WOONSOCKET WRAMBLINGS

Winter in Woonsocket

2012-01-08T14:24:00.000-08:00

Save for the snow at the end of October, the strange dry and mild winter continues. In fact, I have yet to bring up the ice melt from the basement, and mid-January is upon the region. A storm towards the end of the week should bring rain. Talk of colder temps beyond that may make any storms that develop at least interesting. But up until now, "boring" is the word !!!

2011-10-08T04:23:00.000-07:00

You will love this Autumnfest weekend in Woonsocket. Temps will be up near the 80 mark today, will be well into the 80's tomorrow, perhaps near record territory and a nice and comfy 76 on Monday, Parade Day. Perfect, perfect, perfect !!!

Post Irene

2011-09-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

Hopefully, all have had power restored, it has been almost a week. Reports are that 200 homes in Woonsocket still out, but that should be rectified by tomorrow, Sunday 9/4. We fared well here at the house, though we did lose power for some 35 hours. Did not lose any food, save a couple of cartons of ice cream, as we had made and stocked a good quantity of ice. The only saving grace, power outages during a tropical storm do not lend to worry about the furnace not working. The emergency kit is packed away in the basement for next time, hopefully a long way into the future, but with Hurricane Katia blowing in the far Atlantic, she bears close watching. The strongest wind here was 57 mph; rainfall total was 3.08". As is "normal" the wet side of the storm is the west or "left" and if you saw video of the floods that ravaged western MA< CT, and NY and VT and NJ, that held true, the "right" or east side is typically the windiest, and this is where the highest gusts were found. Thankfully, it was only a Tropical Storm, do not even want to think of the problems if Irene made a NE landfall as a Cat 2 or 3 !!!!

Thank you NHC !!!

2011-08-24T05:17:00.000-07:00

Well, over the years, many folks have asked where exactly is Woonsocket. Now, the National Hurricane Center has made that answer quite easy: Woonsocket is right under the top "black dot" in the 5 day projected path of Hurricane Irene ( The 2AM Monday spot):

Hard to believe the Summer is waning

2011-08-22T04:30:00.001-07:00

Always too short, it seems especially that way this season after the horrid Winter. But the fact remains the the longer days and hot temps are surely waning. We enjoyed our camping vacation last week on Cape Cod, although Monday was trying with a good 5 inches of rain falling !!! Now thoughts are focused on "Back to School", house chores to button things up for the Winter and the ending of the garden harvest. Springtime brings thoughts of all the Summer potential, a tad sad that these days are winding down !!!

Our Family's Emergency Kit Checklist

2011-08-21T04:39:00.000-07:00

Andy’s emergency kit

1. Shake & Standard Flashlights, large and small

2. Crank Radio, Grundig, Battery op radios

3. Light Sticks

4. Lightning Detector

5. SAME Weather Radio

6. LED Lantern

7. Fluorescent lantern

8. Butane Backpacking stove

9. Extra Butane cylinders

10. Propane Camping Stove

11. Extra Propane cylinders

12. 12 v cell phone charger

13. Various 12 volt adaptors & AC inverter

14. 3 day supply of meds (refresh every 6 months)

15. Notepads and pencils

16. 2 meter Ham Radio portable

17. Supply of extra AA, AAA, C and D cells as needed

18. Cribbage Board and cards

19. First Aid Kit

20. Supply of Bottled Water on hand

21. 12 volt mini cooler

22. Quick-Grab Bag for items if quick evacuation necessary

23. Supply of candles

24. Matches and butane lighters

25. Several days supply of prescription medications

26. Fuel vehicles

HINTS:

= 3 days before a storm, make as much ice as possible in your freezer, use plastic “Tupperware” containers, Zip Lock Bags,

etc. to fill every empty spot. If there is an extended failure, take ice from freezer and place in lower cold foods compartment.

= Charge all rechargeable items such as cell phones, radios, lamps, etc.

= Stay aware of current conditions from Weather Radio, TV, AM/FM, etc.

= Check Gas Grill Propane Supply, REMEMBER: NEVER use outdoor cooking applicances indoors, such as gas grills, charcoal, generators etc. CARBON MONOXIDE CAN KILL

= USE CAUTION WITH CANDLES, NEVER PLACE NEAR A WINDOW WHERE CURTAINS CAN CATCH FIRE OR NEAR PAPER OR OTHER FLAMMABLES OR NEAR CHILDREN

= It is also important to KNOW where all these items are located; A few times a

year check to see if you can find everything, make a list, store them in a box, a Rubbermaid container, etc for easy retrieval.

= LEARN local shelter locations, evacuation routes, etc. for your area.

=Copies of homeowners Insurance, Auto insurance and other important documents in a sturdy water proof container.

Andy's Clam Chowdah

2011-06-30T05:39:00.001-07:00

4th of Jiuly ..,. Clam Chowdah Season:

Here is my recipe:

Monday, July 5, 2010

For friends whom have asked for my Clam Chowder Recipe:

1 large onion, chopped
4 slices meaty bacon diced (or meaty salt pork)
3 stalks celery chopped
2 leeks thinly sliced
2 cups chopped or minced clams
1 cup If available, minced quahaugs, don't forget to save steaming liquor
2 quarts clam juice (canned or bottled if necessary)
(if you steam your clams prior to mincing, use the clam liquor strained)
4 large potatoes diced
1 can cream of celery soup condensed
1 pint of light cream or half and half
sea salt
freshly ground pepper
2 bay leaves
tbsp thyme

Render bacon until crisp, remove the cracklings
slowly cook onions, celery and leeks until translucent
add about 2 tablespoons of flour, mix well for about a minute or two
add clam broth
add clams
add potatoes
add bay leaves and thyme
simmer for 2 hours
Salt and pepper to taste
add cream of celery soup
simmer for an hour or so until potatoes are thoroughly cooked

**** AT THIS POINT YOU MAY STOP AND COOL AND REFRIGERATE FOR A DAY OR
SO, CHOWDER DOES TASTE BEST THE "NEXT DAY" AFTER ALL THE FLAVORS HAVE
DEVELOPED ****
If cold, reheat chowder to
just below the boiling point.
Add cream and pat of butter
Add the bacon or salt pork cracklings from Step #1

Serve with oyster crackers

ENJOY !!!!!!

