Timely, February 7, 2007
A year ago now, everyone was talking about the weather, and this writer wrote: “....... rain and more rain fell; kayakers joked about getting their boats out and CNY snowmobilers cancelled a poker run and were organizing a ‘snow dance’ to assure success of the ‘John Albert Memorial Antique and Vintage Snowmobile Classic & BBQ’ at the Oriskany Falls Fire Department .” For only the second time in its history, The Miller’s Mills Ice Harvest was cancelled.
At least there is no question but that the Ice Harvest will take place this coming Sunday - the 11th - just as scheduled. “The ice harvest has a long history. Every attempt is made to preserve the authenticity of an old-fashioned ice harvest. Old tools such as saws, pike poles and ice tongs are used to cut, separate, and move the blocks of ice. The ice is loaded on sleighs and hauled to the ice house by teams of draft horses. Packed in sawdust and snow, the ice blocks last well into the summer. The only modern concession is the gas powered scoring machine. Scoring is done on Saturday to insure that the blocks are relatively uniform in size and easier to cut. Visitors to the ice harvest are invited to try their hand at cutting ice and are able to ride on the sleighs as they come back from the ice house to the pond. The Grange will offer homemade soup, hot dogs, doughnuts and hot chocolate to warm the spectators. Also being offered are baked goods, folk art and clothing. Admission and parking are free. Dress warmly and be sure to bring your camera.” (Yes: we certainly shall!)
And this past week, everyone was still talking about the weather, but it was the weather in Florida that had their attention. Early on Friday morning, a tornado (or series of twisters) did substantial damage in the part of Florida where several of our “snow birds” spend their Winters. Telephone Calls and E-mail messages sped southward in attempts to ascertain their safety, and by late that afternoon Watervillians breathed more easily: the Hunts, Youngs, Persons, Kelleys, Ms. Paula Manion and Mr. Robert Garrett as well as the Tuttles and full-time Floridians David and Sharon Desany were all safe!
Several have wondered whether or not that event would hasten their returns to this area, but we’ve not heard of any such. Perhaps they prefer the warmth to returning to the North Country where temperatures this coming week will barely touch the twenty-degree mark!
It’s cold enough for snow to last, but we’ve had very little accumulation in the last week and the unscientific “snow stake” measure of snow depth at the time of this writing is less than a foot. Villagers laugh at themselves: “We used to get excited when the forecast called for two or three FEET of snow; now we’re excited when it’s just two or three INCHES!”
Iain Methe and his parents even came to visit the R. Browns in Whiskey Hollow, last Saturday, so that they could go sliding! Apparently there is even less snow at their home in Ballston Lake (near Saratoga) than here.
We miss seeing two of our favorite ladies who were always out and about in all weather: Adele Halligan-Cooper and Helen Voll are both elsewhere, recovering from recent ailments. They no doubt miss all of their friends and acquaintances and would be delighted to receive news from the village! Here are their addresses: “Adele Chernoff; Masonic Care Community; TROY Unit Room 86. Bleeker Street, Utica, NY 13501” and “Miss Helen Voll; the Katherine Luther Home, GORDON Unit, 110 Utica Road, Clinton, NY 13323.”
Coffee-shop Conversation: yes; the “AUCTION” sign has been removed from the old Bank Building, but no! the information about the sale has not been removed from the website and the building is apparently still for sale and the auction will still take place on February 14th at 10:00 a.m.
In re: the new Street Lights - that “they’ll be ready to turn on by next Friday” may be true, but when that event will actually take place will be up to the Mayor and Village Board and such announcement will come from Municipal Hall.
It is true: a truck making a delivery to Foodking managed to remove one of the 12’-high banner arms from one of the posts.
It might come as a complete surprise to Jeremy Bartholomew that it is rumored that Waterville Chiropractic will relocate to another building on Main Street! Have the Treens heard that they will build on Buell Avenue? and does Lisa Belfield know that she will purchase the former Agway gas station lot? And, likewise, if Mr. Hudson listened to gossip, he would know when the old hotel will reopen, what purpose it will serve and what it will be called! He intends, however, to make those decisions, himself, at a future date!
An observation: the Sheriff’s Department and State Police have been especially alert to speeders, in the Village, in the past week or so! Whether errant drivers have received mere “warnings” or actual “tickets” is - fortunately! - unknown to the writer.
It’s time for Winter Vacationers to start returning with tans and - we hope! - cruise ship stories to share! Items for this column may be submitted by telephoning 841-4679; E-mailing or by catching the writer in Foodking or CVS, the Video Store or at Totally-U!
Timely, February 14, 2007
Well, no one can complain any more that we’ve been deprived of an “old fashioned Winter!” It was bitterly cold, all last week; school was closed on Wednesday, and “lake effect” snow fell now and then on Thursday and Friday, with “whiteouts” and drifting making travel difficult. Several drivers suddenly found themselves at standstills - mostly right side up - in ditches they’d never planned on being in and others gripped steering wheels hoping that the end of a white tunnel would come soon. At week’s end, although only a foot or so of new snow had fallen on Waterville (compared to eight and nine FEET to the north and northwest!) everyone was quite satisfied with what we had. Private snowplow operators and local snowmobilers were all ecstatic.
