Trees, what trees? We want to offer a huge thank-you to our

new Town Administrator Bruce Keiser for expediting the removal of the three mammoth spruce trees on the side of the building that will become the new Jamestown Animal Shelter on Southwest Avenue.

Between midday Friday and Tuesday afternoon, all three trees were stripped of their branches and cut down in sections. The branches were mulched and the wood disposed of thanks to the project co-ordination of William Marsh and Brian Dutra, and a whole bunch of other people who’s names we will provide next week. Bill and Brian orchestrated the task with the help of Jack Brittain’s bucket truck. Thanks to the Jack’s Electric Co. truck, the tree removal was completed without a hitch and without any damage to the beautiful lilac bush planted by Archie Clarke’s mother many years ago. We all breathed a sigh of relief when the trees were down because the lilac bush was only 15 feet away.

The next phase in the is the removal of the tree stumps and the installation of the water and sewer lines to the building. Archie Clarke has offered to provide his backhoe and services for this project. This weekend the Jamestown Fire Department trainees will be removing the roof and side shingles so the exterior construction phase can commence. We want to thank Fire Chief Jim Bryer for providing the trainees. In order to become a member of the Jamestown Fire Department, all trainees must complete community service projects to graduate from the Fire Academy.

While the roof is being replaced, the rough interior wiring and plumbing will be located to make sure the shelter’s services will work the way we need them to. There is nothing worse than moving into a building and realizing you need another sink or electrical outlet. Jack Brittain has graciously offered to provide the electrical and fire-alarm wiring and hookups. But, we need a plumber. Does anyone know of a plumber who would be willing to donate his time in return for some great publicity?

During February, weather permitting, and while the wiring and plumbing is being roughed in, the garage doors will be replaced with windows and a second means of egress. At that point, the roof and skylights will be in place, the plumbing and electrical roughed in, and the exterior of the building will be completed, allowing us to start the layout and completion of the interior spaces. Valentine’s Day will have come and gone, But, the project will be well on it’s way to an early spring opening. What’s wrong with an unrealistic deadline to keep the spirits moving?

Cats, cats, cats and more cats

Now that the temperature has dropped, PawsWatch, the Humane Society of Jamestown, the North Kingstown Dog Pound, and Paws & Claws have been inundated with calls from people who have been feeding stray cats. For the next two weeks, we will be running one of our favorite columns. It’s called “Looking for Love in all of the Wrong Places?” These columns will showcase all of the single cats looking to meet that special someone. And sadly, there are a lot of them.

So, if your love life has been boring or nonexistent, why not consider a new special someone? For those of you who cannot wait until next week, and who don’t want to miss the pick of the pack, you can always call any one of the four cat match-up services listed above. All will be more than happy to provide you with a list of lovables awaiting a home.

If you have a unneutered cat, please, please, please contact one of the four groups listed above so that your cat does not add to the growing overpopulation problem.

I am working with our town’s animal control officer, Kathy Gregory, to review the Mandatory Cat Neutering Ordinance passed by East Greenwich, Warwick, and East Providence.

Hopefully, Jamestown will have a similar ordinance by the end of the year.