Our annual luncheon will be held as usual at Papagallos in Swanzey NH on the third Saturday of August (August 19th). We meet for a rag chew in the parking lot at 11:00 AM and go in for lunch at 12 Noon. Bring your spouse or significant other! The food is good, the camaraderie better, and we break up around 2PM. As an added treat, Jon, N1MLF, is going to entertain us with some good old Down East music!
Directions and the menu can be found at: http://www.papagallos.com/location.html
William Claflin, 79June 13, 2017
William W Claflin, Jr., born on August 8 1937 in Boston, to William W. & Ruth (Putnam), died peacefully at home with his dear friends and caregivers, Janice and George Bassett, after a brief hospitalization. Bill, a life long resident of Marion, qualifies as an original “townie”.
Shortly after graduating from Northwood School, Lake Placid, New York, Bill enlisted in the US Army in 1959 and served with honors until his discharge in 1962.
Bill’s knowledge of emergency communications electronics, encouraged him to own and operate Electronics Sales & Service, Inc, New Bedford, MA, until his retirement in 2008.
Bill’s passion for emergency electronics allowed him to serve as communications specialist on the Marion Fire Department. Further, Bill served as Secretary, Historian, and Treasurer of the Marion Fire Fighters Association, for 50 plus years: he was a life member of the association. His second greatest passion was serving with the Marion Social Club, which he did from l983 until his passing.
Bill leaves many, many friends in town and would especially like to remember his “best pal”, Mason Noble, who he mentored for several years. Mason is his “adopted” great-grandson.
His funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28), Wareham at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Marion. Visiting hours will be Friday from 5 – 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Marion Firefighters Association.
Association, P O Box 114, Marion, MA 02738 or the Marion Social Club, P O Box 763, Marion, MA 02738.
For directions and on-line guestbook visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com.
From Tom, WA1KDD, Achusnet MA
A colder than normal May here in the northern part of Acushnet with above normal precipitation. The May mean temperature of 56.7 deg. was 1.2 deg. below normal and it was the coldest May since 2008 saw a mean of 56.2 deg. Short lived heat just after mid month saw the temperature soar to 94 deg. on the 18th. followed by 90 deg. on the 19th. before falling back to cloudy and cool and wet.
The stuck in the ruts of unsettled weather got deeper during May as some precipitation fell on 15 days during the month. May saw 6.19″ of fall during the month and it was the wettest May at my location since 2006 saw 7.43″.
Vegetation thrived during the cool and wet and lilacs bloomed by the 10th. and blue flag iris by the 22nd. and a lady slipper or two by months end.
The Spring Season ( mar,apr,may) was slightly colder than normal with much above normal precipitation. It was the wettest Spring Season since 2010 saw 19.57″ due to some 15.61″ falling in just the month of March that year.
May 2017 & the Spring Season Acushnet, Mass. 41deg,44min N 70deg,55min W
Ave High 65.1 deg. Ave Low 48.3 deg. May Mean 56.7 deg. is 1.2 deg. below normal. High Temp 94 deg.on May 18th. Low Temp 34 deg. on May 9th. Days 90 or above 2
Total Precip. 6.19″ is 2.42″ above normal. Max 24hr. Precip. 1.26″ on May 14th. Total 2017 Precip. 26.58″ is 4.33″ above normal. T-Storm Days 2. High Wind Gust 26 mph on May 2nd. & 17th. Heating Degree Days 295 Cooling Degree Days 31 High Barometer 30.38″ on May 21st. Low Barometer 29.41 on May 15th.
Spring Season (mar,apr,may) Average Temp 47.7 deg. is 0.4 deg. below normal Total Precip. 17.17″ is 3.21″ above normal Total Snowfall 9.0″ is .9″ above normal
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Kenneth “Jim” Bradbury (NEWN Roster #48 WA1KCC) on May 25, 2017. Jim was a long term participant of the New England Weather Net and served as one of the weekly net control operators. He will be missed by all of us on the net.
Here is a link to Jim’s obituary:
http://www.capecodtimes.com/obituaries/20170527/kenneth-james-bradbury-jr-9281937—5252017
You will be hearing some new voices among the Net Controls for the New England Weather Net!
