Good Morning, Everyone -
     It feels like spring here at Joe's Pond today. We have a very comfortable 35 degrees (in the shade) and much warmer where the sun hits. The snow is melting, the birds are singing - spring may at least be making a preview showing; I have no doubt March will bring more cold and snow.
     One sure sign of spring is that the 2018 Goshen, MA Meltdown is officially up and running. Administrator Bob Labrie always sends notice when they get their pallet and flag out on the ice, and it's always well before we get our apparatus out. Bob and his firemen friends patterned their contest after ours back in 2005. The pond is quite small and their contest has ended as early as March 11th in 2016 and as late at April 21st in 2007. They have donated over $12,000 to various non-profit organizations over the years, and given ticket winners over $9,000.
     I expect Larry Rossi is thinking about getting the pallet out. It seems early, but with the erratic weather pattern this year, it's hard to tell when the ice will become unsafe, so it's probably better to get it out sooner rather than later, even though it could be buried in snow for a while before the real spring sets in. Larry will be the judge.