January/February 2020 The Masthead Page 1

By Bruce AmandThe total North Farm budget for 2020 is $1,993,729. Our monthly condo fees which will provide the overwhelming majority of that amount have increased for 2020 by 3.95%. Leading that increase is a rise in our contribution to reserves from $373,000 to $391,000, our largest expense. Maintaining a healthy reserve fund is a prudent thing to do to help us accommodate major expenses like the new tennis/pickleball courts this past year. There are 52 expense items listed in the 2020 Budget Narrative we all received a few weeks ago. But just ten of them account for 73.9% of our total annual expenses. The other 42 items, just 26.1%. The Top Ten list graphic is shown above, and the list itself is shown on the right. ■

North Farm’s 2020 BudgetJo Lovell Leaving North Farm

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0

Other 41 budget items ―$519,840Barkan management contract ―$57,180

Refuse removal ―$62,620Benefits ― $67,980

Painting fund contribution ―$ 86,704Water usage ―$88,344

Office salaries ―$136,949Maintenance payroll ―$153,210

Grounds contract ―$186,875Property liability insurance ―$243,027

Contributions to reserves ―$391,000

Top Ten North Farm 2020 Expenses

ALSO IN THIS ISSUENorth Farm Real Estate p 2Random Thoughts p 2Editorial p 3New masthead for The Masthead p 3 Protect Our Drains p 4Book Review: “How to become...” p 4 Arboretum Memorial Gifts p 5North Farm Residents Deliver p 6The Masthead Interview with Jan p 7

How Do We Handle Snow p 8DeWolf ’s Tavern p 9A Seasonal of Very Social Holidays p 10Kitchen Korner p 11The Remarkable Newport Towner p 12 Why Do Geese Cross the Road p 13Origins p 14Engagement Announcement p 14Community Calendar p 15

2020 Budget Top Ten

• Contributions to reserves $391,000 19.6%

• Property & liability insurance $243,027 12.2%

• Grounds contract $186,875 9.4%

• Maintenance payroll $153,210 7.7%

• Office salaries $136,949 6.9%

• Water usage $88,344 4.4%

• Painting fund contribution $86,704 4.3%

• Benefits $67,980 3.4%

• Refuse removal $62,620 3.1%

• Barkan management contract $57,180 2.9%

• Other 41 budget items $519,840 26.1%

• TOTAL $1,993,729 100.0% ■

By Bruce Amand

After 12 years as The Masthead’s Production Manager, Jo Lovell is leaving North Farm to be closer to family.

As production manager, Jo’s job has been to take the stories, artwork, photos and ads from the dozen other Masthead volunteers, and with the help of her computer, lay out all this material in a pleasing and logical way, regardless of the many variations she is presented with for each issue.

She also writes many of the headlines, and despite all these requirements, creates a unique personality for each issue that has built a loyal readership among our 450 residents. She will definitely be missed.

Jo’s first job with a publication was when she was in her twenties. She was the wire editor for the Clovis, New Mexico

News and Views from North Farm - January/February 2020

Continued on page 2

Page 2 The Masthead January/February 2020

News Journal, a daily newspaper. She soon learned to lay out the front page, and eventually the whole paper. She was also a reporter for the paper and even covered one local story about a UFO sighting.

Over a long and varied career, Jo also worked in an employment agency, for Macy’s as a sewing instructor, as PR director for a local Girl Scout council and as human resources director for two different software startups.

She has two grown children, a son and a daughter, and three grandchilren, a 16-year-old boy and two pre-adolescent girls.

As she considered retirement, Jo was attracted to coastal living, not the sometimes hot and humid southeast, but more temperate New England. So her search brought her to North Farm in 2006. Shortly thereafter, then Masthead Editor, Paul Twelves, anticipating his own departure from the Masthead, publicized the need for someone familiar with desktop publishing.