Joe Bastardi leaves Accuweather

2011-02-22T08:13:00.001-08:00

Well, after a somewhat tumultuous relationship with Accuweather,
Word is Joe Bastardi has resigned from them sometime last evening from
Reports.
Found his profile gone this AM on the site.
Joe was “upgraded” to the pricey, or rather very very pricey Accuweather
“pro” site a few years ago.
Rather than having his somewhat uncanningly correct long range prognostications
Available to the millions, he was relegated to a select few subscribers.
I was lucky to be able to get the occasional tweet from his fan club.
Never the household name with his limited role, perhaps that led to
The separation.
Or perhaps AW had something else in store.
Whether we really ever find the actual events is a mystery.
I believe he will eventually form his own company, perhaps for the stock and
Futures market type crowd.
FYI, there is an ongoing conflict in the weather world. The private companies
Sort of believe disseminating weather info should be a “private” company function and
That the NWS should be relegated to gathering and presenting information such as
Radar and satellite and data observations. This will continue for the coming decades.
And with the Obama Administration trying to cut vital funding to the NWS, it is not
Hard to envision a slow evolution toward a more limited NWS role
as the next several years pass. That will be a sad, sad day.
OK, off the soapbox !!!

In any event,

Best of Luck Joe

Remembering JFK

2011-01-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

Today marks the anniversary of the Inauguration of John F. Kennedy as President of the USA back in 1961.
I remember that day well. Remember the disagreement with my mother about shoveling the driveway as we had almost a foot of snow.
At the same time, going to a Catholic Grammar School, Assumption in Bellingham, MA, the nun's made it clear to us that we HAD to listen to the speech by JFK !!!
Such a dilemma at such a young age, LOL

What a Winter

2011-01-20T09:57:00.000-08:00

Well, another storm tonight should dump 4 to 8 inches of snow in Woonsocket. Outside chance of a bit more.
Another Storm Tuesday or Wednesday.
When will it end ???
Not soon enought.
Between La Nina and the storm pattern coming in from the Pacific then the energy mingling along the east coast, looks like the cold along with a couple of storms per week will be with us for most of February into March.
UGGHHH !!!!!

Rebecca St. Fire

2010-12-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

Firefighter's are braving the cold temps trying to contain this structure fire on Rebecca St, which is off of North Main St.

Older and wiser?

2010-10-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

Seems the older I get, the greater my disdain for chain supermarkets owned by conglomerates both in the USA and abroad. I find myself shopping very frequently at the local butcher, (Shaws, Lil General), baker (Par X), Dairy Farm (Wrights), Fruit and Vegetable vendor (Fernandes) Fishmonger (Wilfred's, the last remaining in the City after R&D burned last month). Though times are changing, I feel sometimes I am going back in time, LOL

One final wrambling on the hurricane of 38

2010-09-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

While reading many, many sites and related matter from the ’38 Hurricane,
One interesting observation was that in Woonsocket, the windows were encrusted
With sea salt.
Being a good 50 miles from the open ocean, I have no doubt the winds exceeded
120 mph up here as reported in some articles.
I dread even thinking what the effects of a similar storm would be in the “modern”
World. Just repairs to the electrical distribution infrastructure would certainly be
On the order of months not to mention structural damage. With communications,
Computers, television and our primary source of energy
all connected to utility poles, life as we know it would be interrupted
For a considerable period of time.

Blackstone River Dam repairs in Woonsocket

2010-09-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

Under the auspices of the Army Corps of Engineers, work has begun on repairs to the Dam at Market Square and eventually the levee system here in Woonsocket. This long overdue work will shore up the deteriorating Flood control system built after the Great Flood of 1955.

...as I wramble about Woonsocket street names

2010-09-11T05:44:00.000-07:00

Park Avenue: without a park;
Willow Street: yet to have seen a willow;
South Main Street: takes you to the North Northwest;
Providence Street: Providence is south of Woonsocket, the street leads you east and west;
Market Square: without a market;
Blackstone Street: does not bring one to Blackstone;
Mt. St. Charles Ave: The Mount is on Logee St

Hurricane Earl Post Mortem

2010-09-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Earl passed by New England with just over a half inch of rain here in Woonsocket. Cape Cod bore the brunt of the storm with upwards of 5 inches of rain around Hyannis, scattered power outtages and surely some beach erosion, rips and rough surf. Earl was a very large Hurricane in girth and that may have helped his demise. Off the SE coast as a Major Cat 4 Hurricane, his wide circulation began to feed in some dry air in the Carolinas helping to weaken the storm. There are many other reasons, but we are all lucky in the Northeast to have dodged a bullet. A Cat 4 making landfall would have caused perhaps damage unseen since the Hurricane of 1938. Everyone who checked their emergency kit, freshened up supplies and reviewed their emergency plans, kudos to you !!! Yes, not really needed this time, but there will be a "next" and it could be serious so never ignore the forecast, yes, things do change as Mother Nature is wont to do, but it is always wise to be prepared !!!