The sign at the Waterville Car Wash reads “Salt Eats Cars!” and one of our respected automotive specialists agrees, emphasizing that while it may melt at a lower temperature, the new blue/green additive that the State has been adding to their road salt cakes solidly onto the underside of vehicles and really does start to “eat” right away!
“The lights are on! The lights are on!” It happened last Thursday afternoon just after lunch time. ‘Phones rang, E-mails flew, cars slowed and pedestrians stopped and gawked as first one and then the other section of new Victorian Street Lamps were tested. (One circuit controls lamps on Main Street as far as the Park; the other controls the lamps in the Park and Southward on Sanger Avenue.) There were a few lights that didn’t work, but those that did were grand, even in the daylight!
The question of a “Lighting Ceremony” was raised at last week’s Village Board Meeting. No decision was made, but word from Municipal Hall suggests that something will be arranged for a Saturday evening and that a special personage will be “flicking the switch” in the Park. (I do want to be there for that!)
Coffee shop conversation agrees with the Historical Society’s request that the Village Fathers institute some method(s) of control over the newly-transformed appearance of Main Street. An “Historic Preservation Ordinance” was turned down, sixteen or seventeen years ago because (from one who was there) “everyone thought they were going to tell us what color to paint our houses!” Perhaps if that were rephrased to read “what sort of colors we should NOT paint our houses” would not be as offensive to historic district and Main Street property-owners: the list would be short - and sensible!
Grinning and waving to everyone, Ms. Nancy Eastman drove into town, last Thursday - her first day driving after her fall last December, we’re told - and it was good to see her.
It was also good to see the O’Dowds out and about last week, enjoying their hot chocolate and/or coffee at Nice ‘n Easy in Sangerfield.
Mrs. Irene Jaquays, who has the misforturne to fall and break her arm a few weeks ago, is but one of the clientele at ProActive Pysical Therapy who agree that it is everyone’s GOOD fortune to have that establishment’s skilled and cheerful staff right here in town.
It’s one of those favorite annual “look-forward-to” food events: Grace Episcopal Church’s annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 20th from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. The cost, which has not changed for many, many years, and is still $4.00 per person or $10.00 per family. The proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the "World Relief Fund." (And each year we suggest adding the traditional Pancake Race, but ...............)
Jon Raker is grinning as broadly as any grandfather can: his daughter Sarah and her husband Steve Morton’s wee-tiny twins, Jacob and Abigail, are finally at home with their parents in Frankfort. The babies were born about three months early and spent many weeks in the hospital in Syracuse. Joining the Raker family more recently, Master Miles Benedict Raker, born to Jon’s son Blair and his wife Joyce at Hanscom AFB near Boston. Congratulations, everyone!
One need not know the Richard Zirkles of Sanger Avenue to understand their great joy and relief in knowing that their son Todd is once again Stateside after an extended stay in “the middle east.”
The writer has received the following E-mail from Sylvia Person, one of several Watervillians who spend their Winters in Florida and for whose safety we all worried when tornado struck, two weeks ago. She writes: “As you know, Phil & I live in ‘The Villages,’ in the one called Mallory Square. In the early hours of Feb. 2nd, we were awakened by a thundering roar that sounded like a freight train coming through followed by the sound of flying glass. We would never have had time to make it to a closet or bathroom, as it was over in seconds. I investigated to find some the front windows blown in, with broken glass throughout. Upon opening the front door, I was confronted with a mound of plywood, shingles and debris. Immediately, neighbors congregated out in the street, checking to see if anyone was hurt and comparing damages. Never until daylight, did anyone realize the devastation down the street a block or two, where hundreds of homes were totally wiped out, roofs gone, cars overturned, furniture and debris all over, people walking around in a daze--some who had lost EVERYTHING!! This surely looked like a war-zone. In all my years, I have never seen anything like it. The news media did NOT over-exaggerate this in the least. And I must commend ‘The Villages’-- their crews moved in immediately to cover roofs with tarps, board up windows with plywood, clean up the streets, and help in any way possible. Sheriffs and Police patrolled the streets and gates, keeping out sightseers --no one allowed that didn't live here in Mallory Square. For days, droves of workmen worked hours cleaning up the area, filling huge trucks and trailers, arriving constantly; hauling it away. Now, roofs are being replaced , and work has begun to restore what once was. The miracle of it all--no serious injury or fatality in our village of Mallory Square. Others weren't as fortunate. Phil & I were blessed--only broken windows, a damaged roof, and lots of cleaning up to do. And we survived our first tornado in Florida. And would we trade it for snow and ice? Let me say that we love it down here and plan on staying for a while longer, the good Lord willing.”
