<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>To the Good Gentles of Ponte Alto,
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<BR>This March finds new winds blowing through our noble barony. Winds of change, some may say, but also winds of continued respect from its Baron and Baroness to the people of Ponte Alto. The opportunity to serve this barony and its talented populace humbles us. Our first thanks as the new Baron and Baroness must be to Baron Donald and Baroness Winifred. We admire your accomplishments, and are most grateful for your help with our transition. Our second thanks is to each of you for your support and continued efforts toward the glory of Ponte Alto.
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<BR>Speaking of glory, we cannot express well enough how pleased we were at our Investiture. Thank you, everyone who attended and participated and worked so hard. It is hard to believe it possible, but we hope that the fun you had even surpassed the effort that you all put forth. Special thanks to Count Ragnarr, the autocrat, and his crew, and Master Kevin of Thornbury and his cooks for making us all well-fed and happy Italians for the day! We were proud to select our new Rapier Champion, Cosimo of Venice, who won for his skill, grace and chivalry on the field. We are also pleased annouced the new baronial notables Lucia Antony de Venise as baronial artisian, Robert (who had no last name as of Court so shall be referred to as Robert the Brewer) as baronial brewer and Ottey ap Tam as the baronial bard.
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<BR>Denise and I are journeying to Gulf Wars, and hope that many of you will make the trip with us (March 11-17). We ask your support of our righteous King and Queen during this time of war. If you would honor us with your presence at Gulf Wars, we would honor you with a Baronial Fighting Favor, and the traditional Baronial Bead. We look forward to seeing many of us displaying our beads so all may see the participation and know the enthusiasm within our fair and wondrous Barony. The more the merrier, as the saying goes, and so it is when fighting an adversary in far-away lands. Because the camaraderie of friends so encourages our forces, it will be our policy that anyone attending a foreign war, whether as combatant or supporter, will earn a Baronial Bead. Please see Baroness Denise for these, and our Ponte Alto favors, and wear them proudly at the Wars.
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<BR>As March is named for the ancient God of War, we would remind everyone of two other martial events coming soon. Please come out and support our own Barony at St Paddy's Day Blood Bath on March 23. We will choose our Heavy Weapons Champion on that day. In addition to the winners' prizes, tokens of appreciation will be given to the most chivalrous on the field, best-dressed fighter and the best demise.
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<BR>In the spirit of welcoming new allies into Atlantia, we also ask that your support our neighbors to the south at the "Defending the Gate" event in the Incipient Caton of Sudentur (within the barony of Stierbach) on March 30th. This event has a Byzantine theme, and will delight fighters and artisans alike with Heavy, Rapier, Thrown Weapons, Archery and Arts and Sciences competitions.
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<BR>We are pleased that Mother Nature has been so good kind to us with the calm winter weather. As the weather warms up and brings us to spring, we ask you to come and join us for Sunday's fighters practice at Tysons-Pimmit Hill park behind the library. We wish to sponsor Sundays pic-nics in the park during fighter practice. There is a playground for children so bring the family and come have fun and make merriment with us.
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<BR>With God's Grace and your support, we would make you as proud of us as we are of our Barony and its gifted populace. Our goal as Baron and Baroness is to spread the friendly arms of Ponte Alto wide, and make the martial Arms of Ponte Alto felt in battle. We welcome this opportunity to work together to garner fame and praise for Ponte Alto among all of the honorable lands of Atlantia.
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<BR>Yours in Service,
<BR>Thomas and Denise
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