IMPORTANT ADD-ON!

THE WATERVILLE TIMES

IS NOW

"SEARCHABLE"
at
Tom Tryniski's

"Fulton History.com"

Just click on that link and then look for a blank "search" box in the upper left-hand column; type in a name (I did my daughter's) and all sorts of articles from The Waterville Times popped up!!!

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I can see where the rest of my day is going!

Saturday

SPECIAL REQUEST

The New York State DEC is gathering information about the potential impact of NYRI's proposed power line as it would effect Nine Mile Swamp - environmentally, historically, recreationally, etc. Most of my input will be in re: rare/endangered plant species, but if any readers have special knowledge about the Prehistoric "Dig" north of Hubbardsville or would like to offer any other information, please DO contact me! Thanks!

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It's 20 degrees and the sky's blue!

From WKTV: "On Saturday, we should start out with a fair amount of sunshine, but we do expect cloud cover to billow up in areas, primarily in the hilltops south of Utica and in the Adirondacks. It may remain partly to mostly sunny in the Mohawk Valley and in northwest Oneida County, closer to Lake Ontario. A few flurries are possible in the hills. More importantly, it will be obnoxiously cold for late March, with highs only in the low 30s. Saturday night's record low of 4 degrees will be tested, as temperatures should free fall under clear skies, light winds and the potential for a few inches of snowpack. North Country locations, where a rock solid snowpack remains, will likely end up below zero on Saturday night, and perhaps well below zero in spots.
The temperatures will rebound Sunday under bright sunshine and blue skies. We should see highs approach 40 degrees, only about seven degrees below normal for late March."

Don't Forget: it's Maple Weekend!

Enjoy some Syrup .............

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Have you clicked on Google, yet, this morning?

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Great stuff in the morning mail:

A Reminiscence .....................

"The building with the molding falling off was ...... when I was kid anyway .... downstairs, 1st floor was The American Store; the Mgr. was Ross Hines. My Bro Dan worked there. They used long "sticks" with clamps to get the stuff off the upper shelves and they never dropped a bag of flour, people walked down-town with carts to buy groceries - Right gil?
Ross was an older man but played fast pitch softball as a pitcher, even late in life ( 60, that's late?)and was very good. My bro Dan played for the Waterville baseball team and they did very well too. Dan went to Spring Training with that DC club; was an Agway person (40 year) and played with other good teams in NYS.
The upper floors had apartments and the American Legion meeting rooms. The Boy Scouts met in the Legion Rooms and John Zwefiel was our leader, others too, sorry I forget. The hall had a pool table so we were introduced into adult society very peacefully, "usually".
The Redmond family had an apartment in the building too,,,they were a hard-working poor family and were well known in the community. The boys were the toughest kids in town and went on to be military people...God Bless...

Funny how a Waterville picture breaks the static- life-syndrome

Respectfully, Gil Condon, Waterville kid from 37-69."

Thanks a lot for that, Gil!

*******

For those who have been interested in the ongoing search for the origin of the organ at St. Bernard's Church ---- organist Steve Best's persistent sleuthing has produced results: (Bravo!) and he writes:

"HALLELUJAH! I found the origin of the St. Bernard's organ!!!!!!!

"Here's the complete text of the article from the October 2, 1941, Waterville Times.

'MOREY ORGAN INSTALLED IN ST. BERNARD'S CHURCH

Two-Manual Instrument of 450 Pipes Replaces Old Organ Installed in 1875.

A two-manual Morey pipe organ, built in Utica, has been installed in St.Bernard's Church during the past week. Theinstallation was made by theBuhl Organ Company, the Rev. John L. Powers, pastor, announced yesterday.
The organ, which has a beautiful melodious tone, has a set of 450 pipes.The frame is of heavy oak.
The instrument, purchased from the Olivet Presbyterian Church, Utica,replaces a small one-manual organ, installed in St. Bernard's Church in1875, during the pastorate of the Rev. Thomas Rielly. The organ atthat times cost $1,000, being a used instrument, which Mr. Buhl believeswas built 90 years ago.' "

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This, from Fr. Tom Servatius, answers the question of "Where in the World are Adam and Eve?"

"I was down at Colgate recently, and I saw these two white masses floating in the pond. At first glance, it looked like a couple of wedding cakes. Then, these two heads popped up out of the water. Needless to say, the swans at Colgate appear to be doing just fine. "

So - the two swans that are on the Camp Road pond must, therefore, be Romeo and Juliet!

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Thanks, Everyone!

Have a Great Weekend!