Timely, February 21, 2007
Just a few weeks ago an acquaintance of mine said that she wished an end to the Winter Doldrums: too many people were laid low with this complaint or that, and nothing very interesting was going on! But that was before it snowed. Now, neither she nor anyone else should be beset by boredom any longer! Not only have we had weather and more weather to talk about, but there is also a sudden bustle of activities.
Were this column solely devoted to frivolities of the social scene, it would be one thing, but - having taken on the status (deserved or not) of an actual source of news and, therefore, a record of history - we must give details of the former: the weather!
Not that there was very much snow - probably not even eighteen inches - ‘though in Utica, a 100-year record of snowfall in February was broken. (If there are or have ever been such records kept in Waterville the writer is unaware of them.) But the pre-storm advisories sent everyone to Foodking and gas stations on Tuesday - the same day that diners readied their appetites and attire for “The February in France” wine dinner at “Michael’s.
The snow was falling quite steadily by evening when that and another very special event took place: the second was out at the Clifford J. Fulmer Post 92 of the American Legion. SPC James Dawes, who was home on leave from duty in Iraq and is a member of the troop that was “adopted” by the Ladies Auxiliary, presented the Legion with a flag that had been flown on a combat mission, there. (While on leave, Dawes also visited the members of the ActiveDay Program at the Lutheran Home to express his and the troop's Thanks to the members who helped to bake cookies and make cards for all of them at Christmastime.)
While those gatherings took place and snow continued to fall, preparations for Valentine’s Day were in high gear at MerriRose Florist and at Alcotts where thousands (it seemed) of stems were cut and hundreds of arrangements were assembled. By Wednesday morning, of course, the challenge was in delivering all the pretty flowers! The skies had opened, Route 12 and the schools had closed. “It was wild!” said an Alcott’s employee --- but all but one of their deliveries was made. MerriRose’s drivers were equally efficient, and a great many ladies were very, very happy!
The 14th was also the day that the old Bank of America building was to have been sold at auction but, at www.johndixon.com, there was a rapid alteration of the auction schedule, and the sale was postponed until February 27th “due to inclement weather.”
On Wednesday afternoon, three native sons were having afternoon coffee at Nice ‘n Easy in Sangerfield: "Well, WE're wondering when's it going to start snowing!" grumbled one of of them. (After all - they could see all the way across Rt. 20 to Fallon's.) One said, "Why, I remember back during the blizzard of '66. It must have been three days when we couldn't see from the house to the barn!" and one of his companions recalled that during the same storm he'd been driving for Agway and it took him seven hours to get from Deansboro to Waterville!" The writer herself remembers sending her small daughter out to measure snow next to the porch (probably in 1968) with a yardstick and having the child come back to ask, “Do we have a longer yard stick?” (Now THAT was a snowstorm!)
It didn’t seem, at that time, to be snowing very hard, but that was just Wednesday - by Friday, with Route 12 still closed and schools using yet another “Snow Day,” even those gentlemen might have been willing to say “Enough!” Snow banks were too high to see over and shovels and small plows gave way to snow blowers and major pieces of construction equipment.
While State and township snowplows did their best to keep roadways clear, the Waterville DPW spent three long days keeping sidewalks and intersections open and making sure that all 96 hydrants could be accessed rapidly, if need be. They also reported for work at midnight last Friday, and spent hours in zero-degree darkness removing snow banks from the Main Street business district. By Saturday morning, it was grand! Curbside parking for the first time in three days.
Last year, there was just barely enough snow for the John Albert Antique and Vintage Snowmobile Classic. This year’s event, in Oriskany Falls last Saturday, was a tremendous success with crowds enjoying a pancake breakfast, chicken BBQ, swap meet and lots of trophies.
Readers who have purchased their copy of the Waterville Times “hot off the press,” on Tuesday afternoon, will have the opportunity for more pancakes, hot off the griddle, at Grace Episcopal Church from 5:00 - 7:00 today. The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper is a tradition that’s been carried on for quite a number of years, here in Waterville, and in all that time the price has not changed. It’s still $4 per person or $10 for a family. Proceeds this year will benefit World Relief. years, last Saturday, was a Albert Antique & Vintage
Fifty or sixty years ago, the word “boxtop” was magic: if you mailed one with a quarter to Ralston Purina and then waited an unbearable length of time, the postman would finally deliver your reward --- a genuine Roy Rogers glow-in-the-dark compass with magnifying glass! Well: now “boxtop” takes on an entirely new meaning and, through a program initiated by General Mills in 1996, elementary schools can earn up to $60,000 by collecting them! The “Boxtops Coordinator” for the Memorial Park School PTA is Karen Fox, and she would like to remind readers that the deadline for the submission of General Mills Boxtops for Education is Feb. 28. “Anyone who saves General Mills Boxtops for Memorial Park School, should drop them off at Food King or the Waterville Public Library. There are collection envelopes on the bulletin boards at both locations.”
