Henry David Thoreau once said: “Things do not change, we do.”

And that change keeps happening around us. As in Dorchester, that change involves the new members of our community. We wish only the best to those who have moved away for whatever reasons. We are delighted to welcome the following:

• Leslie Waxman at 7821 Dorchester Road
• Neil and Roz Goldberg at 7740 Dorchester Road
• Dennis Cyr and Sylvia O’Keefe at 7621 Dorchester Road.

While we are talking about out neighbors, Walter Areinoff, who has been in Dorchester and a member of the club for many years, is having some health problems. We wish him better days to come. Walter, a former dentist, an ardent tennis player in his day and a wiz bridge player, has also written books in his recent years. His neighbor, Margaret Vitale, says he is the kindest gentleman. It is so nice to have him in our community.

There is more good news that has emanated from our residents. Jan Siders just told us that her husband, Dick, got his 2nd hole-in-one at Elmcrest Country Club where Zach Johnson is also a member. Maybe we should get him in the next Ryders Cup. Congratulations, Dick. We just want to know if that is luck or talent? Two of them must be talent!

Peggy Urbinato got to celebrate with the entire Urbinato family as her daughter, AnneMarie Schieber, got married July 9th to John Dykstra in Grand Rapids, MI. Then, Peggy was off to see her son, David, and his family in Chicago for a vacation. Well, spending fun time with your kids, regardless of their age, is what it is all about.

More joy moved into the lives of Jill and Jon Shaw. Their first-born daughter, Rakelle, was married to Stephen on Oct. 1st at a sunset wedding on Boynton Beach. They are thrilled to have Stephen join their family as Rakelle’s loving husband.

And, “if kvelling” is allowed, Harvey and I want you to be on the alert for when the next movie that stars Melissa McCarthy, “Cook Off,” comes out. Our son-in-law, Joel Beckerman, has done the music for the movie. In addition, the next time you go to an IMAX movie, listen to the music that introduces it. Joel did the musical logo for it. And every time you see or hear a commercial for AT&T, the 4 notes that you hear are the sonic logo he created for them.

Well, we have had 2 of 4 streets recently repaved. So take a drive over here and visit someone on Lawson or Judson Circle. No more pot holes!

For those who celebrated the Jewish holidays, we wish you a good and healthy year. And for those who celebrated Halloween, we wish you some delicious days filled with Snickers and Hershey bars and no gain in weight. Leave room for some calories on Thanksgiving.

We wish all of you in Aberdeen a wonderful Thanksgiving. Knowing that we are grateful for all that we have, we should remember, at this time of year, that it is all about giving back in life.

Stew and Judye Suttenberg are so proud of their daughter, Pamela, who came home with a gold medal from the International Adult Figure skating competition held in Vancouver, British Colombia, More than 250 skaters from 17 countries competed.

Pam is 53 years old, and competes in the age category of 35 to 55 years old, all of whom were competitive skaters in their youth. She has been skating since she was 5 years old and has a room filled with medals and trophies. She was a United Figure Skating gold medalist when she was 14 years old. After college, she took time off to raise her family, for 20 years, but returned to the sport she loved 5 years ago.

Pam has decided to give her back and knees a rest and now is involved in ice dancing, a less rigorous sport.

It is the third of October as I write this, “the calm before the storm.” For those residents who moved to the Coves after the onslaught of Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma in 2004 and 2005, it will most likely be proven that “experience is the best teacher.” The Weather Channel, Facebook posts, Tweets, Instagram photos, and news media can say all they want, but until you “live the hurricane experience” firsthand, it is all just talk. Based on past experience, inconvenience goes without saying – the downed traffic lights, the lack of frozen foods and dairy in the grocery stores, no AC, branches everywhere, no lights, no cable – even no mobile phones in some cases as cell towers came down. But bottom line, all that matters is personal safety. The rest can be “fixed.” As a past member of Aberdeen CERT before it disbanded, PERSONAL SAFETY and PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY are what was emphasized.

I urge you, right after you read this, and Matthew is less than a month in the past, to take note of what you individually did right or did wrong in getting through the storm. It won’t be the last hurricane in Palm Beach County, and next time you’ll feel wiser and more prepared.

