Joe's Pond Association
Spring Meeting
10:00 A.M.
Today, Saturday, May 31, 2008
at the pavilion.

See you there!

Our day started off pretty normally - we headed out to St. Johnsbury to do errands and stopped at the post office in W. Danville to pick up the Joe's Pond Association mail. Fred took pictures along the way to the village and while he was waiting for me. Joe's Brook is a lot prettier now than it was even a couple weeks ago, and there isn't nearly as much water flowing through the dam.

I'm posting a slide show - some photos were taken a week ago (I've been busy), some over the weekend, and some were from today. Spring is definitely here at Joe's Pond.SLIDES

When we got back home we had three phone messages waiting. Carolyn Hamilton called with the first message saying our pontoon boat was floating free off down the pond, then we got a second one from her saying she'd been able to reach Homer Fitts who was hauling it to the fishing access; the third call was from Homer saying he'd been able to get it to the fishing access. This all happened at around 10:30, and we didn't get home until around 11:30. We got to camp and Theresa was there but hadn't missed the pontoon boat. Fred and I fired up the aluminum fishing boat and went to retrieve the pontoon boat while she hunted for mooring ropes to secure it when we got back. These things always somehow get misplaced during the winter.

Our task was as simple as hitching on a rope and dragging it across the bay, right? Not quite. First of all our problems was the high wind coming down the pond. Then there was the top of the pontoon boat. It had been folded down, but the wind got under the canvass and by the time we got there the roof was standing almost straight up like a huge sail. With all that sail power, no wonder it broke the mooring. We got the top down finally, pretty bent and broken, and secured it with a bungee cord. Then we went to work trying to pull the heavy chain in that had been hitched to the mooring - and found out it was still hitched to the mooring, or at least part of the mooring, a really big piece of concrete. Fred was able to haul it onto the pontoon boat deck and we got a rope secured to the bow of the pontoon boat ready to haul it back to camp. Another problem. No place to hitch to the back of the aluminum boat. Ok. So one of us drives, the other one hangs onto the rope. It's been a few years since I've handled an outboard, so I volunteered to hold onto the rope.

Long story short - we got it across the bay, battling wind and waves, zig-zagging to compensate for gusts of wind - that pontoon boat's not easy to haul - we'd forgotten to raise the motor, which probably didn't help our situation, but we pressed on. When we got to camp, Theresa was waiting with mooring lines and we got the thing hitched to the dock. According to Theresa, the big block of concrete we hauled out was only part of what was used as an anchor for the mooring all these years.

Anyway, it was an adventure we hope we don't have to repeat right away. The boys will have lots of repair work to do on the canopy of the pontoon boat and Lord knows what else. I'm going to strongly recommend they abandon the off-shore mooring. The way the wind whips down the pond - or sometimes up the pond, anything tied out there is bound to break loose eventually.

We are very grateful to both Carolyn and Homer for alerting us and rescuing the boat. We would hate to see our pontoon boat hanging over the dam down in the village. We couldn't ask for better neighbors. We owe them both!

We noticed when we were in W. Danville this morning work has begun at the beach. The old shelter is gone and there are signs of work going on. I think Fred should go down and take some pictures tomorrow.

I've heard today from Marti Talbot that they got both parts of their dock back; one was at Ray and Evelyn Richer's, the other was at Craige's. I can't tell you about the other dock components that were misplaced, but hopefully they will belocated and everything will be in order again.

This also came today:

CABOT – Beekeeper and author Ross Conrad will be at the Cabot Public Library on Tuesday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. Conrad is the author of “Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture” (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2007.) He will present the best organic and natural approaches to keeping honeybees healthy and productive plus discuss the important role bees play in providing us with local food.
Conrad learned his craft from the late Charles Mraz, world-renowned beekeeper and founder of Champlain Valley Apiaries in Vermont. Former president of the Vermont Beekeepers Association, Conrad has written numerous articles on organic farming, natural healing, and health issues. His market-garden business supplies local stores with fruits, vegetables, and honey. He lives in Middlebury, Vermont.

Library programs are free and open to the public. For more information contact Connie Koeller at 563-2721 or email cabotlibrary@yahoo.com.

I haven't heard from anyone that they lost any plantings from frost last night. The thermometer here at our house was showing about 31 degrees early this morning. I haven't seen any evidence of frost, and expect everything was safe. Tonight is going to be cold again, but I haven't heard any frost warnings - yet. We'll see what this evening's forecast is.

There has been a brisk wind all day and the fuzz is coming off the trees reminding me of some of those last snow squalls we had a few weeks ago. It's nice to watch from my window as I work on the computer - there is a swirl of fuzz drifting through the back yard, rising and falling with the breeze currents. I imagine people with allergies are uncomfortable with all the pollen right now, though.

I have been working on more of the Cabot Historical Society albums, making lists of photos and clippings so people may be able to find what they're looking for either in the albums or on the computer. I have scanned, indexed and stored almost 700 photographs and countless newspaper clippings to date. I am finished with most of the photos and albums that have been donated, but there are large boxes of old newspapers still to be done. My goal is to return as much as possible to the Historical Society rooms this spring. I'll still have plenty of work to do, but it will be good to have the albums in their permanent home.

We worked last week with Bill and Diane Rossi to put their New Zealand vacation photos on a DVD, and I'm inspired to put some of the Cabot collection of photos onto a DVD, too. Fred is just finishing up his second php course (something to do with web site construction) so I'll try to get him in on this project. We put some family photos on a DVD a few years ago, and it was great fun - a combination of old 35mm slides, b&w and color photos in varying condition - and gave each of the kids a copy. Since then I've come upon dozens more old photos that should be scanned and preserved for the family just as I've done for the Historical Society. We'll see.

In the meantime, right now I need to get back to work making an index of newspaper scans from the 1880's. I lose lots of time by getting absorbed in reading them, though.

Today is oldest son, Bill's birthday. We're hoping he'll be able to come for dinner with us tonight. He's in the process of getting his Waterford home in shape to move back to after spending two years living at camp while in divorce proceedings. His life is coming together nicely now, and we're happy for him on that score, but we're going to miss having him as our neighbor.

So I'll work a little more here on the computer and then go make a birthday cake.

Kingdom Community Services of St Johnsbury is looking for someone who commutes from Cabot to St. J. and could volunteer to pick up eggs from a Cabot farm and deliver them to the St. J. food shelf twice a month.

If this is you, please contact Daisy of KCS at 802-626-1124

I'm hoping to have more information for you on this one - like where the farm is. I'll post something as soon as Daisy gets back to me with that information.

