Mohawk Valley Living #114 May 2023

INFINITE VARIATIONS

MAY 27 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2023

Experience more than 160 works from one of the world’s most recognized artists, M.C. Escher. Infinite Variations chronicles the Dutch artist’s entire career by presenting the full range of media in which he worked, including woodcuts, lithographs, etchings, and even a lithography stone. See his most iconic works such as Day and Night, the fourteen-footlong Metamorphosis, Ascending and Descending, Drawing Hands, and many others.

DAY TO NIGHT: PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEPHEN WILKES MAY 20 –

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

Overlooking Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, Fenimore presents five exhibitions this summer alongside its world-renowned collections of fine art, folk art, and The Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art.

This exhibition was organized by Pan Art Connections.

Sponsored in part by Robert and Esther Black Family Foundation, The Clark Foundation, Nellie and Robert Gipson, Joseph and Carol Mahon, Mr. Tom Morgan and Ms. Erna J. Morgan McReynolds, NYCM Insurance, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas O. Putnam, and Richland County Foundation.

June 1st

Mother’s Day Memories

by Sharry L. Whitney

Happy Mother’s Day! If you are fortunate enough to still have your mother with you, give her a hug. I lost my mother when she was 48. I remember when I thought 48 was old. I also remember the day, a few years ago now, when I “outlived” my mother. Though the bitter sting of losing her has long faded, I still have moments of sadness, especially now that I’m a grandmother. My oldest two boys were very young when she died and don’t remember her. Though I’m told I take after my father, I am sometimes aware of my similarities to my mom. Occasionally, I laugh a certain way and remark, “That was Mom!” Sometimes, when I read books to my granddaughter, I will recognize a similar cadence in my voice like my mother had when reading to our young boys. And though my mother had grace (a trait I wish I inherited), she was not afraid to be silly sometimes—to dance, to sing, to play games...and she played to win.

Recently, I was invited to a croquet party scheduled for later this summer. It brought back memories of playing the game with my mother. I remember when her ball would gently tap mine or one of my sisters’ croquet ball, and she would walk over with her mallet to take her drive-away shot (when a player holds their own ball against the opponent’s and strikes it). I would watch this beautiful woman who made meals for me, dressed me, read to me, and cared for me when I was sick, and I would look at her with my eyes begging for mercy. She would gently place her foot on her croquet ball, lift her mallet back in a graceful arc, smile, and then—SMACK! She would send my ball fly ing into oblivion! I will have to brush up on my croquet skills before the upcoming match. I hope to be able to channel, if not my mother’s grace, her flair for croquet.

NOTE: Please enter Riggie’s Riddle and crossword puzzle in separate emails.

Born

2 words, 14 letters

See the answer and winner to last month’s riddle on page 46!

into slavery and sold at age seven, This Utica mother will “See you in Heaven.” She served the hungry, seeking not money nor fame, Like the calm and graceful flower that shares her name.

The ability to identify a wild bird, plant, or anything else in nature is an acquired skill. Like any skill, from cooking to woodworking, some may get the knack faster than others, but just about anyone can learn to be proficient at nature identification. Of course, there are now phone apps available that can do much of the heavy lifting of identifying birds utilizing photos and bird calls, and plants from pictures. Most of us, however, still enjoy using the old-fashioned method of utilizing our brains, books, and the internet. Generally, when an untrained observer sees and tries to identify an unfamiliar bird, they don’t do a great job

because they lack the techniques to interpret what they have seen.

One ID method birders employ is to use the bird in question as its own measuring stick. Reckoning the size of the bill in relation to the head, the size of the head relative to the body, and/or the length of the tail in relation to the length of the wings. These and other similar measurements alone can often clinch an identification. For example, when perched, the tail of a Cooper’s Hawk (and other accipiter species) extends several inches beyond the tips of the feathers on the bird’s folded wings, whereas with a Peregrine Falcon (and other falcon species), the tips of the tail and wing feathers appear of even length. Great Horned Owls and Screech Owls may both have ear tufts, but the Screech Owl’s head appears much larger in proportion to its body when compared to the Great Horned Owl’s body/head proportions. Excluding the bird’s tail, the Screech Owl’s head appears barely longer than the bird’s body, while the length of the Great Horned Owl’s head represents only a third of the species’ overall body length (again, minus the tail). Of course, there are plumage details distinctive to both owl species, but for the sake of this comparison, we are only using size.

Noting bill shape, bill length, and bill color can be very useful in determining species or family of species a bird belongs to. Generally,

the beak of a bird betrays how it makes its living. A long thin bill wielded by a sandpiper is the ideal tool for probing the mud and extracting invertebrates. A prominent but relatively short bill that is conical tells us that the bird is a seed eater--its bill designed to crack open hard seed shells. With some finch species, like the grosbeaks and the Cardinal, their conical bills are blatantly oversized and, without even considering plumage details, it is clear what

Cooper’s Hawks are the size of crows

family they belong to. The opposite extreme in finches would be the Pine Siskin, whose bill is thin and only slightly conical. However, a meticulous observer can still reckon it’s a finch by virtue of its beak alone. A bill that is straight, thin, and tweezer-like tells us the bird is primarily an insect eater and uses its beak to glean and/or extract prey from leaves and bark crevices. If your bird subject possesses a bill like that then it’s not a finch or a sparrow and more likely a warbler or vireo. More hefty straight bills are wielded by flycatcher species that catch their flying insect prey on the wing. Some birds like Chickadees, Titmice,

and jays possess all-purpose bills – the equivalent of the Swiss army knife of bird beaks. These beaks are straight, relatively broad and intended for multiple purposes. They are the perfect tools for resourceful omnivores. They are hefty enough to use as a hammer and delicate enough to use as pliers or tweezers. Crows and gulls also have all-purpose bills that betray their opportunistic and omnivore lifestyles, while herons, loons, and kingfishers have bills that are dagger-like and perfect for spearing fish. The serrated edges of the mergansers’ bill work like teeth and aid the duck in grabbing and gripping its slippery aquatic prey. The beaks of raptors – hawks and owls, are highly distinctive. These beaks range in size from the oversized bill of a fish-eating Osprey or eagle, to the relatively small bill of a mouse-eating American Kestrel or Saw-whet Owl. What they all have in common is a downward pointing hook at the bill’s tip. This feature is characteristic of a bird of prey and is not limited to raptors. Shrikes are predatory songbirds which also have hooked bills.