Even though she had not done publication work for many years, Jo responded, and soon got herself back up to speed.The result has been 12 years of outstanding contribution to our newsletter. While along the way, Jo finds that she has enjoyed the creative process, we have also enjoyed her work, and wish her every success in the future. ■

North Farm Real Estate

By Marilyn Weiner CENTURY 21 Topsail Realty

Happy New Year! Here’s to success in 2020! It is evident from last year’s condo sales, the real estate market at North Farm continues to strengthen as we enter the new decade. Twenty-one condos sold in 2019. We have a very limited number of units available for sale. This is the top challenge for buyers wishing to purchase and to enjoy the quality of life that North Farm has to offer.

Active Listings:

57 Seabreeze Lane $259,000

Under Contract:

133 Windward Lane $369,000

Sold:

3 Seabreeze Lane $255,000 11/12

48 Seabreeze Lane $250,000 12/06

309 Windridge Lane $439,000 12/16

Cheers to a Healthy and Prosperous Year! ■

Kudos to the North Farm community in providing new tennis and pickle ball courts. If the old courts lasted 47 years, these new courts should provide us with exercise and enjoyment for many decades to come. A job well done…one that should also help increase property values, and enhance the quality of life here at North Farm.

We are now down to one swan in our pond, and since swans mate for life, is our lonely swan now in the market for a new mate? It must be difficult for swans to socialize during the winter.

It appears that the new speed bumps are working, at least on North Farm Drive. Traffic speed has slowed down considerably, especially the west-bound, downhill traffic during the afternoon and early evening. If speed bumps were first discussed in the 1980’s, what took so long for such an obvious solution to be put into place?

Thanks to Pam Marsden for sharing with us her stunning photographs of wildlife at North Farm.

Also, belated gratitude to whoever designed the North Farm swimming pool. By arranging half of the pool (and half of the deck) to be in the shade during part of the day, the designers accommodated many of us. You see, many of us have a strict dermatologist who insist that we stay out of the sun. (Just some random thoughts on a cold winter night.) ■

Random Thoughts

By Brian McCarthy

Jo Lovell Leaving North FarmContinued from page 1

January/February 2020 The Masthead Page 3

Editorial Board Bruce Amand Joan Collins Anne Danzberger Therese Darmody Cheryl Daysh Herman Ferreira Miana Franzen Barbara Geehan Joe Jablonowski Rob Mariani Brian McCarthy Larry Rutter Jean Talbot Betty Ann Tyson

Editor, Bruce Amand

Treasurer, Miana Franzen

Distribution, Herman Ferreira

The Masthead is an independent newsletter. We welcome contributions from members of the community. Material submitted is subject to editorial approval and revision. Please submit material by email to the Editor

Classified ad policy: 30 word maximum. Cost $10.00. Checks to The Masthead, noted Classified, may be sent to 1359 Hope St., Bristol, RI 02809. Limited to items to sell or buy and services to provide. No personals. Only phone numbers and web addresses listed.

Letters to the Editor are limited to 250 words.

Editorial

New masthead for The MastheadI hope you noticed our new masthead on the front page that features our recently designed (by Nancy Bowering) burgee. The new masthead was designed voluntarily by North Farm resident, Cathy Boyd. After a review and vote by our Editorial Board (listed left) we decided to make it our official masthead. Thanks, Cathy.

A Theme?Sometimes I think it would be great to have an issue with a clear theme tying all of the content together. After all. our Editorial Board met about seven weeks ago to block out the content for this issue. We could have picked out any of a number of topics to focus on — winter, North Farm people, you get the idea.

But even though we’re a bi-monthly, we try to cover recent news and events, like our new annual budget. But ideas, which we love, often come up after our planning meeting.

So we’re left with a mishmosh — a hodgepodge or jumble. It comes from the German mischen, to mix. So in this issue,

we’re covering a variety of stories like a valued contributor who’s leaving us, that we don’t want you to miss.

For those who like to keep up with North Farm governance, we can let you know right here that Daniela DeSisto has been promoted from Administrative Assistant to Assistant Property Manager.

If you’re a people person, you’ll also get to learn more about Jan Mariani in an interview with her on page 7. Jan also brings you up to speed on recent social events.

And we also encourage you to keep an eye out for advertisers who’ve joined us recently, and who offer us interesting products and opportunities.