*****

Did you bring in your tender plants tonight? Seems we're destined for a frost in some areas, like Joe's Pond or other "higher elevations." I brought into the garage the few plants I had outside, but I'm more concerned about the apple blossoms. Our trees are just getting to full bloom, and it could be a bad time for a frost to hit them.

Early this morning I thought Fred was a over doing it a bit when he had a small fire going in our wood stove. I had windows open thinking it was going to be a really warm day, but by mid morning I was closing windows and glad he had the stove warmed up. He also ordered our supply of wood for next year, well actually it will be for the winter of 2009-10. Next year's supply, 2008-9, is drying in the back yard and will be brought into the garage/shed this fall. By then, if the wood comes as promised the latter part of June, another year's supply will already be drying. Fred says he'd rather split and stack it this summer than take a chance on winter coming early and having to dig it out from under the snow. Been there, done that.

I was reading tonight about how some people are beginning to panic about their cost of living going so high. People are looking at homesteading as a way to better take care of themselves and hedge against the rise in the cost of fuel and food. It's not a bad idea to put in a garden if you can, I guess. Here at the pond we're fortunate that we have great gardeners nearby and farmers' markets so we don't have to actually raise the crops ourselves. Shirley Maynard on Cabot Plains Rd., just up from the where Brickett's Crossing Road starts always has a good garden, and Elaine Metcalf does, too. Elaine is on Deeper Ruts Road. Then there are farmers' markets in Hardwick, Danville, Cabot and St. Johnsbury.

The way the wind was blowing today I really wish we had a windmill to help out on our electricity, but actually we've had tests done near our house a couple of times and the folks who install these rigs say we don't have enough wind to make it cost effective for us. I'm convinced one of these days there will be something or some combination of either solar, wind or thermal energy that we'll be able to harness effectively. The higher oil prices go up, the more cost effective any of the alternatives becomes. And oil isn't the only fuel that's gone up - when Fred ordered his wood supply tonight we found out wood has gone up, too. That's logical. It's going to cost the supplier more than it did last year to cut it and to deliver it to us.

On WCAX tonight there was a story about people finding it too expensive to take vacations this year, so some people are taking "stay-cations" - parking their campers in nearby parks for the summer. A vacation home almost in their own back yard. I know a woman who lives directly across the road from a camping area and for years she has driven her camper over there, parked it for a week or a weekend just to get away from the usual routine at home. Maybe a little weird, but whatever works! It just makes those of us fortunate enough to have a place on Joe's Pond feel really thankful, right?

On Saturday when I mentioned the Fourth of July Fireworks, I said they are scheduled for July 5th. That is incorrect. I blame my fingers - sometimes they ignore whatever my brain tells them and do their own thing, I believe. Anyway, just to be certain, I checked the Schedule of Events in the newsletter and then on the web site and then went directly to Don Sherwood and now I can safely report that the fireworks are scheduled for JULY 3rd, with a rain date of July 5th. So thanks to Bev and Steve Allen, I've corrected that.

I can't be certain, but I thought I heard a bear bawling up in the woods behind our house this morning. Sometimes they sound like a cow, and it was quite a long way off, so I can't be sure. I think there are cows pastured at the Sousa farm, so it could have been one of them. I only heard it briefly, and couldn't get a good take on it. It wouldn't be surprising if it was a bear - they are normally in our area and looking for food this time of the year.

I heard on the scanner Sunday night that a car hit a moose on Rt. 2 just west of Danville. Fortunately nobody was hurt. I didn't hear if the moose was killed. It may be in the paper today.

I am amazed at the number of emergency calls that go out in a day's time in our area. Yesterday I heard of at least two people who had been injured in falls, one from a ladder and one off a roof. There are calls for lift assistance, for transfer of patients, difficulty breathing, one was a child who fell down a flight of stairs - all in one day. There's a lot going on that people have no idea about unless they are part of the rescue squads. Of course, we don't know when we're going to need to call for help, too, and we should all be reminded to have our house numbers plainly marked so emergency crews can locate us. Ours is on our mailbox, but we really need to post it more clearly. People around the pond should be sure their NEW camp number is prominently displayed. I know some of you don't want to give up the historic camp numbers, but it's really important for the safety of you and your family that you use the new number near the road where it can be seen. Some of you may not be sure what your camp number is. You can contact me or get in touch with your town clerk. Then get it out there in plain sight. I hope it's never necessary for an emergency crew to find you, but if it is, I don't want to hear on my scanner that they can't find your house.

The rain held off until after noon, so any parades and ceremonies held today will have stayed dry. It's cloudy now and we've had a shower a few minutes ago but no thunder storms - yet!

Bill Rossi was asking yesterday about the granite industry in West Danville. He was surprised that there was a stoneshed about where the beach is now, and of course the railroad station was there, too, so it was very convenient. There were lots of other businesses in West Danville in the 1800's. I wrote a story a few years ago that involved the stoneshed, so I dug it out and Fred has posted it on the web site history page. Turns out it's an appropriate story for today, Memorial Day. If you're interested, here it is: Joe's Pond Sentry

I think I may have in the past mentioned some of the businesses that used to be in West Danville, but here are some I know about from visits to the Danville Historical Society and other historical records. There were a couple of grist mills and one was near the railroad tracks so shipping was easier. There was Farrington's grist mill and also one operated by Barron's, but I don't know without researching if they operated at the same time or were the same mill operated at different times by different owners. It is interesting that at the falls (I imagine were the dam is now) there was a 75 foot drop and one history account mentioned it was "never failing." This provided excellent power for mills. There was a sawmill that not only supplied lumber, but manufactured butter tubs, shingles, etc. Note in the photo at the right that the hillside is completely barren of trees.

There were also a couple of general merchants and a hotel. West Danville was the hub for farmers on either side of the pond in the early days, and when the railroad finally opened on July 17, 1877, there was a surge in prosperity for the region. Farmers were able to ship their products to the cities and manufactured goods and raw materials that were difficult or impossible to obtain before were now accessible. That also marked a surge in tourism to the area. Families could escape from the heat in the cities to spend the summer at Joe's Pond. Some built summer homes on the water, some stayed at nearby hotels. The railroad gave employment as section men to many in the area. Another flourishing industry was ice cutting. In the winter men cut and stored ice from the pond to supply merchants, hotels and homeowners in the area during the hot summer months. The railroad used ice to keep products fresh in transit, as well.