Behavior is also helpful in determining a bird’s identity. How does the bird forage? Does it feed on the ground? Does it thrash through leaf

litter – turning over leaves and/or kicking them aside? That’s how the thrasher, towhee, and Fox Sparrow find much of their food. Does the bird seem to never rest – remain constantly in motion, flitting through tree branches? This is how warblers and kinglets behave. Sometimes in the fall, when migrant warblers are passing through, they share the treetops with many other birds, including American Goldfinches. Often goldfinches in juvenile plumage can be difficult to distinguish from cryptically plumaged fall warblers, especially

Turkey Vultures appear small headed and show finger-like primary feathers

The Northern Cardinal (female) has a large conical seed-cracking bill

The Blue Jay has an all-purpose bill that fits an omnivorous lifestyle

if you don’t get a good look at the bird’s bill. One thing you can always take note of is the different foraging behavior of goldfinches versus warblers. Goldfinches will stay perched upright on a branch while the warbler will rarely perch on anything for more than a few seconds. Again, the constant motion of the warbler verses the more sedentary finch aids in distinguishing these species from each other. A classic example of bird behavior that gives away species identity is the nuthatch’s manner of walking head-first down tree trunks and even perching completely upside down on branches. Although a few other species regularly forage this way, in seeming defiance of gravity, it is the nuthatch that is most known for it.

Besides unidentified birds, sometimes people in our area see animals they mistakenly believe are something else. The other day I had a conversation with a neighbor about the various wild animals we have been seeing and/or been finding footprint evidence of. We talked mostly about Fishers, Otters, Bobcats, and Black Bears. While telling me about another neighbor’s recent Black Bear sighting, he mentioned that the same man claimed seeing a Cougar cross his yard. Regarding the Black Bear: the species has a large range which has been expanding in New York State. It’s clear that they are no longer confined only to the Adirondack Park and the Catskill region. Black Bears have been confirmed as breeding on the northern fringe of the Mohawk Valley, but generally, through-

The extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker (photo circa 1930s) Pileated Woodpecker

out the rest of the valley, they are uncommon vagrants. Typically, a young male Black Bear will wander through in the fall in a year when the wild food supply is lacking his home range. So, it is logical that we occasionally find evidence of Black Bears. Regarding Cougars (aka Mountain Lions), there has been no native breeding population in the State since the 1800s when (as was the case with wolves) they were intentionally extirpated. Instances of them occurring in the State and in New England have been virtually all cases of mistaken identity. A small number of verified occurrences have been attributable to escaped pets and long-distance dispersal from known populations in the west. In 2011, there was a verified occurrence of a

roadkill Cougar in Connecticut. An analysis of the cat’s DNA confirmed that it originated from a population in South Dakota. Since there was a verified occurrence of a single Cougar, does that mean all Mountain Lion reports in New England and New York are legitimate? Surely not. I’m almost certain that the neighbor had seen a Bobcat and misjudged the animal’s size. As for wolves, there are many reported sightings that come in each year. Virtually all of them are cases of mistaken identity and involve smaller but similar-looking Coyotes and domestic dogs. Since the 1800s there have only been a handful of verified wolf occurrences in the State, the most recent involving one shot by a hunter near Cooperstown in 2022.

Why would we ever care if a claim of a sighting of a rare animal is true or not? Aren’t skeptical observers just killjoys that want to be right about everything and derive pleasure from others being proved wrong? Perhaps there are a few folks out there that do. However, if you place some value on understanding wildlife populations, their size, and movements, and you know what that means in the greater context of the environment, then having accurate data is crucial. If some-

one sees what they believe is a Rhinoceros in their backyard, that’s fine for their own purposes and in the context of their own lives, and it causes no problems. It’s when they try to validate it in a scientific context that it becomes problematic. It pollutes the stream of legitimate data and that’s why verification is so important. Does it mean that a legitimate sighting of something rare will be discarded in some cases? Yes, but it’s an acceptable price to pay for maintaining a more accurate picture of wildlife populations.

Certainly, the experts are not infallible, and can be subject to identification errors. The problem is that when they do it, the repercus-

sions can be exponentially greater. Recently I had been looking into the grandiose claim that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker was not extinct. For those unfamiliar with the species, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker was the largest woodpecker that lived in the US. The Ivory-billed was dependent on the old growth woodland swamps that once existed in the South and stretched from Florida to Texas. The bird was driven to extinction by the relentless logging of those habitats as well as a specimen collecting frenzy that ensued once the bird became endangered. What was considered the last legitimate sighting of the species took place in 1944. After that, there were only sporadic, un-

substantiated sightings coming from hunters and amateur birders. All that changed in 2004 and 2005 when bird experts, including a team from Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology, claimed to have confirmed the bird’s presence in an Arkansas swamp. This was fantastic news for birders and conservation minded people throughout the country and the world. It triggered a push to protect the rediscovered bird’s endangered swamp-land habitat and involved the country’s most elite conservation organizations and State and Federal environmental protection agencies. Network news programs covered the event and the excitement it generated was monumental. Since I was a child, I had been captivated by the illustrations and behavioral accounts of an extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker. The thought that they may have come back from oblivion seemed too good to be true. As it happened, it was too good to be true. Despite all the hype, the quality of evidence presented to confirm the woodpecker’s existence was poor. Although the Cornell team claimed to have had good visual observations, albeit brief ones, the photographic evidence presented to substantiate their claim was ambiguous at best. The best they had amounted to a few

frames of grainy video inadvertently captured by an unmanned camera left recording on a boat. After extensive analysis, scientists at the Cornell lab made the controversial determination that the video frames showed an Ivory-billed Woodpecker in flight. The Lab made pronouncements to the world, and it triggered a rush to protect the “rediscovered” woodpecker’s habitat. In the years following the claimed rediscovery, despite the exhaustive efforts of teams of bird scientists and amateurs, no additional evidence was collected. All pointed to a case of mistaken identity on the part of the Lab personnel. A more plausible explanation is that they had gone to con-

