Blogger's back!

Google's "Blogspot" had some sort of a "spell," on Thursday and Friday, and - for the first time that I remember - the service was "down" for a long, long time!

Now everything seems to be back to normal and I can do yet another "catch up."

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FIRST THINGS FIRST


Don't forget!

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It's 60 degrees and cloudy at 7 o'clock on Saturday morning

From WKTV: "Clouds and a few sprinkles after midnight. Mild, with overnight lows in the 50s.

A frontal boundary will be the focusing mechanism for rain this weekend. The front will be far enough north for only a few showers on Saturday. The front is forecasted to slide a bit farther south on Sunday, bringing widespread wet weather.

An area of low pressure will develop and park itself close to the Northeast next week. With a slow moving weather pattern, the chance for rain exists just about every day heading into next week."

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REMINDER FOR SATURDAY


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Concerned about "Hydrofracking?"

The acclaimed movie, "Gasland,"
will be shown at the Marshall Town Hall Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.


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SUNDAY

The ladies of Grace Church are doing a favor for a good friend.

Miss Helen Voll, who enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Corps (the WACS) as soon as she was old enough, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, and who has been a long-time resident of Waterville, has taken up permanent residence in Room 237 of the Independent Living Section of Lutheran Care in Clinton. The ladies of Grace Church are helping out by having a "Moving Sale" of some of her household goods at Helen's former apartment in "the gray house" (#117) on East Main Street on Sunday afternoon from 1:00 - 4:00.

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SPRINGTIME IN WATERVILLE

On Main Street

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In Nine Mile Swamp and my flowerbed - "Crane's Bill".

IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

(This is an unusually large file, in case any of you want to use it for "wallpaper.")

Pastures are green ........

.... fields are plowed and planted.

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RECENT NEWS

From WKTV, Wednesday morning:

"Residents call for Waterville School Officials to step down."


******

IN THE MAIL



An oriole posed for Rusty's camera.........



............. but this Yellow-rumped Warbler was shy!


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In reply to a mass mailing that I sent out to many blog readers Friday morning, explaining why there was no regular blog post, I received this nice note from "Jr." Bartlett. I thought you'd like it, too.

"I see Frank Morgan’s have all their wares out front as usual. Just a short note Flip, I recently joined the Patriot Guard and have gone to two funerals so far. The last was two days ago for sgt Kevin White from Westfield N.Y. 22 yrs old and killed in Afghanistan by an IED. We had about 150 motorcycles and we met up at Jamestown airport with flags flying. Impressive sight. We escorted the Hero to Westfield First Baptist Church. People along the way in towns were lined up along the highway and it sure put faith in me for our country and its patriotism . Firemen with their helmets placed over their hearts, little kids, seniors, one man could not stand straight up that I saw probably close to 90 yrs young and had his hand placed over his heart and that got to me. I have never been so proud to ride my motorcycle for a cause like this. Nuff said I’m just so proud to be part of it and it’s an honor. Jr."

Thanks loads, Junior!

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ON THE STREET

I ran into Dana Broedel, yesterday afternoon, and she mentioned that her sister, in Florida, is a "won't miss it" blog reader, so she asked me to say ----

"Hello, Barbara!"


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COMING SOON


Picture perfect.

NOTECARDS

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Have a good weekend, everyone!

Tuesday afternoon catch-up

At 4:30 it's 73 degrees and the sun is still bright.

Tomorrow is Recyclables Day.

TODAY

The Orioles appeared,


the "Saucer" Magnolia at the Whites' home on White Street is covered with huge blossoms,



the tulip bed in front of the Library is picture perfect,


and I stopped to admire this Spring Garden on Madison Street.

The Village DPW was spreading topsoil along the scraped-down edge of Osborn Avenue.

That will make a lot of people happy!

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IN THE MAIL

From Doris Stephan for

THE WATERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

"The Book of the Month is

Pulitzer Prize winning 'A Thousand Acres,' by Jane Smiley.

Call the Library at 841 4651 to reserve a copy
and meet at the Library on Wed, 25th at noon time.

Bring your lunch, drinks and dessert are provided.


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From Harry "Bud" Dorr, a copy of his "Letter to the Editor" as it appears in today's issue of The Waterville Times:

"Since my recent letter appeared in The Waterville Times on May 4, I have had numerous phone calls and “street conversations” of support from residents and taxpayers in the Waterville School Community. My write-in candidacy for a school board seat will be an uphill battle with three candidates for the three open seats already appearing on the ballot for the May 17, elections.

Many of you know me and know what I stand for. For me, the nine years I previously served on the WCS Board of Education were about students, first and foremost. That is still what I am about and is what my platform is based upon.

