Ice crystals hang from the trees; the ground is blanketed by a pure white overlay of snow. It is beautiful as I gaze out my window; however, I am looking forward to the coming of spring, which will have long since arrived when you read this. What is yet to come though is a program to be aired on zoom by Adelphi University, whose “Great Books” program has selected Richard Cahn’s book, Making Law: A Memoir of Good Times, to be the selection for this month. Richard will be a member of the panel that will be discussing the book on October 12 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. You can sit in on the event by obtaining a link from Richard. This is a wonderful book, an eye-opener in regard to our legal system, and should make for a very interesting discussion thereof. Speaking of books, our most prolific writer, Peter Bridges, has authored a wonderful novel, The Adventures of Aulus, and a poem, “The Old Poet’s Soliloquy,” both of which can be found in Ecclectica magazine. The Adventures of Aulus is set in the 15th century and takes place in Rome and along the Barbary Coast. It is carefully crafted historically and geographically with authentic characters who come alive and provide a wonderful drama of life in those times. It has relevance today and could be a foreshadowing of what we might be facing in the future. Due to Covid, our annual holiday party in Hanover was cancelled. Cathy Callender continued once more, and for as long as I can remember, to arrange for the annual holiday party, which was held as usual at the Yale Club in New York City. Many thanks, Cathy. I would greatly appreciate it if you, my classmates, would send me any bits of information regarding you or fellow classmates. I’d love to pass them on to you all. Unhappily, I must pass on one such bit of information, regarding the deaths of classmates Philip Beekman, John Horne Jr., Wayne Hansen, Edwin Grant, Francis L’Esperance, Richard Blum, and Harold Presser. We shall miss them as we offer our deepest sympathy to their families.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com