Yes: it's a Hop Vine Christmas Tree!
Have a wonderful day!
Friday, December 25, 2015
Monday, December 14, 2015
Some Habits are Hard to Break!
............. like waking up at 5:00 to check the News and Weather
and knowing that there are things that you, too, will want to know.
***********************
— In Memoriam —
1924 - 2015
*****
1919 - 2015
***********************
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING AT 7:00 THIS EVENING.
One
of the topics is bound to be the November 16 Sale of the Village-owned
property at #381 Putnam Street to Dave Sullivan for $20,000.
****
"Snow birds"in Texas are wondering "WHY?"
it was warmer in Waterville than it was in Houston,
yesterday afternoon!"
Last year it looked like this:
This year grass is still green and I found a dandelion (really!) on my front lawn.
If it weren't for the greens and bows that two public-spirited "elves" have hung on the Bandstand you'd never guess that Christmas is only eleven days away.
The Masons' Annual Christmas Tree Sale began on the last Sunday in November but - as of yesterday afternoon - there was still no tree nor were there any Christmas lights in the Bandstand.
(Perhaps the Village is waiting for it to snow?)
Because it's been warm enough to work outdoors, Christmas Decorations throughout the Village and community have been outstanding this year.
If you do not already know the results of the Waterville Garden Club's Annual Christmas Decorations & Lighting Contest, you can find the complete list HERE, at the "Hub" — your new source of "what's happening when," and more!
*****
I will be posting miscellaneous items, now and then, but they will not usually include community announcements but will only be my observations - like this:
Windows were installed at Dale Meszler's "260 Structural" building on East Main Street a few days ago.
Now, watch for candles to appear in those windows, too!
************************
I am still working my way through "thank you" notes in reply to all of those that have been sent to me!
Although I do intend to keep blogging, I'll be trading in my old HUDLBLGR license plates
and am also trying to come up with a new blog title.
Do let me know if you have suggestions!
****
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Friday, November 20, 2015
GOOD NEWS "A Blog is Born!"
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Great Thanks
to all of you who have sent letters telling me how much you have enjoyed "At Home in the Huddle."
I will answer each of your letters, individually, later on today, but just want you to know right away how much I appreciate them!
AND .....
I'm totally delighted (and excited) to announce the "birth" of a new blog — offspring of PsBrown and the Waterville Public Library — that will be called:
"Hub of the Huddle."
The layout may be a little different, but it will be produced on "Blogspot" and the content will be the same (including lots of photos and links to the original blog archives) plus a few new topics.
Keep checking back for updates!
Thursday, November 19, 2015
It's 57 degrees and blustery at 7:30 a.m.
with rain on the way.
*****
IN THE MAIL
From Dana O'Brien:
"The annual Garden Club Christmas decorating contest
will be held on Thursday December 3rd. this year.
Homes within the village limits will be judged in 2 categories, overall effect and doorway. The local businesses will be judged separately. Anyone living outside the village limits with a Waterville address that is interested in having their home judged, is asked to call Sue Buschor at 794-4252."
********
IN THE NEWS
— FROM WKTV.
— FROM WKTV.
**********************
NEWSWORTHY
At last Monday evening's Village Board Meeting, the Mayor and Trustees sold the vacant lot at #381 Putnam Street to Mr. David Sullivan who intends to construct a single building containing six apartments on the property.
The possibility of this sale had been the subject of intense controversy for the past several months and reaction from many Village residents was swift, with many expressing their extreme disappointment or their pleasure in telephone calls and Emails to me as well as to other area residents in casual gatherings at parking lots and diners. Other residents, however, were neither familiar with the controversy nor did they have any opinion at all.
As clarification: It was my contention, all along, that because over $300,000 in taxpayers' money has been invested in acquiring and cleaning up the land plus the unique location of the property and the fact that it is the ONLY vacant area within Village limits suitable for some as yet unknown Municipal use, that it should not be sold at all, at this time.