Coyotes (pictured) are often mistaken for Wolves

Signature Show Susan Hoffer: Painted Narratives

firm the existence of an extinct bird species, they glimpsed a common lookalike species, and made an understandable identification error. They had been predisposed to find something and then convinced themselves they had found it. We are all inclined to see things that make sense in the context of a world we understand. If we believe extraterrestrials are flying spaceships through our skies, then when we see an unknown light in the heavens, we turn to our own concept of reality for an explanation, regardless of how scientifically implausible it may be. Also, memory is not like a recording. Counterintuitively, our memories do not provide us with an immutable rendering of something we have seen – something like a photograph. Instead, a memory of an

object we’ve seen is subject to modifications based on our understanding of the world, our influences, culture, and analytical abilities. When we see something unfamiliar, our brains try to contextualize it, and turn it into something we know. Furthermore, our memory of an object or an event can change over time and our understanding of it shifts. Our brains may also fool us into seeing what we want to see or what we may be looking for. This may be how a quick view of a flying Pileated Woodpecker became a resurrected Ivory-billed Woodpecker. We can train ourselves to be better observers of the natural world. When we see something intriguing, instead of trying to commit an image to memory, if we record a checklist of features, we then have a better chance of relaying an accurate description of a specimen. Avoiding making unfounded assumptions is key in maintaining objectivity as an observer. Think in terms of probabilities. In almost all cases, something we encounter is going to be common and predictable – something that is known and supposed to be there. If we see a large black woodpecker in our yard, instead of claiming that it’s too big to be a Pileated Woodpecker and jumping to the conclusion that it must be an Ivory-billed, first consider the difficulty in correctly ascertaining size in field conditions. Then assess and contrast

plumage and behavioral details. If you can’t be sure of any field marks, rely more on probabilities. A poor-quality observation of something assumed to be a rare species will almost invariably be a misidentification. Most of all, understand that in all scientific disciplines, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Occasionally glimpsing something you are unable to identify happens to all of us, regardless of skill level. Sometimes we need to accept that given an inadequate set of clues, a positive identification will not always be possible. When in doubt about something, it is advisable to refer to the principle known as Occam’s Razor – attributed to the 14th century philosopher and theologian. It is usually interpreted as: The simplest explanation, the one requiring the least number of assumptions, is usually the best one. •

The Indigo Bunting is a finch and has a seed-cracking

In May, there is an interesting and fairly predictable procession of blooming plants, from the perennials of the forest understory to trees and shrubs. It’s at this time of year that otherwise innocuous trees on our hillsides do the equivalent of waving their arms and telling us where they are. Suddenly, we see where all our Fire Cherries, Serviceberries, and American Plums are located. The rest of the year they tend to be lost in a vast sea of buckthorn and honeysuckle bushes. From a distance, the blossoms on Fire Cherry trees look like popcorn – with stark white petals set against lanky dark branches. Like Black Cherry and Choke Cherry, the Fire Cherry’s flowers occur in clusters. Fire Cherry (also known as Pin Cherry) derives its name from the species’ habit of quickly colonizing areas cleared by fire. As wildfires are rare in our region, the Fire Cherry relies on other habitat disturbance factors that open up land, like development, logging, and blowdowns. Like most of the sun-loving pioneer trees, the Fire Cherry grows quickly but doesn’t get very tall – topping out at around 30 feet. They also tend to be a short-lived species – usually not exceeding 40 years. The seeds of Fire Cherries can survive for many years lying dormant on the soil, patiently awaiting a fire or another disturbance factor that will provide an opportunity for them to ger-

minate and grow. The fruit of the Fire Cherry, as is the case with the other native cherry trees, is popular with birds and that makes the species a valuable addition to any natural habitat planting.

As the wild apple trees and hawthorns begin blooming, once again the Fire Cherries become lost in the hillsides – outshone by flamboyant neighbors. The blooming of the flowering trees and the emergence of their foliage coincides with the return to the region of neotropical songbirds – those colorful species that spend the winter in the tropics and breed in northern forests. Sometimes staking out a grove of blooming apple trees is a good way to encounter mixed-species foraging flocks containing warblers and their allies. Although some of the birds like the orioles will visit the apple blossoms for sips of nectar, most are more interested in the insects the flowers attract. Watching colorful birds like Magnolia Warblers and Nashville Warblers dancing among the blooms; flitting and bounding like aerial acrobats is like having an imported view from the tropics. Tennessee Warblers, although not as gaudily clad, make up for their lack of bright color with a relatively

long, emphatically given song. As birdsong goes, it’s not melodic, but more rhythmic, like a three-part series of ratcheting trills – each part given at a different tempo. Interestingly, during migration, the Tennessee Warblers typically inhabit the tops of the trees, but on their breeding grounds in the Canadian Forest, they prefer the lower levels. The lack of bright plumage on the Tennessee Warbler, and its propensity for the treetops make it harder to see than the other warblers. I can recall many times standing in an overgrown orchard, waiting for the better part of an hour, with camera ready, only to fail to glimpse a feather of a bird singing its heart out only twenty feet away.

By contrast, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, which also enjoys perusing apple tree blossoms, is not difficult to find. Their larger size as well as their slower, more deliberate motions make them easier to train optics on. The male Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a black and white bird with a rose-colored breast patch and an oversized bill. They are consummate seed eaters and no strangers to

story and photos by Matt Perry

A female Baltimore Oriole feeds on nectar from apple blossoms

backyard birdfeeders. When they return to the region in May, they immediately turn their attention to finding mates and securing breeding territories. Their quavering whistled songs are among the most beautiful and distinctive of the songbird chorus. With most of the neotropical songbirds, females look different than males. This difference between genders is referred to as “sexual dimorphism”. With birds, males typically possess brighter and more elaborate plumage than their female counterparts. This is not always true, as we see with phalaropes and with the Belted Kingfisher, cases where the females have the more colorful plumage. With the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, the differences between male and female plumage could hardly be starker. She is mostly brown and has a streaked whitish breast. She also has a prominent white eye line which the male lacks. She resembles an oversized sparrow – something you could never say about her male counterpart. The female’s less colorful, more cryptic plumage comes in handy when she’s sitting on her nest since her appearance won’t draw attention to its location. Interestingly, the male grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak nest

The female Rose-breasted Grosbeak looks like a large sparrow

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Warbler

sometimes incubates, which seems to defeat the purpose of the female’s cryptic appearance strategy. However, when I’ve seen male grosbeaks sitting on nests, they seem to make a conscious effort to conceal their red breast patch by keeping it beneath the rim of the nest. It does make him and the nest somewhat less obvious. At least he refrains from singing while on the nest which is something male Redeyed Vireos do.

