Mohawk Valley Living #98 January 2022

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A NEW YEAR LOOKING FORWARD

EXPLORING THE ARTS, HISTORY AND CULTURE OF OUR REGION

98

JANUARY 2022

BURLINGTON FLATS $1,200,000 MLS# S1332986 159+ Acres w/Custom Log Home, Mix of Open Fields, Woods, A Stream, 4 Ponds & Views For Miles!

Azza Giorgi c: 315-534-2709 Jared Miller c: 607-437-2386

D L O S

NEW HARTFORD $299,900 MLS# S1363572 4 BR, 2.5 BA Colonial, a minute’s walk from Woodberry Pool. 1st floor laundry. Large kitchen.

POLAND $398,000 MLS# S1348286 40 Acres on West Canada Creek 1200+/- water frontage has combination cleared, woods & water frontage.

Katie Hanna c: 315-795-5677

DING N E P ALE

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CLINTON $365,900 MLS# S1371152 This warm & inviting home is move in ready. Open KI to DR w/sliding doors leading to patio dining.

Deanna (Dee) Hameline c: 315-723-8721

OHIO $220,000 MLS# S1372529 Ranch home on 34 acres. 3 BR, 2 BA w/possibility of 2 more BRs. 1700+/- sf endless possibilities.

Theresa Bova c: 315-796-5369

UTICA $169,000 MLS# S1380616 This lovely 1554 sq. ft. 3 BR 1.5 BA Bungalow has beautiful interior details, like dentil molding.

WHITESBORO $149,000 MLS# S1360223 This well cared for 3 BR home with craft room that could fill a 4th BR. With 1st floor BR. 2 BA

CASSVILLE $139,000 MLS# S1374088 Freshly painted exterior. Great layout. Min. from the city.

Large Barn and lifelong window warranty.

Susan Schwartz Alberico c: 315-723-0892

Paul Sacco c: 315-525-1377

ROME $29,900 MLS# S1374702 Haven’t been able to find your dream home? Why not create it! Private 1 acre lot Hillside Heights Lisa Viscosi Tehan c: 315-749-4120

David Meislin c: 315-725-4520

Susan Schwartz Alberico c: 315-723-0892

Happy New Year!

Thanks to all of our customers and employees for another wonderful year!

As always, stop by any of our stores and see why it’s so easy to do business with us!

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Next Issue:

February 1st

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contents 6 9 11 14 17 19 22 24 25 28 30 33 37 43 45 46

Oneida County History Center ADK Journal Restaurant Guide Antiques Guide Mohawk Valley Girl Nature in January MV Astronomy Club MV Crossword Home Made Here MV Gardens Writings of Richard Enders On The Farm with Suzie Matt Perry’s MV Nature Gallery Guide Advertiser Directory Contest Answers & Sponsor News

Of Mushroom Stew and Auld Lang Syne

by Sharry L. Whitney

January is a time of reflection for many.

For me, this month is especially so. A couple of weeks ago marked what would have been our late MVL host Richard Enders’ 80th birthday. But that isn’t the only thing that has brought back a flood of memories for me. When I stepped into the old-fashioned Pulaski Meat Market to gather information for my article this month, I had vivid memories of our visits there with Richard.

He loved the old tin ceilings and would always point them out whenever we came across them in our travels. He loved (perhaps even more) sampling all the delicious foods we were offered everywhere we went.

Coincidentally, the answer to our December Riggie’s Riddle is “Mushroom Stew,” a soup of which he was a connoisseur. He always compared the different soups we sampled to his mother’s (or was it his grandmother’s?)

We had spoken to Richard several times over the years about sharing some of his writings, both published and unpublished, and are now just getting around to it. Sorry Richard, but I know you’d forgive us. I mean, “Catholics must forgive the sins of others...” eh? It is nostalgic for us to revisit his work. Though we have heard many of these stories over the years, we never grow tired of them. We hope you enjoy them too.

MOHAWK VALLEY LIVING MAGAZINE January 2022

PUBLISHERS Lance and Sharry Whitney EDITOR Sharry Whitney DESIGN & LAYOUT Lance David Whitney ASSISTANT EDITOR Shelley Malenowski CONTRIBUTORS Peggy Spencer Behrendt, Carol Higgins, Suzie Jones, Melinda Karastury, Rebecca McLain, Matt Perry, Cynthia Quackenbush, Denise Szarek, Gary VanRiper CONTACT US (315) 853-7133 30 Kellogg Street Clinton, NY 13323 www.MohawkValleyLiving.com mohawkvalleyliving@hotmail.com Mohawk Valley Living is a monthly magazine and television show that explore the area’s arts, culture, and heritage.

Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of Mohawk Valley Living, Inc.

watch mvl every sunday!

7:30am and 11pm on wfxv 11:30am on WUTR 20

We’ll take a cup o’ mushroom stew yet For days of auld lang syne

Riggie is roaming around and hiding in the advertising areas of the magazine. Next to him you’ll find a letter. Find all the Riggies and rearrange the letters to answer this riddle. Enter by the 15th of the month to be entered in a $100 shopping spree at one of our advertisers!

(Excluding media and banks) One entry per household per month. Mail to: Riggie’s Riddle, 30 Kellogg St., Clinton, NY 13323 or email: mohawkvalleyliving@hotmail.com NOTE: Please enter Riggie’s Riddle and crossword puzzle in separate emails.

If you love drifts of sparkling snow, You’ll have a frosty fiesta, When you visit the winter wonderland of our world-famous cuesta!

HINT: 14 letters, 3 words See the answer and winner to last month’s riddle on page 46!

Mohawk Valley Living is brought to you by

Steet-Ponte autogroup

the Oneida County History center

13413 A History of the

New Hartford Post Office

By Janice Reilly

ONEIDA COUNTY HISTORY CENTER VOLUNTEER In 1797, Erastus Loomis was employed to “run post” on horseback between Whitesboro and New Hartford. He made two weekly trips, carrying the Whitestown Gazette in his saddlebags and the posted letters in his coat pocket. Erastus received one shilling for each letter.

The first post-office on record in New Hartford was kept in Jedediah Sanger’s store on land that he gave to the First Religious Society Butler Memorial Hall, dedicated in 1890, was the first of New Hartford, [the Presbyterian Church]. Previously, letters were official post office building in New Hartford given to local tavern owners or to stagecoach stops along the way to be picked up by citizens.

Once the Seneca Turnpike was built in the early 1800s, great covered wagons drawn by four or six horses were seen daily carrying travelers, mail, and merchandise to western parts of the state. Ken Fuller, a historian and native New Hartfordian, wrote: “The jovial coach driver stretches low over the horses’ rumps and reaches out to tickle their ears with the tuft at the end of his whip. As the horses leap into a gallop, he blows a blast on his long brass horn and brings the noisy coach sweeping into the village and up to the steps of a tavern in a cloud of dust. Anxious villagers push one another to grab the mail.” Such stops in New Hartford were likely at the Lightbody Hotel, which was on the corner of present-day Oxford and Genesee, or at Palmer’s Inn at Middle Settlement. The house now at 78 Genesee Street, built in 1789, was also a stagecoach stop.

The first official post office building in New Hartford was erected by a prominent citizen, Morgan Butler. Butler Memorial Hall was dedicated in 1890 and built for $20,000.

Finished inside in solid oak, the rooms served as offices of town and village government, and the Justice of the Peace. There was a community room where students met for com-

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petitive examinations and oration contests and a reading room with the latest periodicals and newspapers. An auditorium that could seat 450 persons was on the second floor and there was a stage with a piano for presentations. Downstairs, there was a lady’s sitting room with toilet facilities where women could comfortably wait for the Belt Line Trolley. There was a fully supplied kitchen, a gymnasium, the village jail, and eventually a bowling alley. On the first floor of Butler Hall was the United States Post Office.

There were 360 glass boxes and 139 lockboxes. As you entered the front door, you faced the bars of the window clerk’s station. To receive a large package, clerks had to unlock the bars and swing them open, so that the customer could hand the package through. In the early days, post offices were allowed a loaded revolver in the vault, but in Butler Hall, it was kept under the customer counter in case of attempted robbery or vandalism.

The mailroom floor was one very large room, and very crowded. There was no separate office for the postmaster.

Working conditions bordered on primitive because there were no sinks; drinking water was available in jugs purchased from Risley Springs nearby. There was one restroom for all employees. Loading and unloading mail from vehicles was very difficult because of the small, side door entry and the poor loading dock in the back where, as is evident today, the driveway slopes downward. In 1900, an allowance of $100 - $150 was budgeted for rent, and the postmaster’s annual salary was $1,400.

