TheSpectator - Port 32 Shore Spa Community Club

The
Spectator
Port 32’s Monthly Communicator
Issue:
January 1, 2013
Happy New Year for 2013 from the Spectator Editors
to you.
Relax, the calendar didn’t jump ahead to January 15, the usual date the Spectator is published. You
didn’t miss the last 2 weeks. We just decided to send a small New Year’s wish to you and catch up on
some of the Port 32 news from the holiday season.
PRESIDENT
Ross Forrest
As this is a special edition in honour of some wonderful events & people, let me pick up the theme. Our
Board of Directors work tirelessly to look after our grounds & clubhouse and provide us with great
sports fun and wonderful leisure activities & entertainment; not to forget they keep our finances and
records in order. A very large thank-you to all of them for their time and effort.
And may 2013 be a healthy, happy & prosperous year for all of us!
Spectator
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T. G. I.C. Thank God It’s Christmas!
One hundred and twenty singing neighbours attended the Carol Singing Pot Luck Dinner at the Spa on
Friday, Dec. 14, 2012. Our M.C., Graham Keevill, introduced our talented pianist, Ruth Eberts, who
accompanied our entertainers and the carols. Ron Flett sang his “O Holy Night” medley, Ruth Gibson
recited her poem “The Very First Christmas”, Brian Eberts sang “I’m Gettin’ Nothin’ for Christmas!”
and Gary and Marie Stokx amused us with their version of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” complete with
many props.
Bill Aitken played two keyboards with his Christmas Medley and our own octet, consisting of Mary
Fedy, Sue Zilkie-Ward, Lois Pearl, Ruth Gibson, Brian Eberts, Ron Flett, Patrick Ward and Graham
Keevill, finished up with “Christmas Is A Time For Loving” and “Go Now in Peace”. Everyone greatly
enjoyed the programme provided by these fabulous volunteers!
Mary Fedy lead us with a poetic grace before we enjoyed our wonderful pot luck dinner.
We want to thank everyone who entertained us, set up and removed the tables and chairs, the wonderful
kitchen crew, the sound technician, and all the cooks who provided the delicious buffet!
Marie Stokx delivered the cash donated together with three big boxes of food to the Bobcaygeon Food
Bank.
Do plan to join with us next year and consider participating!
Lynda Graham and Ruth Gibson
Spectator
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A New Year’s Message from Marg and Bill Leavers
As we reflect upon 20 plus years of residing in Port 32, and regretfully we are leaving to be nearer to our
sons (as we become “older”), we were asked to tell the folks who have been here a shorter time about
the “early years” in Port 32 and our experiences. We want to write only B. S. (that’s before Shore Spa).
Twenty or so years ago we were fewer but enthusiastic new property owners in an exciting new area.
Actually there were only about 50 houses in Port 32 when we came. There were houses on Patricia Place
and a few on Navigators Trail and Olde Forest Lane and two on Governor’s Drive. The area on Olde
Forest Lane around Doug and Lois Pearl’s was an open field with lots of trilliums in the spring. Ports
Drive was just a grass path and Navigators was a dead-end just past Theresa Farrow’s.
We had started a Social Club, with some people you are familiar with and a lot you won’t know. There
were the Gibson’s, the Whitesides, the Woods, Jim and Theresa Farrow, the Convoys, the Plunkets and
George and Kay Jamieson, to name a few. The social club organized golf games, bowling evenings,
mystery plays, horseshoes, concerts, and the first Ladies Luncheons. We curled at the local club and
went to local restaurants, joined local churches and service clubs, supported local businesses and
professional people and, I believe, made a great contribution to the village.
When the fall season came around we met more new people as we walked through the neighborhood.
We would bicycle down to the Water Park dock in the evening (no harbor then) to meet people.
We learned about each other, where are you from, got any grandkids, what do you do. Some came from
Scarborough (too), Markham, Mississauga, Brampton. All the same places as today.
As Christmas approached we decorated our home and enjoyed the season. We attended church concerts
and bazaars, dances at “the barn” and visiting each other. We went to Christmas parties at the Curling
Club or private parties, or the Seniors Club over near the Dairy. We went to church services and card
concerts, we shopped and wrapped and baked.
New Year’s eve was spent at the Curling Club or at home. We were a small community, actually one
year Fred built only two houses. We have found that while Port 32 has grown so much, so little has
changed. The residents are just as nice and just as proud to live here and work just as hard to improve
the community.
We can hardly believe that we cross-country skied along the shore from the Water Park to the old
marina where the Shore Spa and harbor are now and through the fields where Ports Drive and Island
Bay are. Now it is wall-to-wall homes. We have met wonderful people here and we’ll never forget living
in Port 32.
Lastly we want to accept that we have faced difficult times, we have lost relatives and friends. This, of
course, happens in every retirement community but it doesn’t make it any easier. Our little street,
Governor’s Drive, has suffered the loss of wonderful people from 8 of the 11 homes. The Port 32
original poker club has 3 members left from 8 men.
Where have all the years gone? There are folks here with a longer tenure than ours, but generally I think
we all agree – it’s a wonderful place to live. So don’t let the years slip by, get involved, this community
depends on the volunteers.
Best wishes to you all, for health and happiness in 2013 and beyond.
With respect and affection,
Marg and Bill Leavers
Spectator
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Ed note: As many of you know Marg and Bill are leaving us so we asked them to give a New Year’s
message on their early years in Port 32 when this was a small and ambitious community.
Marg and Bill will have a new email address which I’m sure they’ll give to you. Just send them a note at
the current address and maybe they’ll reply.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
First two verses of a poem by Robert Burns.
The words 'Auld Lang Syne' literally translates from old Scottish dialect meaning
'Old Long Ago' and is about love and friendship in times past. The lyrics in the song
Auld Lang Syne referring to 'We'll take a Cup of Kindness yet' relate to a drink
shared by men and women to symbolise friendship. Happy New Year!!!!
Following is a special section for the Port 32 residents who are not here to enjoy the holiday season.
Look at the following few pictures and wish you were here.
Spectator
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Spectator
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The Port 32 Newsletter “The Spectator”:
The Port 32 Shore Spa Spectator is issued on the 15 th of each
month. It is available to all Shore Spa members and is
distributed via Email or paper copy from the Spectator box in
our Clubhouse.
If you are not receiving your Port 32 Spectator via Email, it’s
easy. Simply send your name and Email address to us at
[email protected] and we will add you to
our monthly distribution list. This saves us both paper and
printing costs.
In case you didn’t know, we send the Spectator out in almost
300 emails each month. So far no one has told us not to send it
to them.
Board of Directors
2012-2013
President – Ross Forrest
[email protected]
Past President – Caroline Eden
[email protected]
1st VP – Ted Goddard
[email protected]
2nd VP – Andy Tomaino
[email protected]
Also, it’s your newsletter! So, if you have articles or photos of
interest, feedback from Spa events, notices for upcoming Port
happenings, send them to us prior to the 10th of the month.
Thanks
Spectator Editor – Lois & Ross Armstrong
[email protected]
Secretary – Debbie Stacey
[email protected]
Treasurer – Rick Malchow
[email protected]
Clubhouse – Lee Stewart
[email protected]
Entertainment – Jan Haney
[email protected]
Grounds – Richard Fedy
[email protected]
Indoor Activities – Wayne Smith
[email protected]
Leisure Activities – Lynda Graham
[email protected]
Outdoor Activities – Barbara Smith
[email protected]
Development Officer – Fred Reynolds
Spectator
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