So there’s no central theme, but we hope that you find it’s a happy mishmosh. Thanks to our Editorial Board and you residents with your great ideas who keep our little paper vital, and we hope interesting, issue after issue.

Bruce Amand 253-9602

bruce66@cox.net ■

the Masthead

Correction: Photos were inadvertently swapped in last issue’s pictorial of how the North Farm maintenance crew hauls out the waterfront dock floats. That’s actually Pete Sherman kneeling down to unchain one of the floats.

Page 4 The Masthead January/February 2020

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Here’s what plumbers say not to put in your disposal:

1. Bones, shells from seafood2. Celery, onion skins, potato peels,

corn husks, fibrous vegetables3. Coffee grounds4. Egg shells5. Fruit pits, nuts6. Grease, cooking oil, chicken skin7. Pasta, rice, bread, oatmeal (these

expand)8. Cleaning chemicals

That’s a lengthy list, but if you keep these out of the disposal you should avoid clogs. Also, don’t try to dispose of medications down the drain; these could end up in the water supply. ■

Protect Our Drains: Disposal Tips

By Betty Ann Tyson Of course, the intent of this book is not to make you a criminal but to entertain you with some of the ridiculous laws that Congress (or regulatory agencies) have passed. It includes thanks to the members of Congress, telling them “you guys are hilarious.” (It also includes a warning that you should not do anything described in the book.)

One of the first suggestions for becoming a federal criminal, on the cover of the book, is to import a pregnant polar bear. The “advice” includes an illustration making it clear how difficult that might be.

Of the many surprising federal laws discussed in this book, one that especially surprised me was the prohibition on walking an unleashed cat at Yellowstone. I have to suspect that any cat would object to visiting Yellowstone at least as much as the feds would!

Details as to what can be sold as margarine, fruit cocktail and other products provide a strong hint, in my opinion, that our federal government has too much time on its hands.

The book is extremely funny, both the descriptions of the laws and the accompanying illustrations.

Review by Therese Darmody ■

A beautiful sunset enthralled many North Farm residents this past summer.

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January/February 2020 The Masthead Page 5

The response to our Memorial Tree Program, re-introduced in 2018, was much better than we had expected, actually overwhelming the number of planting sites that we had available, such that several requests had to be turned down. We are sorry for those disappointments, but we are very grateful for the enthusiasm and desire to enhance the property with trees.

All told, we were able to plant nine new trees, which are marked with a sign designating the donors and dedicatees.

These gifts serve as living monuments to loved ones, but also help the Arboretum Committee preserve the collection we inherited.

Four new trees in the Woodlands act as future replacements for some of our oldest specimens:

Two American Hophornbeams (“Ironwood”) near the center of the Woodlands, given by Stella Munroe and Susan Izeman;

Two Horsechestnuts, near the office road, given by Miana Franzen and Jill Grandfield.

Five new memorial trees are helping us meet another of our goals: locating and planting more of the species that George Rogers Hall, North Farm’s owner in the late 19th century, imported to this country from Asia for the first time. The Arnold Arboretum’s records in Boston indicate that he is responsible for at least 38 of such introductions, most of which were originally planted here at North Farm.

These trees represent three Hall species that the Arboretum lost over the last century:

Two Peegee hydrangeas above the Japanese Garden, given by Maria Andrade and Anne Miller;

Two Kobus magnolias on the slope going up from the pool, given by Maureen Marchina and Susan Bannon;

A Japanese red pine between the Japanese Garden and the Formal Garden, given by Maria Andrade.

Our Arboretum is an amazing museum of horticultural history, and these gifts bring our count of Hall-introduced species in the Arboretum to 22.

When the weather permits, take a walk around the Arboretum to see these new specimens and read the heartfelt dedications on the signs. We are looking forward to watching them grow and enrich our gardens. ■

Arboretum Memorial Gifts 2018-2019By Martha Butler

Pinus densiflora ‘oculus draconis,’ Maria Andrade’s “Dragon-eye” Japanese red pine

Members of the Arboretum committee can sometimes get around more quickly and more

enjoyably on Nancy Soares’ zippy scooter. Shown are Martha Butler, Deb Matson, Dorry

Cottrell and Cynthia Lewis. Nancy took the photo.