As the town’s population grew, it became well-known that

New Hartford Post Office Interior

Photo Courtesy New Hartford Historical Society

Photo Courtesy New Hartford Historical Society

New Hartford Post Office

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more space was needed. New Hartford’s first request in 1932 was denied by the Post Office Department in Washington, D.C. because postal receipts were below the assigned criteria of $20,000. Again in 1945 and 1949, requests to build a new building that might save money in the long run and increase efficiency were denied. Rent to use Butler Hall by then was rising to $7,500 annually. It was still undecided in 1953 whether to lease again and remodel the present working space or move. The village was a bustling business center with Fishers Dept.

Store, Oneida National Bank, and Chicago Market Grocery. Local businessmen opposed moving the post office from its central location. Yet there was no room to expand.

Finally in late 1971, after approximately 82 years, the New Hartford Post Office moved from the center of the village to a newly constructed home at 40 Campion Road. The property was owned by Elis DeLia, who low bid construction at $298,712. Next door would be the Aurora Bowlaway, named in honor of his daughter, and several other buildings that DeLia erected in the 1950s. The annual rent was $29,000 at first and reached $62,599 at the start of the new millennium.

The new building had a new counter with a capacity for three computer stations to serve the public and a large number of post office boxes. Postmaster Herbert Dowd had his own office. There was a loading platform with enough positions for three vehicles to load. A large parking area for customers, employee cars, and the postal delivery vehicles was promptly cleared of snow. Outside on the building were battery charge stations to help the quarter-ton vehicles make dependable winter starts. Fourteen LLVs now line the perimeter. Two large outgoing blue drop boxes were installed for customers to conveniently send their mail. The new location near the North-South Arterial [Routes 8 & 12] gave incoming and outgoing trucks moving the mail quick access to the downtown Utica sectional center. Best of all for the employees: there were two bathrooms – one for males, one for the only female employee who clerked at the window at that time. •

Kitchens Starting at

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New Hartford Post Office, 2021

Photo courtesy of Peggy Spencer Behrendt

Oneida County History Center 1608 Genesee St, Utica (315) 735-3642

Open Tues.-Fri. 10-4, Sat 10-2 www.oneidacountyhistory.org

INC.

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GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE ONLINE!

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adirondack journal

Mountains I Would Climb Again … and Again

by Gary VanRiper

After hiking up more than 100 mountains in the Adirondacks over the past two decades, including 82 of the 100 highest, these would be the top five I already have hiked or would love to hike again. And again. And again.

It should not be a surprise that among those favorites is Bald Mountain, not only because it is a modest climb close to home and to camp with a trailhead easily accessible (along the Rondaxe Road off Route 28 between Old Forge and Inlet), but because there are so many superior views on the way to the peak. Many people stop when they reach the fire tower, but those who keep going to further explore the sprawling summit are rewarded with even more wonderful lookouts. A popular destination, you have a better chance for some solitude if you can visit during the week and in the off-season.

Jay Mountain is north of Keene with a parking lot on Jay Mountain Road which is off Styles Road which is off Route 9. What I absolutely loved about this 3.5-mile hike (one way) was the long walk along the ridgeline which leads to false summit after false summit with fantastic views all around to the true summit. This is one I would love to do during peak color in autumn. You are exposed for much of this hike and as always want to be sure to remain well hydrated.

My son-in-law introduced me to Catamount Mountain while on a family vacation, and what a gem it is. The trail is just shy of 2 miles one way and the elevation is quick, so the route tends to be steep. There are technical challenges along the way that are fun for some and considered quite difficult Justin VanRiper on the summit

One of the many wonderful views along the trail up Bald Mountain.

of Algonquin Peak.

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for others. Scrambling is involved in some places and an interesting ‘chimney’ to navigate. These are among the reasons I always hike with trekking poles to assist in ascent and descent and help to maintain balance. There is a near 360-degree view from the summit – Vermont can be seen from there. A favorite hike and payoff does not mean it will be easy – so always do your homework and solid preparation! The trailhead for Catamount is located on Forestdale Road in the town of Black Brook.

Pyramid Peak on the shoulder of Gothics is the tenth highest peak in the Adirondacks and does have incredible views. But it is the absolutely breathtaking view from Pyramid Peak on Gothics’ shoulder which has drawn me back to hike this range three times so far! It simply is not possible to adequately capture the view on a camera, although you can’t help but try! You really need to be there to see and to feel the wonder of it. Anyone interested in hiking in the high peaks region of the Adirondacks should pick up the latest edition of the High Peaks Region published by the Adirondack Mountain Club, along with the latest map of the region by National Geographic. The High Peaks Trails Guide & Map Pack can be found at the shop on the Club’s site: adk.org.

Finally, the fifth among my favorite mountain hikes in the Adirondacks is also found in the high peaks region – Algonquin Peak. It is one in the MacIntyre Range, the second-highest mountain in the Adirondacks. It also has a treeless summit with a 360-degree view. I have climbed Algonquin at least three times. The first time was in 2004 with my son, Justin. It was his second high peak and took us 9.5-hours to complete the round trip. Research from this hike was used to write the fifth book in our children’s book series: Islands in the Sky. •

Mark Lowell of Canton, NY, walking the ridgeline of Jay Mountain

John Birmingham of Skaneateles, NY, enjoying one of the satisfying views from Catamount Mountain.

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

Just a portion of the view from Pyramid Peak along the region’s Great Range

Learn more at: www.adirondackkids.com

Yorkville Memorials

Where compassionate service matters. . .

Family Owned Since 1949

10

Thank You For Another Great Year!

Preplanning Provides Peace of Mind

(315) 736-1781 • 1309 Champlin Ave., Yorkville

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the mvl restaurant guide

cassville n Ope or ay f frid er! n Din

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Juicy Angus Burgers!

1717 Route 8, Cassville (315) 839-5000

Open Mon-Thur 6am-2pm, Fri 6am-8pm Sat 6am-1pm, Sun 7am-Noon , Breakfast Served til Noon

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Specialty Rolls

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Thank you for another great year!

Welcome 2022!

Take Out & Delivery!

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“We are your home town pizzeria!”

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(315) 736-4549 • Open 7 days a week • 4462 Commercial Dr., New Hartford www.tonyspizzeriaanddeli.com

rome

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Utica

Dine In & Take Out

Thank you for your support!

Phoenician R E S TAU R A N T

Reservations appreciated

Gluten Free Appetizers, Pastas, Entrees, & Desserts!

Please wear mask until you are seated.

Call ahead for parties of 5-10.

We are excited and hope to see everyone soon!

Specials and our full menu available for takeout and curbside pickup.

Mon-Sat 11:30am - 8pm 623 French Road New Hartford (315) 733-2709

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615 Erie Blvd. W., Rome

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Open: Monday-Friday: 9-2 185 Genesee St., 2nd Floor, Utica

315 735-7676

Wishing Everyone A Happy, Healthy, Safe And Blessed New Year 2022!!

Thank You For Continuing To Support Us , We Look Forward To A Return To Regular Hours And More Years To Come!!

Place Orders For Our, Jarred Products, Ready To Cook Meals, Plus Our, Handmade-Always Fresh-Never Frozen, Cookies, Pusties And More!!

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-Monday Through Friday, 9:00 AM To 1:00 PM -

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Offering Grab-n-Go meals, Salads, & Deli items!

Wed-Sun: 7am-2pm UTICA: 1256 Albany St. • 315-790-5200 Hours: Wed-Fri 10am-2pm WHITESBORO: 103 Main St. • 315-768-1462 Hours: Sat & Sun 7am-1pm

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Sheri’s

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Homemade Baked Goods & Multi-Color Bagels - a kid’s favorite!

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219 N. Genesee St., Utica (315) 790-5353 • Open 7 Days a Week

900 Culver Ave., Utica • 315-765-0271 • Open Wed-Sat 4:30-8pm

We can’t wait to see you again!

All staff wearing masks, please wear yours until seated. Visit www.willowsofutica.com

Yorkville

whitesboro

Serving Lunch & Dinner Lunches Served Friday & Saturday Happy Hour Daily 4-7, $2.75 Drafts & $3 Well Mixers

Tuesday: All-U-Can-Eat Spaghetti Wednesday: Pasta and Boneless Wings Specials Thursday: All-U-Can-Eat Chicken Riggies

Dine In, Take Out, & Curbside Pick-Up!

409 Oriskany Blvd., Whitesboro • (315) 736-7869 Catering & Banquet Facilities Available • www.69steakhouse.com

KARAM’S Middle Eastern Bakery & Restaurant

Traditional Lebanese fare for breakfast & lunch!

Middle Eastern Specials & Groceries • Pita & Flat Bread • Spinach & Meat Pies • Baklawa

(315) 736-1728 • 137 Campbell Ave, Yorkville Tues - Fri: 9am -5pm, Sat: 9am - 3pm • www.karamsbakery.com 13

mv living

antique shopping guide Happy new Year!

