By CAROL BRODIE

My dad and mom visited and enjoyed lunch with my sister, Donna Hatch, and children, Dillon and Jekara, in McGraw, on Monday, June 16.

That same day, we were hit with thunderstorms off and on throughout the afternoon and into the evening. In South Valley, however, we were more fortunate than some, as Richfield Springs, Cherry Valley and other places were bombarded with large hailstones. I’ve heard reports of them causing holes in trailer siding, cracking a car windshield, denting car hoods, and more. At one point during the storm, we had some very tiny hailstones bouncing on our back deck, but they only lasted about a minute or so and did no damage.

Military Report

My niece, Rachel Brodie, who is currently stationed with the United States Navy at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Base in Bremerton, Wash., passed her e4 exam the third week of March and proudly made third class petty officer.

Rachel has been at the Bremerton base since early December of last year. She will be home for six days’ leave in August and will ship out to Guam in September, where she will be aboard the USS Frank Cable submarine for the next two to three years.

Rachel is the daughter of Charley and Debbie Brodie.

Birthday Wishes

Birthday wishes go out to Lisa Kineke, Tony Brodie who will be 19 years old, Helen Allen, Cody VanBuren who turns nine, Lorel Van- Buren, Malinda Brodie, Dillon Dibble who will be 17, Nancy Foote, Bryan Bach, Kevin Kineke, Vince Breen, Julie Stannard, Linda Brodie, and Christina Butler.

Marilyn Mollen hosted a birthday celebration supper for her daughter and granddaughter, Diane Mollen and Jessica Mollen, on Monday evening, June 16. Also present for the party, of course, were Grayson Mollen and Brian Gibbs.

Coming Events

The Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School Commencement Exercises will be held at the Alice Busch Theatre on Saturday, June 28, at 11 a.m. Congratulations to our local graduates, whom I hope to mention more about in next week’s column. The South Valley Women’s Club will hold their monthly meeting at the Community Hall on Thursday, July 3, at 1 p.m. Any ladies interested in joining the club are more than welcome to attend the meeting.

An important special reminder for all of those who enjoy attending the women’s club dinners: The ladies will be hosting their ham dinner on Saturday, July 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Community Hall.

Please make note of this date, which is the fourth Saturday, not the third as usual. This date change in July is to avoid conflicting with the Schenevus parade, carnival, and fireworks which will be held on the third Saturday. Mabie Family Reunion The 84th Annual Mabie

Family Reunion will be held at the home of Bob Mabie in Gloversville on Sunday, July 13, starting at 1 p.m. Please bring a dish or two to pass, juice for the punch, and your own table service. The picnic meal, under the big tent, will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Oh yes, and don’t forget to bring as many family members as possible with you! If you need directions to Bob’s house, please phone me and I will be glad to share them with you.

Another thing to remember is to make a listing of any births, deaths, marriages, graduations, special anniversaries, or special news from your family to share with Barb Kineke for the historian report. She appreciates this ahead of time, if possible, but if not, bring the list with you.

If you absolutely can’t attend the reunion, she still would appreciate your family information, which you can email, postal mail, or give her by telephone. If you don’t have her contact information, please phone me and I will share it with you.

Last year’s reunion was held at Bob’s home, and everyone had a great time. We all enjoyed a variety of delicious food!

If you are part of the Mabie clan and you miss the reunion, you don’t know what fun you are missing out on. This is the one time of year that you get a chance to get together with lots of relatives that you don’t normally see, maybe even some you’ve never met, or some you’ll never see again. You just never know when it’s the last reunion for someone. We’ve lost at least two of the Mabie family since last year’s reunion. So, come to the reunion for a great day of fellowship and fun! You’ll be glad you did!

Bits And Pieces

Elliot Brodie attended morning worship services at the Little Falls First Baptist Church on Sunday, June 8, and later, he and his daughter and son-in-law, Barb and Mick Kineke, of Mohawk, were dinner guests of Todd and Debbie Watson and family, of Little Falls.

In the evening, Elliot returned to the church to attend the special graduation service in honor of the six young people graduating from area schools. A time of refreshments and fellowship followed the service. Clifford Snyder spent Monday, June 9, visiting his brother and sister-in-law, Art and Frieda Snyder, at their Fly Creek home, and also enjoyed lunch with them.

The Otsego County Farm Bureau monthly board meeting was held at the office in Hartwick Seminary on Tuesday night, June 10. Local attendees included Frank Brodie, Sue Schaffer, Dorothy Rathbun, Larry Roseboom, and Warren and Julie Stannard. Clifford Snyder and his niece, Margaret Mabie, attended a combination birthday and graduation party for Jessie Ullman on Saturday, June 14.

Jessie graduated from SUNY Oneonta. She is the daughter of Dave and Pam Ullman, of Palatine Bridge, and the party was held at the Ullman home.

Marilyn Mollen, Jessica Mollen and son, Grayson, traveled to Delmar on Saturday where they met Pam Hamlin and the four of them went to Hoffman’s Playland, in Latham. Later, Pam treated them to lunch for Jessica’s birthday at the Red Robin. After that, they did a little shopping and then returned home.

Nancy Prill, Margaret Mabie, Marion Schneegas, Jean Roy, and Betty Brown attended the Cooperstown Area Christian Women’s Club luncheon at the Tally Ho in Richfield Springs on Monday, June 16. This month’s theme was “Love Is In The Air,” with guest speaker Kathy Bump, of Johnstown, telling how she “was trying to find something to fill my emptiness.” The special feature was Carmel’s Bridal Shop & Formal Wear, with Carmela Chiodo, of Richfield Springs. Special music, “Happy Tunes,” was provided by Diane Ducey, of Cooperstown.

Father’s Day

Following Sunday morning worship services at the Little Falls First Baptist Church, Elliot Brodie was a dinner guest and spent Father’s Day Sunday, June 15, with his daughter and sonin- law, Barb and Mick Kineke, of Mohawk. Their son, Kevin Kineke, of Ilion, and Mick’s dad, Harry Kineke, of Richfield Springs, were also guests.

Father’s Day at the Mollen home included Marilyn, Jessica Mollen and Grayson, Diane Mollen and Brian Gibbs, and Damian Gibbs and Alysia Eibe, of Clifton Park.

Charley and Debbie Brodie, Brandy and Tony enjoyed Father’s Day dinner at the newly opened Red Apple Buffet in Cobleskill.

Have a terrific week and enjoy this great summer weather! In the meantime, don’t forget to phone me at (607) 264-3225 with any news you want to share for this area.