From W1AYX, Madawaska, ME
The weather has finally turned warmer here in northern Maine and the ice along the St. John River has started to flow. Here is some aerial footage filmed on a Phantom 3 4K drone at Grand Isle, Maine on April 10, 2017.
We just want to update our members and let them know that the New England QSO Party is coming up on the weekend of May 6-7, 2017.
This contest is great way to make contacts quickly from around the world. Especially if you are located in one of those hard to get counties or grids.
For more information see the official New England QSO Party web page at:
Rules
Object: To contact as many New England stations (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) in as many New England counties as possible on 80-40-20-15-10m. (New England stations work anyone)
Date: First full weekend of May (May 6-7, 2017)
Contest Period: 2000Z Saturday until 0500Z Sunday (4pm EDT Saturday until 1am EDT Sunday) and 1300Z Sunday until 2400Z Sunday (9am EDT Sunday until 8pm EDT Sunday).
Categories: Single-operator high power, low power(150w or less) and QRP(5w or less) categories, plus multi-operator, single transmitter. Same four categories for mobiles.
Contest Exchange: Send signal report and state/province (DX stations send signal report and “DX”). New England stations send signal report, county and state.
Valid Contact: Work New England stations once per band/mode. New England stations work anyone(and must copy the county for New England stations worked. CW contacts must not be made in the phone band segments. Mobiles that change counties are considered to be new stations, and can be worked for both multiplier and QSO Point credit. County line QSOs should be logged as two separate QSOs. Crossmode, crossband and repeater QSOs are not permitted.
QSO Points: Count one point per phone QSO, two points per CW (includes digital modes)QSO.
Multiplier: Stations outside of New England use counties as multipliers for a total of 67 (CT/8 MA/14 ME/16 NH/10 RI/5 VT/14). New England stations use states(50)(Count DC as MD), Canadian provinces(14) and DXCC countries as multipliers.
Scoring: Total score is QSO points times the multiplier. Mobiles count QSO points per county and multipliers from all counties (counted once).
Suggested frequencies: CW – 3540 7035 14040 21040 28040, SSB – 3850 7180 7280 14280 21380 28380.
Reporting: Logs should indicate times in UTC, bands, modes, calls and required contest exchange. All stations include your club’s name in the log header or summary. Entries must be submitted within 30 days and sent to NEQP, P.O.Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 or via e-mail to logs@neqp.org (Cabrillo format preferred).
Awards: Certificates will be awarded to the top scorers (25 QSO minimum) in each New England county, U.S. state, Canadian province and DXCC country. A number of special plaques will also be awarded to top scorers (check the Web site for a current list).
More information: The New England QSO Party Web site is at http://www.neqp.org. Check there for information on planned fixed-station and mobile activity from New England counties, contest software information, county abbreviations, plaques to be awarded and information on New England state county awards. NEQP results will be posted on the web site when they are complete. Questions can be addressed to info@neqp.org.
Rules updated 4/2/17
From Tom, WA1KDD, in Acushnet MA
A much colder than normal March here in the northern part of Acushnet, with below normal precipitation. Snowfall was a little above normal for the month. Cold and windy made go fly a kite out of the question.
March 2017 with a mean temperature of 34.6 degrees was slightly colder than any of the previous Winter Season months. Winds gusted to over 40 mph three times during the month and almost half of the month saw winds gusting above 25 mph. Plenty of pick up sticks.
The low barometer of 28.86″ during the March 14th. snow by rain by noon event at my location was the third lowest March barometer reading on my records. The March 14th.Blizzard of 1993 saw a 28.50″ low barometer and a rain to snow event on March 8th.. 2005 saw 28.68″
March 2017 Acushnet, Mass. 41deg,44min N 70deg,55min W
Ave High 43.5 deg. Ave Low 25.6 deg. March Mean 34.8 deg. is 3.8 deg. below normal
High Temp 57 deg. on March 21st. Low Temp 08 deg. on March 12th.
Days 0 or below 0
Total Precip. 3.71″ is 1.80″ below normal
Max 24hr. Precip. 1.53″ on March 14th.