Page 6 The Masthead January/February 2020

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North Farm Residents Deliver Food to The Can ManBy Rick Rohrs

Recently, my wife, Amy, and I attended a neighborhood holiday gathering. The Building Community-Aging in Place Committee promotes these social events as a way to meet and support our neighbors.

The hosts asked us to bring canned goods or non-perishable boxed food to be donated to the East Bay Food Pantry and Thrift Shop, a non-profit organization in Bristol that serves the needs of the eleven towns in our East Bay Region. Rhode Island’s poverty rate is 13.4% — the highest in New England.

The Food Pantry and Thrift Shop, with “the Can Man” as its symbol, offers many programs. These include the distribution of food, delivering meals to the homebound elderly and disabled, Food4Kids, Holiday Food Bags, and Fresh Food Fridays. In 2018, the Pantry served over 2,200 people and distributed 410,000 pounds of food of all types.

The Food Pantry also manages the Access Nutrition Initiative. As Executive Director, Karen Griffith,explained, “We wanted to do more than just fill people’s bellies. We wanted to make sure we are providing people with access to healthy food and the support to make

good decisions about what foods they were choosing for themselves and their families.” The Initiative distributes recipes and nutritional information.

Funding for all of these programs comes from grants, individual donations, fund-raising events, and sales from the Thrift Shop located at 532 Wood Street next to the Food Pantry. The Thrift Shop is open to the public. Its sales account for 40% of the Food Pantry’s income.

We can support their work by contributing household goods and clothing to the Thrift Shop, or by volunteering to work at the Pantry and/or Thrift Shop. Financial donations are also welcomed. For more information, call (401) 396-9490; or check out their website at EastBayFoodPantry.org.

During this holiday season, my wife and I made new friends, and observed the generosity of our North Farm neighbors who were willing to help those less fortunate residents of the East Bay. ■

The Can Man. Symbol of the East Bay Food Pantry and Thrift Shop.

January/February 2020 The Masthead Page 7

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A Masthead Interview With Jan MarianiInterviewed by Brian McCarthy

North Farm’s Social Committee Chairperson Discusses Social Life at North Farm

What do you see as the mission of the North Farm Social Committee?

We hope our events will foster a strong sense of community in North Farm, as well as provide a way for newcomers to meet their new neighbors.Does the capacity limit of 75 people at the Yacht Club cause you to turn away residents who wish to attend your events held there?

We have seen increasing attendance over the last couple of years, which is wonderful! This means we have had to begin requiring pre-registration for all events so we can keep our attendance within the Fire Marshall’s limit of 75. If people find they are unable to attend an event they signed up for, it is extremely helpful to let us know so we can reach out to folks on the waiting list. Please tell us about some of the Social Committee’s activities that do not involve the Yacht Club.

This year we did a garden tour, and the previous year we did a condo tour so people could get a feel for the various layouts we have here at North Farm. It also was fun to see how differently people utilize their living spaces. Before that, we did a Greenvale Winery tasting event and a couple of other years we did a polo game. That was very fun, but now it is virtually impossible to rent a sideline tent area because it’s become such a destination. Other years we have done a September barn sale. I noticed that the Social Committee’s “open

house” tour in the late spring of 2018 was not repeated during 2019. Any reason for that?

We have some events that we bring back every year, like the lobster supper and the harvest breakfast. Cocktail parties are always popular too. But the committee also likes to provide some variety, and there are other offerings, like the barn sale, where we feel waiting two or three years gives people a chance to collect enough new items to put into the sale.How long have you been involved with the Social Committee at North Farm?

