Chamber Potluck Thermostat Debate Ends in Compromise; Badger Declares Victory

TUMBLEWEED TERRACE— Chamber President Badger called an emergency luncheon after last month’s quarterly potluck produced what witnesses described as “a diplomatic incident involving three bean casseroles and a wilted spinach situation.” The culprit, according to a hand-lettered complaint submitted in triplicate, was the community-center thermostat, set to what salad enthusiasts called “aggressive summer” and casserole loyalists defended as “common sense.”

Badger, wearing his ceremonial gavel pin and an expression of seasoned patience, convened representatives from the Rotary, the VFW auxiliary, and Rita Roadrunner’s greeter desk. After forty minutes of courteous cross-talk, the group agreed on a seasonal chart taped beside the dial: 68 degrees November through March, 72 April through October, and “use your judgment but not your pride” during heat waves.

Ms. Terrance Tarantula of the Welcome Wagon volunteered to monitor the first trial weekend, distributing pie plates only after attendees confirmed they had located the coat rack. Mayor Tortoise sent a note of commendation that arrived exactly on time, which in this town counts as dramatic flair.

The next potluck is scheduled for the fifteenth. Bring a dish, bring a sweater, and for heaven’s sake label the spicy one—neighborliness thrives on forewarning.