It's Garbage Day

31 degrees at 7:00 a.m. with just a light frosting of snow.

The Weather Forecast from WKTV: "Lake effect snow showers and flurries this morning will give way to partial sunshine this afternoon. Little accumulation is expected. Highs in the upper 30s.

Light snow showers and lake effect on Friday and Saturday as cooler air settles in. High temperatures heading into the weekend in the 30s.

Drying out, and warming up early next week. Partly sunny with highs in the upper 40s."

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YESTERDAY'S VIEWS were limited!

Again, the "Tyler Barn" was barely visible.


The Stop signs at Shanley - Gridley Page Roads couldn't be seen at any distance at all.



Hundreds of Canada Geese, either resting or grounded by poor visibility, covered a corn field between Route 20 and Madison Street, and .............



...... even West Main Street was murky.

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IN THE MAIL

A letter from Troop 108 Scout Master Mark Mowrey which, I believe, he had intended me to receive on Monday:

"The Boy Scout troop is building Reindeer kits and filling the boxes with care supplies for local soldiers overseas. Problem, we have not received any addresses of local soldiers to send them to from our own troop resources. Would it be possible to advertise our endeavor through your blog? We expect to have 8-10 reindeer built by the end of Tues. nights troop mtg.
Thanks, Mark"

Surely there must be SOME men and women we know who are deployed overseas?
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From Edie Eastman, in Dicksville, regarding the flock of seagulls that I saw a few days ago:
"Since Thanksgiving there have been some in the field across the road, not everyday but quite often, and I don't remember ever seeing them in the springtime; only in the fall. I think they are Herring gulls that are migrating from northern Canada to way down to the south eastern states for the winter. Maybe they take a different route back up north in the spring."

I Googled "Herring Gull" and learned that:

• Breeds on islands.

• Forages and winters at sea, along beaches and mudflats, at dumps, and other areas where human-produced food is available.

• Rests in open areas, including parking lots, fields, and airports.

(Thanks for your note, Edie!)

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From Les Risley, correcting an error in attribution. The letter re: Pearl Harbor Day that I had received from Gil Condon's Email Address was really from Les, herself:

"Hahaha, forgot I wrote under Gil's name, like now. 12/ 7, was Les (risley), not Gil!!"

It's O.K., Les - you're forgiven!

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IN THE NEWS

From an article in today's issue of the Utica Observer-Dispatch: "Gingerbread enthusiasts of all ages, get those gingerbread houses trimmed with candy because on Dec. 12 you can begin to drop them off at the Waterville Public Library for our Gingerbread House Contest. Prizes for first through third place will be awarded. Houses need to be dropped off to the library no later than Dec. 29."

Also at the Library Tonight at 6:00

Friday at 7:00

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The Masons' Christmas Tree Sale in the Park continues.

Saturday: United Methodist Church COOKIE SALE 9:00 - noon.

Saturday: Poolville Farmers Market 10:00 - noon

Saturday: Grace Episcopal Church Vespers at 5:00, Supper at 6:00, Carol Singing at 7:00.

Sunday: "Jubilation" Concert in Hamilton at 3:30.

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Click here for WCS SPORTS

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Have a good weekend, everybody!

Pearl Harbor Day - Dec. 7, 1941

Gil Condon remembers: "I remember my brother, Harry and I were "probably fighting" in front of the BIG radio and mom and dad were going over his accounts (he worked for an insurance company) when the news came on. My dad YELLED at us to be quiet and he and mother got very upset with what was being said........we children didn't realize until the blackouts started what was going on.........We lived on Auburn Ave in Utica at the time and it w as scary to have it so dark at night time and to see dad going out with a big nightstick to patrol.........."

The blogger remembers: It must have been cold and snowy, in Western Massachusetts, because I distinctly remember the smell of my child-sized woolen mittens drying on a radiator as my family sat in unusual silence listening first to Lowell Thomas on the Stromberg-Carlson radio console - a BIG floor-model, just as Gil said - and then leaning forward, "shushing" me to be quiet and listening even more intently to "the president." I remember being scared because, when the news program ended my grandmother began crying, listing off the names of cousins who she was sure would no doubt be "going to war." It was some time before I was allowed to speak out and ask what "infamy" meant. Soon after, the "black-outs" began. I had Kayro Syrup on my oatmeal, and life seemed to be governed by the six o'clock news and Ration Stamps. My mother went to work as a secretary in a huge factory where just about all of the hundreds of factory workers were women. Several cousins did, in fact, "go to war" and my grandmother cried even more. Some were wounded but none were "lost."

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It's Recyclables Day

37 degrees and foggy at 5:00 a.m.

The forecast from YNN: "Outside of a spotty sprinkle or flurry, (Wednesday) will be a fairly quiet and seasonably chilly day. Morning clouds will give way to some sun with highs around 40.

Colder air will begin to drain in on Thursday with lake snow showers developing east of Lake Ontario. Highs will be in the upper 30s. An upper level system will pass overhead Friday with everyone picking up scattered flurries and snow showers. Highs will be in the upper 30s to near 40."


