Monday Add-on

It's another beautiful day. Bright spots in town include:

Mr. Cleary's residence, on Sanger Avenue, where Bill Vetter's crew has been painting the home a cool shade of white and adding deep teal-green shutters and touching up some lovely details with the same shade of green.

At Mrs. Tonetti's residence, in Sangerfield, clumps of Oriental Poppies and Lemon Lilies bloom outside the shady little summer house.

There's a magnificent flowerbed at the Zwahlens', at the corner of Osborn and Route 20 in Sangerfield.

At the Car Wash, of course, where Tom Eisenhut is always first!

Monday

It's 56 degrees and

Garbage Day, again!

The WKTV Weather Forecast calls for pleasantly, typically, summery weather:

• Monday: Partly sunny. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. High 80
• Monday night: Partly cloudy. Low 59
• Tuesday: Partly sunny. Chance of a shower or thunderstorm. High 83 Low 60

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This is going to be just a quick start-up to the day: just enough to say that yesterday was magnificent, from morning 'til night, and that I'll post more later on.

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We started the day early:
Bill Beldan and Dick's sister, Sylvia, and and their daughter, Kathryn McCarraher, with me up at The Root Glen, at Hamilton College.

I arrived at "Michael's Fine Food & Spirits" just a few minutes before 3:00, and everything was ready: even a special sign on the blackboard and - everywhere - vases (mostly "mason jars") filled with wild flowers that had all been picked by Sarah Sexton and Cathy Burbules.

The display of food was just like a picture!

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And then people started coming and I put my camera down and that was that!
I know that there were others taking photographs -- perhaps someone will E-mail me a few to post!

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Not only were Dick's sister and brother-in-law and niece there along with our daughter Allison and her husband, Rick, and our grandson Iain, but also Rick's parents, Helen and Victor Methe from Berne, New York. Phillip and Jennifer Sexton and their children came from Esperance; several members of "Tapestry, the All-centuries Singers" were there; Stanley Dziekonski came from Clinton and a hundred or more from the Waterville Community including Mark and Kathryn LcLane of "Sanger Hill" who had a long conversation with Richard S. Woodman about William Cary Sanger, Jr. Many wore red baseball caps - Patty Louise had even added a sign reading "Well, Why Not?" It was crowded; it was loud; it was happy! and - it was just what Dick would have liked:

A Damn Fine Party

and everyone had a really good time!

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Thank You!

Sunday Morning

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDY ZIRKLE!!!

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It's just 60 degrees; the sun's shining and it's going to be a Damned Fine Day!

• Sunday: A mix of clouds and sun. High 76 Low 56
• Monday: Partly sunny. High 80 Low 59
• Tuesday: Partly sunny. Slight chance of a thunderstorm. High 81 Low 57

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Yesterday started out gray, but with a great "photo op" for me, just a mile or two north of Hamilton. I was Southbound when I passed a Northbound bicyclist. We both did "double-takes," and I turned right around to see if I was seeing things or not ---------- nope! it really was Patty Louise, editor and publisher of The Waterville Times, on the homebound leg of a morning ride!

(But - why is it that every time I take a picture of her she has her eyes closed?)


And the same thing happened when I took this picture of Dick's brother-in-law Bill Beldan and his daughter Kathy McCarraher.

At least Dick's sister, Sylvia, looked awake!

You'll meet the three of them - along with Allison, Rick and Iain and several other very special people - this afternoon, at the Damned Fine Party.


(Remember that there's plenty of parking behind "Michael's". To get there, take the driveway between the New York Pizzeria and the Barton Medical building. There is also a rear entrance to the restaurant.)

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I missed the Garden's Club's Plant Sale, yesterday morning, but - from all reports - it was another great success! Of special note - Shirley Kellogg's plantings of gold and purple: how perfect!!

I did, however, get to the Women's Club Tea on time.

Helen Olmstead and Wendy Sexton were waiting to help serve guests while Adele Cooper and Elaine Cowen had a chat.

How could you NOT have a wonderful time?

Mrs. Catherine Harding was there with her daughter-in-law, Sandy, and ......

....... June Richmond posed with the beautiful centerpiece which had actually been a Birthday Bouquet from her daughter, Terry Tanner, a few days earlier!

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In my morning mail I found this great letter from Lori Meszler, reporting on the WCS Marching Band's activities (and First Place win!) at yesterday's Violet Festival Parade in Dolgeville:

"The day started out early for the WCS Marching Bands and Color Guards. Buses for the High School and JV Band headed out to Dolgeville at 7:15 this morning (that means they arrived far earlier than this to load the equipment) for the annual Dolgeville Violet Festival. It was definately cool in the morning, but by the time they marched at 10AM it had warmed up considerably. It was perfect marching weather, in fact so perfect that the High School Band placed first for the second year in a row! There were lots of local families there making a day of it at the craft tables, Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses, Dolgeville Antique Mill and various other businesses.