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(It may be cold, but at least we won' have to worry about this happening ............... )

Excerpted from Abner Livermore's "Recollections of Sangerfield" 1851

"The greatest snow storm ever known in this country before or since commenced on the last day of March. it was very cold and the storm continued a week. A great body of snow fell and drifted badly.

Nearly one hundred inhabitants of the Huddle turned out with teams and shovels to break the road to the Center. About half way there they met the Center people working their way through the snow drifts to get to the Huddle. Thus it required the energies of these two villages all day to break one mile of road, the most public road in town, too."

Add-on

Missy Brouillette saw both the beauty and the
humor in this morning's snow:

yesterday the DPW swept; today they shovel!

At least now we can see what it would look like!

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And a super-bonus ....

I think that this is the best "packing snow"
we've had all winter!

Enjoy!

Friday

It's 32.9 degrees and it's all white, again!!

Waterville Central Schools
1 Hour Delay; No A.M. UPK

WKTV's listing of Closings and Cancellations.

"Good morning! This latest winter storm will be a bit of an inconvenince for your morning commute. A heavy wet snow will continue to pile up throughout the early morning hours and by the time all is said and done, many of us will pick up a few inches of snow. Most locations can expect 2"-4". The Mohawk Valley will hit the lower end of this forecast, with the higher elevations south of route 20 and Adirondacks could pick up as much as 6" of wet snow.
Look for the snow to taper off after sunrise. The rest of your Friday looks cloudy and chilly with temperatures in the 30s and a few lingering snow showers. The weather takes a big turn towards improvement for the weekend, but it's going to be chilly again.

Yesterday it really felt like Spring.
The band was out practising at MPS ..........

..... and a Canada Goose had claimed high ground in the pond just beyond Jack Prior's.

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A Welcome Sign at the Car Wash!

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A "barricade," of sorts, was set in place by the DPW outside
the former Subway Sandwich shop on W. Main Street.


The danger? A loose piece of moulding.

According to the 1971 Centennial Book, the building was constructed in 1874 replacing a frame structure that had been owned by a Mr. Reed in which he sold a "fine selection of Cigars and Tobacco." For many years Thomas Doyle had a drygoods store, here, and then it was a Shoe Store operated by the Scerbo Family.

The building is a Victorian architectural
style called "Italianate" or "Bracketted"
and has some of the nicest examples of
ornamental woodwork and masonry in
the village.

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I had a grand treat, yesterday: I was taken on a tour of the "new" Stanley Theater .......

.... and shown every floor and corridor, stage sight
and view of the magnificent new "World's Largest LED Chandelier."

(LED : click HERE to find out how Light Emitting Diodes work.)

My guide was Mr. Dale Meszler of Almy & Associates of Utica, an engineering firm that has had a great deal to do with the structural design of the entire complex including the stage house and the suspension of the 6,000 lb. light fixture.

(An interesting note: Almy Assoc. has but six employees and, of those, three - Mr. Meszler, Mr. Tom Mayne and Mr. Philip Eastman - are Watervillians!)

Dale Mesler and the Meyda Masterpiece.

At first, I was asked NOT to post any of my photographs until after the Grand Opening - on April 3rd - but then several excellent pictures of the chandelier appeared on the internet.

To see those views,

just click here, on Meyda. com.

*****

Back in the 1980s, I did a great many drawings of various design motifs in the Stanley, and I was tickled to see that the Mayda Chandelier included a great many of them - from "beasties" and dragons to the red and blue diamond pattern that is on most of the other light fixtures in the theater. This brand new addition really does look as if it had always been there: it's just perfect!

You can learn more about re-opening of the Stanley Center for the Arts in this morning's O-D:

"............. performers and stage hands will discover business has changed, theater Manager John Faust said:

• Dancers will find a stage now 20 feet deeper, 30 feet wider and with a gridiron 10 feet higher than the old stage.
• The specially designed spring floor will allow the troupe to leap, pirouette and plié without the next days’ aches and pains.
• Seven new dressing rooms, laundry facilities and a catering kitchen will provide road crews and company members with the amenities necessary for troupes that spend most of their time on the road.
• Road crews will have the ability to unload more easily with the theater’s newly created loading dock. "Stanley World Stage."

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Have a Great Weekend, Everyone!

Thursday

It's Garbage Day!

25.5 degrees and starry clear at 5:30.

