Happy Autumn to you

OK, today it's official.

We have reached the Autumnal Equinox. Unless, of course, you live below the equator. Then, you've reached the Spring Equinox.

Technically speaking, this occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator and moves southward in the Northern Hemisphere during the September equinox.

The location on the Earth where the sun is directly overhead at solar noon is known as the subsolar point. The subsolar point occurs on the equator during the September and March equinoxes. At that time, the Earth’s axis of rotation is perpendicular to the line connecting the centers of the Earth and the sun.

This is the time when many people believe that the Earth experiences 12 hours of day and night. However, that's not precisely true. During the equinox, the length of night and day across the world is nearly, but not entirely, equal.

This is because the day is slightly longer in places that are further away from the equator, and because the sun takes longer to rise and set in these locations. Furthermore, the sun takes longer to rise and set farther from the equator because it does not set straight down -- it moves in a horizontal direction. Moreover, there is an atmospheric refraction that causes the sun's disk to appear higher in the sky than it would if earth had no atmosphere.

If you don't care for all that technical stuff, just remember this. Summer officially is over.

Notice of membership meeting and election

We will be meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, October 3, 2011, at Faith Lutheran Church, 50 Leversee Road, opposite the Buckley Water Treatment Plant.

One the agenda are, among other items, election of officers for the 2012-13 fiscal year as well as consideration of a modification in the quarterly association dues.

The Nominating Committee, chaired by Past President Bob Hayward, has put together a slate of candidates for upcoming vacancies on the Board of Directors when President Bill Dowd, Vice President Harvey Bailey and Secretary John Milliren complete their terms and leave the Board at the end of this year.
(Treasurer Jerry Gordon and Vice President Joan Richardson will continue on the Board.)

The Nominating Committee’s candidates:

• Nadeen Thompson
• Kay Duclos
• Anne Hunter

However, if anyone else wishes to be put forth as a candidate, please contact Bob Hayward before the October 3 meeting.

And, please remember the October 1 deadline for paying fourth quarter dues assessments.

Thank you,

Your Board of Directors

4th quarter dues coming up

The fourth quarter of your 2011 dues assessment is due to be paid by Saturday, October 1.

Dues are $355 per household. Please send your checks, made payable to the Terrace at Highpointe Community Association, to:

Terrace at Highpointe
35 Hyland Drive
Troy, New York 12182

Thank you.

The Senior Citizens' situation

Senior citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary. We know we take responsibility for all we have done and do not blame others.

However, upon reflection, we would like to point out that it was NOT the senior citizens who took:

The melody out of music,
The pride out of appearance,
The courtesy out of driving,
The romance out of love,
The commitment out of marriage,
The responsibility out of parenthood,
The togetherness out of the family,
The learning out of education,
The service out of patriotism,
The Golden Rule from rulers,
The nativity scene out of cities,
The civility out of behavior,
The refinement out of language,
The dedication out of employment,
The prudence out of spending,
The ambition out of achievement or
God out of government and school.

And we certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from personal relationships and interactions with others.

And, we do understand the meaning of patriotism, and remember those who have fought and died for our country. Just look at the Seniors with tears in their eyes and pride in their hearts as they stand at attention with their hand over their hearts!

YES, I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN!

I'm the life of the party -- even if it lasts until 8 p.m.

I'm very good at opening childproof caps -- with a hammer.

I'm awake many hours before my body allows me to get up.

I'm smiling all the time because I can't hear a thing you're saying.

I'm sure everything I can't find is in a safe secure place, somewhere.

I'm wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that's just my left leg.

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

Yes, I'm a Senior Citizen and I think I am having the time of my life

Now if I could only remember who sent this to me, I wouldn't send it back to them, but I would send it to many more, too.