Whether you’re seeking flowering trees and plants, or returning migrant songbirds, May has more than its share of everything nature. So much, that it’s a challenge to take in even a small portion. Indeed, as I’ve said in these pages before, May is the most exciting and interesting month of the year. It’s Christmas, the Fourth of July, and your birthday all rolled into one. In May, the amount of energy being consumed and expended in an ecosystem is suddenly off the charts. My advice to all is to go out to a natural area and experience some of it for yourselves. It’s okay to look for something specific, but be open to serendipitous encounters and you should do well. •

Male Baltimore Oriole

Bonita’s Sandwich Chef in little falls

by Maryann Vanderpool-Imundo

When hungry newcomers in Little Falls commune with local townsfolk, they are often directed to Bonita’s Sandwich Chef. Here, they find much more than a satisfying meal.

“Order here, Pick-up here,” reads the sign above the counter. Behind, working in perfect harmony, are the two proprietors: husband and wife team Bonita and Nicholas Humphrey. Watching them swiftly mastering tasks on autopilot is impressive.

Daily specials are written on a dry erase board. Today’s features are: Lasagna with Garlic Bread, Turkey Avocado Sandwich and Ham Panini. Also listed are four different soup choices: Chicken Dumpling, Stuffed Pepper, Chicken Noodle and Chili.

Off to the side, the dessert display refrigerator showcases Bonita’s specialty cakes, pies, and cookies. Its visual silently warns one to save room, for the temptation to indulge is overbearing.

Atop the counter is a glass tilt jar containing homemade dog biscuits, a telling sign of the owner’s endearment to man’s best friend.

Customers arrive intermittently. Many come for boxed lunches so they can explore what Little Falls has to offer: Moss Island, General Herkimer Home, Antique shops, Art Galleries, Rock City Center, and the Canal Bike Trail.

Other customers make their way into the dining area that

Bonita’s burgers are a customer favorite

“Nick’s Choice” is one of Bonita’s most popular dishes

Bonita and Nick Humphrey of Bonita’s Sandwich Chef in Little Falls

serves the dual purpose of an art gallery. Today, there are bare spots on the walls since a customer purchased several of the oil paintings that once decorated the space yesterday.

Also displayed throughout are a myriad of clocks. During the pandemic, Bonita placed a clock in the dining area in jest to mock “McDonald’s Covid minute” rules. Customers appreciated the joke and began gifting her with more clocks, hence, Clock Decor was born. Bonita treasures each one and delights in their exhibit. “They remind me of my customers,” she said graciously.

Seated at a center table is a local couple, Laurie and Richard Steele. Richard ordered “Nick’s Choice,” one of Bonita’s Bistro’s most popular vegetarian dishes. It is a generous portion of warm seasoned vegetables. Nick Humphrey said, “The vegetables in Nick’s Choice come from our own garden. I use a lot of peppers, tomatoes, kale, spinach, onions, and butternut squash.”

Laurie Steele received a cheeseburger. Bonita Humphrey said, “My burgers are very popular because they are always fresh. I only make twelve a day, and I always run out. This way, I don’t have leftovers.”

Another table is occupied by diners John Dinnee and Phil Lalonde. They are sharing a news-

Richard Steele enjoys Nick’s Choice

John Dinnee’s choice is Bonita’s chicken sandwich

Bonita’s chicken sandwich

paper as they await their menu selection. When Dinnee received his plate he said, “I love the chicken sandwich!” His friend Lalonde remains silent, too focused on his “Italian Love Cake” to speak.

Menu items are always changing with the season and upon Nick and Bonita Humphrey’s inspiration. In April, they introduced farm raised organic fried chicken.

A patron making her way out made a u-turn back to the cash register after noticing a shelf with Bonita’s specialty jarred sauc es. While disbursing payment, she asked if she could purchase one of the clocks. Bonita smiled softly and said, “No, they’re not for sale.” •

Bonita’s Sandwich Chef

may Crossword

Answers found in the pages of this magazine! Solution will appear in next month’s issue

Across

1. Alyssa’s sweets aren’t just good, they’re ____ good. See page 9.

4. The ultimate search engine.

7. This B & B in Herkimer has a wine tasting room: ____ on Roses. See Mohawk Valley Girl.

9. The spring blossoms on these trees resemble popcorn. (2 words)

12. In 2004, there were false claims that this long-extinct woodpecker was spotted. (2 words)

15. NASA wants you to be a ____ Scientist

Down

1. Dogs have 98.8% of the same DNA as these animals.

2. It’s the season for comfy, new sandals from this show store. See page 23.

3. There’s a hole in my sock!

5. Along with birds, you will discover these less favorable critters. (2 words)

6. Before YouTube, the tube kids used to “surf” on the river.

8. Crossword carrier.

10. Useful tools for identifying birds.

11. What Proud Mary is doing on the river.

13. This Little Falls sandwich chef is a local favorite.

14. What might stop Proud Mary on the river.

The Everyday Adventures of Mohawk Valley Girl

Wine Tasting at Raindrops on Roses

When I drink wine, it makes me feel elegant, especially when I am wine tasting. Savoring the bouquet, taking sips of the dainty portions, searching for notes of… whatever... enjoying the finish. OK, I am not a sophisticated wine taster. Readers of my blog know my ultimate accolade for a wine is “yummy.” But I do love tasting, and Herkimer now has a delightful new setting in which to taste wine: the Wine Tasting Room at Raindrops on Roses Bed and Breakfast on West German Street in Herkimer

I have walked, run, and driven by the place many times but did not know about the wine room till a friend highlighted my name on a Facebook post. Say what you will about Facebook, I find out about a lot of good stuff that way.

