No: it’s not the monsoon season - it’s just Mother Nature providing extra assurance that there will be an abundance of “May Flowers,” and it seems to be working: daffodils are all open, forsythia bushes glow, small tulips showing up in bright patches and wildflowers like Hepatica, Spring Beauty and Dutchman’s Britches have appeared in the woods! The Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are tapping their coded messages on whatever metal roofs and signs they can find, and our quieter, more-welcome “Snow birds” are returning from their Winter retreats. Bob Garrett, accompanied by Kathy and “Doc” Upcraft just got here, and George and Connie Kelley are already looking forward to golfing at Barker Brook. George volunteered the information (vital to all golfers!) that the Ladies would begin the Golf Season on Tuesday and the Gentlemen would follow, the next day - “weather permitting,” he added, and then admitted that it would have to be raining pretty hard to stop them! He also told us that full-time Floridians, but former Watervillians Ed and Pat Hunt will celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary on June 7th! An early celebration took place a few weeks ago when they and their family went on a cruise, together! Congratulations!
Quick glances at several lawns in the village - like the Burbacks’, on Sanger Avenue - give one the impression that small ponds of bright blue water have formed: credit dense patches of Blue Scilla, instead of the rains!
Sodden wood may have been at least partially to blame for the early-Saturday morning collapse of the frame structure attached to the old “Putnam Hall” Mill building. Already sagging, it gave way completely, at about midnight, with a loud “Ka-WHUMP!!!” that woke Andy Gillette, who lives right next door. “It shook the whole house and sounded like ten tons of snow all coming off the roof at once, but I knew right away just what it was!” An emergency meeting of Village officials took place later that morning.
The weather has not prevented Dan Maine & Co. from removing, refurbishing and reinstalling the four elegant doors on the front of SouthGate Ministries - the old Presbyterian Church - on Main Street. The building was constructed in 1873 and one could presume that the doors have been there since then, too.
Whether or not the conversations rest on foundations of truth or fact - and the Writer hastens to say that she certainly does not know! - People are Still Talking About CVS’s quashed plans to purchase either Foodking or the old ClarDor Motel in Sangerfield, owned by Mr. Wicks, and the current understanding that neither is going to happen. AND questioned: whether or not a Dollar General will ever actually be taking over the building at Green Acres and just how many businesses will go into the new Belfield Insurance Building on the old Agway Gas Station lot on Main Street. Latest hearsay would have both Ecco Video and Waterville Chiropractic in that location, but that may or may not be so and, as both the Writer and Ms. Louise persist in saying, “It’s not a done deal until it’s done!”
This we know for sure, because Mrs. Martin told us so: “ ‘The Crimson Bonnets’ - Waterville Red Hats - met Thursday, April 26th at Raspberry's in New Hartford. It was the first time many of us had gone there. As always the food was very good and the waitress one of the best ever. She had a lot to do taking care of over 24 of us alone. We had a full house seeing many of our members are home from winter in the south. Some of the members went from there to a gift shop on route 5. May's meeting will be held at the Roselawn Restaurant in New York Mills and then on to a tour of the Meyda Tiffany Lighting Factory Showroom. Thanks to Joan Howard and Bev Prye for arranging Thursday's get together.”
I understand that just a day earlier several of those same ladies had also attended what one could only term an Annual Convention of all area members of the “Red Hat Society.” Some 500 had lunch at “Danielle’s” in New Hartford, and what a bedazzling picture in purple and red that must have been!
“Michael’s Fine Food & Spirits” has a dazzling new website:
According to Ms. Louise, someone left a magazine called “Country Living” at The Waterville Times’ office on Main Street. In it is a story about American coverlets that are on display at the National Museum of American Coverlets -
Bob and Sandy Harding were special guests of the Waterville Rotary Club, last Thursday evening. They introduced Ms. Stephanie Benner, the new administrator at the Harding Nursing Home, who talked about her new position there. Bob talked about Harding Nursing Home’s involvement in the community, and community involvement in the Nursing Home and also about the growing need for senior housing throughout the country and the proposed senior facilities to be located near the Harding Nursing Home, here in Waterville. (Soon, I hope!)
