By CAROL BRODIE
Happy Mother’s Day to all
mothers!
The past week has been
rather cool, hasn’t it, but at
least we’ve received some
much-needed rain. Actually,
it was downright cold on
Thursday morning, May 1,
as we had 28 degrees up here
on the hill while Cliff Snyder
reports he had 22 at his
house down in town. He said
they also had a quite heavy
frost that morning, while we
had a light frost.
I had a nice phone call
last week from Cora Wikoff,
who lives just outside of
Cherry Valley. She and Walt
have been enjoying a variety
of birds at their feeders lately.
They’ve had male and female
goldfinches, a redpoll,
chipping sparrow, song sparrow,
and a beautiful pair of
cardinals, among other
birds.
Our pair of cardinals,
which we hadn’t seen in a
few weeks, are back again
and have been visiting our
feeder. I have to keep check
of the feeder, as something,
other than birds, seem to
have been eating the food.
I’m assuming it is a pair of
raccoons that have been here
for most of the winter. Pat
Mabie mentioned not being
able to put suet out for her
birds now, as she had two
raccoons there that devoured
it.
While Frank and I were
at the Schoharie County Maple
Festival on Saturday,
April 26, and Dad went down
for part of the day as well,
Sharon Thompson and her
granddaughter, Elizabeth, of
Morris stopped in at our
house to visit Mom for a
while.
Last Friday, as Dad, Mom
and I were in the Cobleskill
Wal-Mart shopping, we ran
into Mary Kersman, of Decatur,
and her mom, Mary
Cameron, of Worcester. Mom
and I enjoyed a nice visit
with them, as we hadn’t seen
them in a long time. It’s nice
to occasionally see some of
our former neighbors who’ve
moved away from South Valley.
Expression of Sympathy
We were very sorry to
hear of the death of Orval
Huntington, 89, of Unadilla
and Zephyrhills, Fla., who
passed away at his daughter
Barbara “Bobbie” Burdick’s
New Mexico home on
Wednesday, April 16. Our
thoughts and many prayers
are with Bobbie and her sister,
Yvonne “Vonnie” Ackley,
of Sidney, and their families,
as well as the rest of Orval’s
relatives.
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthday wishes go out to
Haylee Gray who will be five
years old, Corey James Jerome,
Samantha Coon who
turns 23, Mary Lou Bach,
Michele Becker, Amber Lundgren
who will be 10, Ashley
Rivas, Laurie Laymon, John
Moore, Michael Drake, Charley
Brodie, and Alton Jones.
Oops! Once again, I
missed an important birthday!
Happy (belated) birthday
to little Ezra Wilber who
turned four years old on May
1.
Anniversary wishes go to
Walter and Debbie Stretch
and Sam and Marge Dubben.
Congratulations once
again to Leland “Zeke” and
Pat Mabie who celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary
on Sunday, April 27,
with an Open House at the
South Valley Community
Hall. Pat says approximately
75 guests, both family and
friends, attended, and she
and Leland send each of you
a warm thank you for helping
to make their day even
more special. Their daughter,
Debbie Anderson, said it
was neat that they were able
to hold the party on the actual
day of their anniversary.
All three of their children,
Debra, Leland, and Tom,
were there, as were all six of
their grandchildren. Leland’s
sister, Marjorie French, and
her three daughters, Janet,
Cindy, and Karen, were
there, as were Pat’s brother
and sister, Bob Norton and
Sandy Sutton.
A buffet-style meal was
held, with a cake made by
their daughter, Debbie. Two
of the ladies from the South
Valley Women’s Club also
helped out in the kitchen
with the meal.
Several people who
couldn’t make it to the party
have either sent cards or
stopped by the Mabies’ home
to visit.
Leland Mabie and Patricia
Norton were married at
the South Valley First Christian
Church on April 27,
1958, with Rev. Myron Tripp
officiating over the ceremony.
Their attendants, now
both deceased, were Pat’s
aunt, Helen Bissell, and Leland’s
brother, Gerald “Joker”
Mabie.
Coming Events
Spring has arrived, and
along with it, the first dinner
of the South Valley Women’s
Club. After the long winter,
come on out and join with
your neighbors and friends
to enjoy the ladies’ delicious
chicken and biscuit dinner at
the Community Hall on Saturday,
May 17, from 5 to 7
p.m. Donations will be taken
at the door.
Remember, it’s your generous
donations that make it
possible for the ladies to continue
having the dinners and
keep up with the repairs at
the hall. Their holiday gift
boxes and giving to the community
is also a great encouragement
to many.
