A cold blast from the past: One January day in 1899, the temperature here hit zero. Afterward — need it be said? — “several days of good skating” were “enjoyed on Town Pond.”

Some years ago we realized that the best way to shake off the dreary midwinter doldrums is to force yourself to do something you haven’t done before.

It would be good for us all if the TV and online weather offerings gave equal time to news, like the fact that 2023 was the hottest year worldwide in more than 150 years.

It’s an important local forum, and here’s the latest.