Hurricane Earl strenghtens, Emergency Kit

2010-08-30T06:27:00.000-07:00

As Hurricane Earl strengthens way down south, now a Cat 2 with 110 mph winds, everyone is concerned with the eventual path. Southern New England may receive a glancing blow, so now is the time to review your emergency plans and emergency kit. Below is a copy of the contents of my kit, feel free to copy and print this and make any additions or subtractions to meet your family needs. Remember, look around and you may find many items around the home that can be handy in an emergency. No need to put them all together in one place as long as YOU KNOW where everything is !!!
Be Safe and Stay Tuned

Andy’s emergency kit

1. Shake Flashlight, large and small
2. Crank Radio, Grundig, Battery op radios
3. Light Sticks
4. Lightning Detector
5. SAME Weather Radio
6. LED Lantern
7. Fluorescent lantern
8. Butane Backpacking stove
9. Extra Butane cylinders
10. Propane Camping Stove
11. Extra Propane cylinders
12. 12 v cell phone charger
13. Various 12 volt adaptors & AC inverter
14. 3 day supply of meds (refresh every 6 months)
15. Notepads and pencils
16. 2 meter Ham Radio portable
17. Supply of extra AA, AAA, C and D cells as needed
18. Cribbage Board and cards
19. First Aid Kit
20. Supply of Bottled Water on hand
21. 12 volt mini cooler
22. Quick-Grab Bag for items if quick evacuation necessary
23. Supply of candles
24. Matches and butane lighters

HINTS:
= 3 days before a storm, make as much ice as possible in your freezer, use plastic “Tupperware” containers, Zip Lock Bags,
etc. to fill every empty spot. If there is an extended failure, take ice from freezer and place in lower cold foods compartment.
= Charge all rechargeable items such as cell phones, radios, lamps, etc.
= Stay aware of current conditions from Weather Radio, TV, AM/FM, etc.
= Check Gas Grill Propane Supply, REMEMBER: NEVER use outdoor cooking applicances indoors, such as gas grills, charcoal, generators etc. CARBON MONOXIDE CAN KILL
= USE CAUTION WITH CANDLES, NEVER PLACE NEAR A WINDOW WHERE CURTAINS CAN CATCH FIRE OR NEAR PAPER OR OTHER FLAMMABLES OR NEAR CHILDREN
= It is also important to KNOW where all these items are located; A few times a
year check to see if you can find everything, make a list, store them in a box, a Rubbermaid container, etc for easy retrieval.
= LEARN local shelter locations, evacuation routes, etc. for your area.
=Copies of homeowners insurance, auto insurance and other important documents in sturdy water tight holder

2010-07-28T05:29:00.000-07:00

The heat continues as today will be another hot one at 90 degrees with increasing humidity. Certainly has been quite the summer, and may end up being the warmest on record. We have luckily missed all the very severe weather and Thunderstorms, with some occasional downpours. A rash of house fires in Woonsocket over the past several weeks, Olo St, Park Ave, Gilbert St, Mowry St to name the lastest. All this comes as Woonsocket quietly begins talk about closing another firehouse. Nonsense. With the taxes we have to pay, that is the LAST place they should be looking. Over the years they have already shut down Station 5 in Social and Station 6 in Fairmont. Enough is enough. WWII Memorial Park is going to Hades, hopefully the State will come through with planned upgrades for next summer. The heck with northern RI, keep the South County fully staffed for the politicos is the motto I surmise as the State House continues to place the burden of finances on the back of us taxpayers rather than cut the burgeoning payrolls that weigh down the budget year after year after year. Oh well, my morning rant is complete.

2010-07-24T05:54:00.001-07:00

Quick work by the Woonsocket Fire Department prevent a total loss of this home at 86 Park Avenue during the Friday dinner hour. No one was reported home at the time of the fire. Firefighters were on the scene until around 9PM conducting mopping up operations. Good Job Guys !!!!! (and Gals !!!)

Brayton Point Power Plant Somerset MA changes its look !!!

2010-07-12T04:57:00.000-07:00

style=The view from the Quality Inn down in Somerset and from I-195 for those whom have traveled
That route to Fall River, New Bedford and Cape Cod for many decades may recognized the
Brayton Point Power Plant, one of the major electric generation stations in Southern New
England, it is a coal fired facility
Although the view is across the Lee’s River Estuary, in person, the structure is imposing

Old View:

The new water cooling towers are about half completed,

Here is a shot of the New View:

When finished, these structures are to be about 550’, for perspective,

The main stack at Brayton Point is 250’ to 300’ tall I believe.

2010-07-05T06:35:00.000-07:00

Wet and Cool

2010-03-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

Well, March should exit as a wet month as we have had since the last week of February over 11 " of rain and look to add perhaps a couple of more inches as another coastal storm hits us on Monday and Tuesday. Luckily, the temps have been mild enough to keep us wet and not white, pleasant indeed, even with the changeover to snow for a bit yesterday with no accumulation, made for talking points rather than shoveling points. Tornado season is approaching for the Plains, wondering if the El Nino influence will keep numbers down for the season. Time will tell.

Another High Water Event

2010-03-15T14:49:00.000-07:00

Well, with over 4" of rain from this storm system, the Blackstone River is high again, with levels approaching 11 feet, which is about 2 feet over flood stage. The levees are doing their job and keeping the City dry here in Woonsocket, but areas such as Whitinsville, MA and Lincoln and Cumberland, RI are probably experiencing some flooding conditions right now.

Another Weekend, another storm

2010-03-13T05:42:00.000-08:00

Another major Nor'easter for Southern New England as we expect up to 4" of rain, high winds and coastal erosion. The only good news is that it will not be snow here. Don't fret, as the middle of next week will feel Spring like, nearing 60 degrees !!! Do not forget to adjust your clocks ahead tonight for Daylight Saving Time.

2010-02-26T11:41:00.000-08:00

After almost 5" of rain this week, there is a lot of water flowing over the dam in Woonsocket along the Blackstone River !!!