This is just a quick overview of the industries I've come across that existed in West Danville in the 1800's. If you are interested in learning more about this, you might visit the Danville Historical Society - call Margaret Springer, 684-3857 to find out when they are open; or ask Jane Larrabee. Jane has a wealth of information and lots of wonderful photographs of West Danville. Both the above photos came from Jane. Notice in the photo of the railroad station that across the water you can plainly see the school house. That was moved when Rt. 2 was paved around 1927, and is the building we now see where Larrabee's Building Supply used to be, directly across from the public beach. The windows were changed to the opposite side of the building to take advantage of the south sunshine, but basically it has remained the same over the years, with grades one through four downstairs and five through eight upstairs. I went to school there for a couple of years when my mother taught there.

This from David Geer on W. Shore Rd. this morning:

I found piece of wooden dock, about 4 feet wide by 12 long with shades of both red and grey paint on it. Thanks, David Geer, 1607 West Shore 563-2326.

I'm getting ready for a Board Meeting this morning, so need to keep moving. More later. (9:20 a.m.)

I'm back on duty now! There are a few things I want to get posted for you. First, some of you may have taken advantage of these meals offered in Cabot:

Again this year, Cabot United church is offering its special cookout and gourmet summer dinner series.

Thursdays: May 29^th, June 12^th , June 26^th, July 10^th, July 24^th, August 7^th, and August 14^th.

5:30 to 7:00 PM, with take-outs welcome.

Your choice of Steak (Grilled or Simmered) or Cornish Hen,

baked potato, vegetable, rolls, beverage, and desert.

Donation of $7.00 adults, $4.00 under 12.

Get in on these delicious meals early and you’ll become a regular! Tickets by reservation or at the door, call 563-2278 for information.

Cabot United Church – On the Common, Route 215, Cabot, VT

I also want to share with you the recent contact I've had. A few days ago, Jane Larrabee referred a lady to me for information regarding our Ice-Out Contest. This lady, Florence Taylor, lives in a retirement community in Stowe, Vermont. She called and I found out the residents in the 40-unit complex where she lives began to feel the pangs of cabin fever with so much snow last winter that they were all beginning to think would never melt, and Florence, having heard about our Ice-Out Contest, suggested they have a contest to guess when the snow would be gone. The contest was deemed a success, at least for the 23 people who got involved. Like our contest, it cost $1 to get in, and each person picked a date on a special calendar. The manager at the retirement community was designated to declare when the snow was completely gone from the circle in front of the complex. Florence said the woman who won the $23 gave it to the food share program. They plan to have the contest again next year, but will operate it a little differently. Florence said she has been asked to write about how she came up with the idea for their quarterly newsletter and of course, she needed background information from the source of her inspiration, the Joe's Pond Ice-Out Contest. I was very happy to talk with her and directed her to the History of the Ice-Out Contest on our web site. She was amazed at the size of our contest, but I told her we started out small, too!

*****

I recently had an e-mail from Jeri Farinella who is interested in getting in on the Ice-Out Contest in 2009. In her message, she told me that in the 1950's, her family had spent vacations at her aunt and uncle's cottage on Edgewood Ave. Her aunt and uncle were Vera and Harry "Hap" Clark, who lived on Clinton Avenue in St. Johnsbury. That surprised me because in the late 1950's, I lived across the street from the Clarks, on Clinton Avenue and knew them very well. I didn't know the Clarks had owned a cottage on the pond, but apparently they did at one time. Jeri said she and her sister returned to Joe's Pond a few years ago and went down Edgewood Ave. to find the Clark's cottage, and from her description, I believe it may have been where the Dente cottage is now. Sometimes it's a really small world, especially with the internet making everyone and everything accessible. I thought someone might remember the Clarks being there, and maybe would even remember Jeri. She'd be thrilled to hear from someone out of her past, I'm sure.

*****

I want to remind all of you that the Spring Meeting of the Joe's Pond Association is a week from today, May 31st, at 10 a.m. at the recreation pavilion. The Board met in the kitchen this morning - a tight squeeze for nine of us around a big table, but we made it. Someone commented that once we're all in and seated, that's it - don't plan on going anywhere until everyone files out, reversing the way we filed in! We're an orderly bunch, so in any emergency I'm sure we'd all make it out ok. We had a good meeting and the groundworks are laid for the first meeting of the year next week. Dues are coming in very well, but if any of you haven't sent them in the mail I'll be happy to accept them at the meeting.

I don't want to steal Ray Richer's thunder, but I'm sure you'll be interested to know that there are two eggs in the loon's nest - and three loons watching it. Two are the parents, the third is an intruder that gets screamed at regularly when he gets too close to the nest or, as suggested by some of the Board members, when the (supposed) male intruder gets too close to the other male's mate. Guys!

I can report, roads on both sides of the lake are in good shape; buoys are out at Smith's Point and Sunken Island - more to come; things are looking good at the recreation area; summer is about to begin and all events are "GO." Fireworks will be on July 3rd, rain date on July 5th. Check "Schedule of Events" under Joe's Pond Association on home page for more information of what's planned for the summer.

Already it's Memorial Day Weekend. Summer has officially begun. We anticipate the summer season with enthusiasm and high expectations, knowing we need to get lots of outdoor activities done in the next three months of nice weather. Although fall can be beautiful and sometimes lasts through all of September and October, kids need to be back in school so families aren't able to spend as much time together. Not only that, but here in the north country we are busy laying in our fuel supply (ours is wood) and harvesting vegetables and fruit if we have gardens. With fuel prices up and the resulting higher food prices, I expect people who have the know-how and the space will be planting gardens like never before this year. Some things should already be planted, but we could still get a frost, so one needs to be careful.

Here at our house we are looking forward to mowing the lawn for the first time. I should point out the the "we" is actually me; Fred actually does it and I don't think he's looking forward to it. We don't mow as often or as short as some folks. There's a lot of lawn to take care of here, and some of it is pretty wet, even in the middle of summer. I'm for letting it go back to hayfield and then mow it once in late summer. Or we could get some goats . . . or cows . . .

We went to eat at "Sweet Basil" in Lyndonville last night with Bill and Diane Rossi. It's very nice and we had wonderful food. Take a look, if you're interested: Sweet Basil Cafe and Catering. The food came to the table looking just as nice as the pictures - and we enjoyed everything. We left pleasantly full, but we didn't get by the ice cream stand at the old railroad station - both Fred and Bill are ice cream junkies. Diane and I couldn't pass it up either, but next time I think we'll remember to get mini cones. We ordered small cones, and there must have had a pint of ice cream in each of them. I can't imagine what a large would be like. Way too much cholesterol there!