The writer has several more items on her list of “things to write about,” but will set them all aside until next week EXCEPT for this important announcement: arrived on February 8, Master Colden Thomas Stern, first child for Todd and Catherine Quayle Stern of Holland Patent and first grandchild for Tom and Susannah Quayle of Waterville, February 8th. (What a lucky boy he is!) Congratulations, everyone!
Timely, February 28, 2007
Have you seen the sign in front of the MerriRose Florist Shop! Rose Mary is counting down to Spring!
While there have been some extreme “cold snaps,” this winter, we have not heard of anyone who has had to deal with any frozen or burst pipes! (Knock on wood!) More snow has been plowed and shoveled in the past week or so than in the previous score; heating bills will be higher than last year, but there are indications that no one can complain of starvation! All recent events at “Michael’s” - the Wine Tasting Dinner on the 13th, special Valentine’s Day Dinner on the 14th and evening lesson in Soul Food Cookery with Juanita Bass on the 20th - as well as the Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at Grace Episcopal Church have been enthusiastically welcomed by the community.
As a result of the Pancake Supper, Grace Church has been able to contribute about $400 to Millennium Development Goals - a program adopted by the UN and endorsed by the General Convention, but usually known, simply, as “World Relief.” Aside from funds raised, so were the spirits of all. Conviviality was at its highest, and giving pleasure to all was the presence of the O’Dowds.
Members of the Waterville Book Club hope that Peg will be joining them at their meeting, this week. They will be discussing a book whose subject is one with which we should all be familiar, but which - sadly - most of us are no doubt lacking even the most scant knowledge: “The Miracle at Philadelphia,” by Catherine Drinker Bowen, is the history of the Federal Convention at Philadelphia in 1787 - “the stormy, dramatic session that produced the most enduring of political documents - the Constitution of the United States.”
More and more readers are referring to the Library’s new Book Review Blog, online at where Charles Todd’s Ian Rutledge series gets a “thumbs-up” but Lillian Jackson Braun’s “A Cat Who had Sixty Whiskers” gets an unequivocal “thumbs down”! In an E-letter to the “At Home in the Huddle 2” Shirley Eisenhut Smith writes, “I've just finished a couple of mysteries by Julia Spencer-Fleming (the main character is a female Episcopal priest in the Adirondacks). Next is Sebastian Faulks' new book, ‘Human Traces’ (he's the author of Birdsong, a gut-wrenching novel about World War I, and one of my favorite books), and at the same time I will begin Daniel Tammet's ‘Born on a Blue Day’ (he's the autistic savant who lives in England; just heard him on NPR last night and read about him in the New York Times last week). I'll surely have to read another mystery at the same time, to break up the heavier stuff.” The blogger herself has just read Philippa Gregory’s “The Boleyn Inheritance” and is starting Ariana Franklin’s new novel “Mistress of the Art of Death,” which is described as “CSI meets the Canterbury Tales”!
The blogger - and writer of this column - was stricken (there’s no other word for it!) by “an insidious bug,” one day last week and there was, therefore, no daily posting. This resulted in a flurry of E-mail queries asking “Where’s the blog?” “Are you O.K.?” and “I need my blog!” All of this concern was appreciated by the now-recovered blogger who hopes even moreso than her readers that the same situation does not ever happen again!
While reading seems to be the way that some of us travel during the Winter, others, of course, do it differently: our most-senior Ambassador to the World returned recently from a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands aboard the Pride of Hawaii with his daughters and sons-in-law. Mrs. Hammond and her sister, Marilyn, from Verona, took a 7-day cruise of the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean's “Legend of the Seas.” High points of their adventure included a visit to a butterfly conservatory and - for the first time - snorkeling, on Grand Cayman Island! (Sounds wonderful!) Others will be returning this week from similar vacations, the Dominican Republic being the resort-of-choice for quite a few.
The Ingersolls traveled to Washington D.C. to visit their daughter Ann and her family.
Ms. Valerie Schenk attended the New York State Regional “Sacred Harp Singing” in Clinton, last Saturday - a musical activity with which she had been unfamiliar, ‘til then - and is so taken with the prospect of attending future singings that she is looking for a copy of the 1991 Dennison Sacred Harp Book, should anyone have one with which they would be willing to part!
There are several events, here in town, that we are looking forward to: the Highschool Musical Production, “Footloose,” on the 16th and 17th of March; Ms. Patty Louise will be the guest speaker at the March meeting of the Waterville Historical Society where she will review the 150-year history of our very special “Waterville Times.” And in April, members of the Historical Society will be the guests of Mr. Gary Hudson at a reception and tour of the “hotel” - soon to be known as “The Red Lion.”
Trivial speculation from times past: Was Humphrey Bogart really the original Gerber Baby? We’ll probably never know, but we DO know that the handsome little boy - equally adorable, if not moreso - in the advertisements for this week’s Baby issue of the Waterville Times is none other than Kristi Kosmoski’s little boy, Nicholas! “Thank You!” to Kristi and Corey and all of the parents who are sharing pictures of their babies for all of the readers to enjoy!
