This is a sad day for a lot of people that got to meet the most beautiful Rhode Island Red rooster known. I rescued him four and a half years ago.

The outpouring of love, respect and admiration for Wes Craven from colleagues and fans has been so heartening for our family.

Editor’s Note: What follows is an edited version of opening remarks delivered by the author at the annual Hutchins Forum at the Old Whaling Church.

In the 11th grade at a decent public high school in Memphis, I ran into extraordinary good luck. A brilliant young man in his mid-twenties, named Hazelwood, had arrived on our scene.

Hearth and chimneys remained/when the remote cottages succumbed/to unreachable fire and scouring salt./Stout, alone, together, they stood,/sentinels on the sandy tail of the island.

Our airport has been mired in a sticky, sordid, struggle for some time now. It has persistently provoked people for years.