The Cooperstown Area
Christian Women’s Club will
be hosting a brunch, “Opportunity
Knocks,” at the Tally
Ho in Richfield Springs on
Monday, May 19. The meal
will be served at 10:30 a.m.
with the program to follow at
11 a.m. (Please note the earlier
time, as this is a brunch,
not a luncheon.)
This month’s speaker will
be Darlene Clark, from Delmar,
who tells how she got
involved in sign language.
The special feature will be
“Darlene will sing and sign.”
For questions, or to make
reservations, please call
Nancy at (607) 264-3402,
Dotty at (315) 822-6391 or
Peg at (315) 858-0525.
The ladies’ Prayer Connection
will be meeting at
Mabel’s [(315) 858-0538] on
Monday, May 12, at 10 a.m.
Bits and Pieces
Sharon Thompson, her
daughters-in-law, Traci
Thompson, of Cherry Valley,
and Daphne Thompson, of
Morris, along with Daphne’s
daughter, Elizabeth, attended
a bridal shower for Sharon’s
niece, Carrie Kniskern,
at the Lutheran Church in
Seward, on Saturday, April
26.
Carrie will be married to
Robert “Bob” Eastman on
June 28 at the Methodist
Church in Cobleskill.
Elizabeth had spent Friday
night, prior to the bridal
shower, as an overnight
guest of her grandparents,
David and Sharon Thompson,
and her Uncle Aaron
Thompson.
Ten ladies, Margaret Mabie,
Renee Brant, Joanne
Thompson, Marilyn Mollen,
Thelma Coleman, Marie
Becker, Londa Webster, Janice
Pahls, Sharlene Sheldon,
and Marge Gould, piled into
two vehicles and headed to
Binghamton on Saturday,
April 26, where they spent
the day shopping and enjoyed
lunch.
David and Sharon Thompson
and Robert and Maureen
Joy, of Morris, were Sunday
evening dinner guests of
Keith and Daphne Thompson
and daughter, Elizabeth
Rose, of Morris, on April 27.
Clifford Snyder enjoyed
lunch and spent the day visiting
his brother and sisterin-
law, Art and Frieda Snyder,
of Fly Creek, on Monday,
April 28.
Hope you all enjoy a lovely
Mother’s Day weekend! Be
sure to phone me at (607)
264-3225 with all of your
news for this area.
Columns
South Valley
- Columns
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From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
My handwriting’s always been an embarrassment. Way back in elementary school, while most of the others were developing a clear, sometimes graceful hand (especially the girls), my penmanship showed no improvement.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: This and that ...
We have found the weather so far this year to be on the unusual side. And while we have no problem with the fact that we have received very little snow, we are of the opinion that what we have had instead is not particularly to our liking either. In fact, we are very hesitant to venture out much as we live in fear that the rain will turn to mixed precipitation which will freeze into a sheet of ice. And we are definitely opposed to encountering a sheet of ice underfoot. In fact, we are so hesitant that we now have taken to canceling our participation in events based on what just might be a dubious forecast.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Feinstein’s latest is sheer enjoyment
Most people who follow sports have probably heard of John Feinstein. As a nationally known author, sportswriter, pundit and broadcaster, he has brought a unique angle to sports journalism. His groundbreaking book on Bobby Knight’s 1986-87 Indiana University basketball team, “A Season on the Brink,” still resonates today as an all-time classic.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: No Trekkie should miss Shatner’s books
It would be hard to find a television phenomenon as popular as “Star Trek.” Even though it was only on television for three seasons and 79 episodes (1966-69) it attracted viewers and devotees that still follow it passionately 45 years later. The fanatical supportspawned several movies and television spinoffs. Star Trek conventions continue to this day. There has never been anything like it.
Continued ... -
Up on Hawthorn Hill: Making sense of things
A book I have been reading investigates the various ways over time that we have made sense of the world. It carries the reader through to the present via several seminal classical texts and ultimately aims to suggest a strategy for “ finding meaning in a secular age.”
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: ‘Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist.’ − John Adams
Last week we were asked if we would be interested in previewing a documentary, “The Empire State Divide,”produced by the Foundation for Land & Liberty. And we were more than happy to do so as we understood the documentary dealt with the problems that continue to face family farms.
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From Fly Creek: Now wait a minute!
On the ninth day of Christmas, driving down Cooperstown’s Eagle Street, I saw something astounding! No, not “nineladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans” etc. I saw one jogger jogging. And puffing on a cigarette.
