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March Fox Talk
Digest
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3 2002

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Articles:
Pondering the Ponds
Grounds
Computer Club
Treasurer
S&E Report

Events:
Country Cupboard
Future Events
Garage Sale

Social:
In Touch
Poem

Notices:
Questionaire
Emergency Masks
Heart Attack
Smoke Alarms

March Wind

Just let the March wind start gusting over parks or playgrounds and whole squadrons of colorful kites take to the air -- a sure sign spring is on its way. Kites have always fascinated me. Yet, painting streaks of color across the sky with an airborne kite was something I never could quite manage. Until, in my 40's it happened. (Some of us never stop trying -- or never grow up. I'm not sure which.) The right location, the right kite, the right updraft, and suddenly my heart soared along with the bright red fabric diamond as it darted higher and higher, surging and gliding. AT LAST!

What my kite-flying experience taught me was that it's never too late to learn something new, to expand our horizons, to explore different options. It's never too late in our lives to start something new. AND YOU CAN TOO! Right now, I'm struggling to learn a tough Debussy prelude for piano that's well beyond my keyboard skill. But I don't intend to give up. I feel strongly that whatever challenges us, is what we should tackle -- and hopefully, master. In the meantime, want to join me in the park for some kite flying?

Future Events

Travel Talk April 24th
Garage Sale May 31st

Care Committee Co-ordinators:
CC #1 Barb Koerber/Norma Fisher
CC #2 Marg Macdonald/Pat Tibbles
CC #3 Faith Mundy/Marion Koehler
CC#4 Audrey Euler/Ellen Bowring

How Do You Get Holy Water? (You Boil The Hell Out Of It)

Keeping in Touch
Marg Macdonald
We extended sympathy from the community to Maureen Wills following the loss of her mother. A donation in her mother's memory was made to the Nithview Home where she had been a resident.
A sympathy card was sent to Abe & Gertrude Thiessen and to San Olsson who lost her brother.
A get-well card was given to Aida Tengler and Ray Satchell who have both had recent illnesses.
A card was given to Doris Bruder during a recent hospital visit. She continues to wait "in readiness" for surgery.
Sven Orum & Ed Sheppard have just returned from hospital. We hope their recovery has been helped along with a small gift of cashews and a plant. We know how they love flowers!
Ted Tibbles remains in hospital. Ted wishes to thank his many friends for the cards of good wishes for his recovery!
Our thoughts, prayers and love have been communicated to Helga & Herb Stamm by cards from many friends in Foxboro and by Ruth & Maurice Dean who maintain close communications with the family.

Emergency Masks

The masks are now installed in the Recreation Centre. One is placed on the wall over the drinking water machine downstairs and one on the wall near the key pad in the entrance. If anyone uses a mask, please notify a member of the Care Committee.

Computer Club Report
George Walker
Our new computer cabinet has been installed in the TV lounge. It was made in the Baden Seniors' Workshop and is a quality piece of furniture for the Rec. Centre.
The new computer allows us to demonstrate some excellent new programs, and recently on Tuesday evenings, Arnold has been demonstrating the new scanner which is a joy to use. It is a great way to scan your 35 mm slides or pictures or film strips.
Our Wednesday afternoon Word classes continue from 2.00 - 3.00 pm.
The Computer Club is here to help you with problems or to help you get started in this exciting hobby.

A Heart Attack

How To Survive A Heart Attack When Alone

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, this article seemed in order.

Without help, the person whose heart stops beating properly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest. A breath and cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let up, until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.

Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a phone and between breathes, call for help.
From Health Cares, Rochester General Hospital via Chapter 240's newsletter AND THE BEAT GOES ON�(reprint from The Mended Hearts, Inc. publication, Heart Response)

Garage Sale Update
Bob Price
Ninety two days and counting. Are you prepared??? With all this snow etc., why not set up a table and get all your sale items and junk sorted and priced. You will then be ready for the Garage Sale on May 31st. Final Report from the M.B.G Bob & Bob
We were hoping to use our extra money to build one or two picnic tables for the back lawn. However, it was brought to our attention that the flowers on the sauna needed some sprucing up, so we called Jenkins and they added more flowers. Consequently, it cost us our reserve funds. We hope you are happy with the results.
For your information: The horserace game belongs to the Foxboro Association. It will be used for the St. Patrick's Dinner on Sunday, March 16th. Any group can use this game to raise funds for the Community.

Smoke Detectors
Bob Price
Ninety-nine percent of the smoke detectors in Foxboro are connected to the electric panel (no batteries). The detector might beep every so often. Possibly the reason for this is that dust or dirt is on the sensor. You should dust these sensors with your vacuum every 3 to 6 months. If the beeping continues, call a professional.

Questionnaire
Bob Price
Reminder: Don't forget to complete your response to our questionnaire in February's Fox Talk. Your input is important to us. We will continue to collect these responses until the Snow Birds return, so that everyone has a chance to have their say. Thanks to all who have responded already. Completed questionnaires can be placed in the Special Events slots beside the photocopier.

Grounds Committee
Cam Magnan
The 2003 season is underway. A report from the Pond Committee accompanies this report. The Flower Committee has met and made numerous decisions. The initial order has been placed. There will be some reduction in annuals as requested in the Opinion Survey. There will still be plenty of colour. Planning for refurbishing the Waterfall beds and the East Gate is underway. Sandy Moore could use some volunteers to help get free compost May 10th and dig it into selected locations.

We will be starting a new tree maintenance program this summer. This will involve fertilization of all trees and systemic insecticide treatment as required. This should help arrest the deterioration of our trees, which are under severe stress due to weather conditions, insects and air pollution.

I will be reviewing the 2003 Grounds programs (including ponds) with the new Board at the Mar. 24th meeting.

