How to Spend a Rainy Afternoon

•  Go to the library.

•  Find someone to play a game with, or

•  someone to read to you, or

•  lie on the floor and play with a truck.

What could be nicer than a rainy Saturday afternoon in November!

Weekend CVU Sports Roundup

Edd Merritt spent Saturday on various sports fields around the area and sent in these photos of CVU's (mostly) successful weekend of playoffs. We've got pics of football from the semi-final win over Mount Mansfield, 21-14 (they play for the Division II championship this Saturday against Colchester at Essex High School field), boys' soccer from the state Division I title 2-0 win over Burr and Burton Academy and girls' from the state Division I title game that they lost to Burlington, 1-0.

From top to bottom:

Nick Spencer fends off a B&B defender, a Kylie deGroot header in Burlington's end, and Konnor Fleming is ready to throw against a Mount Mansfield defender.

Steeple Down

On October 20, the steeple of the Charlotte Congregational Church came down. During the ongoing restoration project, rot was discovered that was more extensive than anticipated and it was determined that the cost to do the work without removing the steeple would be considerably more than if the steeple was removed.

Pictured below is Linc Prescott, Charlotter and the Clerk of the Works for the project. More pictures can be seen here.

Pumpkin Man Invades CCS

The weather cooperated this morning so freaks and princesses - and Pumpkin Man - turned out for this year's Charlotte Central School Halloween parade.  Here, thanks to Kerrie Pugh, are a few of the wonderful costumes. We think that's Interim Principal Sandra Jump as the Mad Hatter, below, but as always, Pumpkin Man's identity remains shrouded in secrecy.

You can see more in a slide show on the school's website.

Just Stopping By

Linda Gilbert sent in this colorful photo of a monarch butterfly that stopped by her garden on its way to Mexico last week.  It and two of its friends seemed to prefer the zinnias over other remaining flowers.  Good to know Charlotte is on their travel route.

Cornucopia at the Four Corners

Thanks to John Hammer for sending in these pics of the WWI monument at the West Village four corners, which had been feeling a little neglected lately, what with all the East Charlotte Tractor Parade and Carrie's decorations over on the other side of town. Alexandra and Theo created this beautiful seasonal centerpiece on a grand scale that should see us through Thanksgiving. Thanks!

Dogs of the Tractor Parade

There were a lot of dogs at the Charlotte Tractor Parade on Sunday; most didn't seem to mind the crowds or noise. Whether they like watching tractor parades or just didn't want to stay behind at home was unclear.