Have a wonderful, thoughtful Memorial Day celebration. We owe a great deal to those who have served and who are still serving to keep our country safe. You might want to visit this web site - you may be surprised at what you can do to show support for our service men and women. www.anysoldier.com

We set another record here in the north country yesterday. Not only did it snow here at Joe's Pond - no big surprise there, we expect snow in May - but on Mt. Mansfield they got 3 1/2 inches of snow at the stake, and that's a record of some sort, for the day or latest in the year. I searched the weather in several places but didn't find any reference to that report. I did hear it yesterday on the noontime news, though and also that while the road through Hazen's Notch had opened for the season a few days ago, it was closed again yesterday - you guessed it! Because of snow! Today has been cooler but no snow, and we're being promised a nice weekend. But we have to earn it by enduring rainy cool weather off and on this week until about Friday, and then we'll be warming up maybe even into the 70's.

Perhaps you've heard that there has been damage to homes by bears again this spring. People need to be aware this is a tough time for bears; they awake hungry (as a bear) often with young to feed, and there's really not much food out there in the wild yet. They learn quickly where the easy meals can be found - bird feeders, garbage left outside - and their sense of smell will lead them for miles to find it. They are inquisitive and have battered doors and broken into homes in search of food. So be careful, keep your home free of garbage, and give the big brutes lots of space if you come across them.

According to the Caledonian Record, the state is asking the Town of Danville to make more cuts to the proposed Route 2 Project that involves the Green. With the cost of energy and materials going up rapidly, it doesn't look good for getting that project started any time soon. There have been cuts - fewer trees and fewer lights which will result in scaled-down landscaping and construction/engineering costs, and some "roadway modifications" are being considered, but apparently more are needed.

We're being told that St. Johnsbury seems to have turned the corner after several decades of struggling to keep businesses in town. The organization, "St. Johnsbury on the Move" is being credited with revitalizing the business district and St. Johnsbury is beginning to enjoy popularity again as a tourist and upscale shopping destination. There are some very interesting shops along Railroad Street, and Main Street continues to be a showcase of Victorian homes and with the Athenaeum Art Gallery and the Fairbanks Museum open to visitors, there's no shortage of interesting things to see and do. Eastern Avenue is looking perkier, too, and some great restaurants scattered about town. We have links to more places of interest in the area listed on the web site - go to "Links" on the home page, www.joespondvermont.com.

I thought I was through with snow pictures, but here we are in the middle of a mini-snowstorm - big sloppy flakes and sometimes swirling little guys, depending on how much wind is behind them, I guess. I took some pictures - of course! That's not just fog over the pond, that's SNOW. All those little dots on the pictures below - SNOW. The thermometer outside my window is right on 32 degrees and it's a little past six o'clock, so I've been out and rescued some potted flowers I had sitting on the deck - I knew it was too early, but with the nice weather I took a chance. It's never safe to put tender plants out until after June 12 here at Joe's Pond. The cherry tree just off the edge of our deck seems to love the cool weather, but I'm not sure how the apple trees will do. The buds are formed and some of the blossoms are out, so I guess there could be some damage to the apple crop if the temperature goes too far down tonight.


Just when we thought we had seen the last of the cold.

Not so unusual, though - there have been a few Memorial Day weekends in the past that have been anything but warm. We'll hope things warm up before then.

Need a Friend?

Meet Wilson !

Wilson is currently being fostered in Vermont!!!!.

Wilson was turned in by his family and we think his age is anywhere around 18 months to 2 years old and weighs about 80 pounds. Wilson is a sweetheart and LOVES to be around people. He is fine with other dogs but really likes his people most!. He walks okay on a leash but insists on being right beside you as if he were a piece of Velcro. So even though he is a lab mix he sure has that golden Velcro personality trait. Wilson will need a fenced in yard as he has a tendency to escape. He needs to be a family member to that special family looking for a love bug in the disguise of a dog. Wilson is up to date on his vaccines, neutered, heartworm negative and looking for his new forever home. Wilson is housetrained. If you would like more information about him please contact Brigitte at 802-238-0535. Find an application by going on line to www.goldenhuggs.org

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

A reminder to all members that water skiing shalom courses need a permit from the State of Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR). There is a newly created course parallel to West Shore and Meadow Lane which has caused a few calls to me and others. The State Agency of Natural Resources has not issued a permit for this course and it should be removed.
Tom Dente, JPA President

*****

IT'S AGAINST THE LAW TO BURN TRASH IN VERMONT! Any burning of brush, leaves, or UNTREATED wood MAY be allowed, but requires a permit. Check with your town clerk or fire warden. Burning TREATED wood is against the law.

*****

Something new for you.

I thought you might like to listen to some music instead of seeing more slide shows, so turn on your speakers because I'm going to connect you directly to MySpace.com where you'll find JPA members, Bob, Theresa, and Jamie Dimick playing their music. This is their hobby - well, actually it's their winter hobby. All winter they write music and work on arrangements in Bob's studio at his home in St. Johnsbury. In the summer they prefer to be at Joe's Pond, not so much in the studio.

They used to be Jamatone and you'll still find a link to their old web site on www.joespondvermont.com, but recently they decided to change the band's name to Ricksha Radio. When I asked why the change, I think it was Jamie that told me nobody got the jam-at-one thing they'd picked because practice was always on Saturdays at one o'clock. So why, I asked, Ricksha Radio? Because it sounds cool, was the answer.

Anyway, Fred and I really like their sound - we've heard them live, on tape, in practice, noodling at camp, etc., and for many years we were first in line when Bob was on the road with the TANK band, then later for his one-man show, BB and the Phantom Band. Jamie used to do lights for various bands, but now plays a mean guitar; Theresa, Bob's wife, has wanted to play drums since she was a toddler, and now she's a force to be reckoned with - for a little gal she sure packs a great beat. Bob is on keyboards and does most of the vocals although Jamie and Theresa are strong backup singers. Like any proud mother, I love to talk about my kids, and I hope you like them. If not, it's ok. The good news is you can turn down your speakers - or leave the site. I'll never know! Here they are: Ricksha Radio

Just heard from Homer Fitts this afternoon and the dock that he has at his place by the fishing access has not been claimed yet. He thought it might be Keenan's, but it isn't. Someone is missing at least some of their dock, so if you hear from anyone that they're looking for it, let them know it might be at Homer's and also I want to remind folks there were some docks caught in the marsh at the north end of the pond near Billy Hamilton's and Nancy Hamilton's cottages. We hope everyone gets together with their missing property. In the meantime, keep a sharp eye if you're out on the water as there may be submerged docks or parts of docks still floating around and you could severely damage your boat if you hit it.