The forecast from WKTV: "South of Route 20, there could be some flurries or sprinkles as a weak system passes by to the south. A stationary front will set up south of here, near the Mason-Dixon line. A few ripples of low pressure will develop in the Midwest and move east. Each one of these will at least bring us a slight chance of rain or snow.
Tomorrow's will bring flurries or sprinkles south of Route 20. Another will pass by...a little closer on Thursday night/Friday morning. And a third will pass by later on Friday and Friday night. Fortunately, these look to all pass by far enough to the south to prevent any significant precipitation here. The best chance for anything will be south of Route 20, with better chances south of I-88, and even in those locations, precipitation should be light. In other words, snow accumulation looks to be very light, if at all.
After that last wave of low pressure passes by on Friday night, we will clear skies out and high pressure will build in."

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Also from WKTV: Waterville Schools Get New Superintendent


Finally! Crocuses (or crocii) are blooming at Sylvia and Phill's on Putnam Street!


The Street Sweeper was out, yesterday morning.

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What a treat! An "Exclusive" from Mark Masca - a.k.a. "Ryno!" saying "I have been hearing from quite a few folks from home who have stumbled onto my blog after reading about it on yours. It's nice to hear from them and it's nice to hear that they seem to be enjoying my pictures. (Here are two.)

And he goes on to say, "I heard from Rena Hulpiau today. she lives on main street in waterville. she and I go way back. I was close friends with her late daughter Tracy. Anyway, Rena is here in Florida visiting relatives and called to say hello. She is on the other side of the state, in Melbourne. She will be down here for another month or so and I said I would love to venture over and see her."

Mark's still job-hunting: "Good Luck, from all of us up here!" (And thanks loads, Mark! Personal note to follow.)

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Those pictures reminded me to check up on Colgate's two swans.
I don't know if these are really Adam and Eve, but they were strolling together at
Slate's "Birdland" on Camp Road.

Canada Geese are finding more and more open water to enjoy. There were several dozen resting here, at Lyon's Mills.

Another beautiful wreath has appeared on Joan's E. Bacon Street door!


A touch of Springtime in the Periodical Room at the Library .......


.............. and a lively discussion at Book Group!

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Remarks and reviews re: the sample Lamp Post Wreath displayed on Main Street have ranged from: " How beautiful the streets would look with those wreaths! What a great idea & no I don't think they are too small. Very Nice." to "I don't like it!" (I'm glad I don't have to make the decision!)

Less earthshaking: the matter of architectural styles on E. Main Street. Connie Bocko wrote, "Not that I am an expert by any means, but from my limited experience and understanding I agree with your skepticism as to the federal style classification. I wouldn’t cite it as a glowing example of a Federal style building. The lack of symmetry is a real problem for me. What looks to be the original structure is not the classic Federal style two story with the entrance in the center, and symmetrically balanced windows on both sides of the door and across the top story. The roofline seems more of a mix between Italianate and Greek Revival. The storm door has a nice Federal style detail: the half circle, which typically should be above the door, but it helps suggest the Federal style to the home. Perhaps there was a fan light above the window at one time? Another detail missing... side lights on the sides of the door." (Discussion to follow on a rainy day.)

From the Waterville Rotary Club's newsletter, "The Watervillian" - "Nao Arita, Waterville Rotary Exchange Student class of 2005-2006 from Nagasaki, Japan, was a special guest at last week's meeting The Club was very happy to welcome Nao back for a visit. She graduated from her local high school in March 2008 and she will be starting a six-year dental school program in April. A Club photo was taken for Nao to take home for her father."

In Tokyo: "Ouch!"

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The Memorial Bandstand Fund
adds to its list of sponsors the name of

The George & Connie Kelley Family

Thank You!

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Counter update as of yesterday, March 26.
Since January 26, 24,400+ hits.

Thank you for that, too!

Have a Great Day!

Wednesday

Recyclables Day!

It's 34 degrees and melty.

The wind was ferocious, last evening, and - at some point - just enough snow fell to give everything the appearance of having been sprinkled with confectioner's sugar.

• Wednesday: Morning flurries, then decreasing clouds, breezy and cool. High in the low 40s.
• Wednesday Night: Partly to mostly cloudy. Low in the mid 20s.
• Thursday: Becoming mostly cloudy with a chance of snow or rain showers. High: 41, Low: 28

The pond on Sally Road is still frozen over, but .........

"Lake Hanover" is receding and .........

the "snow dump" at Firemen's Field gets smaller every day.


Now, however, all the crud has come to the surface!
It's time for the rakes and the street sweeper.

My friend Margaret Bornick, who lives at a fairly high elevation between Paris Green and Clinton, wrote that: "It's nesting time again. This morning I saw four bluebirds fluttering around one of my boxes, having a spirited dialogue about who is going to live there. :>) Both of my Pileated Woodpeckers visited us Easter morning. One will not come to the hanging crate. He (she) clings to the crab apple tree and watches the other stuff her face. I am putting home-made peanutbutter-raisin blocks in the crate and they are well received by all the free-loaders."

