Wednesday, August 21, 2019 West Winfield
STAR BROOKFIELD
COURIER
VOLUME 133 - NUMBER 34
STAR Richfield Springs
MERCURY
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR 133 YEARS
Phone: 315.822.6764 geneandmary@westwinfieldstar.com
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Serving: Bridgewater, Brookfield, Cassville, Cedar Lake, Cedarville, Clayville, Columbia, East Winfield, Edmeston, Leonardsville, Litchfield, Millers Mills, Plainfield, Richfield Springs, Sauquoit, Unadilla Forks, West Edmeston, West Exeter, West Winfield, Winfield
A New Orchard in Town? Well, it’s not really a “new” orchard; it’s a familiar orchard with a new name. According to Bruce & Elaine Wratten, the Wratten Apple Orchard in Leonardsville has been in the family for over 100 years. The current orchard was planted in 1975. (Some may remember the previous orchard being on the right-hand side of Huey Road, run by Bruce’s grandfather.) Bruce & Elaine have run the orchard since 1990 and were thinking about retiring, but what to do with the orchard? Unadilla Forks resident, Wes Roberts is groundskeeper for the Horned Dorset Restaurant and Inns. Bruce was former owner of the Horned Dorset, until he went into the apple business. Bruce mentioned the apple orchard to Wes; would Wes be interested in working out a deal to run the apple orchard? Wes said, “yes”, and now we have Sweet Acres Orchard. Wes is no stranger to hard work, he grew up on a dairy farm, studied Agricultural Mechanic’s at SUNY Morrisville and served in the US Army, so taking on the work of an apple orchard
Have you Heard the Name Sweet Acres Orchard?
Enjoy a breathtaking view from the orchard
seemed right up his alley; he jumped at the chance. Bruce & Elaine Wratten stated, “The apple business has been in our family for over 100 years. Apple picking here has become a tradition for many families throughout the area due to quality and affordability. When Wes entered our life, we knew he and his family were the right people to carry on the tradition.” Wes went right to work, with help and direction from Bruce. There was much to learn about properly trimming and spraying the trees. Wes also bush hogged the orchards and repaired or rebuilt bridges. According to Wes, “The work is similar to farm work, but there certainly is a
learning curve.” Really this is a family endeavor. Wes’s wife Sandy (a teacher at Brookfield School) and his sons Simon & Lucas are all helpers in this 1,200-tree operation. Sandy assisted with some of the tree trimming. Simon and Lucas were available to help whenever they could. In late July when I talked to the Roberts family, everyone was working on cleaning and re-arranging the gift shop. Sandy has been busy setting up locally sourced products that will be for sale in the gift shop. Sweet Acres Orchard will be offering u-pick and pre-picked apples. The varieties available will be Cortland, Empire, Spy; and in
limited amounts Honey Crisp. the community will continue to Plums will also be available in support the orchard in this new limited supply. venture.” I say, “Ditto to that So far, all the hard work statement!” By Mary Doremus has paid off, the spring apple blossoms have turned into trees brimming with apples. Opening day is fast approaching and there are many chores still needing to be accomplished. Located at 11145 Huey Road in Leonardsville; take State Route 8 to Leonardsville; head up the hill, Sweet Acres is less than ½ mile, on the left. (When you go be sure to look up when you are done picking your apples and enjoy the intoxicating view from the orchard!) Bruce & Elaine Wes & Sandy Roberts, with Simon & stated, “We wish Lucas getting ready for the apple season. Wes & his family Opening day - Saturday, Sept. 7th luck, and we hope
Relay Celebrates 20 years of Route 20 Road Challenge One of the most unique running series in the country celebrated its 20th year in equally unique fashion. Around 50 runners who have participated in the Route 20 Road Challenge over its 20 year existence took part in a relay covering the entire distance of the Route 20 Scenic Byway from Duanesburg to Lafayette on Saturday, August 17. “We first heard of this at a planning meeting for the (Road Challenge) banquet”, said Kevin Hoehn from Rome, the Road Challenge’s unofficial ambassador. “Bill comes up with some great ideas and really carries them through. It’s amazing.” Bill Kosina is co-director of the Route 20 Road Challenge running series. The series ties together small community runs all along the Route 20 Scenic Byway corridor. Running a certain number of them earns participants great incentives ranging from gift cards to running gear. Stewart’s Shop’s is a
major sponsor. The running series began in 1999, shortly after the formation of the Route 20 Association of New York State. The running series created by then-Association President Bill Kwasniewski and Chairmen Craig North and Co-Chairman Kosina. This year’s Road Challenge includes 24 running events. On Saturday, the Byway was split up into some 35 legs, most covering distances of three to four miles though one group calling themselves “the rockin’ chicks”, in training for a marathon ran 20 miles. Several of the 50-some runners ran more than one leg. Runners began around dawn from each end of the Byway and met at West Winfield with North and Kosina running the final leg to Cleaver’s Banquet Hall where a reception capped off Saturday’s event. Even the traffic in Bouckville this past weekend didn’t slow down the runners who finished well under the event’s allotted time in around 10 hours.
Richard Rocco, and Hunter Ough. At age 10, Hunter was the event’s youngest participant
“It’s a good road to run on,” said North. “It has a nice wide shoulder.” “It was fun,” said Hunter Ough, who at 10 years of age was Saturday’s youngest participant. She ran with brother Rocco, 14, and their dad, Richard Ough. “It was fun. You see all these people at the races. Today we got to talk to so many of them,” Richard added. It’s like we’re a big family,” added Hoehn. “A lot of us have become friends on Facebook. A Route 20 family.” As for Saturday’s event, Jennifer Caloia of Morrisville said “It was exciting to work up to it. Bill and Craig did a great job.” Participants in the relay included (west side from LaFayette): Legs 1-3: Craig North, Amy Marcowicz, Courtney Spatto, Jennifer Tehan; Leg 4: Kevin Hoehn; Leg 5: Alex Gifford; Leg 6: Courtney Spatto, Amy Marcowicz; Leg 7 : Jennifer Caloia; Leg 8: Terri Woodford; Leg : Alex Gifford; Leg 10: Joy Gifford;
Legs 9.5 - Finish: Dorothy Massinger, Julie Buehner, Lisa Walchusky, Beth Pedulla, and Karen Piccola, Grace Saxe; Leg 16: Craig North; (East Side from Duanesburg); Legs 1 - 7: Joe Davis, Jim Davis, Melanie Kovach Crisino, Jessica VanValkenburg, Bill Kosina; Leg 8: Courtney Llewellyn; Leg 9: Maureen Blanchard, Mechia Murphy; Leg 10: Jim Hill; Leg 11: Gordon Clarkson; Leg 12: Nancy Potter; Leg 13: Jim Hill; Leg 14: John Sovocool, Dan Sullivan; Leg 15: Richard Ough, Rocco Ough, and Hunter Ough; Leg 16: Mike Green, Nick Dipasqua, Genie Dipasqua; Leg 17: Diane Hausserman, Sue Will; Leg 18: Mary Pustay, Jess Powers, Jean Kosina, Deb Virkler,, Ralph Rathbun, Patti King; Leg 19: Bill Kosina. “Everybody seemed to have a good time,” said Kosina as the event wrapped up. “We were ready for just about anything. Thank goodness it went as smooth as you could ask. We saw a lot of enthusiasm. We saw a lot of smiles.” By Bill Kwasniewski
Participants gather for a group photo on the deck at Cleaver’s BBQ, West Winfield