NB February beach picnic

Over 800 New Brunswickers, including more than a dozen Miramichiers had a nice picnic at the beach on Monday, February 16. There were fiddlers and dancers and Acadian Goofers and dozens of prizes. There was even a New Brunswick MLA on hand and a letter from the Premier. The main entertainment seemed to be wandering around the grounds and the beach looking for friends and acquaintances, and arranging visits and golf dates.

It took place at Fort Desoto Park at the toe of a peninsula enclosing Tampa Bay.  It is simply a delightful place.

http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_Desoto.htm

It was arranged by New Brunswick members of the Canadian Snowbird Association co-ordinated by CSA Atlantic Canada Director, Ron Steeves, of Fredericton.

The organization is closing in on 50,000 members. It lobbies governments for snowbird health benefits and travel privileges, contracts for insurance and provides a ton of information people planning an extended visit outside the country can use to prepare. It even provides a checklist of things to do to prepare to leave your home unoccupied.

The CSA website is at: www.snowbirds.org .

At times like this, I wish I still had a newspaper column. This picnic is a local story for every paper in the province. I think every New Brunswicker knows someone who was there.

On we go!                              DAC