TRAFFIC ALERT

Danville Route 2 Project

Project:  Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

TUESDAY, MAY 01, 2012

TUESDAY, MAY 1^ST –

All routes around the Village Green will be open.  Park and Peacham will be reduced to alternating one-way traffic. 

Passumpsic Bank’s front parking lot will be closed as well as the Danville Service Station’s Parking lot so contaminated soils can be removed.  The bank will be OPEN for BUSINESS.  Customers are encouraged to use the bank’s rear parking lot.  The Danville Service Station will be closed for the day. 

Crews will continue installing drainage pipe at Walden Hill Road and work their way west. This work will require alternating one-way traffic around the work zone.

Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regard to this project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.

UDAG EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Application packets must be postmarked on or before May 1st and mailed to the Cabot UDAG Scholarship Committee (P.O. Box 125, Cabot, VT 05647).
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.

Attached is the application in two different formats.

Thanks!

Ann Cookson, Chair UDAG Scholarship Committee

This is what we awoke to yesterday morning.  I measured 2 inches of snow on our deck.  It was almost all gone by noon, but even today there are some shaded spots that are still white, and the thermometer is staying around 40 degrees with a really cold north wind.  The daffies survived very well, with only a few that have bent stems; most of them perked up after the snow melted.  Last night was cold again, in the low to mid-twenties.  We need to remind ourselves it's still April in this very unusual year of really strange weather cycles.

Today we have beautiful sunshine, but not much warming.  It is nice in the sun if you can find a place where the wind doesn't hit.  We have been working outside a little bit this morning, and it was very nice on our lower lawn where we dug up some rhubarb to take to Bill and Monika.  Monika had never tasted rhubarb, but after she had some here last summer, she really likes it a lot, so we're giving them some to start at their house.  Not everyone likes it, and it does take lots of sugar - which right now is on the list of foods we should eat sparingly.  I think most of us grew up knowing that sugar is not good for us - our mothers told us it would rot our teeth, and it has been blamed for kids being hyper - but now scientists are saying it could be the cause of a good share of other illnesses - diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer.  We've always known excess sugar makes us fat, but there's lots more to it than that - and it's very addictive.  There was a segment about it on 60 Minutes recently.

Unfortunately, it doesn't matter, according to scientists, whether we are sweetening with refined sugar, molasses, honey or maple syrup - it's all bad for us.  Sugar is sugar, no matter where it comes from.  It is used to replace fat to make food taste better - just like some foods have extra salt to make them taste better once the fat is removed.  Turns out, perhaps fat is a lesser evil.  On the other hand, if we wait a while, there will be another study that may contradict this.  It's hard to tell, and like most people, I try not to go overboard with any of these things, and while I may restrict my diet somewhat, mostly I try to be reasonable and moderate.


So I'll give Monika and Bill some rhubarb - they can use it or not.

 We're definitely feeling the cold around here today.  It's been snowing off and on all day, and is actually sticking in some places.  Right now my thermometer is reading 31 degrees, and it's going to get a lot colder tonight.  Tomorrow won't be warm, either.  This is a cruel joke on us after another stretch of pretty nice weather last week.  

So far we've had no flooding this spring.  Fred took this picture of the dam in West Danville yesterday, and as you can see, the water level is good.  Usually this time of year it would be rushing over the top of the dam.  So that's the good news about our spring weather.  We shouldn't complain - we've had some nice stretches in between the messy stuff - but most of us have been thoroughly spoiled and are ready for warm weather to get here and stay.

This second picture is the overlook at the dam.  This was made when they replaced the penstock. 

This project seems to have turned out pretty well, but the other day we heard on WCAX that the Route 2 Project in Danville will take another three years to complete.  I hope they were counting the year we're in so it will be over in the fall of 2014.  Even that seems excessive.

A few more people have arrived back to Joe's Pond, and I feel almost apologetic that they are having to endure cold, miserable weather, but I have no control over it, which is probably a good thing because if it were up to me, the temperature would never get above 75 degrees.  Fred is anxiously observing our new boiler to see if the operation changes as the temperature falls.  It's supposed to "read" the outdoor temperature and give us heat accordingly.  At least one of us is happy we're having cold weather again.