Shop for antiques in the valley!

Little Falls

Herkimer

Fort Plain

SHOWCASE

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TO HERKIM

Antiques of CNY Little Falls

Mohawk

Antique Center

MOHAWK ANTIQUES MALL

Weeden’ s Mini Mall

Loaded with Antiques, Vintage, Collectibles, & many unique items! Over 40 years in business!

Over 100 shops under one roof!

8056 Route 13, Blossvale (Located 4 miles North of Sylvan Beach) (315) 245-0458 • Open 10-5 every day • www.weedensminimall.com

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Victorian Rose

Vintage, Antiques & Collectibles Open Fri, Sat, & Sun 10-4 315-893-1786 • 3371 Maple Ave., Bouckville • www.victorianrosevintage.com

ESTATE & HOUSE SALES APPRAISALS ALWAYS BUYING

THE POTTING SHED ANTIQUES

ALL U.S. COINS WANTED

ALSO BUYING YOUR UNWANTED OR BROKEN JEWELRY

Happy New Year!

From Don & Nan cy and Staff!

Thurs & Fri 10-5, Sat 10-4, Closed Sun - Wed www.thepottingshedantiques.com

315-736-5214

Don & Nancy Hartman, 52 Oriskany Blvd., Whitesboro (Next to Kinney’s)

The Online Exchange, LLC We Can Help You Buy, Sell, & Trade Globally!

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Over 160 Vendor booths and display cases!

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(315) 219-5044 www.mohawkantiquesmall.com

View our upcoming auctions online!

www.nyeandcompany.com

Follow us on Instagram

Happy New Year!

We would like to thank all of our great customers and we know that 2022 will be the BEST year EVER!!!

MOHAWK ANTIQUES MALL

Mon, Wed-Sat: 10-5, Sun: 11:30-4:30 Closed Tuesdays

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MADISON INN ANTIQUES Also the home of...

FURNITURE • TOOLS BOOKS • COLLECTIBLES GLASS • PRIMITIVE

All kinds of Unique Vendors under one roof. Artisans, Crafters, Antiques to Retro including Food Items.

Vendors Wanted

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Space available Call: 315 335-1689

7417 St Rte 20 • Madison

315-893-7639 Open Fri, Sat, & Sun 10-4

Fort Plain Antiques & Salvage LLC

Little Little Falls Falls

Antique Center More than 50 vendors on 2 floors!

Antiques • Art • Crafts Open 6 days a week, 10-5, Closed Tues Handicapped-accessible • 315-823-4309 Thruway Exit 29A, 25 West Mill St., Little Falls www.littlefallsantiquecenter.com

We wish everyone a Healthy & Happy New Year!

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The Everyday Adventures of Mohawk Valley Girl

Music at Fratello’s in frankfort

Regular readers of my blog know that I now have a Wednesday Night Thing. I go to Fratello’s to eat delicious food and hear wonderful music. I love it.

I knew they often hosted local musicians; my husband Steve and I had heard Phil Arcuri (one of our favorites!) on a Wednesday back in 2019 and enjoyed it quite a bit. We returned to Fratello’s for food but somehow kept missing the nights that musicians were there. Then life got in the way, and we did not even make it out for food very often.

Fast forward to June 2021. Steve was in The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing in Ilion (long story and a HIPAA violation anyways). After visiting him, I decided to drive into Frankfort and treat myself to dinner at Fratello’s. It was a Wednesday. I wondered if Phil Arcuri might be playing. No, I thought, I couldn’t get that lucky.

I got that lucky! I enjoyed Phil’s music and a delicious plate of chicken riggies. I had a great conversation with Toni, the bartender, who was celebrating her birthday. It was a lovely night, and just the pick-me-up I needed. After that, I became a Wednesday night regular. I was introduced to the sounds of Matt Grainger and Max Scialdone. When Steve got sprung from The Grand and could join me, things got even better.

One memorable night we saw Mark Nanni. He plays keyboard, guitar, and accordion (not all at once). A fellow sitting at the bar dubbed him Billy Bad-Ass. Mark graciously accepted the compliment, noting that you can’t give yourself a name like that; it must be

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Mohawk Valley Girl meets Phil Arcuri, one of her favorite musicians

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17

bestowed upon you.

Local musicians are very appreciative of their fans. When we saw Matt Grainger in a different venue playing with KO Grainger, he said he remembered us from Fratello’s.

They like it when you sing along too, which Steve and I do at every opportunity.

Fratello’s, or “ The Frat House,” which some musicians call it, has music other days as well. One Friday, my sister Cheryl invited me to join her, her daughter Kimi and Kimi’s boyfriend Matt for pizza. We heard the Playin’ Again Band. Oh, were they good! Cheryl, Kimi, and I returned on another Friday to hear them again.

You can follow Fratello’s on Facebook to see when local musicians will be playing.

Or you can just show up and be surprised!

Either way, you’ll enjoy some great food with excellent service. •

Matt Grainger Mark Nanni

Fratello’s Pizzeria

158 E. Main St., Frankfort Open Monday-Saturday: 11am-10pm, Sunday: 1-9pm Live music every Monday, Friday, and Saturday (and sometimes Wednesday) Check Facebook for schedule Cynthia M. Quackenbush, a.k.a. “Mohawk Valley Girl,” follow her frugal fun at: mohawkvalleygirl.wordpress.com

PULASKI MEAT MARKET

Homemade Polish Foods Variety of Kielbasa • Cold Cuts Pierogi • Golabki

1201 Lenox Ave., Utica • (315) 732-8007

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Happy New Year!

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18

MV NATURE

nature in january

White-tailed Deer

story and photos by Matt Perry For most people, being outside in January is something to be avoided. Naturalists in northern climates tend to have a different view.

In fact, for most of us, the dead of winter is a “must experience” time of year. January, and wintertime in general, is the time when the behavior of many of our most secretive wildlife residents is on full display. Indeed, one can spend the majority of the year blind to the fact that we have Coyote, Ermine, Fisher, Bobcat, Porcupine, and so many other interesting species sharing the land with us. From footprints and other signs left in the snow, we can confirm the presence of the most secretive wildlife in a habitat. More significantly, we can also interpret their behavior. In many ways, finding footprints is superior to visual encounters since the tracks can give us a complete record of virtually everything an animal does, while a sighting typically involves only a brief view of an animal in full flight. Importantly, footprints record what an animal is doing when they believe they are alone and not being observed.

Footprints are often better than photos from trail cams, at least for some animal species.

Coyotes and foxes often notice trail cameras and even act timidly around them or refuse to go anywhere near them. We don’t have this

problem with footprints.

Probably my favorite animals to find footprints of are Coyotes and Fishers. Both are intelligent predators that exhibit complex hunting, foraging, and social behaviors.

Also, neither had much of a foothold in the Mohawk Valley when I was young, so their strong presence in the habitat in this era is especially interesting. For most of the year, when there is no snow cover, few of us would ever know we had Fishers and Coyotes; they are secretive and almost entirely nocturnal. Suddenly, with snow cover, their lives are no longer invisible, and their wanderings are dutifully written across the terrain. One day in early January, I picked up the tracks of a lone medium-sized Coyote as it took one of our foot trails at the nature preserve. The tracks revealed an animal trotting up a hillside. As it cruised, it held a direct course that did not deviate from the footpath. The animal was not becoming distracted or making forays off the sides of the trail as many canines would. The tracks revealed a single-mindedness of purpose. The animal ev-

idently had somewhere to go. I continued to follow as it diverged from the footpath at the top of the hill. From there, the Coyote made for the center of the big field. I was still following, but before I had gotten very far, a flock of 15 crows flew up from the ground and gave me a clue as to what the coyote was headed for. I walked a few hundred feet into the field, still following the Coyote, and soon saw what had interested him and the crows. It was a deer carcass. Probably the victim of a vehicle collision or a run-in with a human hunter during the recent deer hunting season. There wasn’t enough left of the carcass to tell for sure what the cause of death was for the deer. All around the carcass site were footprints of wildlife – all attracted to the carrion. The Coyote footprints I had been following were overwritten by the foot and wing prints from dozens of crows. I walked in a wide circle around the carcass until

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I once again picked up a Coyote’s footprints. Was it the tracks of the same individual I had been following? I couldn’t be sure. This time the tracks led directly into an almost impenetrable tangle of small trees, shrubs, and brambles. Sure enough, the Coyote had entered this no-man’s-land, and I wouldn’t be able to follow him there. If this had been the breeding season, I might believe I had located a den site where a mother had her pups, but this was too early in the season for that. The Coyote entering this tangle was probably going to a safe place to sleep through its day. I recalled having a rare daytime sighting of a Coyote mother near that same place, but many years earlier. She did have young in a concealed den in the hedgerow and performed an amazing distraction display to get me away from the area. She bounced up and down in the tall grass and goldenrods, showing herself to me, and anxiously trying to get me to leave. I listened to her and left the scene.

