September 2009 - On Top of the World Communities Info

September 2009 The World News® 29IrishAmerican ClubBob O’NealIt’s the beginning of the end of thesummer (samhradh, pronounced SOWroo—gofigure) in Ireland but you wouldnever believe it by the temperatures. Justa random glance of the Dublin weather inJuly came up with an average of 64 degrees.I’ve been told that Seattle weathercomes close to Dublin weather in bothprecipitation and temperature. It was 108degrees in Seattle and 63 degrees in Dublinon July 29. I may have to re-visit thattheory.Tom and Bridget Hughes, long time OnTop of the World residents, gave our clubinstant credibility when they attended ourfirst meeting in 2001. Tom is from CountyGalway and Bridget is from CountyMonaghan. He came to the United Statesin 1953 and worked 40 years with Citibankin New York City. Bridget followedsix years later and worked as an RN in anumber of New York hospitals. They metat Tom’s uncle’s house and in 1960 wentback to Ireland to get married. They hadfive children, four daughters and a son.Since 1973, Tom and Bridget havespent some or all of their summers in anIrish conclave in the Catskills known as“Four Green Fields.” Here’s how it was describedin a 2008 travelogue: “The IrishKingdom in the Northeast Catskills. Thearea altogether is remote. The main thingof note is a large ski operation in Windham.Just north of there is a town calledDurham, where there is a notable Irishcultural center, with music, performancesand classes. Probably the most notablething of all is the Irish identity of thearea. It is like a living Irish theme park.There are signposts in Gaelic, shamrockson business signs and a lot of restaurantsand motels called Hogan’s, Gavin’s, Mickey’s,the Four Green Fields and like that.People have brogues.”Following a trip to Rome (and an audiencewith the Pope) and then Ireland,they returned to On Top of the World fora brief time before leaving for their 36thyear in Four Green Fields. Brogues? Ohyeah and don’t they fit right in?And for each and everyone: “May joyand peace surround you, contentmentlatch your door, and happiness be withyou now and bless you evermore.”Mac / PC Tipof the MonthSherry SurdamThis month’s Mac tip is not really aMac tip but a universal one. Do you everfind you have several applications or filesopen at the same time, working on oneand then another? Switching usually involvesmoving the mouse to the dock (ortaskbar in Windows) and clicking on theone we want to work on next. Occasionallythere will be so many items open atonce that we can’t see the one we want!When that happens it can be very annoying.However, there is a very easy methodfor switching applications and documentsfrom one to another without mousing tothe dock or taskbar and it seems that veryfew people are aware of this simple keyboardshortcut! When you want to changefrom one item to another (an applicationor a file – it doesn’t matter because theywill all be available using this method),here is all you need to do:For Mac: Press and hold Commandthen press tab.For PC: Press and hold Ctrl (control)then press tab.A window will pop up showing everythingthat’s open. Continue to hold theCommand or Ctrl button and press tabrepeatedly until the one you want is highlightedand let go of the Command or Ctrlkey. That application or file will pop tothe front and you can continue to work.ItalianAmerican ClubJerome CaudaThe club will resume meetings in September.Hope everyone had an enjoyableand exciting summer.At the August board meeting, plans fora Columbus Day restaurant dinner in Octoberwere discussed. Location and timewill be announced at the Sept. 1 meeting.Other plans that will be presented includea Christmas potluck party in Decemberand a President’s pizza party in February.As further information becomes available,it will be posted in future articles.A special meeting is scheduled for November.Members will be asked to bring agift for a serviceman/woman. These giftscan be wrapped as long as a tab is attachedstipulating contents and whether it’s for aman or woman. The gifts collected will bedonated to Operation Shoe Box. This is inlieu of a members Christmas grab bag. Alist of suggested items will be available atthe September meeting.I spent the greater part of June andJuly visiting my father’s hometown locatedin the foothills of the Alps, right inthe middle of some of the best vineyardsin Piedmont.Part of my trip included a side tripto Biella, home of my maternal grandmother’sfamily. Looking for family attachments,I did find the name Manfred/Manfreddo could be related. After 10generations, it becomes a little bit hard toprove relationships.From there, I traveled via St. Vincent,Chattilon onto Aosta the beginning of theItalian high Alps. The town is a historicaltreasure dating back to about 200 A.D.The end of the trip was to Courmayeurthe premier ski resort in Italy. I stoppedat the base of Mount Blanc (Monte Bianco)before returning to my father’s hometown.My stay ended in Milan before flyinghome.The first meeting is scheduled forTuesday, Sept. 1 in the Arbor ConferenceCenter, Suites E and F. Refreshments willbe available at 2:30 p.m. and the meetingwill begin at 3 p.m.GermanAmerican ClubJudy DunnWelcome back German American ClubMembers. Hope everyone had a wonderfulsummer, whether traveling or enjoyingour Florida sunshine.We look forward to a year filled withnew programs and hospitality. Our Septembermeeting will be held on Tuesday,Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Arbor ConferenceCenter, Suite E. A high school groupwill entertain us followed by dessert andcoffee.Don’t forget our Oktoberfest trip toHelen, Georgia from Oct. 7 to 9.If you are looking for a club to joinwhere you can make new friends and enjoyGerman hospitality, please come toour meetings. You need not be of Germanancestry. All are welcome.HandicapEquipmentHandicap equipment is loaned free toOn Top of the World residents duringtheir convalescent term—walkers,crutches, canes or wheelchairs. Formore information, call the Health &Recreation Department at 854-8707.Photo by Jim ChandlerMarion County Stuff the Bus Program received a $500 donationfrom the Fleet Reserve Association, Citrus Branch 186 and itsLadies Auxiliary.Stuff the Bus DonationPresenting a donation of $500 to theMarion County Stuff the Bus Programfrom the members of the Fleet ReserveAssociation, Citrus Branch 186 and itsLadies Auxiliary is Bob Woods, FRA president.The presentation was made to KayChandler representing the Kingdom ofthe Sun Chapter of the Military OfficersBy Bo b Wo o d sWo r l d Ne w s Wr i t e rAssociation of America who is in partnerswith the Marion County School BoardHomeless Children Program and othermilitary veterans groups.Operation Stuff the Bus travels aroundMarion County collecting new school suppliesand other items for children in needto start the new school year.Expires 09/30/09 Expires 09/30/09 Expires 09/30/09