The water has receded, but oh................

What a mess there is to clean up!

(We really shouldn't complain: things are far worse up north.)

"Residents rescued by boat as West Canada Creek continues to rise." from WKTV.

*********

Jody Hildreth sent me some pictures that he took on Thursday:



here, water running across Hanover Road, near Myles and Diane Cornish's home.
No one had ever seen THAT before!


Nor this sight, on Fuess-Cleary road.

********

AFTERMATH



Near John and Elaine Peterson's, on Route 315, no more water was running over the road, but the creek was still out of its banks.



On Friday afternoon, "Road Closed" signs were still in place at Park Place
and in Sangerfield ......



............. but many drivers made it through the underpass safely.



The "lake" around the Village garage is gone, but debris caught in the fence marks its Thursday depth.

********

One very pretty oddity:


a lovely waterfall at The Caves in Forge Hollow!

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


I had a phone call from Sandy Bishopp, yesterday. She had gone to the Deansboro Depot with the intention of taking down the Christmas wreath, but had to change plans.



Hidden behind the bow, a tiny nest with little blue eggs.

(I know it's out of focus, but it was so high up I couldn't tell what my camera was seeing AND "mama" Purple Finch was close by, telling me as loudly as she could to "Go Away!")

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



Most digital cameras (at least the ones that I'm familiar with) have "point and shoot" capabilities, but they don't always work. I was surprised and delighted that this close-up of a Wild Ginger blossom came out as clearly as it did, considering the scale of the dime-sized blossom. I've told Jody where to look - he'll do an even better job, I'm sure.


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

FOR THE RECORD

Gasoline is now $4.05/9

*****

It's 42 degrees and sunny at 7:15.

WKTV predicts: "Beautiful sunshine on Saturday and early Sunday before showers arrive Sunday Night. Highs in the 60s on Saturday and close to 70 on Sunday."

TOMORROW

May Day!


Make an old fashioned May Basket

Enjoy!

SCHOOL DELAYED; Rt. 12 CLOSED, & NEW FLOOD photos

As of 10:00 a.m.

ROUTE 12 WAS CLOSED FROM

PARK PLACE SOUTH.

********

Thanks to Sheri Brennan for these next shots.

Hanover Road, near Myles and Diane Cornish's home..


E. Bacon Street, beyond the school bus garage.

Osborn Avenue

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

These next three photos of "Big Creek" are from Mary Ann Younes.


This view shows some of the "rip rap" that was put in place on the bank of the creek after a huge washout about 25 years ago.

*****


The Wesslings, on Buell Ave., lost a huge chunk of back yard.

WCS SCHOOL DELAYED 2 HOURS

due to flooding on roads.

Check WKTV for latest closings.

As of 9:00, Route 315 was CLOSED to through traffic.

The Rt. 12 underpass.

See the little beige truck? It dove bravely in, going fast enough to make a really impressive amount of spray, made it through the water, but then stopped - dead!




Osborn Avenue.

I watched one car make it through, but saw two others turn around.

"Discretion is the better part of valour!"


The back yard at Lois Battle's home on Stafford Avenue.


Conger Avenue.



The Village Barn.

Use Caution on East Bacon Street and Conger Avenue.

More photos to follow in an hour or so.

**********

It's Garbage Day

and it started out with a "bang!"

After a night of on and off thunderstorms and even tornado warnings, now - at 6:30 a.m. - "Big Creek" is certainly living up to its name!

I think I've only seen water this high ONCE, behind my house in Whiskey Hollow, in the last 25 years!

Please watch for flooding on roadways!

There are reports of flooding on Route 20 east of Sangerfield near Chittning Pond, south of Sangerfield on Mason Road and on Canning Factory Road.

From WKTV: "Flash Flood warnings in effect for Madison, Oneida, Herkimer, Otsego, and Chenango County until 9:30AM.

Thunderstorms overnight produced heavy rainfall and gusty winds across the area. Flash flooding will be an issue for your morning commute. There are multiple reports of road closures due to flash flooding. You'll want to check out our news section for the latest on that.

A cold front responsible for this strong weather is moving through Central New York. More rain showers are possible through about noon before the line moves out of the area. Drying out and turning breezy today with highs in the lower 70s.

Cooler weather by Friday, with sunshine returning for the first part of the weekend."

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

Marileen L. "Dusty" Dornburgh

1934 - 2011

******

Carl Irving Mundy

1924 - 2011

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

IN THE NEWS

From WKTV: "Town of Marshall Preparing Temporary Facility after Loss of Highway Garage."