I soon picked up the trail of a fox. I assumed it was a Red Fox since that is what I’ve seen before in that area. However, I couldn’t rule out the Gray Fox which has almost identical footprints and holds a nearby territory. The footprints of the two species are too alike to confidently sort out in most field conditions. I followed the fox from the site of the deer carcass and back up the hill in the direction from where I had come. Before reaching the top of the hill and intersecting the foot trail, the fox prints veered off sharply to the west. Perhaps the fox’s change in direction came about because of something it smelled or otherwise sensed.

It could have sensed danger, perhaps as presented by Coyotes, or it could have sensed nearby prey. After all, voles, mice, and shrews are common in that field. I lost track of the fox and de-

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Coyote

cided to continue up the hill. Once I reached the trail, I picked up Coyote tracks again.

This time it wasn’t a single set, but several sets all laid down in almost a circular pattern. It was as if two or three coyotes were engaging in a lesson in Spanish dance. There is no fur or blood or any sign that the activity was adversarial.

It had to be play. The coyotes were playing on the hilltop.

Likely this involved siblings born the previous spring and perhaps still traveling with their mother who they were Beaver footprints semi-dependent on. I have seen this behavior before reflected in Coyote tracks, so I wasn’t completely surprised by it.

Winter still has a lot of life left in it by the end of January and monitoring wildlife, and their survival strategies in the Northwoods continue. The month of February traditionally gives us the worst of what winter has to offer, but also the first glimmers of spring.

That will be the subject of next month’s nature column. •

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Mohawk valley astronomical society

Comet and Asteroid Show by carol higgins

As the new year rolls in, we can look forward to a couple of fun night sky events in early January. They are courtesy of a comet and an asteroid, and we should be treated to quite a good show if the weather cooperates. The first is a visit by Comet Leonard, the other is the Quadrantid meteor shower.

In our little corner of the Milky Way galaxy, the Earth shares our cosmic neighborhood with over 1.1 million known asteroids and 3,700 comets.

These ancient relics contain leftover materials from the era when the planets and moons were formed about 4.6 billion years ago. Asteroids contain varying combinations of rocky materials, metals such as iron and nickel, and some ice. The majority are in the Asteroid Belt, a region between the orbit of Mars and Jupiter. Comets are mostly ice and some dust and rocks. Their elliptical orbits take them further out into the solar system then back toward the Sun where the ices begin to melt, leaving a trail of debris, gas, and dust.

That is the current situation with Comet Leonard!

Comet Leonard was discovered in January 2021 by an astronomer at the Mount Lemmon Observatory. Its inbound trajectory took it past Earth on December 12, and six days later it zoomed past Venus at a distance of

only 2.6 million miles away. It is now headed toward the Sun and will have its closest approach on January 3.

Trying to predict how bright a comet Asteroid 2003 EH1 will be as it nears the Sun and sheds Image credit: NASA, Eyes On Asteroids its icy materials is notoriously difficult to do. The heating may break a small or loosely-packed ice ball into smaller remains) or a new classification called pieces, while large comets leave a de- a “rock comet” that sheds rocky mateImage Credit: NASA, ESA,the W. Keel, Galaxy Zoo Team rial as it approaches Sun. bris trail that can extend far fromHanny’s the Voorwerp. glowing nucleus. Over the past few The peak night of January 3 has a months, astronomers needed a tele- thin crescent Moon so it offers excelscope or binoculars to see the comet lent viewing conditions. Estimates and its beautiful long tail. Whether range from 40 to 120 meteors per hour, Comet Leonard will brighten or dim in and as usual, a dark sky is best. Head January is a mystery. If it is visible, bin- outside and look toward the Big Dipper and constellation Bootes, although the oculars are great for observing!

Speaking of mysteries, the second meteors can appear anywhere. The best event is the Quadrantid meteor shower. time to look is the dark pre-dawn hours.

It is best viewed between January 1 and To learn more about near-Earth 5 and peaks January 3. A meteor show- objects (NEO) in our neighborhood, er occurs when Earth travels through NASA recently launched the Eyes on a debris field usually left by a comet. Asteroids website. It provides an excelWhen the pieces hit our atmosphere, lent 3-D look at over 28,000 asteroids they heat up, leaving a streak across the and comets, showing real-time scientifsky. Here’s where the mystery comes ic data about each NEO and its current in. Researchers are unsure of the origin location and orbit. A close-up image can be rotated and explored. Animated of the parent body that left the debris!

For centuries, astronomers believed a mission information about spacecraft comet was the culprit, but a new inves- that traveled to some of the objects is tigation in 2003 suggests the object is also included. Visit the https://eyes. an asteroid named 2003 EH1. The cur- nasa.gov/apps/asteroids website. Haprent theory is that the asteroid is either py comet and asteroid hunting! a “dead comet” (ices are gone and rock Wishing you clear skies! •

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mv crossword

january Crossword

All answers found in the pages of this magazine!

Solution will appear in next month’s issue Across 3. Szarek Greenhouses will be adding a ____ Library in 2022.

5. What appears in the top right of Riverside Diner’s ad.

6. The featured food of Home Made Here this month.

8. One of Valley Girl’s favorite local musicians.

Phil ____.

9. Signal agreement.

10. Go straight to the source for your wood siding, decking, flooring and cabinet lumber at ___ Specialty Woods. See page 35.

11. “Not your average auction house.” See page 15.

12. What you call a female goat. See “On the Farm with Suzie” 13. A baby cow.

Down 1. This small, carnivorous mammal has regained a foothold in the Mohawk Valley. See “January in Nature” 2. Famous for sandwiches. Ann Street ____ in Little Falls.

4. The official post office building in New Hartford was erected by ____ Butler. See On. Co. History.

6. A mountain (and an alliteration) Gary VanRiper likes to climb again and again. ____ Peak.

7. When in Old Forge learn about Adirondack History at the _____ Museum. See page 21.

MVL Crossword Puzzler:

Fun winter magic for kids, though not so fun for adults.

Unscramble the letters in the yellow boxes then email your answer to: mohawkvalleyliving@hotmail.com by the 18th of this month. You’ll be entered to win an MVL Mug and a bag of delicious, fresh-roasted FoJo Beans coffee!

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Home made here

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Pulaski Meat Market

Pierogi

The Bulawa family purchased the Pulaski Meat Market on Lenox Ave. in 1973

story and photos by Sharry Whitney

When our boys were growing up, one of their favorite foods was pierogi. It was especially a favorite of our middle son, who pronounced them perEEgoes. (I have to confess that before we moved to the Utica area, I thought pierogi came frozen with “Mrs. T’s” printed on the box!) After we moved here, we learned what real pierogi are and even made them ourselves on occasion. We ate them so often that our son told his class during Heritage Week at school that we were Polish. He was disappointed when I told him he had no Polish ancestors. But our family did learn a great deal about Polish heritage producing the Mohawk Valley Living TV show. We discovered the Polish Community Club and learned all about traditional Polish customs, music, dancing, and foods, like kapusta, golubki, and of course, pierogi. Also. on our episode.

“A Road Trip to Polish Heritage” we visited the Pulaski Meat Market in Utica. Our late host, Richard Enders, was sure to point out the decorative tin ceiling when we entered. He always loved visiting traditional mom-and-pop markets.

Pulaski Meat Market is owned and operated by the Bulawa family. John Bulawa was a butcher near Mielec, Poland in the 1940s and 50s. In 1966, he and his wife, Irene, followed their dream and brought their four children to America. They settled in Buffalo, where John worked for the famous Malecki Meats until 1973 when the Bulawas purchased the Pulaski Meat Market in West Utica. Today, their corner market remains a bustling community gathering place. December is a particularly busy time at the market with customers shopping for holiday family gatherings. Pierogi are a popular dish

Pulaski Meat Market is famous for their homemade kielbasa

Barbara Bulawa takes quick break for a photo with Earle Reed, one of her loyal customers

Be sure to look up at the beautiful tin ceiling at Pulaski Meat Market

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for the season, especially Christmas Eve when Catholics abstain from eating meat. The speed at which the ladies at Pulaski Meat Market stuff the perogies is a sight to see. (I had to ask them to slow down so all my pictures wouldn’t be a blur!) First, they prepare the dough and then run it through a roller to flatten it. Then, they use a cookie cutter to cut the dough into little circular discs, scoop up a spoonful of filling (on this day it was Buffalo chicken), drop it in the center, fold it in half, and pinch it closed. The stuffed halfmoons are then dropped in boiling water to cook.