Wet few days ahead

2010-02-24T10:16:00.000-08:00

The winter weather continues as we receive about 3" of new snow overnight that, thankfully, changed to rain. Rain total is now over 2", what a snow event this would have been if the temp held a couple of degrees colder. Now we await the next system Friday, which should bring us rain, but the exact track of the system still in a bit of doubt and watching closely. It will be a strong system with high winds also.

Structure Fire Woonsocket, RI

2010-02-19T10:58:00.000-08:00

House Fire on Unity St, in Woonsocket, a couple of streets up the hill from home. Appears to be heavy fire damage on 2nd floor. No known injuries. The brisk winds surely make operations difficult for the firefighters.

Woonsocket Snowfall Totals

2010-02-18T07:11:00.000-08:00

October: 0.5"
November: 0.0
December: 27.9"
January: 16.3"
February: 7.9"

Total Through 2/18: 52"

Atlantic Hurricane Names for 2010

2010-02-14T06:15:00.000-08:00

It will not be very long before the seas warm up and the Atlantic Hurricane Season begins, here are the names to be used for the 2010 season:

Alex
Bonnie
Colin
Danielle
Earl
Fiona
Gaston
Hermine
Igor
Julia
Karl
Lisa
Matthew
Nicole
Otto
Paula
Richard
Shary
Tomas
Virginie
Walter

Another Storm

2010-02-09T10:29:00.000-08:00

Well, it is winter, and it is February, and there is another storm brewing. Looks like a good snowstorm Tomorrow, with near Blizzard conditions of heavy snow, high winds and poor visibility. A foot of snow not out of the question at this time, forecast will be refined as the afternoon progresses, but if you need to make preparations this is a good time. Below is an excerpt from Weather Service discussions:
MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS REVOLVE AROUND SNOW AND WIND POTENTIAL FROM
POTENT COASTAL STORM WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

1130 AM UPDATE...

WE WILL BE EXPANDING WINTER STORM WATCHES NORTHWARD TO INCLUDE THE
ENTIRE COUNTY WARNING AREA WHICH INCLUDES SOUTHWEST NH. THE 12Z
NAM/GFS AND UKMET HAVE CONVERGED ON A SIMILAR SOLUTION WITH SURFACE
LOW TRACKING VERY CLOSE TO THE 40N/70W BENCHMARK. VERY HEAVY SNOWFALL
IS LIKELY FOR THE BOSTON-PROVIDENCE CORRIDOR AND POSSIBLY WESTWARD
INTO CT. SOME MIXING IS LIKELY FOR THE CAPE AND ISLANDS. WE WILL HAVE
MORE DETAILS BY MID AFTERNOON. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOW BELOW.

STRONG CLOSED UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL RACE TOWARD THE EAST COAST AND
ENTER THE ATLANTIC AROUND THE DELMARVA ON WEDNESDAY. THE WILL AID IN
INDUCING RAPID CYCLOGENESIS WELL TO THE SOUTH OF LONG ISLAND WHICH
WILL RESULT IN A MODERATE SNOWSTORM FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
TO THE SOUTH OF THE MASS PIKE. OVERALL...FORECAST RATIONALE HAS NOT
CHANGED MUCH FROM PREVIOUS DAY SHIFT...SO THEREFORE THE FORECAST
HASN/T CHANGED MUCH. THE POSITIONING OF THE MID LEVEL LOW AND IT/S
ASSOCIATED FORCING MECHANISMS WILL DETERMINE HOW FAR NORTH HEAVY
SNOWFALL GETS. THIS IS STILL IN QUESTION AS THERE REMAIN DIFFERING
MODEL SOLUTIONS. OVERALL...WE LIKED A GFS/SREF/GFS ENSEMBLE BLEND THE
BEST.

Snowstorm

2010-02-06T05:22:00.000-08:00

Today marks the Anniversary of the Blizzard of '78. While this is being posted, the Mid-Atlantic states are being hit by a major blizzard. Received word of a friend, Kevin, down in MD. A weather fanatic and frequent poster and contributor to weather boards, his electric power is down, almost a foot of snow, high winds, and the indirect report that the house is cooling down. Hope he, and everyone in the snow belt is safe this weekend.
Here are a few random photos to commemorate that week so many years ago, it was a time when neighbors really became "neighborly"

Toyota Recalls

2010-02-05T05:24:00.000-08:00

Not being a Toyota owner, it seems strange to read about the newest problem affecting the Prius and braking systems.
Here is an excerpt from the news article this morning:

The company says it made a change in the 2010 braking system last month to correct cars in production. The company has not made a decision about cars on the road.

If they know there is a problem, they have hopefully found a fix for the problem, why are they NOT extending this to car on the road ???
Just a thought, but one would think with 120++ complaints, and the current recall of almost 5 million other Toyota's, they would be front and center on recalling and repairing the Prius.
Time will tell.

February, Often offers a tantalizing hint of warmth !!!

2010-02-04T08:26:00.000-08:00

The good thing about February is that the sun is beginning to quicken the pace at which it is making is way to the high point in the sky. Even on a relatively cold day like today, 29 degrees, one can finally believe that the sun is a warm object, LOL. But, like every February, the Atlantic is just about at its coldest so any storm coming up the coast probably would be a snow event. Oh, I forgot, there is a storm coming up the coast, on Saturday and actually another one forecast for next week. Hopefully, the forecasters are correct and the low pressure system will race out to sea after dumping a major snowfall on the mid Atlantic states Friday Night and Saturday. Looking at light amounts here in Rhode Island, but a wary eye to be kept on such a system !!!
From a February, a long, long time ago, 1978, as we mark the Anniversary of the Blizzard of '76 in a couple of days. This shot is from the Providence Journal, and shows Interstate 195, at the Massachusetts/Rhode Island border. Guess which side Rhode Island is, LOL things have not changed very much, but hopefully, this weekend will NOT bring a repeat.