Timely, May 9, 2007
What a grand stretch of perfect Springtime Weather we have had! Lawns have been raked and mown - and is there anything more wonderful than the aroma of freshly cut grass? Both red and white Trillium are in bloom, along with Dutchmen’s Britches and Adder’s Tongue and many locals are foraging in swampy areas for Cowslip greens and Fiddleheads!
Hops have sprouted and are already growing fast. Now is the time to take rootings. The vines will need tying up before long.
The gray apartment house on East Main Street is getting not only fresh coats of gray paint on the brickwork and white on all of the ornate trim, but some very nice decorative shrubbery was planted last Saturday. Forsythia bushes are blooming more profusely this year than usual, and those at the Library make the new garden, with its daffodils and pansies, a bright spot, indeed.
New “street trees” will be planted by the DOT within the next weeks and we are given to understand that there will soon be a move to “plant and grow” a new Victorian Bandstand in the Park! Watch for website, posters, fliers and information in the Press.
The big doors on the front of the old Presbyterian Church are now a very pleasant shade of brick red. We have learned that the “pink” paint that first appeared on them - and which was jarring to artistic sensibilities - was actually only a primer.
A great many houses in the village are having refurbishments made. At the former King residence on Tower Street the new owner, Ms. Mary Ellen Sanderson, is having new roofing and windows installed. After many years of living in the “country,” over near Bridgewater, she said that the weather last Winter convinced her that she would be much happier living “in town,” and closer to her work at the Lutheran Homes in Clinton. Welcome to Waterville!
Welcome Home! Mrs. Catherine Harding has been entertaining her daughter Elaine Ralls, from Arizona. Perhaps it was she who brought us that lovely sunshine! The Garry Copes have returned to Congers Corners from their stay in the Southwest and Mr. and Mrs. Person of Putnam Street arrived last Friday from Florida. (We look forward to receiving additional news from them that will tell us about their recent trip to Hawaii!)
Out on Sanger Hill Road, Mr. and Mrs. Kelley have been entertaining two Mallard Ducks at their bird feeder and a Canada Goose was seen perched atop their hedge.
The Batson family of Sanger Hill Road enjoyed a week-long visit to Disney World, in Kissimmee, Florida.
The Brothertown Music Boosters, who had a most profitable Saturday a week ago with both a Bottle Drive and then a Spaghetti Supper, are now sponsoring a Raffle. The prize? A 42” flat-screen television set! The raffle tickets? A paltry $5 each!
SouthGate Ministries offers a free Mother's Day Breakfast to any and all in the community, from 8:00 to 10:00 A.M. on May 13th. Please call 841-3266 and leave your name and the number of people who will be attending. If you need a ride, that can be arranged, as well.
An invitation is proffered to the community by the family of the late Richard F. Brown with the announcement that Dick’s “Damned Fine Party” will take place on Sunday, June 10th, from 3 to 6 at Michael’s. “And we’d like as many of you who want to come, and can, to be there!” “RSVP’s aren’t required,” said Mrs. Brown, “but a phone call or e-mail to me would be helpful - especially to Michael and his staff!” (841-4679 or
(The Writer is feeling the need to enjoy a little “road time” and may, within the next week or so, do just that. If there is no column in next week’s issue of The Waterville Times, that will be the reason!)
Timely, May 16, 2007
Can you imagine it? It was just one month ago today that Waterville was buried under a foot or more of the heaviest, wettest snow of the year! Since then, the snow has melted; temperatures have moderated and - on one occasion - our tolerance for heat was tested by a day of 90-degree humidity! But lawns are green; trees have leafed and blossomed, flowering shrubs make fine displays, convertibles are on the road, the village is looking good, yet one question being asked is: “Will the Watering Trough bubble or bloom, this year?”
Another question is raised by those observing that “Macs” - at the corner of Main Street and Buell Avenue, and which was probably built in the mid-nineteenth century and is in the Historic Triangle District - is getting a make-over and will be faced with stucco. “Why?” (To which the probable retort is: “Why not?”)
