Thumbs up to clubs existing in Norwich like the one I recently learned about this week. The Bullthistle Hiking Club is a club which takes it upon themselves to explore various hiking spots around the area, all are invited to attend. It is my belief that if Norwich is going to attempt to repair its community, then more clubs and organizations like this need to exist and be known about. I have lived in Norwich my whole life, I naturally love the outdoors and hiking around upstate New York, but have only recently discovered this club. More publicity is owed to the positive things Norwich has to offer. Fall is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy some fresh air and scenery before the harsh upstate winter hits us. Therefore, I encourage anyone interested in the outdoors and hiking to possibly get involved. The club meets at 8 a.m. on Sundays in the rear parking lot of Howard Johnson's in Norwich. Hikers are advised to bring water, a small snack and appropriate footwear and gear. For details contact Don Windsor at windsorda@yahoo.com or call 336-4628, or visit their website at http://www.bullthistlehiking.org.

– CT

Thumbs down. I'm not entirely sure why Thursday afternoon was so busy at the local big box chain south of town – it was a zoo – but that's not my problem. While there were plenty of parking spaces in the lot, a line of about 10 cars decided that they were more important than everyone else; choosing to park in the clearly marked “Fire Zone” area directly in front of the store's doors rather than the lot with the rest of us lowly shoppers. Mind you, these weren't handicapped folks trying just trying to schlep through life. No, I believe that these were ignorant people with no regard for rules or other human beings, tossing their cigarette butts out their windows onto the side walk for the balance of humanity to wade through. Witnessing this, a few things came to mind: Are people so lazy that they cannot walk a short distance? Are they so busy with their lives that they can't spare the extra 15 seconds? How exciting is it being so busy that you must park in the fire zone? Do they think they are firemen driving a ladder truck? For good measure, I grabbed my phone and took some photos of the ignorant – or imaginative – offenders for use as blog fodder and got “the finger.” It's good to know I'm still number one. I've still got it!

- MSW