My friend Kim graciously agreed to accompany me, so on the following Saturday, we walked into the small but lovely room and sat down at a table.

Owner Barry Cavanaugh greeted us and brought us the wine list. His wife, and co-owner, Denise, was pouring wine for a group at the bar who seemed to be having a delightful time. Six tastes are $10; $12 gets you the souvenir wine glass. We naturally went for the souvenir glass, even though (full disclosure) I need to be weeding out my wine glass collection.

I was delighted to see that we would be sampling wines from two local wineries: Rustic Ridge Winery of Burlington Flats and Prospect Falls Winery of Prospect. I have been to both of those wineries, and I love their offerings. Barry told us they purposely wanted to share local wines and that they may find other area wineries to feature. What a great idea: you stay at the B & B, sample the wine, then go to the winery!

Kim chose sweet wines while I went with the dry. I pretty much knew I was going to like everything I tasted, but I had to

Cynthia M. Quackenbush, a.k.a. “Mohawk Valley Girl,” follow her frugal fun at: mohawkvalleygirl.wordpress.com

Mohawk Valley Girl feeling elegant

Owners of Raindrops on Roses B&B in Herkimer, Denise and Barry Cavanaugh

pull out my little book and take tasting notes. Despite what I said earlier about not being sophisticated, I like to feel like a real oenophile (I pronounce it “oh-nee-oh-file,” just so nobody thinks I’m trying to be too sophisticated).

Jazz music was playing as we sipped elegantly. I rated the Prospect Falls Chardonnay “yummy” and their Merlot “VERY nice.” I did not make a note of what Kim was tasting, but she greatly enjoyed them all. While we were there, a woman who was staying at the B&B came in and ordered a glass of wine. She praised Raindrops on Roses. This was her second visit—a present for her birthday weekend. She had previously visited about a year ago when she was looking for some place to go within a certain radius of her home in Canandaigua.

“They cook a wonderful breakfast,” she said.

When I asked for her name, she gave me a business card: Donna Benier Taylor, performer and teacher of harp, piano, and organ.

openingmay1stfortheseason!

Barry and Denise have already hosted groups that came in for a tasting before going out to dinner. Larger groups are encouraged to make reservations, since indoor space is limited. •

Raindrops on Roses Bed & Breakfast

611 W. German St., Herkimer • 315-941-2420

Remember

E

by carol higgins

NASA was created in 1958. So far, they’ve sent spacecraft to every planet in our solar system, landed astronauts on the Moon and rovers on Mars, launched space telescopes, and sampled an asteroid. Today a large fleet of satellites orbit Earth, and over 20 active NASA missions return enormous volumes of data and images as they explore the Sun, planets, moons, and asteroids. Did you know YOU can help scientists and researchers analyze data from some of those missions? Join NASA’s Citizen Science team!

Are you thinking you won’t be able to help because you aren’t a scientist? Don’t worry, you can participate because no prior education or background is needed! Each project provides a clear and simple training tutorial to get you up and running in a few minutes on your computer or cell phone. Training also includes practicing with sample data, a field guide with additional information, and pointers to help you prepare to work with the actual data.

To choose a NASA project, visit the https://science.nasa.gov/citizenscience website and click on a project that sounds interesting. Categories include Universe, Solar System, Sun, Earth, and Space Experiments. From there, you are redirected to the project’s host website, usually Zooniverse, where you’ll learn about the project goals and begin training. Here’s a

look at a few examples.

“Active Asteroids” is the search for asteroids with a very unusual feature – a comet-like tail. Of the millions of rocky and metallic asteroids in our solar system, they are indeed rare. Called “active asteroids,” fewer than 30 have been confirmed since 1949. In this project, you look for signs of a tail or coma (halo of gas and dust) near an asteroid highlighted in images taken by the Blanco telescope in Chile. Your valuable feedback is part of the search for active asteroids, and helps researchers locate prime candidates for further investigation. The project hopes to gain insight into the puzzling question of how water arrived on Earth and the location of ices in the solar system.

In the “Jovian Vortex Hunter” project, you evaluate images of Jupiter taken by the JUNO spacecraft and search for a vortex – a cloud feature with defined rotation. They are similar to hurricanes on Earth, and the famous Great Red Spot is a good example. When you see a vortex, you’ll use one of the five drawing tools to circle the outer edge to indicate the color of its center. Its color gives researchers information about the type of cloud, or height, or chemical composition of the vortex as they try to unravel the mysteries of Jupiter’s complex and turbulent atmosphere and cloud layers.

The “Disk Detective” project search-

es for stars surrounded by a cloudy band of gas, dust and rocks where planets form. NASA’s WISE space telescope took images of over two billion objects, and astronomers need help locating these distant stars for further analysis. You will look at debris disks by comparing images of the same star taken by WISE and four other telescopes that also performed similar sky surveys. The images of the star slowly scroll by, then you classify your observation from a list of options. Who knows, maybe the object you discover will become a target for the James Webb Space Telescope!

All the projects are fun, interesting, and are great activities to do with your children or grandchildren. Plus, you will make a significant contribution to the scientific community. Remember to create a Zooniverse account so you can be credited for your work. If you make a discovery that is confirmed, your name could be included in scientific papers. Happy hunting, citizen scientist!

Wishing you clear skies! •

Hanny’s Voorwerp. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, W. Keel, Galaxy Zoo Team

Mohawk valley astronomical society

Jupiter and its turbulent clouds.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SETI Institute

DaytoNight:Photographsby StephenWilkes

May

Painting by Tom Amidon. His exhibit, AbstractedReality, is on display this month at the Rome Art & Community Center in Rome.

TimRandprintmakingInstructor andStudentPrintmakingShow

Through May 27, 2023

Opening Reception & Demonstration: Saturday, May 6, 1-4pm

Kirkland Art Center 9½ E Park Row, Clinton, NY (315) 853-8871 • kacny.org

AbstractedRealitybyTomAmidon

Through May 26, 2023

Amidon’s work is based in a realistic and abstracted realm. The artist is torn between the two realms, yet made whole by both.