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Yesterday I referred to this house on E. Main Sreet, which is now owned by Mr. Wayne Brouillette. When application ws made to the National Register of Historic Places, back in the 1970s, these three buildings were all described as being "fine examples of Federal Style architecture." (I don't completely agree, but wonder if Connie Bocko or Kelly Falk, who have spent some time studying architectural styles in the village, have any thoughts on that?)

***

And while Wayne works on one Main Street building, his brother John (Jack) is making plans to refurbish the front of the "Wheeler Block," restoring at least the first floor facade to its original elegant Italianate style.

Wheeler Block detail.

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From this morning's O-D:
NYRI APPLICATION DENIED FOR SECOND TIME

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Of interest (perhaps) to people who like to take pictures!

Digital vs. Film?

Yes - there actually IS a "darkroom" here in the House in the Hollow, but - frankly! - I don't remember how to use half the equipment and chemicals to develop a roll of film or expose and fix prints - it's been that long! And why would I want to, anyway? I have a couple of five-year-old Olympus Camedia Digital Zoom cameras that, 'tho less sleek than newer models, suit me just fine.

The subject came up, however, when a friend of mine was told that digital cameras were o.k., but that "real photographers" still used real cameras (35mm) and real film! Well that started it! I don't consider myself a "real" photographer, but I sure know someone who is: his name's Bill Snead, and he's worked for the best of the best, including National Geographic and the Washington Post, and so I wrote to him and said ----- "Well?" and he answered:

"I think the logical question is - what are you going to do with the pictures you're taking and are you worth a damn as a photographer. If your idea of a great photo is a close up of tree bark covered in ice crystals, by all means get a 4 x 5 view camera, put a black hood over your head and make that baby life size. The problem is you still end up with a picture showing a piece of a tree. Good digital cameras have some of the best lenses around. They focus automatically, they have tremendous built in light meters that can be adjusted to suit anyone's eye. The rigs are too big but if you want to sneak around with a digital the Panasonic Lumix DMZ TZ3 with a Leica lens ($279 Costco) is an amazing little pocket camera that I've published photos from. If you shoot my new D300 Nikon (body $1,950) in the RAW mode the sky is the limit for prints. And the photo printer I use in Kansas City says that the tonal range in RAW mode is far greater than film. And you can still get 80 RAW photos on a 4 gigabyte card. When you are using lights on stands with soft boxes or in any form you can use your digital camera as a Polaroid to see instantly where your light is going, who is in the shadows, exposure, color balance the whole works. You cannot, cannot do that with a film camera. The Geographic uses digital and some of the cowards there still shoot slides. I don't know any professional who has gone back to film as an every day medium."

(Thanks, Snead!)

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I have to agree: it was a great start to the season! And it was also an early start, because it took place in Tokyo, Japan, and began at 6:05 ET, here.

Today's game begins in just a few minutes. Time to wake up, Rob!
(and Mark and Julry and Kathy and Gary and Bill and Sylvia and
Hey, Don - rise and shine!)

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Have another great day, everyone!

Tuesday

It's 14 degrees and clear.


No! It may feel Wintery, outdoors, but this is just a test to see how our lamp posts would look if they were all outfitted with wreaths like this next Christmastime. Although the carton it arrived in looked huge, according to Lorena Lenard, this particular sample appears to be too small!

What do YOU think?

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I think it's going to be a slow week: everyone's really just waiting!

Excerpted from WKTV's forecast:"........ gorgeous start to Tuesday. Ample sunshine will boost temperatures a little more than we've seen over the last few days, with highs in the low 40s, still a bit below normal (mid 40s). Clouds will increase tomorrow afternoon out ahead of a quick moving, weak system that will bring us mixed rain and snow showers. Tomorrow night there could be a period of snow. Accumulations should be confined to hilltops, but will be light. We're not anticipating much, if any accumulation in the valleys. Morning flurries will dissipate Wednesday, with clearing Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday will be pleasant later, with highs in the low 40s once again."

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More and more pussy-willows are spotted.

Suzette's doorway on Madison Sreet ..............


and Mrs. Sexton's on Stafford are wearing new Spring bouquets..........


... and rakes and spades have replaced nearly all of the snow shovels outside Morgan's!

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Maple Weekend!

Maple Weekend is a Family Event

For a perfect family outing the New York State Maple Producers Association presents the 13th Annual Maple Weekend on March 29-30, 2008 from 10am-4pm each day.