Work has commenced at the site of the former Agway Gas Station, soon to be the Belfield Insurance Agency. According to Ms. Belfield, the wood frame building will be deep “Ivy Green” and have white trim. Extensive refurbishments and repairs are being made to a long-vacant old homestead out on Hanover Road. How nice to see it being saved and put back into use!
North Country Landscapers - the contractor hired by the New York State Department of Transportation - has planted about sixty more street trees along the Route 12 reconstruction site and many of the ornamental fruit trees are already blooming. Those rare residents who enjoy foraging for wild delicacies have already had their fill of cowslip greens and are now in search of Fiddleheads and Morels.
Shirley Kellogg reported, last Wednesday, that she had a Hummingbird at her feeder in the morning and, at suppertime, an Indigo Bunting arrived to feast on thistle seed. In Whiskey Hollow, the Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have returned and an overly-efficient Yellow-bellied Sapsucker who fancies life as a Rooster starts hammering on metal roofs as early as 5:20 in the morning!
Flowers: always guaranteed to make a mother smile, and on Mother’s Day there were plenty of happy ladies in Waterville: as has been their custom for quite a few years, the Hardings gave all of the mothers who are in residence at the Harding Nursing Home lovely corsages; MerriRose Florist was busy all day Saturday delivering scores of arrangements and bouquets, and out at Alcott’s on Route 20, where the greenhouse was a magnificent sight with every table covered with perfect bedding plants and with rows of hanging plants suspended above them, business had been brisk all week.
June 9th is certainly a day that everyone should have clearly circled on their calendars. Starting at 9:00 in the morning, The Waterville Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale will open at the Methodist Church. Setting up will begin Friday evening at 6 p.m. Any donations of plants will be greatly welcomed. Proceeds from the sale go to community projects such as the new signs for the Village andfor replacement barrels.
From two o’clock ‘til four, the Eighth Annual (and always elegant) Waterville Women’s Club Tea will take place in the Barton Community Room at the Municipal Hall. (The writer is most pleased to have received a lovely invitation!)
And that same evening the Annual Rotary Auction will take place at the Town Barn in Sangerfield. (Be sure to have your contributions ready for pickup a few days early!)
Snowbirds, returning just time time for all of the Spring festivities now include the Gregorys, the Garry Copes and the Persons. Sylvia Person even sent a report about their recent trip to Hawaii: “Just returned back to Waterville, with lovely memories of our recent trip to Hawaii--a once in a lifetime trip. First, we landed in Honolulu where we were guests at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, in the midst of all the beauty and excitement. Like most tourists, we spent days on tours and sightseeing--along the coastline, pineapple and sugar cane fields, rain forests--all the island has to offer. Next, we flew to Maui, where we spent a week at the Ka-Annapoli Beach Club, located on the ocean, with swimming pools and numerous restaurants . We both enjoyed the Helicopter ride, which took us over the mountains and country side, so we could get a perfect picture of the entire island. Then came the famous Luau in Lahaina, on the ocean, where we were each presented with a live orchid lee as we entered. Here they featured roast pig, plus lots of exquisite foods, topped off with Hawaiian Hula Dancers. The Sunset Dinner Cruise was another enjoyable experience---miles out on the ocean, where we were privileged to encounter a pod of spinning Dolphins; a sight to behold. The whales were scarce, as they mostly had migrated to Alaska already. Everyday was filled, but we still managed to sneak in a bit of the tropical sunshine at the pool. ----Time always flies when you're having fun, and all too soon it was departure time. Although it's a long, long flight over---if ever you're given the opportunity, go for it---I did.”
Twice, last week, the village was shaken by terribly sad news: on Friday it was that Rick Gaiser had suffered an unexpected yet fatal heart attack. “If you don’t know Rick, you don’t live in Waterville,” said one distraught friend. And the same might be said of Peggy O’Dowd, who passed away on Saturday, leaving an equally saddened and sizable circle of family and friends. Both were very special people who, the writer supposes, might be aptly described by the old-fashioned phrase - they were “the salt of the earth!”
