Friday

This is a special message from Mark!

"to Waterville resident, blog reader and my Mom, Charlotte Masca. Everyone should have a Mom like I have."

He also has a special post for Mom up on his blog with a poem and some pictures!

***********************

Good Friday Morning.

It's 34 degrees, overcast, and smells Springy.

• Today: Mostly cloudy with rain showers, especially south of route 20. Mild. High in the mid to upper 40s.

• Tonight: Rain, possibly mixing with a bit of freezing rain or snow north and east, especially late. Low in the low 30s.
• Saturday: Cloudy with a few passing flurries. High: 43, Low: 28
• Sunday: Morning snow showers, followed by decreasing clouds and sunshine. Chance of a few squalls later in the afternoon. High: 34, Low: 15
• Monday: Mostly Sunny. High: 37, Low: 20

FISH FRY at the Legion!

Did you hear them last night? Noisy travelers!

I found several flocks of Canada Geese resting in fields near Madison, yesterday.

The sap buckets are out on Austin Road!

There was still some snow left along Skyline Drive on West Hill ......

..... but it was melting fast at Hanover.

Although icicles hung on branches above Oriskany Creek, I slowed down to make sure that the Fishermen's Bench was still in place, ready for April 1.

*********************

I stopped at the Waterville Public Library just as WCS senior Emily Plourde was putting a final touch to her display of photographs. (and I was VERY impressed!)

**********

The Marshall Historical Society's March Newsletter is
now available in PDF format, HERE.

********


There are new decorations on Jim and Nancy Morgan's Stafford Avenue door .......

........... and I noticed that Joan Albert's "deer" are now wearing shamrock accessories!

*************************

It's a golf tournament, played with special memories of Doug Hughes.

**********

Jeffrey M. Von Matt, Sr.

My deepest sympathy to his family.

*******

A Correction: Bob Treen, 'tho considerably younger than I, has lived here longer and knows much more about the history of the buildings shown in yesterday's 1870s picture of Mill Street and "Whiskey Hollow." He said that the "blue house" - which I had erroneously said was now the two residences of Mr. Mangan and the McNamaras - had actually been divided into the McNamara home and the one next north, formerly owned by Mrs. Briggs. Both he and JoAnn also believed that Mr. Mangan's home had been built much more recently by the late Mr. Altmeier. Bob added that the house across the road, where Debbie Wrobel lives, was actually a "Sears & Roebuck House" that had come by train, as a kit, and been assembled on the spot! JoAnn's Grandfather Beha had had a part in its construction.

This is the sort of "history" that fascinates many Watervillians and which the Historical Society could be making a study of while there are still people like the Treens around to provide accurate information.

As long as we're talking about Mill Street - Buell Avenue - are there any other blog-readers who can add more about the buildings along that road? The dam and sluiceways, alone, would make a large topic to tap into.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Dress Rehearsal is at 7:00!

Sorry about the earlier inaccuracy!

Thursday

It's Garbage Day!

13 degrees.
The sky is clear and stars bright.

From WKTV: (Today) should start dry with a mix of sun and clouds. As a weak trough of low pressure pushes to the east a brief shower of rain or snow is possible by the end of the day. Temperatures will be a few degrees warmer with highs in the upper 30s. A few rain or snow showers could continue into tomorrow night.
On Friday, a storm system will move through the area, bringing a period of steady rain, possibly mixed with wet snowflakes north and east of Utica. Rain amounts will generally be under a half inch, so a repeat of this past weekend's flooding is not likely.

*********

I have E-mail from Rebecca Maggio, Heart Run and Walk Team Captain of American Legion Post #92, who writes:

"I am so proud of our team and everyone
who donated and helped out with fundraisers!!!"

******************

On Tuesday I remarked that the snow was nearly gone: well, a few inches fell yesterday, and I didn't hear anyone cheering, although the folks up in Barnes Corners may have done just that!

A year ago today it looked like this on Babbott Avenue ........

and this on Putnam Street!

