One Week to AH Days

Barry, Steve and I did a little mowing, but hopefully the tractor gets in gear tomorrow. Meanwhile, some pictures.

Can anyone identify the mystery birds that have been enjoying the Gaertner building? I'm guessing barn swallows, but I'm no birder...

Two Weeks to AH DAYS

Thanks to Dan C for doing lots of mowing. I did a little also. This picture was snapped on Saturday just down the hill at the blueberry field just down Cole St. It tells it all... late August ripe blueberries and a waning moon. AH Days can't be long now!

August Work Day... Whoops...

Well, some days just don't work out as planned. After making a few gravel runs with the tractor to fix the washout up the hill, Steve returned to retrieve more gravel and ... POW! The right main bearing for the bucket loader snapped!

That effectively ended work for the day, as Steve, Joe Z, Barry and I wrestled with hydraulic lines and stuck fittings to get the bucket off the tractor. It will be sent to the repair shop this week, and hopefully, with some skillful welding, will be back in service soon.

Barry did a bit of chainsawing, and I mowed, but rains quickly moved in and ended a short and unpleasant work day on the hill. Now less than 5 weeks until Arunah Hill Days! We'll schedule a big mowing day for later in the month.

-Ed

Friday, Aug 1, Notchview Public night

A small but enthusiastic group attended the August public viewing at Notchview, just down the road from Arunah. With green laser, a 6" refractor, and a 13" Dob, visitors were treated to a tour of a beautiful and mostly clear summer sky. Jupiter, the Milky Way, and a pass of the ISS were highlights.

Thanks to Dan Carnevale for his dedication in setting up this public outreach at a wonderful location. Also thanks Tyler and Cathy Faits for both putting up with me and for sharing their knowledge of the night sky with the public.

Thanks much to one of the attendees who gave Arunah Hill a very generous donation to for Arunah Hill Days and our young rocketeers.

-Ed