Tom and Ellie, Fred's brother and his wife, are coming tomorrow.  They were in Colorado again this winter, and just got back a little before Easter.  We're looking forward to seeing them.  I went out and picked a big bouquet of daffodils - not just because they are coming to visit, but because I expect they will be frozen stiff by morning, so I thought I'd better bring some in to enjoy.  There are a few lilac buds just starting - I haven't dared look at the apple trees, but the two or three nights of below freezing weather that are coming up could severely impact the fruit crop.   After a poor maple syrup year, farmers really don't need a bad apple season, too.  Life can be tough, for sure.

Maple Festivals in St. Johnsbury and also St. Albans this weekend - it will be cool, but hopefully lots of people will still get out for them.

TRAFFIC ALERT

Danville Route 2 Project

Project:  Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

 REVISED - VILLAGE GREEN STREET CLOSURES

MONDAY, APRIL 30^TH

Due to unforeseen conditions while installing duct banks, crews will need to continue to work in the area of the Post Office on Park Street before we can start work on Peacham as planned.  Thank you for your continued patience and we apologize for any inconveniences.

MONDAY- 4/30/12 –

For the morning hours, crews will continue to install utility duct banks at the corner of Peacham Road and Park Street near the Danville Post Office.  Peacham Road between Route 2 and Park Street is reduced to alternating one-way traffic.  Access to the Post Office from Peacham Road will be closed due to the excavation. Motorists who are going to the Danville Post Office from Route 2 will need to use Smith Street.  This section of roadway will re-open to alternating one-way traffic for the afternoon.

In the afternoon, crews will close Peacham Road between Route 2 and Park Street so they can excavate across the road.  Park and Smith Streets will be open to traffic.

Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regard to this project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.

DANVILLE ROUTE 2 PROJECT

REVISED VILLAGE GREEN STREET CLOSURE

FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2012

Friday, crews will continue to install utility duct banks at the corner of Peacham Road and Park Street near the Danville Post Office.  Peacham Road between Route 2 and Park Street is reduced to alternating one-way traffic.  Access to the Post Office from Peacham Road is closed due to the excavation. Motorists who are going to the Danville Post Office from Route 2 will need to use Smith Street. 

Work Update

Danville Route 2 Project

Project:  Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

WEEK OF 4/30/12

The work plan for Route 2 this week will have crews concentrating on the West end of the project between the Danville School and the end of the project. 

Crews will continue installing drainage pipe at Walden Hill Road and work their way west. This work will require alternating one-way traffic around the work zone.

Village Green Street Closures-

Monday, April 30^th - Peacham Road will be closed from Route 2 to Park Street while crews excavate across Peacham Road.  Motorists are encouraged to use Smith Street and Park Street as alternate Routes around the Green. 

For the next few weeks while crews are installing utility duct banks, the streets around the Village Green will intermittently close as crews work their way across the area.  Daily traffic alerts will be issued to the public and posted on www.roadworkupdates.com by late afternoon of each day as to the closures scheduled for the following day.  Motorists will be re-directed to alternate routes around the Green and all businesses around the Green will be accessible while this work occurs.

Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regard to this project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.

I told Ray and Cyndy Rouleau we'd try to warm up the weather for them since they just got home and find it a bit chilly.  Then I looked out my office window and it was snowing!  So much for my warm-up efforts!  

So far this hasn't been much of a day - just about like yesterday when we had rain, snow, a little hail, some sun, and generally stay-inside-and-read-a-good-book sort of weather.  Last night we had a frost - which shouldn't have been a surprise, really, but still we didn't expect to look out and see our green grass all frosty white.  It was a light frost - low temperature according to my weather station was 31.2F.  I think the high was something like 46 yesterday.  Right now it's snowing again - a mini blizzard for a minute or so, and then nothing.  I suppose it's sprinkling rain, but it's hard to tell from inside.  I just took this photo looking towards Walden - that's a snow squall moving down the valley, headed right for Joe's Pond!  We need the moisture badly, in whatever form it takes, so we won't do our sun dance just yet.  Sorry, Ray.

The lights are on at 1483 West Shore Rd.------ The Rouleau's are glad to be back even if the temperature is on the cool side. We love Joe's Pond !!
           
Ray and Cyndy Rouleau

TRAFFIC ALERT

Danville Route 2 Project

Project:  Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

 

PARK STREET ACCESS CLOSURE UPDATE

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

 Park Street will remain closed to thru traffic today while crews continue to work on duct banks.  Access will be provided to local traffic trying to get to homes or businesses on Park Street.

