"Make Certain"
17. Single-digit temps, for most: COLD SPELL. Spell check - Worth the read.
24. 1984 Prince hit: PURPLE RAIN. Rain check
36. Body of water between Connecticut and southeastern New York: LONG ISLAND SOUND. Soundcheck. SRV Soundcheck
52. At close range: POINT BLANK. Blank check
61. Grandmaster's last word ... and what the last word in 17-, 24-, 36- and 52-Across can be: CHECKMATE. An indisputable victory.
Across:
1. Half-__: coffee with a little less kick: CAF.
4. Chocolate-making bean: CACAO.
9. Polynesian people: MAORI.
14. Darth, as a youth: ANI. Star Wars stuff. The Wookieepedia at Fandom.
15. Suspect's excuse: ALIBI.
16. Muslim religion: ISLAM.
19. Exams for would-be attys.: LSATS.
20. Try to whack: HIT AT.
21. Jazz great Blake: EUBIE.
23. Cabinet dept. concerned with nukes: ENER.
29. Picket line participant: STRIKER. Or a forward in soccer.
31. Fierce public protest: OUTCRY.
32. Jot down: NOTATE.
35. Napkin's place: LAP. Napkin Etiquette
42. Skater Midori: ITO. Master of the triple jump.
43. Muscle injury: STRAIN.
44. Small river: STREAM.
48. Tribulations: ORDEALS.
55. Bushels: A LOT. Gobs.
56. Ponzi scheme, e.g.: FRAUD.
57. Ann __, Michigan: ARBOR. The town plat was filed under the name of Annarbour. Home of the University of Michigan.
58. California/Nevada resort lake: TAHOE.
64. Milky gemstones: OPALS.
65. Breed that's Welsh for "dwarf dog": CORGI. The Cardigan and the Pembroke
66. Fresh: NEW.
67. George of "Cheers": WENDT. Norm !
68. Trap during a winter storm, say: ICE IN.
69. Dozens of mos.: YRS.
Down:
1. Secret supplies: CACHES.
2. Bless using oil: ANOINT.
3. Color-altering camera lens accessory: FILTER.
4. Actors in a show: CAST.
5. European mountain: ALP.
6. Paris corp.: CIE. Company abbr = co. Compagnie abbr = cie.
7. More adept: ABLER.
8. Prepare to shine in a bodybuilding contest?: OIL UP.
9. Cultural setting: MILIEU.
10. State with conviction: ASSERT.
11. Suffix with pay: OLA.
12. Templeton in "Charlotte's Web," e.g.: RAT.
13. Cyberchats, briefly: IMs. Instant Messages. Also, IM is the abbreviation sometimes used here at the corner for our dear and caring Irish Miss, so CSO !
18. Adventurous: DARING.
22. Rain-__ bubble gum: BLO. Gobs of bubble gum balls. The flavor matches the color.
24. Animals at home: PETS.
25. Eurasian border mountains: URALS.
26. Rights advocacy org.: ACLU.
27. "Reading Lolita in Tehran" setting: IRAN. "Heather Hewett of the Christian Science Monitor notes the book's "passionate defense of literature" that will "resonate with anyone who loves books, or who wants (or needs) to be reminded why books matter." - Wikipedia
28. Big Apple law gp.: NYPD.
30. Japanese carp: KOI.
33. Skin pic: TAT.
34. Noted 2001 bankruptcy: ENRON. Financially devastating to so many.
36. Talk like Daffy: LISP.
37. Director Preminger: OTTO. Cruciverbalist Desper- ______
38. More formal "Me neither!": NOR I.
39. Lacking light: DARK.
40. Bully in the "Toy Story" films: SID. Phillips. The antagonist.
41. Like challenging push-ups: ONE ARM. Strength and balance are required.
45. Surround: ENFOLD.
46. Taking a break: AT REST.
47. Management deg.: MBA.
49. Capital on the Hudson: ALBANY. "Albany is known for its rich history, commerce, culture, architecture, and institutions of higher education."
50. Thief during a riot: LOOTER.
51. Scatters, as seeds: STREWS.
53. Soap star Susan: LUCCI.
54. For a specific purpose, as a committee: AD HOC.
57. Comparable (to): AKIN.
58. Aid for a disabled auto: TOW.
59. Big lug: APE.
60. Solo of "Star Wars": HAN. More Star Wars.
62. Before, in verse: ERE.
63. Cinematic FX: CGI. Computer Generated Imagery. As seen in Star Wars etc.
Another sweet treat for us. Here's a picture from JD's 75th birthday celebration.