Saturday is recycling day. Fred is packing up to go to the Hardwick recycling center. It's a beautiful sunny day - good for working outside or just enjoying the budding trees, flowers, birds and the sparkling blue water of the pond.

Yesterday was mostly cloudy and a bit chilly. Not having much else to do, Fred and Billy Rossi decided on to go see how the new cottage is progressing that Jamie and Joanne Stewart are building on North Shore Road. But before they got to their destination, they made an ice-cream stop at Hasting's Store. I'm not sure just how the sheriff fits into the pictures, and I won't ask too many questions. At Stewart's they met up with Ray Rouleau, the Rossi's next-door neighbor on W. Shore Rd. From across the pond, Ray had seen the activity on the waterfront where Jane Milne is building a new boathouse, and came to look it over. Not much gets by these guys.

Here is a slide show of the pictures Fred took on their tour yesterday.

Slides

The weather is better today, so I expect yard work will resume and lawns will get mowed all around the pond.

We were saddened to learn of the death of Gladys E. Mason, Ken Mason's mother. Mrs. Mason was 94, and died on April 29 at the Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin. Many of you may have known her and will want to send a note to Ken and Nancy at 147 W. Shore Rd., Cabot VT 05647.

*****

There is to be another meeting in Cabot on Monday evening regarding the possible installation of a cell tower on one of the silos at the Sousa farm on Cabot Plain. If a permit is granted, the area around Joe's Pond, Walden and Marshfield that now has no cell phone access should have coverage. We will let you know the outcome of that meeting.

As predicted - a rainy day. Much needed.
A day of rain is just what we need to perk things up a bit. Yesterday was such a beautiful day we certainly can't complain about having some rain now. The soil in my flower beds is very dry, and even though there are still spots on our lawn and in the woods that are soggy, generally things are very dry.

I had a note from Jeff Downs at Joe's Pond Country Store this morning:

Had a report from a customer yesterday that two young ladies were at the beach, in bikinis, and that they actually went swimming. These were young adults, not teens.

I guess summer has arrived at Joe's Pond ? Jeff

I'm not surprised someone went into the water. I would venture a guess that they didn't stay in long - it must have been really COLD. The ice has only been gone a matter of days, and we haven't had any really hot weather to warm the water. Wish we had a picture for you . . . but Jeff is right, must be summer has begun - early.

We celebrated the 90th birthday of our friend, Louise, last evening. Louise bought a computer a few months ago and Fred has been her teacher, working with her a little every week so that now she's become quite comfortable with it and sends e-mails, Googles for information, reads on-line newsletters, and checks in on what's going on here on the blog. We're very proud of what she's accomplished. We went to a new place for dinner, Baliwick's, under the Thayer Hotel in Littleton. Another friend, Elizabeth, went with us, and we enjoyed a very nice meal - a very pleasant place with attentive and courteous waitstaff and excellent food. Louise said she couldn't remember having a nicer birthday celebration. We thought that was very nice of her, having had 89 to choose from. We stopped at McDonald's before heading home so Louise could get her favorite apple pie. Above: That's us - me, Elizabeth and Louise. Happy Birthday, Louise!

More dock news -

Carol Byrd on Sandy Beach Rd. wrote to let us know there is a section of red dock in front of Rachel Lewis's on Sandy Beach Rd. That would be across from Pearl's Island and near the channel.

Also, we saw Nancy Hamilton (Channel Drive) this morning and she told us there are a couple sections of docks caught in the marsh near their place. That would be in back of the big island. It's quite shallow there and they may be caught in the mud now that the water has gone down.

It was a beautiful day here today. I'm not sure we actually made it into the 80's, but it must have come awfully close. Just like a beautiful summer day, bright and warm. We went to St. Johnsbury and guess what! Fred took some pictures. These are a lot more fun than the snow pictures we were showing you just a few weeks ago. I'm putting them into a slide show for you.
May 14, 2008 slides

Here are a few pictures Fred took at the special town meeting Monday night. The parking lot in back of the gym was filling up rapidly as we arrived. By 7 o'clock the gym was filled, all the chairs that had been set out were taken and people were standing at the back of the room. The meeting was delayed briefly so the bleachers could be folded out.


Many people spoke out on each of the two issues. Ed Smith, moderator, proclaimed that the number of people in attendance proved town meetings are not dead in Vermont. It was a bigger turnout than we've ever had at regular daytime town meetings, I believe. They were orderly, nobody got cranky, a couple of would-be comedians told some jokes while we waited for a count on the second issue, everyone who wished to speak did so, and voting by paper ballots went smoothly and quickly.

Click to enlarge photos - perhaps you'll see someone you recognize in them.

Good Morning!
If you're out and about on the water today, keep a sharp lookout for debris in the water - and run-away docks! The Talbots on W. Shore Rd. are still missing part of their dock. Here's what I rec'd from Marti this morning -

Hi Jane,
We looked at the dock at Homer's and it isn't ours. We found out later that it belongs to Keenans.
One section of our dock is at Loon Cove and the other section is still missing. The section we are still missing is wood which will be 6 feet by 3 feet.
Thank you for your help.
marti

You can get in touch with them at 603-745-8899. Anything else you find, let me know and I'll post it here and on the "Lost & Found" page. A word to the wise - when you pull out your docks in the fall, it's a good idea to secure them to the shore just in case we have a short period of high water that may float them off.

The town meeting was very interesting. The turnout was unusually good due perhaps to the fact the meeting was held in the evening and the weather was good. Plus, of course, school issues are generally hot items to debate. The meeting lasted about an hour and a half and there were 307 votes cast on each issue. Here are the results:

ARTICLE I
To rescind the school budget
YES 124
NO 183

ARTICLE II
To reconsider the Performing Arts building article

YES 141
NO 166

The voters decided to uphold the budget that was passed at March Meeting, and
they voted not to change the vote that gave the school $75,000 towards a new performing arts building.

There was considerable confusion about exactly what we were voting on/for, but Moderator Ed Smith clarified for the voters exactly what the effect would be of yea or nay votes. Ed has a way of cutting to the chase.

With that many voters turning out, one has to believe the results were what most people wanted. The total population in Cabot is approximately 1,340 and there are approximately 892 names on the checklist.

****

This message came tonight from Karen Cobb -

Hi!

