2011

August starts the first step into fall, some areas of the country the kids are back into school as you read this newsletter. We do hope that all your summer plans worked out for you but if not you still have some time to get them accomplished. August, the eighth month of the year and the sixth month of the Roman calendar. The Romans called the month Sextilis, which means sixth. Eight years before Jesus was born the name of the month was changed to Augustus in honor of the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar, because many of the important events in his life happened around that time of year. The Anglo-Saxons called it Weod monath, which means Weed month, because it is the month when weeds and other plants grow most rapidly. August is the busiest time for tourism, as it falls in the main school holiday of the year, the summer holidays, which lasts for six weeks for state run schools.

Important days in August:

August 1, 1779 - Francis Scott Key, author of the Star Spangled Banner, was born.
August 3, 1492 - Christopher Columbus began his first voyage across the Atlantic.
August 6, 1945 - An American bomber dropped the first atomic bomb used in warfare, on Hiroshima, Japan
August 9, 1974 - Richard Nixon became the first U.S. President ever to resign from office
August 15, 1914 - Panama Canal opened to allow ships to navigate from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
August 15, 1914 - The Famous Davey Crockett was born.
August 21st 1959 - Hawaii became our 50th state.
August 22, 1881 - First local chapter of the American National Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton
August 26, 1920 - The 10th Amendment was passed giving women the right to vote.

As summer winds down and we prepare for the start of a new school year, we have linked to pages that contain sales and discounts to help you save some of your money.