**************
It is only coincidental that this event occurred at the same time that I made a decision that has been a long time in coming:
TBT
I posted this picture on Thursday, October 28, 2010 — the day that Mike Tower put the finishing touches on the Memorial Bandstand.
After I took the picture I sat in my car, breathed a great sigh of relief, and said to myself,
"There: that's done, and now I can quit blogging!"
"At Home in the Huddle" was invented in 2006 to record the changes that occurred in Waterville during the two-year New York State Highway Reconstruction Project. Little by little, roads and sidewalks were paved, Victorian Street Lamps put in place and street trees planted. The last step was the construction of the Bandstand.
In the five years since then, maintaining this blog has become more and more tiresome and, frankly, boring. The decision to actually "STOP" has been difficult because I know how important "the Huddle blog" has become to its hundreds of readers and the not-for-profit organizations who need a place to advertise events.
Although it does take a fair amount of time, blogging on Blogspot is not so technologically demanding that many other Villagers couldn't do the same thing.
The Waterville Times has reported that efforts are being made to establish a Village website, but the beauty of a blog, if you can call it that, is that every entry is archived and can be "searched" by anyone anywhere in the world (or, even, on the International Space Station!) A website doesn't work that way.
I hope someone - or a team of bloggers - will offer to take over. I'll be glad to help any community-minded volunteers!
So, as of right now, "At Home in the Huddle" will become my personal blog with random posts that include photographs and bits of local history, from time to time.
What else will I be doing? Well - there IS the matter of Christmas projects (cards, etc.) plus lots of writing family history for my grandson and his scores of cousins, and - of course - reviewing recordings, transcribing and organizing stories told by the wonderful "Old timers" so that their memories can be shared with all of you. Then there are more and more drawings of more old barns, breakfasts and lunches out, visits to "the Munstitute," fair-weather day-trips and - even - a possible escape southward, sometime, with other "Snowbirds." Don't worry: I'll be plenty busy!
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to All of You.
Thank you, Everyone!
I posted this picture on Thursday, October 28, 2010 — the day that Mike Tower put the finishing touches on the Memorial Bandstand.
After I took the picture I sat in my car, breathed a great sigh of relief, and said to myself,
"There: that's done, and now I can quit blogging!"
"At Home in the Huddle" was invented in 2006 to record the changes that occurred in Waterville during the two-year New York State Highway Reconstruction Project. Little by little, roads and sidewalks were paved, Victorian Street Lamps put in place and street trees planted. The last step was the construction of the Bandstand.
In the five years since then, maintaining this blog has become more and more tiresome and, frankly, boring. The decision to actually "STOP" has been difficult because I know how important "the Huddle blog" has become to its hundreds of readers and the not-for-profit organizations who need a place to advertise events.
Although it does take a fair amount of time, blogging on Blogspot is not so technologically demanding that many other Villagers couldn't do the same thing.
The Waterville Times has reported that efforts are being made to establish a Village website, but the beauty of a blog, if you can call it that, is that every entry is archived and can be "searched" by anyone anywhere in the world (or, even, on the International Space Station!) A website doesn't work that way.
I hope someone - or a team of bloggers - will offer to take over. I'll be glad to help any community-minded volunteers!
So, as of right now, "At Home in the Huddle" will become my personal blog with random posts that include photographs and bits of local history, from time to time.
What else will I be doing? Well - there IS the matter of Christmas projects (cards, etc.) plus lots of writing family history for my grandson and his scores of cousins, and - of course - reviewing recordings, transcribing and organizing stories told by the wonderful "Old timers" so that their memories can be shared with all of you. Then there are more and more drawings of more old barns, breakfasts and lunches out, visits to "the Munstitute," fair-weather day-trips and - even - a possible escape southward, sometime, with other "Snowbirds." Don't worry: I'll be plenty busy!
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to All of You.
Thank you, Everyone!
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Wednesday AM Special
***********************************
— In Memoriam —
****************
1916 - 2015
***********************************
NEWSWORTHY
— From Mr. Vincent Elacqua, WCS —
"On Thursday November 12, 2015, Waterville
Central School held the school’s 142ndt High School Prize Speaking
contest. This continues what may well be the oldest prize speaking contest in
the country. Nine students competed in three different categories. The
categories were Observational Humor, Drama and Poetry, and Comedy.