I joined the Social Committee around 2008, five years after we moved here. Until I joined the committee I really hadn’t met very many neighbors. Participating has been a wonderful way to connect with people. Plus: we welcome new committee members at any time of year! We meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 4:30 in the Yacht Club. In winter we meet at someone’s home. Just contact me at jmariani@fullchannel.net if you would like

Continued on page 11 and 12

Page 8 The Masthead January/February 2020

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How Do We Handle Snow? A Landscaper’s PerspectiveBy Joe Jablonowski

Okay, the Farmers’ Almanac predicted a cold, snowy winter this time. And with several December snowfalls, it seemed we’re off to a good start. On the other hand, the Old Farmer’s Almanac (yes, they’re different) has been saying slightly less accumulation than average. Meanwhile NOAA, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration agrees “warmer,” but it doesn’t project seasonal snowfall because individual storms vary enormously.

Still, there will be more snow, and the folks responsible for keeping North Farmers mobile throughout say they’re up for the challenge. Seraphin DaPonte, one of the owners of DaPonte’s Landscaping Services, recently described his company’s plan of attack for snowfall in our community. The Bristol firm has held the North Farm landscaping/snow

removal contract for over a decade.The main thing, he says, is “We’re

going to keep you open, 24/7,” recalling how in the past residents here needed fire, rescue or nursing services help while his crews were working during winter storms.

It all starts with forecasts from a private weather service, launching communications with our managers. Then appropriate crews are called in to work.

For icy or light dustings, it’s a chemical treatment. Two years ago, DaPonte’s upgraded its equipment to allow spreading liquid brine as well as granular pellets like rock salt. The brine solution is used on sidewalks; it’s thought to be safer for turf, pets and for carpets when it’s inevitably tracked into the house. Below a certain temperature, however, more-aggressive chemicals are called for.

Plowing services start at 2-in. accumulations. “Let’s say we get a 10-in. storm,” says Seraphin DaPonte. “We put a plow or two on the North Farm property that will continue to keep the roadways accessible for emergency vehicles. Then as the storm starts to wind down, we rev it up and come in with the troops to get it cleaned up.” Driveways and walkways then are cleared as the accumulation

dissipates.The “troops” that DaPonte refers

to are many of the same people who work on North Farm’s landscape during the other seasons. Leading the effort is equipment manager Joe Brum, who is “first in, last out.” Other regulars include shrub-pruning expert Tony Machado and mowing-crew chief José Tay, all of whom are familiar with the ins and outs of our condo community’s layout.

“Our ‘perfect’ storm,” Seraphin DaPonte muses, “is one that starts at 11 p.m. and allows us to work through the night to get everything cleared by 6 a.m. so people can get to their normal activities.” It’s likely not to happen exactly that way, but in the snow-removal business, one can dream. ■

Even an early-season snowfall meant plowing on Paddock Lane

“We’re going to keep you open”, says Seraphin DaPonte

January/February 2020 The Masthead Page 9

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DeWolf’s Tavern: World-Wide Flavors Right Here in BristolBy Rob Mariani

Built in the 1800’s by maritime merchants James and William DeWolf, this ancient stone structure has preserved its simple, indestructible beauty.

But today, it houses one of New England’s more highly evolved restaurants: Bristol’s DeWolf Tavern. The Tavern’s interior has retained its early American charm with its honey-and whiskey-colored woods. But one look at the menu and you may wonder what country you’re about to dine in. That’s be-cause DeWolf ’s chef/owner Sai Viswanath has brought his world-wide, creative cooking skills to Bristol, RI.

Aware that New England cuisine has its own “traditional” styles, Chef Sai adds

new dimensions by pairing flavors like far Eastern Pakora with mixed sautéed vegetables.

His Lobster Popovers have become a popular treat around here, as have his Nann Pizzas, and his fast-baked Lobster in the high heat Tandoori Oven.

For lunch the other day I was surprised by Chef Sai’s Po’Boys—oysters fried and breaded and topped with a uniquely flavorful mango and sour cream sauce. This could become a new New England “classic.”

DeWolf ’s Naan-Crust pizzas come with a delicious choice of toppings like cheddar, sun-dried tomato and bacon, truffle oil or smoked bits of Salmon with

sour cream and capers sauce. Jan was really delighted with Chef Sai’s

juicy Tandoor-roasted chicken served loose on the bone, and topped with a unique cheddar, honey-tomato sauce.