It is no secret that I do not support the current direction of our central administration office. Too many times I’ve heard and seen things that sadden me about our direction. We have lost some very good people and almost lost others. The resignation of our long time Business Official, Charlie Cowen, was a huge loss to this district and one I believe could and should have been avoided. Another near casualty from the business office was Linda Hughes. Luckily, with public outcry and courage of some BOE members this loss was prevented. I think it is time we reverse direction and return our schools to a place where a collective and collaborative environment is restored. I stand for change and will do everything I possibly can to lead that change. After talking with Shana Pughe and listening to her speak at previous BOE meetings, I believe she will make a great BOE member. She is intelligent, articulate and mature beyond her years. I truly endorse her candidacy. When considering your votes please ask yourself if you like where our schools are headed or do you want to see change. Then decide who you will cast your votes for.

As I mentioned, there are three candidates that will appear on the ballot for May 17. I ask that you consider me a fourth, as a write-in candidate for one of those three positions. Your vote would be most appreciated. If you consider me, you must vote for only one or two of the three that appear on the ballot. Ask an election official at the registration table how you can do a write-in vote.

Never again should a parent feel that their only recourse for problem resolution is through the State Education Department, the Utica OD, or over the radio airwaves. Enough! With your help we can return our schools to a place where we are all proud to say Waterville Central Schools are the best.


Bud Dorr

Resident and Former WCS Board of Education Member "

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Voting will take place one week from today

MAY 17TH

8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

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PLEASE NOTE

that I have corrected an error that I made in yesterday's post: the candidate for School Board is NOT Seena Pughe, but it is her daughter, Shana.

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WCS SPORTS for WEDNESDAY

4:30PM
Boys VARSITY TENNIS

Waterville Central School
@ Mount Markham CSD

4:30PM
Girls VARSITY TRACK AND FIELD

Waterville Central School
@ Westmoreland High School

4:30PM
Girls MODIFIED TRACK AND FIELD

Waterville Central School
@ Mount Markham CSD

4:30PM
Boys VARSITY TRACK AND FIELD

Waterville Central School
@ Westmoreland High School
Westmoreland High School


4:30PM
Boys MODIFIED TRACK AND FIELD

Waterville Central School
@ Mount Markham CSD

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COMING EVENTS OF LOCAL INTEREST

Something for Everyone

MAY 14, 15

"New York Heritage Weekend"

"Hit the Trail at Trenton Falls" from the O-D.

.......

FOR THE RECORD

Tom said it first!

The next blog post will be late Thursday, unless ..........

This is what we've been waiting for!

Another Spring Morning!

It's 38 degrees and clear at 5:45.

This is just a "bare bones" post:
I have photos AND, also,
a letter from School Board write-in candidate "Bud" Dorr
that I'll publish late this afternoon!

(If another of the other candidates want to send me letters to publish,
I'll be glad to post those, too.)

******

From WKTV: "A large scale block in the atmosphere will help keep our weather dry for the next several days.

Morning frost followed by lots of sunshine today. Temperatures will warm up quickly today, with highs approaching 70 by the afternoon. Clear skies tonight with temperatures falling into the upper 30s to lower 40s.

Staying sunny and dry through Friday, with highs in the 70s."

Lawns are being mown, fields plowed and planted, flowerbeds weeded, and - even - swimming pools readied for "Summer."

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IN THE MAIL

From Bob Gray, at the high school.

There will be a Blood Drive

in the Waterville Junior Senior High School Gymnasium

on Friday May 13th from 8:00AM-1:00PM .

It is open to students 16 years of age or older as well as community members.
There is a currently a shortage of blood and donors are greatly needed.
Sign up in the high school guidance office.

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From Gayle Donovan Ladd, who was amused to find a photograph of Acrelac employee Aaron Ladd in yesterday's post because she knows ANOTHER Aaron Ladd: her son!


The other Aaron Ladd.

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From Jody Hildreth.


This awesome photograph of "Horse Tail Grass" - Equisetum.



Very common next to roadside ditches and in all soggy spots, but also very unusual because.......


"Equisetum is a 'living fossil', as it is the only living genus of the entire class Equisetopsida, which for over one hundred million years was much more diverse and dominated the understory of late Paleozoic forests. Some Equisetopsida were large trees reaching to 30 meters tall."

Dinosaur food? Could be!

