To the Editor:

Saturday afternoon was a lovely day to celebrate local authors at our Altamont Free Library. The sky shone blue, the wind was warm and blew the leaves around the listening circle at the library as Thom Breitenbach and Tom Capuano shared their new publication, “True Ghost Stories From Altamont & Surrounds.”

When one thinks of ghosts, one might imagine hauntings and scenes portrayed in movies. But alas, more often than not, this is not the case. [Enterprise podcast: “‘True Ghost Stories’ — on reality, life and death.”]

The book begins with Tom Capuano’s invitation to walk about at night, or drive into the Hilltowns, open your mind to those souls long-ago passed and yet, just possibly, there to pay you a visit.

Thom Breitenbach adds thoughts about what a spirit might be, which older houses hold onto the mystery of a ghostly inhabitant. We listened as several local residents read or told their stories, some which are printed in the book.

Once home, the clouds thickened and became that ominous deep gray, then the wind and rains began. Great for me — as I settled in to read stories from the book.

And, oh my gosh, stories from many residents or houses I knew! I was fascinated, and wished I knew a story from my 1907 house. Thanks to many for making these stories public and for creating an event at the library to honor our local authors.

Carol Rothenberg

Altamont