There are three service hour opportunities coming up and not only do they benefit the town, but they are fun to do as well.
Tuesday, November 11th. Veterans Day. The Town Celebrations Committee is trying to make more of a ceremony out of it. We will gather at the White House (the dumpish-looking building next to the police station) at 9:30 AM for a parade and ceremony on the Battle Green. Wear your Class A uniform. If it is raining, we will go to Cary Hall instead. This is a joint 160-119 event, of course and this year the master of ceremonies promises to remember that there are two troops and may even get the names of both Scoutmasters correct. One can only hope of course …
Thursday, November 13th. This is the twice-yearly Book Migration to help the Friends of Cary Library. Not only do you get service hours, but you also satisfy a requirement for Reading merit badge. On top of service hours, and merit badge requirements, you get pizza and soda in the library. Nobody else gets that! We will be joined by a Den of Cub Scouts. Come at 5 PM. We will plan pizza for 6 PM and you will be able to walk to your meeting by 7 PM. This is another 160-119 event and the nice people who volunteer for FOCL think the world of Scouts. Plus you will get your name in the paper and maybe even your picture if I remember to bring my camera. By the way–with the increase in energy costs, all town departments have been asked to freeze spending. That means that the Library cannot spend approximately $15,000 of the money set aside for new books. And that means that the money the FOCL book sale brings in is REALLY important. So let’s come
on down next Thursday, get those books moved, and stuff ourselves with pizza.
Date uncertain. Bandstand holiday lighting. This will occur late in November. The date is uncertain because we are trying to work out a last-minute wrinkle. We have been asked to go to LED lights this year. Bev and Peter Kelley have donated quite a bit of money to help the Chamber of Commerce switch over to LED lights. Because the lights look a little different, we have been asked to switch over as well. There are two reasons–a uniform look to all lighting, and a general committment to energy conservation. I am scurrying around trying to find a funding source for the lighting so we might be a little late this year. I had planned to switch over next year as had the town, but then the gift caught us all by surprise. The early LED lights were somewhat disappointing, but the 4th generation lights which I was shown recently look very good and should last a long time. In the end we will save money on replacement lights and the town will save money
on energy.
One last thing. Troop 119 actively supports our Pancake Breakfast. Their own fundraiser is a holiday wreath sale. I have been buying a wreath from them for some time and can vouch for the quality and reasonable price. A Scout from 119 will be at our meeting closing for the next couple of weeks in case you would like to order a wreath. Sales may also be arranged through the 119 Web site.
-Hank Manz