Present-day Trivia that should be of interest to Watervillians: Do you know how many miles of sidewalk there are in the village? (More than you think!) According to Superintendent of Public Works Gene Ostrander, it’s about 15. That’s how far the sidewalk plow travels on its rounds, but now that it also goes to Sangerfield, add another two miles down and back. That’s like driving to North Utica! (and all on a bumpy road.)
A special “Thank You” to all of the DPW for their extra time and effort, these past weeks! It IS appreciated by many!
A year ago now, everyone was talking about the weather, and this writer wrote: “....... rain and more rain fell; kayakers joked about getting their boats out and CNY snowmobilers cancelled a poker run and were organizing a ‘snow dance’ to assure success of the ‘John Albert Memorial Antique and Vintage Snowmobile Classic & BBQ’ at the Oriskany Falls Fire Department .” For only the second time in its history, The Miller’s Mills Ice Harvest was cancelled.
At least there is no question but that the Ice Harvest will take place this coming Sunday - the 11th - just as scheduled. “The ice harvest has a long history. Every attempt is made to preserve the authenticity of an old-fashioned ice harvest. Old tools such as saws, pike poles and ice tongs are used to cut, separate, and move the blocks of ice. The ice is loaded on sleighs and hauled to the ice house by teams of draft horses. Packed in sawdust and snow, the ice blocks last well into the summer. The only modern concession is the gas powered scoring machine. Scoring is done on Saturday to insure that the blocks are relatively uniform in size and easier to cut. Visitors to the ice harvest are invited to try their hand at cutting ice and are able to ride on the sleighs as they come back from the ice house to the pond. The Grange will offer homemade soup, hot dogs, doughnuts and hot chocolate to warm the spectators. Also being offered are baked goods, folk art and clothing. Admission and parking are free. Dress warmly and be sure to bring your camera.” (Yes: we certainly shall!)
And this past week, everyone was still talking about the weather, but it was the weather in Florida that had their attention. Early on Friday morning, a tornado (or series of twisters) did substantial damage in the part of Florida where several of our “snow birds” spend their Winters. Telephone Calls and E-mail messages sped southward in attempts to ascertain their safety, and by late that afternoon Watervillians breathed more easily: the Hunts, Youngs, Persons, Kelleys, Ms. Paula Manion and Mr. Robert Garrett as well as the Tuttles and full-time Floridians David and Sharon Desany were all safe!
Several have wondered whether or not that event would hasten their returns to this area, but we’ve not heard of any such. Perhaps they prefer the warmth to returning to the North Country where temperatures this coming week will barely touch the twenty-degree mark!
It’s cold enough for snow to last, but we’ve had very little accumulation in the last week and the unscientific “snow stake” measure of snow depth at the time of this writing is less than a foot. Villagers laugh at themselves: “We used to get excited when the forecast called for two or three FEET of snow; now we’re excited when it’s just two or three INCHES!”
Iain Methe and his parents even came to visit the R. Browns in Whiskey Hollow, last Saturday, so that they could go sliding! Apparently there is even less snow at their home in Ballston Lake (near Saratoga) than here.
We miss seeing two of our favorite ladies who were always out and about in all weather: Adele Halligan-Cooper and Helen Voll are both elsewhere, recovering from recent ailments. They no doubt miss all of their friends and acquaintances and would be delighted to receive news from the village! Here are their addresses: “Adele Chernoff; Masonic Care Community; TROY Unit Room 86. Bleeker Street, Utica, NY 13501” and “Miss Helen Voll; the Katherine Luther Home, GORDON Unit, 110 Utica Road, Clinton, NY 13323.”
Coffee-shop Conversation: yes; the “AUCTION” sign has been removed from the old Bank Building, but no! the information about the sale has not been removed from the website
In re: the new Street Lights - that “they’ll be ready to turn on by next Friday” may be true, but when that event will actually take place will be up to the Mayor and Village Board and such announcement will come from Municipal Hall.
It is true: a truck making a delivery to Foodking managed to remove one of the 12’-high banner arms from one of the posts.
It might come as a complete surprise to Jeremy Bartholomew that it is rumored that Waterville Chiropractic will relocate to another building on Main Street! Have the Treens heard that they will build on Buell Avenue? and does Lisa Belfield know that she will purchase the former Agway gas station lot? And, likewise, if Mr. Hudson listened to gossip, he would know when the old hotel will reopen, what purpose it will serve and what it will be called! He intends, however, to make those decisions, himself, at a future date!
An observation: the Sheriff’s Department and State Police have been especially alert to speeders, in the Village, in the past week or so! Whether errant drivers have received mere “warnings” or actual “tickets” is - fortunately! - unknown to the writer.
