Friday

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GARBAGE DAY!

It's 18 degrees.

At 7:08 there are just a few flakes of snow, but the wind is picking up and the snowplows are out.

This is The Weather Channel's forecast;


WKTV's forecast is summed up in this map:

--- but the lengthy description ends by saying, "Some leftover snow showers and flurries are likely on Saturday with a return to sunshine on Sunday. Another, more potent, storm system may bring a mix of snow, ice or rain by the middle of next week."

It's been years and years since the T-bar operated on this hill, south of Hamilton, and quite a few since this much bare ground has been visible in mid-February!

There's a special bright-blueness to the sky, this time of year.


Pat Mangan has his "St. Patrick's Day," "Happy Spring" and "Happy Easter" cards all distributed and shamrocks decorate this door on Barton Avenue.


Tim Bartlett probably can't wait to get back to work on his Golf Course, in Sangerfield .....

..... and even these horses, on Daytonville Road, watch for something different to happen!

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Today is "Fish Fry Day" throughout the region - take your pick!

This is a partial list from the O-D. If you "click" to enlarge, you'll see why I chuckled when I read it and said (to myself, at first) "Gosh, Deansboro - don't you think that's going too far?"

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NYRI has come up with a new proposal - coverage at both WKTV and the Observer-Dispatch.

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This is a "Letter to the Editor" and all of you from Donna Weeks:

"This community has just been amazing lately. We come together and show we can all unite as one. As soon as this community hears of a tragedy, it asks itself what can we do. We don’t sit back and turn a cheeck and say that’s too bad. We have proven that over and over this year. First for the Williams family. Word came that Mr. Williams was missing. People of this community gathered at the fire station. Some made sandwiches, hot coffee. Some people helped with the search and I am sure this spring will be back to do the same.

Next was word of my nephew Cpl. John P. Sigsbee being killed in action. What a tribute this community gave to this hero. You welcomed him home with open arms. A true American hero. It was amazing and very touching. My sister-in-law asked for people to fly their flags and line the streets to welcome home her son. This community had less than 24 hours to do this in. To our amazement it was beautiful. Not only was Waterville, Oriskany Falls and Deansboro lined with people, signs and flags, but our surrounding communities were too. I was riding inside the limo and was amazed at how beautiful it was. People we didn’t know standing there in that frigid weather holding their flags, a lot with tears in their eyes. From Griffis Air Force base to Waterville the streets were lined with 1,000’s of people. The limos could not go 200 feet with out someone standing with a flag or sign. The calling hours were beautiful with the patriot guard lining the school halls with flags. A tribute far beyond anything we had imagined. Cpl. John P. Sigsbee will be missed, but was honor to live in this community.

Next was the fire on 12B four families left homeless. This community once again steps up and started gathering donations of clothes, food and furniture and making sure they had place to stay. Blessed again we are by this community.

I would like to close by saying a friend is someone who can hear your deepest cry, feel your broken hearts, and see your needs for comfort and they will always be there to dry your tears, mend your wounds, and hold you tight That's what a small community as Waterville, Deansboro and Oriskany Falls are. For all the kindness and generosity you’ve shown our families we can’t begin to thank each and every one of you, but we are blessed to live here and I am proud to call this my community.

THANK YOU!!!!"

Donna Weeks

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Hold that thought!

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A reminder: if you like things that are musical and/or historic or "early American," you should stop in at Unity Hall in Barneveldt, tomorrow, to hear or even join in a Sacred Harp "Singing." If you don't know what that is, here's a link to an NPR special on "Sacred Harp Singing". ("Promised Land" is one of my favorites!)


And here's a glimpse of the wonderful workings of the tracker organ at St. Bernard's Church. The instrument is probably about a hundred years old and the ONLY part that's electrified is the blower that fills the bellows: everything else functions through many series of amazingly intricate linkages that serve at the command of the organist's hands and feet!

(I took the picture during an exploration of the instrument that was carried out in an attempt to ascertain it's manufacturer. That's still a mystery.)

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Have a Good Weekend!

(Updates as warranted! I'll be going to Fulton, sometime, to collect the microfilm - perhaps there'll be some new scenery to look at.)