In the meantime, “IT” is here! The Fall season! So much available to do, to enjoy, and to take part in and so little time to squeeze it all in. There are several new residents about to arrive in our wonderful community, but since their closings are not scheduled until mid-October, it would be premature to send an “official” welcome by name until next month, but you know who you are. Enjoy! A fond farewell to those leaving us. You will be missed (as well as mentioned in the December issue.)

On another note, we express our sincere condolences to resident, Sandra Bernstein, upon the death of her husband Al. Al and Sandra have enjoyed many years as Coves snowbirds and were involved in several activities. We’d also like to offer our sympathy to Ricki Linnell, Al’s sister-in-law. As an avid Bridge player and “landscaping hobbyist,” many will miss Al’s presence. Sandra hopes to return to her home in the Coves after Thanksgiving.

As mentioned in past issues, power washing of sidewalks will begin this month, and building repairs — especially of the wood rot, will continue. There may be necessary post-Matthew repairs in the works’ as well, which obviously are not known as of this writing. Don’t forget to put the Coves Budget Meeting on your calendar for Nov. 14th. It’s important to attend.

One final caveat’. PLEASE submit your e-mail address to B.O.D. president Rose Romano. The Aberdeen East Newsletter, the Aberdeen Times (including this article), and updated news releases and reminders from the clubhouse are ALL available on-line. Important e-blasts are sent on behalf of The Coves as well, and you MUST have an e-mail address on file to be included. The Coves list of e-mail addresses is not sold, shared, nor made public. All e-blasts are sent as blind copies so as to not violate your privacy. It is important to be in the know. Over 100 of your neighbors are on the list; it’s time to join them.

While you’re at it, Rose also needs any updates to the Aberdeen phone book. Check your listing right now. If you have changes or additions to your address or phone #, call or e-mail her! Otherwise, your entry will be repeated as is.

Until next month, share your news to phcmhc@comcast.net and it will be included in the next column. Happy Thanksgiving!

Just as everyone starts returning to Aberdeen for the cooler-weather season, Chris and I will be jetting off to South Africa and England to see family and friends. This has been our first full summer in Florida, and we’ve stayed here mainly because of the on-going house renovations which are almost complete. I now at long last have a kitchen, so no more paper plates and styrofoam cups. I remarked to Chris as I was retrieving masses of cutlery and cooking utensils from the packing cases and then trying to find a home for everything, that life was much simpler when we only had 2 knives, forks and spoons to use and then to wash up in the bathroom sink. Now we have to fill and empty the dishwasher and also find a place to put everything. Oh, the joys of being more civilized! I’ve been unpacking boxes from South Africa which had been in transit and storage for 2 years, so, as you can imagine, there were some happy reunions with favorite bits and pieces, as well as some “Why on earth did I think I would need this”! exclamations. It’s just not possible to condense everything from 2 houses into one, so at the same time as I was unpacking our ‘stuff’, I was busy rewrapping and putting so many duplicate items into the emptied boxes, for the ‘Breast Cancer Foundation’ pickup.

In between all of this activity, I always have one eye out of the window so as not to miss any wild life activity in the backyard, and one morning in August, I suddenly saw what looked like an owl fly across my field of vision and up into a palm tree. There was a lot of commotion from the smaller birds who were flying back and forth to the tree where Mr. Owl was precariously perched on a palm frond which was swaying madly in the wind. Anyway, the “un-welcome” visitor, who I recognized to be a juvenile Great Horned Owl, was not going to be intimidated by the squawking of the smaller birds, and clung on for dear life. I got a great shot of him staring straight at me through my bathroom window. A week later, he was back again on the same branch and stayed there for many hours. I was curious as to why he was out and about in daylight, as I thought owls were nocturnal creatures. The Ospreys, which circle and swoop around the lake here, have an endless supply of fresh sushi which they take up into the pine trees to consume. I’m so happy I’m not a fish, as the poor creatures do seem to be right at the bottom of the food chain. Amongst the smaller birds here, we have a beautiful pair of Bluejays, a Northern Cardinal, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Northern Mockingbird and assorted Doves.

