We had word from Brad Towne this morning that his cottage on Otis Drive was broken into and a television was taken. He was fortunate not much damage was done. Here's what he wrote:

Jane,

FYI:

Our camp was broken into, most likely between 11/9 and 11/19. The thieves ripped a 26 inch Visio LCD TV from its wall mount bracket. Fortunately , that was all that was taken and there was no other damage. They “gently” jimmied the door so that I didn’t even realize we had been broken into until I saw that the TV was gone. The State Police investigated and think that these were likely relative amateurs who saw the TV through a window and went after it. The State police officer also thinks they probably did this in broad daylight. We’re installing a security system now.

Brad Towne

This is very unfortunate. We've not had a lot of this sort of thing in the recent past, although from time to time there is a break-in or items are missing from storage areas, lawns, etc. We don't know if there is a connection, but about a week ago the alarm at a cottage on West Shore Road went off. There was no evidence of tampering or anything wrong when authorities got there, but it makes us all more wary.

This spring I had a report that the Keenes lost some items over the winter, and we have learned it's not safe to leave things such as kayaks or canoes or other items with any worth outside or in unlocked storage sheds or under porches, etc. That makes it easy for thieves to come in the winter when not many people are around and just help themselves.

Unfortunately, there will probably be more of this sort of behavior as money gets tighter and jobs are scarcer. We've had more bank holdups and robberies at convenience stores in the past year or two than I ever remember before. The best anyone can do to protect themselves is, first put everything away, lock it up and block windows so would-be thieves cannot see what you have inside. Install a security system that screeches loudly so neighbors will hear and at the same time will notify police that something is going on that shouldn't be. It's important to give a close and trusted neighbor or the authorities a key and instructions about shutting off and resetting the alarm, too. I've heard about these things going off in the middle of the night and nobody could get in to shut the thing off. Neighbors are not happy when that happens. So, when you install your security system, be sure the proper authority has all the information to deal with it if it goes off.

We are expecting a really cold night tonight. The thermometer has been dropping steadily since about 2 o'clock and is now at 24, down from around 50 degrees. It may be a good time to try out my wonderful (I hope) window quilts, although I was thinking we'd probably only use them when it was below zero . . . we're anxious to see if they seem to make a difference, but when we're heating with wood, it's a little harder to judge. Fewer trips to the woodshed I guess would be the goal.

We went to Cabot this morning. There's a problem with the Veterans' Memorial plaque that was installed a number of years ago - a couple names were inadvertently left off, and we're hoping to be able to come up with a solution. I was surprised when we got to the Willey Building, where the monument is on the front lawn, and found workmen installing a new roof. They are removing the cedar shingles and replacing them with a metal roof. The Willey Building was finished in 1921, so the roof might have been replaced at least once. I doubt it is the original roof. I should have asked the workers, but I was dealing with the area being taped off where the monument is and finally got permission to cross the barrier and work stopped as I was escorted by one of the workmen onto the front lawn to take the pictures I needed. This is the stone and bronze plaque.

On the way home, Fred got some pictures of the mountains. This is looking east at the White Mountain range. The second picture is looking west at the Mt. Mansfield-Stowe ski area. Looks like there was good skiing there today.