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In These Otsego Hills: Goals of the past and goals of the future
We have long subscribed to the concept that we are always more successful if we, number one, set a goal and then, number two, meet it. And this was our thinking when we decided before Christmas to watch at least part of every college football bowl game. It was perhaps an odd, if not completely nonsensical, goal.
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In These Otsego Hills: Not to our liking ...
It is with sadness that we note the recent death of Steve Nagel. The son-inlaw of our late husband’s cousins, Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek, Steve was married to the Ecklers’ oldest daughter, Gail. We had the pleasure of spending Christmas Eve with the Nagels and the Ecklers in Fly Creek, greatly enjoying the delicious food and delightful conversation.
Continued ... -
Up on Hawthorn Hill: Of birds and faith
I watch birds quite a bit. Every five days or so I send in a report to Cornell as partof its annual Project Feeder Watch program. The data, collected from volunteers from all over the country, enables scientists to track population trends. I would spend quite a bit of time checking out the visitors to our feeders anyway. Participating in the feeder program makes a personal pleasure that much more meaningful. It is rare that aesthetical and scientific endeavors work in tandem.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Biography captures the real Stephen Colbert
It would be hard to find a comedian as unique as Stephen Colbert. As the host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central he hasmanaged to leave his mark on the nation’s consciousness in both a serious and humorous sort of way. His unusual wit has allowed him to become American icon. It would be difficult to find another entertainer quite like him.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Christmas and varied blessings
I’m still astounded! The last farmers’ market before Christmas, I was sitting up front, directly under the ceiling heater, shmoozing with the hoi-polloi. (That’s an awkward linguistic mix,but let’s let it go.) As I sipped my hot coffee, a gloved hand came to rest on my shoulder and a warm voice said, “Merry Christmas, Jim.” I looked to my left—it was Santa Claus!
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: Always a learning experience ...
We must admit that we thoroughly enjoyed our 2011 Christmas celebration. We partook of Christmas Eve dinner at the home of Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek and Christmas Day dinner at the home of Sandy and Al Bullard of Milford. We had our usual Christmas Day brunch at home on Pioneer Street, although we must admit it was a tad bit later than usual as, what we enjoyed most about Christmas, namely our granddaughter Abby, took a great deal of time opening her Christmas presents.
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In These Otsego Hills: Coming up ... 2012
Difficult as it seems, 2011 is fast coming to an end. And it is always our hope that as a year draws to a close, the issues which have been in the forefront during the year will be resolved. Unfortunately, we suspect that will not be the case this year. Instead, we are fairly certain that many of the issues that plagued this year, will continue to plague next year. Thus we will find ourselves still musing about the same issues we have spent time with already. And while we have not come toany conclusions about many of the issues, we do think they would all likely benefit from both sides thinking critically about perspective, risk assessment and possible solutions.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Circularity
When she was a puppy my dog Gabby would run in what I described then as “circles of joy.” She celebrated her15th birthday a few weeks ago and despite the inevitable frailties that old age imposes upon all of us, she is doing pretty well.
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Book Notes: Grisham doesn’t disappoint
John Grisham is one of this country’s most popular authors. Every time he publishes a book it’s an instant best-seller. He appeared on the scene about 20 years ago with his tense legal thrillers, “A Time to Kill” and “The Firm,”and hasn’t stopped producing top-notch novels since.
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From Fly Creek: Still singing, beyond our hearing
This column from Christmas 2001 still speaks deeply to me, and perhaps will to you, too. Take it, please, as my Christmas gift.
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In These Otsego Hills: The 2011 Cooperstown Carol
Since 1984, with the exception of one year, 1999, we have looked forward at the end of the year to going through all the issues of the paper in order to glean those news items which have been worthy of note throughout the year and which should make their way into our annual Cooperstown Carol.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: Dear Santa ...
Although we tend to think Christmas is for children and thus rarely think about what we might like to have, this year we have decided to let Santa know what might be left under the tree with our name on it. Of course, we fully understand if our list is a bit long, a bit expensive and a bitlate. However, we have just finished reading our November issue of Health and so have just realized what we need that we do not currently have.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Irony abounds
These are querulous times. Dissent and disagreement, as uncomfortable as they sometimes are, are essential components of a viable democracy. Democracies are always messy because everyone has a right to speak his mind and because whenever a majority is able to gain the numerical upper hand it pretty much runs the show. Several political philosophers have written quite persuasively of what they characterize as the “tyranny of the majority.” Get enough people on your side and you have the opportunity to get your way so long as you are able to maintain power. I suspect that most thoughtful people would agree that wisdom is hard to come by.
Continued ...
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From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