Traffic control will be present to re-route motorists to Peacham Road.

Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regard to this project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.

 I had a note from Suzi Swanson today.  They came to open camp about a week ago and found they'd had visitors during the winter.  Here's what Suzi wrote:

Chip and I were up semi-opening the camp on Friday and Saturday, and noted that the beavers were quite busy over the fall and winter months.  They chewed down one of the two birch trees in front of our camp and they made impressive reinforcements to their waterway along the rail trail.  Quite artistic, really.  Almost a bell curve.  Their lodge is also
quite a bit taller and wider - a virtual beaver apartment complex.  We watched a few of them swim around on Friday evening collecting various things and bringing them back to their home.  They obviously were not disturbed by the warmer than usual winter.

It's no surprise the beavers would be working there - they have always been active in the channel at the north end of the pond.  They have also been active at other locations.  Last year we saw they had cut several trees between Jack and Sue LaGue's and Bill and Sandy Ricker's. 

When Fred and I lived at our camp at the intersection of Barre Ave. and W. Shore Road, there were beavers in the brook that runs past Ned and Caroline Hamilton's.  That was when Jed Rulfo was our neighbor, before the Hamilton's bought the property.  Jed had a little vegetable garden and a garage on the south side of the road, but most of the land was marsh.  The brook ran through the swamp and marshes that stretched back towards Molly's Pond, and there were several beaver houses and dams.  

It seemed that for a long time the beavers were content to work along the brook in their natural habitat and didn't bother anyone, except during the fall or early spring they'd sometimes pay us a visit and nab a tasty tree or two near the mouth of the brook.  Jed lost a mountain ash tree he was very proud of, and we lost a couple of ornamental apple trees and some maples.  We wrapped our trees loosely with chicken wire four or five feet up the trunks, and enjoyed watching them frolic in the pond in early spring as the ice was receding.   

Eventually they moved down the brook and  tried to dam up the upper side of the culvert under West Shore Road between our place and Hamilton's.  We knew if they did, the town would come and shoot them, so Fred and I would tear apart the dam almost every day before we went to work, and within a day or so it would be built up again.  We played that game for some time until we realized our tearing down their dams was not discouraging them.  We tried to have them removed to some other location, but trapping and moving them was more than anyone wanted to bother with.  Beavers were rampant and considered expendable; the price for pelts was down, so nobody bothered to trap them, the solution was to shoot them.

 That fall, one of our neighbors who had also lost several trees, shot at least a couple of them, and the town may have shot any that were left, we never knew for sure, we only knew they were gone.  

There is at least one trapper I know of these days - one of the Ackermann boys, who lives up the road from us.  He told me he will trap and move the critters, and has done so for several folks around the pond.

No snow - yet!  It got pretty cold overnight, and this morning was windy, wet and raw with temps in the low 40's.  We had to go into St. Johnsbury and it was a few degrees warmer there and didn't seem to be raining quite as much, and now we're home my outdoor thermometer is reading 49 degrees, so things are improving.  We desperately need the rain - and would even consider snow a blessing at this point.  The forecast is for cool wet weather for the rest of the week, so we may see things begin to green up more and change.  St. Johnsbury is at least a couple weeks ahead of us - trees blossoming and grass nicely green.

Here is a report from Francine Perkins:

TRAFFIC ALERT

Danville Route 2 Project

Project:  Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

 PARK STREET ACCESS CLOSURE

MONDAY & TUESDAY, April 23^rd & April 24^th

 Crews have closed Park Street to thru traffic today and will continue the closure tomorrow while working on duct banks.  Access will be provided to local traffic trying to get to homes or businesses on Park Street.  Traffic control will be present to re-route motorists to Peacham Road.

 Things looked pretty muddy and miserable in Danville this morning.  It was raining pretty hard when we went down through the village, but was better on the way back.   We don't envy those people working out there in this kind of weather - they all looked cold, even though they were bundled up with rain gear.  And of course where they are digging is all mud. 

Our road is wet, but no mud holes - however, the mud splashes up onto the car, and since Fred washed it yesterday (that's probably why we got rain late yesterday afternoon!), he took a few minutes when we got home to wash off the spatters.  I think it's a lost cause because this weather is going to be with us for at least another four days, I think.