Chef Sai keeps mixing flavors with classics like steamed Mussels in a rich broth of coconut milk, mustard seeds, curry leaf and curry.

It’s great that Bristol has an eclectic restaurant like DeWolf ’s with its mixture of classic Colonial fare combined with flavors from far-off lands most of us will probably never visit.

DeWolf ’s is open seven days a week for dinner and lunch. ■

Page 10 The Masthead January/February 2020

Warm memories of the holiday season parties at the Yacht Club will hopefully see us through to the spring.

North Farmers Brian and Connie McCarthy delighted the crowd at the Tuscan Wine & Cheese Tasting event on November 16. The first pairing was a Fontina Val D’Osta cow’s milk cheese with a 2018 Vernaccia San Gimignano Falchini. A Taleggio Lombardy cow’s milk cheese complemented the 2014 Sangiovese Toscana Castellani, which was perhaps the favorite wine of the night. Finally, Pecorino Toscano sheep’s milk cheese was paired with a 2014 Chianti Classico Riserva Tomaiolo. Afterward, hearty antipastos provided by the Social Committee were enjoyed along with a wine sharing table stocked by participants. There was much agreement

that folks would like to enjoy another tasting event, and the McCarthy’s have graciously agreed to come back in 2020.

The Holiday Party was festive with

silver and blue decorations on the trees and wreaths, and a buffet table filled with delicious offerings brought by our guests. On top of this, there was a contingent cheering on the Pats – something for everyone and a good time had by all.

Finally, we greeted the New Year

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A Season of Very Social HolidaysBy Jan Mariani

Brian and Connie McCarthy hosted our popular cheese and wine tasting event.

The scene at the holiday party. No New Year’s diet resolutions for us!

January/February 2020 The Masthead Page 11

to join our team of party-makers.As Social Committee Chairperson, how much time do you spend on committee matters during an average week?

I probably put about two and a half hours into the committee the week of a meeting, and then about three to four hours the week of an event. The exceptions to this are the weeks of the lobster supper and the

harvest breakfast, when I probably put in about ten hours for the committee. Why did you and your husband choose North Farm to live?

We moved here after living for 18 years on 5-1/2 acres in Rehoboth, after our kids had both moved out of state and we felt we were no longer interested in taking care of so

much house and property. We really wanted to be in a community setting as a sharp contrast to our previous situation. Some people know we came really close to moving away about a year ago, and we are incredibly thankful that did not happen. We feel lucky to be here and each year we find this place means more and more to us.What can you tell us about your background that might surprise us?

I studied theater in college, and Rob and I met when I was acting with the Rhode Island Shakespeare theater many, many moons ago.

A Masthead Interview With Jan MarianiContinued from page 7

As your schedule calms down from all the entertaining, meal planning, rush-ing here and there to get in as many holiday parties and activities as you could, a simple, easy meal is probably what you are looking for right about now.

This Szechwan Shrimp dish is simple to prepare and will warm you up on these cold winter evenings. You can control the “heat” in the dish by using more or less of the crushed red pepper. This recipe serves 4.

SZECHWAN SHRIMP Ingredients:

4 Tablespoons water2 Tablespoons ketchup1 Tablespoons soy sauce2 Teaspoons cornstarch1 Teaspoon honey½ Teaspoon crushed red pepper (or less to taste)¼ Teaspoon ground ginger1 Tablespoon vegetable oil¼ Cup sliced green onions4 Cloves garlic, minced12 Ounces, cooked shrimp, tails removed

Directions:1) In a bowl, stir together water, ketchup, soy sauce, cornstarch, honey,

crushed red pepper, and ground ginger. Set aside.2) Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sir in green onions and

garlic; cook 30 seconds. Stir in shrimp, and toss to coat with oil. 3) Stir in the sauce. Cook and stir until sauce is bubbly and thickened.

by Joan Collins

on a grey and raw Saturday morning. However, it was warm and cheerful inside at our annual Brunch. Participants wrote out predictions for the coming year, and from these were drawn the names of lucky winners of RI Lottery scratch tickets. Predictions ranged from the obvious “Trump wins by a landslide” and “Trump loses by a landslide, ” and “Tom Brady resigns” and “Tom Brady stays,” to the surprising “North Farm will have a weekend bar tender and snack bar!”

