The Walking Stones of Elberta
Winterizing, merch, the magic of leaves, and a birthday party
As of today, DPW has shut down the Penfold Park restrooms, brought in planters, and taken down banners in a clear sign of the change of seasons — providing clearer signs, perhaps, than has the weather. Justin Towle still has to pass his CDL test to operate the big plow truck, so we may have to hire a backup plow person in addition to Chris Pritchard. But at the moment it looks like we won’t need a whole lot of snow reconfiguration this winter.
Justin and Chris Cervantes have been doing some earth moving, specifically rocks. They nudged the big barrier stones at the top of the Amphitheater hill to create more room for parking during Jammin’ Mondays. (See? Already thinking about summer again.) And I asked them to provide me an action shot of them moving the rocks that went to block the backside of the new beach Pavilion, since I missed the real event.
Now that the water and beach projects are done and visitors are dissipating, there’s time to catch up on other tasks. A new speed sign, like the one across from Anderson Park, will be installed on the south side of town, on M22, to get vehicles used to the idea of the 30 mph limit in the Village and that aaayyyyyy, we’re waaallkin heeeahhh—or at least getting out of our car to cross to the Lighthouse Café—and slow their roll.
Parks & Rec Fundraiser: Hats and Shirts for Sale
At the Village Office, you can buy either of these hats for $30 and this hooded base layer for $40. This drip is fly, was produced by Field Crafts in Honor, and funds Parks & Rec funs, of which there will be many this winter (more on that in a later post).
Why Leave the Leaves (and Stems, and Seed Heads)
I don’t think Waste Free Planet will mind if I share their Instagram images (and one of my own, of a miraculous baby red oak) on this topic. The weather lately has made yard work less urgent for some of us, and that may be a good thing for the firefly population that burst onto the scene this spring for the first time in a while. I actually had never seen fireflies here before this year and I was pretty excited. How about you?
Visit the National Wildlife Federation site for more reasons and ways to deal with leaf “litter” in an ecologically friendly fashion.
Many Happy Returns
Ken, aka Kenneth, Holmes, longtime Village trustee and keeper of much local historical lore, turns 90 on November 28. This year his birthday falls on Thanksgiving, which it does every four years, as he pointed out this morning at the Village Office while signing checks. His family are throwing him a nonsurprise party at the Church, where he may be the oldest and longest member, on Saturday the 23rd. Everyone is welcome!