Received the newsletter and beautifully done as usual. Like the new format too.

Cold conditions here the past few days so looking forward to seeing some sun as I trek with my Lab, Maggie, to the Outer Banks to open our little place there for the rental season! Just hope these tornados of late will not repeat while I am there!

Look forward to seeing everyone up there soon!

Karen

Thanks, Karen, as you know, Evelyn Richer does the layout and printing of the newsletter. I'm sure she'll be pleased you like it.

Everyone back to normal after celebrating Mother's Day?

What an excellent day to celebrate mothers everywhere. Lots of years it's been difficult to find a flower in bloom, but here we are with spring flowers blooming in our gardens and in the woods, even here at Joe's Pond.

A reminder that's important to any voters in the Town of Cabot: There is a special town meeting at 7 p.m. tonight (Monday, May 12) at the gymnasium in Cabot to (1) decide if the school budget voted for in March should be rescinded; and (2) to see if voters will reverse the decision made in March when they voted against spending $75,000 for a performing arts building at the school. There has been some confusion, first - this is a VOTING meeting, not an INFORMATIONAL meeting. Because both articles will be voted from the floor as opposed to by Australian ballot, it is important for voters to BE PRESENT. There will be discussion, and then voting, either by voice vote or paper ballots. All eligible voters should attend this meeting.

*****

Tom Dente wants to let Joe's Pond Association members know that the date of August 8, 2008 is available to rent the recreation area. This date was taken but is now available and because it is an unusual combination, someone may want to have a gathering - on 8/8/08! Contact Tom Dente, 802-684-3615 to secure the date.

Also, I'm receiving dues every day, and I've been particularly pleased at the number of Joe's Pond Association members who have included their e-mail addresses. I do not give out these addresses, but it is very convenient to be able to send messages to our members by e-mail, especially with postal rates going up steadily. There is a place to include your e-mail address on the remittance envelope that was inserted in your newsletter. I try not to send messages very often, but sometimes I do need to contact our members.

Some people are just so very thoughtful -

HELLO,

JUST ME WRITING TO WISH YOU AND EVERYONE A REAL

SPECIAL ......

" HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !

I WILL BE GOING TO CHURCH AT THE PEACHAM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND WILL STAY FOR THE MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH AFTER THE SERVICE.

HAVE A GREAT DAY !

HOMER

Thank you, Homer, and right back at ya! Mother's Day is special, and we appreciate your taking time to extend this greeting to everyone.

Gee, the end of another week! Time flies by so quickly, especially when there's lots to do. I got out early (for me) this morning to work in my flower beds. It's always wonderful to discover things poking through the ground I'd forgotten I planted last fall or that are already in bloom that I thought I'd lost. I have one area that has gone quite wild with lilies of the valley, beebalm, a wild rose bush, day lilies, holyhocks and daffodils, plus here and there always a few lupins spring up. Today I found (I think) silver dollar plants where I must have scattered seeds. I was also surprised to find some tulips healthy and in bloom. I'm always finding bulbs when I'm digging in the garden and am never quite sure what they are, so I stick them any old place. I've never had good luck with tulips - the voles or some other critters always seem to feast on them during the winter. But for whatever reason, these survived. The bulbs I saved last fall to force into bloom for Easter still haven't bloomed, so they're going back in the ground someplace and with any luck will surprise me next year.

One of the most pleasant discoveries today was a lone Mayflower under the smoke bush. I spotted a few of those precious little wild flowers there a few years ago, and am always happy to see them reappear each year. It's not an ideal spot for them, but I'm inclined to let such "intruders" stay undisturbed. Like the wild rose that mysteriously appeared in the same general area. Actually, a cherry tree popped up near there a few years ago and at first I cut it back, but it persisted and now it's a healthy, strong tree that offers welcome shade over our front deck. One day it'll be too big to have there, I suppose, and it'll be fire wood . . . if I can part with it.

I've heard of a few more Joe's Ponders arriving back this week. Andre and Sherry LaPrade arrived on Thursday, as predicted; today I heard from Bryce Montgomery. Here's what he said: We are back and dissapointed in the weather. Never found an owner on Life Jackets. Didn't like frost this morning. Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Bryce

You may remember last summer Bryce found some life jackets floating in the pond. We still have them listed on the "Lost and Found" page. Perhaps someone will see this and claim them. There are new items listed there for sale, too. Also, remember to take a look under "Local Services" when you need something done around your camp. We have several new listings. There were also some new businesses in the newsletter that might be of interest. Check 'em out.

Early May is just as it should be.

It is absolutely beautiful, buds popping, leaves forming, birds singing and building their nests. Today is a bit windy, and just a tad cool here, but in St. Johnsbury it was at least 10 degrees warmer. We did errands this morning, but now we're back at our computers, catching up on things.

Fred took some pictures along the way this morning. We thought it would be nice for you to see how far we've come into spring - and what a difference a month makes. We took a slight detour up Oneida Road sort of in back of West Danville - always a pretty drive, and along the way took pictures. The camera really doesn't do justice to the scenery, though. One really should be out there, feeling the warmth of the sun and the breeze whipping through your hair. Most of the mud is gone and things are looking pretty nice and green. Here are the pictures we took - the first are some we took late last week, then there are the ones we took today.
Slides

We are excited that the grader went down by our house just after lunch, so we're sure those awful moguls at the top of the hill by Gardner's will be fixed, along with the other random rough spots on W. Shore Road and Sandy Beach Rd. Danville's end of the road is bad, too, but I'm sure they'll get to it soon.

The signs for Joe's Pond Roads are appearing. The smaller ones along W. Shore Rd. are up, but the big one for W.Shore Rd. takes a couple of strong backs to get it in place, and I'm sure one of the Dimick boys and Fred will get that done soon, perhaps this weekend. Also, the one for Sandy Beach Rd. is not up. That needed some repairs, and Ray Richer will get that one up.

The newsletter is out, lots of nice compliments about it. Garey at the post office told me this morning several non-members have asked to have one, but we don't have extras to spare. They cost quite a bit to produce so we provide each of our members with a copy and keep a few extra in case a member doesn't get theirs. We do have it on the web site, so anyone can read it there. You'll find it under Joe's Pond Association on the home page main menu.

I want to remind any eligible voters in the Town of Cabot that there is a special town meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 12, to vote two issues: (1) Whether to rescind the school budget which passed at March Meeting, and (2) To do a re-vote on the $75,000 requested to build a performing arts building on the school campus that did not pass at March Meeting.

