Friday

It's Field Days Weekend!!!

Today is starting out at 65 degrees.

Here is the Weather Channel's forecast for today ........

......... and for the weekend.

Details from WKTV:

"For Friday, with the showers and storms to the north, there will be some debris clouds left over across the region. With that, temperatures will have a hard time getting into the 90s. Highs will most likely be in the upper 80s but if we do see more sunshine, warmer areas may see temperatures in the low 90s. Besides the heat, the humidity will still be around for tomorrow and into the weekend. A chance of storms is again possible in the afternoon, but most areas should remain dry. Similar situation unfolds for Saturday.
Beyond Saturday, we stay warm and humid. However, the dividing line between cooler, drier air and the warm stuff will be tied up in our area. Unfortunately, that also means that the chance of storms will be tied up in our area as well. The best chance for widespread showers and storms will be on Monday with temperatures near 80.

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Firemen's Field is bright with possibilities!

(Advance Sale tickets available at the Belfield Agency!)

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Hollyhocks make a bright spot on Peck Road ...........


......... and at Paris Green .......


......... while Fr. Tom's front porch garden is a
Stafford Avenue eye-catcher.

This ancient maple in a clump of daylilies is next to the old road that once led from the Cherry Valley Turnpike to the crest of "Bridge's Hill."

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I've had an E-note from Lisa Belfield saying, "We are about to get our 'Cruisin into Waterville' Website up and running."

She's looking for pictures taken last year. If any of you have any that can be used, please send them to me and I'll forward them to her. Thanks!!!

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(Click the image, please.)

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Thank You!

Edward and Joan Stephenson & Family

Mrs. Nancy Lewis

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I did some searches of The Waterville Times, looking for "McAdam" - lots and lots of "hits" three of which, in particular, interested me:

Click to enlarge.

What are the chances that "Google" would find anything more about the cow with the name "Sadie Vale Concordia?"

From the Pennsburg Town & Country, March 28, 1903.
"A WONDERFUL COW

"The Holstein Friesian cow, Sadie Vale Concordia, whose seven-day record announced some time ago, was 30 pounds 10.16 ounces of butter, breaking the world's record, has just finished her 30-day record and again shattered the world's record for that period. During the 30 days she gave 2755.6 pounds of milk, producing 123 pounds and 8 1/4 ounces of butter. The official world's record has, heretofore, been 112 pounds."

- and -


Where was the Ice House?
and How was the ice transpored?



!

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MLB games return, tonight, with the standings looking like this:

(Click the image.)

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Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Thursday

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It's Garbage Day!

56.7 degrees and clear, but still moist from overnight rain.

WKTV predicts that: "It should be partly to mostly sunny with a chance of an isolated afternoon thunderstorm. Warm and humid conditions will continue, with highs again in the upper 80s.
On Thursday night, with humidity, a chance of an isolated storm remains until Midnight. For Friday, we should max out in the heat department with widespread readings near 90 degrees."

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Down at Firemen's Field, the "King Swing" looked ready to ride and there was the sound of hammers on metal as other amusements were assembled.

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Something else for Saturday afternoon:

an invitation from "Root Glen."

Family Day in the Root Glen and Garden,
“Build a Fairy House,”

for toddlers and young children, 1 to 3 p.m.

"We invite you to join us as we create our very own Fairy Village!"

Storyteller; Root Glen Discovery Walks; Scavenger Hunt; Refreshments; Magical Memento; Costumes are Encouraged. $5 suggested donation to benefit the Clinton Early Learning Center
To register call Sarah Wetherill at 315-859-4660 or email swetheri@hamilton.edu

(I've been very tempted to try and rent a grandchild so that I could go!)

I had a rare opportunity to visit the "wild garden" behind this waterfall on Gridley-Paige Road. I've known for many years that there was a series of ponds - perhaps four or five, all connected by waterfalls - that had been created by a man named McAdam in the early 1900's. It's always been Private Property; "Posted," and I'd never dared trespass to explore.

A great many of us have been fascinated with the clearing that's been going on next to the road and the new bridge and flagpole that have appeared but we've never seen anyone at work. ("Elves in the Night," perhaps?) No: a very industrious man named Ed Bennett! It's not his property, but with the owner's permission he's tackled a huge amount of clearing - much more than that which you can see from the road! - and, yesterday, he took me on an ATV tour of the ponds. What a treat! They were all part of a large game preserve that was surrounded by an eight-foot tall fence - portions of which remain.

You can read some history about the property at the Marshall Historical Society's website: click HERE. I'll do a search of The Waterville Times, later today.

View from the bridge.

The pond is home to a family of Canada Geese, some mallards, muskrats and a greedy turtle who, to Ed's dismay, likes ducklings for lunch!

Waterfall from the second pond.

There's a new bridge here, too.

(At this point, I stopped taking pictures - for two reasons: photographs never really do woodlands justice and, also, if I posted them here they might pose too much of a temptation to "explorers" undeterred by "posted" signs!)

I certainly appreciated that adventure: Thanks again, Ed!

