by Gerry L. Galvan

History books point to religious persecution in England as the start of it all. It's often said that Christopher Columbus was just incidental, and Amerigo Vespucci, a lucky Johnnie-come-lately, got the cream of the pie.

Truly serious historians are unanimous in giving extra weight to the role of the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock. Whatever it's worth, the city of Bangor in the state of Maine had its part in the founding and development of the United States of America while being one of the first New World areas to demonstrate peaceful commerce and trade between settlers and the Indians.

My wife and I spent 32 hours in Bangor during the early part of August. Our trip wasn't planned, but a free-wheeling tour that came out of the blue as the focal point of an eight-day tour of the Eastern Coast.

The world knows very little of Bangor although the community has played important roles in international trade, diplomacy, culture and history. As early as 1604, chronicler Samuel de Champlain sailed up to the harbor of the Penobscot River (leading to Bangor). The significance of the Bangor area in terms of its role in the flourishing French-Indian river trade and such subsequent events as the arrival of the first white settler in 1769 and the erection of a sawmill in 1772, have been overshadowed in Massachusetts historically by the Boston Tea Party, the Paul Revere horse ride, and Patrick Henry's famous oratory.

And in spite of its geographical position, its role in trade, ethnic and racial relations, Bangor has not gotten its share in world recognition.

A large number of friends asked why Violet and I considered traveling to Maine. A few remarked, "The only thing that Maine is famous for is the lobster."

But our friends are quite wrong. Maine, which was admitted to the United States on March 15, 1820 as the 23rd state, represents almost one-half of the total land area of the six New England states. Originally a part of the colony and later state Massachusetts for more than two centuries, it is the eastern-most point of U.S. land on the Atlantic Coast, and the state closest to the European continent. Maine is also the only continental state to border only one state: New Hampshire. Quebec and New Brunswick in Canada are to its north.

Traveling by bus on the East Coast also gave me a wonderful feeling of closeness to American history with visits to the site of the Boston Tea Party, the Henry Longfellow Bridge, and the John Hancock Building in downtown Boston. I was also again able to visit Washington, D.C., still reeling from both the Capitol shootings and the White House scandal where we had lunch with a niece at her place of work.

A bus trip to New York City afforded a nostalgic glimpse of suburban New York and the state of Connecticut where I had spent most of 1961 at nearby Irvington-on-Hudson while on a scholarship. Although unable to return, I could imagine exactly where that village was as our bus cruised along an adjacent freeway.

There really exists a marked significance in the origin and existence of the 13 original United States: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island. Without the pioneering role played by its settlers and traders, we wouldn't be enjoying what we now know as life in these United States. 

Baby Boomers Entering Retirement Age

A newly defined generation called "Matureds," has been identified by the Concord Group as a growing group of seniors born before 1946 which has a distinctively different psychographic profile than does its predecessor, the Eisenhower retirees generation.

The Concord Group assessed the shifting housing needs of today's oldest group of Baby Boomers in eight regions of the United States. If the trend continues, by the year 2002, 30 percent of all U.S. households will be Matured households.

The Concord Group forecasts a continued shift in the housing cycle through the years 1999 to 2000 fore Matureds. This group of Americans start shopping for retirement/pre-retirement homes at age 50 and above. With more leisure time and greater disposable income than ever before, they are looking for housing which enables them to take advantage of their active lifestyle. Even in retirement, both renters and owners continue to demand low maintenance housing to continue their high activity level.

"Professionals involved in planning for future retirement communities, from homebuilders to experts that specialize in forecasting, planning and marketing, were consulted for our research," said Richard Gollis, principal of the Concord Group. "This information will enable professionals in all aspects of the building industry to plan ahead to meet the growing needs of this newly identified group of older, active Americans."

American Bible Society to Launch Year of the Bible

More than 90 percent of all Americans own at least one Bible, but surveys indicate fewer than half of them actually read it. To try and change that, the American Bible Society (ABS) has launched a nationwide daily reading program based on its easy-to-understand Contemporary English Version of the Bible.

Reading Scripture just Five Minutes a Day (the theme of the 1999 Year of the Bible program), a person will complete the entire New Testament in one year.

While 1999 Year of the Bible actually begins next Jan. 1, individuals and churches can prepare for it now by planning their own programs based on materials created by ABS.

The materials include specially printed Year of the Bible New Testaments, which include the day-by-day reading guide for 1999, as well as videos and lapel pins for a nominal fee. Free materials include buttons, bookmarks and bumper stickers, and special kits for pastors.

"The 1999 Year of the Bible is a great way to reacquaint our contemporary culture with the Bible," said the Rev. Ronald W. Mixer, manager of the program. "Churches joining together across denominational lines to take the Bible into their communities demonstrates the desire of the church world to make a positive statement to the rest of our society."

More information is available at 1-888-324-2535. 

Phone Book Recycling, Compost Bins
And the Information Super Highway

by David Assmann, Senior Administrator, San Francisco Recycling Program

What do former State Senator Milton Marks, KRON reporter Henry Tanenbaum, garden author Pam Pierce, and 12,000 other San Franciscans have in common? They're all using low cost compost bins provided by the San Francisco Recycling Program. Twice a year, in cooperation with the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners (SLUG), San Francisco residents are given the opportunity to buy $90 Earth Machines for only $19.50.

Your next opportunity to get a bin is on Saturday, September 19th at the Garden for the Environment--located at 7th and Lawton in the Sunset District. Bins will be offered from 9 am to 3 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Bins come with complete instructions. SLUG also offers free demonstrations at the sale as well as regular free workshops on composting.

