they are thought of as “Conceited self-important people pretending to be big shots who are out to catch you doing something wrong.” This couldn’t be further from the truth in the case of the Coves. Our Board of Directors is a group of 7 VOLUNTEERS whose primary job is to preserve the financial integrity and value of your homes as much as possible; they know our documents, rules and regulations which you bought into when you purchased your unit. They guarantee that to the best of their ability they will help the community live up to your expectations. They are responsible for hiring honest and professional vendors; enforcing the rules and regulations which are a part of our by-laws and keeping a balanced budget, and so much more.

Why spend so much time on this topic? Firstly, it’s because after many years writing “Circling the Coves,” the number of times I’ve received personal bits of information to share can be counted on one hand, but mostly it is because The Coves Annual Meeting and Election of the Board of Directors is Wed., Mar. 16th. The current B.O.D. will meet at 4:30 (a business meeting open to YOU every month) and the Election Meeting itself will begin at 5:30 PM As of this writing, three terms of office (out of 7) are expiring. Two current board members have submitted intentions to run to keep their seats.

Hopefully at least one other unit owner will have made the decision to run (or be appointed by acclamation) by this time. We are so very fortunate to have had so many willing and able people to serve on the Board over the years. For 2015 and early 2016, Coves residents owe a grateful thank-you to Rose Romano, Alan Louzin, Yvette Keegan, Bob Grazioso, Bob Cioppa, Bob Westfal and Paul Ezersky for their voluntary diligence in looking out for our best interests.

Get to know your board members, or better yet, attend a monthly meeting. Residents may not all be happy all of the time, but you can bet that your board and property Manager are well aware of the responsibility of their roles as “safekeepers of the Coves.”

Until next month, Remember this is YOUR column. Submit anything you think others might find interesting to [email protected] and I will incorporate it into the next newsletter. Thanks, in advance, for participating. Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead Mar. 13th for Daylight Savings Time. May the “Luck O’ the Irish” be yours on St. Paddy’s Day, and a Blessed Easter to all who observe this special day. See you next month!

Mar. 6 is fast approaching! I hope everyone has returned their registration forms and checks for what promises to be a wonderful day – THE SHORES 30-PLUS PARTY – good food, nice neighbors and a great program. I look forward to seeing you there. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate anyone who has not preregistered and prepaid.

All communities are being asked to vote for the new 2016 POA Executive Board at their upcoming Mar. 3 board meeting. As your POA representative, I will be guided by the wishes of your HOA Board of Directors.

I believe I mentioned the following in an earlier article; in that case this can serve as a reminder. Palm Beach County is promoting a program that can be a lifesaver to motorists. To participate in the Yellow Dot Program, you need only pick up a brochure, fill out the attached form, place it in your glove box, peel off the sticker and put it in your car window. If you are involved in a car accident and can’t communicate, first responders can retrieve your information and possibly save your life. To obtain a form, contact our PBC Fire and Rescue at 616 -7033.

NEIGHBOR NEWS

Lots happening in The Shores these days! A hearty welcome home to Ray Crosby who was hospitalized for several weeks this winter.

Congratulations to Jane Massi on the recent arrival of her newest grandchild (her 5th).

Most people plan to go up north during our brutal summers and head down south during their cold winters but your President David Littman and his wife Norma are not most people! Welcome back after spending a month in NYC visiting family.

Many of our residents have very special talents and we love to acknowledge their efforts. Barbara Ladd specializes in bird photography and has just had her first gallery showing at the 4th Avenue Photography Gallery/Studio in Delray Beach of a Snowy Egret taken at Green Cay Wetlands where she volunteers at the Nature Center.

I just learned that Ted Gillan had some health issues this season – happy to hear that they are being resolved.

Remember if you would like to share your news with your neighbors, call me at 733 -4117 or email me at [email protected] (identify your mail with ABERDEEN TIMES in the subject line, please).

To our Christian readers, have a wonderful Easter, to our Jewish readers, hag sameach Purim.

Springtime is nearly upon us and what a busy year it’s been already! Bermuda Islanders got right into the swing of things on Tues., Feb. 2, 2016,as approximately 40 of our neighbors enjoyed a fun night out at Benvenutos Restaurant in Boynton for a Big Band Dinner Dance. The music was great and very nostalgic of days gone by, but even the younger crowd got up to dance. Nary a soul sat idly by with the swinging sounds of the ‘40s and ‘50s rocking the house! In the words of long-time resident Shelly Feld, “Marilyn and I danced our feet off!” Everyone looked spiffy, the food and conversations were good and it all made for a very friendly, companionable evening. A special thanks to our own Juliane Haimes for organizing this festive event!