A little quiz, amazingly difficult

2010-01-31T05:00:00.000-08:00

This is a quiz for people who know everything!

I found out in a hurry that I didn't.. These are not trick questions. They
are straight questions with straight answers.

1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants
know the score or the leader until the contest ends.

2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?

3. Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for
several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year.
What are the only two perennial vegetables?

4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?

5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear
inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it
hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?

6. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters 'dw' and
they are all common words. Name two of them.

7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at
least half of them?

8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned,
processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.

9. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the
letter 'S.'

Answers are way down the page........

Answers To Quiz:

1. The one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know
the score or the leader until the contest ends:

Boxing

2. North American landmark constantly moving backward. Niagara Falls -
The rim is worn down about two and a half feet each year because of the
millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute.

3. Only two vegetables that can live to produce on their own for several
growing seasons: Asparagus and rhubarb.

4. The fruit with its seeds on the outside:Strawberry.

5. How did the pear get inside the brandy bottle? It grew inside the
bottle. The bottles are placed over pear buds when they are small, and are
wired in place on the tree. The bottle is left in place for the entire
growing season When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stems.

6. Three English words beginning with dw: Dwarf, dwell and dwindle.

7. Fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar. Period, comma, colon,
semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation point,
quotation mark, brackets, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses.

8. The only vegetable or fruit never sold frozen, canned, processed,
cooked, or in any other form but fresh: Lettuce

9. Six or more things you can wear on your feet beginning with 'S':
Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes,
stockings, stilts.

Groundhog Day Tuesday

2010-01-30T09:09:00.000-08:00

February 2, 2009 - around 7:30 am ET - Punxsutawney, PA

Phil saw his shadow and thus we are headed for 6 more weeks of winter!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The legend of Groundhog Day is based on an old Scottish couplet: "If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year."

Every February 2, people gather at Gobbler's Knob, a wooded knoll just outside of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Residents contend that the groundhog has never been wrong.

The ceremony in Punxsutawney was held in secret until 1966, and only Phil's prediction was revealed to the public. Since then, Phil's fearless forecast has been a national media event.

The groundhog comes out of his electrically heated burrow, looks for his shadow and utters his prediction to a Groundhog Club representative in "groundhogese." The representative then translates the prediction for the general public.

If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, it means spring is just around the corner.

Approximately 90% of the time, Phil sees his shadow.

Phil started making predictions in 1887 and has become an American institution.

Tonight's Wolf Moon

2010-01-30T09:08:00.000-08:00

Why Is the Moon Looking Unusually Large?
Updated: Saturday, January 30, 2010 7:54 AM

The full moon through this Saturday will be the largest and brightest of the year. This is also called the Wolf Moon, which will be 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than a typical full moon.

The moon's orbit around Earth is not a circle, but an ellipse, with one side 50,000 km closer to Earth than the other. The point of closest approach is called the "perigee," and that is where the moon will be Friday night through Saturday morning.

Forecast by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson

Snow Brings in Bitter Cold

2010-01-29T04:55:00.001-08:00

Well, the snow yesterday ushered in a bitter outbreak of Arctic cold as the temp is 10 degrees right now with a biting WNW wind gusting up to 30 mph. Here are a few scenes from around Woonsocket yesterday during the first of two burst of snow.

May be slick driving later today

2010-01-28T05:17:00.000-08:00

The next Arctic cold front will blast through this evening with the potential for heavy snow squalls with high winds. This will cause the relatively mild pavement to melt and freeze withing a short time span causing icing conditions. So be aware of this potential on your commute home this evening. Still, this will be nothing compared to the the major storm out in OK and TX where our friends and relatives will be eyewitness to anything from blizzard conditions to icing up to 1" in OK City.
Stay Safe Everyone !!!

Close to Flood Stage: The Blackstone River at Woonsocket, RI

2010-01-26T07:44:00.000-08:00

The mighty Blackstone was racing through the City this AM at crest, just about 8', not a flooding issue here, but power of water not in doubt from the "thundering" Falls today !!!

Wind and Rain Today

2010-01-25T05:46:00.000-08:00

Quick weather update: Mild this AM at 50 degrees with very light rain. Looking for rain to pick up and become heavy at times today with upwards of 3" possible with an isiolated thunderstorm. Wind will also be an issue with gusts possible up to 60 mph.
Flash Flood and Wind Advisory has been issued for the Rhode Island area.

Keep Your Car Keys With You IN THE HOUSE !!!

2010-01-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your
Dr's office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across.
Put your car keys beside your bed at night.
If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your
house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set
off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off
or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood
watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start
to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system
that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it.
It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will
keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with
the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway
or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break
into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around.
After a few seconds, all the neighbors will be looking out their
windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want
that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a
parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something
that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life
or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S. I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is
fantastic. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart
attack, where you can't reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad
that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she
doesn't hear him.. He can activate the car alarm and then she'll
know there's a problem.

Rainy Day Ahead Monday

2010-01-23T06:44:00.000-08:00

Well, that Western System should affect us tomorrow night and Monday with heavy rains, perhaps even over 2" of water. Thankfully, the temps will NOT be near freezing, because that would be a couple of feet of snow. And, most of the snow has melted over that past week or so, so the possibility of heavy flooding is gone, but localized street flooding possible. Good time to catch up on some reading, with so many Christmas gifts received: next on the list, Woonsocket Revisited; New England Weather New England Climate; and Great New England Storms of the 20th Century. At least reading will not be interrupted by shoveling duties !!!

What is an intelligent person?