If you don’t have a back yard, you can still compost your food scraps in a Wriggly Wranch, which will also be available at the compost bin sale. This high quality worm bin, perfect for apartments, is available for only $24.50. Call 285-7584 to receive free brochures, information on free workshops, and other information on composting.

There are 1.2 million of them, collectively they weigh more than six million pounds, and every household and business will get a new one this month. What I'm referring to, of course, are the new telephone books, which arrive in San Francisco every September. With the arrival of new directories, more than one million old books become obsolete. Old telephone directories don't need to end up in the trash, however. They are easily recycled into new telephone books, cereal boxes, building insulation or one of many other paper products.

If you have curbside recycling service, you can just put the phone books in a paper bag with your other paper recyclables and put them out with your blue bin. If you live in an apartment building with central recycling bins, you can put the phone books in the gray recycling bin for paper. If you live in an apartment building without recycling, you can take your books to a recycling center. Call the San Francisco Recycling Program Hotline at 554-RECYcle (7329) for information on the center nearest you. Businesses can also call the hotline for collection options and a list of recycling centers that accept phone books.

This year, the new books contain an average of 40 percent recycled post consumer content. That means at least 40 percent of the material used to manufacture this year's telephone books came from old newspapers, magazines, and yes, old telephone books. By including 40 percent recycled post consumer content in the books, Pacific Bell has saved 18,500 trees, 4.4 million kilowatt hours of energy and almost 8 million gallons of water for San Francisco's books alone. Our goal this year is to recycle 2.5 million pounds of telephone books citywide (that's half of all the phone books delivered in San Francisco).

San Franciscans are continuing to recycle at record rates. Recycling went up by almost 3 million pounds during the first half of 1998, up to a record 60 million pounds. Keep up the good work.

Finally, if you're connected to the Internet, you may wish to check out our web site. Located at www.sfrecycle.org, the site gives viewers a range of options for information about waste prevention and recycling at home, work or school. For example, in the home section, viewers can obtain environmental shopping tips, information about waste prevention during the holidays and a list of what's recyclable in San Francisco. In the school section, educators and students can access our latest newsletter, get listings of resources, play an interactive Recycling Heroes game and obtain information on how to set up a school recycling program. The site also provides background information about different recyclable materials. I'm also interested in getting feedback, and will do my best to answer any recycling or related questions in future columns. Please e-mail me at dassmann@sirius.com or write to me at the San Francisco Recycling Program, 1145 Market St., Suite 401, SF, CA 94103. 

Five Years Ago in the Grapevine

SEPTEMBER 1993

*Muni's Bayshore Project team returned in August to convey a new transit alternative labelled Alternative 10 that incorporated  appealing features of still existing proposals while routing new light rail vehicles (LRVs) through areas of greatest demand.

*Anxiety was experienced by Geneva Towers residents in an Aug. 14 fire which destroyed a third floor apartment at the Schwerin Street high rise. One firefighter, Lt. Jerry Butler, died three days later from burns suffered in the inferno that injured more than 20 residents.

*Sanitary Fill Co. employed a worker to collect trash from the streets of Little Hollywood.

*Members of Visitacion Valley's Gang Prevention Program took a rafting trip down the American River. 

Historic Proportions

Match clues to answers.

1952

 1. They were repeat World Series winners.
 2. And they were champions of the NFL.
 3. Best Actor at the Emmy Awards on February 18.
 4. Publisher William Gaines brought out the first issue of this now-popular magazine.
 5. Stanley Cup winner in the NHL.
 6. Brushes in hand, people started doing a lot of this.
 7. On Feb. 8, she ascended the throne in Great Britain.
 8. This movie made the most money at the box office.
 9. On July 3, he was being Mr. Peepers.
10. He announced Checkers the dog would remain a part of his family on Sept. 23.
11. Sharpie the Parrot was repeatedly selling these on TV.
12. Egyptians finally ousted his corrupt government on July 23.
13. Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
14. On Sept. 23, he defeated Jersey Joe Walcott to become heavyweight boxing champion.
15. Prospectors started journeying to Canada to file claims for mining this element.
16. On Oct. 31, the United States detonated this for the first time.
17. These first started appearing in New York to ease confusion at congested intersections.
18. He became president in a landslide victory.

A. Rocky Marciano
B. Richard Nixon
C. King Farouk
D. Painting-by-numbers
E. Detroit Lions
F. An American in Paris
G. Gillette razor blades
H. Uranium
I. Hydrogen bomb
J. Dwight D. Eisenhower
K. Wally Cox
L. Three-light traffic signal
M. The Greatest Show on Earth
N. Mad
O. Queen Elizabeth II
P. New York Yankees
Q. Detroit Red Wings
R. Sid Caesar

Answers: 1-P, 2-E, 3-R, 4-N, 5-Q, 6-D, 7-O, 8-M, 9-K, 10-B, 11-G, 12-C, 13-F, 14-A, 15-H, 16-I, 17-L, 18-J. 

Sez Who?

Match quotes to speakers.

1. "It's not that I'm afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens."
2. "I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures."
3. "To apologize is to lay the foundation for a future offense."
4. "For nothing can seem foul to those that win."
5. "Necessity never makes a good bargain."
6. "The other teams could make trouble for us if they win."
7. "Please accept my resignation. I don't care to belong to any club that will have me as a member"
8. "Wit is educated insolence."
9. "Fools make research and wise men exploit them."

A. William Shakespeare
B. H.G. Wells
C. Benjamin Franklin
D. Woody Allen
E. Aristotle
F. Yogi Berra
G. Earl Warren
H. Groucho Marx
I. Ambrose Bierce

Answers: 1-D; 2-G; 3-I; 4-A; 5-C; 6-F; 7-H; 8-E; 9-B.