How cold was it last week? Oh it was very, very cold. We had to take an oil delivery. Nothing like an oil delivery to send you to the thermostats to turn them down, the furnace off. Then keep an eye out for Mr. Turn ’em Up.
The male-female break on thermostat settings is unclear, and there is only anecdotal evidence on either side.
A woman in the Registry of Motor Vehicles at the Mexico Plaza said she sets the thermostat at 65 degrees, but keeps a lamp turned on close by it. The warmth of the light bulb sends the temperature setting up to 65 if the furnace is not on. Brilliant. But her technique will work only if you have an outlet handy to the thermostat.
Some years ago, Jerry Fontaine, shivering in our cold living room, came down on the side of higher heating settings. He said something like a man likes to come home to a warm house. Grateful nod of approval, but not from me.
Despite the rains and flooding that began this week, winter looms long and hard for many in the River Valley, though we have no corner on hardship. Between substantial, side-by-side increases in fuel prices and medical insurance premiums . . . well, it’s not easy.
Community Concepts is the place to send your donation to fuel assistance for the elderly in our region. Rumford Book Club members sent their help along last week.
The winter ahead, however, despite cold, pinched prospects on some lines, has a lot of warm-you-up fun in store.
At the last meeting of the Rumford Performing Arts Committee for the year, Jim Rinaldo announced that the Coos Canyon Band, with Barney Martin upfront, will return to the Rumford Falls Auditorium in February. If you were present for the November performance, you’ll certainly be back for the encore. You missed the November gig? There are second chances; this one comes in February.
Christmas is coming, but, as always, will be behind us in a twinkling. On its heels is the U.S. National Cross-Country Ski Championships opening at Black Mountain on New Year’s Day. A big deal for the River Valley, very big. So, heads up River Valley Chamber, Information Center volunteers and everyone.
Bob Colby got a heads up, too. Seems Butch Broomhall’s router went south on him, so he asked Bob to make the 43 plaques that will be presented to the winners of the week’s races.
Bob has a new router. By the end of last week and 31 plaques to go, he was having a good time perfecting his technique while helping the Chisholm Ski Club.
“It’s fun and a learning experience,” Bob said.
Christmas — lighting Advent candles and Christmas tees, singing carols and drinking eggnog — is very warming. Sad, too. Doesn’t “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” speak to that aspect of the season?
Not long ago, a young woman said, ‘I really want to go home to Peru.’ Hard not to think Buddy McLain felt the same. May our community’s care help comfort his family during this Christmas season.
Linda Farr Macgregor is a freelance writer; contact her at jmacgregor1@roadrunner.com
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