Though I have learned a lot about pierogi over the years, like pierogi is plural, a single is called pierog, pronounced pye-ROOG. But whoever eats just one? I also learned there are dessert pierogi, like blueberry, cherry, and sweet cheese!

Pulaski Meat Market makes some unique combinations like Reuben and Buffalo chicken pierogi.

Though they might mix it up a bit, Barbara Bulawa says the basic recipe is a family one from the family’s grandmother in Poland. “We’ve changed it a little over time making them softer and tastier,” she says. “Our customers decide what they like. If they love them, they come back.

Pierogi have a long tradition in Poland, dating back to the 13th century. One legend is that St.

The pierogi dough is rolled thin and then cut into small circles

The dough is filled with a spoonful of filling and pinched closed

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Hyacinth (the patron saint of the pierogi) brought the recipe from what is now modern-day Ukraine.

Another legend is that Marco Polo brought pierogi with him from China.

There is a constant flow of customers coming and going from the market. Many of the conversations are about Russia and Ukraine, but mostly about food. One couple has traveled all the way from Lowville to stock up on the market’s homemade kielbasa. Another gentleman is here for ham.

“It’s so easy,” he exclaims after Barbara explains how to prepare the large ham, “I can’t mess it up!”

As I wait for a break in the steady flow of customers to take a photo of Barbara, I realize I could be hear all day. Barbara, noticing my dilemma, remedies the situation by coming from behind the counter and putting her arm around the customer she is waiting on. “Get my photo with him,” she says. Seconds later, she is back to work behind the counter. I have a feeling she won’t be getting another break until the new year. •

The filled pierogi are dropping into boiling water

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27

mohawk valley Gardens & recipes

Growing a Garden of Readers by denise A. Szarek

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss To start off 2022, we have embarked on a new endeavor at the farm. We have joined LittleFreeLibrary.org and will be adding a new Little Free Library to the farm. If you look very carefully in neighborhoods around the Mohawk Valley you will find little libraries in many yards and in many neighborhoods. There are over 100,000 registered little libraries worldwide, in over 100 countries. Now, a new Little Library at Szarek Greenhouses, 7443 East South Street, in Westmoreland will join the movement to share books, bring people together and create a community of readers.

Living in a rural community, access to a library is very limited.

We want to give more children, tweens, teens, and adults access to more books. There are so many people coming to our farm, to buy plants, vegetables, and food, why not also take home a book to read or leave a book for someone else to read.

We have been overwhelmed by the response to the library on the farm. Over the past few months, we have had so many wonderful people drop off books, puzzles, cookbooks, and reference books.

We have morphed the little library from one library box, now to a full 8’ x 12’ shed. The shed is being built and should arrive at the farm in the middle of this month. We will spend our winter downtime, running electricity, building shelves, and filling those shelves with all the donated books.

Growing up in East Syracuse, I lived two blocks from our Public Library, and I spent hours there. The librarian was the best! She

worked with both the public and parochial school teachers to make sure we had reference books especially for all the project assignments we had. She was like a tour guide through all the books and the worlds they opened up to us.

I believe every person should have access to books and the world they open up to them. LittleFreeLibrary.org (LFL), is a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and improves book access by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world. LFL received the 2020 World Literacy Award and has been recognized by the Library of Congress, The National Book Foundation, and others for its dedication to expanding book access for all. To learn more, visit LittleFreeLibrary.org.

In Spring 2022 (TBA), Bernie & I will be hosting a grand-opening party for our Little Free Library, open to the public. The celebration will include family-friendly activities, contests, crafts, and refreshments.

We hope to combine our love of reading, growing, and cooking through the farm and our Little Library. The Little Library will have its own garden beds, and we hope to have potluck suppers centered around recipes from cookbooks in our little library, reading campouts, seed and plant swaps, recipe swaps, monthly make n’ take projects, and summer reading contests with prizes, of course! We hope you will stop by and join us for 2022!

So while you wait for our Little Free Library to open, grab a book from the shelf, your favorite beverage, and nosh on my January recipe! (next page)

T

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the writings of richard D. enders 1941-2021

Conversations With my Father By richard enders

EXCERPT FROM, PATENT PENDING – CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER Hi dad. Happy Father’s Day. I know I’m a few days early. But I’ll be out of town for the weekend. The kids pitched in this year and gave me a gift certificate for the Oyster Bar. Remember the summer when I gave a lecture in New York and the three of us spent some time there together? You, me and John. He was only six years old.

During dinner at the Oyster Bar, we mapped out the night’s itinerary. You took him for his first ride on the subway. To his first baseball game ever.

(He’s been an incorrigible Yankee fan ever since.) Me, I hailed a cab to see a Broadway play.

We met up afterward at the hotel, the Gramercy Park. John, chattering away about how fast the subway went and how he saw Reggie Jackson and Lou Paniella and how awesome Yankee Stadium was. Me, chattering away about seeing one of the greatest stage performances ever. Both of us talking “faster than a whippoorwill’s ass” (as you used to say to me when I was a kid). I never quite knew what a whippoorwill was, but I figured it was the bird equivalent of the Indianapolis 500.

You and I. Studies in contrast. Same bloodline. Different veins.

You, a man of few words, and even fewer opinions, who never raised his voice to me once, never swore, and whose best lessons came from silence. Me, every other sentence a loudmouthed, one-sided, opinion, often laced with less than clean-cut language.

Why, so far I’ve been talking for five minutes and haven’t let you get a word in edgewise. Me, a man who has to have an answer for everything in life. A grammatically correct, logically grounded answer. You, a man of modest philosophies. First and foremost. Mom.

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“The most beautiful woman in the world.” With my brother’s and my responsibility being to take good care of her because it has been ordained from the beginning of time that you would die long before she would. Second.

Remember that these are the best times of your life. And that “life is just a bowl of cherries.” And, oh ... “don’t ever feed me anything with cheese in it.” Peanut butter and jam, yes. Cheese of any kind, no.

And “turn off the lights when you leave the room! I’m not the power company.”

You. Product of six years of public schools. Me. Product of thirteen years of parochial schools. And nuns. Sister Leo. I complained about her all the time, but I think I truly was fond of her, probably because we were so much alike.

“Mr. Enders, I would appreciate your not being quite so supercilious in my class.” “Excuse me, sister, but exactly what does that mean?” “It means, exactly, that you can go downstairs to the library, look it up, return here before the bell rings, which should be in about seven minutes, and make a one-paragraph presentation to your unsupercilious classmates, sharing with them, and with me, what you learned about that wonderfully poignant and rhythmic slice of the English language.”

Boy, would she be upset with the state of the language today. Perfectly good three-syllable words being stripped at the altar of speed and commercialism to one syllable. Perfs. Skeds. Docs. Whatever happened to Performances? Schedules? Documents? If she were to ask me to give a one-sentence presentation about it, I’d say we’re being reduced to boring, monosyllabic pre-anthropoidal grunts. Sister

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Marie James. Judging from her eyebrows (we only saw nuns’ hands and faces back then) she was a strawberry blonde and a pretty good-looking one at that. I came across my third grade report card from her the other day. She missed her true vocation. She should have been a carpenter. Could hit a nail on the head every time. The left side of the report card listed academics. English, 100; Arithmetic, 94; Social Studies, 98; reading, 100. The other side listed “Traits.” “A” for always. “B” usually.

“C” sometimes. “D” seldom. “E” never. For every marking period, for “works to ability,” she marked “C.” “Sometimes.” For “annoys others.” “A.” “Always.”

You, not a superstitious bone in your body. Me, repository of all of grandma Moran’s superstitions. Inherited fully intact.

And fully enforceable. Grandma Moran, my soulmate, who taught me early that the preferred pronunciation for the family name was the “Moran” (as in the word “an”) and not the Irish pronunciation “Moran” (as in “moron”).

Grandma Moran. On Saturdays, we’d sit at a wooden table in the dining room, just the two of us, with a hand-operated half-moon-shaped metal machine, red as I remember, with a bag of tobacco on one side and thin white sheets of paper on the other. She and I would make cigarettes that put Camels to shame. I’d roll and lick. Lick and roll. Like there was no tomorrow. Probably be child abuse today. All to the sounds of the Big Bands, Vaughan Monroe, the Polish Hour, the Italian Hour.

Sounds that emanated from the console radio on the outside wall, because that was where it got the best reception. We each had our favorites - yours being “Peg of My Heart,” because of

mom. All to the rhythm of grandma sharing stories about her grandma and how there was no place on earth as green or as friendly or as pretty as Ireland.

I remember how, when she died, her casket was set kitty-corner in the living room. It was the same corner where you always put the Christmas tree. I had never seen so many people in our house before. Even people who didn’t read the newspaper knew ... because flowers were hung on the front door.