We're going out to walk Jamie and Marie's hill in a few minutes.  The rain has let up so it's just sprinkles now, so it shouldn't be too bad.  We got about an inch yesterday and I measured another .90 inch this morning in the CoCoRaHS rain gauge.  My other gauge, the one that has a clicker that's activated when the rain builds in the gauge, shows we had just under 1.5 inches.  I don't know what that's about - it was pretty much the same time period, but perhaps just the difference in gauges.  I reported the lesser amount since that is the official measuring device.  We had strong northeast winds - my station reported a little over 10 mph, but it seems not to be in the best location for the strongest winds around here, so we'll be moving that.


Right now it is brightening up as if the sun is going to come out, so I think we'd better do our run/walk NOW.

The host for this blog, blogger.com, has "updated" and now I have to learn a whole bunch of new stuff and hunt for things in order to post.  I know I'll get used to it, but the old way was so convenient, and I could almost do it in the dark - actually lots of times I've been writing on the blog when I was half asleep, as you could probably tell by the spelling errors.  I tend to wait until late evening to write here.  I don't think you readers will see much difference, although it may load more quickly - and eventually I may do a redesign so it will look different.  First I need to master this part of it.

Like so many things these days, just when we get used to something, it changes.  It has happened with our automobiles, phones, televisions, computers, all kinds of kitchen equipment like dish washers, refrigerators, microwaves, stoves - they have dials and buttons and talk back to us.  I suppose people who live alone might  appreciate the conversation part of our modern gadgets and appliances, though.  Then there are the mechanisms that just simply don't work - no voice, bells or whistles to let you know you didn't get it right.  I ordered a jazzy indoor/outdoor thermometer a few months ago and no manner of setting and resetting could get that thing to show numbers correctly.  There were always one or two of those straight lines that form numbers missing.  I sent it back.  Then there is our new boiler.  It has more dials and settings than a locomotive and stubborn as a mule until everything is set exactly right - it reads the outside temperature and if it's too warm outside, it won't start up no matter how high you set the equally confusing programmable thermostat.  Used to be all I had to do was turn the 'stat up and the baseboards began to crackle as hot water coursed through them.  It could be 85 degrees outside and it still worked.  But not this beast.  It's super efficient, you see.  It has a setting for winter and a setting for summer; nothing for clammy damp spring. But Fred is learning how to manage it, and maybe he will be able to teach me, if I can tolerate the frustration of it all.  I don't have lots of patience with machines that are too complicated or don't work properly.

Speaking of machines, work is proceeding full tilt in Danville.  The Green is torn up and looks terrible, but I guess it has to happen if things are ever going to get put right again and the restoration plans executed.

We cruised right through without any wait at all.  Just happened to hit it right, probably.  It did seem as if there either wasn't much traffic in either direction, so perhaps summer vacation traffic will cause more of a problem. 

 

 The top picture was in front of the library.  There was a deep ditch and the road to Peacham was closed off.  In the next picture, they are continuing with ditching, and various parts of the Green had piles of dirt, big machines and pieces of culvert and various pipes piled up. 


The nice weather has changed, so that may slow things down a little on the construction.  In fact, we're told to expect some overnight snow - 2-3 inches I heard earlier this evening.  It is far different that the nice weather we've been having.  In spite of being very dry, the grass is greening up and the trees are all budded.  I even spotted some cherry blossoms when we were in Littleton the other day.  We noticed this couple enjoying the sunshine at the village landing in West Danville.  

 I've been working outside a lot this week and have been hearing the partridges drumming.  Spring is mating season for them, like lots of wild things, and flapping their wings against a fallen log is how partridges attract a mate.  As we were coming down West Shore Road after leaving Route 2, there was a partridge strutting across the road.  We had to slow to let him pass, and as he headed over the bank into the underbrush, he ruffled up nicely to have his picture taken. 

We'll have to wait to see if our world is white again tomorrow morning.  It may be a cruel trick to play on us after such a nice stretch of spring weather, but it is still April, so shouldn't be a big surprise.

Work Update

Danville Route 2 Project

Project:  Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

WEEK OF 4/23/12

The work plan for Route 2 this week will have crews concentrating on the West end of the project between the Danville School and the end of the project. 