If you are eligible to vote in Cabot, you should attend this meeting. There will be discussion and then a vote, so it is important to be there as this is not being done by Australian ballot. Voters must be at the meeting to have their vote counted.

Newsletter Corrections

There are two corrections to be made to the Joe's Pond Association Spring Newsletter. On Page 15, in our list of Obituaries, it should read -
Coffrin, Jane L., 92, mother of JPA member Dwight Coffrin, d. Feb. 19, 2008.
Mureta, Ann W., 96, Michelle Parker's grandmother, d. Oct. 19, 2007.

My sincere apologies to the families and friends of both ladies for the error.

*****

Special “Sun Up” Outdoor Pentecost Service

In honor of Pentecost, Cabot United Church will hold a special community outdoor “sun up” service this Sunday morning at 7:30 at the Cabot Plains Cemetery. As this year Pentecost Sunday is also Mother’s Day, there will be a complementary community Mother’s Day breakfast served at the church at 8:00 AM following the “sun up” service.

This Sunday, May 11^th represents the third great, major Christian celebration. The day is, in a very real sense, the culminating event in the Revelation which began on Christmas, seemed to end on Easter but continued in 50 days with the divine bestowal of the spirit of holy truth.

For information please phone 563-2278.

We're back to nice weather again. Tomorrow is supposed to be nice, too, so we will all have a chance to get outside and do more yard work.

The following was sent to me today, and it might be of interest to some of you.

The Rural Development Administration of the US Department of Agriculture has a Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency grant and loan program for agriculture and rural small businesses.

Information is available at:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/index.html

We delivered some of the Joe's Pond Association newsletters today to those we knew were here on W. Shore Road, and left those with West Danville addresses at the store for you to pick up. The others were put in the mail today. We haven't had the CD from Evelyn yet so can't get it onto the web site, but should have that soon. In the meantime, those of you who are members and who wish to have access to the secure on-line directory should contact me or Tom Dente.

I heard peepers for the first time tonight - they've probably been singing before, but I hadn't happened to hear them. Also today when I was outside raking, I'm pretty sure I had one or two black flies investigate me. They particularly like to get in my hair or behind my ears. Aren't they supposed to wait until the cherry blossoms are out? Or maybe that's when brook trout are supposed to start biting. As usual, I'm confused. But I know there's some rule about things like that . . .

I was visited today by Richard Petit from North Fayston. Mr. Petit is looking for stereoscopic photos done by C. Goodrich of Plainfield, VT. These would be from the years between 1877 and 1881, and Goodrich took many of his photos in this area. Mr. Petit is gathering originals or will make copies of originals and gathering the information for the Vermont Historical Society. I had a couple that are in the Cabot Historical Society collection that I was able to scan for him, but mainly he was hoping I might be able to identify some that he already had. The one here is of the Georg Hoyt farm in Cabot, later owned by the Roman Kurz family. This farm was on the land in back of the Willey Building and when the Kurz family owned the property, they build a cheese factory there. (This was an independent business and not part of the now famous Cabot Cheese plant.) Buildings and scenery have changed in the last 130 years since Mr. Goodrich was traveling through Vermont towns with his camera, but now and again someone recognizes something and identifies the photo. If you happen to come upon any of the C. Goodrich stereoscopic views, let me know and I'll pass the information on to Mr. Petit.

From the Cool North Country -

And I do mean COOL. The thermometer hasn't moved out of the 40's here at Joe's Pond for a few days now, and when we see weather coming at us from up Walden way we don't know if it's going to be rain or - dare I say it? SNOW. I don't think there's much snow left in the mountains, but as you blog readers know, we've had a few flurries lately and quite a bit of rain that no doubt added to the high water levels in some places. It's typical spring weather, but feels too cold after the untypical warm weather of a couple weeks ago.

The only evidence of high water damage or problems I've heard about locally is that two different docks floated away. Perhaps there have been more items lost that are still floating around or are beached in the wrong place, but none reported. If you find anything or if something of yours is missing, let us know and we'll post it on our "Lost & Found".

Fred is in the process of updating our "Lost, Found, Free, Wanted, For Sale" listings. You'll find that page listed on the "Joe's Pond Association" drop-down menu. We have some new items posted and we're waiting to hear from a few people who may not have let us know their ad can come off. We're always happy when someone e-mails or calls to tell us whatever their listing was worked and we can remove it.

I'm not sure we helped on this success story, but we're happy for the McClures Some of you may know Rev. Joe McClure and his wife, Jean, who were looking for a place to rent for five months in the summer so they could come to Joe's Pond or nearby vicinity to be with their family. I just talked with Jean and they've only recently found a place on Oneida Rd. We're hoping they will join some of our Joe's Pond social events over the summer.

I'm wondering if anyone out there knows about the "ROMEO" club. It's a local thing, and maybe it's a "you had to be there" type question, but I think someone will know . . . I'll wait for an answer.

I had this come to my desk a few minutes ago:

Please note that the Reducing Your Fuel Costs workshop at the Danville Town Hall May 10th from 9-1 will operate in a fair-style one-on-one interaction between participants and presenters. This means that participants may come any time during the 9-1 window. The Danville High School Junior Class will be on hand with snacks, drinks, and lunch to raise funds for Danville ’s Junior Prom.

Information provided by Tom Ashley

Also, the Road Run/Walk is scheduled for May 17th in Cabot. For more information, contact the race directors, Sue and Rob at sue.freeburn@yahoo.com
or call them at 563-3155. This is for the benefit of Faith in Action. To register on-line, go to Register

Joe's Pond Association Members, please note: - Your spring newsletter is ready for distribution. It will be available Monday morning (not too early, but by 9 o'clock or so) at Hasting's Store for you to pick up if you go in for your mail; for those of you who have not yet arrived, or who don't pick your copy up within a day or so, I'll be putting yours in the mail. This is what this issue looks like, so be on the watch for it. It is smaller this time, 6 x 9, but you can't overlook the cover photo of the pond - it's a great shot by Ray Richer. There is an envelope inside the newsletter to make it easy for you to pay your dues - before July 1, please.

For those of you who aren't JPA members, the newsletter will be posted on the web site within a day or so. www.joespondvermont.com You'll find it on the Joe's Pond Association drop-down menu.

Message from Homer this afternoon -

Hi Jane,

I have a dock caught under my deck on the rocks. Has legs on the inside end. Maybe Talbots ?

We don't know for sure who belongs to either of these docks - Evelyn hasn't told if me the one at their place at Loon Cove has been claimed, so contact either the Richers (563-3083) or Homer (563-2586) of you are missing one.