Many thanks to all who came this year to make our events so convivial, and to the members of the Social Committee who work hard all year to bring us all together: Tina Anderson, Debbie Brown, Mary Comfort, Nancy Edler, Anita Furbish, Vicki Hosford, Marilyn Mayhall, Lena Pless, Ginny Robitaille, Trish Sylvester and Smoogie Steiner.

We will resume our gatherings in March if weather permits the opening of the Yacht Club. ■

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Page 12 The Masthead January/February 2020

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The Remarkable Newport TowerBy Bruce Amand

It is the oldest standing structure in Rhode Island -- documented to have existed in 1677. Though no one knows for sure when it was built, recently, it was discovered to have remarkable astromomical properties.

In 1995, URI Astronomy Professor, William Penhallow, discovered several astrological alignments in the tower. Its first-floor room has three windows, northeast, south and west. Penhallow suggested that the tower acted like a grand time-keeping device.

The first-floor room of the tower was a solar disc -- a camera obscura -- calendar room. The movement of the

image of the sun inside a camera obscura is just like the movement of the tip of a gnomon’s shadow on a sundial. This kind of calendar room was used by early astronomers.

Penhallow predicted that on December 25th, 1996, the full moon would be visible if you look through the west window, through the first floor room and out the northeast window. He was right! And it happened again, in 2013.

For much more information about the Newport Tower, Google Newport Tower Museum. ■

Anything new coming up for the Social Committee in 2020?

We haven’t settled our schedule for next year, but we do know that we’ll be bringing back the lobster supper and harvest breakfast, and I think folks will be happy to know that we will be doing at least one more wine and cheese tasting led by Brian and Connie McCarthy! ■

A Masthead Interview With Jan MarianiContinued from page 11

January/February 2020 The Masthead Page 13

Living at North Farm, you can’t help but notice the numerous Canada Geese that come to visit us year round, but never in such large numbers as in the colder months as they forage for food.

Being on Windward Lane with a view across North Farm Drive, we see the geese almost daily, and it’s always a question as to why the geese walk cross the road? Without the obvious chicken joke, the real mystery is not just “why do the geese cross the road” when they can certainly fly, but also – why in single file?”

After all, they typically arrive in a flock and remain in a flock while foraging. But when they decide to cross over to the next field — they walk in single file. It can take an hour or more for all of them to make it across. If you’re driving, they do cause you to halt, or slow down, and sometimes it

takes a bit before they scatter.So what instinct leads to

this behavior? Primarily because a

goose is a grazing animal and grazers walk as they graze. Their legs are positioned to their bodies farther forward than either duck or swan legs. They can, therefore, “walk and graze on dry land,” writes biologist Chuck Fergus in Wildnotes of the Pennsylvania Game

Commission.Walking uses far less energy than flying.

Conserving energy for fleeing danger and long migrations helps the species survive. Researchers ( A.J. Woakes et al) at the Universities of Birmingham and Wales found that the rate of oxygen consumption was significantly higher for flying rather than walking geese.

Geese tend to walk to their feeding site from water. “Because they are grazers, they will do more walking, but they don’t avoid flying,” e-mails biologist Marion E Larson of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife .

But why single file? That seems to be a little less understood. As we’ve all seen, when they do fly, they typically fly in a Vee formation. This is because it reduces

wind resistance and makes it more efficient to fly behind the leader, with the leader changing places with other stronger flock members. This is much like a racing cyclist, or even runner, who drafts behind the leader to conserve energy. Also, when born, the young draft (or tag along) behind the parent.

Perhaps for protection, or just easier, where the parent can push through reeds with their more powerful legs.

So while we may not have a definitive answer, it does seem that Canada Geese grow up following the leader (parent) and, when in flight, also follow the leader. It’s hard to reconcile crossing the street in single file as protectionary, but perhaps they actually recognize the danger to the larger community if they all walked across en masse, where a car could take out a significant number of their flock. Nor would it be more energy efficient as in flying in formation, but maybe the flock consists of numbers of families where following the senior or alpha goose, much like humans, is nothing more than just following the leader.

