Reprinted with permission from The Vermont Standard

1/15/22

I am beginning to write this article on Sunday evening.  The temperatures made it into the teens today, but it seemed warmer with the bright sunshine and lack of wind.  I watched the glorious full moon rise, but clouds have now overtaken it.  Around midnight the snow is forecast to start and various sites predict differing amounts of snow accumulation.  Waking in the morning will likely be white with swirling snow!

The Book Group, with assistance from Rose met via Zoom on 1/12 to discuss Lady Editor: Sarah Josepha Hale and the Making of the Modern American Woman’Author by Melanie Kirkpatrick.  She was an incredible lady, ahead of her time in many ways.  Although promoting domestic duties for women, she encouraged increased educational opportunities and Vassar has many of her papers, a tribute to her influence.  Undetered by several rejections, she was finally able to have Abraham Lincoln declare Thanksgiving a national holiday.  The words to “Mary Had a Little Lamb” are credited to her as well.  Our next selection for 2/9/22 is Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter by Lisa Patton, which seems somewhat relevant at the moment!

The Zoom meeting on Monday, 1/10 regarding the privately owned dam connecting Amherst and Echo Lakes was very interesting.  Matt Murawski, an engineer, presented his report and answered questions from the 40+ people who attended.  Three alternatives and estimates were noted given the old dams current condition and need for repairs:  full restoration ($530,000), partial repair ($480,000) and removal ($240,000).  In order to obtain a better understanding, the meeting may be viewed at https://youtu.be/1Yfcyte7niY.  The Amherst Lake Friends group is being formed with the hope of raising funds, so to learn more about that, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/309015463907280/