Rome Art & Community Center 308 West Bloomfield St. Rome, NY (315) 336-1040 romeart.org

Having

“I”Gave,SandraStephens

Through May 20, 2023

The Other Side

2011 Genesee St., Utica, NY www.theothersideutica.org

Hours: Thurs: 12-3pm, Sat: 12-3pm or by appointment

72ndAnnualCentral

ADKArtShow

Through June 4, 2023

View 3273 Rt. 28, Old Forge, NY (315) 369-6411 viewarts.org

Genesee Placed on the State Historic Register

By Rebecca McLain, Executive Director

May is National Preservation Month, and the Oneida County History Center has exciting news to share. Our home at 1608 Genesee Street was added to the State Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance and has been recommended for inclusion on the National Registry by the New York State Board for Historic Preservation. The History Center is also located in the City of Utica scenic and historic district. Inclusion on the State and National Register amplifies this designation and highlights our community’s rich cultural heritage. We hope that this nomination will encourage historic preservation throughout our community.

The former First Church of Christ Scientist was designed by the Utica architectural firm Agne, Rushmer & Jennison. It is a highly intact and characteristic example of Classical Revival architectural design, which exemplified the broad adoption of the style in the United States during the 1890s and early 1900s. It embodies the simple, rational beliefs promoted by contemporary Christian Science churches. Its cornerstone was laid on June 13, 1914 and the first service was held on May 2, 1915. The building cost

Beneath the Oneida County Historical Society sign lies the original facade.

around $100,000 to construct and, following Christian Scientist practice, was officially dedicated in May 1924 after the debt was paid off. This beautiful space served the congregation until the late 1980s, when Oneida County History Center (then Oneida County Historical Society) purchased the property. Parts of the interior were modernized for functional purposes, but much of the interior retains its original architectural integrity, including Roman square windows, brass neoclassical light fixtures, and stained glass windows manufactured by Spence, Bell & Co. of Boston.

Preservation consultant Jessie Ravage describes a portion of the building in our nomination: “The interior layout of the First Church was dictated by Christian Science practice, which emphasizes teaching led by the First and Second readers. When built, the auditorium had a sloped floor and curving pews that focused attention on the readers on the central platform at the front of the auditorium. The balcony offered additional capacity. As music plays an important role in the Christian Scientist service, the auditorium was furnished with a large pipe organ that filled a two-story tall cavity elegantly screened from the platform. The teaching aspect of the church was fulfilled by the Sunday school on the lower level of the main block.”

Today, the auditorium remains open to highlight many of these features and is used as multipurpose gallery space for exhibits, programs, and a bookstore. Pews still offer additional seating in the balcony and, behind the stage, the decorative lattice that once hid the pipe organ remains. (The organ was removed when the interior was partially remodeled in the early 1990s.) The lower level of the building once served as a Sunday school

area is now used as a research library and contains archival and object storage.

The exterior of the building remains relatively undisturbed as well. Its four ionic columns complimented by white terracotta tiles and egg-and-dart and acanthus moldings still welcome visitors to 1608 Genesee Street. The only symbolic feature on the exterior of the building, both today and in the past, is a circular terracotta bas-relief of the cross and crown symbol of the Church of Christ, Scientist, which looks over Genesee Street.

This is just a brief summary of the designs and features at 1608 Genesee Street. It is difficult to describe all of these features and can be better appreciated through sight. Members of the public are invited to visit Tuesday-Saturday from 10-4 to admire these amazing architectural details for themselves. Admission is free and donations are encouraged. •

Leveling of the sloped floor in the 1990s with Christian Science inscription above the door.

Original Blue Print of 1608 Genesee Street.

Bog Birds & Black Flies

story and photos by Gary VanRiper

Breeding season is already well underway for many of the 200-plus bird species in the Adirondacks. And by Memorial Day Weekend, so is black fly season! (I’m starting to itch even typing out these words). But, properly prepared, braving the insects is well worth it when birding.

I thought I was properly prepared one such weekend when heading for what regular readers of this column know is one of my very favorite birding hot spots, Ferd’s Bog*. This was before the boardwalk was established in the bog itself and the hiking was slow since I was carrying all my gear: a 35mm camera with 300mm telephoto lens mounted on a sturdy tripod, a blind, and a bucket to sit on that also contained a few more essentials. I knew it would grow hot later in the morning that day, but still covered up from my head net down to my gaiter-covered boots.

After some amazing shots of cooperative white-throated sparrows, one singing a signature song that has become competition with the common loon for recognition as the voice of northern wilderness, I set up

Among the habitats of the black-backed Woodpeckers are wooded bogs with many dead trees which is a perfect description of Ferd’s Bog. A floating boardwalk was not there during my early visits.

my blind near a tree that appeared to be hosting the nest of the Black-backed Woodpecker.

If you look at a range map for this woodpecker, you will notice the Adirondacks is along the line of the species’ southernmost range east of the Mississippi River. Birders who want to add this prize to their life list find Ferd’s Bog a very accessible location. I have met birders from Connecticut and as far away as England who were there with that hope in mind.

I remembered swatting at my midriff while sitting on a bucket inside the blind trying to operate the camera and get a few shots of this special bird. When I got back to camp to change my clothes, I surveyed the damage. Somehow, despite my best efforts to keep those flies away, they had still found a way to attack and left me with a red tire tube for a waistline! •

Next time: Warblers in the Forest

*You

find the trailhead to the 50-acre

can

bog when traveling from Old Forge to Eagle Bay on Route 28. In Eagle Bay turn left on Uncas Road. The trailhead for the 50-acre bog can be found approximately 3.6 miles ahead on the left-hand side of the road.

Gary VanRiper is an author, photographer, and pastor at the Camden Wesleyan Church. He has written 19 children’s books with his son, Justin.

TALES FROM SHAWANGUNK

by Peggy Spencer Behrendt

In 1974, Tim and Peggy Spencer Behrendt set off on an adventure. They began a new life in the woods of Cold Brook, NY, without modern conveniences like electricity or indoor plumbing. These are excerpts and reflections from Peggy’s journal chronicling their adventures and also her childhood memories growing up in Westmoreland.

