As summer reaches its conclusion, I find joy in reflecting on the moments I captured with my family, the delightful aroma of dinner on the grill, and the late nights echoing with laughter. And as the nights grow slightly cooler, it seems like we have emerged victorious from a challenging game. The atmosphere is filled with optimism, as if we have weathered a tough first half, strategized during halftime, and are now ready to dominate the second half of this precious year, aiming for success.

Those familiar with sports, whether as players or dedicated spectators, understand that your current performance is only as good as your latest game. After a solid victory, the next item on the agenda is always more practice.

With this in mind, how are you honing your skills in the game of life? We have just over four months remaining in this year, and it is time to align our final strategies as we approach autumn. Life grows busier each day, and it's important to remember that even good athletes schedule downtime; taking a mental break is as valuable as time spent practicing. Great teammates also look in both directions: towards stronger players they can learn from and weaker ones they can assist. Who are the individuals that bookend your personal journey, and how will you collaborate with them to achieve success for everyone in your circle?

Lastly, winning often involves experiencing losses and learning from them. As crucial as it is to celebrate the joy of summer by savoring each moment during these warm and blissful days, it is equally important to assess the tasks that slipped through the cracks in our eagerness to enjoy July and determine how we will tackle them in August.

To extend the metaphor of a successful game, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the sweetness of triumph in August. There is no doubt that this year began with some uncertainty, and many of us were unsure about how spring would unfold. Well, my friend, here we are, with spring behind us and summer gracefully coming to an end. I’m not sure if we ‘won’, but it’s been a heck of a game! Bring on the fall! 

Gino Pezzani

Your Real Estate Consultant For Life

Labor Day, Sept. 4: This U.S. holiday honors the contributions and achievements of workers and is often celebrated with parades and gatherings.

National Read A Book Day, Sept. 6: This day encourages us to silence the noise and turn the pages for a while.

Autumn Equinox, Sept. 22: This natural phenomenon marks the beginning of the fall season. Time for pumpkin spice everything!

National Pancake Day: Sept. 26: Whichever style of pancake you prefer, get ready to enjoy a stack of them on this day!

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30: Also called "Orange Shirt Day". Established by the federal government, is a Canadian holiday to recognize the legacy of the Canadian Indian residential school system.

Dear Friends,

As I sit here, I find myself reflecting on the valuable lessons life has taught me. It's been a journey of moments rather than milestones - those small drops that collectively shape the ocean of my existence.

Through the years, I've realized that life is like a beautiful mosaic, created by the threads of our shared experiences. Every conversation, chance encounter, act of kindness, shared laughter, or even a comforting tear adds to the overall design.

Some of my most cherished memories are those simple, unpretentious moments - the ones that could have easily slipped by unnoticed, but instead left a lasting impression on the canvas of my life.

So, I invite you to join me in reflecting on this. Our everyday interactions and seemingly ordinary exchanges have the power to touch lives, forge connections, and contribute to the vibrant fabric of our existence.

Let's continue to share, connect, and make a difference through our small yet meaningful actions. Together, let's appreciate and enrich the tapestry of our shared experiences, for that's where the genuine beauty of life resides.

With sincerity and gratitude,

Gino Pezzani

RE/MAX Heights Realty

Ever wonder why your body hurts when you’re sitting at your computer? Although many reasons could be the culprit—from the ergonomics of the chair to the length of time you’re sitting—one thing is for sure: Stretching will help relieve the pain. Here are some ideas:

1.Arms: Straighten an arm out in front of you at shoulder height. Make a fist and bend the arm down as though pouring something. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat five times.

2.Back. Put one foot on the opposite knee. Lean forward slowly and hold for 10 seconds. Alternate sides and do five sets total.

3.Legs. Stand with feet shoulder-width

4.Hands. Straighten an arm in front of you at shoulder height. With the other hand, bend the wrist back so your fingers point to the ceiling. Pull back on the fingers gently. Hold 10 seconds. Do five total reps, then repeat with the other hand.

5.Shoulders. Reach one arm up straight above your head and stretch your fingers. Move your head down to your chest and then back. Switch arms.

The city of Utrecht in the Netherlands has created a unique solution to help humans and marine life live in harmony. It created a fish doorbell.

Utrecht has many dams and locks that disrupt fish migration.

The fish travel Utrecht's Vecht River, a branch of the Rhine River, to the Kromme River, where they spawn in the shallow waters of the Kromme.

But manmade structures, such as dams and locks, frequently disrupt their migration. In Utrecht, the Weerd Lock is one such obstacle to migratory fish. Ecologist Mark van Heukelum told the Weerd boat lock manager that the boat lock was an obstacle for fish.

The lock manager said he would open the lock for fish, but he didn’t know when fish were ready to get through. That is when an idea was born!

Van Heukelum came up with the idea of an underwater webcam that anyone could view online, and when people saw a fish, they could ring the virtual doorbell and the lock manager would open the gate. 

The idea has worked marvelously. In its first spring season in March 2023, people rang the fish doorbell more than 100,000 times. The video feed will be inactive until March, when the fish will be knocking at the door again.

You can watch the fish at visdeurbel.nl.

Although line dancing looks like so much fun, it can be baffling on your first try. However, after you learn and understand the secrets to the art, line dancing is much less daunting.

A line dance lasts three to five minutes, and you can drop out any time. Among the popular line dances, the Electric Slide is the shortest—lasting two to three minutes—makes a good beginning dance to learn and is the dance that often opens a line dance party, especially as a warmup.

If you are new to line dancing, here are some tips:

The dance starts when the singing starts. Everything before that is the intro.

• Moves usually change after four counts. When you get to four, you'll change direction or make a new move.

• You can make any move plain or fancy, low movement or high. Instead of doing actual stomps, for example, do a tap.

• Notice how many times the dancers turn to face a different direction. These are called walls. A line dance can have up to four walls, but the dance will usually end up facing the same way it started.

Here are some other popular line dances:

Cha-cha slide. You get to make a little cha-cha move and there are some hops, but you can substitute them with tip toes.

Boot scootin' boogie. This one is more difficult because it has a series of hops, including one in which dancers cross their legs. It also has a quick half-beat step.

Cupid shuffle. This modern song has easy steps and kicks, although experienced line dancers usually improvise their steps. Stick with the basics at the beginning.

Cotton-Eyed Joe. If you love that old-fashioned fiddle, this ones for you. It has some turns and toe taps. Dancers usually face one way.

Ethan, stuck in a boring job in a busy city, longed for something more exciting. One day he noticed colorful murals around town and felt a spark of inspiration within him.

Driven by curiosity, Ethan went on a quest to find the mysterious artist behind these captivating artworks.

In the heart of the city, Ethan and Luna proudly stood side by side, their murals serving as testaments to the transformative power of art. Their story spread throughout the streets, encouraging people to embrace their passions and use their creativity to light up the world.

Ethan and Luna revealed the universal truth that art has the extraordinary capacity to awaken hearts, shatter boundaries, and bring positive change to the lives of all who embrace it with passion and perseverance.