Folks are coming back to the pond in spite of our cool weather. While we haven't had any of the really warm weather we had a couple of weeks ago, things are coming along as usual. Fred and I walked on W. Shore Road today and I spotted red trillium budded but not blossomed, and lots of adder's tongues leaves - no blooms. I looked for mayflowers, but didn't spot any. I have favorite spots to find them in the woods, but it's been so wet we haven't walked in the woods at all.

Bill and Diane Rossi got back yesterday from their trip to New Zealand. They had a wonderful experience, they said. They were busy doing lawn work when we saw them. Next door to them Ray and Cyndi Rouleau are back, and down the road a bit, Phil and Joyce Rogers are here, too. I had a message tonight from Walter Ruf:

Hi, I just want you to know that the ice out contest was news in the Sarasota-Herald this week!We are only about 1600 miles from Joe's pond!We shall hopefully be up before Memorial Day weekend,see you then,Best regards to you and Fred, Mimi & Walter.

Anyone getting back in the next few days should beware that the dirt roads are still not in great shape. I heard last week that North Shore Rd is better now, but we haven't been over there recently. I can tell you that W. Shore Road is much better - in spots! Trouble is, there are still places where you need to go very slowly or you could take the undercarriage of your car out. The worst is the hill at Gardner's. There was a bad mud hole there and the town dumped several loads of gravel in it, but it was too muddy to try to level much, so now the spot is not muddy, but has huge moguls and anyone coming from Rt. 2 at a fast clip could really do some harm to their vehicle. Apparently the frost is still coming out there, or there is a spring surfacing that makes that spot still wet and I'm guessing the road crews don't want to disturb anything for fear it'll just turn to mud again. Maybe I'm giving them too much leeway. We were happy to see they'd graded the other spots, one below our house and a couple more by Masons and in front of Decker's, but were surprised that the Gardner's hill wasn't touched . . .

We're glad to know folks are drifting back to the pond, for that means summer cannot be far behind.

Good Morning!

Not a bad day here. We aren't shedding our jackets just yet as the temp is in the 40's and there is a brisk breeze out there. With snow in some pockets in the hills, things are being kept cool.

I have a couple of things to report that may be of interest:

Cabot Public Library Renovations are skewing library services:

Library Closed Tuesday, May 6; Limited Service May 8 — May 23 in the Computer/Reading Room only. The main library room will be closed.
A selection of books, video and audio books for adults and children will be available in the computer/reading room. Internet Access and Interlibrary Loan will be available.

Hours: Tuesday 1– 7, Thursday 3-6,
Friday 9-12 & 3-6 and Saturday 9-2

We appreciate your patience while we renovate our library shelving. If you have questions call
Connie at 563-2721, or email at cabotlibrary@yahoo.com

*****

SUNDAY MAY 4TH AT CABOT UNITED CHURCH

Beginning at 10:30 this Sunday morning: the special music of Ellie & Susannnah Blachly, Bruce Wescott & otherswill make this a memorable morning. At 11:45, following the service, Bothfeld farm will host its annual community SUGAR ON SNOW PARTy while the Faith In Action COMMUNITY NURSE [RN] will be offering free health screenings and health issues counseling. Everyone is always welcome!

For information phone 563-2278

I want to let you see the contrast from the beginning of this week to today. I took the first picture on Tuesday, and Fred took the second one this morning after he had visited Otto, Jamie & Marie's puppy.

Otto has a bit of coon hound in him (can you tell?) and has a big, booming voice! He greets everyone enthusiastically. He's a great pup and we think he'll develop into a really big dog when he gets his full growth. I think he's around six months old now and his voice is still developing - along with the rest of him. He won't be a hunting dog, but I expect he'll have lots of Joe's Pond experiences this summer, and a far different life from his ancestors.

Here's the photo I told you about! Recognize Homer - he's announcing the winners of the Boat Parade (1973 or 1974).

Kathy (Miller) Goldman told me her family rented the Chase cottage in the 1970's and she sailed with Homer Fitts in the Sunfish Races that summer as "leeward watch" - or as she said, "the second person in the boat who's skinny"! She is now a lawyer with two sons, one of whom will be a freshman playing lacrosse at UVM next year.

Kathy would love to hear from anyone who may remember her from back then. Also, she's hoping she may be able to visit Joe's Pond again soon. She told me she was last here in 1987. A lot has changed since then; but a lot is the same, too.

Happy May 1st!

Not exactly warm here today, but the good news is - it isn't snowing, either!

We've had quite a few JPA members drifting back to the pond today. Bill and Diane are back from their trip to New Zealand, Ray and Cyndi Rouleau arrived either today or late yesterday, George and Judy Anderson are here, also Tom and Camilla Dente. There may be more, and I know within a matter of days there will be lots of others arriving.

We've had a nice job done on our road today, so West Shore Road is very, very good. No more mud to get mired in or humps to send your car airborne. When we came home around noon, Cabot's end was being worked, but Danville's was still pretty bad. I'm sure they'll get it done soon, though. Miles and miles of back roads to fix in both towns.

In case you haven't noticed, there are some new items on the home page menu at the left side of the screen. You'll see various interviews that Fred has been able to tape and post for you to hear. I had a note today forwarded by Dave Covell from Kathy (Miller) Goldman whose family rented a cottage here in the 1970's and was remembering the boat parade. She had a couple of interesting photos I've asked permission to post for you. I hope to hear from her soon.

I've also had interesting notes from some Canadians who heard the radio broadcast last evening and I'm sure we'll hear from them about Ice-Out tickets next year.

Here's a notice about Green Up Day that's coming right up - this Saturday:

Green Up Day Bike Collection

As part of Green Up Day on Saturday, May 3, the Cabot Roamers on Tour youth biking program will be collecting used and repairable bicycles at the recycling center in Cabot village. Bikes that are beyond repair can be disposed of in the metals bin at the site. Vounteers will be available to evaluate bikes and help with unloading.

You may not have a bike hanging around that you want to get shed of, but I hope you'll get out this weekend and pick up whatever litter there is on the camp roads around the pond. Some years there's been too much snow - or people have had to work in snow squalls, and that's not fun, but if the weather is nice, it can be fun to get out there and make the roadsides look neat again. I'm sorry to say it's unlikely we'll ever be able to educate people to not throw their beer cans, coffee cups and lunch bags out the windows of their vehicles, but it's no fun to walk where there's all the junky stuff, either, so we'll have our plastic bags with us when we walk.