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Later, at the

FARMER'S MARKET in the PARK

The Samboras and Mrs. Sexton were there, shopping for supper at the Longview Farm booth.

Caitlyn Mackay was assisting her grandmother, Mary McLean, and showed me jewelry that she and her mother make as well as a dwindling supply of "popcorn pillows" of her own creation. (The sort that can be used, hot or cold, to soothe aches.) I asked her what she was going to do with the money she made and was told that last year she saved all of it to buy Christmas presents for her family!

This fellow, stopping at Edith and John Reile's display of home made baked goods and jams, knew exactly what he wanted: grandmothers always bake the best cookies!

Multi-talented Pam Brown had a beautiful display of prints, many of which are of architectural details within plain view, but too often unseen. The owner of "The Artist's Inn" B&B on Babbott Avenue, she also offered samples of many of some of the "Pammycakes" baked goods served there.

This table had a huge array of brightly-colored accessories .........

and -- right next to it and selling well! -- products made by Tassel Hill Honey in Sauquoit.

The silk flowers in Lori's arrangements look real, but you can count on them to always stay fresh without any care at all!

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Ending my afternoon with a stop at Foodking, I made a point of looking at this pretty wildflower garden right next to the store's parking lot!

I also slowed down - actually stopped - to take a picture of this unintentional "garden" on the Buell Avenue hillside of the Waterville Cemetery. Carefully mown 'round, it's a bright, fragrant patch of Wild Thyme!

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Here' - with his permission - is Tim Tarbox' letter, called "Ramblings"!

Just wanted to let you know I’ve really enjoyed your blog since learning of it a few months back; I’m constantly taken back with the pictures and articles; Mr. Van Wormer who recently retired was a great guy; he was Coach Van Wormer when I went to WCS; at the time, I was have lots of troubles at home; he actually offered for me to come and stay at his home until things could be sorted out; I declined his offer but never forgot his generosity.

I also followed a link to the school website from your blog and saw where Mr. Lonczak is the new Superintendent at the school; I recall having him as a teacher in his early days..seems like I had him for English, but they didn’t mention him teaching that subject in the story, so I may be mistaken about the subject. I seem to recall he was a good teacher..

It’s been interesting seeing the information on the Loomis Gang; my daughter has a book on the Loomis Gang, titled “Ride with the Loomis Gang” by E. fuller Torrey, M.D.; my mother currently resides very close to the Loomis gang area; as I vaguely recall from the daily school bus rides as a child, I think the old Loomis house is just down the road from her..

On the topic of local ghosts, do you recall if the old schoolhouse in North Brookfield is still standing? I was always told as a child it was haunted; I played baseball on a small diamond just behind it..it was on the right side of the road as you topped the hill, just before the decent into the main part of town, where the cultural epicenter know as “Buck’s Inn” was located. As a child, I would go in there each day after school and get a candy bar and a Sioux City Sarsaparilla. A fellow by the name of Ronnie Mason owned it. Some years later he opened an Inn in Sangerfield; I had moved to Waterville around the same time; I would ride my bike to the Inn and wash dishes for cash on nights when he had catered events…"

If you want to write to Tim, I'll be glad to forward your letter. I don't give out E-mail addresses, but the forwarding system seems to work just fine.

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No ballgames last night.

Have a Great Day, Everyone!

Wednesday

It's Recyclables Day!

54.3 and sunny!

On Wednesday, it should be similarly nice, with highs in the mid 80s and a large amount of sunshine. As a weak disturbance approaches later in the day, there could be a stray shower or storm, primarily north of Utica. From Wednesday night into Friday, increasingly warm, more humid air will be building into the area. With that, we will have a chance of storms, basically at anytime. While most of the time will be dry, we will be watching for a few leftover complexes of showers and storms from the Upper Lakes to drop in. Otherwise, the weather will continue pleasant into Thursday, with highs soaring into the upper 80s. By the time we get to Friday, we will be firmly entrenched in a hot, humid midsummer air mass. This means temperatures near 90 for Friday and Saturday, along with plenty of humidity. There is a chance of isolated storms both days, with most areas remaining dry.

Six months ago, this was our forecast ............

This is what it looked like outdoors ......

and we couldn't wait for Summer!!!

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I only took one picture, yesterday: this is it -
the first (very early and totally perfect)
Cardinal Flower!

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In yesterday's mail:
a suggestion for all of you who love mowing lawns!
Thank you, Celine!

I also received an answer about this weekend's Softball Tournament, and have passed the information along, and I received another nice long letter - more reminiscences - from Tim Tarbox in Arkansas. I don't know whether he intended to have me publish it here, or not, so will ask his permission before I do!

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It took 15 innings for the AL to top the NL 4-3 in the All-Star Game last night!

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I'll have much more time to be out and around, today, so there should be plenty of pictures tomorrow!

Have a good one!!!

Tuesday

It's GREEN WASTE DAY!

52 degrees; no precipitation.