2010-01-21T09:34:00.000-08:00

That is an oft asked question and reponses perhaps are as varied as there are stars.
My opinion is that if you can step into your backyard, whether a city dweller or on a farm, and answer a few questions, you are well on your way.
1. Can you identify some stars and planets?
2. Can you identify the clouds?
3. What types of trees do you see?
4. What types of rock outcroppings and their history?
5. Identify the vegetation?
6. Identify the wildlife or tracks you may see?

If you can do this, kudo's to you !!!
All you need are a few nature guides and everytime you have a question, try and find the answer, you will be surprised on the knowledge you can retain over the years.
Start TODAY !!!

A Haiti Survival

2010-01-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

A High School classmate (Mount Saint Charles Academy, Woonsocket, RI, Class of 1969) lives in Haiti and I have just received a note from him that he survived, narrowly, the great earthquake. Here is a link to his blog and his survival story:

Reginald Bailly To all my friends, all over the world, I say thank you for wanting to know about me, and how I survived the earthquake in Haiti. read more http://www.archivex-ht.com/timing-the-most-crucial-factor-earthquake-survivors/

Russian UFO

2010-01-20T07:17:00.000-08:00

Has anyone seen the video or heard about this ??? Not that I have looked very far, but first notice I have read about the incident:

Fleet of three UFOs filmed over Moscow

Three unidentified flying objects (UFOs) were spotted in the northeastern part of Moscow, Russia, on Saturday. The spacecraft were videotaped flying in a triangular formation.

The two eyewitness videographers claimed the possible alien spaceships were visible for approximately three minutes, and then disappeared.

2010-01-20T04:59:00.000-08:00

I found this little post in the Providence Journal, I guess that over the 3 to 4 hours of a game, there is plenty of time to get a refill for that glass of Coca Cola, LOL

The Wall Street Journal points out that in football, unlike in most sports, the clock runs for long stretches while nothing is happening.

So The Journal broke down some telecasts to find out how much football is actually played during an NFL game:

"The average amount of time the ball is in play on the field during an NFL game is about 11 minutes. In other words, if you tally up everything that happens between the time the ball is snapped and the play is whistled dead by the officials, there's barely enough time to prepare a hard-boiled egg. In fact, the average telecast devotes 56% more time to showing replays.''

"The ratio of inaction to action is approximately 10 to 1.''

Something to think about as you're sitting on the couch next Sunday.

Woonsocket RI Fire, Bernon Street

2010-01-19T11:14:00.000-08:00

A great job by Woonsocket Firefighters in keeping this fire contained to a garage just a couple of feet behind an apartment building. Conditions were wet with rain/snow mix and temps in the low 30's. Fire was on Bernon Street, a few blocks away from the house.

Get out and VOTE

2010-01-19T05:06:00.000-08:00

To our Massachusetts friends, be sure to VOTE today, even if you are like Curt Schilling a Red Sox fan ? or is it a Yankee fan? In any event vote.

The Darwin Awards, or is it De-Evolution at work?

2010-01-16T06:03:00.000-08:00

Here is the glorious winner:

1. When his 38 caliber revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Provo , Utah would-be robber Jason Ellison did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time it worked..
And now, the honorable mentions:

2. The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a finger in a meat cutting machine and after a little shopping around, submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company expecting negligence sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried the machine and he also lost a finger. The chef's claim was approved.

3. A man who shoveled snow for an hour to clear a space for his car during a blizzard in Chicago returned with his vehicle to find a woman had taken the space. Understandably, he shot her.

4. After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped... Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies.. The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days.

5.. A teenager was in the hospital recovering from serious head wounds received from an oncoming train. When asked how he received the injuries, the lad told police that he was simply trying to see how close he could get his head to a moving train before he was hit.

6. A man walked into a Louisiana Circle-K, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided.. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer... $15. [If someone points a gun at you and gives you money, is a crime committed?]

7. Seems an Arkansas guy wanted some beer pretty badly.. He decided that he'd just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at the window. The cinder block bounced back and hit the would-be thief on the head, knocking him unconscious. The liquor store window was made of Plexiglas. The whole event was caught on videotape.

8. As a female shopper exited a South Carolina convenience store, a man grabbed her purse and ran. The clerk called 911 immediately, and the woman was able to give them a detailed description of the snatcher. Within minutes, the police apprehended the snatcher. They put him in the car and drove back to the store. The thief was then taken out of the car and told to stand there for a positive ID. To which he replied, "Yes, officer, that's her. That's the lady I stole the purse from."

9.. The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in Ypsilanti , Michigan at 5 A.M., flashed a gun, and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn't open the cash register without a food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for breakfast. The man, frustrated, walked away. [*A 5-STAR STUPIDITY AWARD WINNER]

10. When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on an Atlanta street, he got much more than he bargained for. Police arrived at the scene to find a very sick man curled up next to a motor home near spilled sewage. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying to steal gasoline, but he plugged his siphon hose into the motor home's sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press charges saying that it was the best laugh he'd ever had.

Saltwater Fishing Registry

2010-01-16T05:43:00.000-08:00

Well, to help the fish and prevent we anglers from emptying the oceans, registration is now mandated with the Federal Government before we can cast that line in the Cape Canal or into Narragansett Bay, as well as any other saltwater. States are now selling the saltwater permits and/or you will need to register with the government, it depends upon which state you are in right now. Confusion still exists over which states are recognizing each other. I am sure there will be more info to come. Here is the latest from NOAA:

If you're a recreational angler, you might be interested in learning about the new National Saltwater Angler Registry, which went into effect Friday, January 1, 2010. The registry will enable NOAA to more effectively gather information from saltwater fishermen, enhancing our ability to produce the most timely and accurate information possible about the health of recreational fish stocks-- we're expecting more than 3 million anglers to register this year. To sign up, you can visit www.countmyfish.noaa.gov or call the toll-free registration line at 1-888-MRIP-411. In the meantime, check out this video to learn more about how it all works.

