Monday, June 1, 2015




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It's Garbage Day.
50 degrees and drippy at 5:00 a.m.

The Weather Forecast from TWCNY:


"Damp and Chilly, Showers and Unsettled Conditions Continue.

Today will be unseasonably cool with cloudy sky with scattered showers. Temperatures are only expected to top out in the 50s.

An upper-level low looks to develop to our north by Tuesday so clouds should continue to dominate with just a couple of lingering showers. Temperatures will improve some with highs in the low 60s. We'll really notice the improvement on Wednesday with dry weather, more sun and highs in the low 70s.

Despite a couple of showers and storms returning to the forecast Thursday and Friday, it will be even warmer to finish off the week as temperatures mange to sneak back up into the low 80s."


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IN THE NEWS

If you missed yesterday's post,

"Syracuse High School Theater Awards: And the winners ..."

from Syracuse.com.

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Also in the News ....
 

" Our 'SURVIVOR'"


Andy Savage!
(Read about him HERE!)

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Last week I had a special opportunity and was invited to visit
Ben and Carol Wood's Pinecroft Farm on Sanger Hill Road 
to watch the Annual Spring Shearing!
Thank you both!

In two hours-long shearing sessions spread over two days, shearers Nancy Myers and Paula Decker, both from Morris, sheared around three hundred sheep of several different breeds.  

Carol Wood told me that, "Ben raises primarily Romneys (from the Romney Marsh area of England), Border Cheviots (from the English/Scottish border) and Perrindales (Romney/Border Cheviot crosses). Ben also has some Suffolk crosses (white with black faces), North Country Cheviots (from the Scottish Highlands), Dorsets (from Dorset, England), and Shetlands (from the Shetland Isles)." 

Of the several pictures that I wish I had taken, the first would be a shot of the noisy mob of sheep waiting for their turn - they reminded me of the lines of ladies that used to wait for the doors to open at Filene's Basement in Boston!


Also in the "visitors' gallery" were Mary Maldonado, l., and her daughter, Becky Dadah, who held a small lamb while Mama Sheep got her Spring "do."



Although the sheep seemed fairly docile, Nancy Myers used her legs and feet to keep a firm grip on her "clients." The ewes weigh on average 175-225 pounds, and the rams 200-250 pounds, depending on breed.



Another picture I missed: once a sheep had been totally sheared they were held completely still while Ben Wood stepped in with hypodermic syringe in hand and gave each sheep their Springtime "shots."



There were a few Black Sheep in line, too.
(Please see note below.)



Next, the fleeces are stacked beside the "skirting" tables.
"The fleeces of the Romneys, which are raised for their wool, weigh on average 9-15 pounds, the other breeds and crosses 5-8 pounds."



Renata Stuttard (front) and Anna Kiss (far left) skirting (cleaning) fleeces.

 
 Ben Wood and neighbor Bill Fredericks with newly-shorn Cheviot sheep.  (I had to chuckle: look at the little lamb that went out and got right down into the dirt as fast as he could!)
It was a grand experience! Unfortunately, shearing only takes place once a year - it takes that long for the fleece to grow - but I plan on going back next year and taking many, many more pictures!

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Note: "Baa-baa Black Sheep!"

Many years ago I spent a memorable week or so with Millie Bankert at the home of Gerald and Claire Hoare in the little English village of Aylesham, NE of London.  It was also the home of the Singing Black Sheep seen in this video, made by Claire's sister's son - Lord Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Records - when he was just getting started in the business! 

(Yes - you really can find anything on youtube: Enjoy!)

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IN THE MAIL 

From Chikako Ikeguchi, this picture of her neighbor's son, Owen, taken at the Wreath and Crown-making workshop that took place at the Waterville Public Library on May 24th.

 Thank you, Chikako!

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On Madison Street. 

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Here are your
JUNE CALENDARS

VILLAGE OF WATERVILLE

For more Municipal News, please click HERE.

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WATERVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL


For complete, Interactive Calendar, please click HERE.

Special Announcement:
BROTHERTOWN MUSIC BOOSTERS
from Karen Fox:

"The Last Meeting of the Year
will be held  Tuesday, June 2, at 7:00 pm 
in the Chorus Room in the WCS Jr./Sr. High  School. 

Included on the agenda will be board elections for the 
upcoming 2015 - 2016 year, 

Sherburne and Dolgeville parades, 
the Ice  Cream Social on June 7, 
and the trip to Disney. 

PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND!

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GRADUATION
will take place on June 20 at 10:30 a.m.!


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WATERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
For the complete, Interactive Calendar, please click HERE.

N.B.  FARMERS MARKET returns to the
Library Lawn each Friday afternoon!

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Please note: "Youngsters" are participants older than 55 but younger than 70!

Visitors of any age are always welcome, too.
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Special Announcement from Doris Stephan:



The Invention of Wings, 
by Sue Monk Kidd, 
is the choice for June for  
the Waterville Book Discussion Group.

"From the author of the Secret Life of Bees, comes an exquisitely written novel that is a triumph of storytelling. It looks with unswerving eyes at a devastating wound in American history, through women whose  struggles for liberation, empowerment, and expression will leave no reader unmoved.."

Request a  copy by calling the Waterville Library at 841 4651.  Pack your lunch, and come to the Meeting Room at the Library 
on Wednesday, June 24th, at 12 noon.  
We will serve coffee, tea, dessert and some good conversation. 

Extra-special Event:

"Summer Solstice Celebration"
Thu, June 18, 7:30pm – 10:30pm

Bring a blanket or some chairs and join us on the library lawn as we celebrate the upcoming summer season! We'll have free ice cream from Roc-Star Ice Cream, live music, kids activities and at dusk you can gaze at the stars! 
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It seems impossible, but .....

"At Home in the Huddle" 
will turn  9 Years Old on June 6th!

As has become my usual routine, I'll be taking a real vacation/break after that, and will return after the July 4th weekend.

Reminders:

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2015
Waterville Village Hall from 8:30 - 1:30



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If you have any NEW announcements that you want posted before I go away, please send them to me just as soon as you possibly can!