GOOD DEED: We received word of a generous gift made to the
Eldred Senior Center by the employees at the Ethan Allen furniture
plant which closed a few weeks ago.

Employees of the plant had some ,97 accumulated in a “welfare
fund” set up to help fellow workers in times of need. The senior
center will be using the money to help pay its electric bill, we’re
told.

There’s something very sad, ironic and heart-warming – and
heart-breaking – in this story. Says it all about the state of the
country, the economy and our little neck of the woods, circa
2009.

DOGWOOD LEGEND: As RTS readers know, we’ve been printing
information about a “tree of the month” provided by the state
Bureau of Forestry, Elk State Forest, and last month it was the
dogwood tree.

In response, we received an item from Ellen in southeastern
Georgia called “A Dogwood Legend.” We’ve been saving it for when it
would be most appropriate and that is today, Good Friday.

The legend goes:

“In Jesus time, the dogwood grew

To a stately size and a lovely hue.

‘Twas strong and firm as oak branches interwoven

For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen.

Seeing the distress of this use of their wood

Christ made a promise which still holds good:

‘Never again shall the dogwood grow

Large enough to be used so

It shall slender and twisted be

With blossoms like the cross for all to see.

As bloodstains the petals marked in brown

The blossom’s center shall wear a thorny crown.

All who see it will remember me.

Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.

Cherished and protected this tree shall be

A reminder to all of my agony.'”

Our RTS reader tells us the signature is Ken Brown, and says she
has the Legend framed with a picture of the dogwood.

LOOKING UP: Lawrence J. Ralph of writes, “Each year, in
mid-March, we see large flocks of robins pass through our winter
home area at Rockledge, Fla., (near Cape Canaveral) that are headed
north. It is what tells us we can return to Bradford a few weeks
later.”

By that estimation, they should be pulling into the driveway any
second now.

Let’s hope the snow is all melted!