Marian's Country Cupboard
Audrey Euler
On Valentine's Day, 25 people ventured out to Hawkesville to have a very large and delicious lunch. The schnitzel was most enjoyable, very tender and a nice change. Our next visit has been booked for Oct. 2nd.

Treasurer's Report
Maurice Dean
As reported at the Board Meeting, we are able to show a small operating surplus over budget at the end of January. This is despite the payment of almost $21,000 which relates to expenses incurred, but not recorded, during the previous fiscal period. It is noted that a surplus at this time of the year is normal as our operating expenses are lower during the winter months.

It must be noted that at a recent board meeting it was agreed that all purchases for the corporation must be covered by a contract, work order, or purchase order authorized by the budget responsible committee member requiring the materials or service. The authorization value levels were outlined in an original FGHA policy. This policy is being edited to acknowledge it is the policy of Condo #365 rather than FGHA; the spending value levels and requirements remain the same.

A copy of the actual Treasurer's Report for January will be filed with the minutes of the Board Meeting in the library.

Pondering the Ponds Problem
Maurice Dean
Watching a recent National Geographic program on hippopotamuses (hippopotami for the more literate or just plain hippos for folks such as myself) the thought occurred that we should be looking beyond the envelope for a solution to our pond problems.

It appears that hippos are herbivorous quadrupeds that live in ponds and rivers coming out at night to feed. As they are very large quadrupeds they eat a lot, and we do mean a lot, of grass. Then they go back into the water to digest all this food and perform their natural bodily functions. This, apparently, really helps the marine life and aeration of the water.

While we know, at least most of us know, that hippos are not indigenous to southern Ontario, surely we can get hold of a couple, perhaps surplus from the African Lion Safari people, and give them a try. We can cut our grass cutting expenses way down and inject new life into the ponds.

There is a downside though. If it costs us about $600 to board a swan for the winter, what would it cost to board a couple, or perhaps even more, hippos?

Services and Equipment Committee Report

Bill Goddard asked for a member to take over the role of co-convener while Bill Simpson is away. George Walker has agreed to serve in that capacity.

Poem

The Shape I'm In
There's nothing the matter with me,
I'm just as healthy as can be,
I have arthritis in both knees,
And when I talk, I talk with a wheeze,
My pulse is weak, my blood is thin,
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.

All my teeth have had to come out,
And my diet I hate to think about,
I'm overweight and I can't get thin,
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.

And arch supports I need for my feet,
Or I wouldn't be able to go out in the street,
Sleep is denied me night after night,
But every morning I find it's all right,
My memory's failing, my head's in a spin,
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.

Old age is golden - I've heard it said,
But sometimes I wonder, as I go to bed,
With my ears in a drawer, my teeth in a cup,
And my glasses on a shelf, until I get up,
And when sleep dims my eyes, I say to myself,
Is there anything else I should lay on the shelf?

The reason I know my youth has been spent,
Is my get-up-and-go has got-up-and-went!
But really I don't mind, when I think with a grin,
Of all the places my get-up has been

I get up each morning and dust off my wits,
Pick up the paper and read the obits,
If my name is missing, I'm therefore not dead,
So I eat a good breakfast and jump back into bed.

The moral of this tale as it unfolds,
Telling you and me, who are growing old?
It is better to say "I'm fine" with a grin,
Than to let people know the shape we are in.

What Do You Get from A Pampered Cow (Spoiled Milk)

Cook's Corner

Cook's Corner

I have been asked to find something vegetarian. I found something online which looks easy enough to make. I believe these Vegetable Burgers could be used to make Veggie style Salisbury Steaks.

Vegetable Burgers

Vegetable Burgers

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup onion minced
1 cup carrots grated
1 cup turnips grated
1 cup zucchini grated
1 cup beets grated
� Tbsp garlic chopped
� tsp cumin ground
� Tbsp dill and tarragon, mixed
� cup instant rolled oats
� cup water
1/3 cup rice cooked
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil for saut�ing

Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onions, carrots, turnips, zucchini, beets, garlic, cumin and herbs. Saut� until vegetables begin to wilt, about 3 to 5 minutes. Allow to cool slightly. Soak oats in water for 5 minutes, then drain and press out excess water. Add to vegetable mixture along with potatoes, hazelnuts and rice. Season with salt and peppe. . Form mixture into 8 patties. Grill patties on a well-oiled grill, or saut� in olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden.

Cook Book
Alan Groves
We Need You
The Foxboro Cook Book would not be complete without at least one submission from you. Drop your submissions with your name on in the Cook Book mail slot near the copier or email them to [email protected]. Carol McGrath

History Corner

I am going to share with you what St. Patrick's Day is all about and why the Irish celebrate it as their national holiday. St. Patrick's Day falls on the March each year. It is a National Holiday. Usually there is a parade in each city and town. Most people wear a SHAMROCK on their lapel that day as a reminder of St Patrick.
St. Patrick was brought to Ireland as a slave from Wales when he was a young boy and tended sheep on Slieve Mish in Northern Ireland. He was freed later and returned to Wales. But, Patrick loved Ireland and its people and he returned there in 432 AD. He proceeded to convert the Irish people to Christianity from their pagan ways. He traveled to Tara, seat of the High Kings of Ireland and it was here that he is believed to have used the Shamrock to explain the mystery of The Holy Trinity. (Three divine persons in one God). It is also said that he banished all snakes from the island and that is why you cannot find a snake in Ireland today. From Dublin to Sydney, from New York to San Francisco, from Moscow to Tokyo, the Irish all over the world celebrate this holiday. Schools all over Ireland are closed on March 17th in honour of our patron Saint Patrick.

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