The results were as follows -
In the category of Observational
Humor:
3rd place – Emily
Belouin “Amazing
Life Hacks” (Alida Nugent)
2nd place – John
Brouillette "Here's
Your Sign" (Bill Engvall)
1st place - Andrew Tilbe "Everyday
Expressions" (George Carlin)
In the Drama and Poetry category:
3rd prize – Paige Padula
“We
Were Just Kids” (Mark Littleton)
2nd place – Diana
Selyuzhitskaya excerpt from “ The Black Cat” (Edgar
Allan Poe)
In the category of Comedy:
3rd prize - Adrianna Zombek "The
Biggest Thing in My Life' (Adam
Ferrara)
2nd place – Kaylee
Oaksford
“My
Vacation” (John Pinette)
1st place - Kaelee Cleary "Stupid in
School/ Lousy in Little League" (Brian Regan)
The Waterville Student Council
provided refreshments during the intermission.
The Waterville Rotary Club has been
the proud sponsor of this event for half a century, providing prizes and
encouragement for student performers.
Many congratulations to all of the
students who memorized and performed the monologues on stage."
*****************************************
****************************************
— The Kiosk —
Happening Today at the Library!
***********
*****************************************
Monday, November 16, 2015
Sunday, November 15, 2015
********************
It's 57 degrees and hazy at 2:30 Sunday afternoon.
Here's the Forecast from TWCNY:
"Breezy & Milder, Quiet Start to Work Week.
Today will feature sun and clouds, breezy and milder with temperatures climbing into the 50s.
Quiet weather continues into the first half of the upcoming week with partly to mostly sunny skies expected through Wednesday. Temperatures through this time will remain in the 50s.
Our next system arrives on Thursday with good chances for rain showers and some wind. Highs will remain above average through the end of the week and likely into the start of next weekend! "
Today will feature sun and clouds, breezy and milder with temperatures climbing into the 50s.
Quiet weather continues into the first half of the upcoming week with partly to mostly sunny skies expected through Wednesday. Temperatures through this time will remain in the 50s.
Our next system arrives on Thursday with good chances for rain showers and some wind. Highs will remain above average through the end of the week and likely into the start of next weekend! "
********************************************
NEWSWORTHY
NEWSWORTHY
The Prindle family's new home on Stafford Avenue!
***********
Did Savage Survive?
********************************************
LOOK FOR CHANGES
at
"The Waterville Times"
From The Waterville Times' Facebook page:
"Waterville Times readers, this is a quick note to look in your paper of Nov. 18 for some exciting news. For the next six weeks, the Times will be doing a trial run in Clinton and Kirkland, which lost its longtime paper, the Clinton Courier, in September. The size of the Times will increase to include the new community and so what we currently do is not reduced. If we see enough support from that area, Clinton and Kirkland will become a permanent part of the Times coverage. Next week's paper will explain in detail; if you have any questions, please let us know."
In my personal Email:
"An important message from Dick Williams for those who miss The Clinton Courier:
Friends and neighbors,
I am sad that the Clinton Courier closed in early September leaving our village and town with no local newspaper to keep us all informed and up-to-date on local issues and news.
I assume you share my feeling that a void now exists within our community after some 169 years of having a weekly paper.
It is my pleasure to alert you that the Waterville Times is very interested in covering Clinton and will begin a trial period on November 18, 2015.
The Times will come free in the mail to Clinton households and businesses between November 18 and December 23, 2015. The Times has hired a reporter and a photographer to cover Clinton and Kirkland as one would expect from a local weekly paper.
Pat Louise, the owner/publisher of the Waterville Times, has been a reporter for the Observer-Dispatch and has owned the Waterville Times for over 12 years so has a firm view of how to run a local paper. She also teaches journalism at Mohawk Valley Community College.
