To the Editor:

I am writing to express my appreciation to the person or persons who removed the touchstone from the center of the labyrinth in Schilling Park. Since the labyrinth was installed, on occasion, someone would pull up the stone and leave it on the ground there in the labyrinth. And each time, I would re-dig the hole, and re-site the stone.

But this time, you not only removed the stone from the ground, you carried it over to the playground in Schilling Park, and proceeded to smash the stone into many pieces against the limestone bench rock at the end of the playground. I found a couple of the pieces by the rock, but I’m certain the missing pieces would make very nice paperweights, because the touchstone was a rather hefty piece of machine-cut slate.

You have very effectively relieved me of the responsibility of ever again re-siting the touchstone in the labyrinth in Schilling Park. Thank you.

However, because Schilling Park is village property, and was developed for the use and enjoyment of our residents and their guests, you do owe those people an apology for removing what to many brought some modicum of pleasure and fun.

If you ever see me working in Schilling park, please stop and introduce yourself, and your friends, and perhaps even your parents. Perhaps I can offer you a brief and hopefully not-too-boring tutorial on the “Weeds of Schilling Park,” and how to remove them, should you have some extra energy.

Making something nice is often not as much fun as causing destruction, but perhaps, with some weeding, you could at least gain some perspective about the Park.

Keith C. Lee

Volunteer Gardener

Altamont