**********

I spent most of yesterday doing battle with a stubborn printer - I finally won! - but I did not get out and around to take any new pictures.

(Click)

For the sake of filling space and also explaining why this particular area on Buell Avenue is called "Whiskey Hollow," I've added this photograph - probably taken in the 1870s from the back yard of some residence on Berrill Avenue.

The long building with the tall smokestack was built by Amos Osborn in the early 1800s and used first as a distillery and, later, a brewery.

The building in the lower lefthand corner is a gristmill called "The Red Mill" and the white building is, of course, Mrs. Leigh's summer home. At the time that the picture was taken it was (according to earlier historians) the cooperage - the building in which casks or barrels for whiskey and beer were made and then stored.

The barrels were said to have been rolled from the stone building to the cooperage through a tunnel that ran beneath the roadway!

Can anyone tell me when the distillery was taken down?

Just beyond the distillery you can pick out the house where the Crowe family lives now. The blue building was cut in half, part currently the residence of Patrick Mangan and the other the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tom McNamara.

Across the road, the building with the tall smokestack - a foundry - is long gone, but four homes, including those of the Treens, Younes and Ms. Keyes, can be seen. You can also see that “Big Creek” took a different path, back then!

In the far distance (where Agway used to be) is the Hop Extract Works - built in 1873 or 74. Back then, the highway ran behind the factory and along the side of the hill.

****************

Back to the Present ....... TODAY!

Opening Reception

5:00 p.m. at the Waterville Public Library.

Exhibition of photographs by Emily Plourde

***********

Dress Rehearsal

"Thoroughly Modern Millie"

(at 7:30, I believe)

*********

NEXT WEEK
Village Elections on Tuesday.

*******************************

Have a great day, everyone!

Wednesday

Recyclables Day!

It's 31 degrees and overcast.

From WKTV: "Clouds thicken up overnight and light snow will arrive toward daybreak. Snow will continue through much of the day Wednesday, falling lightly and not accumulating very fast at all. At this point, we expect no more than an inch or so of accumulation, with perhaps 1-3" on the Tug Hill.
Clouds will decrease later Wednesday and into Wednesday night, allowing for another chilly one. Thursday starts great, but it now appears clouds are going to move in faster than we thought yesterday. With them could be some light snow showers, but probably little to no accumulation. Additionally, rather than the mid 40s, temperatures will likely remain in the upper 30s to around 40 because of clouds."

*************

It stayed chilly, yesterday, but the sun was grand for much of the day and the Cleary cattle were making the most of it!


Deer did likewise. It's harder to see them, though, because their color blends right into a background of brush and cornstalks.

Looking Eastward from West Hill, there's very little snow left up toward Paris.

The ice out on Hanover Road just doesn't want to melt: perhaps today.


Yesterday afternoon clouds moved in. I've seen "Mackerel Sky," many times, but don't recall ever seeing the altocumulous clouds in a clear "Herringbone" pattern.

Refurbishments continue, no matter what the weather!

**********

Gallery Series Continues at Library

with an an exhibition of photographs by

Miss Emily Plourde.

Opening Reception - Thursday at 5 o'clock.

Waterville Central School AP (Advanced Placement) Art student Emily Plourde will show a grouping of photographs from her AP Studio in Art 2D Design Portfolio. The show will run March 14 - April 1 in the Waterville Public Library Gallery, during regular Library hours.

FRIDAY

"Thoroughly Modern Millie"
7:30 p.m. at Waterville Central Highschool
on Madison Street.

SATURDAY

Women's Club Bake Sale at Foodking
9:00 -

____

At Hamilton College
" Bluebirds of central New York
and diseases and insect pests of trees, shrubs, and perennials."

Free and open to the public in the Hamilton College Science Center Auditorium from 10 a.m. to Noon. (details below.)

****************

"Peter Pan"
at 1:00 and 7:30
in the Clinton Central School Performing Arts Complex

********

Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner
4:30-7:30
CJ Fulmer Post of the American Legion, Route 20.

