Message from Pam Hebert:
"We are so thankful to the Joe's Pond community who so generously supported our little library.  We exceeded all expectations."

At right:

Charles D. Brainerd Library  in West Danville Raffle Drawing on August 26th . Tickets drawn by Sophie Conners (nickname 101) from Joe's Pond.

We are happy the raffle went so well for the library restoration committee.  They worked very hard on the little building and did a great job, and the raffle will help keep the library in service.  

* * * * *

     We heard lots of machinery noise this morning - big tractor sounds and the warning beeping machines make when they're backing up.  We stood on our deck and tried to pinpoint where the sounds were coming from.  I sounded very close - perhaps Sandy Beach Road?  

      I said to Fred, "My father would hop in the car and drive around until he found out what is going on."

     "Are you going to do that?"

     "Sure . . . well, are you serious?"

     "Not really, but I'll go if you really want to."

     I was tempted, but we both had work to do, so instead, I e-mailed a couple of people on Sandy Beach Road, asking what in heck all the noise was about.

     Soon after, I had a message from George Parizo saying it was coming from road crews on Route 15 cleaning out ditches.

     I had though there must be some major digging going on over here on our side of the pond - maybe dredging the brook to allow for better runoff, or replacing a culvert. 

     It was fun remembering how my dad would sit in his chair by the big windows in the living room - the same spot where I sit, and when he'd see trucks going by with gravel or maybe a load of lumber, after about the third load, he'd be out in his Scout, waiting, and when the next load went by, he was hot on the trail and would follow to whatever building site or project site was.  He would usually stop and chit-chat with the workmen to get all the particulars.  He like to keep tabs on what was going on in the neighborhood.  I've sometimes done the same thing, but haven't given in to it recently - and I certainly didn't expect Fred to be on board with any such expedition.  He's far too sensible and not the least interested in other people's business.  But I knew if I decided to go, he'd go with me - just because that's the way he is.

      We learned yesterday the bridge over Joe's Brook in Walden on Lower Harrington Hill Road is finally being replaced.  It's been out of commission for several years, and residents on that section of the road had to go all the way around either using West Shore Road or Route 15 to US Rte 215 and Brickett's Crossing Road to get to their homes.  That adds about 5 miles, and is very inconvenient.  We were told that in order to secure funding from the State of Vermont, that road will need to be upgraded to Class 3, which means it will be widened, ditched and plowed during the winter and the Town of Walden will maintain it regularly.  As a Class 4, it seldom got attention and being very steep and narrow, it was not for the faint of heart.  There are six or eight homes on that road, so it will be great for them.

     Route 15 out of West Danville is very smooth since it's been repaved.  We went home that way on Saturday.  Almost any road one takes in Vermont this time of year has some section of it that has been repaired and repaved, or is being worked on.  'Tis the season.  Road crews have to get the work done before winter sets in. Knowing that, we should all be patient with the minor delays, but I have to say - the work on Route 2 in East Montpelier has gone from bad to worse for longer than most projects.  A bridge is being replaced there, but it seems to be taking forever.  We haven't experienced delays, but it is really, really rough for a short stretch.  It will be nice when they finish, I'm sure.