Incredible Flooding

Here in Hope Valley our babbling brooks are rivers and the rivers are white water rapids. We received nine inches of rain after having two previous storms of three inches plus. The ground is saturated and there is no place for the water to go.

We've had a huge problem with flooded, washed out roads and bridges.

The phrase "You can't get there from here", is frighteningly true. I've met more folks who were lost and couldn't find there way today, than I have all last summer during tourist season. I heard the phrase "Where an I?" More than once as folks try to navigate around the flooded roads to get where they need to go.

The photo above is Brushy Brook where it crosses Dye Hill Road taken at about 6:30 p.m. March 30, 2010.

When it Rains this much

the brooks and rivers overflow. The roads flood, as water tries to find a place to go. Thank goodness it stopped raining this morning. It will give the water time to flow from the brooks to the ponds, rivers and eventually the ocean. Hopefully, most of this will happen before high tide.

Get ready, this is just the beginning of spring.

Maple Syrup the Modern Way

Twenty years ago, I watched a Connecticut Farmer make maple syrup. There was a great deal more waiting and boiling to produce a quart of syrup than today.

We checked out the Sugar Shack of Wayne Richmond on Canonchet Driftway in Hope Valley on Sunday. He has a much more modern set-up which includes: A large fiberglas storage tank and reverse osmosis machine, along with the traditional buckets hung from the trees and the smell of wood mixed with sap vapors steaming from the shack. We learned about the different grades of syrup, the process, how weather and barometric pressure effect harvesting and the cooking temperatures.

Thanks, Wayne for sharing your expertise. We are learning all about reverse osmosis thanks to you!

Tres Bien, Merci, Napolean!

My son, who has his autism to deal with, finds learning by regular means tedious. I am always looking for ways to make subjects, like history, come alive for him. This year we are on a journey through world history and some of it has been like watching socks dry.

I decided to place more emphasis on interesting people in history.

Merci beaucoup, Napolean Bonaparte!

Hopkinton, RI Town Council Vacancy

Are you ready for a personal challenge?

At a time when our council is hammered with budget projections and decreased State funding, Hopkinton has a town council vacancy.

While there are no written qualifications except that you be a registered voter in the Town of Hopkinton, I have a few suggestions.

1. A respect for small town government.

2. Business or volunteer experience with budgets.

3. More than impressive communication skills.

4. No special individual pet issues or axes to grind. Your time on the council may be short and
there is a great deal of work to be done.

If you think you are up for the challenge, contact our town clerk without delay. The Town Council has 15 days to fill the vacancy.

Elizabeth Cook-Martin
Town Hall
One Town House Road
Hopkinton, Rhode Island 02833
377-7777