Timely, May 23, 2007
Gardeners whose “green thumbs” and fingers just itch to get into the soil and plant their flowerbeds have also found it necessary, on recent mornings, to wear gloves. The overnight temperatures have barely missed the freezing mark and only the most-hardy of bedding plants have survived. Flowering trees are magnificent and Hop Vines are growing fast and need to be tied to or trained on their poles.
Hillsides are green and countryside fields are golden with dandelions while, in the woods, Jack-in-the-Pulpits, Toothwort and Bellwort are open. It’s growing late in the month for morels, but mycologists keep looking.
Bill Vetter stopped by to discuss some Summertime painting projects and he said that he’d seen an Indigo Bunting - a rare treat. He also told me about the marvels of Greece that he and Sherri had seen and interesting people that they had met on their ten-day trip to Greece during Spring vacation. With Ms. Mariantha Kane as their guide, how could they miss! (Her apartment in Athens even has a view of the Acropolis!)
Ms. Lurena McNamara provides us with the following: “Irene Lew entered a new decade in April and Bill just caught up with her this week. To celebrate, their three children all came home (plus in-laws, seven grandchildren and a great-grandson) and threw them a party at the Legion Saturday night. Sunday morning Irene hopes to make a lifetime dream come true - she would like her family to take up an entire pew at Mass at St. Bernard's. With fourteen or so of them home, she should get her wish. Most of the family will be leaving on Tuesday but Bill and Irene will have many happy memories for a long time.”
Belated May 18th Birthday wishes to Mrs. Jean B. Davis and Mr. Stanley Dziekonski. We also wish a speedy recovery to Mrs. Davis who was under the weather for a few days, last week.
The new “Welcome to Waterville” signs have been planted by the Department of Public Works at the village limits on both North and South sides of the Village on Route 12. It appears that the posts allow space for additional, smaller signs to be mounted - perhaps by the Churches or Civic organizations of the community. The DPW has also placed our Park Benches in several inviting locations along Main Street and in Monument Park and has set out the “barrels” in readiness for Garden Club planting.
Speaking of signs ...... there is now a large sign at the easternmost end of our Park advertising the Sauquoit Valley Relay for Life and, while the cause is noble and the sponsors did telephone for permission to place it there, one wonders if - at 4’ x 8’ - the sign isn’t a bit too large and somewhat out-of-place? Possibly the Village Board should consider establishing guidelines for such postings.
Gary Orendorff, President of the Board of Directors of WAVAC - the Waterville Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps - has asked the writer to include a special request on WAVAC’s behalf: "We are in Dire need of EMT`S and DRIVERS to cover the daytime hours - 7:00am ‘till 5:00pm . For more information on helping WAVAC out they can call me any time on my cell (315) 750-0714.” We all need WAVAC and now WAVAC needs us: please lets not let them down!
There is talk that the DOT plans to pave Route 315, this Summer, and some of those along the route wonder “Why? The road is already a speedway!” and “Stafford Avenue needs it worse!” The DOT has been making some repairs to cracked sidewalk and driveway pavement along Main Street and has also been “finishing” the large area behind the several residences on Sanger Avenue where all of the debris from the highway reconstruction project had been dumped. A considerable amount of grading has taken place; the slope has been seeded and - according to officials - it will soon be a scenic, terraced woodland place, again. “Well, we’ll see!” said one skeptical property-owner.
The Waterville Women’s Club held its Annual Banquet at “Michael’s,” last week, re-electing the same slate of officers headed by Mrs. Olmstead as President. The organization has some fine plans for the Summer, starting with the Annual Tea on June 9th and including an August day trip that will include a tour of the George Eastman Homestead, luncheon and a cabaret show and then shopping!
We mentioned, last week, that we’d observed extensive renovations in progress at an old farmhouse out on Hanover Road. On Saturday, I happened to pass the property just as the new owner came out the front door, and I recognized him right away: it was Miles Cornish! He and Diane gave me a tour of the ground floor. What a job they have already done, and what an amount of work there is left to do, but they intend to make it their home and I’m sure that it will be a nice one!
