Friday

Yesterday afternoon: SUNSHINE!

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Waterville boys basketball wins first-round playoff game
(from this morning's O-D.)

The Waterville boys basketball team defeated Frankfort-Schuyler 58-46 in a Section III Class C-2 first-round game Thursday.

Waterville (10-11) advances to a quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. Friday at No. 2 seed Watertown IHC (16-3). R.J. Baumgarten scored 15 points for Waterville. The Indians, though, were the only area basketball team in action Thursday to advance in the Section III tournament. In other games, the Little Falls boys and Sauquoit Valley girls were eliminated in the first round.

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It's Friday morning, overcast, and the temperature is 28.4 degrees.

From WKTV: "A cold front will move through the region today and give us light snow showers throughout the day. Accumulations are expected to be anywhere from a trace to 2". The front is expected to move through during the early afternoon and then temperatures will slowly fall throughout the rest of the day. Some sunshine is possible late in the day. Highs will be in the low to mid 30s. Cooler air moves in tonight, allowing for temperatures to fall into the single digits in most locations. The cooler air may also touch off a few lake effect snow showers, but most of these are expected to be south and west of Utica.

Saturday is shaping up to be a nice day, albeit a bit chilly. Temperatures will be a bit below normal with highs in the upper teens to low 20s. Some sunshine is possible on Saturday as well, especially away from the lakes. Some ongoing light lake effect snow showers are possible south and west of Lake Ontario, but any accumulating snow should be limited to areas outside of the NewsChannel 2 viewing area. A few flurries are possible for Madison, Chenango, and Otsego County.

Another storm will give us the possibility of some light icing along with rain late Sunday into Sunday night. More ups and downs are slated for next week."

This great Valentine is on Berrill Avenue!

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In addition to other Valentine's Day treats, we were all given the first really bright sunshine we'd seen in days. Ice glittered on trees - these on Gridley-Paige Road -

... where the little waterfall is nearly frozen over.

The buildings on W. Main Street nearly glowed ......

and deer grazed on this hillside next to Route 20.

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It really was surprising that no one called the police!

An older couple entered the First Niagara Bank on West Main Street at just 9:00 yesterday morning carrying empty canvas satchels and a Halibuton suitcase. Soon a cohort was seen entering the rear door with, first, a hack saw and then bolt-cutters. Ten minutes later, the first two emerged, this time following the bank manager who was now carrying the obviously-heavy Haliburton. They shepherded him toward a car parked directly outside the bank and he placed the suitcase in the rear compartment along with a heavy satchel that the male "customer" had in hand.

The explaination for this suspicious activity is really quite dull: yesterday morning Historical Society President Joe Falk and I removed the duplicate set of MICROFILM (copies of The Waterville Times) which had been stored in a fireproof filing cabinet there starting in 1971! (There had been a key to the padlock on the fire file, but where it is now no one knows, so Kevin Kelley came to the rescue and cut the padlock.)

Today I'm taking the many reels of microfilm to Fulton where, over the weekend, they will be digitized by a man named Tom Tryniski whose hobby is making old (and new) newspapers available for internet use. (You can check out his website HERE.) The very best, wonderful part of this is that he makes the digitized information "searchable:" no index cards needed!!

The cost? There is none when microfilmed collections belonging to not-for-profit organizations are involved. Microfilming of issues starting in 1854 was begun in 1971 and was made possible by funds raised during the Village Centennial Celebration. The Waterville Historical Society has continued annual microfilming, ever since, and also provides the microfilm reader/printer that is in the Library for Public use.

Our thanks to Mr. Steven Best of Utica, who told us of this website and service; to First Niagara Bank for having housed the duplicate set of microfilm for so long, and - last but not least - Mr. Kelley, who was certainly in the right place at the right time!

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Remember: it's a long weekend!

Monday is Presidents' Day

and there will not be a garbage collection that morning.

Village Board meeting will take place on Wednesday.

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In the meantime:

Fish Fry in Deansboro, tonight;

and a Pancake Breakfast

sponsored by the Deansboro-Waterville Lions Club

Sunday morning at the D'boro Fire House!

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Have a Great Weekend, Everyone!

(Psst! Sunday is Tom McNamara's Birthday!)

Thursday

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

(If you've wondered how Valentine's Day became a tradition, you'll find the answer by clicking HERE.)

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Garbage Day!

It's 16.3 degrees

with very little new accumulation.

From WKTV: On Valentine's Day, we might not see too much sunshine, but unlike last year, there should be no snow. Highs will push the freezing mark. Clouds thicken back up tomorrow night and into Friday. We'll see a period of light snow or rain on Friday in advance of an Arctic cold front, the return to bitter cold temperatures. Unlike this past weekend, there will likely not be a period of squalls. The air will be too dry for that. Still, we will turn bitter cold Friday night and Saturday, with lake snows possibly developing. At this point, the best chance for snow will be south and west of Utica and accumulations do not look significant.

