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!

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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.

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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.