Happy Birthday Cape Cod Light !!!

2010-01-15T04:56:00.000-08:00

On this date in 1798, Highland Light in North Truro, MA on Cape Cod was illuminated for the first time. It was commissioned by George Washington to warn mariners' of the dangerous shoals. Last decade, it was moved back from the bluff almost two football fields because of erosion. A nice observation deck was built on the bluff (a great place for stargazing without any lighting to obscure vision). Will be interesting to see if that deck has survived the severe erosion from this seasons Nor'eaters on our next trip as the campground we use is only about a quarter mile away. Here are a few of my pix of the light.

Mystery Object Close Call with Earth

2010-01-13T05:50:00.000-08:00

Well, since this happened about an hour ago, I guess we are all safe !!!

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
January 13, 2010WASHINGTON - A mystery object from space is about to whizz close by Earth on Wednesday. It won't hit our planet, but scientists are stumped by what exactly it is.

Astronomers say it may be space junk or it could be a tiny asteroid, too small to cause damage even if it hit. It's 33 to 50 feet wide at most.

More Times Breaking News
Conan O'Brien says no thanks to NBC move - 7:56 am Haiti's capital shattered by earthquake - 7:48 am NASA: Mystery object to whizz by Earth today - 7:43 am Google decides to end China censorship - 7:40 am See All Breaking News Stories »NASA says that on Wednesday at 7:47 a.m. EST, it will streak by, missing Earth by about 80,000 miles. In the western United States it may be bright enough to be seen with a good amateur telescope.

For Patriot's Fans !!!

2010-01-11T04:39:00.000-08:00

Take heart after that horrid game yesterday, let's face it, the game started and ended the way the season unfolded, one was never quite certain things were ok anywhere on the team. But life goes on, there are bills to pay and laundry to complete and trash to take out. Now our diversion can be the Providence College Friars', the Celtics and the Bruins. Remember, Spring training right around the corner and the "new look" Bosox, then the NFL draft and then the All Star Games and what do you know, Patriot's open training camp. Will be interesting to see how many faces leave the team this Spring, Wilfork? Moss? The entire Defensive line? LOL, should be quite a different team by September.

Want to save $$$$ Use Coffee Filters !!!!!

2010-01-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

Yup, those disposable paper filters that you can buy a ton of for cheap $$$ at your local dollar store. Here are some of the uses, and there are probably many you can think of. They are a LOT cheaper than paper towels !!!

1. Cover bowls and dishes in the microwave.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, chrome, they are lint free.
3. Protect good dishes with a filter inbetween each.
4. Filter wine when a cork breaks apart in the bottle.
5. Protect a cast iron skillet from rust.
6. Apply shoe polish, just crumble one up.
7. Filter cooking oil to recyle.
8. Weigh chopped foods
9. Hold tacos and other "finger foods"
10. Line a plant pot before addding soil
11. Poke a hole and prevent popsicles from leaking on kids clothes
12. Drain bacon
13. Sewing backing for embroidery and appliques
14. Put some baking soda in one and place in closet to absorb odor
15. Strain soup stock
16. Prevent drips when adding oil or fluids in your auto
17. Spoon rest
18. Sort out ingredients when prepping a stir fry and hold spices at the ready
19. Wrap Christmas ornaments for storage
20. Out of cotton balls, use to remove fingernail polish
21. Sprout seeds, dampen, fold and put in ziplock bag outside til sprouted
22. Blot pressed flowers, place between filters then inbetween heavy books
23. Cheap disposable bowls for snacks like chips, popcorn, etc.
24. Use in coffee maker to brew coffee !!!

A Morning Laugh from Red Green

2010-01-08T07:16:00.000-08:00

From Red's morning Facebook Post:

It is winter.
We hitch the horse up to the sleigh
Like grandfather use to do
Over hills and through the dales
We glide for an hour or two
And soon my ears are brittle and my mouth is frozen shut
My eyes are locked wide open and all I see is a horse's butt

Kudos to the City of Woonsocket

2010-01-08T05:22:00.000-08:00

Well, the roads have just barely begun to whiten from the snow and our little street has been salted already by the Public works crews. Quite early for us !!! Good job, taking Angel to school should be a breeze this AM.

Hurricane/TS Watches & Warnings Change

2010-01-06T15:44:00.000-08:00

The lead time for these watches and warnings will increase by 12 hours. Testament to the accuracy of forecasting today.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) NOAA’s National Hurricane Center in Miami will issue watches and warnings for tropical storms and hurricanes along threatened coastal areas 12 hours earlier than in previous years. According to NOAA hurricane experts, advancements in forecasts are making it possible for forecasters to provide greater lead time.

Snowfall Totals for Woonsocket thru January 6th

2010-01-06T15:37:00.001-08:00

Snow Amounts to date:

October:

10/19: 0.5”

November:

None

December:

12/6 3.0

12/9 2.0

12/10 2.5

12/17 0.4

12/20 14

12/21 6

Total: 27.9

January:

1/1 2,5

½ 1

1/3 4

¼ 2

Total: 9.5

Season to date: 37.9

On ground: approx 5”

Scenes of Summer 2009

2010-01-04T05:28:00.000-08:00

Some of the Weatherfun group at our annual July weekend enjoying a cruise on the Cape Cod Canal when the weather was warm and NOT white.

Christmas Day in Bellingham, random photos

2010-01-04T05:23:00.001-08:00

UFO Sighting 50 years ago, Will we ever "really" know ???