I’m sure many of you have noticed that there seems to have been an invasion of Iguanas here this summer. Our backyard on most days, looks like a mini-Jurassic park, as the green, scaly creatures congregate to do absolutely nothing except lounge around nibbling on the grass blades and Hibiscus leaves. Chris had to cut down the bush outside my bathroom window, because it was harboring green “Peeping Toms” who would climb up the branches and press their scaly faces and long claws almost up against the window glass. Quite a startling sight to see from the bath tub, I’m sure you’ll agree. A few days ago I spied Ali-Baba, the resident “gator,” cruising past our patch. As long as he stays in the water, I’m always very happy to see him. The Great Blue Heron, who I call “The Boss”, is back presiding over his lake subjects, and who would argue with that beak of his? I read that the Great Blue Heron is the Native American symbol of strength, wisdom and patience, and looking at his elegant profile as he stands statue-like, waiting for a hapless fish to appear within striking distance, I’m not surprised that he was chosen as an example of these qualities.

Before we leave for overseas, we will have moved out of the master bedroom where we’ve been living since our February move from Ashford, and into our main living area. Hopefully there’ll be no more sweeping up of sawdust in the near future. Chris said to me the other day, “We have a great partnership. I make a mess and you clean up after me.” We will have been married for 50 years in December, and-with all his DIY projects over the years, I can vouch for the truth of that statement. It seems crazy that just as we’re about to get some normality back into our lives, we’ll be packing suitcases and leaving our home for 6 weeks. I think Chris is ready for a holiday though, after all the hard work he’s put in here every day. We are renting a beach apartment close to where we used to live, and are looking forward to a very relaxing few weeks.

I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving celebration. I’m sure we’ll have so much to be grateful for; I know that I do. Here’s a rather different quote about thankfulness, “If you haven’t all the things you want, just be grateful for all things you don’t have which you wouldn’t want.” The author is unknown, but I suspect he may be Irish.

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!?

Now that the Fall season is upon us, we want to welcome the return of all Aberdeen Club members who have recently come back or have yet to return. We know that they are looking foward to enjoying all that the Club has to offer. The facilities have been pampered and polished during the summer period, the entire parking area landscaping was replaced with all new palm trees, hedges and bushes, a new water structure is being built in front of the Club-house. Summer maintenance also included the FTA Center, our 15 Tennis courts, our always interesting-to-play 18-hole golf course, together with our main Clubhouse.

While everything has been placed in readiness for the fall season for all of our members, Club plans for 2017 call for many improvements including the refurbishing of the lower floor of the Clubhouse and the complete overhaul of the tennis complex to add pickle ball courts. In addition, plans call for the full refurbishing and re-contouring of the golf course to provide expanded tee areas, a course-within-a-course, expanded greens, cart paths and a beautifully landscaped golf course with multiple yardage options forgiving enough for high handicappers and challenging for low handicappers. And all such improvements to be implemented without the imposition of any assessment!

What else has been happening at the Club? In October the Halloween Trick-Or-Treat Mixed 18 & 9-Hole Golf Tournament was scheduled to be played with participants wearing their Halloween Finest. Tennis members participated in their Halloween Circus Round Robin. The Club further celebrated Halloween 2016 with an Elegant Masked Ball with members encouraged to wear festive masks. Rosh Hashanah Dinner was also celebrated, followed by Yom Kippur “Break the Fast” Dairy Extravaganza. The Ladies’ Birthday Celebration was held to celebrate August through October Birthdays with entertainment part of the festivities.

November will see a scheduled “92nd Street Y” event, followed by “Night Under The Stars” Pool-side Party and the Thanksgiving Day Dinner Extravaganza. Opening Day Golf Tournaments for both Men and Ladies golfers are planned, followed by the Men’s President’s Cup Tournament and the Ladies’ President’s Cup Tournament, each ending with their respective Final’s round of competition. Tennis Club Championship Tournaments will also commence for Mixed Doubles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Men’s and Women’s Singles matches. Returning this Fall to Aberdeen will be our dance professional, Justin Penny, to teach social dancing for beginners to advanced dancing.

Clubs and Classes will be meeting again, including AARP Safe Driving Classes, Aberdeen Angles, Art-House Films, Bereavement Workshop, Book Clubs I and II, Cinema Connection, Current Events Club, Love of the Opera Club, the Knitting and Crocheting Club and the Aberdeen Library, brimming with books. Check these out! For those wanting to experience a great life style, come join us at the Club. Call our Director of Membership, Rose Cizner, at 738-4903, ext. 325.