Man seen snowboarding shirtless at Ponkapoag Golf Course

It wasn’t something like the primary signal of spring that I anticipated to see, however someway, watching a pair snowboarding towards me at Canton’s Ponkapoag Golf Course within the brilliant solar, the person bare-chested and the girl smiling and gliding simply alongside, lifted me up into spring mode.

Throughout the afternoon, individuals arrived to stroll out across the pond, or alongside one aspect of it, everybody commenting in regards to the sunshine and heat temperatures (close to 55 levels at 3 p.m.). I assumed as an alternative about getting my bike out.

This was per week in the past on March 4 when the lengthy winter began to raise. The couple, Dan and Kathy, from Wrentham and Foxboro, mentioned they arrive to the state’s Ponkapoag reservation usually.

“It’s so beautiful. We’ve been doing this for years,” Kathy mentioned.

Dan began out snowboarding that day carrying a hat, gloves and jacket, and because the temperature rose into the mid-50s, he abruptly realized that “I think its warm enough to start lightening up, and before I knew it, I was catching the rays.”

That’s one thing all of us need to be doing extra of throughout these subsequent few weeks, both actually or symbolically. I advised them that they had impressed me and off we went, I towards the strolling path by the pond and so they throughout the golf course.

This was simply one in every of many cheerful scenes across the space. There is way to look ahead to and other people once more appear optimistic and pleasant.

Maple sugaring is underway

At Ponkapoag, the maple syrup buckets have been hanging on the bushes and the paved pathway down the central roadway to the pond was properly cleared. Some of the world’s public maple sugar operations, together with at Mass Audubon’s Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon, have ended, however different state packages are scheduled for this coming weekend.

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation has scheduled Maple Sugar Days at Blue Hill Reservation, 11 Hillside Avenue in Canton for Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15. The occasion is free, however you will need to preregister for a time slot for this occasion. The occasion was listed as offered out on Tuesday.

It’s a great time for owl prowls

The woods, marshland trails and arboretum cemeteries are a few of my favourite locations for strolling. The historic Milton Cemetery is one suggestion; one other is Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree. And that is owl nesting season. You’re apt to see individuals with binoculars and long-lens cameras strolling round searching for owls.

On Thursday, March 19, Norman Smith, well-known researcher and licensed bird bander, will share his experiences with snowy owls to saw-whet owls from 6:30-8 p.m. on the Duxbury Bay Maritime School, 457 Washington St. in Duxbury. The program is sponsored by the Duxbury Beach Reservation.

Wishing Jo Noble a quick restoration from damaged hip at age 96

Warm needs for a easy restoration exit to Josephine Noble, of Weymouth, who fell and broke her hip final week, had surgical procedure and hopefully is on the mend. She might be 97 on March 19. Her many pals are considering of her; she is a pleasant spirit, stuffed with curiosity, goodwill and cheer.

Happy a hundredth birthday to Alice Louis in Braintree

Congratulations and heat needs to Alice Louis, a longtime Braintree resident who turned 100 on Feb. 28. Her household had a celebration with 100 individuals on the Jones River Trading Post in Kingston. She has one son, George Lewis; 4 daughters, Carolyn MacDonald, Denise Scully, Joann Driscoll and Nancy Recchia; 9 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Alice labored as a site visitors crossing guard in Braintree for the faculties and police division for some 20 years and former Mayor Joseph Sullivan was at her occasion

Alice attributes her longevity to her attentive, loving household community, her sturdy religion and her Mediterranean weight loss plan. The household is of Syrian heritage, and the grandchildren name her “sitto,” which means grandmother. Her husband, Robert died some years in the past.

Reach Sue Scheible at sscheible@patriotledger.com.