Crews will continue installing drainage pipe at Walden Hill Road and work their way west. This work will require alternating one-way traffic around the work zone.

Duct bank work will continue on Park Street and then crews will move onto Peacham Road.  Like last week, access to these streets may be temporarily interrupted.  Motorists will be re-directed to alternate routes around the Green and all businesses around the Green will be accessible while this work occurs.

Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regard to this project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.

Can you see that beautiful butterfly on our birch tree? Fred got this picture this afternoon. We thought it was pretty early for butterflies, but there it was, probably enjoying some birch sap in the warm sunshine. I hope the poor thing doesn't get caught in a snow storm this weekend.

I had a comment on yesterday's slide show - a viewer saw what she said looked like a window in the middle of the fifth slide. Turns out it is actually just a glimpse of the pond through the trees and there happened to be a twig above and some saplings along both sides that made it look like framework. I think she must have an artist's eye to have seen that "window" where there was none.

We aren't able to see the pond in many places now, and especially when the leaves are out, but from where we were yesterday, high on the hill on the west side of the pond, we could see the water through the trees in a few spots. As the years have passed, the trees have grown up so the pond is disappearing from view. Our neighbor above us has pretty much clear cut the woods below their house, so I expect their view has improved except for the trees that are closer to the pond below them. They are a good bit higher than we are.

Speaking of pictures, I contacted the Caledonian Record and they were kind enough to send me a copy of the picture taken by their reporter, Taylor Reed, of Judy Lavely and George Anderson from Saturday's Ice-Out check presentation. It appeared in the Wednesday edition, and I thought was a great shot of both of them.
We were glad George was on hand to make the presentation. Most of our officers are still basking in the sunshine of the deep south. They are missing some pretty nice weather right here, actually!

I went to Cabot Village this morning to deliver a newsletter to the Cabot Village Store because they had an ad, and to the town clerks of Cabot and Walden - plus some for each of their select board
members. We began including them on our newsletter mailing list a few years ago. The three towns that border Joe's Pond, Cabot, Walden and Danville, each contribute to our boat inspection program, and we appreciate the cooperation.

On the road to Walden, I went by a farm with all these cattle outside. Some of them were kicking up their heels, enjoying the sunshine and warmth. A little further along the same road on the opposite side, I got this picture of a lovely sugar woods.
Can you imagine how lovely it must be to have a home right in the middle of all those lovely maple trees? Nice shade in the summer, beautiful fall colors, and still plenty of sun during the winter months. Plus, they seem to be pretty well sheltered from the north and west winds.

I came home over Brickett's Crossing Road and found one of Cabot's trucks spraying in one of the fields just beyond the cemetery. There is some discussion right now about exactly what the waste liquid is they are spraying. It used to be they sprayed whey left over from cheese making, and that wasn't exactly terrific - smells to high heaven, especially when the sun begins to heat and rot it - but it made the grass grow, I guess. Now there are protests going on saying the material they are spraying is a mix of chemicals used in sanitizing the plant and equipment used in making the cheese, which could be pretty bad stuff to have running off into streams or even to have saturate grass our animals eat and we walk through. I didn't smell anything today, and couldn't tell what it was coming out of the pipe. Everything is suspect these days, but for now, it's just a picture of work getting done on a beautiful April day.

This has been another lovely day, but quite a bit cooler. It would have been a perfect day to work outside, but I had to give my back a rest, so decided to putter around inside instead. After lunch I could stand it no longer - I had to get out into the sunshine. We took a walk in the woods in back of our house - steep hillside most of the way, but really nice this time of the year because with no foliage you can really see the lay of the land and check out any winter damage, and the biggest plus is there are no bugs! It is too early for black flies, and whatever other insects are out and about don't bite. I've put our pictures into a short slide show - not exciting stuff, and I'm sorry you won't be able to hear the birds, the woodpeckers drumming, and the crackle of dry limbs and last fall's leaves underfoot. It is very peaceful in the woods. I was hoping to find some mayflowers or daphne, but I guess it's too early for them, too.

Back home, our daffodils are blooming and this morning I even found a little violet peeking out from between the stones on the garden path. But we know it's still very early and we need rain to get things really started growing much. However, it seems that by the weekend we could be getting snow . . . but we can't complain too much. We've had some really nice stretches of weather - back in March and again just this week, and it should come as no surprise if we get snow. Not that anyone will like it much at this point, but we won't be surprised.

