Page 6 - February 2019 Final

Mark your calendars: SHA Board Meeting | February 12th | 7:00pm | Jones Creek Library
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the board. The budget showed that the receipts for 2018, totaling $20,628.63, include $5,155.18 of 2019 dues received in Dec and the first week of Jan. Don noted that, although postage went up because the Newswatch is thicker, the 2019 budget for the newsletter will remain the same as 2018. Ed Craig will absorb the additional postage cost. Don made a motion, and Ken seconded, to accept the 2019 budget as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Don also made a motion, on Mike’s behalf, that a separate checking account be established at Red River Bank to process expenses for the front entrance with authorized signers to be the President, Henry Grace, Secretary, Eileen Stradley, and Front Entrance Committee, Don Regner and Sandy Smith. Any two of these signatures will be required on each check. This will keep income and expenses for the front entrance project completely separate from the general operating account. JC seconded the motion, and it passed. It was decided that the authorized signers on the savings account will be the President, Vice President, and Secretary with two signatures required for withdrawal. The Shenandoah Homeowners Association dues remain at $30 per year. Please send in your dues, or you can pay them via PayPal on the website. (shawebwatch.com).
Security Report – Tom Hirschey – Tom reported that we had a total of 182 patrol hours in December with an average of 6 hours per day over 42 shifts. No patrol stat information was available yet but will be published in the Newswatch. The 2017/2018 stat comparison will also be published in the Newswatch. Tom reminded everyone of the city ordinance that requires all houses to have the address numbers on them and visible to the street. Ed will publish this ordinance in the Newswatch, as well. The next SECPID meeting will be held on January 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Jones Creek Library. It will be a budget meeting, and a date for the next National Day Out Against Crime will be selected.
Architectural Report – Ken – A soon-to-be homeowner on Appomattox wants to put a 5-foot chain-link fence around his backyard on a corner lot. Due to trees on the property, the fence would be about 2 feet from the sidewalk. Although there are no subdivision restrictions regarding height or materials for the fence, Ken advised him he would need a permit. He also advised him that it may be difficult to get a permit because the ordinance states the fence must be at least 5 feet from the sidewalk. Ken will call in the issues on Seven Pines that were brought up at the last board meeting.
Beautification Report – Two new light fixtures were put in at the Antioch entrance. The Christmas decorations have been taken down. Will put up Mardi Gras decorations soon. The “YARD OF THE MONTH” in Shenandoah Estates for February is 5621 Kennesaw. They will receive a $25 gift certificate from Cleggs Nursery. Congratulations! Residents are reminded that they can nominate yards for “Yard of the Month” on the website.
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History of Mardi Gras
from punchbowl.com
It is believed that Mardi Gras parades began in New Orleans sometime around the 1830’s. These parades typically run throughout the Carnival season, which officially begins on January 6 (the Twelfth Night of Christmas). The carnival season ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before the start of Lent. In 1872, a group of businessmen invented a King of Carnival named Rex. Alongside the people in the parades (who were dressed as high-class aristocrats), Rex tossed sugar coated almonds into the crowds. These Mardi Gras “throws” were similar to the festival customs of the English Renaissance era.
During the late 1800’s, inexpensive necklaces made of glass beads began to be tossed into the crowds by the parade krewes. The beads were an instant hit among the crowds of New Orleans residents and visiting Mardi Gras tourists. It is believed that a man dressed up as Santa Claus was the first person in a New Orleans parade to use the beads in his costume. Other tourists soon followed his lead and they began to decorate themselves with the bead necklaces.
By 1900, over 100,000 tourists traveled to New Orleans to participate in the celebration and to get some of their own Mardi Gras beads. Over the years, other Mardi Gras souvenirs have also been passed out to the crowds during the parades such as plastic cups, toys, Frisbees, figurines, and doubloons.
In the late 1970’s, a group known as “Zulu” handed out coconuts to the crowds at the Mardi Gras parades. However, this practice was short-lived due to the fear of injury if the coconuts were tossed into the crowd. Zulu fought back claiming that there was no liability for the beads being tossed into the crowds. In 1988, Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards signed a “coconut bill” into law. This bill stated that coconuts could be handed out to the crowds with the beads during Mardi Gras.
Despite all of these other souvenirs, bead necklaces remain the most popular trinket passed out during the celebration. Today, Mardi Gras beads can be found in various sizes, shapes, and colors. The most popular size today is about thirty three inches long. They are also now made with cheaper and safer materials like plastic and aluminum rather than glass. Traditional Mardi Gras beads are purple, green, and gold colors. The purple symbolizes justice; the greenrepresentsfaith;andthegoldsignifiespower. [
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