April - 2007

Timely, April 4, 2007

(“How time flies when you’re having fun!” The writer notes - with some amusement - that this week marks the start of her fourth year as “Timely” correspondent! When I began, I promised I’d “try it for a while!”)

Canada Geese are everywhere, and large flocks of Snow Geese, resting on their way North, give the impression of snowdrifts remaining in cornfields. Gleaming like jewels set into flower beds and lawns are clumps of bright gold and deep purple crocuses and, in swampy spots, ruby and garnet gleams of skunks’ cabbages. Floating swaths of pink and yellow bunting decorate the doorway at the MerriRose Florist Shop and here and there throughout the village Easter Egg and Bunny flags and ornaments are appearing on porches and lawns.

Growing faster than we can keep up with it, the new home of the Home Shoppe, on Buell Avenue. As of the writer’s deadline, the entire structure has been framed and a deep green steel roof is nearly complete.

Along with all of the motorcycles, trikes and bikes and skate boards and roller blades and scooters that have emerged from Winter storage, so have rakes and brooms! And what gritty messes we have to clean up on roadside lawns and also on some areas of the brick pavers in the business district. Mrs. Ayala suggested an early “Earth Day” - normally on April 22nd - and said that she’d volunteer to sweep, hoping that others would, too. (There were some who said they’d join her, but there was no overwhelmingly enthusiastic response!)

There was, at least, an excellent response to the Brothertown Music Boosters’ “Raising Dough” benefit evening at UNO in New Hartford. According to Dale Meszler, president of the organization, there were a good many families from Waterville who turned out. Proceeds (up to 20% of the total cheques) will benefit the WCS Marching Band’s trip to Washington, D.C., where they will participate in the Fourth of July Parade. Another fundraiser with that same purpose will be a Bake Sale that will take place next Saturday from 10:00 ‘til 4:00 at Foodking.

A lot of people turned out to see the “trial run” of the Victorian Street Lamps, last Friday evening. The effect of all eighty globes, lighting Main Street, Sanger Avenue and the Park, was dazzling and, by comparison, made side streets look quite dark, indeed. A second test took place on Saturday evening and then the lights were turned off. The official Lighting Ceremony, we are given to understand, will take place this Thursday evening at 7:00. (Look elsewhere in this issue for details: where to park or stand to hear speeches, if there are to be any.)

Mrs. Martin tells us that “The Crimson Bonnets held their March Luncheon at the ‘East Dynasty’ in New Hartford. Around 20 members showed up and many of them visited the buffet bar at least 2 or 3 times. The arrangements were made by Irene Lew and Judy Zirkle. Our April get together is still in the planning stages and members were be notified of the date, time and place in the near future.”

Lunching at “Roc’s” with friends, Ms. Lovina Staring who has just returned from spending six weeks in Florida with some of her sisters and a brother. At the same eatery was Ms. Nancy King, formerly of Tower Street, and her friend Mr. Briggs. During conversation with the writer and her daughter, Allison Methe of Ballston Lake, Ms. King mentioned that she will soon mark her Fiftieth Year with the Eastern Star. (That should call for quite a celebration!)

For any and all who are celebrating Spring, the lawn furniture was out and the south side service window at “Roc’s” opened on Sunday!

Also on Sunday - the first day of Fishing Season, and we can guess with some assurance just where Mr. Bob Mayne of Sanger Avenue was on that day!

We wish Mr. Paul Holic of W. Bacon Street a Speedy Recovery from recent surgery to correct a torn rotator cuff. (That seems to be quite a common problem, doesn’t it?)

Congratulations! Lisa Davis, the daughter of Jean B. and the late Lyle Davis and known to many here in her home town, is among eight women who will be honored by the YWCA of the Mohawk Valley at its April 5 Salute to Outstanding Women. The women were chosen because they made significant contributions to their professions, communities, educational institutions or organizations and their accomplishments reflect the mission of the YWCA to eliminate racism and empower women. Ms. Davis is the associate director of student counseling at Utica College.

And Congratulations, also, to Ms. Valerie Fuller who will graduate from college in May. Many of us have keepsakes from times when she created the most perfect miniature porcelain items and beautifully constructed and outfitted jointed teddy bears for the Annual “Arts in Waterville” Sales at the Waterville Public Library back in the ‘80s. Her artistic forté now? “Repeat Surface Patterns” - as in William Morris wallpapers. Very tricky to create, and the writer, for one, fully appreciates Ms. Fuller’s talents and accomplishments!



Timely, April 18, 2007

Everyone is talking about: The Weather, of course! As of the writer’s deadline, weathermen at WKTV NewsChannel 2, in Utica, are not just forecasting or prediction - they are PROMISING that a Major Winter Storm will take place on Sunday and Monday. By the time this issue of The Waterville Times reaches newsstands, we’ll know how right they have been and how low our tolerance is for any sort of shovelable extension of Winter!

The Victorian Street Lights! We’ve heard no complaints at all! Mr. Cleary, whose place of residence offers him the three-directional view of the new fixtures, said, “I like them!” Mrs. Sexton, who can look westward along Main Street says that they are grand; Mr. Paul Prentice, who lives in the Brunswick, has a fine view of the lamp-lit Park and thinks it’s wonderful, and Mr. Meszler says that the view of the lights along Sanger Avenue from the upper stories of his home is spectacular!

The Lighting Ceremony, itself - which took place a week ago Monday evening - was a pleasantly well-attended event during which Mayor Jim Younes thanks previous mayors and boards of trustees and members of the Main Street Committee for their work and State Senator David J. Valesky and the Edward S. Barton Trust for their generosity. Senator Valesky praised Waterville for making such investments in its future; PsBrown - a former member of the Committee - read a letter from Committee-member Mr. Dale Meszler that reiterated praise given former mayor Nora Keating and the Committee members as well as the offices of Almy & Associates Consulting Engineers and Mr. Gary Siver for providing, at no charge, all of the engineering and bidding documents for the project and thanked Mike Lentz of Weydmen Electric for performing the fine installation during the coldest months of the year. Richard S. Woodman, Esq., representing the Edward S. Barton Trust, recalled Mr. Barton as a “quiet, unassuming man,” whose ancestors had been some of the very first settlers in this area and who had always loved living in Waterville. Mr. Woodman added that he, himself, had lived in the village since 1942 and felt the same way about it!

There actually are two switches that control the lights: one on Main Street at Green Acres Plaza and one in the Park. While Mssrs. Woodman, Valesky and Younes turned on the “downtown” switch, Mr. Ostrander flicked on the Park/Sanger Avenue lights. As the spectators watched, there came first a faint glimmer and then a gleam and, finally, the lamps glowed and there were - as anticipated - cheers and applause for the completion of yet another step forward!