23 May, 2000

The loons are laughing on the lake tonight as yet another week has witnessed numerous projects nearing completion. Not to worry! There will be plenty left for the onslaught of volunteers during Memorial Day Weekend. Unfortunately, Steve Pruyne had to beg off his crew from the 70’s because of overexerting himself on a half –marathon during the week. However, that minor setback neither slowed the pace of work done on site, nor stymied the number of visitors to camp.
The canoes were removed from winter storage in the Roehrig Center and are awaiting transport down to the waterfront. Denis Gillum has already put in the first new culvert on Sandy road to help with the drainage issues in upper camp.
	Glenn Hodgdon has returned from sunnier climes for his 48^th season of making us young’uns look like slackers as he jumped right back into the fray, hooking up water lines to the nether reaches of camp.
Finally, the barn clean out continues at a feverish pace.
	Highlights of the week included Mike McCarthy getting to celebrate his birthday in style with a chocolate cake surprise shared with his maintenance mentors.
Chef Paul Byam returned to christen the new season in the kitchen.
	Steve Gordon dropped by to assist with Sunday breakfast for the user group in camp (Youth for Understanding was our latest visiting program that brought young adults from all over the region for orientation in preparation for their foreign exchange experience).
But the biggest surprise of all was the sudden blast from the past when Hal Eaton, trail section head from 1964, drove in to have a look around camp and take us on a little walk down amnesia lane. He fondly remembered Larry & Judy Fudge, Nate & Carole Todaro, Traylor Rodgers and a host of others from days gone by. He regaled us with stories on the Fine Farmhouse porch, which included some memorable moments with the Trail section: Taking a hike along the Kancamagus and body surfing down the river only to freeze on the way back home on the back of the truck. Having the entire trail section serenade both the senior and junior sections well before wake up. Finally, he left us with a mouth-watering description of the scent of freshly baked bread in the kitchen wafting into the road that promised a taste that was just sinful!!
We hope that all of you can make it up for Memorial Day Weekend to join the fun and share your own stories by the campfire. So far, the young alums of the ‘90’s are being given a stiff challenge from the ‘70’s in terms of folks who have already signed up. There is still an outside chance that the ever-procrastinating group from the ‘80’s or the surging ‘60’s might yet provide the largest contingent. Hmmm…what does this bode for the softball game on Sunday? If you haven’t yet sent in an RSVP please drop us a note or leave a message at 617- 927- 8023 so that we cook enough food for everyone!! David B. Goodwin North Woods Director “Traylor’s making donuts!”