There has been no news, at all, clarifying the status of Green Acres Plaza and villagers wonder “what’s going on?”
In the interest of history, and should there be no other reference to the event elsewhere in The Waterville Times, we mention that the procession that took Rick Gaiser on his last ride through the village was one of the most moving scenes in the writer’s memory. Borne on a fire truck and followed by fire engines from surrounding communities and scores of automobiles, Rick’s cortege passed beneath an arch formed by ladders of fire trucks from New Hartford and Hamilton - an American flag suspended between them. No one will forget Rick - or that sight - very soon.
Timely, May 30, 2007
This year the timing was perfect: lilacs and Lily-of-the-Valley were at their peak, ready to be picked for bouquets placed next to gravestones on the morning of what we used to call “Decoration Day.” Now, of course, signs warn against the use of glass containers, and so the delivery of potted plants or installation of permanent plantings have replaced that lovely old custom. The tradition of “Memorial Day Exercises,” however, goes on much as it has since first observed in 1873: the gathering of villagers and townsfolk, children on bikes and trikes, Legionnaires, now wearing their distinctive navy caps, and a row of Harding Nursing Home residents seated in front of the white picket fence on Tower Street so that they, too, can see and hear the Invocation, Speeches, Recitation of the “Gettysburg Address,” the playing of “Taps” and the firing of the Salute and the booming sound of gunfire which echoes through the village to the hills.
This year, the Waterville seems brighter and prettier than ever - new trees just leafing out between elegant new lamp posts; hanging planters suspended from brackets on telephone poles and tubs of flowers planted by the members of the Garden Club. The Writer, preparing this column in advance of the actual event, presumes that the crowd near Monument Park will seem larger than usual. Perhaps some will have come especially to see the Waterville Central School Marching Band, resplendent in their brand new purple and white gold-trimmed uniforms, and the Color Guard wearing lavender outfits and whirling bright flags of shimmering purples and golds! Or perhaps they have all come because it’s Memorial Day and it’s important to remember and to pay their quiet respects to those who have served our Village, our Country.
And then will have followed more annual “traditions” - the Chicken Barbecue at the Legion, family picnics that went on for hours and boat launches and even, for the brave, swimming parties - all marking the real Beginning of Summer.
On West Main Street, “Michael’s Fine Food & Spirits” has expanded and now offers outdoor seating at invitingly-umbrellaed tables in a picturesque sidewalk café.
In the countryside, where fields are still yellow with dandelions, one now and then sees bent-over forms of dandelion pickers filling bag after bag with honey-filled blossoms. They’ll make dandelion wine! The writer remembers one year that the late Mssrs. “Pete” Peterson and Syd Erickson did just that and, one morning, brought a bottle to “Whiskey Hollow” to be sampled. How sweet, how smooth, and how very potent - especially before noontime!!
The members of the Garden Club deserve more than fleeting mention: they have planted a lot of “tubs” - even in Sangerfield - and they’re all different. Each member is responsible for planting at least one in an inventive combination of colors and foliage AND for providing season-long maintenance! For several years, Shirley Kellogg has planted and cared for the largest “planter” of all - the 1906 Watering Trough in the Park. It had been planned to turn that granite bowl back in to a fountain, but apparently that’s not going to happen any time soon because the Village provided the soil and Shirley has planted it with Purple Fountain Grass, pink petunias, purple ageratum and pale begonias.
One of the Garden Club’s major fund-raisers is the Annual Plant Sale, which will take place on Saturday June 9th from 9:00 a.m. on at the Methodist Church. They are always delighted to receive contributions for the Sale from other gardeners, and these may be delivered to the church starting at 6:00 P.M. on Friday evening, June 8th.
Mrs. Tonetti has returned, not sounding the least bit exhausted, from another adventure. Last year she took her son John with her to Greece and, having been able to manage one boy quite well, she took both John and Charlie with her to Portugal. They spent about eleven days in Lisbon and another few at Pousadas - converted monasteries and abbeys that are now hotels and resorts. Neither of the three had ever been to Portugal before and they have agreed that they would like to go back! (Taking another Tonetti Brother or two with them, we trust?)
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