My Backyard continues to grow. We have more readers, wider distribution and additional advertisers week by week. Sometimes, I spend more of my day counting beans than I plan to spend, but this weekend was an exception. I got to put my reporter hat on and visit with the neighbors. Actually, I never wear a hat except when fly fishing and that is only if the gnats are fierce, but I do bring a camera and a pencil and file folder with me when I am being a reporter. On Saturday morning, bright and early, I was over at Chemawa hanging around the first tee and covering the Pawtucket Children’s Center annual fund raising golf tournament. On Sunday morning, I went down to Lees Pond to visit the South Attleboro Lions Lees Pond Family Day.

We have been making the Chemawa visit for years. Pauline keeps me in the loop and makes certain I am on deck on time. The weather is always perfect. I will have to ask Pauline how she does that. Maybe, she has a special prayer she and Larry offer up at Saint Leo’s at Sunday Mass.

JIM HANLEY

Publisher

I drive over to Chemawa by heading north on Washington, turning west on May Street, driving by John’s house and down through Adamsdale, remembering to admire the wood frame church. I hook a right toward Bear Hill Road and another quick right to the course. That quick right wanders through one of the loveliest neighborhoods in the area. The road mimics the path of the river wandering just south of the road over through the trees.
I like roads that adapt to the terrain, rather than bull dozed rights of way. I like roads that are quirky with a purpose.

Lees Pond is just down Washington Street the other way. The Lees Pond Festival grew out of South Attleboro Lions becoming the leaders in the restoration of the pond. Maintaining the benches and an annual spring clean up at the area is a continuing Lions tradition. Neighbors still drop off eye glasses to be recycled at the Lions mail box at the east end of the pond.

Don is the god father of the festival. Pam and Rick have become co-chairs of the event now that Don is semi-retired. He is retired from business, but he will never retire from Lions. The original event felt like a carnival. Times change. The current even feels like a huge family picnic with entertainment for all ages.

I talked to many grand parents with grandchildren in tow. They were passing on a tradition to the kids. I talked to a young couple with a young child. This is their third year at the event. They moved her from Boston where they grew up. They moved to South Attleboro because they wanted a house with a yard and a neighborhood with good schools. The festival is icing on the cake.

The days do not get any more My Backyard than this.

Until next time.