*****

IN THE MAIL

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

From Jody Barnes:

"MPS is accepting donations for school supplies such as #2 pencils, crayons, notebooks, glue sticks, rulers, clipboards, and folders. Items may be dropped off in the office during regular school hours on a continuous basis. We hope generous donations will decrease the financial stress on MPS families and the school."

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

YESTERDAY: "Suddenly Summer!"


"Raini" led her ladies on a tour of the Village.

Those who are lucky enough to have forsythia bushes - here, the Subas - are finally able to enjoy them in bloom.

Whether you call them "Adder's Tongue," "Trout Lily" or "Dog-toothed Violet," they were open yesterday!

(Click, please!)



Hardwoods are carpeted with wild leeks, ready for harvesting.

Why do that?

Two twelve-year-old "experts" will show you!
(Even if you have no intention of following their instructions, the video is delightful as well as informative!)

***********



WCS SPORTS
Thursday, April 28 2011
3:30PM Boys VARSITY GOLF

Waterville Central School
@ New York Mills High School
Twin Ponds Golf Course

4:30PM
Boys VARSITY BASEBALL

Waterville Central School
@ Sauquoit Valley Central School
SV High School

4:30PM
Girls JUNIOR VARSITY SOFTBALL

Waterville Central School
@ Westmoreland High School
Westmoreland High School

4:30PM
Girls VARSITY SOFTBALL

Waterville Central School
@ Sauquoit Valley Central School
SV Middle School

4:30PM
Boys VARSITY TENNIS

Little Falls High School
@ Waterville Central School
Waterville H S Tennis Courts

******

Friday, April 29 2011

3:30PM
Boys VARSITY TENNIS TOURNAMENT / INVITATIONAL
CSC Tournament at Utica Parkway


4:30PM Boys MODIFIED BASEBALL

Waterville Central School
@ Sauquoit Valley Central School
SV High School

4:30PM Boys VARSITY BASEBALL

Sauquoit Valley Central School
@ Waterville Central School
Waterville H S Baseball #1

4:30PM
Postponed
Girls MODIFIED SOFTBALL
GAME

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

AT THE LIBRARY

Family Movie Night


Thursday evening at 6:00 P.M.

"The Chronicles of Narnia 3" on the big screen.

Come 10 minutes early for popcorn.

*****

"Point and Shoot Photography"

It's really happening!
Join Judith Kemp-Barnes of Petite Progressions Photography
for some tips on using your point and shoot camera.
Bring your camera and your manual.

Date: Saturday Apr 30, 2011

Time: 10:30 AM Contact:

Jill Getman 841-4651 jill@watervillepubliclibrary.org

*****


Bike Rodeo * Saturday, April 30th 11am-12pm |

All Ages

Bring your bike and try out the AAA skills course, learn about bike maintenance and get your helmet checked. Anyone 5 & up that does not have a helmet will have the opportunity to get one for free from the Oneida County Health Dept.

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

Add-ons as they come in and more photos to follow.

Have a good day, everyone!

Tuesday afternoon for Wednesday

At 4:30 Tuesday afternoon!

"For, lo, the winter is past , the rain is over and gone ;
The flowers appear on the earth;
the time of the singing of birds is come,
and the voice of the turtle* is heard in our land;"

SONG OF SOLOMON 2: 11 - 13

* Turtle Dove

WKTV's Tuesday afternoon forecast: "Warm, unsettled weather is on its way to Central New York. A warm front will bring warm air from south to north this afternoon. It will take most of the day for the warm air to arrive in the Mohawk Valley. Areas north of the valley will not see that warm air. High temperatures will range from the 50s across the Adirondacks, to the 70s across the Southern Valleys. Hit or miss showers and thunderstorms are expected as the front moves into Central New York.

With the frontal boundary nearby, the threat for thunderstorms will continue tonight, tomorrow, and tomorrow night. Some of these storms may produce gusty winds and small hail.

Cooler weather by Friday, with sunshine returning for the first part of the weekend."

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

IN THE NEWS

I've learned that Colleen Emerson will be interviewed by Mark Piersma on "Talk of the Town" on WUTQ 95.5 FM Radio at 8:30 Wednesday morning. You can also listen to WUTQ FM online.

