Garbage Day

58 degrees and still dark at 6:00

From WKTV: "A weak disturbance may spark off a thunderstorm or two Thursday afternoon. Dry, sunny weather again on Friday.

Warm and humid on Saturday, with scattered thunderstorms. A slow moving cold front will likely bring steady rainfall on Sunday. Much cooler and unsettled again on Monday."

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

IN THE NEWS

This morning's Observer-Dispatch notes the Deaths of David G. Emerson, of Waterville, and former resident Carroll V. Holley.

"Town of Marshall Puts Moratorium on Hydrofracking." from the O-D.

***********

EVENTS




WCS SPORTS

Saturday, September 3 2011 2:00PM
Boys VARSITY FOOTBALL

Waterville Central School
@ Westmoreland High School

Friday, September 2 2011 10:00AM Boys VARSITY SOCCER SCRIMMAGE

Mohawk Central High School
@ Waterville Central School
Brothertown Stadium

Saturday, September 3, 2011 10:00AM Boys VARSITY SOCCER SCRIMMAGE

Waterville Central School
@ Cooperstown Middle-High School
Cooperstown High School


********


SCHOOL STARTS NEXT WEDNESDAY!

*******

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11


The tenth anniversary of 9 / 11.



Please remember to fly your flag!

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



CRUISIN INTO WATERVILLE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH

WCSDF Dinner Reservation Form


******


MISCELLANEOUS

I had hoped that I could find the letter that was sent to the clients of First Niagara Bank about three months ago, advising that the Waterville Branch would be closing. This must be the first time in well over forty years that that space on West Main Street has been empty. Dottie Ruane could tell: I believe that she was the manager of Homestead Savings & Loan (I think) when I came to Waterville 43 years ago.

*********

It doesn't seem as if it's time for Labor Day - the end of Summer - but ...................

............... hydrangeas have their Autumn blush ................

............... Mountain Ash berries are bright ..............

............... and the strange "fruit" of the huge magnolia tree in front of the Macks' home on Berrill Avenue gleam in the sun.


*********



The History of Labor Day
from History.com

******
Have a good weekend, everyone!

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


Big Trash Collection is next Wednesday!

Recyclables Day

It's 54 degrees at 5:30

"High pressure settles overhead (Wednesday,) continuing the sunshine. A weak disturbance may spark off a thunderstorm Thursday afternoon. Dry, sunny weather again on Friday.

Showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for the upcoming Labor Day Weekend. We'll keep you posted."

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

FARMERS MARKET TODAY in the PARK

TONIGHT AT THE BANDSTAND

MIKE HOKE and the well-known group Croabh Dugan
playing traditional Irish music.

(Brenda Kneoller told me that they will be joined by a troupe of Irish Dancers!)

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

TRAVEL NEWS

"THE THRUWAY IS NOW OPEN." from WKTV.

According to NY DOT 511, speed on stretches of the Thruway is reduced to 50 mph
and
Route 51 is still closed.

Because of yesterday's road closures there was super-heavy truck traffic even on Route 315!

The parking lot at Nice 'n Easy in Sangerfield was filled with trucks and many other travelers who had stopped there and also at "Michael's" to ask directions!



One of "Irene's" victims was "Michael's" Annual Golf Tournament which has now been rescheduled for September 24th.

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

Leaving Michael's, where I had picked up an order of "greens," I could see a line of cars parked along the side of Route 20 in front of - YES! - the Gallaghers' Corn Stand!



That's where I'm going later today!



Out in the Country

This Hanover Road view reminded me of the show tune "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning," from Rogers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!

(Click the image of corn, below, to sing along!)

"There's a bright golden haze on the meadow,
There's a bright golden haze on the meadow
The corn is as high as an elephant's eye
And it looks like it's climbin' clear up to the sky!"


I used to wonder: "Just how high IS an elephant's eye?"

According to a patient young man at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse (yes! I really did call and ask, a couple of years ago!) the eye of their adult male Asian elephant is just about 8' high.
An African elephant's eye would be even higher!



I think the corn on Fuess-Cleary Road beats that!


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

FOR THE RECORD



Who knew?!


The Waterville Branch of First Niagara Bank is CLOSED!

(Details tomorrow.)


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

Six days 'til SCHOOL!