It’s time for Winter Vacationers to start returning with tans and - we hope! - cruise ship stories to share! Items for this column may be submitted by telephoning 841-4679; E-mailing
Timely, February 14, 2007
Well, no one can complain any more that we’ve been deprived of an “old fashioned Winter!” It was bitterly cold, all last week; school was closed on Wednesday, and “lake effect” snow fell now and then on Thursday and Friday, with “whiteouts” and drifting making travel difficult. Several drivers suddenly found themselves at standstills - mostly right side up - in ditches they’d never planned on being in and others gripped steering wheels hoping that the end of a white tunnel would come soon. At week’s end, although only a foot or so of new snow had fallen on Waterville (compared to eight and nine FEET to the north and northwest!) everyone was quite satisfied with what we had. Private snowplow operators and local snowmobilers were all ecstatic.
The sign at the Waterville Car Wash reads “Salt Eats Cars!” and one of our respected automotive specialists agrees, emphasizing that while it may melt at a lower temperature, the new blue/green additive that the State has been adding to their road salt cakes solidly onto the underside of vehicles and really does start to “eat” right away!
“The lights are on! The lights are on!” It happened last Thursday afternoon just after lunch time. ‘Phones rang, E-mails flew, cars slowed and pedestrians stopped and gawked as first one and then the other section of new Victorian Street Lamps were tested. (One circuit controls lamps on Main Street as far as the Park; the other controls the lamps in the Park and Southward on Sanger Avenue.) There were a few lights that didn’t work, but those that did were grand, even in the daylight!
The question of a “Lighting Ceremony” was raised at last week’s Village Board Meeting. No decision was made, but word from Municipal Hall suggests that something will be arranged for a Saturday evening and that a special personage will be “flicking the switch” in the Park. (I do want to be there for that!)
Coffee shop conversation agrees with the Historical Society’s request that the Village Fathers institute some method(s) of control over the newly-transformed appearance of Main Street. An “Historic Preservation Ordinance” was turned down, sixteen or seventeen years ago because (from one who was there) “everyone thought they were going to tell us what color to paint our houses!” Perhaps if that were rephrased to read “what sort of colors we should NOT paint our houses” would not be as offensive to historic district and Main Street property-owners: the list would be short - and sensible!
Grinning and waving to everyone, Ms. Nancy Eastman drove into town, last Thursday - her first day driving after her fall last December, we’re told - and it was good to see her.
It was also good to see the O’Dowds out and about last week, enjoying their hot chocolate and/or coffee at Nice ‘n Easy in Sangerfield.
Mrs. Irene Jaquays, who has the misforturne to fall and break her arm a few weeks ago, is but one of the clientele at ProActive Pysical Therapy who agree that it is everyone’s GOOD fortune to have that establishment’s skilled and cheerful staff right here in town.
It’s one of those favorite annual “look-forward-to” food events: Grace Episcopal Church’s annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 20th from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. The cost, which has not changed for many, many years, and is still $4.00 per person or $10.00 per family. The proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the "World Relief Fund." (And each year we suggest adding the traditional Pancake Race, but ...............)
Jon Raker is grinning as broadly as any grandfather can: his daughter Sarah and her husband Steve Morton’s wee-tiny twins, Jacob and Abigail, are finally at home with their parents in Frankfort. The babies were born about three months early and spent many weeks in the hospital in Syracuse. Joining the Raker family more recently, Master Miles Benedict Raker, born to Jon’s son Blair and his wife Joyce at Hanscom AFB near Boston. Congratulations, everyone!
One need not know the Richard Zirkles of Sanger Avenue to understand their great joy and relief in knowing that their son Todd is once again Stateside after an extended stay in “the middle east.”
The writer has received the following E-mail from Sylvia Person, one of several Watervillians who spend their Winters in Florida and for whose safety we all worried when tornado struck, two weeks ago. She writes: “As you know, Phil & I live in ‘The Villages,’ in the one called Mallory Square. In the early hours of Feb. 2nd, we were awakened by a thundering roar that sounded like a freight train coming through followed by the sound of flying glass. We would never have had time to make it to a closet or bathroom, as it was over in seconds. I investigated to find some the front windows blown in, with broken glass throughout. Upon opening the front door, I was confronted with a mound of plywood, shingles and debris. Immediately, neighbors congregated out in the street, checking to see if anyone was hurt and comparing damages. Never until daylight, did anyone realize the devastation down the street a block or two, where hundreds of homes were totally wiped out, roofs gone, cars overturned, furniture and debris all over, people walking around in a daze--some who had lost EVERYTHING!! This surely looked like a war-zone. In all my years, I have never seen anything like it. The news media did NOT over-exaggerate this in the least. And I must commend ‘The Villages’-- their crews moved in immediately to cover roofs with tarps, board up windows with plywood, clean up the streets, and help in any way possible. Sheriffs and Police patrolled the streets and gates, keeping out sightseers --no one allowed that didn't live here in Mallory Square. For days, droves of workmen worked hours cleaning up the area, filling huge trucks and trailers, arriving constantly; hauling it away. Now, roofs are being replaced , and work has begun to restore what once was. The miracle of it all--no serious injury or fatality in our village of Mallory Square. Others weren't as fortunate. Phil & I were blessed--only broken windows, a damaged roof, and lots of cleaning up to do. And we survived our first tornado in Florida. And would we trade it for snow and ice? Let me say that we love it down here and plan on staying for a while longer, the good Lord willing.”