Yesterday morning was more wet than white, but in the afternoon a band of real snow moved in making everything look clean, again!

Stafford Avenue

This building on Osborn that Phil Sweeney and his brother have refurbished looks ready for tenants!

"K.C." had his friend out walking .......

.... and Pat and her companions were exploring near the Library.

Inside the Library, the Story Hour Exhibit will stay on the Gallery Wall through tomorrow, and then space will be taken over by High School students.


The selection of Valentine Cards in CVS was
much better than that offered nearly a century ago!

"Rose-colored Glasses"

And speaking of Hearts, Mecky Maggio writes:

"We have a Heart Walk Team - "American Legion Post #92" - There are about ten members of the team so far and everyone is doing their part to raise money for the American Heart Association. We are still taking members if anyone would like to walk with us!" Phone 841-8987.

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One mystery solved:

Thanks to Mr. Steven Best of Utica and his friend organ-builder and historian Cullie Mowers: the organ in this photograph was originally in the "old" St. Bernard's Church, having been purchased in 1875 for $1,000. The instrument is believed to be in the Methodist Church in Georgetown. (If that's the case, I'll try to obtain a better photograph.)

"John Marklove started his organ building career in 1854, so the dates are right. The organ was still in Georgetown as of a few years ago, although it was not being used because it needed repairs. As you will see from the photo, when the church ceiling was lowered, holes were left to accommodate the organ. The photo isn't great, but it does show an organ smaller than the organ in the 'new' St. Bernard's. Just one manual. And it's interesting as a part of Waterville's and St. Bernard's history."

As to the organ in the "new" church - all I've learned is that there WAS one there at the time of the Dedication in 1912. I read microfilm for quite a while, yesterday, and at the very end of a very long article in The Waterville Times, describing the Dedication, I found this tiny phrase: "....... Mr. Such-&-such and Miss So-&-so accompanied the organ and chorus on cornet and violin."

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More about Mark Masca: " I am a radio DJ. I have done a morning show and an afternoon show. I have done this for over 15 years. I have worked in NY (Syracuse, Utica and Cortland), Texas (San Antonio), Ohio (Columbus) and Florida (Ft. Myers).

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Keep warm, everyone, and have a great Valentine's Day!

Wednesday

Recyclables Day!

It's 24.3 degrees.

After all the hype, we appear to have received about two inches of new snow and, according to WKTV, Camden is the only school in Oneida County that's closed.

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According to the WCS "Sports Zpone," the
Section III Boys Basketball Game
against Frankfort-Schuyler,
orginally scheduled for last night,
will take place tonight at 7:00
(Facility: Waterville High School Gym)

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The forecast had been for "heavy lake effect snow" and, remembering what happened last year on Valentine's Day, residents made special preparations:


some staked road shoulders as a guide to snowplow operators;

... others made sure that their mailboxes wouldn't get lost!


An essential part of our "Emergency Preparedness" includes going to Foodking,
where Bryan Briggs ...

... and John Bogan made countless trips helping customers carry "storm provisions" to their cars.

Gas tanks got filled.


The only unusual activity was taking place on Sanger Avenue where at least one old maple tree next to the Burback residence was being removed.

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I had remarked about the solar-powered "Road Closed" sign that's been placed south of Sangerfield, and yesterday blog-reader Lucy wrote to say that Yes! there is a twin sign, and it's located next to the southbound lane of the Rt. 12 Arterial just before the Route 8 exit.

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With April 15th just two months and two days away,
this is good news!

Stephanie Benner, the Administrator of the Harding Nursing Home has asked me to post the following:

"The Harding Nursing Home is again serving as a site for free tax preparation for
the Waterville community sponsored by Resource Center for Independent Living (RCIL) with tax form completion by trained Hamilton College students (Certified Community Volunteers) using computer software and internet filing. This effort is targeting Oneida county Residents with $40,000 or less in total household income."

The dates and one hour appointment times will be:

Monday, February 18, 5pm and 6pm
Monday, February 25, 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm and 6:30pm
Monday, March 3, 4:30pm, 5:30pm and 6:30pm
Monday, March 10, 4:30pm, 5:30pm and 6:30pm

call Harding Nursing Home between 8am and 8pm to find out details and/or enroll. The telephone number is 841-4156.

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In re: the History Mystery and the organ at St. Bernard's --- Katie Peck has found this:

".... the Rev. F. W. Reilly, a man of untiring zeal and energy. He endeavored to maintain a parochial school in Waterville and a mission church in Brookfield. He did much to beautify the cemetery, often working there with pick and shovel. During his pastorate in 1875 the present church organ was installed at a cost of $1,000.00." I guess that I'll go to the Library and read some microfilm, this afternoon!

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The forecast from WKTV: "Throughout the day Wednesday, periodic sleet and freezing rain may change over to plain rain. Not heavy precipitation, but could briefly cause problems. The wintry mix will end as snow showers tomorrow evening, with very little accumulation."

