I stopped into sign some books for Bonnie at the Battenkill Bookstore (you can order any of my books and get them signed and personalize by calling Battenkill, 518 677-2515). Connie ships anywhere in the country and takes all major credit cards an Paypal. An they are incredibly nice.

Connie and all of Main Street have been affected by this long string of snowstorms, some of them pretty intense.

Today the big news in our town was the death of our police chief, George Bell. He was 64, and died of a sudden heart attack. In small towns like this, George Bell was a familiar institution. He knew everyone and everyone knew him.

I saw the chief almost every single day in one place or another, he was the most visible form of government here to most people, including me. He was a decent man, much loved. I’m not sure there is any other such unifying figure here, government runs quietly and mostly out of sight.

He helped organize parades, big funerals, traffic and construction problems (there is not much traffic here), and celebrations when he local football team wins the state championship. The police department here is low key, they fiercely enforce speed limits but generally mesh peacefully with the community.

I think the entire town is going to say goodbye the chief at his Memorial Service later this week. Everyone says he will be  hard to  replace.

It was good to see Connie, she had time to talk today, when the weather clears, she will be busy again. We are so lucky to have a wonderful bookstore like this in so small a town.