Pat wants your stories, events, obituaries, weddings, calendar items, sports, and anything else starting with her deadline of November 13 for the November 18 issue, the first one to arrive here. Send her items at news@cnymail.com. Telephone 841-4105.
I urge all of you to 1) subscribe to the Waterville Times 2) take out an ad if a business person, 3) send Pat Louise your news items just like you did to the Courier, and 4) spread the word. She has asked me to continue my local history column.
This is a trial period, and the Waterville Times will only continue here if the response from Clinton is positive. I see this as probably our last chance to have local news, sports, school, and feature articles in a local paper.
Won’t you join me in becoming a booster and welcome the Waterville Times’ endeavor to bring us weekly coverage of our community?
Call me at 853-5018 if you have any questions.
-Dick Williams"
AT THE LIBRARY
(Click HERE for the complete interactive calendar.)
******
Waterville Central School
For more, click HERE.
***************
In my personal Email:
"An important message from Dick Williams for those who miss The Clinton Courier:
Friends and neighbors,
I am sad that the Clinton Courier closed in early September leaving our village and town with no local newspaper to keep us all informed and up-to-date on local issues and news.
I assume you share my feeling that a void now exists within our community after some 169 years of having a weekly paper.
It is my pleasure to alert you that the Waterville Times is very interested in covering Clinton and will begin a trial period on November 18, 2015.
The Times will come free in the mail to Clinton households and businesses between November 18 and December 23, 2015. The Times has hired a reporter and a photographer to cover Clinton and Kirkland as one would expect from a local weekly paper.
Pat Louise, the owner/publisher of the Waterville Times, has been a reporter for the Observer-Dispatch and has owned the Waterville Times for over 12 years so has a firm view of how to run a local paper. She also teaches journalism at Mohawk Valley Community College.
Pat wants your stories, events, obituaries, weddings, calendar items, sports, and anything else starting with her deadline of November 13 for the November 18 issue, the first one to arrive here. Send her items at news@cnymail.com. Telephone 841-4105.
I urge all of you to 1) subscribe to the Waterville Times 2) take out an ad if a business person, 3) send Pat Louise your news items just like you did to the Courier, and 4) spread the word. She has asked me to continue my local history column.
This is a trial period, and the Waterville Times will only continue here if the response from Clinton is positive. I see this as probably our last chance to have local news, sports, school, and feature articles in a local paper.
Won’t you join me in becoming a booster and welcome the Waterville Times’ endeavor to bring us weekly coverage of our community?
Call me at 853-5018 if you have any questions.
-Dick Williams"
****************************************
COMING EVENTS
COMING EVENTS
AT THE LIBRARY
******
Waterville Central School
***************************************************
Village of Waterville
************************************
DISCOVERED!
(With Thanks to Carol Gloss for the tip!)
The "Buttercup Bakery" in Bouckville
(next to the big, old Bouckville Hotel - now vacant - on the north side of Route 20.)
Cookies, scones, turnovers, croissants, pizza, breads and more.
Open every day from 8:00 to 8:00.
***************************************
Today the search is on — for Bittersweet!
Village of Waterville
************************************
DISCOVERED!
(With Thanks to Carol Gloss for the tip!)
The "Buttercup Bakery" in Bouckville
(next to the big, old Bouckville Hotel - now vacant - on the north side of Route 20.)
Open every day from 8:00 to 8:00.
***************************************
Today the search is on — for Bittersweet!
Thursday, November 12, 2015
It's "Recyclables" Day.
49 degrees and dry at 6:00 a.m.
49 degrees and dry at 6:00 a.m.
The Weather Forecast from TWCNY:
"Breezy & Mild with Showers, Colder Air is Coming.
A new system arrive with occasional showers developing today. It will be a breezy and mild day with highs ranging from the mid 50s to just above 60 degrees.
Friday will be windy and noticeably cooler with scattered showers. Highs will be in the 40s to near 50 degrees. Unsettled conditions will continue through the first half of the weekend and due to chillier highs in the low 40s Saturday, the forecast calls for some snow showers to mix in.