Kudo's to Mr. Moshetti, High School Band Director, Ms. McKenna, JV Band Director and Mrs. Carroll, Color Guard all of their hard work and many hours invested in our young people shows! Thanks to the Barton Trust for donating the funds to purchase new uniforms. Many people along the parade route commented on the beautiful new look for WCS. Also thanks to all the band parents who help load buses, organize snacks and drinks, walk with the band, and contribute in anyway. The financial and moral support of our community is greatly appreciated and is a big part of the student's successes today and every day. Most of all, thanks to all of our talented musicians and color guard, they are all great kids and we are so proud of them! They will represent NYS and the Waterville School District so well in the National 4th of July Parade!!

On a side note, the HS band marched the route in front of the JV band. At the end of the route, they stepped off to the side of the road and waited for the younger kids to pass. They cheered them on, with dancing, applause, shouts of encouragement.When the JV band finished the HS Band fell into line behind them for the rest of the march to the buses."

How awesome!!

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Also in the mailbox: this kind note from Paul and Jan Fleischmann.

"Congratulations on your first blogiversary! And also on Dick's Damn Fine Party! Your blog has brought a lot of people (like us) a great deal of enjoyment and enlightenment. Thank you!"

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Suzette's changed her front door's decoration, again!

Shelf - or "artists'" - Fungus decorate old stumps in the woods.

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Today The Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown will host the 11th annual Benefit Horse Show on River Road, County Route 33, just outside the village of Cooperstown. The show, which offers equestrians the opportunity to test their horsemanship skills, features a range of classes for beginner through open riders. A warm-up over fences will be offered from 6:30 to 8:30 am. The competition begins at 9 a.m. rain or shine. Classes include open beginner hunter, special hunter, adult hunter, and open hunter under saddle and over fences. The equitation division includes open, adult, junior, beginner, and walk-trot classes. There will also be a lead line class and the Cooperstown Good Hands equitation class for junior riders.

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Have a great day, everyone!

Saturday

It's 54 degrees and gray, out, but the forecast is bright!

A line of strong storms did move through the area late last evening but it wasn't as strong as some others we've had. The WCS Marching Band will have a good morning for the Parade in Dolgeville; ladies attending the Women's Club Tea, this afternoon, will not get drenched getting there, and IF there's an overflow crowd at the Rotary Auction, this evening in Sangerfield, they'll be comfortable sitting out doors.

• Saturday: Morning clouds and fog giving way to mostly sunny skies by afternoon. Cooler & less humid. High 75
• Saturday Night: Mainly clear and cool. Low 47
• Sunday: Mostly sunny. High 76 Low 51
• Monday: Sunny and mild. High 80 Low 55

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State D.O.T. work on Route 315 continued to tie up traffic all day, yesterday, but the northbound lane from the Buell Avenue hill as far as Sally Road has been resurfaced. Expect more of the same next week!

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I wasn't going to post anything, this morning, but I have received a copy of a letter from John and Wayne Brouillette, who purchased the former Bank Building back in April, to Waterville Area Merchants, Businesses and Community Leaders.

They have arranged a special
Town Meeting
that will take place at the Municipal Hall
Thursday, June 14th from 9 - 10:00 A.M.

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Speaker: Thomas L. Owens, President & CEO, ACCESS Federal Credit Union

"We have been speaking with several financial institutions about locating a branch office in the former Bank of America building on Main St. Our objective has been to bring in a community oriented bank that offers a wide variety of services and products that meet the needs of the residents, businesses, municipalities and agricultural producers in the Waterville area.

Some financial institutions have expressed an interest in leasing the building. We have met with the institutions interested and they have had a tour of the building. One institution in particular has expressed a desire to get a “read on the area” and meet local businesses and decision makers to discuss possibilities. To that end we will be hosting a meeting on Thursday morning, June 14 at the Village Hall. Discussion at this meeting would focus on their philosophy, what the bank could bring to the area and how the bank could provide much needed services and continue to draw people resulting in an increase in commerce and economic development in this region.

Please consider attending this short meeting."

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CLINTON: The Summer Breeze Concert Series will begin this afternoon at the Village Green. Leslie Stoz and Ryan Blakeman will perform at 3 p.m. If it rains, the concert will be moved to Melodic Revolution, 34 College St. Concerts will take place every Saturday through the end of July and on Wednesday, July 4.

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We'll be able to eat at Kitty's on the Canal through the rest of the month.

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It was all Interleague play, last night.

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Tomorrow will have extra-special significance: not only will Dick get to have his Damned Fine Party, but ..............

"At Home in the Huddle" will celebrate its first birthday!

