OUR TOWN: Judy Rose drops us a line, “I would like to pass on
this e-mail I received from my sister in New Jersey. I thought it
was very interesting and could be of help to our town.”

“I see too many small companies going out of business due to the
economy. I’m urging you to go out and spend a little money at a
small independently owned store this week and please pass it on. If
everyone did a little bit, our economy would recover.

“Even if it’s lunch or dinner out, buying something for your dog
at a small dog boutique, buying a gift at a small gift store or a
piece of jewelry … anything to keep your local independent
businesses open and able to pay employees and rent and keep going
or better yet, go buy a new car or a house! Smile and pass it on …
.”

“P.S. Let’s be a town that helps each other.”

WRONG ONE: Put this in the “close, but no cigar” category.

A reader had wondered if, perhaps, a former Bradford resident
had received the Oscar on Sunday for special effects for the movie,
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” A Burt Dalton had received
the trophy. Our reader had remembered that a Mrs. Dalton, who was a
school librarian in the 1970s, had a son who worked in special
effects in the movies. Could it be the same Dalton?

Loretta Moore phoned Tuesday with a definite, “no.” The
librarian was a Kit Daulton and, as you can see, it’s spelled
Daulton. Also, Kit’s son was named David not Burt.

So much for that claim to fame!

LAST DAY: Until this winter, we didn’t know it was possible to
“wear out” a snow brush. Not to mention, we’ve worn the tread off
our boots, our coat is edged with salt, our gloves and at least one
scarf have disappeared into the wind.

Have we ever been so happy to turn the page on a month as this
February?

While we have no illusion that winter is over, we have small
things to look forward to in March such as the first “official” day
of spring March 20. For many of us with Seasonal Affective Disorder
an even bigger event is the “unofficial” first day of spring –
March 8 when we gain an hour of sunlight.