"Millie" - at 7:30

************************

SUNDAY

Chicken BBQ

sponsored by the "People to People Student Ambassador Program"
in support of Heather Davis
at the Waterville Fire House.
12 noon 'til sold out.
Whole dinner - $7.50
Half chicken - only $4.00

********

"Millie" at 3:00

-------- MONDAY --------

St. Patrick's Day!

***********************

Details of the program at Hamilton College on Saturday, March 15:

Bluebirds of central New York and diseases and insect pests of trees, shrubs, and perennials.
John Rogers, award winning specialist on bluebirds, will present visuals on these welcome but elusive harbingers of spring, and how to draw them to your landscape for your family's enjoyment and appreciation. Additionally, Holly Wise, Cornell Extension's Consumer Horticulture Educator, will lead a slide show program on insect and disease problems as seen through the "Master Gardeners" series she runs here in our state. Time-permitting, Terry Hawkridge will conclude this session with a review of insect problems we all will be facing here in central New York area.

Saturday, April 19:

Basic landscaping design principles, proper planting techniques, and practices used in site modification.

******************

*********

Have a great day, everyone!

Tuesday

It's 18.5 degrees and overcast.

• Tuesday: A mix of sun and clouds. High in the mid to upper 30s.
• Tuesday Night: Increasing clouds with light snow developing toward daybreak. Low in the mid 20s.
• Wednesday: Morning light snow, tapering off to flurries in the afternoon. High: 37, Low: 23
• Thursday: A mix of sun and clouds. High: 46, Low: 31
• Friday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers. High: 44, Low: 32

*****************

I saw Kristen Strohmeyer at "Roc's," yesterday, and she told me that "There really is Spring! It's in Savannah!" When I got home I took a minute in the sunny outdoors to look and - there they were - signs of Spring right here in Whiskey Hollow!

Snowdrops.

Both Mrs. Manion and her Madison Street neighbor, Mrs. Lloyd, have Spring wreaths on their front doors.

There's forsythia at the Nasypanys,

a bright Summer hat on W. Bacon Street,

and Mrs. Park is ready for St. Patrick's Day.

It won't be long before Hepaticas bloom next to this Fuess Cleary Road tree,
and Roc told me that "Soft Serve" would be ready within the next two weeks, although he wasn't sure when the "window" would open.

***********************

This nice note from Lori Meszler was in my morning mail:

"I was reading the blog this morning and saw the note from Florida about Adonal Foyle. When we lived in Sherburne he paid a visit to the elementary school while he was a student at Colgate. That must have been when Patrick was in 1st or 2nd grade. I talked to Patrick today and amazingly enough he remembered the visit.(Although Foyle's 6'10" hight might also have something to do with it!) I wasn't at the school that day, but from feedback from kids and teachers he was an inspiration. You might think he would talk only basketball (Foyle was only 19 or 20 and a rising star at the time), but his focus was on how important his education was to him. Check out Adonalfoyle.com. There's a really nice bio that puts it both stories in perspective."

Thanks, Lori!

******************************

And a huge Thanks! too, to Bill Strohmeyer, the owner/president of BusinessWare Consulting, who has taken the time to copy to a hard disk everything on the disk sent to me by Tom Tyrniski: that's ALL of The Waterville Times - in digitized, searchable format. Now we can get copies to the Library and the Historical Society and anyone else who wants one. (I'll get space/disk requirements from Bill - they're quite large!) All of the information should be appearing on Mr. Tryniski's website soon, too, and I'll keep you updated on that!

************

Add to your weekend list of Things to See and Do!" - which already includes seeing

"Thoroughly Modern Millie" at WCS

"Peter Pan" in Clinton

going to a Chicken BBQ for Heather Davis at the WFD on Sunday

-----

a Waterville Women's Club BAKE SALE
at Foodking on Saturday morning!

I'll put together a complete list of times and places for tomorrow's blog post.

***********

Have a Great Day!

Monday

Garbage Day!

It's 16.9 degrees and the stars are shining.

Just a bit of new snow.