Have a good day, everyone!

A Fall-like Morning

Clear and 50 degrees.

The WKTV Weather Forecast: "High pressure builds in, keeping us dry and partly sunny through Friday. High temperatures each day will average close to 80 degrees, with overnight lows in the 50s.

Showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for the upcoming Labor Day Weekend. We'll keep you posted."

IN THE NEWS

THRUWAY REMAINS CLOSED BETWEEN DEWITT & SCHENECTADY. Syracuse.com

MORE ROADS REOPEN AROUND REGION from the O-D.

SOME AREA ROADS REMAIN CLOSED from WKTV.

NYS THRUWAY CLOSED EASTBOUND from WKTV.

Best information
511 - TRAFFIC TRAVEL 7 TRANSIT INFORMATION interactive map

"Reported By:NYS Thruway Authority CAD: closed to traffic on I-90 - NYS Thruway eastbound from Exit 34A (I-90) - East Syracuse (I-481) to Exit 25A (I-90) - Schenectady (I-88) due to flooding starting 8:40:00 PM, 8/29/2011 until further notice. Comment: Audio Text: . Motorists are strongly encouraged to seek alternate routes. Motorists are advised to exit at Exit 34 A, take I-4 81 SOUTH to 81 SOUTH, to I-88 EAST, exit at I-88 EXIT 22 to 1 45, to Route 7E, to ROUTE 30 A, to return to I-88 EAST at EXIT 23, and re-enter the Thruway at Exit 25 A.

Last update: 8/29/2011 8:40:55 PM"

Reported By:NYS Thruway Authority CAD: closed to traffic, flooding on I-90 - NYS Thruway westbound from Exit 25A (I-90) - Schenectady (I-88) to Exit 30 (I-90) - Herkimer (Rte 28) starting 8:43:00 PM, 8/29/2011 until further notice. Comment: Audio Text: . Motorists are strongly advised to seek alternate routes, and to expect severe delays. Motorists are advised to exit the Thruway at Exit 25 A, take I-88 WEST to Route 20 West, then 28 North, and re-enter the Thruway at Exit 30.

Last update: 8/29/2011 8:43:51 PM

NOTE: there are several road closures Eastbound along Routes 20, 5 and 5S and Route 51 between W. Winfield and Ilion is closed.

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

Did anyone measure the rainfall on Sunday?

Tom McNamara only knows that the four sump pumps that he had running couldn't keep ahead of the water that leaked into his cellar on Buell Avenue. It got so deep that he finally had to call the Fire Department!

NOTE: not ten minutes after posted the blog with the question, "How much..." I got this reply from Irene Pirger:

"Hi, I live on Summit Road in Cassville where we got 8.1 inches."

Thanks loads, Irene!

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

Whatever difficulties and inconveniences Hurricane Irene caused around Waterville seem trifling compared to those calamities suffered by so many along the East Coast, in Vermont, and even East of here - near Esperance - where some of Phillip and Jennifer Ford Sexton's friends lost their homes, all their belongings and livelihoods to the Schoharie Creek.

Are any fundraisers or clothing drives planned?

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


BEFORE IRENE

On Friday afternoon I spotted carpenter Dan Maine in front of the St. Bernard's Catholic Church rectory. The new porch looks great!



On Friday and Saturday, an Estate Sale managed by Madison Auction Services drew large crowds to the former residence of the late Richard S. Woodman on Park Place ......



...............with cars lining roadsides all around the Park as well as Madison Street.

It was bright and sunny on Saturday: perfect weather for the Waterville Public Library's Summer Carnival!

Check out many more pictures on the
Waterville Public Library's Facebook Page.

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

Blogger's note: The third year of Old Timers' Story Swaps - a.k.a. "Once Upon a Time in Waterville" - ended last Friday. My great thanks to all of the participants who have, between them, told so many wonderful stories of life in Waterville when they were young: the sort of real history you won't learn anywhere else! And ALL of our "Thanks" to Jillian Getman and Jeff Reynolds of the Waterville Public Library for their outstanding hospitality!

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

NOW IN BLOOM



Wild Clematis ("Virgin's Bower") is heaped on hedgerows and even hanging on the rock ledges next to the Caves in Forge Hollow.



Japanese Knotweed.