In yesterday's Email there was an interesting note from Louie Langone, who wrote: "It seems like the weather has been unusually mild this year. But looking back on my records, last year (2010) as of Dec. 5th we had only 3" of accumulated snow and no snow plowings. Dec.6,7,8, & 9 last yr. we got 21" of snow. And in 2009 we had 0.6" of snow total and no snowplowing as of Dec.5. This year we have had 3" of snow and 1 snowplowing. So if things go as it has in the past few years winter will be beginning soon." (Thanks, Louie!)

A year ago - school was closed, but the sidewalk showroom at Morgan's was open!

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IN THE NEWS

Click HERE for HEADLINES in this week's issue of The Waterville Times.

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TODAY AT THE LIBRARY

Ornament Making

3:30 PM

Ages 5 & up. Sign Up

Contact:

Amanda Briggs 841-4651 amanda@watervillepubliclibrary.org

Make some ornaments for yourself and some to sell for the library over the holidays!

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YESTERDAY

"Pea Soup" Fog that hung over the area nearly all day - and lasting well into the night - nearly obliterated the view of the "Tyler Barn" from Bogan Road South.

In the center of the village, however, lights and the new window painting at the Post Office were bright and a "Thank You" note to the artists hung on the inside door.

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The afternoon gloom made lighted decorations seem even brighter

........... at the Morgans' on Stafford Avenue ..........

................. the Gerhardts' home on White Street ............

.............. and here, on East Bacon Street.

Unfazed by the chilly drizzle, these folks on Stafford Avenue were getting huge bows over every window "just right."

This is the home of "Bonnie" Bechy and her daughter, Joanna, on Babbott Avenue.
When I phoned Bonnie to check on the spelling of Joanna's name, she said - regarding the decorations - "Oh! Wait! I'm not done yet! The ribbons for the door are still on my couch!"

I'll check back later!

IN THE MAIL

This is Guy Mintel the owner of "Guy's Bicycle Shop" on Route 20 in Madison.

Not surprisingly, Guy likes to ride. But to shop for a Christmas Tree? That's different!
But he knew exactly where he was headed - to the Keiths', 'way up on the hill outside of North Brookfield, and that's quite a ride!

Just ask his friend Dale Meszler, who went with him, and who sent me this picture!

Thanks, Dale!

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Speaking of Christmas Trees .......................

When the Masons unloaded their Christmas Trees in the Park, last weekend, they immediately placed one inside the bandstand - a "thank you" for the use of the park.
The tree was set in place by the Village DPW and just a few strings of lights hung.

I don't think it's "done," yet, so I'll wait to see if more are added before I take a picture!

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COMING EVENTS

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17 days, 19 hours and 48 minutes Until Christmas

Have a good day, everyone!

It's 48 degrees and drippy at 8 o'clock.

The Weather forecast from YNN: "(Tuesday) will be chillier with temperatures falling out of the 40s and remaining in the 30s. Clouds will remain stubborn with a few lingering sprinkles and flurries.

A few light snow showers are possible Wednesday morning as an upper level low grazes us to our southeast. Temperatures will be seasonably chilly with highs in the upper 30s to near 40. Temperatures will remain seasonably chilly through the end of the week with possibly a stronger push of colder temps for the start of the weekend."

IN THE MAIL

Hank Gardner replied to my request for memories of December 7, 1941:

"On December 7,1941 I was at choir practice in a building on Main Street that no longer exists. The choir director, a teacher, announced that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. The three story brick building housed the old post office , a dental office and some apartments. Two years later, 1943 I had been in the Navy for nine months."

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Yesterday's Ride-around

When you go to the Post Office, take a good look at the painting in the window!!

(I'll try to take more photos, today, and get a list of the WCS students who participated in the painting project!)


There's a new sign in the Park Bulletin Board.

Decorations at the Upcrafts' home on West Bacon Street ...........

..... and at Dan and Marilyn Maine's home on McCabe Road.

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When I first caught sight of these big white birds they were all on the ground in the field behind Edie Eastman's house in Dicksville and I thought, "Oh good! Snow Geese!"

But they were actually Seagulls --- a l-o-n-g way from home!

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EVENTS

Today at the Library

6:30 p.m.

Not Just Another Fruitcake... Holiday Food

Whether you want some of your favorite holiday foods to be healthier,
or just need some new festive ideas,
come try a few samples and leave with lots of recipes.

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7:00 p.m.

Knit2gether

Bring in your current project and join us at our knitting group where you can relax, chat and knit with fellow knitters.
Knitters of all skill levels are welcome to come.
If you need help with a project we have experienced knitters at our group almost weekly.

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It's a Problem!


The 2010 Troop 108 Christmas Reindeer.

Each year, Scouts from Troop 108 assemble several special Christmas packages - which include toiletries, games, candy and even evergreen-tree reindeer! - to send to local men and women who are serving in the military overseas.