*****

A few notes and phone calls from friends who remarked on how light it was, last evening, even after 7 o'clock!

*************************

(Click for more photos - maybe. The O-D's link isn't awake yet!)

****

From WKTV: "A weak area of high pressure will build in on Monday with temperatures in the upper 20s and low 30s, several degrees below our seasonal average of 39 degrees. Continued sunshine on Tuesday with temperatures a few degrees warmer. A weak clipper moves by on Wednesday with the chance for light snow and slightly cooler air. However, warm air will follow shortly and temperatures will average in the 40s on Thursday and Friday with the chance for rain. Our next significant storm system looks to be on Saturday and at this point the storm track would give us mostly rain."

Yes! Pussy Willows!

But they were on the far side of a very deep brook, so I was not able to acquire any "botanical specimens!"

On Sanger Avenue.

Madison Street.

*************************

I received this note from Dana Nasypany, WCS BOE President:

"Could you remind people that Superintendent finalist Gary Lonczak will be in Waterville on Monday, March 10. Community members can come to an open forum from 6:30pm until 7:30pm in the MS/HS cafeteria. All are welcome and anyone can ask Gary a question. The Board of Education has met with him twice and we are excited about everyone meeting him. We are confident that the community will have the same wonderful experience that we have had."

**********

There's still a problem out on Hanover Road. Drive carefully.

****************

One of our "snowbirds" has sent this note and photograph!

"Remember Adonal Foyle who played basketball for Hamilton High School and Colgate University back in the 90's? I went to the Orlando Magic game Saturday night where my 9 year old grandson was part of the half time show. He is on a Karate Demonstration team. Foyle is number 31. Magic lost. Foyle was really good with the kids at the game, he would throw them a ball during warm up and have them throw it back to him and then shoot a basket. He was the only player that seemed to be interacting with the kids. Always had a big smile."

***********
Have a great day!

Sunday

Jamie Bush, blog-reading in Port St. Lucie, Florida, sent this great photo of a
Brown Pelican that seems to be saying,

"Did you remember.....?"

*************

At 6:52 a.m. it's 18 degrees, snowing and blowing and still dark out!

Yesterday it POURED!

But (from the O-D) "Thousands of rain-soaked Runners and Walkers helped raise a record amount of money Saturday at America's greatest Heart Run and Walk."

(I hope that some blog-readers will send photos of their teams!)

********************

Mark Masca has given me permission to publish the address to his new blog, but he did add a small cautionary note, saying that he tended to be "a bit colorful" and didn't want to offend anyone! (Advice taken and appreciated! Thanks, Ryno!)

*********

Bucky Harris, who's in the cold Northwest, wrote: "Thank you for the beautiful pictures of spring flowers and the arboretum. I can feel the warmth of the spring sun when I look at them. Much needed after it hit minus 17 yesterday morning and it's snowing again today with a whopping high expected today of 10F. Will winter ever end?"

Lyn Rhein, in Stuttgart, Arkansas, wrote: "Thought you might like to see some of our snow pictures. We had about 6-8 inches yesterday--our first big snowfall in several years. We had some last Tuesday--enough to cover the ground, but it was gone by evening. This started about noon yesterday and it snowed heavy most of the afternoon and into the night. Today, the sun is out bright, it is in the mid 40's and a lot of it is melting. It was really pretty while it lasted. But our poor flowers and trees that were starting to bud out!"

***********

From WKTV: "...... toward Sunday morning, we'll focus on Lake Ontario, which could become a major player in the weather through midday. The potential exists for heavy lake snow squalls, which could dump very heavy snow in a short time. The location and amounts of these squalls remains up in the air, as conditions may not come to fruition. A couple of issues that may hinder lake effect include wind shear and the strong March sun angle. All in all, it will be windy and cold Saturday night and Sunday, with lows in the single digits and teens and highs in the mid 20s. Strong wind gusts of 25-35 mph will cause blowing and drifting snow as well."

Just a year ago ...... (click)

****

Have a Good Day!