KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kcase1@verizon.net)

I am sitting looking out at the kids going to school all bundled up. I can’t help thinking that if it had snowed yesterday we would not even see our neighbor’s house and the kids would be out sledding. How fun would that be?

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Elizabeth Hayman who celebrated on Feb. 3, Paige Fiske on Feb. 4, Mason Bassett, Taylor Poggi, and Aiden Rogers who all celebrated Feb. 6, Tonya Sequeira on Feb. 8, Julia Guerin and John Habekost Jr. who celebrated on Feb. 12, Luke McCracken, Evandro Medici and Amadine Muniz, who all celebrated on Feb. 13, and Devin Hill and Kevin Montambault who celebrate their day today, Feb. 15. Special birthday wishes to my niece Cheryl who celebrated her birthday Feb. 7.

I also forgot to wish Jan and Floyd Norton a happy anniversary in January. I think it was their 55th. Here is to many more.

Since my last column, we have all recovered from the mourning of the Patriots loss. You have to admit that it was a good game and one that kept you on your toes for the whole contest, which is more than you can say about most of the other Super Bowls. As the television is on behind me, I heard that Curt Schilling did show up today for spring training, so here we go on to the next season. Go Sox.

I worked the polls last Tuesday and I could fill the paper with the people I saw and talked to. It was a record turnout. We had one lady who voted for the first time as a U.S. citizen. She has been working here for a long time and went through all the procedures and tests to become a citizen and finally earned her right to vote. There were also a lot of first-time voters as they turned 18 this year. They were very proud of themselves.

My favorites were the parents who brought their young children in and showed them what they were doing. They took them in the booth and showed how they filled in the circle next to the person’s name, then checked out and put the ballot in the machine to be counted.

I’m not sure what they liked better: the voting, the stickers saying “I Voted,” or the doughnuts as they left. In any case, they went through the training process.

Ashley Hathaway, daughter of Janet and Doug Hathaway, has been very busy since her May 2007 graduation from Stockbridge School at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a degree in equine management.

At present, she is working at Hermitage Stables based in Far Hills, N.J., a top hunter jumper farm. For the winter, they have relocated to Wellington, Fla., at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. She is a groom for her six hunter jumpers in the Grand Prix.

Recently her mom, Janet, went down to join her and went to Hollywood Beach for some rest and recreation. They also spent some time at the Hard Rock Casino.

Have a great week and keep the home candles burning.