BI residents will keep the party going with its annual Spring Fling pool party which is being held on Sat., Mar. 13. Catering will be provided by Totally Awesome Subs and the music by Richard Frank. A huge nod of appreciation to residents Timmy & Moe Fried and Judi and Harvey Schwartz (not that one – the other one) for their efforts in making this happen. It’s yet another wonderful way for residents on the ‘Shoe’ to get to bond and know one another better in a casual and fun way!

More Buzz from around the “Shoe”…

Kudos to our very own Lenore Schwartz who has been named Hadassah’s 2016 Woman of Valor. What an accomplishment!

Jake and Diane Kamp had a very special reunion with several of their longtime friends as they celebrated their respective birthdays in St. Marten for a glorious week in February. Most of the friendships went as far back as elementary school and they all graduated from the same class!

We tip our hats off to Eliot and Ronnie Ostrow whose son David was sworn in as a member of the Wisconsin Bar in January. He expects to finish up his MBA at Marquette this summer and then it’s out into the real world. Ronnie. Eliot also took a trip to Las Vegas in February to visit with their daughter and with some friends from Aberdeen; lots of fun was had by all on the Strip!

A neighborly ‘howdy’ to new BI residents Anita Gittleson, Mel Krieger, Michael Souza and Marc Furtado who moved here a few months ago.

Neighbors Armando and MariCruz Alvarez sold their home up north and are now full-time residents of Bermuda Isle.

Congratulations go out to longtime resident Elaine Roth, whose grandson, Eric Fisher, will be getting married this month. Eric is an attorney practicing in south Miami and he and his new bride will be making their home in Coconut Grove, FL. Elaine’s daughter, Susan Vidro, who lives with her, is the proud mother of the groom.

From Ketly’s Korner:

As previously promised, in addition to bringing you news from our neighborhood, it is my pleasure to add my personal musings under the nom de plume of “Ketly’s Korner.”

I can scarcely believe that we have already lived in Aberdeen and more specifically, on the FABULOUS Horseshoe Bay Road in the Bermuda Isle community for just over two years!

Where on earth has the time gone? I will say that in this case, time has most definitely flown by because we have been having FUN – and lots of it! We continue to look out of our windows at our beautiful view with appreciation and joy. It hasn’t gotten old at all!

I started adding walking to my exercise regimen back in Dec. 2015. I intentionally wanted to do this sans making a New Year’s resolution lest it fall by the wayside as many resolutions are wont to do! I figured it would become a habit and it has! I love the coolness of the air in the early dawn hours, the opportunity to commune with nature and just to think. It’s been so amazing to me that no matter how often I retrace my steps along Hagen Ranch Road, Gateway Boulevard, or Le Chalet, I always find something different that catches my eye or make a new discovery. It’s amazing what you “see” when you are really looking!

To yield or not to yield … however … that is the question. The most puzzling (and anxiety-ridden) aspect of my thrice-weekly walk is the complete disregard that too many drivers have for that particular red and white traffic sign. I actually had to go back and look up the word “Yield” because I can’t understand why so many of the drivers who encounter it at the area roundabouts – totally IGNORE it! So just in case we need a little reminding (though I know Aberdeen residents know this), a yield sign with a white background and a red border means… “Slow down with extra caution,” “You must let traffic in the intersection or close to it, go first. Stop if necessary and go only when the way is clear.

Let’s be safe out there!

John, a practicing lawyer in Tiverton, RI, has won a State Senate election and has been certified by the State Board of Elections as State Senator for District 11. This district encompasses the towns of Portsmouth, Tiverton and Bristol, RI. There are only 38 senators in the RI legislature. Congratulations to John and Barbara.

Marion Drutman has something to “qvell” about too. Her grandson, Jordan, is now an associate producer on the Steven Colbert show on CBS. She tries very hard to stay awake till 12:30 AM to watch the show. Her granddaughter, Makena, is with a well-known advertising company and Nick, the youngest, attends Northwestern University. “ALL IS GOOD”

AS A REMINDER Mar. 22, 2016 – Annual Hampton Community Meeting I have been approached by several residents that are interested in forming a book club. Contact Connie Lamendola (336-4914) if the idea “rocks your boat.”

Susan Spillert is looking for year-round canasta players. Let her know if you want to join a game.

Our annual Hampton Luncheon is scheduled for Sat., Mar. 12, 2016. Last year’s luncheon was a huge success with 71 Hampton residents in attendance. I am looking forward to seeing all of you on that day.