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WCS SPORTS

Tuesday,
May 10 2011

3:30PM
Boys VARSITY GOLF

Waterville Central School
@ Westmoreland High School
Westmoreland Golf Course

4:30PM
Girls JUNIOR VARSITY SOFTBALL

Waterville Central School
@ Canastota Central Schools
JV Softball Field

4:30PM
Girls VARSITY SOFTBALL

Waterville Central School
@ Sauquoit Valley Central School
SV Middle School

4:30PM
Boys VARSITY TENNIS

Waterville Central School
@ Herkimer High School
Herkimer Elementary Stadium

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Have a great day, everyone.

I'll be back around 4:00.

It's a Spring Morning!

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to Joyce and Paul Holic!

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TODAY IS GARBAGE DAY!

It's 44 degrees and the sky is mostly blue at 6:15.

WKTV's meteorologist predicts that: "A long stretch of dry, sunny weather is in store this week starting today! Partly sunny skies and staying dry throughout the afternoon with highs in the mid 60s.

Clear skies tonight with widespread frost. Lows in the low to mid 30s. Plenty of sunshine Tuesday through Thursday with highs climbing into the 70s. The next chance of rain looks to arrive on Friday."

IN THE NEWS

From WKTV: "Owner devastated after dog attack in Waterville.


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The Board of Education has adopted a $15,663,287 budget with a 1.90% tax levy for the 2011-2012 school year.

Budget Highlights as listed in this morning's Observer-Dispatch:

WATERVILLE

2010-11 school budget: $14,952,434

2011-12 proposed school budget:

$15,663,287

Percentage change in spending: 4.75 percent increase

Proposed tax levy change: 1.9 percent increase

Major cuts: Some cuts to programming; Spanish and speech therapist made part time and contracted through BOCES.

A Public Hearing

will be held on Tuesday, May 10th beginning at 6:30 p.m.

in the High School Library.

Colleen Emerson has asked for time on the agenda of the next School Board meeting, which is this Tuesday at 6:30, to present a petition calling for the ousters of Superintendent Gary Lonczak and High School Principal Jon Thumler.


Last week, Harry "Bud" Dorr of Madison Street, who had served on the WCS School Board of Education for nine years - from 1998 to 2007 - announced last week in a Letter to the Editor of The Waterville Times that he would be a write-in candidate for School Board, thus joining the previously announced list of candidates which includes Phil Barnes, Bill Lachmann and Shana Pughe.

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LAST FRIDAY ON MAIN STREET

There was an Open House at the new United States Headquarters of the French Company Acrelec.

I suspect that this super-sign may soon appear over the front door!

Manager Glen Carroll, right, introduced us to Aaron Ladd, one of the Waterville office employees.

Another member of the staff is Mike Zielinski, left, who was there with his wife Gina, and Glen's wife, Christine.

More smiles, from Gayle Barnes and Calypso Ford.

Welcome to Waterville, all of you!

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AT THE LIBRARY

"Our Book and Bagel Sale went well, enticing everyone with the smell of the Bagel Grove Bagels! Although the bagels are all gone (sorry!)

the Book Sale will continue though Wed. May 11th.

Hardcover books and DVDs for $1, paperbacks and VHS for 50 cents."

For a complete schedule of May events, click here.


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WCS SPORTS TODAY

Monday,
May 9 2011

3:30PM
Boys VARSITY GOLF

Hamilton Central School
@ Waterville Central School
Barker Brook Golf Course

4:00PM
Boys MODIFIED BASEBALL

Waterville Central School
@ Westmoreland High School
Westmoreland High School

4:00PM
Girls MODIFIED SOFTBALL

Waterville Central School
@ Westmoreland High School
Westmoreland Town Park

4:30PM
Boys VARSITY BASEBALL

Westmoreland High School
@ Waterville Central School
Waterville H S Baseball #1

4:30PM
Girls VARSITY SOFTBALL

Westmoreland High School
@ Waterville Central School
Waterville H S Softball #1

4:30PM
Boys VARSITY TENNIS

Canastota Central Schools
@ Waterville Central School
Waterville H S Tennis Courts

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IN OTHER SPORTS NEWS

Hal Chernoff, manager of Middleweight Title Holder Fernando Guerrero, has announced that Guerrero will face off with Michael "Murder Man" Medina on June 17 in Austin, Texas, in a 10 round bout that will be televised nationally on ESPN's Friday Night Fights.

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NEXT SATURDAY



OUTDOORS


Virginia Bluebells are in bloom!



I went on my traditional Mother's Day weekend visits to the Rome Sand Plains to see the very tiny but powerfully sweet- smelling Trailing Arbutus in bloom .......



............... and checked to make sure that the small cluster of Painted Trillium was still next to York Road, where it's been for forty years.

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A reminder!

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FOR THE RECORD


Down two cents!

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Have a great day, everyone.


TOMORROW IS METALS COLLECTION