It's terribly invasive, but birds love it and it is, after all, beautiful for a week or so.



Dense plantings of Buckwheat at the Landis Farm on Shanley Road.

When I asked her, Mrs. Landis told me that the first purpose of the plantings is to keep down weeds and enrich the soil. "It grows so fast that the weeds don't have a chance!" After harvest and processing, most of it is added to cattle feed because it is very nutritious but some grain is reserved for family use as a hot cereal called groats - sometimes called KASHA - like Cream of Wheat or Wheatena. "The kids love it!"

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

Now Reaching their Peak



Hop Vines at the Tanner residence - the old "Richmond Farm" on Route 20.



Farther West on Route 20, some old, old vines grow tangled in roadside brush. The lovely bunches of "cones" would be perfect for a swag on my kitchen door. However - and as always seems to be the case - the best blossoms are just beyond my reach!

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

IN THE MAIL

ANNOUNCEMENTS



***********

WCS FOUNDATION DINNER SPONSOR FORM
(Please click to enlarge and print.)

*******

FOR THE RECORD

SEVEN DAYS UNTIL SCHOOL STARTS!

*****





Four years ago last week!



Forty years ago The Waterville Times published a twelve-page souvenir supplement with photographs taken during the week-long Centennial Celebration.

I know that all of the original Broom Closet prints are at the Historical Society, but if anyone has a copy of the supplement I'd love to borrow it to have it scanned!

******

Have a good day, everyone!

We're Still Here!

It's Garbage Day!

54 degrees and not raining ....

but it certain did when Hurricane/Tropical Storm "Irene"
passed through, yesterday!

"Big Creek," which runs behind my house in Whiskey Hollow,
is still high, and loud.



Still photographs never really show the movement of water in the creek during a storm or the Spring runoff, but if you just click here or on this picture you'll find yourself watching some very dramatic video taken by MaryBeth VanDenbergh, who lives in Forge Hollow, and posted on Utube!

(Thank you for sharing that, MaryBeth!)


********



The rain had begun sometime Saturday night and I didn't venture out until fairly late in the afternoon on Sunday. It was still raining and I was surprised at how hard the wind was still blowing uptown.

I rode all around the village and didn't see signs of any damage - a lot of leaves were on the ground, but no evidence of broken limbs or damage to structures.

There was no water standing in any of the streets - thanks to the DPW who had paid close attention to the drains - or the Route 12 underpass ...........



............... but, outside the village, there were some partly-flooded places on Osborne Avenue .....



........ and several inches of water from Big Creek ran across Route 315 just South of Forge Hollow instead of going under the bridge, as it's supposed to.

There were brand new ponds in many farm fields. This - next to Hanover Road - was being enjoyed by a large gathering of Canada Geese.

**********

According to WKTV, there are many "Area Roads Closed Due to Flooding."

FOR MANY MORE PHOTOGRAPHS

and Complete Storm Coverage
go to WKTV or the Utica Observer-Dispatch!

**********

Today we Dry Out!

The WKTV Weather Forecast: "A flood warning continues for Herkimer and Montgomery County until 11am.

Much needed drier weather takes over as we head into the work week. Mostly sunny today with temperatures climbing into the lower 70s. Mostly clear tonight with lows near 50.

High pressure builds in, keeping us dry and partly sunny through Friday. High temperatures each day will average close to 80 degrees, with overnight lows in the 50s.

Showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for the upcoming Labor Day Weekend. We'll keep you posted."

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

COMING EVENTS

At the Waterville Public Library

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH AT 6:00 P.M.

FREE!


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

To make reservations for the WCS Foundation Alumni-Community Dinner

CLICK HERE.

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

September 18

Chicken BBQ

BENEFIT for CONNER FURNER

at the North Brookfield Fire House

11:30 a.m.

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

Residents of Sangerfield Township

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE!

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

WCS SPORTS

A Complete Schedule can be viewed on

The Waterville Times Website

or by checking DigitalSports.


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

OF SPECIAL NOTE


********

Do you remember all of the wonderful photographs that Jody Hildreth took of the hummingbirds in my yard, three years ago?

Well ........ some of those pictures were used by National Geographic for the design and construction of THIS!


(Please Click!)

CONGRATULATIONS, JODY!

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


Have a good day, everyone.

More recent pictures to follow.