WKTV predicts that: "High pressure will build back in on Tuesday. Sun and clouds will start the day, but as the day wears on we should notice even more decreasing clouds. A nice one, all in all, with highs in the upper 70s. On Wednesday, it should be similarly nice, with highs in the mid 80s and a large amount of sunshine. Wednesday night and Thursday will see a cold front try to approach the area."

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The colors have changed, again, at Hanover.

Fields of grain ripen next to Peck and Brouillette Roads.

The heavy rains that we had on Sunday must have been welcomed by flowerbeds and lawns and fields of corn - like this one, next to the Library -


- but other crops suffered, and patches were flattened.

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Not only corn grows fast: this building in North Brookfield - just across the road from Kling's Mills - gets taller and taller.
Is it a residence? or ?


In Waterville, at Firemen's Field

"They're B-a-a-a-ck!"

Lots of the rides pulled in on Monday afternoon.

Here's the Schedule for the weekend:

FIREMEN'S FIELD DAYS

Friday, July 18

Midway opens at 6:30 P.M.
Kiddie Parade - 6:30 P.M.
Music by "Phat Alyss" - 8:30 - 12:30

Saturday, July 19

Softball Tournament - 8:00 A.M.
Midway opens - 12:00 noon
Parade - 6:30 P.M.

Huge Fireworks Display at Dusk

(Courtesy Zielinski's Equipment Rental)

Music by "Stage Road" - 9:00 P.M. - 1:00 A.M.

Sunday, July 20

Softball Tournament - 8:00 A.M.
Chickey BBQ - noon 'til gone
Ride Special - noon- 4:00 P.M.
Music by "Good Ole Boy" 12 noon - 4:00 P.M.
Music by G-J and the D-J - 4:00 - 8:00 P.M.
Field Closes at 8:00 P.M.

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In my E-mailbox - this nice letter from "Scott." Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for him: can a blog-reader help? (Thanks!)

"I have a strange request. My team played in a softball tournament in Earlville this past weekend. We were told by a few guys there that there was a tournament this weekend in Waterville at the field days. We are interested in coming there and staying overnight and would like to play in the tournament. We need a contact name and information on how to reach the contact person running the tournament. Any information you could give me would be appreciated. I hope to hear from you soon. Have a great day!"

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I also received notice of the annual

KIDS' FISHING DERBY

sponsored by the
Waterville Forest, Fish & Game Club that will take place on

SUNDAY, JULY 27 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.

at Chitning Pond, Sangerfield

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"Chitning," "Chittning," or "Chittening" - no matter how it's spelled, every so often the subject comes up and someone asks "Where did that name come from?"

I don't really know!

But I did do a quick search of The Waterville Times - using all three spellings - and came up with several "hits" under each one.

The earliest was in 1855, when a transient "thief" was last seen "heading in the direction of Chittning." Several references used the phrase "over toward Chittning" and, in 1868, it was reported that Miss So-and-so had "taken up the teaching position at the schoolhouse in Chittening." (I believe that the schoolhouse was on the Sangerfield side of Janus Road, just off of Route 20.)

Anyhow - "Chittning" (or Chitening or Chitning) must have been the name of a small community, perhaps like "Hanover." It would be a good subject for someone to research using the new History Hunter iMac at the Library!

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No baseball scores to report: it's All Star break.

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Jody Hildreth stopped by, yesterday, to take the now-empty hummingbird nest for his collection. He also peeked into the igloo-shaped Carolina Wren nest that's in a hanging planter on my back porch and reported that there are four tiny wrenlets safe inside!

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Yes: it's early! It's grant-writing time!

Tomorrow's post may be equally early or it may be late or it may not show up until Thursday!

Anyhow - have a great day, everyone!

Monday

It's Garbage Day!

WE'RE BACK ONLINE!

A huge "outage" prevented thousands of Fontier wireless customers from carrying on "life as usual" for nearly 36 hours. For those of us who were actually trying to contact colleagues and get some "work" done, it seemed even longer!

Here's one thing I wanted to do, yesterday:
DALE MESZLER!

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This morning it's 59 degrees; no precipitation.

We had two or three very heavy rainstorms, yesterday, but not until AFTER the "Boilermaker."

You can check your - or your friend's - running time HERE

and find plenty of photos at the O-D.

There's plenty of Boilermaker coverage at WKTV

as well as their brief, but pleasant, Weather Forecast:

"Sunshine is expected to return, and temperatures will warm up to the low to mid 70s. Should be a nice one to start out the work week. The heat and humidity will gradually return as we head into the week."

LOOKING AHEAD

Next Weekend is "Firemen's Field Days!"
It all starts with a Kiddie Parade - and the midway opens - at 6:30 on Friday.

(I'll give a full schedule tomorrow.)

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Also next weekend:

A Bible study group from SouthGate Ministries is cooking! With the money raised, they'll send a few children to Christian camp.

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Swamp Milkweek is blooming along Loomis Road


Purple Loosestrife in damp ditches and - here - at the Utica Marsh.

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I have a heap of "real" work and writing to do, today, so I'll just say -

"Have a Great Day, Everyone."

See you tomorrow!