Lois Moore celebrated her 79th birthday on the 18th and since we’re late, maybe we can wish her a “Hap­py New Year!”

Lois relates that Nellie Rollins, her sister-in-law, has moved in with her son Bruce and wife Priscilla in Smithfield, R.I. Nellie is now 89, and arthritis bothers her hands too much to write to folks, but she would love to receive phone calls or letters at 14 Cynthia Drive, North Spring­field, R.I. 02826. Nellie’s for­mer house is now owned by her grandson Luke and his wife.

Our nature column seems to grow with interesting things. Lois has a “granddog” living with her, a beagle named Molly, who has developed a thing against rats! Many of you know this has been a particularly tough fall for rats, as they seem to abound in the damp weather. Molly has dispatched seven rats so far this fall and winter, as they creep into cor­ners of house and cellar for the winter. In fact, Molly is so well educated that she came running from her nap on the sofa in the liv­ing room when Lois was telling the story. I could hear her crying and whining while she looked around the room for the “rat” Lois was talk­ing about! Molly is so keen on her pastime, that she can smell and hear the rats. Has someone developed a rat beagle instead of rabbit dog?

The Ladies Circle met at Jean Conklin’s on January 18 and will meet next at Elaine Chase’s home on Allen Hill Road in Pomfret on February 1 around 10:30 a.m. New folks are always welcome.

Mike Black from Long Lake, N.Y. spent the weekend with Blaine and Holly Moore. On Sat­urday, Blaine, Mike, and Kenny Moore went over to Wentworth, N.H. to visit an old hunting buddy, Tom Johnson.

On Sunday, Blaine and Mike went back to visit Rick Borger in Wentworth. The three went hiking and found bear tracks and so de­termined that, in that area at least, bears have not hiber­nated. They also learned that Borger has been very busy lately plugging up holes in home of folks around Wentworth, as they seem to have an invasion of flying squirrels.

Betty Stetson says that she dis­covered a peregrine falcon picking apart what appeared to be a mourn­ing dove right outside her back door. That is nature coming a bit close and taking advantage of com­passionate bird lovers, I think.

The Sharon community ex­tends sympathy and prayers to David and Marjorie Harlow, for­mer residents of Sharon, on the loss of their son Carlton Harlow recently.