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Meanwhile, in Florida .............


Mark says, "There's plenty of room for you!"

Does that mean that he's suggesting a Blog-readers' Convention at his place?
What a great idea!!!

I'd like that!

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Have a good day, everyone!

Tuesday

METALS COLLECTION

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It's 5.7 degrees.

It stayed cold all day yesterday and "Lake Hanover" froze halfway across Hanover Road: drive carefully - it won't thaw today!



WKTV has a somewhat different look to their web site - we may have to get used to a different format, ourselves.

"For Tuesday, clouds will increase, with snow developing from southwest to northeast. Snow will develop after 2 PM down toward Oneonta and after 4 PM in the Utica area and points north. Snow will be heavy at times by sunset.
Snow will continue heavy at times on Tuesday night. We have some questions about some warm air racing in from the south. Should this work into CNY, the snow will mix with or even change over to sleet by Wednesday morning, especially south of Route 20. Likewise, we expect the Adirondacks to stay all snow. In between will be the question mark. Here is our best guess on how things will unfold:"

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We may be saying, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!" but - really - these can come down, now!

And so should some of the American Flags that are displayed:
a patriotic blog-reader pointed out that those flags that are faded and worn are no longer a proud tribute to anything or anyone.

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On Madison Street and White Street.

This Coming Sunday...... PANCAKES!!

Mark's sent me enough sun and sand to get us through this "cold snap"!

Thanks, Mark!!!

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And Thanks, Janice, for clueing me in on "Why?" Main Sreet was filled, on Sunday ------ there was a benefit for Tina Eisenhut at "Stinkers!" It must have been wonderfully successful!

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There's a History Mystery that blog-readers might be able to help solve:

1. "When was the organ installed at St. Bernard's Catholic Church" and...

2. "Is there a possibility that it was manufactured by Alvinza Andrews whose organ company was located in Waterville in the mid 1800s?"

The answer, no doubt, could be found in The Waterville Times. An index card to the microfilm copies shows that in July of 1864 the Ladies Society held a "Festival to raise funds to procure an organ for the church." In 1874 "repairs have been completed" and plans were being made for the rededication of the church - all under the direction of a Fr. Riley - but there's no mention of an organ.

The indexing process, started thirty years ago by the late Steven Gates, only reaches 1880 or 1881 (I think) and has not been continued. (Surely, a job for the Historical Society!) Finding anything more recent than that involves a week-by-week search. However, those researchers who start looking for one thing nearly always find themselves glued to the "social notes" and read far more than they'd ever intended.

If one of you would have some time to spend in the bright, warm Library to start looking for that information I'd be happy to show you how the microfilm reader/copier works!

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Monday

WKTV LIST of SCHOOL CLOSINGS

4.3 degrees

It doesn't look as if there has been an appreciable accumulation of new snow, but because the wind has blown, constantly, what snow there is has probably formed good drifts in the predictable places. There seems to be more traffic than usual on Route 315 - either the Road Closed signs are up or drivers are playing it safe.

• Monday: Lake effect snow moves in to the Mohawk Valley and points west. 3-7" of snow possible in the Mohawk Valley, 14-20" in northwestern Oneida and southern Lewis. Cold. High: 17, Low: 4
• Tuesday: Cloudy with snow. High: 24, Low: 18
• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with snow. High: 30, Low: 18

There are times when the sun is shining and there's no wind blowing, down in Whiskey Hollow, but uptown it's something else!

Considering that it was a fairly cold and stormy afternoon,
Main Street was busy. The Plaza parking lot was full .............

and there didn't seem to be any parking spaces available along Main Street.



This is a recent occurance: the Subway sandwich shop on West Main Street is closed and there are several theories as to the cause.

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Heading southward toward Sangerfield.
Just a little blowing snow: no problem.

Ten seconds later, no road!

That gave me a dandy opportunity to check out the newly rearranged CVS.


It's very attractive!

Heading northward on Osborn.

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If you are going to be staying "in town," today,
take time to visit the Library!

Pre-School Story Hour Art Show * February 8th - 15th.
Each child has 2-3 pieces of their artwork on display in the Gallery Hallway.
............... and then ...........
Waterville High School AP Art Show * February 22nd - May 30th *
5 students from Waterville High School
will be hanging their work in the Gallery Hallway here for two weeks.
Here is the schedule:
February 22nd - March 11th - Sarah Weeks (reception February 21st @ 5pm)
March 14th - April 1st - Emily Plourde (Reception March 13th @ 6pm)
April 4th - April 22nd - Kyle Nasypany (Reception April 3rd @ 6pm)
April 25th - May 13th - Kate McLane (Reception April 24th @ 5pm)
May 16th - May 30th - Amanda Barwarski (Reception May 15th @ 6pm.)

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In the meantime - Mark has sent us something beautiful to look at!

Sanibel Island



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Just hold that thought!