From my Journal in 2020:

I wish the days of May wouldn’t go by. It’s so perfect! Sunny, cool days. Lots to do outside. Little blue scilla are in bloom here and there, and the pink and blue lungwort are blooming. Trilliums are in bud. Coltsfoot is in full flower. Found a big fat tick on Mittens (our kitty) and got that off. I wonder if that was on her when she was sleeping next to me under the covers! Yiech!!!

The kids were texting about food, and soup, then Joe wrote that he bought some Boeing stock. I asked what kind of soup you could make with Boeing stock. I really thought that was funny, but only Becky and Heidi laughed. Becky and Gael came by this evening terribly excited because they saw a mother bear and four cubs on the road to Black Creek from here! Wow! Four cubs! I looked it up and found they could have four different fathers.

I saw a rabbit in our garden this morning when I went out for kindling to start

the fire. I entered the garden and watched where it exited. Fortunate ly, we had a roll of new chicken wire fencing. I ended up pulling out old fenc ing and applying the whole roll across the front of the gar den which was hard because the daffodils are in bloom all mixed in with the fence, so I had to damage some to install it. I HATE fenc ing!

Took an evening walk and ran into Todd and August. August (age 4) dropped a rock and it split right in two, length wise, like a puzzle piece! He handed me some little pinecones, played with some porcupine poop us ing a stick, hopped over a puddle made by a tire track, then walked right

was here. I just let it eat what it wants out of Mitten’s dish. I think it keeps the mice out.

OH! The Hermit Thrush sings in the

morning! I first heard it two days ago; the same day Becky and Gael saw the four bears. I love it so much!

The amphibian and bird calls near the water on the trail were intense! We sat on the bench under the big pine tree at the beaver pond and enjoyed watching the wind on the water and all the wonderful

Now in 2023: The snow has melted except for lingering patches in tiny tree-sheltered hollows beneath the forest canopy. In the morning, we are happy to rise and greet the early rising sun, eager to go outside and do meaningful chores. There is a bit of urgency because in just a few weeks, the bugs will be arriving—an unwelcome impediment to our activities—and a few early arrivals always come to foretell the

Now we can find and bring in dead trees to replenish the firewood we burned up during the winter. Tim loves this excuse to scout about the forest listening for the returning songbirds and noting what’s in bloom - wake-robin (painted trillium), spring beauties, gold thread. He gets much satisfaction from carrying his log treasures home.

John Burroughs wrote in Wake-Robin, “The dandelion tells me when to look for the swallow, the dogtooth violet when to expect the wood-thrush, and when I have found the wake-robin in bloom, I know the (spring) season is fairly inaugurated. With me this flower is associated, not merely with the awakening of Robin, for he has been awake some weeks, but with the universal awakening and rehabilitation of nature.”

Tim cuts all that he can by hand with a pruning saw, doing a little each day until the snow flies next fall. This is a practical task that also makes him amazingly strong and fit. He discourages me from doing it, saying that, as a professional musician, my hands are too precious to risk, but I have mixed feelings about this. I want to be strong, too. It is strenuous work, so I

starts the garden

just do a little with gloves on and focus on keeping saws sharpened. Some logs are too big to cut by hand. Either he or I will cut these with a chainsaw, and, in more recent years, we favor using a battery-powered chainsaw which minimizes noise, fumes, and maintenance. We bought a backup battery, but experience taught us that the chain needs to be sharpened more often than the battery needs to be replaced. That is my task and it makes a huge difference as it practically cuts like butter when sharp.

We both like to split wood by hand with a splitting maul, although neighbors will loan us a power splitter if needed. There is something supremely satisfying about whacking a piece of wood so hard your feet leave the ground, and it flies into pieces. Some are knotty and very challenging, almost impossible to split, but the most annoying part of this task is getting the log chunk to stand upright on the old stump we use because it’s so irregular.

Our grandson Todd showed us his technique for dealing with this one year when the highway department left us a pile of huge trees. He set one chunk on top of another and lined them up in a big circle around him, then commenced to split the top chunks. Left with the lower chunks in

his circle, he piled half of them on top of the other half and again, split the top chunk, repeating this until all were done except one.

After Todd got started on this, his wife , children, Tim, and I walked back up the road, but I heard his splitting stop and thought I’d go back to see if he needed anything while the others continued. Next thing I know, August, with bright, pink cheeks comes zooming up to me on his bike and says: “I have to come with you to make sure the monsters don’t eat you.” That totally tickled me! So protective, already! I thanked him, gently turned him around, and sent him back. My heart has melted!

When chilly spring rains come, we regret having to stay inside too long. We don’t

want to miss being part of the great adventure of spring, because every day, every second, nascent leaves and flowers are emerging, and birds are returning and singing songs of love and proclamation of territory.

In Rural Hours, Susan Fenimore Cooper writes; “M. de Candolle, the great bot-

Tim and Peg cut and split firewood

mentions an instance in which the branches of a grapevine grew, during a thunder shower, no less than an inch and a quarter in the course of an hour and a half!”

This piqued my curiosity about this

botanist, and consequently, I was interested to learn that the original concepts and writings of de Candolle influenced Charles Darwin and the development of the principle of Natural Selection. I’d recently read that Darwin’s principle of Natural Selection, or Evolution, is no longer considered the only means by which species may acquire new traits or genes. Bacteria, for instance, can “pick up” new genes and are not just stuck with what they inherited. Merlin Sheldrake writes in Entangled Life: “Characteristics that are acquired ‘horizontally’ are those that aren’t inherited ‘vertically’ from one’s parents. One picks them up along the way…. Horizon-

Shawangunk

RUSTIC FURNITURE MAKING

Sat. June 3rd 9am-Noon

Shawangunk Nature Preserve

Using fresh, local branches and twigs you’ll learn how to attach them to a nice board to form a small bench or table which may then be decorated with a mosaic of different colored twigs. Bring a portable drill, 1/8” drill bit(s), Phillips head screwdriver and Phillips head drill bit, a small pruning saw, hand pruners. At 255 Shawangunk Rd., Cold Brook, NY Materials $20. Reserve a week ahead. Call 315 826-7405

BARK BASKET MAKING

Sat. June 17th 10am-1pm

Shawangunk Nature Preserve

You’ll love the piney scent and rusticity of this sturdy, natural balsam-tree bark basket in your home. We’ll peel the bark fresh from a tree; score it; bend it into shape; and stitch it with decorative techniques. Hands are guaranteed to become sticky and fragrant with balsam sap, but don’t worry; it washes off with warm soap and water!