I looked back at some pictures we took on April 18, 2008. I'd forgotten, but apparently we had lots of snow that year. The ice in the pond was just beginning to break up, and the brooks were gushing with runoff from the heavy snow. We hadn't begun mud season yet - this picture is West Shore Road looking at the top of the hill by Gardner's - and below you'll see there was damage from the heavy snow in lots of places.

See how fortunate we are this year? Mud season wasn't as long as some years, and there was almost no damage from heavy snow.

The ice went out on April 25 in 2008, so it must have warmed up quickly.

Every year is a little different. Mother Nature likes to keep us guessing.

TRAFFIC ALERT

Danville Route 2 Project

Project: Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

PARK STREET ACCESS CLOSURE UPDATE

WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2012

Crews are planning to reopen access to Park Street by this evening instead of leaving it closed through the night as previously expected.

PEACHAM ROAD ACCESS CLOSURE

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Access to Peacham Road from Route 2 will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, April 19, 2012 for the entire day while crews excavate to install utility duct banks. Crews are planning for this closure to start during early morning hours and continue throughout the day with the expectation that Peacham Road access will be re-opened by the evening.

Flaggers will be present to re-route motorists to Park Street during daytime work hours while Peacham access is closed.

Smith Street will remain open as well through the day Thursday as an alternate route for motorists. Traffic control will not be present at Smith Street however, motorists may use it at their own discretion.

Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regard to this project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.

PARK STREET ACCESS CLOSURE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Access to Park Street from Route 2 will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, April 18, 2012 for the entire day while crews excavate to install utility duct banks. The closure is expected to last through Wednesday night with access reopened Thursday morning.

Flaggers will be present to re-route motorists to Peacham Road during daytime work hours while Park Street access is closed.

Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or conc

This nice note came from Dorothea Penar today. You will remember I mentioned the Penar's son, Geoffrey a little while back here on the blog, and there is an item about him in the JPA newsletter that I put in the mail today. Here is more on Geoffrey:

Geoffrey will be performing in Vermont this spring. First he will be a soloist with the North Country Chorus the first weekend in May. In June, he will be one of the emerging artists performing in the Green Mountain Opera festival. He will be in their main stage performance of La Bohme along with other concerts. Over 400 singers apply yearly to the Festival’s emerging artist program; Geoff is very honored to have been selected.

All information about the upcoming performances can be found on the North Country Chorus and Green Mountain Opera websites and on Geoff’s website. www.geoffreypenar.com

I went to Geoffrey's website and listened to some of his vocals - he has an amazing voice. We wish him every success possible in his chosen career.

We are having definite summer weather today. My thermometer went to 87.5 - and that was the one that's not in direct sunlight; it's now 81.5. It was truly too darned hot in the sun. I was outside for a little while, but I started to droop like a wet hankie. I saw Rachel Lewis on Sandy Beach Road and she said they came back a bit early to get out of the 80 degree heat - I think they brought it with them!

It's quite nice, though, but I've always thought it takes a little time to acclimate to heat after the cold of winter. The first few days of real summery weather always makes me tired. I suppose the fact I can't resist being outside and doing physical labor has something to do with that; as I get older I find I run out of steam a lot quicker than I used to. I worked in my garden a little while yesterday, and today pruned a tree and picked up some of the broken limbs around the edge of the lawn. I think we're due some rain tonight, and that will get lots of things started. Fred is saying he needs to get gas for the lawn mower - well, he won't need it right away, by any means, but it's good to think ahead. I like to remind him that we very well might have another snow storm before this month is over. This year has produced pretty whacky weather patterns so far.

Fred took this from the cemetery on the Plain - the sun had already slipped below the cloud bank, but it was still pretty. If you click on the picture, it will be larger and you will see more details.

The date for the Presentation of the Winooski River Water Quality Management Plan on April 18 has been changed. It is now being held on:

Tuesday, May 8th 7-8:30 P.M. Here is the updated announcement:

Opportunities for Protecting and Improving Water Resources of the Winooski River

Presentation and roundtable discussion of the Agency of Natural Resource's Winooski River Basin Water Quality Management Plan. Tuesday, May 8, 7-8:30 pm at the Jaquith Public Library in the Old Schoolhouse Common, 122 School St., Marshfield. Sponsored by the Plainfield, Marshfield and Cabot Conservation Commissions. For information call 426-3581 or e-mail: jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com.

