By CAROL BRODIE
I haven’t had a bird report
in awhile, but we are still enjoying
our summer birds
around the area. Bill and
Marsha Mabie have had numerous
finches, some orioles,
flickers, a pair of cedar waxwings,
busy little hummingbirds,
among other birds.
Meanwhile, we occasionally
see our pair of cardinals, but
they seem to only visit the
feeder early in the morning
or later in the evening. I finally
did manage to take a
picture of the male one morning.
We had a busy week at
the Cobleskill Fair from Aug.
5 through 10 and enjoyed the
many people who stopped by
our booth to say hello. I can’t
mention them all, but some
of our local area folks whom I
saw were Jim and Carolyn
Sweeney, Marilyn, Jessica
and Grayson Mollen, Margaret,
Tiffany and Brent Mabie,
Connie Capece, Fran and Joslyn
Mabie, Dick and June
Hansen and grandchildren,
Alice Morell, Leland and Pat
Mabie and Annie Anderson,
Raymond and Sandy Sutton,
Rodney Brazie and Darlene
Coon, and Heather Webster
and children, along with her
niece, Sarah Mancuso. My
grandnephew and grandniece,
Jerred and Jaidon
Brodie, also stopped by to see
us one day as they were visiting
the fair with their other
grandparents, Steve and
Amy Fancher.
I also met some new people
this year as they stopped
by to visit and asked that I
mention them in my column.
I enjoyed a nice visit with
Charles and Marilyn Dufresne,
of Worcester, as they
asked about the Mabies, with
some of whom they attended
school with many years ago.
Gerard McGrath, of East
Worcester, stopped by twice
to visit and asked to be remembered
to his good friend,
Clifford Snyder. Frank Sause,
of Hyde Park, also stopped
by the booth and enjoyed a
visit with my dad and mom.
Frank grew up in South Valley
and remembers living in
the current Mollen house
back around 1938.
We were having such a
busy week that I was completely
taken off guard by a
surprise that I knew I had
coming when my friends, Peter
and Louise Siretz, of
Spencer, N.Y., and her son,
Paul, from Florida, walked
into our booth on Friday!
Then on Saturday, my friend,
Veritta “Sam” Munk, and
her husband, Tim, of Rexford,
visited me as they usually
do each year.
But neither “Sam” nor I
were quite ready for the surprise
we received that evening
when our friend, Janette
Reynolds, showed up!
We’ve known each other and
been friends since our days
at Mid-State Baptist Camp,
near Middleburgh, back in
1971, and this was the first
time the three of us have
been together since way back
then!
As with each year, you
wonder what kind of neighbors
you are going to get in
the booths surrounding you,
but once again, we were fortunate
enough to have terrific
neighbors, and we all
had a great time together!
Across from us, in fact, was
Vicki Hazzard, and her little
girl, Samantha, from Cherry
Valley, so it was neat to meet
and get to know them.
It was also very interesting
as I met a young man
from Hungary as he stopped
by to purchase some maple
products. He was very inquisitive
and had lots of
questions about the process
of making maple syrup. One
of the main reasons I enjoy
doing the fairs is because you
get to meet all kinds of people
and it is very interesting
visiting with some of them.
On the other side of the
curtain from us, in Progressland,
is the Schoharie County
Emergency Services booth.
Each year they have daily
drawings for prizes and at
the end of the week, they also
have a drawing for a big prize
as the name is picked from
all of the entries during the
week. I’d like to congratulate
two of the daily winners who
were from the Town of Roseboom.
On Tuesday, Curtis
VanDewerker, of Pleasant
Brook, won the tower fan,
and Rodney Brazie, of South
Valley, won the two thermometers
in Friday’s drawing.
Birthdays and
Anniversaries
Birthday wishes go out to
Claran “Sissy” Lundgren,
Brian VanBuren, Karen Butler,
Jacob Brodie who will be
six years old, Tom Laymon,
Adrienne Mabie, Stacy Van-
Buren, Micah Schecter, Barry
Webster, my dad, Elliot
Brodie, Destiny Miller, Carol
Mabie, and Katelyn France.
Anniversary wishes go to
Mark and Debbie Anderson,
Paul and Gertie Schecter,
Stacy and Lorel VanBuren,
George and Kim Gray, and
Rob and Heather Webster.
Wedding Congratulations
Congratulations to Ben
Shaffer and Lisa Kiesow who
were joined in marriage by
Pastor Ron Fralick at the
Cherry Valley Presbyterian
Church on Saturday, July
19. Ben’s mom, Hilda, reports
that the wedding was
absolutely beautiful and the
radiant couple looked lovely.
The Shaffers farmhouse
was a bustle of activity for a
few days as out of state relatives
arrived to attend the
wedding and the reception,
which was held at the Cobleskill
Ski Lodge, following
the wedding.
The newlyweds enjoyed a
honeymoon in Ocean City,
Md., and are now settling
into their home on Honey
Hill. Ben keeps busy with his
hoof trimming business and
he also works on the family
farm with his dad and mom,
Walt and Hilda Shaffer. Lisa
will be starting a new job
this fall teaching calculus
and algebra at the Richfield
Springs Central School.
Webster Family Reunion
The Webster Family Reunion
was held at Glimmerglass
State Park, Cooperstown,
on Saturday, Aug. 2,
with 63 people attending.
Hayden Nora Mabie, ninemonth-
old daughter of Jerome
and Denise Mabie, of
Locust Grove, Va., was the
youngest family member
present. Myra Webster, of
Cherry Valley, was the oldest
family member present.
Barbara “Bobbie” (Huntington)
Burdick, of Placitas,
N.M., came the furthest distance.
Those attending were
from Cherry Valley, Springfield,
Oneonta, Fort Plain,
Cooperstown, Burlington
Flats, Albany, Troy, Pleasant
Brook, Hartwick, Westford,
Orange, Va., Locust
Grove, Va., Madison Heights,
Va., and Placitas, N.M.
A big “thank you” to Shirley
Webster for sharing the
Webster Reunion information
with me.
Bits and Pieces
Marsha Mabie and daughter
Belinda Hoagland took
Destiny Hoagland and her
girlfriend, Josh and Reise
Hoagland, and Christopher
Bateman to Linerick, Maine,
on Thursday, July 31, where
they all spent a few days at
Marsha’s brother’s camp.
The kids enjoyed all kinds of
water sports and had lots of
outdoor fun. They all returned
home on Tuesday,
Aug. 5.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