Timely, February 21, 2007
Just a few weeks ago an acquaintance of mine said that she wished an end to the Winter Doldrums: too many people were laid low with this complaint or that, and nothing very interesting was going on! But that was before it snowed. Now, neither she nor anyone else should be beset by boredom any longer! Not only have we had weather and more weather to talk about, but there is also a sudden bustle of activities.
Were this column solely devoted to frivolities of the social scene, it would be one thing, but - having taken on the status (deserved or not) of an actual source of news and, therefore, a record of history - we must give details of the former: the weather!
Not that there was very much snow - probably not even eighteen inches - ‘though in Utica, a 100-year record of snowfall in February was broken. (If there are or have ever been such records kept in Waterville the writer is unaware of them.) But the pre-storm advisories sent everyone to Foodking and gas stations on Tuesday - the same day that diners readied their appetites and attire for “The February in France” wine dinner at “Michael’s.
The snow was falling quite steadily by evening when that and another very special event took place: the second was out at the Clifford J. Fulmer Post 92 of the American Legion. SPC James Dawes, who was home on leave from duty in Iraq and is a member of the troop that was “adopted” by the Ladies Auxiliary, presented the Legion with a flag that had been flown on a combat mission, there. (While on leave, Dawes also visited the members of the ActiveDay Program at the Lutheran Home to express his and the troop's Thanks to the members who helped to bake cookies and make cards for all of them at Christmastime.)
While those gatherings took place and snow continued to fall, preparations for Valentine’s Day were in high gear at MerriRose Florist and at Alcotts where thousands (it seemed) of stems were cut and hundreds of arrangements were assembled. By Wednesday morning, of course, the challenge was in delivering all the pretty flowers! The skies had opened, Route 12 and the schools had closed. “It was wild!” said an Alcott’s employee --- but all but one of their deliveries was made. MerriRose’s drivers were equally efficient, and a great many ladies were very, very happy!
The 14th was also the day that the old Bank of America building was to have been sold at auction but, at www.johndixon.com, there was a rapid alteration of the auction schedule, and the sale was postponed until February 27th “due to inclement weather.”
On Wednesday afternoon, three native sons were having afternoon coffee at Nice ‘n Easy in Sangerfield: "Well, WE're wondering when's it going to start snowing!" grumbled one of of them. (After all - they could see all the way across Rt. 20 to Fallon's.) One said, "Why, I remember back during the blizzard of '66. It must have been three days when we couldn't see from the house to the barn!" and one of his companions recalled that during the same storm he'd been driving for Agway and it took him seven hours to get from Deansboro to Waterville!" The writer herself remembers sending her small daughter out to measure snow next to the porch (probably in 1968) with a yardstick and having the child come back to ask, “Do we have a longer yard stick?” (Now THAT was a snowstorm!)
It didn’t seem, at that time, to be snowing very hard, but that was just Wednesday - by Friday, with Route 12 still closed and schools using yet another “Snow Day,” even those gentlemen might have been willing to say “Enough!” Snow banks were too high to see over and shovels and small plows gave way to snow blowers and major pieces of construction equipment.
While State and township snowplows did their best to keep roadways clear, the Waterville DPW spent three long days keeping sidewalks and intersections open and making sure that all 96 hydrants could be accessed rapidly, if need be. They also reported for work at midnight last Friday, and spent hours in zero-degree darkness removing snow banks from the Main Street business district. By Saturday morning, it was grand! Curbside parking for the first time in three days.
Last year, there was just barely enough snow for the John Albert Antique and Vintage Snowmobile Classic. This year’s event, in Oriskany Falls last Saturday, was a tremendous success with crowds enjoying a pancake breakfast, chicken BBQ, swap meet and lots of trophies.
Readers who have purchased their copy of the Waterville Times “hot off the press,” on Tuesday afternoon, will have the opportunity for more pancakes, hot off the griddle, at Grace Episcopal Church from 5:00 - 7:00 today. The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper is a tradition that’s been carried on for quite a number of years, here in Waterville, and in all that time the price has not changed. It’s still $4 per person or $10 for a family. Proceeds this year will benefit World Relief. years, last Saturday, was a Albert Antique & Vintage
Fifty or sixty years ago, the word “boxtop” was magic: if you mailed one with a quarter to Ralston Purina and then waited an unbearable length of time, the postman would finally deliver your reward --- a genuine Roy Rogers glow-in-the-dark compass with magnifying glass! Well: now “boxtop” takes on an entirely new meaning and, through a program initiated by General Mills in 1996, elementary schools can earn up to $60,000 by collecting them! The “Boxtops Coordinator” for the Memorial Park School PTA is Karen Fox, and she would like to remind readers that the deadline for the submission of General Mills Boxtops for Education is Feb. 28. “Anyone who saves General Mills Boxtops for Memorial Park School, should drop them off at Food King or the Waterville Public Library. There are collection envelopes on the bulletin boards at both locations.”
