By Richard Lenfest

342-3179

Town Office hours are Monday, 1-6 p.m., Tuesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the board of selectmen meets Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Code enforcement hours are Tuesday, 7-9 p.m. or by appointment. the town Office phone number is 342-5722, and the fax number is 342-2242. Code enforcement is 632-4741.

Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy

Global warming? -- No! It was not long after Sandy made landfall on the New Jersey shoreline that the rumors started to circulate, first from former vice President Al Gore and then from Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City, that Sandy was the result of global warming. First, global warming does not control the lunar tides created by a full moon adn had a storm of this magnitude been able to develop during the spring, the spring lunar tides are considerably higher than those of the autumn season; second, global warming does not control the jet stream, which controls the flow of weather. A blocking high kept the advancing cold front from moving off shore and at the same time kept Sandy from turning out to sea.

We in New England are very familiar with such blocks, and several times int he last few months  have actually had weather backing in on us from the east, similar to the left hand curve of Sandy, but without the extreme combination of factors that were present in Sandy. Snow from a hurricane? It has happened here in Maine within the lat decade to 12 years or so, when a late season hurricane passing off shore in November dumped several inches on northern Maine, New Brunswick and the Gaspe region of Quebec.

In the course of a normal year of weather, it is almost a certainty that a superstorm will occur somewhere on the face of the Earth. In this year of record temperatures (heat), the extra warmth of the Gulf Stream became a factor that enabled Sandy to maintain hurricane strength, almost to a Category 2 storm, much longer than an autumn hurricane normally would. While there is evidence of a warming of the climate, the records of the U.s. Weather Bureau tell us that during the 1930s there was close to an entire decade of exceptional heat, with most records still standing.

Ducktrap Valley weather

Just two inches of rain from Hurricane Sandy and a lot of wind, which caused some damage and power outages here in Waldo County,but nothing too extreme. Certainly, we have seen worse, much worse. A few frosty mornings coming and then a wet Nor'easter with some snow in the mountains and rain and wind on the coast. Heating degree days are still on the good side and savings have doubled since my last report, to approximately 200. The European computer run, which was the best on Hurricane Sandy, is showing the possibility of more snow by the time this column hits the street.

Ducktrap Valley Maple Farm

Hours for the holiday season will expand to all day on Tuesdays, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Friday after. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22. Open all day Tuesdays and Fridays in December until Christmas, plus Monday, Christmas Eve Day, untl 2 p.m., closed Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

Now taking orders for holiday pies! Holiday decorations available thanksgiving weekend and a good supply of Maine pure maple syrup is available. Delivery is available. Call 342-3179.