I really think Mother Nature has turned the wrong page on her calendar, and has been playing a joke on us all. Since early March we have had everything that spring could usually bring us, but the sequence seems scrambled! Those warm days in March gave way to mild, dry April, and now we have frost and rainy conditions in mid-May. I really hope that the season will soon resume what we like to think of as a “normal” spring. The forecast seems to show that we may get to 80 degrees by the middle of next week. I think we’ll all welcome that!

The unsettled weather pattern has made it difficult to engage in much observation of the stars, planets, or the ISS, but whenever the sky is clear, take a chair or mat out to a spot away from bright light and enjoy the sights of the night sky. Allow yourself ten or fifteen minutes without use of any lights so that your eyes can gain “night vision” and you will be amazed at how many stars and satellites you can see.

The definition of the word STOP seems to vary among those who hold driver’s licenses. Recently it has seemed that, for many drivers in Hughesville, the familiar octagonal red signs bearing this word are a mere suggestion. While it is true that many intersections have minimal amounts of traffic, especially at mid-morning, or mid-afternoon, it is still important for all of us to make a full stop at every STOP sign. With the approach of summer and the increased foot and bicycle traffic, plus the presence of children outdoors from daylight to dark, that extra two seconds that are required to make a full stop can make the difference between safe passage and tragic accident. Please allow yourself enough time for all your driving. Pedestrians and cyclists also need to pay attention to the rules of safe use of streets and intersections to help keep everyone accident-free.

Upcoming Events:

Fri. May 20 open house at Lime Bluff Park, 6-8 p.m., food, music and beverages.

Sat. May 21, 2 p.m. Ray of Light Awards Ceremony at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport. Tickets are available online and at the door.

Sat. May 28 Annual Alumni Banquet for all graduates of Hughesville High School. This year’s honorees will be members of class years ending with “1” and “6.” The banquet will be held at the Hughesville Fire Hall. Doors open at 5 PM with meal served at 6 PM. For ticket reservations, contact Frank Poust at 570-458-5397 or Paul McCoy at 570-584-2277.

Mon. May 30 Memorial Day and parade.