This river basin water quality management plan provides an overview of the Winooski River Basin's surface waters and a description of ongoing and future steps to restore and protect those waters. With the purpose of improving both water quality and aquatic habitat, this plan includes strategies developed with the help of local watershed residents, stakeholders from varying interests, the Agency of Natural Resources (VANR) and professionals from other state and federal agencies to guide efforts in the basin over the next five years. The strategies will also assist individuals and groups in identifying resources and opportunities to address water quality issues. A copy of the plan can be found at:

http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/waterq/mapp/docs/mp basin8finaldraft.pdf.

This morning we presented an award certificate and a check to our Ice-Out winner for 2012, Judy Lavely, of Danville. We had a pretty good turnout - both Judy's sons were there and her granddaughter, Maddie; George and Judy Anderson and Don and Audrey Walker, and of course my co-chair Diane Rossi and Bill; and my right hand, Fred. The reporters for the Caledinian Record and Hardwick Gazette were on hand, and briefly there were a couple of fishermen - but they had either been out on the water a while or decided it was too cold and windy to stay, so shortly after we all arrived, they pulled their boat out of the water and left. Here's a short slide show of our "event."

It was fun - Judy said she didn't use any special process to pick the dates, and she had random picks during both March and April. She got her tickets from her brother, Terry Powers, on Island Drive.

Don Walker, one of the "founders" of the Ice-Out Contest, advised her to "use the money for something fun." I'm sure Judy will put it to good use, AND have fun with it.

Joe's Pond Association will also use the money for "something fun," the free fireworks display on the 3rd of July; but we will also use some of it for water quality control. We have an inspection station at the fishing access staffed by students each summer, and so far it has worked well to keep invasive species out of our pond. Programs like that cost money, but even even though the inspectors rarely find anything dangerous on boats going into the water, it would only take one small piece of milfoil to start a very costly infestation we might never be able to recover from.

Diane and I thank everyone who bought tickets and helped us out in so many ways. The Ice-Out Contest requires the cooperation of all of our members and many, many others to make it successful. We have fun doing it, and although not everyone can win, I think people have lots of fun just being part of it all. We've had some very nice notes from people all over the country, and we thank those folks for letting us know you enjoy our contest.

The weather today was very nice. There was still a brisk, kind of cold wind out of the north most of the day, but the sun was bright and warm if you could find a spot that was out of the wind.

In West Danville, we noticed there isn't anywhere near the usual amount of water going over the dam. Normally at this time of the year the water would be rushing over the dam, at a level much higher than it is this year. We didn't have as much snow as usual and haven't had a lot of rain, either, so there wasn't the runoff. That's a good thing in some ways, but things are very dry and we really could use a nice drenching warm rain for a few days to get things washed down and start the greening process. There are still spots on W. Shore Road where the frost hasn't come out - you can always tell because there's a slick, wet slimy surface. Much of the road is fine, but there are still those wet spots.

This morning Bill Jones came to fix the hole where the vent for our gas stove was on the front of the house. I always hated having it there, but it was the only place they could get through without drilling through cement. Turns out, drilling cement isn't that bad if you have the right equipment and people to do it. We did it for the new boiler, and it went very well. Things are falling into place. Bill Jones put everything right and we're ready for the next step - selling the gas stove and finding a suitable wood stove to install instead.

We went to Montpelier to look at some stoves, but we're still undecided about what we'll get. In the meantime, warmer weather is coming, so we have a while before we'll need to make that decision.

We took pictures on the way to Montpelier. The road project by Molly's Falls dam in Cabot will start up on Monday. It sure is an awful stretch as it is now. It's hard to figure out where the final road will be. The intent is to straighten out some of the curves and widen the road with passing lanes, as I understand it. I believe the bridge near the Folsom farm in South Cabot will be replaced, too. That is a really bad spot, so I hope they straighten it.

They were boiling at Goodrich's Maple Farm as we went by. They have the capacity to store large quantities of sap, I believe. Also, Glen Goodrich is pretty savvy when it comes to sugaring, and may have left his taps in and was able to take advantage of the later runs. Some of his sugar woods probably is high enough so the buds are behind other places in the state. They make really good syrup and all kind of maple products. Besides that, Glen is something of a character. I enjoy taking tourists there.