The writer has several more items on her list of “things to write about,” but will set them all aside until next week EXCEPT for this important announcement: arrived on February 8, Master Colden Thomas Stern, first child for Todd and Catherine Quayle Stern of Holland Patent and first grandchild for Tom and Susannah Quayle of Waterville, February 8th. (What a lucky boy he is!) Congratulations, everyone!
Timely, February 28, 2007
Have you seen the sign in front of the MerriRose Florist Shop! Rose Mary is counting down to Spring!
While there have been some extreme “cold snaps,” this winter, we have not heard of anyone who has had to deal with any frozen or burst pipes! (Knock on wood!) More snow has been plowed and shoveled in the past week or so than in the previous score; heating bills will be higher than last year, but there are indications that no one can complain of starvation! All recent events at “Michael’s” - the Wine Tasting Dinner on the 13th, special Valentine’s Day Dinner on the 14th and evening lesson in Soul Food Cookery with Juanita Bass on the 20th - as well as the Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at Grace Episcopal Church have been enthusiastically welcomed by the community.
As a result of the Pancake Supper, Grace Church has been able to contribute about $400 to Millennium Development Goals - a program adopted by the UN and endorsed by the General Convention, but usually known, simply, as “World Relief.” Aside from funds raised, so were the spirits of all. Conviviality was at its highest, and giving pleasure to all was the presence of the O’Dowds.
Members of the Waterville Book Club hope that Peg will be joining them at their meeting, this week. They will be discussing a book whose subject is one with which we should all be familiar, but which - sadly - most of us are no doubt lacking even the most scant knowledge: “The Miracle at Philadelphia,” by Catherine Drinker Bowen, is the history of the Federal Convention at Philadelphia in 1787 - “the stormy, dramatic session that produced the most enduring of political documents - the Constitution of the United States.”
More and more readers are referring to the Library’s new Book Review Blog, online at
The blogger - and writer of this column - was stricken (there’s no other word for it!) by “an insidious bug,” one day last week and there was, therefore, no daily posting. This resulted in a flurry of E-mail queries asking “Where’s the blog?” “Are you O.K.?” and “I need my blog!” All of this concern was appreciated by the now-recovered blogger who hopes even moreso than her readers that the same situation does not ever happen again!
While reading seems to be the way that some of us travel during the Winter, others, of course, do it differently: our most-senior Ambassador to the World returned recently from a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands aboard the Pride of Hawaii with his daughters and sons-in-law. Mrs. Hammond and her sister, Marilyn, from Verona, took a 7-day cruise of the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean's “Legend of the Seas.” High points of their adventure included a visit to a butterfly conservatory and - for the first time - snorkeling, on Grand Cayman Island! (Sounds wonderful!) Others will be returning this week from similar vacations, the Dominican Republic being the resort-of-choice for quite a few.
The Ingersolls traveled to Washington D.C. to visit their daughter Ann and her family.
Ms. Valerie Schenk attended the New York State Regional “Sacred Harp Singing” in Clinton, last Saturday - a musical activity with which she had been unfamiliar, ‘til then - and is so taken with the prospect of attending future singings that she is looking for a copy of the 1991 Dennison Sacred Harp Book, should anyone have one with which they would be willing to part!
There are several events, here in town, that we are looking forward to: the Highschool Musical Production, “Footloose,” on the 16th and 17th of March; Ms. Patty Louise will be the guest speaker at the March meeting of the Waterville Historical Society where she will review the 150-year history of our very special “Waterville Times.” And in April, members of the Historical Society will be the guests of Mr. Gary Hudson at a reception and tour of the “hotel” - soon to be known as “The Red Lion.”
Trivial speculation from times past: Was Humphrey Bogart really the original Gerber Baby? We’ll probably never know, but we DO know that the handsome little boy - equally adorable, if not moreso - in the advertisements for this week’s Baby issue of the Waterville Times is none other than Kristi Kosmoski’s little boy, Nicholas! “Thank You!” to Kristi and Corey and all of the parents who are sharing pictures of their babies for all of the readers to enjoy!
Present-day Trivia that should be of interest to Watervillians: Do you know how many miles of sidewalk there are in the village? (More than you think!) According to Superintendent of Public Works Gene Ostrander, it’s about 15. That’s how far the sidewalk plow travels on its rounds, but now that it also goes to Sangerfield, add another two miles down and back. That’s like driving to North Utica! (and all on a bumpy road.)
A special “Thank You” to all of the DPW for their extra time and effort, these past weeks! It IS appreciated by many!