Dick thought that the blog was just about the most clever thing I'd ever done. He was my #1 fan and he'd be saying, "A whole year? You've done good, Doll!" He'd be pleased.

*****

Friday Add-on!

Surprise! Surprise!

I don't know the precise names for the procedures, but "the State" has begun working on Route 315 - right on the Buell Avenue Hill working northward.

If you need to get somewhere in a hurry, take another route ---here there are long lines of single-lane traffic!

More when it happens!

Friday

It's 60.8 degrees, aiming toward hot and humid with rumbles and more!

WKTV's Forecast:

• Friday: Hazy, hot and humid with scattered strong to severe afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Any thunderstorm that develops is capable of producing hail, heavy rain and strong wind gusts. Be sure to stay with wktv.com, the Weather Blog, and NEWSChannel 2 for the very latest on any watches or warnings Friday. High near 90.

• Friday Night: Warm and muggy with showers and thunderstorms ending. Again, some storms could be strong, especially early. Low in the upper 50s.
• Saturday: Becoming mostly sunny, mild and much less humid. High: 75, Low: 47
• Sunday: Mostly sunny and gorgeous High: 76, Low: 51

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Allison and I may be the only two people reading this blog who remember exactly where they were - and what they were doing - just 41 years ago today: we were in Topeka, Kansas, and at about 4:00 in the afternoon we'd taken shelter in the basement of the church from which this photograph of a huge tornadic funnel was taken. Dick stayed up in the parkinglot with all the other men until the noise was so loud he couldn't stand it! Neither we nor our home were "hit," but - in just a few minutes - an entire university and most of the Topeka business district was flattened.

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Something's going on at the Macholds' on West Bacon Street: looks like a new porch!

Out on Hanover Road, Miles Cornish has been clearing some dense brush and ending up with a lovely, open grove.

There are some nice roadside bouquets of "Dame's Rocket" or "Sweet Rocket" or "Wild Phlox" out in the countryside. (It's not really phlox, but a variety of mustard!)

I forgot to take my camera with my when I went to Clinton, but - next to Route 12B - there are two fields of Wild Mustard that are just this bright and can even be seen from the top of Grant Hill.

There's alot going on this weekend!

Check the Community Calendar for some interesting events at the Rogers Center in Sherburne, the Earlville Opera House, at the Augusta-Vernon Center Preesbuyterian Church as well as in Waterville!

The WCS Marching Band will be in Dolgeville, tomorrow, marching in the Violet Festival Parade. Other activities planned include music entertainment, art exhibits, arts and crafts show, fireworks, Eastern Regional Draft Horse Fun Day, 5K Run for the Violets, Children's Run, poetry contest and Violet Festival Idol contest, Flower the Clown, village-wide garage sales and children's coaster derby.

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It's getting wonderfully exciting and hectic, here in the Hollow: company coming for "Dick's Damned Fine Party" on Sunday afternoon. Blogging will become unpredictable, I imagine - erratic at best! But we intend to have a Damned Fine Weekend and hope that you will, too!

Thursday w/ 8:45 add-on

It's another "Fish Story"

added at 8:45 Thursday morning.

(click for better view!)

Sean Campbell caught this Great Northern Pike - 48" long and weighing 25 lbs. - in Davis Creek in Earlville.



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It's Garbage Day, again!

38 degrees: Brrrrrrrisk but Sunny!

• Thursday: Mix of sun & clouds. Pleasant. High 73
• Thursday Night: Partly cloudy with a thunderstorm possible. Low 60
• Friday: Hazy sunshine, hot and humid with thunderstorms likely. Best chance for thunderstorm activity will be during the afternoon. High 89 Low 57
• Saturday: Partly to mostly sunny. Pleasant. High 75 Low 47

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The first day of Farmers Market on the Park was brighter and busier than anyone expected. The temperature, after all, was low enough to warrant wearing of winter jackets!

A pen of goats was attracting quite a good deal of attention and they, themselves, seemed fascinated with their view of the Park and the people!

Word has it that "Mac's" remains closed while renovations inside the building are taking place.

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Meanwhile, at the old Hotel, Mr. Hudson - who has updated plumbing and wiring and constructed a new stairway to the second floor - is making careful refurbishments to and doing some fine carpentry in both the bar and dining areas while also laying tile and carpeting.

The new B & B on VanHyning Road is being painted - a very unusual, but exciting combination of colors.

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Some of the residents in Whiskey Hollow: two red squirrels and four young chipmunks who think I'm their mother and that the birdseed is all for them!

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Patches of Yellow Flag are showing up in swampy spots - always just out of reach!

Starting to bloom next to the culvert where Big Creek flows beneath Main Street.

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The tables seem to have turned,
but the standings don't reflect a great change.

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Have a great day!