Dear Friends,
A quick bee update for the winter. The population is down significantly from the summer. That is to be expected as the winter, longer-lived worker population takes over minding the hive. The Queen is staying hidden between the frames, huddling with the rest of the workers who feed her and groom her during these colder, quieter months. We usually get a couple-few warmer days in February, and the bees will make “bio-break” flights to relieve themselves and stretch their wings if we hit 50F. or above.
It caught my eye that the visible bee population is lower than it has been in the past during the month of February. It is important to remember though that the observation hive is designed to have two columns of frames that create a space in between where the preponderance of the bees reside. Unfortunately, we can’t easily take a peek inside to see how things are going.
While we’re chatting, I also want to remind you again that Chloe will be holding the first session of her new program called Liner Notes: Music Discussion Club. on Saturday, February 7 10:30AM-12:00PM. This program is for adults and teens 16 years and older. This month’s discussion question is, “What is an album or song you would share with a new acquaintance to give them an idea of what you enjoy?”
I’m also happy to say that we are restarting the Skidompha Chat’s with Champions Program. Our next speaker will be Jack Montgommery, former attorney, Maine-based photographer, and author of the book, From the Holocaust to Maine: Testimonies from Survivors. Montgomery fervently hopes his book will educate readers about what he calls “closely related viruses embedded in the human body politic”—antisemitism, racial hatred, and authoritarianism.
And finally, all you teen EPOCH authors and artists, don’t forget that the deadline for submission is coming up quickly on February 12! Your work makes EPOCH so special, so please submit. See our website for instructions.
Be well,
Matthew
Matthew Graff
Executive Director
Skidompha Public Library