Helen Moran and daughter Florence Moran Enders. Both Irish “as Patty’s pig.” Twin purveyors of Irish folklore. “Play with matches and you’ll wet the bed.” “Never put your shoes on the table.” “Never open an umbrella in the house.” “Rain before seven, stop before eleven.” Of course, if it rained before seven on a special day without stopping before eleven, it was the fault of the Protestants down the street. In league with the devil, they were. “Lie down with dogs and you’ll rise with fleas.” Subtext: Stay clear of those Italian hooligans on Dudley Ave. “Dreams are always contrary.” Whatever you dream, the opposite will come true. “Happy the corpse the rain falls on, Happy the bride the sun shines on.”

When you were buried yesterday, dad, it poured. It didn’t rain when you were buried last year, mom, but you always said your wedding day was a beautiful, sun-filled day. Batting average 500. Not bad. Please don’t think I’m ignoring you, mom, but there are some things I have to say to dad while they’re fresh in my mind. And, anyway, you and I have been chatting since last July. Cemeteries are such great places to talk out loud to yourself. Sort of to yourself. •

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On the farm with Suzie

A Reluctant Mother

by Suzie Jones

During this time of year, I am accustomed to finding new baby goats and lambs in the barn when I go out for morning chores. This morning was no exception. There were two all-white ram lambs, still very wet and shaky, whose mom was dutifully cleaning them off. She was talking to them in her gentle sheep language--low grunts and murmurs. They were excitedly responding to her sounds and, on their unsteady legs, began rooting around, eagerly searching for her very full udder. Mom stood very still, gently nudging them in the right direction and encouraging them to suckle. She was patient, paying equal attention to both her newborns and doing all the things a superstar sheep mom should be doing. I left them alone; the three needed no help from me.

There was another new ram lamb, this one much bigger. He was brown and white, and completely clean and fluffy. But he was off by himself, looking a little shell-shocked and unsure of his surroundings.

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It was likely that mom had left him for a moment to feast on the dry, second-cut hay I had just pushed up for the herd. It was breakfast time, after all. But I wanted to be sure there was a strong bond between baby and mother, so I kept an eye on him in between my other chores. Sure enough, mom eventually came back to check on him, perking him up with her calls as she nervously checked on her baby. I particularly love it when the mothers fret over their babies in this way; insistently nudging the baby with her nose, it seems mom is checking the baby all over…as if something terrible might have happened in the five minutes she was away. The little ram lamb began nursing while mom doted and cleaned him even more. Again, these two needed no help from me.

I then spotted a single, damp, shivering baby goat on the other side of the paddock. This doe kid was all alone and covered in bits of bedding and afterbirth; it was clear that she had not been cleaned at all. There was no mom nearby and no other new mother-baby pairs.

These were all sure signs of trouble.

I scooped up the baby goat and held her to my winter barn coat, rubbing and warming her with my cotton-gloved hands. She had not been left too long; my vigorous rubbing and voice perked her up nicely. But it was time to find mom!

Luckily, the entire herd was happily munching on that hay I had just pushed up, with all their rear ends facing my direction. It didn’t take long to survey our 80 or so ladies to find the newly freshened (beginning milk production) doe. I captured mom and put her in a small pen with her newborn, giving her fresh hay and water.

While I finished the last of my chores, I kept an eye on

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the two of them. Unfortunately, mom was not interested in her baby. She was not butting it or harming it in any way (which would signify outright rejection), but she was not mothering it either. I had what I call a “reluctant mother” on my hands.

I keep an old dog collar in the barn for mothers such as this one. I slipped the collar around her neck and clipped her snugly to the pen wall. With her front end held tight, I was able to concentrate on getting the baby some colostrum. Mom still fidgeted and kicked, but I was able to hold her still enough to strip out a bit of milk and get the baby latched on. As the baby suckled, mom began to calm down and I could release my grasp. After ten minutes or so of suckling, I unhooked mom and left the two of them alone in their pen.

A few hours later, I checked on all the moms and their newborns and found that the reluctant mother was still not accepting her baby. I again clipped her collar to the pen wall and encouraged the baby onto her mother’s udder. Mom was much calmer now and the baby nursed freely. Then something began to happen in the mind of the reluctant mother. It was subtle at first, but I could see it in her body stance. She relaxed her hind legs and hips, opening up space for the baby to nurse more readily. I could see it in her eyes and face. Her expression had gone from annoyance and mild panic to one of curiosity and attentiveness. Then came her first “dut-dut-dut”…soft, goat-mother-speak reserved for talking to goat babies. It was as if a light had been turned on!

I checked the mother over thoroughly and saw that she really didn’t have an overabundance of milk and was slightly anemic. I gave her a good deworming and some special grain that I reserve for moms that need a boost of energy. Perhaps she was too exhausted when the baby was born to be a mother? But when the baby suckled and mom’s milk was let down, hormones were released and all the right connections were made. I unhooked her and allowed her space to interact with her baby, which she then did for the first time. She began cleaning and talking to her little one, doting and nudging and bonding. All was right with the world! •

Note: In the September 2015 issue of Mohawk Valley Living, I wrote about Baby Chip in an article entitled “When Moms Reject Their Babies”. The article also appears on my farm blog on anotherjonesfamilyfarm.com and is accessed and read by goat and sheep farmers all over the globe searching for answers to this common phenomenon.

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Priscilla looks over at us

Tippy enjoys her greens on shore

The new Beaver kit

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The year 2021 began with the Spring Farm Beaver colony inhabiting Julia’s Pond, a Beaver-made water impoundment on our east-west creek. The colony included Tippy, the 9-year-old matriarch; GenLo, her mate of the same age; six kits were born in 2019, and six kits were born in 2020. A very wintery December had ended on a milder note, and at the start of January, the ponds were only partially iced over. Relatively warm temperatures enabled Beavers to break up the ice that was in their way. Reduced ice cover meant they were no longer confined to the pond, and they could venture into the meadow to forage for trees. Some of what they retrieved was added to their underwater store of food called a food cache. During this time, I was finding muddy footprints of a large Beaver (probably GenLo) on the shore near the pond’s headwaters. By

An Osprey perches over the main pond

night he was cutting young willow trees and dragging them back to Julia’s Pond. The mild weather put the Beavers back into full winter prep mode. Not only were they storing food again, but they were winterizing the lodge.

Mud dredged from the bottom of the pond was being applied to the sides of the lodge.

The lodge looked like a black volcano with glistening muddy trails up its sides. It had a very primordial appearance. All that was missing was a herd of Duck-billed Dinosaurs grazing nearby.

The Beavers marked the new year with a schedule shakeup. Much of the colony had been reliably emerging in the afternoons, but suddenly, on January 1st, only a couple of older kits and one young kit came out to break the ice. By the end of the first week in January, Winter reasserted itself. There were several inches of snow on the ground, temperatures dropped into the teens, and ice covered the ponds again. This was especially true at Julia’s Pond where the stream current isn’t strong enough to keep even part of the pond ice-free. We resumed breaking a hole in the ice near our observation shelter. That way we could continue supplementing the Beavers’ food supply. The Beavers were sometimes out in the morning during the first week of January, so I was coming prepared with a few sweet potatoes tucked into my pockets. For those who don’t know, sweet potatoes are the

Beavers’ favorite treats.

Ice-breaking by the Beavers had become a daily task and it was something they were proficient at as long as the ice wasn’t too thick. They first concentrated on busting the ice that had formed around the lodge and the food cache. They also broke a channel that led between the lodge and the shore near our shelter. Ice removal by Beavers is done to increase accessibility to the dam, the top of the food cache, and the exterior of the lodge. Beavers began coming out dependably in the mornings and on some days they were staying out for an extended time.

On January 14th, the Beavers seemed to be out all day long. Temperatures reached 40° that day which served to weaken the pond ice. Again, the Beavers were able to widen the ice holes into channels. Peeled branches

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were beginning to pile up on the dam in places where there were gaps in the ice. January is the breeding season for Beavers and so I was on the lookout for any breeding behavior. Although I never saw our principal pair mate, I did see GenLo swim up to his partner and briefly groom her flank. Mutual grooming is one of the ways colony members bond; not just breeding pairs, but any combination of colony members. Tippy’s reaction to her mate’s grooming gesture was a classic non-reaction. She ignored his attention and swam over to get a sweet potato.

It got colder in the latter part of the month and by the 21st, all ponds were frozen over.

The Beavers were again confined to their home pond and lodge, unable to venture out and forage on land. We assumed the Beavers still had branches left in their food cache, but given the ice cover, it was impossible to assess how much was there. Considering the size of the Beaver colony, and the healthy number of Muskrats also drawing on it, it had to have been depleted. Regardless, we were bringing branches and produce daily, so no one would be going hungry. We noticed at this time that water levels at Julia’s Pond had dropped by about eight inches. When the pond is frozen and mud is not pliable, Beavers are unable to fix leaks in their dams. The result is a drop in water levels. This is normal in winter and Bea-

vers usually plan for it. With that in mind, they make their lodge entrances in deep enough water so they can handle a certain amount of water level drop.