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

WCS SPORTS
from Digitalsports.com

Wednesday, April 27 2011

4:30PM Boys VARSITY TENNIS
Ilion High School
@ Waterville Central School
Waterville H S Tennis Courts

4:30PM Boys MODIFIED TRACK AND FIELD

Morrisville - Eaton High School
@ Waterville Central School
Waterville H S Track

4:30PM Boys MODIFIED TRACK AND FIELD

New York Mills High School
@ Waterville Central School
Waterville H S Track Directions

4:30PM Boys MODIFIED TRACK AND FIELD

Sherburne Earlville High School
@ Waterville Central School
Waterville H S Track

4:30PM Girls MODIFIED TRACK AND FIELD
Morrisville - Eaton High School
@ Waterville Central School
Waterville H S Track

4:30PM Girls MODIFIED TRACK AND FIELD

New York Mills High School
@ Waterville Central School
Waterville H S Track


4:30PM Girls MODIFIED TRACK AND FIELD

Sherburne Earlville High School
@ Waterville Central School
Waterville H S Track



Waterville Central School
@ Mount Markham CSD
Wednesday


4:30PM Girls VARSITY TRACK AND FIELD

Waterville Central School
@ Mount Markham CSD

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

AROUND TOWN


There is another house under construction at Mike Tower's development on Madison Street.

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

IN THE MAIL


We've all seen clumps of these little yellow flowers along roadsides and on gravelly banks and may have thought they they were puny and insignificant.



Jody Hildreth gives us a much better look at a Colts Foot blossom in all it's intricate glory! (Click the image, please!)



Three more special treats: first, a Yellow Rumped Warbler in a lilac bush right outside my window. The first I've seen in many years. (Google image.)



The first "Roc's" ice cream cone of the season, served with huge smiles from Heather and Megan.



Woodland Wildflowers at their best.

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

FOR THE RECORD



More tomorrow!

Have a great evening, everyone.

55 degrees and Sunshine!

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

William F. "Bill" DeWitt

1929 - 2011

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

IN THE NEWS

"Waterville parent calls for dismissal of principal, superintendent"
from the Observer-Dispatch.

Yesterday afternoon, Colleen Gale Emerson took her discontent with some members of the WCS Adminitration to the sidewalk, and spent several hours at the corner of Putnam Street and Stafford Avenue talking with dozens of residents of the school district and collecting signatures on a petition asking for the ousters of Superintendant Gary Lonczak and High School Principal Jon Thumler.

The O-D Article to which I've linked is very thorough, but I'll not copy it because of copyright issues. Here, however, is the formal complaint that Colleen has filed with the State regarding meetings with the School District Committee on Special Education:

"COMPLAINT

1) Required staff members were not in attendance.
2) The district failed to inform parents of people who would be in attendance.
3) The district denied parents the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the meetings.
4) The district failed to hold a meeting in a reasonable amount of time following a parental request.
5) The district conducted an evaluation of the student without prior written consent.

The state’s findings:
The state agreed with complaints 1, 2 and 5 and provided a corrective action plan, in which the district must comply with the regulations and provide evidence to the state that it has done so. With issues 3 and 4, the state said the district did what it was supposed to do."

The Board of Education will meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. for its regular meeting. Colleen can’t attend, but plans on being back on the corner on Wednesday to collect signatures, which she said she will submit to the board next month.

A copy of the petition can be seen/signed at the Gale Feed Mill office on Canning Factory Road.

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

ELSEWHERE

Monday on Main Street

It may look like an ordinary view, but to many of us there's something special about the sight:

No More Snow!

and - have you noticed?

There are NO empty Store fronts on Main Street!



It was gray - yes - but at 4:30 it almost felt warm!



Down near Sangerfield, Dick Martin was mowing his lawn.

Perhaps he's the first?


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

IN THE MAIL

Frances Ditch wants everyone to know that the

North Brookfield Firemen's

AUCTION

will take place on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

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

We've received an invitation from

Jill Getman at the Waterville Public Library

to continue the two- or three-year-old series of

"Once Upon a Time in Waterville,"

the popular old-timers' summertime story swap,

in June, July and August..

Should I accept?

**********

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

TODAY'S WEATHER

The WKTV Forecast: "Warm, unsettled weather is on its way to Central New York. A warm front will bring warm air from south to north this afternoon. It will take most of the day for the warm air to arrive in the Mohawk Valley. Areas north of the valley will not see that warm air. High temperatures will range from the 50s across the Adirondacks, to the 70s across the Southern Valleys. Hit or miss showers and thunderstorms are expected as the front moves into Central New York.

With the frontal boundary nearby, the threat for thunderstorms will continue tonight, tomorrow, and tomorrow night. Some of these storms may produce gusty winds and small hail.

Cooler weather by Friday, with sunshine returning for the first part of the weekend."

**********

WCS SPORTS

Tuesday,
April 26 2011

3:30PM
Boys VARSITY GOLF

Westmoreland High School
@ Waterville Central School
Barker Brook Golf Course Directions

4:30PM
Boys VARSITY TENNIS

Poland Central High School
@ Waterville Central School

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

Have a good day, everyone!