Howdy, neighbors, and welcome to the Beach City BUZZ! This week, we’ve got some answers to questions that probably have not been keeping you awake at night: (1) How did the letter Z (as in ZZZzzzzzz) become associated with snoring? This probably dates back to the early 1900’s, when comic strips (specifically The Katzenjammer Kids) started the tradition of showing a character asleep with the “ZZzzzz” over their heads. ZZZ is considered to be the sound of a snore. (Hah! They apparently never heard the sounds I make when I snore.) (2) We’ve noticed that some Asian people wear surgical masks outside. What’s the 411 on this? According to our source, Zidbits, “Contrary to widespread belief, these masks aren’t worn to protect the wearer – they’re worn to protect others. In many Asian countries, it’s common for people to wear the masks if they think they’re getting sick, are sick, or even have a slight cold. They do this as a courtesy to prevent spreading their own infection to others.” (Perhaps we might take a lesson here?) (3) How come stores sell eggs from chickens, but not turkeys? Chickens lay about 300 eggs a year, turkeys only lay about 1/3 of that. Supply and demand; (4) Why do they name storms? Tropical storms and hurricanes are given names to avoid confusion when more than one storm is being followed at the same time. A storm is named when it reaches tropical storm strength with winds of 39 mph. A storm becomes a hurricane when its wind speed reaches 75 mph. Storms started getting named back in 1950. (5) Why do your fingers and toes wrinkle when submerged in water for a long time, but not the rest of your body? Skin on your fingers and toes is thicker than on other parts of your body, so they can absorb more water. (6) Exactly what is “the whole kit and kaboodle”? The "kit" part of the phrase referred to an 18th century English slang term for "outfit" or "collection," as in a soldier's "kit bag," which contained all his worldly possessions. A kaboodle (or, as it started out, “boodle”) referred to a “whole lot of something”. It could have been property, money, or everything one owned. For alliteration sake, it became kit and kaboodle, meaning, everything one has...Here’s the BUZZ kit and kaboodle: I’m sure I’m not the only one who was saddened upon entering Stop and Shop at Wonderland Plaza last week and seeing a sign that read, “This store is closing on November 8.” Upon inquiring whether it was for renovations, or REALLY shutting down, it was confirmed that yes, indeed, the store will be gone, kaput, outtathere in a few weeks. Personally, I’m devastated by the news. I will miss seeing all my friends - Eve, Julian, Robert, Kathy, Maria, Erin, and all the nice S&S Wonderland employees I’ve met over the years. Best wishes to all of you, wherever you may go...P.S. If you have prescriptions at the S&S pharmacy, they will be transferred to the Suffolk Downs/Furlong Drive store unless you request otherwise...While on the topic of supermarkets, another local grocery store had a sale on boneless chicken breasts, and I intended to stock up. However, I was disappointed to find only a few skimpy prepackaged portions of the poultry, so I complained to the meat department manager. "Don't worry, lady," he said. "I'll pack some more trays
and have them ready for you by the time you finish shopping." Several aisles later, I heard the meat manager’s voice boom over the public-address system: "Will the lady who wanted bigger breasts please meet me at the back of the store."...News
from the Stork Market: Congratulations to Debbie and Henry Burton on the birth of their beautiful new granddaughter, Kate. Proud parents are Danielle and Dennis Burton, and big sisters are Caroline, Emily, and Annie. Welcome, Baby Kate, and congratulations to the Hudson - Burton family...Put together two of my favorite things - motorcycles and Halloween, and you’ve got the annual Witch Ride, which (or is it witch?), due to rain, was rescheduled to Sunday, October 21 from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM. It will leave Boston Harley-Davidson in Everett, and head towards Revere, Lynn and Salem with hundreds of riders in some very interesting costumes. Please plan your driving accordingly along Routes 16 (Revere Beach Parkway), Route 107, Squire Rd., Revere Beach Blvd., and the Salem downtown area. Routes subject to change. Please be aware of extra volume of motorcycles throughout the day - Look twice and save a life! Watch this fabulous ride if you can - you’ll totally enjoy the scenery!...Len Piazza called to remind us that the Beachmont Improvement Committee is hosting the Great Beachmont Monster Mash Halloween Party on Friday, October 26 at the Beachmont VFW. Festivities begin at 8:00 PM and there will be food, music, drinks, a 50/50 raffle, prizes for best costume, and lots more. Tickets are $25 per person, and reserved tales of 10 are $250. For more info, email beachmontimprovementcommittee@gmail.com or call 781-289-9749. No tickets will be sold at the door, and you must be over 21 years of age to attend... That’s it for the BUZZ, BUZZers. Do whatever makes your heart sing, and remember: Life has no remote. Get up and change it yourself...This week’s SMILEMAKERS: Henry McDonald, Renee Zierten, Muriel Rudzinsky, Bob Rose, Jennifer Morgan, Eve Graff, Lynne Tripodi, Freida Moscone, Nancy Lyman, Tim Spinney, Lillian Bockser, Caroline DaSilva, Carol Morgan, Florence Edwards, Oliver Rivera, Sabrina Sloan, Alice Griffin, Anne Tyman, Joanne Giarla, Sam Chen, and RFD’s John Finn, and Lt. Frank Ferrante...Heeere’s the CHUCKLE: Two older gents, Sidney and Murray, were sitting by the pool in Florida when Sidney says to Murray, “Mandelbaum and Rosenberg were talking one day…” Right away, his friend interrupts him, “Always with the Jewish jokes! Give it a rest! Why do they always have to be about Jews? Just change the names to another ethnic group for once!” So Sidney starts again, “Hashimoto and Suzuki were talking one day at their nephew’s Bar Mitzvah…”Got comments? News? Announcements? Jokes? Suggestions? Want to congratulate someone on their anniversary, birthday, baby, divorce? Is your group running a fundraiser, meeting or event? October is National Seafood Month! For cod’s hake, don’t clam up! Here’s your opporTUNAty to send us your BUZZ bits, and it will be great herring from you! Just for the halibut, email AndreaRevere@aol.com or snailmail the BUZZ at PO Box 101, Revere, MA 02151, and read it in the REVERE ADVOCATE!