Dry weather and sunshine will build back in on Sunday with temperatures warming back into the 50s. Plenty of sunshine will stick around into early next week with highs remaining in the 50s. Temperatures will likely warm into the 60s out ahead of our next system that will eventually bring showers back to the forecast on Thursday."
*****************************
SPECIAL REMINDER
The 142nd Annual
PRIZE SPEAKING CONTEST
will take place at 7:30 this evening in the
Waterville Jr.-Sr. High School Auditorium.
**********************
The 142nd Annual
PRIZE SPEAKING CONTEST
will take place at 7:30 this evening in the
Waterville Jr.-Sr. High School Auditorium.
**********************
NEW EVENT
IN THE MAIL
From Carol Gilley for the Marshall Historical Society announcing that a link to the Society's November 2015 Newsletter can now be found on the Society's website.
*****
From Carol Gilley for the Marshall Historical Society announcing that a link to the Society's November 2015 Newsletter can now be found on the Society's website.
*****
From Walter (a.k.a. "Bart" or "Jr.") Bartlett, this photograph of himself taken on Veterans Day during his Patriot Guard Mission at the Geneseo Airport National War Museum. He wrote .....
"I wanted to purchase this replica small scale version of the ww2 Corsair fighter that Ed McManon, Johnny Carson's sidekick, flew. We also Honored Wallace Higgins, a Tuskegee Alabama airman who received the Gold Congressional medal of Honor. A two-fold day as it was his 90th Birthday."
*************************
From Jeff Reynolds, the Flying Librarian, who had spent quite an amount of time making (someone must have said) "quite a racket" flying above Waterville on Monday afternoon. He sent several of the photographs that he took, then, but this was my favorite because I could easily pick out the Library — and its new Croquet Court — and then see all the way north past the "Boston Bank Lot" on Sally Road to Hanover Hill. (Click to enlarge!)
(Thanks loads, Jeff!)
********************************
Views from my camera - at ground level!
It all began on Sunday afternoon when, with an assist from the ground crew and air traffic control, the Verdons' Reindeer pulled Santa's sleigh up, up, and flew into the air above Putnam Street.
Thanks to the mild weather, more and more Christmas decorations have appeared .......
............. on White Street ..............
............... Conger Avenue .......
.................... West Bacon Street .........
.............. and the DPW installed Christmas wreaths and garlands on Victorian lamp posts all the way from the Fire House to Stewart's.
**********
There was activity at the former "Stinkers" / "Good Times" on Wednesday afternoon. Lights were on and the American Flag flew outside the door, but I couldn't find anyone there to talk with.
Maybe today!
******
FOR THE RECORD
Kristin Strohmeyer of Putnam Street was the first to identify the species of creature who was seen roaming Main Street in the company of a pretty young lady on Hallowe'en Eve......
************************************
More when it happens!
From Jeff Reynolds, the Flying Librarian, who had spent quite an amount of time making (someone must have said) "quite a racket" flying above Waterville on Monday afternoon. He sent several of the photographs that he took, then, but this was my favorite because I could easily pick out the Library — and its new Croquet Court — and then see all the way north past the "Boston Bank Lot" on Sally Road to Hanover Hill. (Click to enlarge!)
********************************
Views from my camera - at ground level!
It all began on Sunday afternoon when, with an assist from the ground crew and air traffic control, the Verdons' Reindeer pulled Santa's sleigh up, up, and flew into the air above Putnam Street.
Thanks to the mild weather, more and more Christmas decorations have appeared .......
............. on White Street ..............
.................... West Bacon Street .........
.............. and the DPW installed Christmas wreaths and garlands on Victorian lamp posts all the way from the Fire House to Stewart's.
**********
Maybe today!
******
FOR THE RECORD
Kristin Strohmeyer of Putnam Street was the first to identify the species of creature who was seen roaming Main Street in the company of a pretty young lady on Hallowe'en Eve......
................. pointing out the similarities that it bore to the famous "Wild Thing," created by American writer and illustrator, Maurice Sendak, in 1963.
(Thank you, Kristin!)
*******
More when it happens!
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