Winter was unrelenting through the second week of February. Daily temperatures rarely broke the freezing mark. On the night of the 12th, the temperature dropped to - 8 °F. For us, breaking the ice holes at both ponds had to be done multiple times a day. At Julia’s Pond, the Beavers worked diligently to keep them open at night. The next day, despite the frigid temperatures, they somehow managed to expand their main ice hole. A trail cam set on the pond showed an adult Beaver busting through the ice hole at 2:47 AM. All around him was a bleak arctic landscape draped in a dark blue shadow. It was a profoundly cold-looking scene.

The average temperature began to moderate somewhat after mid-February and Beavers were able to break ice again. I watched them employ various ice-breaking techniques.

Mostly, adults and kits were climbing up onto the ice and using their weight to bust it down.

They then hauled away the ice chunks. They broke a channel from the ice hole to the lodge and from the lodge to the food cache. They also concentrated on widening a gap that had developed by the dam. The Beavers seemed to exude a real sense of satisfaction as they

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dealt with the ice. They were tackling the task with gusto, and with a dose of team spirit.

Indian summer ended on the 1st of March.

Temperatures fell back into the high single digits and the ponds refroze. Feathery ice crystals formed on the ubiquitous snow. Ice formations on creek water took the form of sculpted works of art – a not-so-subtle reminder of nature’s artistic virtuosity. The cold spell decisively curtailed the Beavers’ de-icing campaign. Once again, the only open water the Beavers had was the ice hole we maintained for them, and they took full advantage of it by coming out often to get sweet potato treats.

At Morton’s Pond, which lacked a Beaver work crew, the water remained iced over, except for the south side of the pond where the inflowing stream continuously carved into

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it. A flock of up to sixty Mallards inhabited the inflow area. Each day they would march in single file over the ice and to the shore where we put out birdseed. It was “the march of the Mallards” and it was an amusing thing to witness. On the afternoon of March 8th, I had just put out the ducks’ birdseed and was bending down in front of the blind, cutting up apples for the Muskrats, when a Golden Eagle flew in from behind me and came down in the center of the feeding ducks. The ducks exploded into the air in full escape mode as a giant blur of a raptor tried to grab one of them, and only narrowly missed his target. The splashes of white under the eagle’s dark brown wings indicated that it was a juvenile. Interestingly, the Muskrats remained out and kept feeding through the attack. They were accustomed to the Mallards’ dramatic mass-liftoffs, and they hadn’t noticed the eagle. It’s likely that if I wasn’t there, the eagle would’ve swooped back in and grabbed an oblivious muskrat as a consolation prize.

As for the ducks, they remained traumatized for the rest of the day and wouldn’t come over to the birdseed.

There was a profound thaw in the second week of March. Two days with temperatures in the 60s accelerated the ice and snowmelt. Even without rain, the streams leading into the ponds swelled. The ice on Julia’s Pond was nearly completely gone by March 12th. Water levels at Julia’s Pond had been down a foot, but the thaw allowed the Beavers to do repairs on the dam. Following their work, water levels came up a few inches. The lack of ice enabled me to assess the state of the food cache. It was well diminished, but it was hard to say how much of the underwater portion remained. The Beavers were still coming out in the afternoons at this point.

After another cold spell, on March 21st, the weather moderated, and daytime temperatures again reached into the 60’s. Virtually all the pond ice disappeared. Peeled branches from a winter’s worth of Beaver meals collected against the dam at Julia’s Pond. It was tangible evidence of an active colony and a reminder of how Beavers themselves may be rarely seen by people, but signs of their presence are abundantly clear to all that venture into their domain. Their ponds, dams, lodges, food caches, canals, foraging trails, and cut tree stumps are all monuments to their industry. The cliche of the “busy beaver” is based on fact. When weather permits, Beavers compulsively maintain and refurbish all their works – most especially their dams and lodges.

During the last week of March, the Beavers stopped coming out in the afternoon. As is typical, they didn’t stop all at once. Fewer Beavers emerged each day until one day none came out. For the first time in months, there were signs that Beavers had been in our man-made pond (Wick’s Pond). A few of the willows around the shore had been cut down and dragged off. The Beavers had resumed adding branches to their food cache. This was interesting and perhaps unprecedented given how late it was in the season. Did the Beavers know something we didn’t know

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about the weather? Were we on the verge of a bonus month of winter? Beavers were keeping the dam at Julia’s Pond well maintained and the water levels were close to peak. That wasn’t the case at Morton’s Pond, where no Beaver had ventured in quite some time.

The first few days in April brought a few inches of snow. Fortunately, the ponds remained mostly ice-free. Beavers were coming out late in the day. Evidently, the older kits hadn’t left the colony yet. At night, a Beaver was going into Wick’s Pond and plugging the outflow culvert with mud. They wanted that pond’s water level to rise. Maybe they were thinking about using that pond as an emergency backup for their home pond, in which case they would require a high water level to accommodate a large lodge with deep under-

A doe walks on the pond ice

water entrances. It became necessary for us to check the pipe every morning and unplug it as needed. At Julia’s Pond, they weren’t taking all the branches I was leaving out in the afternoon. After a long winter without greens, they were craving fresh foliage. This was especially true of Tippy. Tippy was coming out on some days but continued acting shy. A possible reason for her timidity was that she was close to giving birth to the season’s new kits.

During the second week of April, Beavers were emerging semi-reliably in the mid to late afternoon frame. Tippy was out about every other day and was often the last Beaver to emerge from the lodge. By this time, she might have already given birth to a new litter of kits, hence her wariness. The water levels at Julia’s Pond had reached an all-time high.

Beavers had been working to heighten the dam. Commensurately, the pond was expanding outwards. In a short time, the base of our observation shelter was underwater. When it was built in 2019, it was ten feet up on shore.

Daisy the doe and her friend Daffodil were becoming regulars at Julia’s Pond. Sometimes they would come over along with a few of their friends. They liked to graze on meadow grasses as well as on tree seedlings. I had gotten into the habit of leaving my produce bag hanging up on one of the shelter’s posts while I left to do other chores. On one occasion, while I was out, Daisy opened my bag

and plucked out a few potatoes. She didn’t eat them herself but dropped them at the edge of the water. Essentially, Daisy was feeding the Beavers!

Only a few Beavers were coming out in the afternoon during the third week of April.

Tippy was not one of them. I would hear the Beavers conversing inside the lodge, but they wouldn’t emerge until after 4:30. I was mostly seeing three yearlings and one two-year-old.

The remaining two-year-old was Sassafras. It seemed clear at that point that her litter mates along with the Orphan had left the colony and the preserve. Dispersal takes place at night and is a quiet affair. I began pondering about Sassafras. Did she plan to remain with the colony and become an assistant matriarch as Tippy had done with her mother? Having an assistant matriarch is not something Beaver colonies are known to do. In fact, it may have only been documented as happening with our colony. Of course, it could also be commonplace, and others studying Beaver behavior simply failed to recognize its occurrence. It would be interesting to see if Sassafras remains with the colony and if this behavior is repeated. We were continuing to bring poplar branches and logs down to Julia’s Pond every afternoon and the Beavers were taking them.

Almost every night they would strip a log of its bark. Peeled branches were being added to the dam and the sides of the lodge. Water

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levels at Julia’s Pond were still rising and the not shy at all about coming over and taking a shore was pushing outward. By this time the sweet potato. Now that she was nursing, her flooded-out observation shelter had become nutrition became paramount, and I began seeunusable. ing her every day. Often, she would emerge During the third week of April, trail cam from the lodge with several of the older kits footage at Julia’s Pond showed a fair amount – all queuing for sweet potatoes. At this point, of nighttime activity including wrestling I was hearing high-pitched mewing calls commatches between yearlings. Beaver wrestling ing from inside the lodge. It was Tippy’s new entails two Beavers, headkits. to-head, in a close embrace,

Beavers were shoving each other back and still coming out in the forth in the water. They just afternoons through the seemed to be having fun evfirst days of June. Tipery night. One night, a few py, Priscilla, Sassafras, inches of snow fell which and one other yearling was a significant departure were regulars. Increasfrom the 80 ° of the previingly, I was hearing the ous week. At least the ponds new kits calling inside didn’t freeze. the lodge but still hadn’t The last week of April was seen any of them yet.