This year's packages are just about ready to mail, but

the Scouts don't know where to send them!

Can YOU help?

- by providing the names and addresses of any service men and women from the Waterville / Deansboro / Oriskany Falls / North Brookfield area who are deployed overseas, now?

You can send the information either to me at the link above or to Mark Mowrey at mmowrey@twcny.rr.com . Thank you!

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SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

An E-note from Julie Olmstead:

"My son was excited to see his name on your blog, At Home in the Huddle, on Monday, November 21, as having provided musical entertainment at Prize Speaking. However, he was listed as the flutist, and Eddie Brennan was listed as the pianist. Eli was actually the pianist and Eddie was the flutist. Thank You."

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More when it happens.

Have a good day, everyone!

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Hedwig "Hedy" Eisenhut

1914 - 2011

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AUDREY BARBIERE
Marketing Support Specialist
in the Acrelec Office in France

from Glen Carroll and everyone at the Acrelec Americas Office
located in Waterville, New York, U.S.A.

(Photo by Glen Carroll)

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(Yes. They read the blog in France!
To learn more about Acrelec click HERE or stop at the office,
on West Main Street.)

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Good Monday Morning!

It's Garbage day.

43 degrees with a magnificent sunrise at 7:10.

The forecast from YNN: " Monday is shaping up to be a bit of an unsettled day with scattered showers under a mostly cloudy sky. However, temperatures will manage to climb about 10 degrees above average with highs near 50 degrees.

Rain/snow showers will taper through the day Tuesday and it will be noticeably cooler with highs in the low 40s. The threat for just a few rain/snow showers will continue into Wednesday and Thursday with highs close to 40 degrees.

The way things are currently shaping up, temperatures are expected to only top out in the 30s by the end of the week."

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The recent mild weather has certainly cooperated with outdoor decorators and lighting crews who, inspired by extraordinary anticipation and enthusiasm, or even friendly competition, have outdone themselves. I don't believe that I have ever - in forty-three years - seen so many homes and businesses so brightly and beautifully lit for Christmas!

Taking night time photographs of the displays is, however, difficult, and it's clearly time for me to get out the tripod and try to relearn how to take long-exposure shots. These few are simply "point-and-shoot" pictures - they'll at least give you the idea of what I'm talking about.

The former Fraser residence on Sanger Avenue.

The Strohmeyer home on Putnam Street.

The Harding - Staelen residence on Tower Street.

The Holics' home on West Bacon Street.

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COMING EVENTS

VILLAGE BOARD MEETING TONIGHT AT 7:00

THIS WEEK AT THE LIBRARY

Tuesday Dec 6, 2011 6:30 PM

Not Just Another Fruitcake... Holiday Food

Whether you want some of your favorite holiday foods to be healthier, or just need some new festive ideas, come try a few samples and leave with lots of recipes. Contact: Jill Getman 841-4651 jill@watervillepubliclibrary.org
**********

Ornament Making
Wednesday Dec 7, 2011, 3:30 PM Contact:
Ages 5 & up. Sign Up

Make some ornaments for yourself and some to sell for the library over the holidays! For more information and other children's programs Amanda Briggs 841-4651 amanda@watervillepubliclibrary.org

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Thursday Dec 8, 2011, 6:00 PM
Holiday Movie: Prep & Landing
All Ages. Drop In.

Come see Disney's "Prep & Landing" and let these elves get you in the holiday spirit. Plus, a free candy cane to enjoy while you watch!


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Friday at 7:00

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ALSO

Poolville Winter Farmers Market Saturday - 10 - noon.
from the Madison County Courier.

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FOR THE RECORD

I drove around the park, late yesterday afternoon, and found Jim Brackett tending store at the Sanger Lodge Christmas Tree "store." He told me that they had brought in 225 trees and "business was brisk!" Tracy Tanner Beasley, who lives outside of Boston, sent a Facebook note saying that she had just paid $60 for a tree, there. In Waterville, they're just $25 - a bargain! Newcomers may not realize that although there are often Masons on site to handle sales, there are times when there is no one there. In that case, customers can still pick out and take their tree and then go to Ken Paulson's Garage on Conger Avenue to pay for it.

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Spotted in the Sunday O-D: "1936, 75 years ago

4-cent increase

"Gasoline dealers throughout the Upper Mohawk Valley have been saying for weeks that gas prices locally are below average. So this week they raise prices by four cents a gallon – to 18 cents for regular and 21 for high test."

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I have a question for "older" blog readers:

Where were you seventy years ago on December 7th when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor?

Were you in the Service or do you remember listening to Franklin Roosevelt's "date which will live in infamy" speech on the radio? (To hear it again, click HERE.)

Please share you memories with us!

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REMEMBER: BIG TRASH COLLECTION TOMORROW!


Have a good day, everyone!

Another loss.

The Utica Observer-Dispatch notes the death, yesterday, of Hedwig Eisenhut, 96, a long-time resident of "Hanover" and friend to many in the Waterville area.

I will post a link to her obituary as soon as possible.