The warm sunny days lately feel like a real gift! Everyone is outside, considering it a privilege to prepare our gardens and homes for the cold weather to come. There are indications that this winter will be long and cold. The oaks are raining down heavy acorns with a startling force upon roofs and decks, the wooly bear caterpillars are distinctly banded with more red than black, and the chipmunks appear to be fat and furry. The Farmer’s Almanac and "factual" weather forecasts say so too!

Since fuel prices have soared, it could be one of Murphy’s Laws. In Maine there are many grass roots ideas for a fund to assure that all our residents can have adequate heating this winter. The sunsets have been so remarkable that they are special gifts. The sky is striated in spectacular layers -- the gold is squint-your-eyes blazing, followed upward by a deep apple red, and a broad band of brilliant turquoise, and above there is the deep blue sky. I cannot truly describe the beauty, so come see for yourselves! Many have asked about Ed Poore, so here is an update. Ed is in a care facility in Scarborough, near by his family. Some of you have noticed with sadness the "for sale" sign at his home. This decision has been difficult but a necessary one for the family. It would cause Ed additional distress to realize that he is physically unable to return home, so it would be a kindness not to mention it. However, short visits and cards would definitely cheer him up. His address is: Maine Veterans Home, 290 Route 1, Room C-7, Scarborough, ME 04074.

The playground committee for Ocean Point has been communicating some very creative and important ideas, and in early November, the local members will meet with company representatives to do feasibility checks of the playground area and age appropriate equipment. I really appreciate being included in this wonderful project to benefit our future generations!

Speaking of playing, we have a new puppy, a little tri-color Lhasa Apso named Carina. Now our two little fuzzies are much more fun to watch than TV.

Unfortunately, the later information that has come in contains some sad news. Martin Turpie died at home early Monday morning, November 7. A funeral service will be held Thursday evening in Springfield, Mass. His full obituary is elsewhere in this paper. If you wish to send a card to Kate, her address is 243 Prospect Street, East Longmeadow, MA 01028.

Peter Ripley sent me an unexpected obituary for Mattie Barnes. She died on Saturday, November 5, at the age of 87. Mattie and her husband, Warren, were owners and innkeepers of the Ocean Point Inn here from the late 1940s until the early 1980s. During that time the daily operations of the Inn allowed them to forge many friendships with their guests and residents. The Barnes also employed many local teenagers and summer folks throughout their ownership, all of whom join me in sending our deepest condolences to their son, John, at this time of sorrow. John is a hearty soul, who swims from the dock every day that he is up here, even in early spring and late fall, and he and his parents have been great neighbors here on Van Horn corner. A memorial gathering will be held at the Ocean Point Inn at a later date. A family member told me that John Stevens is on his way back here to Ocean Point as I write. Welcome, John, to the Ocean Point Hearties who stay here year round! An e-mail from Judy Boyd provided updates on her very active family. Jim has been away working for FEMA in the Baton Rouge area, providing logistical support for critically needed housing. After Wilma hit, his scheduled return home date has become uncertain. Their son, Dana, went into a shelter at Barry University, Miami Shores, to wait out the fury of Wilma. Although there was extensive damage on campus with windows blown out, no electricity, roofs blown off, trees and power lines down, he and his friends got a unexpected vacation and ended up at the beach. The resiliency of youth!

Caitlin, Judy, and Brendan have been hosting Hanna, a German student from Mannheim, and find it to be a challenging language experience, but very rewarding.

We met Michael and Pamela Massey at Fred Haverly’s the other night. Hazel Jackson’s niece, Pamela, grew up in Augusta, and summered at Ocean Point in the era of Bill and Gerard Shea and the Adams kids. The Masseys will be welcomed to our community when they come to Ocean Point on a regular basis again soon.

I will close with a Winken, Blinken and Nod story, but only Nod is in this one. Dorothy Lindeman’s daughter, Tracy, and her husband, Eric, had the misfortune of losing their cat, Nod, when he dashed out of the cottage and ended up the top of a 50-foot spruce tree, swaying precariously and meowing at the top of his voice. The noise attracted the neighbors and the crows that came in at full attack, considering him as a furry owl to taunt. Kitty retreated to safer inner branches, but refused to wend his way down for 36 hours, despite the pleas of his concerned owners. I understand that Jack Berry and some of his firefighting crew finally coaxed the cat to move on out and down, so all is well. A hearty thank you is due to these guys who care enough about pets to brave the terrified scratching of a marooned Tomcat!

I can be reached at: waldman@gwi.net or (207) 633-3669.