A Mink stands on the thin ice marked by seasonably cold A couple of the yeartemperatures, wind, and rain. lings were seen having It was only 34 ° on the morning of May 1st a wrestling match. It was all good clean fun. and there was some snow on the ground. The Beavers were interested mainly in the leaves next day, Tippy emerged from the lodge for of the branches I brought, often leaving the the first time in a few weeks. When she ap- branches themselves unstripped. They added proached me for her treat, I could see that she them to the lodge and to the dam with bark was lactating. Of course, this was an indica- intact. Never a food item, fresh honeysuckle tion that she had given birth to kits. We knew boughs were also being added to the roof of we were unlikely to see the new kits until the lodge. they were about a month or two old. She was One day I saw Tippy up on shore grazing

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on blackberry brambles. That was unusual, but then again, other herbivores (including deer and porcupine) feed on them, so why not Beavers? On June 28th, I got my first glimpse of one of the season’s new kits. About the size of an adult Muskrat, the little kit was floating beside Tippy and Sassafras and feeding on fresh willow leaves. At one point it swam back towards the lodge, dove competently, and went inside. For the next week or so I only heard the new kits from inside the lodge and did not see them.

Part two of the Spring Farm Beavers 2021 story will appear in the February issue of Mohawk Valley Living Magazine. In that segment, we find out how the Beavers deal with a River Otter that comes onto their pond and a Bobcat that sits on their lodge. • Matt Perry is Conservation Director and resident naturalist at Spring Farm CARES in Clinton. He manages a 260 acre nature preserve which is open for tours by appointment. Matt is also regional editor of “The Kingbird”, which is a quarterly publication put out by the New York State Ornithological Association. Matt’s short nature videos can be viewed on the web. Look for Spring Farm CARES Nature Sanctuary on Facebook.

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Raulli’s Iron Works

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GALLERY GUIDE

Detail of Enchanted Evening, an oil painting by Doug Whitfield. The exhibit, Mystical Moments: Paintings by Doug Whitfield, will be on display this month at The Other Side in Utica

Mystical Moments: Paintings by Doug Whitfield January 6- Feb. 30, 2022 Reception: January 6, 5-7pm

The Other Side

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Through January 31, 2022

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Winter in Action Through March 26, 2022

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Advertiser Directory please support Our sponsors, they make this magazine possible Antiques Antiques & Art Westmoreland . . . . . . . . .

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Antique Auctioneers Nye & Company Auctioneers . . . . . . . . . . 15 Art Galleries/Museums Full Moon Reflections . . . . . . 43 Fusion Art Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Yorkville Framing & Art Gallery . . . . . 43 Art and Custom Framing Fusion Art Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Heartwood Gift Barn . . . . . . . . . 30 Yorkville Framing & Art Gallery . . . . . 43 Art and Pottery Classes Azure Arts Pottery . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Auto Dealerships Steet-Ponte Auto Group . . . . . . . . . . 3 Automotive Repair Clinton Collision . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Bakeries and Pastry Shops Caruso’s Pastry Shoppe . . .

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Bike Shops Dick’s Wheel Shop . . . . . . . . . . 8 Books Berry Hill Book Shop. . . . . . . . . 30 Treehouse Reading Room . . . . . . . . 28 Cabinets and Kitchens Custom Woodcraft. . . . . . . . . 23 Knotty By Nature . . . . . . . . . 32 Catering Club Monarch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 RoSo’s Cafe & Catering . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Willie’s The Original Bagel Cafe . . . . . . 13 CBD Products RAW ADK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Utica Hemp, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Clothing Paca Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Queen’s Closet . . . . . . . . . . 16

Fusion Art Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Shoppes at the Finish Line . . . . . . . . . 19 The Tepee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Consignment The Online Exchange . . . . . . . . . 15 The Queen’s Closet . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Grocery Stores, Co-ops, and Convenience Stores Deansboro Superette . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Little Italy Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Olde Kountry Market . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Mohawk Village Market . . . . . . . . . . 41 Richfield Springs Community Food Cooperative . . 26

Contractors Ed Smith Contractor and Handyman . . . . . 28 Delis and Meats Bosonne’s Sausage . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Little Italy Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Mohawk Village Market . . . . . . . 41 Olde Kountry Market . . . . . . . . . . 23 Pulaski Meat Market . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Diners Charlie’s Place . . .

Riverside Diner . . .

Sheri’s Eastside Diner Wendy’s Diner . . .

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11 12 13 11

Dog Sitting Barney’s Angels . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Doors, Residential & Commercial JM Door Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Estate Sales Attic Addicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 The Potting Shed Antiques . . . . . . . . . . 15 Events, Entertainment, and Activities Goodsell Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Hamilton College Performing Arts . . . . . . . . 42 Farm Equipment Clinton Tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Hobby Hill Farm Sales . . . . . . . . . . 35 White’s Farm Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Farm Markets Cooperstown Farmers Market . . . . . . . . . . 24 Horn’s Family Farm . . . . . . . . . . 24 Oneida County Public Market . . . . . . . . 31 Financial Services Van Meter & Van Meter, . . . . . . . . . . 20 Flooring Mike’s Floor Store . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Funeral Services Prince-Boyd & Hyatt . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Furniture Ironwood Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Jeff ’s Amish Furniture . . . . . . . . . . 22 Shoppes at the Finish Line . . . . . . . . . 19 Furniture Makers Custom Woodcraft . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Handyman/Repairs Ed Smith Contractor and Handyman . . . . . 28 Hardware/Lumber/Farm & Home Lincoln Davies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Morgan’s Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Turner Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Wightman Specialty Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Hearth Shops and Fuel Buell Fuel Hearth & Home . . . . . . . . . . 27 Insurance Gates-Cole Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . 40 HBE Group, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Turnbull Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Interior Design/Custom Window Treatments The Added Touch Drapery . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Ironwork Raulli’s Iron Works . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Jewelry Alison’s Jewelry & Repair . . . . . . . . . 26 Fall Hill bead & Gem . . . . . . . . . . 9 Goldmine Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Lighting Mills Electrical Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Liquor Stores and Wine Ilion Wine & Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Prospect Falls Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Trenton Station Liquor & Wine . . . . . . . . . 27 Maple Syrup Ben & Judy’s Sugarhouse . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Shaw’s Maple Products . . . . . . . . . . 39 Tibbits Maple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Meats (See Delis) Media WFXV FPX33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 WKAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Weekly Adirondack . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Weekly ADK........42 Monuments & Memorials Yorkville Memorials . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Musical Instrument Sales, Rentals, Lessons Big Apple Music . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Charities House of the Good Shepherd . . . . . . . 7

Garden Center and Greenhouses Szarek’s Succulent Shack . . . . . . . . . 39

Cheese Grassy Cow Dairy . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Jewett’s Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Stoltzfus Family Dairy . . . . . . . . . . 41

General Contractors Ed Smith Contractor and Handyman . . . . . . . 28

Natural Food Stores Cooperstown Naturals . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Peter’s Cornucopia . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Gift Shops/Shopping Between Us Sisters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Optometrists Towpath Vision Care . . . . . . . . . 10

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Paint and Painting Supplies Urbanik’s Paint & Wallpaper

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Physical Therapy Achievement Therapy & Wellness . . . . . . . 38 Inertia PT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Pizzerias DiCastro’s Brick Oven . . . . . . . . . . 12 Primo Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Tony’s Pizza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

sponsor news Westmoreland Resident Wins Gold

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Quilt and Yarn Shops/Services Tiger Lily Quilt Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Real Estate Agents Howard Hanna .

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Restaurants and Cafés Ann St. Deli . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Black Stallion Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . .

Buffalohead Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . .

Club Monarch . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DiCastro’s Brick Oven . . . . . . . . . . .

Gone Coastal . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Karam’s Middle East Bakery . . . . . . .

Killabrew . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nola’s . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ohio Tavern . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phoenician Restaurant . . . . . . . . . .

Riverside Diner . . . . . . . . . . . .

RoSo’s Cafe & Catering . . . . . . . . . .

Route 69 Steakhouse . . . . . . . .

Sammy and Annie Foods . . . . .

Wendy’s Diner, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Willie’s The Original Bagel Cafe . . . . . .

The Willows . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Tree Services and Tree Farms Rick Turk Tree Service .

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Weddings and Banquets Club Monarch . . .

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Storage Sheds & Garages Pleasant View Structures . .

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Westmoreland- Thomas Denslow, resident and local business owner of The Gold Rush Adventure Golf, was part of a six-man team that participated in The Florida State Senior Games, three on three basketball tournament. The team, consisting of players from all over the country and ranging in age from 70 to 75 won in Davie, Florida. They have qualified to advance to Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in May 2022.

Gold Rush Adventure Golf 4853 NY-233, Westmoreland, NY

The answer to last month’s riddle about a local (and our late host’s fav ) savory soup is: MUSHROOM STEW Our winner from a record number of entries is: Chris Ceely of Clinton Thank you for all the entries!

The Adirondack Boot Perfect for the mountains, the city, or anywhere in between.

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