Whatever instinct leads these birds to fly in flocks, graze in flocks but cross roads walking in single file, it just adds to how great it is to be here at North Farm amongst so much wild life and its ambiguities.

If we have any ornithologist types here at North Farm, and you have more insight into the single file question, please let us know, and we’ll publish an update. ■

Why Do The Geese Cross The Road?By Larry Ruttter

Page 14 The Masthead January/February 2020

Painting The Town RedThe phrase “paint the town red” most likely owes its origin to one legendary night of drunkenness.

In 1837, the Marquis of Waterford—a known lush and mischief maker—led a group of friends on a night of drinking through the English town of Melton Mowbray. The bender culminated in vandalism after Waterford and his fellow

revelers knocked over flowerpots, pulled knockers off of doors and broke the windows of some of the town’s buildings.

To top it all off, the mob literally painted a tollgate, the doors of several homes and a swan statue with red paint. The marquis and his pranksters later compensated Melton for the damages, but their drunken escapade is likely the reason that “paint the town red” became shorthand for a wild night out.

Let’s hope none of us have an urge to Paint The Town Red (anymore).

As Pleased As PunchA lot of sayings can have multiple

origins. In this one, I can confirm the Pleased as Punch reference that came from Punch & Judy Shows because, growing up in England as young children, we all flocked to see the Show. In retrospect, it was a brutally, male dominated, wife beating, completely politically incorrect

piece of street (or beach) theatre. My how we laughed and laughed as he beat everyone to death with his club, and said to us in a nasally voice “That’s the way to do it”. What did we know? We were kids.

The show had an Italian origin but has been much changed over the years. It began in Britain at the time of the restoration of the monarchy in the 17th century. The Diary of Samuel Pepys has an entry from 1666 that shows this early origin and also the popularity of the show even then:

I went with my wife by coach to Moorefields, and there saw ‘Polichinello’, (Punch & Judy) which pleases me mightily.

The phrase ‘as pleased as Punch’ appears fairly late in the story. The earliest

ORIGINS Another in the series from The Masthead explaining the origin of every day sayings. Do you have a favorite saying that you’d like to know the origin of, or you know the origin and care to share? Let us know. Here are a few that we probably all use:

By Larry Rutter

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January/February 2020 The Masthead Page 15

Clip & SaveCommunity Calendar

Women’s Bridge every Monday at 12:30 at the Yacht Club except during the win-ter. Call Smoogie Steiner at 253-4549 for information. Cribbage every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. at the Yacht Club (in members’ homes during the winter). Call Ed Clegg at 253-2563 for information.Arts & Crafts Group meets every Tuesday at 1:30 at the Yacht Club. For infor-mation, contact Joyce Evans, 714-2450.Social Committee meets at the Yacht Club at 4:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month. Anyone interested in being part of the committee is welcome.

Ongoing Social Activities

2019 Social ActivitiesNo social activities are scheduled from January to March when the Yacht Club is closed for the winter.

Masthead DeadlineThe deadline for submitting material for publication in the next issue of The Masthead is March 2, 2020. Send articles, suggestions, poetry, photos, etc. to Bruce Amand, Editor, 461 North Lane, or email them to him at bruce66@cox.net.

Board MeetingsBoard of Governors meets at the Yacht Club on Thursdays March through De-cember, at 3 or 7 p.m.

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known record is from William Gifford’s satires The Baviad, and Maeviad, 1797:

Oh! how my fingers itch to pull thy nose! As pleased as Punch, I’d hold it in my gripe.

‘As pleased as Punch’ is now the most common form of the expression, but when the term was coined it was just as

usual to say ‘as proud as Punch’. Charles Dickens, for example used the two terms interchangeably in his novels; for example:

David Copperfield, 1850: I am as proud as Punch to think that I once had the honour of being connected with your family. ■

Page 16 The Masthead January/February 2020

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