Hello Pine Oaks Book Club members and other readers!
There�s no real new news this month, so let�s get on with the reading! Of course, technically, you�ve been reading this entire time. I mean Book Club-related reading, not anything-related reading.
Last month�s book, �America�s Architect,� was a biography of Pierre L�Enfant. It wasn�t as interesting as you might think, though Terry Otter�s presentation on L�Enfant�s life was surprisingly informative and had nothing whatsoever to do with his ferret or his defunct career as a high school cafeteria worker. It turns out that a cargo ship was named after the architect, then later wrecked and abandoned. There�s probably a parallel to be made with Washington, D.C., but Terry �didn�t go there.�
Last month was also the Book Club�s annual sign-up meeting. I want to thank everyone who signed up to host and lead discussions. And in the future, I hope that more than the same four people will do the same.
This month�s book is back to fiction! Pine Oaks Book Club members will be reading �The German Well-Tender�s Saga,� a collection of short stories from the 1970s written by Gerhard Munchen. I want to remind all Pine Oaks residents that all are welcome to Book Club meetings, provided you have read the book ahead of time and follow the Book Club rules, which I�m not sure are written down anywhere. But still, come join us!
And happy reading!
Chairwoman, Pine Oaks Book Club
By Tony Daniels
Well hey there Pine Oaks �
That relaxed attitude you see/hear (in your mind) is because it�s September and I�m feeling fine. And you should be too! It�s �Back to School� time and this month there are two types of safety I want to address this month, both equally important and in many ways interconnected: crosswalk safety, and keeping safe from terrorism.
First, crosswalk safety: with the new school year, more and more people will be using crosswalks. These will be either students, walking to and from school; crossing guards, ensuring those students� safety; and pedestrians who would normally be in the crosswalks, on their way to their destination curb. For pedestrians, it�s particularly important to be aware of your surroundings, including whether there are cars in your vicinity. If there are not, proceed as normal to your destination curb. If there is a car in your vicinity, and you feel you cannot cross the street in time to avoid injury and/or severe injury, stop where you are, and remain standing until the car or cars has or have passed, then proceed. If there is a car in your vicinity, and you feel you can make it across the street in time, then do so! But run as quickly as possible just in case. Pretend there is a wolverine nipping at your heels, unless you�re not wearing heels, in which case change the wolverine to a hyena and pretend there is a hyena nipping at the shoe of your choice.
Second, keeping safe from terrorism: as you probably know, this month marks the sixth anniversary of the most successful terror attacks against this country in this millennium. Let�s not have this happen again. Here is my handy, three-step process for preventing terrorism from terrorizing you, terroringly. Step one is, of course, to remain vigilant! Vigilance is always your friend, but especially when you are concerned about terrorism. Step two is remain alert! This is not the time to fall asleep at the switch of life, the switch that prevents terrorism. Step three, finally, is to always be aware of your surroundings! If you�re not aware, you�re easy to scare.
So there you go! Welcome back to school, be safe, and�I guess that�s it. Be safe now.
Neighborhood Watch...p. 2
Message from the President...FRONT
Pine Oaks Book Club...p. 2
Fighting Spirit...p. 3
Welcome Wagon...FRONT
This Month in Pine Oaks...FRONT
Young Person's Perspective...p. 4