We will be presenting a check to Judy Lavely this year's Ice-Out Contest winner, tomorrow, Saturday, at 10 a.m. at the State Fishing Access off of Route 2. We invite anyone who wishes to come and meet Judy. It looks as if it will be a nice morning and Diane and I are looking forward to giving her the check. Don and Audrey Walker will be there, but Homer and Margaret Fitts are in Salt Lake City visiting Homer's daughter, Sue, and our president, Tom Dente, who usually is on hand for the presentation, hasn't come north yet. We are just a little earlier than normal. Of course, this could be the new normal . . .

Anyway, I hope to see some of you there. Enjoy the sunshine, meet the winner and get a look at Joe's Pond without ice! We'll have pictures for you sometime tomorrow.

Work Update

Danville Route 2 Project

Project: Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

WEEK OF 4/16/12

The work plan for Route 2 this week will have crews concentrating on the West end of the project between the Danville School and the end of the project.

Crews will continue installing drainage pipe and widening the roadway between the school and the end of the project. This work will require alternating one-way traffic around the work zone.

Starting Monday, crews will be installing duct banks in front of the Passumpsic Bank. Flaggers will be present to assist customers in entering and exiting the bank parking lot. Once the work is complete in front of the bank, duct bank installation will continue on Park Street and then on Peacham Road. While duct banks are being installed on Park and Peacham, access to these streets may be temporarily interrupted. Motorists will be redirected to one of the other streets around the Green. All businesses around the Green will be accessible while this work occurs.

The Village Green will have light construction activity throughout the week. Trucks will be entering and exiting the area to stockpile material for the upcoming road work.

Work hours will be daylight hours until further notice.

Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regard to this project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.

The weather is beginning to change. Today we've seen more sun and fewer showers of any kind, although there have been a few "snowdrops" falling with the rain. The ice is almost gone. There are fingers of slush still out there - or there were at noon when we came home from St. Johnsbury. This has been one of the longest, dreariest, dullest periods of waiting for the pond to be free of ice that I can remember. It has seemed it would never go. We know it's really early, but the warm spell we had in March got things started and it's been a long stretch of waiting since then.

In the top picture, taken from W. Shore Rd., you can see the very thin, mushy ice stretching down the middle of the pond. There is no ice left in the upper end near the islands or in the cove where the pallet was. We could see the green float marking where the pallet went down, but other than that, the only sign of the Ice-Out is the sign at Hastings store announcing they have tickets - which they will have in a few more weeks as we get the 2013 contest rolling. Diane and I aren't quite ready to begin the process all over again, but we know we need to begin making plans almost as soon as the contest is over, otherwise, tickets won't be available for the tourists and our members who like to get them early.

We're making plans to present the check to our winner, Judy Lavely, perhaps this weekend, if all goes well. The weather is predicted to be pretty nice, finally letting us have a glimpse of sparkling blue water instead of gray-blue ice.

Another sign of spring is that the road work in Danville is in full swing again. There hasn't been any landscaping on the common that we can see, but they are working on the western side of the village, getting water and sewer lines in place, so I guess the common will be on the agenda soon. We were wondering as we came through Danville if the fair will be on the common or if it will be at the school again. We thought it went very well being at the school, but I'm sure lots of people are anxious to have it right in town again.

Our new boiler is in place and was fired up for the first time tonight. We should have hot water later this evening - and what a joy that will be! We really don't know how important and convenient it is to just turn on a faucet and get hot water until it's gone. We had cold water - and I never knew our water could get that cold! It was truly icy. Splashing that on your face in the morning is a real eye opener. We had the teakettle on the wood stove and used that for doing dishes, and that's not half bad. I grew up rinsing dishes with piping hot water from a big old iron teakettle we kept on the stove all the time, so that part was kind of fun. We haven't suffered much at all, and it's been a real pleasure having John (Hammer) working here. We're excited about the new boiler, too. It's something like 91% efficient and so quiet we don't even hear it upstairs. Tomorrow Bill Jones from across the pond is coming to patch the hole on the front of the house where the gas stove vent was. We're getting back to something like normal around here.