Wishing all of our Irish and non-residents a most Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Recently, Jack and I had the opportunity to drive across the state of FL and visit dear old friends in Naples. The weather has been very unusual – cold and wet, not at all the beautiful warm weather FL is known for.

Driving across Alligator Alley is always an adventure. We were driving over 70 miles an hour looking for alligators. We looked everywhere, trying to find at least one alligator. Of course we did not succeed.

Naples is a beautiful city, full of culture and a haven for foodies. We love road trips. This one met every requirement. We had a lovely time, never missing a meal, walking, exercising, shopping, laughing, talking, taking terrific naps and spending time with good friends.

As the weekend came to a close, we packed our car and started our trip back home. Fortunately, the weather cooperated most of the time. We love road trips but there is nothing like going home.

Brittany Lakes has been our home close to 6 years. Driving up to the security gate puts a smile on our faces every time. We are home!

Our community has a small but active board of directors. They take care of our greenery, roofs, trees, driveways and many other issues. Best of all, nobody has to shovel snow.

At the last HOA meeting, I learned that several board members plan on leaving the board this year. Allow me, on behalf of our residents, to thank them for their hard work on behalf of our community.

One of the pleasures of coming home is reconnecting with our neighbors and friends, including Joan and Max Weiss, who have lived in and owned their home in Aberdeen since Mar. 2009. As with many of us, they were snowbirds till Mar. 2013. Theirs is a sweet love story. They met as teenagers in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, (NY), got married in 1956, and left their beloved Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, for the suburbs of NJ. Their family grew with the addition of 3 children and 7 grandchildren. The family loves spending time together. Joan and Max also enjoyed their professional lives. She as a controller for a real estate firm and Max has been the owner of a mechanical contracting business for over 25 years.

Max and Joan enjoy their home, the wonderful lifestyle, great weather and the friends they have made since becoming a part of the Aberdeen community. The next time you are walking on Brittany Lakes Drive please say “hello” to them.

How fortunate are we to come back to a wonderful place we can call home?

“I thought he retired from writing the column.”

I did and I will, however, since there was not enough time for someone to step up and prepare a column for this issue, I will take the opportunity for one last hurrrah!

Hats off to Marilyn Lubell and all the folks who worked so diligently with her, for producing, what turned out to be an OUTSTANDING CELEBRATION of the Moorings 30th Birthday. Kudos to MC Jack Miller, who is terrific whenever he has a mike in his hand. He did a superb job at this party, as did Eileen Hahn, who we can Crown as Mooring’s Historian. Eileen would be the ideal person to by-line future Moorings Matters columns in the Aberdeen Times. What say ye Eileen?

I would be remiss if I signed off without mentioning some folks who contributed mightily to the Moorings’s success as a great community for 30 years. A Tip of the Tam is well deserved for past presidents of the Moorings Board of Directors: Irv Albert, Lew Halley, Edith Steindler and Arthur McDermott.

Ciao, for real this time.

It’s time, once again, to bring you all the good news from Waterford. Since this will be our first submission for the Aberdeen Times, we hope you will enjoy reading our column and help us by contributing any information you care to share.

Lets start off by wishing our community a Happy New Year. We certainly hope it will be the beginning of a good year for all our residents.

We want to welcome our new Property Manager from APM, Amy Higgins. If you need info or have any questions you can call her @561-399-9350 or e-mail her at [email protected]. We want to say thank you to Linda Jo Lewis for her many years of dedicated service.

We hope you attended our annual meeting on Tues., Feb. 16, 2016, at the Park Vista Recreation Center.

Sherwood Ginsburg just celebrated his 85th Birthday with his entire family. His daughter, husband and granddaughter 12-year-old Sasha, came in from CA. His NY son and wife, along with Virginia son, wife and 3 grandsons, Brendan, Ryan and Collin, shared the special day.

Save the date: Sun., Feb. 21, 2016. Our community will have a pool party with sandwiches, beverages and more (cost $8.00 p.p.) to embrace “A New Year and a NEW Beginning.”

Nature here in Florida is rewarding, Carol Ginsburg spied a new bird wading in her back yard. It’s a beautiful pink and white bird and she learned he is a Rosette Spoonbill. The bird is beautiful, neighbors look for him.

We just got word that Patti and Greg Van Bunt’s father, Toivo Mickola, passed on, Dec. 31, 2015. He was 10 days shy of celebrating his 95th birthday. They brought a little joy to their sadness in the form of a new Savannah breed kitten. May it help you to heal from the loss!

Hope you enjoyed our column. We look forward to keeping you abreast of all the news from our community.