Spring is traditionally time to "clean house," and here's an excellent way to shed some excess items for a good cause.  As many of you know, Cabot has a big parade and fun Fourth of July every year, and their rummage sale is legendary.  Terry Persons has had charge of it for several years, and once again is looking for good usable items.  Here's what she's asking for:

RUMMAGE SALE IN CABOT ON JULY 4^TH ANNOUNCEMENT

I am looking for donations for the rummage sale in Cabot on July 4^th.  We will be at the Cabot School Gym from July 1st - July 3rd from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm daily, accepting donations. We will not accept computers, TVs, printers, encyclopedia, or mattresses.  We are looking for good clean furniture and we really need clothes.  To have items picked up before July 1^st  or if you have questions, call me, 279-6818.  Thank you, Terry Persons.

We want to remind people not to feed the wildlife around the pond.  Every year we have problems with ducks and sometimes geese setting up "camp" along the shore line.  Although they are fun to see and great for children to experience, they are wild animals and need to be left to their own devices for finding food and raising their young - preferably in the marsh, away from human interference.  However, it is tempting to feed them, and that is a bad idea on several levels.  First, it teaches them bad habits and is unhealthy for them to have "people" food instead of their natural sustenance.  Even more important for humans - their presence and excrement is dangerous, especially for children to be in contact with.  They carry lots of bacteria and that can cause illness and painful rash from swimming in fouled water, and is just plain unhealthy.


We know it is tempting to toss a few pieces of bread to them, but please think of the consequences.  When they become dependent, they quickly lose interest in foraging for themselves and that can be fatal for them either because they become easy prey for hunters or predatory animals, or because they don't move on in timely fashion in the fall and get frozen in the water when temperatures drop.  Do not injure them or your family by feeding them.  Watch them, but do not interfere with their natural state.