At 255 Shawangunk Rd., Cold Brook, NY.

Todd shows us how he splits wood....

tal gene transfer means that genes – and the traits they encode – are infectious. It is as if we noticed an unmarked trait lying by the side of the road, tried it on, and found that we had acquired a pair of dimples. Or perhaps we met someone on the street and swapped our straight hair for their curly hair.”

This idea completely tickles my brain and challenges my image of the flow of life. It’s fun to consider the ramifications of this if it is true and if we will find that it applies to other life forms. But equally mesmerizing is the annual miracle of spring and active life awakening from

many months of cold and somnolence. Perhaps, like us, the birds and animals, bees and bugs, even the trees and plants experience in their own way the thrill of stirring life, with blood and sap quickening to warmer winds and increasing sunlight.

Tim wrote about this in his book, Pathways to Mindless Rapture: “Oh, flowers of this time and other times, you have kissed my senses with your many shapes, hues, and scents. You have taken me on a pathway within and beyond that touches holy places. You make the earth a garden of soft rainbows and soothing memories.

I honor your being, grieve your passing, and celebrate your next coming. Life with you is a gladness: without you, a longing. Oh, flowers of this time and other times, thank you for giving me a soundless delight I cannot fully express.” •

The Shawangunk Nature Preserve is a deep ecology, forever wild, 501©(3), learning and cultural center. Tim and Peggy still live there and can be contacted through their website.

www.shawangunknaturepreserve.com

Horn’s Family Farm

An Always Familiar Friend

by harper jones (suzie’s daughter)

Spring fever has firmly gripped the farm. Goats, shocked out of winter ennui, worm their way out of the barn and over fences to frolic in the newly green grass. Chickens (maybe spurred on by a recent holiday) leave the coop and take their egg-laying show on the road, hosting perhaps the world’s most challenging egg hunt. Even the cats, usually respectably aloof in the face of change, can be found leaping at blades of grass and sunning themselves in the driveway. But no one seems happier than our two farm dogs, Archie and Aimee.

Now, I’m not much of a dog person. I really prefer the peaceful coexistence offered by cats over the “your personal space is now my personal space” mentality many dogs have. Despite this, I cannot remain a grouch in the face of two playful puppies. Archie is always looking to play catch with his frisbee and Aimee is happy to get a thorough brushing now that the weather has warmed up a bit. Luckily, both are entertained by a hike, so I can maybe get some of the fur to blow off of me or finally find that frisbee that got buried in the snow last year.

It was during one of these hikes that I got to thinking about how special the relationship is between dogs and us humans. It’s easy to understand that all dogs descended from wolves, but it seems harder to realize what that actually means and what that process was like. Sure, dog and wolf pups both light up that “aww, a puppy!” bulb in your head, but how did we even start to become friends with these adorable, yet still very much wild, animals?

St. Francis Annual Festival

June 2, 3, & 4, 2023

More than a festival! A tradition since 1927!

Fri., June 2nd, 6pm: FSCS Jazz Band & Chorus 8pm: Band TBA

Sat., June 3rd, 3:30pm: St. Francis DiPaola Procession to Church

7pm: Soul Injection (bring your chairs)

Sun., June 4th: Noon-3pm Chicken BBQ

One of the best ways I’ve found to understand this is from a single story outward. Several years ago, researchers in Siberia unearthed a nearly 18,000 year-old puppy from the melting permafrost. This pup was St.

Founded March 6, 1927

152 Eighth Ave. Frankfort (315) 894-4741

named Dogor, a word meaning “friend” in the local language, and is one of the oldest dogs ever found. Most scientists think dogs became domesticated around 15,000-40,000 years ago, but the exact moment, if there is only one, may be impossible to determine. Dogor is so old that his DNA seems to be neither that of a dog or a wolf but instead that of an ancestor to both.

The problem is that the change from wolf to dog was gradual, making it hard to know when exactly dogs stopped being wolves. One of my favorite methods to determine the difference is analyzing their teeth, or specifically, what is “on” their teeth. Dogs can digest grains much better than wolves can. It’s a by-product of them hanging around us humans for so long. So, in the distant past, even through wolves and dogs looked identical, dogs just had more plaque on their teeth from all the human food they were eating.

Many of the earliest dogs performed simple jobs, from hunting and guarding, to pulling sleds and providing companionship. We took our new best friends everywhere we went, traveling as a team over continents and across oceans. The indigenous people who first crossed over to the Americas brought their dogs with them and created new breeds for the jobs they wanted help with, as did those settling in the Alps, Mongolia, the Sahel, and everywhere else. When we needed a partner to trust with work we could not do alone, dogs were there. All of these strong familial bonds and diverse sizes, shapes, and colors of dogs, come from long-forgotten, tentative partnerships between individual wolves and humans.

They’re many differences between little Dogor and my dogs, Archie and Aimee. Dogor was probably much more skittish than Aimee and looked more wolf-like than Archie, but they all would have begged at the dinner table and gotten playful in the spring. Maybe Dogor would have been fascinated by shadows like Archie or protective of her family like Aimee. Even though we’ll never know exactly what the dogs of our ancestors were like, I rather like knowing that we have been friends for millennia. •

Suzie Jones and her husband, Peter, own Jones Family Farm in Herkimer. Together, with their children, they produce specialty goat cheeses and gelato. Find them at local farmers’ markets and online at www.anotherjonesfamilyfarm.com

Keeping Mohawk Valley Living on the road for years!

Steet Toyota Yorkville (315) 736-8241

Steet-Ponte Ford Lincoln Yorkville (315) 736-3381

Steet-Ponte Mazda Yorkville (315) 927-5081

Steet-Ponte Chevrolet Herkimer (315) 866-5080

Steet Toyota of Johnstown Johnstown (518) 762-7222

Steet-Ponte Volkswagen Yorkville (315) 736-8291

United Auto Sales Yorkville (315) 736-3361

Steet-Ponte Nissan Yorkville (315) 864-7500

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