Older and wiser?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.