Remembering the fun we had in 2019

FALLS VILLAGE — Eric Veden is back, with the 22nd episode of his video series on Falls Village.

Ginny Apple, a state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Master Wildlife Conservationist, appears twice, once to talk about black bears and again about spirit animals. Both talks were at the David M. Hunt Library. 

On bears, Apple observes that when people report a bear in their back yard, “It’s always 400 pounds. Why they pick that number I don’t know.”

In fact, female black bears typically range from 120-250 pounds, perhaps topping out at 300 pounds just before winter, when they are busy putting on weight for hibernation.

Speaking of hibernation, Apple says black bears don’t go completely asleep. Rather, they settle into a “state of torpor,” with all body functions slowed to a minimum.

“If they have to get up and run, they can.”

They rarely hibernate in caves, because they don’t like being enclosed in an area with only one way in and out.

They will settle under brush piles or downed trees instead.

On the Native American tradition of spirit animals, Apple says that people don’t choose their own spirit animals. 

“They choose us.”

She goes on to describe the process of meeting with a medicine man and purifying the body in a sweat lodge before embarking on a “vision quest.”

Some segments of the video show people congregating — something not currently possible.

There is Bruce Paddock leading trivia night at the library, posing real stinkers on obscure topics such as lycanthropy.

As the answers are revealed, there are cries of triumph and groans along the lines of, “Oh for Pete’s sake” from the crowd.

The video has some very nice aerial footage of runners participating in the annual Cannonball Run, plus some background on the race from Michelle Hanson.

And there is footage from last year’s vintage car parade, which ties in with the Historic Festival at Lime Rock Park.

There are three music acts performing at the Center on Main/Twelve Moons Coffee House: The Joint Chiefs, 10 Mile and the Kenn Morr Band.

And the chapter on last year’s truck pull segues into a tour of the Great Falls Brewing Company in North Canaan, where Jonas Griggs explains how craft beer is made.

Normally the Falls Village videos are available to buy or to borrow at the Hunt library. That is obviously out at the moment.

But Veden will mail a copy to you for $13.80 ($10 for the DVD and $3.80 for first class postage). All proceeds benefit the Hunt Library. Write to Eric Veden, 223 Route 63, Falls Village, CT 06031 or call 860-824-5086.