Reprinted with permission from The Vermont Standard

2/21/21

It continues to be winter here in VT.  We are familiar with it, prepare for it and generally know how to deal with it.  Not so for those in Texas.  That it has been an utter nightmare for folks there is to put it mildly.  As is often the case, those on the fringes have suffered the most.  I have family in Katy, TX and they consider themselves to be lucky, since they lost power for a mere 20 minutes and only their cold water pipes froze.  The hardships of others have been much worse, so it puts into perspective our occasional inconveniences due to winter.

School will be back in session this week, but I know that it has been a busy vacation for my grandsons.  Snowmobiling was a big activity, but they also thoroughly enjoyed tubing at Bethany Birches Camp.  Covid protocol was in place and numbers were limited as a result, but with a reservation, the safe outdoor fun was a delightful treat in that beautiful setting.

Speaking of students, it was nice to hear that Schuyler Hagge was on the 7th grade honor roll list for Summa Cum Laude and Calef Hepler on the 12th grade list for Magna Cum Laude.  Congratulations on your accomplishments.

Perhaps it was the result of snow being forecast for Monday, but there seemed to be many people parking at Hawk and walking the road behind the lakes on Sunday.  The sky was a brilliant blue and the moon could be seem against it.  What a great place to live!

The Book Club met last Thursday and despite the fact that most of us did not find Spindle City by Jotham Burrello to be one of the better books we have read, it did generate considerable conversation. The consensus was that the characters were not well developed and nobody felt uplifted by it, although there were a few insights about Fall River and plight of the textile industry.  Our next book, Mud Season by Ellen Stimson is our selection for 3/18, which should be a lighter read. It was initially chosen to coincide with our local mud season, but with the amount of snow on the ground, that may have been optomistic!

According to Sandie Small, the Town Report should be mailed out in another week, but you can find voting information under the Bulletin Board section of the Town of Plymouth website.  Please note that details for attending the 3/8 Town Meeting via Zoom are listed there; the sample ballot for those running for election; plus the other articles, which will be also be voted on 3/9 are listed further down under the Town Meeting warning.  Call the Town Clerk’s office (672-3655) if you would like an absentee ballot.

A final thought:  Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.-Victor Hugo