2010-01-03T08:23:00.000-08:00

From Papual, New Guinea region. Would guess the usual explanation of auto headlights reflecting off an atmospheric inversion would not apply as there could not have been many automobiles there 50 years ago:

From Mr. Steve down in Florida:

Missionary recounts UFO sighting 50 years ago

It's now been 50 years since a 31-year-old Australian Anglican missionary in Papua New Guinea (PNG), William Gill, and 37 parishioners and staff made the best attested and least explained sighting of unidentified flying objects in the long, otherwise kooky history of the genre.
The day before the celebrated encounter of a mystifying kind, Gill had written a letter to David Durie, acting principal of St. Aidanâ€™s College, which trained teacher-evangelists at Dogura, then the headquarters of the church in PNG.

Gill, who was the priest in charge at Boianai, a large village on the mountainous north coast of Milne Bay province, about 25 km west of Dogura, told Durie of a UFO sighting by Stephen Moi, then an assistant teacher. He wrote: â€œThere have been quite a number of reports over the months from reliable witnesses. The peculiar thing about these most recent reports is that the UFOs seem to be stationary at Boanai or to travel from Boianai," a beautiful location brilliantly captured by pioneer Australian photographer Frank Hurley in 1921.

"I myself saw a stationary white light twice on the same night on April 9. The assistant district officer, Bob Smith, and Mr. Glover have seen it. I do not doubt the existence of these things, but my simple mind still requires scientific evidence before I can accept the from-outer-space theory. I am inclined to believe that probably many UFOs are more likely some form of electric phenomena or perhaps something brought about by the atom bomb explosions, etc. That Stephen should actually make out a saucer could be the work of the unconscious mind, as it is very likely that at some time he has seen illustrations of some kind in a magazine. It is all too difficult to understand for me; I prefer to wait for some bright boy to catch one to be exhibited in Martin Place. Yours, Doubting William."

The following day, he wrote again: "Dear David, life is strange, isn't it? Yesterday I wrote you a letter, expressing opinions re the UFOs. Now, less than 24 hours later I have changed my views somewhat. Last night, we at Boianai experienced about four hours of UFO activity, and there is no doubt whatsoever that they are handled by beings of some kind. At times it was absolutely breathtaking. We watched figures appear on top â€" four of them â€" no doubt that they are human. Two smaller UFOs were seen at the same time, stationary. One above the hills west, another overhead. On the large one, two of the figures seemed to be doing something near the center of the deck. They were occasionally bending over and raising their arms as though adjusting or setting up something (not visible). One figure seemed to be standing looking down at us (a group of about a dozen). I stretched my arm above my head and waved. To our surprise, the figure did the same." Cheers, Convinced Bill.

"P.S. Do you think P. Moresby should know about this? If people think it worthwhile, I will stand the cost of a radio conversation if you care to make out a comprehensive report from the material on my behalf!"

What had Gill and his parishioners seen? The notes he made following his encounter describe a bright white light appearing in the northwestern sky, approaching the mission station, then hovering about 100 meters in the air.

2010-01-02T11:11:00.000-08:00

THE MILLVILLE LOCK:

THE CANAL REMAINS ALONG THE NEW BIKE PATH:

CANAL FOLLOWED THIS ROUTE ON WHAT IS NOW WATER STREET, PARRELLEL TO RIVER ST ACROSS FROM GROSSMAN'S OUTLET:

THE CANAL FOLLOWED THIS ROUTE AT HAMLET AVENUE, IN FRONT OF THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOLS:

Not the Erie Canal, but same importance because a route between the Port of Providence and Worcester was needed to transport goods more efficiently in the early 1800's. The Blackstone Canal was comprised of almost 50 locks along its path, only one remains deep in the woods of Millville, Massachuetts. If one looks closely, evidence of the canal in the City remains to this day.

From ashes to education ...

2010-01-02T05:39:00.000-08:00

On the site of this major mill conflagration a few years ago, the new Middle Schools here in Woonsocket will open on Monday.

French/Canadian Ragout

2010-01-02T04:15:00.000-08:00

Well, many request for a ragout recipe have led to my post here. Mostly from memory I will resort to "putting it down on paper".
1. Brown flour gently in a dry cast iron pan, to a light golden brown.
2. Brown pork hocks slowly in a dutch oven. I use a mix of olive oil and butter, I am certain that bacon grease may have historically been utilized.
3. Remove pork hocks and make sure there is enough fat to prepare a roux. Add oil if needed. Slowly add flour to oil to form a roux, I use about 1/4 cup of brown flour.
4. Now add beef broth to the roux mixing well to form the gravy. I use approx 1 quart of broth.
5. Once the gravy is made, return pork hocks to gravy and simmer for 3 or 4 hours.
6. Once well cooked, remove hocks to cool.
7. Prepare simple meatballs to your favorite recipe: Eg: ground beef, crumbs, egg and seasonings of choice. Brown in oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or so.
8. Add meatballs, potatoes, carrots, small onion to gravy.
9. Remove meat from hocks and add to pot.
10. Simmer for 2 to 3 hours until all is cooked.
11. Seasoning: Many variations, I use sea salt, fresh ground pepper, a touch of Worcestershire, a touch of garlic.
12. Serve and enjoy with a good portion of French Bread for dipping.
Using 4 pork hocks and about 10 meatballs from a pound of ground beef, this should serve 6 adults at least.

I am sure that there are many variations out there, so pardon if not exact to your memory from the "good ole days"

2009-12-28T04:53:00.000-08:00

A week ago, after a 20" snowfall. Virtually all the snow has melted away thanks to a warm and rainy weekend. Now the cold blast is about to take hold in Southern New England as we await a New Year system that will cover us in white again !!!

2009-12-27T08:19:00.000-08:00

Hope you had a Merry and Safe Christmas !!! Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. Weatherwise it is raining and mild today, Sunday the 27th of December. Looking for snow tomorrow and perhaps a major weather event on New Year's Day. A good deal of the 20" of snow received last week has now melted and making its way to the Blackstone River (some by way of my basement !!!), so ready for a new layer.