I hope 2016 is off to a happy and healthy start for all. It certainly promises to be an interesting year, at least politically.

A little-publicized fact is that Dartmouth began recording the weather in 1827 and was one of the first stations in the country. It became an official weather reporting station in 1890, when the National Weather Service began operation. We understand that some of the original equipment is still being used. Recently officials from the Weather Service, an arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, honored Dartmouth with a plaque commemorating the College’s 125 years of uninterrupted weather monitoring and reporting.

Other important news is that the board of trustees approved completion of design development to build an indoor athletic practice facility adjacent to the Boss Tennis Center and Scully-Fahey Field. Construction is tentatively scheduled for fall.

Certainly this will be most beneficial for the lacrosse, baseball, softball, soccer and football teams but others also, as they have shared time at the Leverone Field House.

We need not remind you of the Big Green football team winning a share of the Ivy League title and coach Buddy Teevens being named New England Coach of the Year—what an exciting season it was.

Ongoing is the discussion about the College building a freestanding school of graduate and advanced studies; we will keep you informed.

Please know I welcome news of you and any former classmates, so telephone, email or write.

Sadly I report the deaths of Maurice W. Baruth, John H. Buttler and Richard G. Hewlett and send our sympathy to the families.

—Shirley Robinson, 80 Lyme Road, #253, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2203; shrobinson@kahres.org