About 110 maple producers across New York will be hosting open houses for the public to see maple production. This family-oriented event is sure to delight visitors of all ages. Click the above link to see where Open Houses will be taking place.

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Coming Attractions

Blue Scilla will be showing up, soon, on the bank of Big Creek next to the Babbott Avenue Bridge.

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When I was at "Roc's," a few days ago, he gave me a flier advertising

Community Safety Day

on June 7, from 10 - 2:00.

The event will feature fingerprinting, picture I.D., child safety seat check, K-9 Crew and will benefit the Waterville Area Volunteer Ambulance Corp ambulance fund.

(Did you know that Roc is a new member of the corp and has trained as a driver?)

(Applause!!!!!!)

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Mr. Wayne Brouillette's new red truck is often seen parked in front of the former Werner residence on East Main Street. The owner of Maple Leaf Construction has purchased the property and is making refurbishments to the two apartments in the building.

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Just for the record.

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Meanwhile, the Red Sox have opened the 2008 Season with a game against the Oakland A's in Tokyo! The game began at 6:05 A.M. ET and this is the scoreboard at 6:46!

The Yankees' opener against Toronto will take place next Monday afternoon at 1:05.

Monday

It's 15.6 degrees and clear.

GARBAGE DAY!

From WKTV: "A cold front will move in tomorrow late morning with a quick burst of snow but we should expect little to no accumulation. Behind the cold front, skies will turn partly cloudy for the second half of Monday. Temperatures will still be on the cool side with highs in the mid 30s.

Things will start to change as we head into the work week, with a system that will bring us a combination of rain and snow showers Tuesday night into Wednesday. Some lake effect snow showers are possible on the back end of this system, so stay tuned. Another more significant rain maker is possible towards the end of the week. Overall, temperatures stay below normal throughout the rest of March."

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I hope that all of you had as nice an Easter Sunday as I. As I had done for many, many years, I started my day very early with a quiet visit to The Root Glen at Hamilton College. Of course I look to see if the Lenten Rose is blooming (no: just budded) and the Winter Aconite bright yellow (yes!) but then I took plenty of time to just sit and be grateful for the blessings that have carried me through the past year. I owe a great deal to my whole family and my many, many friends and I'm always sure to thank God for all of them.

****

Later on, my daughter Allison and her husband Rick and nine-year-old Iain came: Iain helped clean up the many chocolate "bunny droppings" that were cluttering the house and then gave a very competent piano recital ending by letting me play a duet with him! What a thrill! Thank you, Iain!

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I didn't take any pictures, but here are some sent to me to share with you.

*****

Terry Lopata sent this striking picture that Stan took of the moon setting in
Clinton. on Saturday morning.

"Jr." Bartlett!

"I'm waiting for spring to come down and visit my sister Dot and brother-in-law Inchie Ruane plus Jack and Darcy. Got to lookup my old neighbor on stafford ave Lois Battles too. My condolences to the Milt Jannone family he was a great teacher and coach like my highschool graduate friend Paul said in your article. Enclosing a picture of my results in Ice fishing over at Irondequoit Bay in Rochester. I still love to hunt and fish like I did in waterville, (Jack Prior knows) God Bless you All..... Jr. Bartlett class of 55"

Here is the link to the Obituary for Mr. Milton H. Jannone who, as Jr. indicated, was a favorite teacher, back in the '50s.

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I also received the next several photographs from Glen Carroll, who wrote: "Unfortunately, running a large group brings time away at special holidays. Though, I must admit, going to sunrise service at the Church of St. John The Baptist on the banks of the Jordan River, for Easter Sunday Mass, certainly does become a high point of being away from Waterville."

Glen is Vice President of International at Par Technologies and adds, "I have 18 offices (about 300 people) around the globe with my most recent additions coming in Germany and Puerto Rico. I always tell people I have the best job in the company because I get to experience the entire world every day."

The new church.

The path to the Jordan River.

(When I remarked that I was dismayed at the size of the Jordan River, he said that - yes - a great deal of water has been diverted and it is now only about twenty feet wide.)

Getting ready for Sunday Service.

Covered area for Baptisms.

Thank you, Glen!

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If YOU have pictures of your Easter that you'd like to share, please do send them! Even if you don't have any photographs, tell us where you went and what you did! "Social Notes & Items of Interest" sorts of things!

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Someone asked me, just a few days ago, about "the violet place" in Dolgeville: here it is!

Lyndon Lyons Violets in Dolgeville

Click that link - you'll see that they raise more than just African Violets! I havn't been there for several years: time to go, again!

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Have a good day!!!