I just learned there were about 20 grave stones tipped over and broken at the Elm Street Cemetery in Cabot Village last night. It is always a mystery to me what possible fun or personal reward there could be for someone to do that. Unfortunately, this happens all too often in towns everywhere. Cabot has had its share of cemetery vandals over the years, and for a small town, more than its share of other crimes, as well. This is a photo taken some time ago of part of the Elm Street Cemetery, also known as the Village Cemetery. It's a lovely spot, very well kept, with some very nice grave stones and some that are very old and fragile. The section in this photo is a newer part of the cemetery. I don't know what section was vandalized.

Last week someone on the other side of town had a scare when an unknown man came to her door and claimed his car had broken down. She didn't let him in, but did let him use a telephone. He asked if she lived alone - she doesn't - and he left, but then returned. There was no confrontation, but she was unnerved. A friend told me about the incident and warned me to keep my doors locked.

There was a fire at a seasonal camp last week on Coits Pond Road in Cabot that has been ruled suspicious. Although we live in a generally quiet and truly beautiful area, there are some incidents like these that mar our peaceful, bucolic existence. So despite your inclination, because you're in Vermont, to leave your home or camp unlocked if you run to the post office or leave for a few hours, think again and lock up, please.

We're finishing off another summery day with some fairly heavy rain tonight. The temperature readings were well into the 80's again today, as predicted. Summer has come late, but we hope it remains for a while. We're over the half-way mark now, heading towards autumn. August is almost here and kids will be heading back to school - summer vacation over. For us at Joe's Pond this year, summer came during the last week of July, and we will now begin watching for the tell-tale signs of fall, the turning of the maples. We have a couple trees in back of our house that are showing signs of color, but I think it's stress from too much water. We haven't been able to walk in our woods all summer (?) because it's been so soggy.