Snowfall 9.0″ is 2.3″ above normal
Max 24hr. Snowfall 5.5″ on March 10th.
Total 2017 Precip. 12.51″ is 1.29″ below normal
Season Snowfall (dec-mar) 46.3″
T-Storm Days 1
High Wind Gust 49mph on March 11th.
Heating Degree Days 952
Cooling Degree Days 0
High Barometer 30.53″ on March 24th.
Low Barometer 28.86″ on March 14th.
Tom Carr
Welcome to Spring! Of course in some parts of New England it still looks and feels like winter will be with us for a bit longer. Anyways, while we are await the arrival of warmer days, Dick (K1MGH) and myself (W1AYX) are working on giving our NEWN website a bit of a facelift and testing out some new features. Here is a quick rundown of some of the latest changes.
In addition to our updated banner, compliments of Sam Caron, you may notice a new menu item entitled, “Report Online” which leads to an online reporting form. This online form is currently being tested out and, when fully implemented, should aid our Net Manager and the other Net Controls in receiving your reports in a more uniformed format (order, font size, etc). Although it is always preferred to receive your reports by radio, this online method of data submission is a great way to send along reports when the band conditions are not favorable. It should also allow Short Wave Listeners the opportunity to submit a report without trying to find an email address for the current net control.
The form is located here:
Another area of development is the WX Links page that has many helpful weather related links. On this page there is a list of NEWN member web and APRS personal weather stations. If you have a station that is not on the list and want to be included please pass on the URL and we will be sure to add it.
You may also notice a new link under the menu item “How to Report” entitled “Measuring Precipitation”. This page has some short training videos that are really helpful in learning how to take precipitations measurements. These are from the CoCoRaHS program and are worth the watch.
We hope to expand this training area in the future.
Another addition is an embedded Google calendar under the menu “Member Area” entitled “NEWN Calendar”. This calendar has the latest Net Control Schedule and session numbers. If you use Google calendars you can subscribe to this calendar by clicking the “+GoogleCalendar” button in the bottom right of the calendar screen.
We’ll try and keep you posted as things progress with this project. As always, we welcome your ideas and feedback. Please feel free to leave a comment or mention it on the net when you check-in.
Jack (W1AYX) – Madawaska, ME
A much warmer than normal February 2017 here in the northern part of Acushnet. The month was drier than normal and a little snowier. Blizzard conditions hit on the 9th. of the month as light rain changed to snow and then thunder snow and colder blowing snow. 8.5″ fell at my location but higher amounts being reported elsewhere. The snow lasted on the ground until the 19th. of the month when a fine 62 deg. day emptied the houses.
Cabin fever turned to Spring fever by the 23rd. with 3 days setting record high daily temps for February. The temperature hit 70 deg. here on the 25th. and 69 deg. the day before and red winged blackbirds were reported arriving and croci opening.
The Winter Season (dec,jan,feb) was warmer and snowier and a little drier than normal.
February 2017 Acushnet, Ma. 41 deg,44min N 70deg,55min W
Ave High 46.3 deg. Ave Low 26.6 deg.
Feb Mean: 36.5 deg. is 5.4 deg. above normal. High Temp: 70 deg. on Feb. 25th. Low Temp: 9 deg. on Feb. 10th. Days 0 or below: 0. Total Precip. 2.53″ is 1.49″ below normal Max 24 hr. Precip.: 0.90″ on Feb. 9th. Snowfall: 12.9″ is 1.8″ above normal. Max 24 hr. snowfall: 8.5″ on Feb. 9th.
Total 2017 Precip. 8.80″ is 0.51″ above normal. Season Snowfall (dec – feb ) 37.3″T- Storm Days : 1. High Wind Gust : 33 mph on Feb. 13th. Heating Degree Days 806 Cooling Degree Days 0
High Barometer 30.41″ on Feb. 28th. Low Barometer 29.20″ on Feb. 15th.
The Winter Season ( dec,jan,feb ) 2016-2017: Ave. Temp. 35.3 deg. is 3.2 deg. above normal. Total Precip. 12.31″ is 0.82″ below normal. Total Snowfall 37.3″ is 8.3″ above normal.