Mohawk Valley Living #90 May 2021

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IN MEMORY OF

RICHARD ENDERS EXPLORING THE ARTS, HISTORY AND CULTURE OF OUR REGION

90

MAY 2021

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Richard Enders, 1941-2021

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On the cover: Gabe Oram (country road) DeNicola Photography (Richard Enders portrait)

contents 6 9 12 16 19 23 26 28 29 30 31 33 35 36 40 45 47 52 55

Oneida County History Center ADK Journal Remembering Richard Enders Restaurant Guide Antiques Guide May in Nature Valley Girl Local Comic Strip MV Crossword Local Photography MV Gardens Classical MV MV Astronomy Club On The Farm with Suzie Matt Perry’s Nature Gallery Guide Tales from Shawangunk, Part 78 Advertiser Directory Contest Answers

Farewell to a Friend Tempus Fugit

by Sharry L. Whitney

It was 16 years ago in April that Lance and I started our Mohawk Valley Living adventure with our friend Richard Enders. We first met Richard in the early 1990s, when we interviewed him for our small newspaper about a book he had written, Nunc Pro Tunc. We also knew him as the actor who portrayed Scrooge, so who better to hire as an attorney to oversee the purchase of our first house?

At our closing, he congratulated us on our new home and gave us back $100 of his fee, and told us to go out to dinner and celebrate (tight-fisted Scrooge indeed). Years later when we envisioned our TV show, we couldn’t think of anyone better to represent the Mohawk Valley than Richard. Though he was an actor, there was never any acting when it came to expressing his love of his family and the Utica area.

Over the years that followed, Lance and I spent every week with Richard “traveling ‘round” and exploring our region. He was always positive, patient, encouraging, and up for anything. Richard never flinched at trying new things, whether eating exotic foods like pig ears and oxtail, or riding horses, tractors, pace cars, sledding down a snowy hill, or being pushed down a water slide.

He approached every day like it was a gift, perhaps because he truly believed it was. (At age eight, he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever, spent 3 months in bed, and doctors warned his parents that he might not see adulthood. He said he grew up thinking he could die at any moment.) After every day of filming, he would send us a text thanking us for the day. He was compensated for his continued on page 54

MOHAWK VALLEY LIVING MAGAZINE May 2021

PUBLISHERS Lance and Sharry Whitney EDITOR Sharry Whitney DESIGN & LAYOUT Lance David Whitney ASSISTANT EDITOR Shelley Malenowski ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Susan Collea CONTRIBUTORS Peggy Spencer Behrendt, Carol Higgins, Suzie Jones, John Keller, Melinda Karastury, Rebecca McLain, Susan Perkins, 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 © 2021. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of Mohawk Valley Living, Inc.

watch mvl every sunday!

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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 1 or between 2 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.

We traveled far and wide with Richard by our side Richard’s self-proclaimed title. (never one to shy from adventure.)

Hint: 2 words, 6 letters And although he is gone (first word is a 3-letter abbreviation) we will continue on carrying the memories we’ll treasure.

See the answer and winner to last month’s riddle on page 55!

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the Oneida County History center

Preserving Oneida County History

By Rebecca McLain

Oneida County History Center Executive Director In 1876, the nation was celebrating its centennial, and people were excited about history. This excitement, coupled with a national trend in the increased popularity and appearance of museums in the late 1800s, led to the birth of an organization dedicated to the preservation of Oneida County history. The first meeting to establish the Oneida Historical Society (today the Oneida County History Center) was held in Charles Hutchinson’s office in Utica on December 1, 1876. A constitution was adopted days later on December 15, 1876, and two years later in 1878, the Oneida Historical Society at Utica was incorporated. Its mission: “to collect and commemorate whatever may relate to the history of Central New York in general and the County of Oneida in particular.” Today the Oneida County History Center continues this effort to protect and preserve the past of Oneida County and Central New York for present and future generations.

Many locally and nationally prominent individuals joined and led the organization.

New York Governor Horatio Seymour served as the Society’s first president from 18761886. Other founding members included Senator Roscoe Conkling, Senator Francis Kernan, Supreme Court Justice Ward Hunt, Minister to Ecuador Philo White (and grandson of Hugh White, founder of Whitestown), Rome City Judge and author of Oneida County: An Illustrated History Daniel Wager, and the first Oneida County Historian Pomroy Jones.

One of the organization’s very first projects was to advocate for the construction of the Oriskany Monument. The History Center originally owned 4 ¾ acres at the site and helped raise funds for the construction of the monument. Congress provided $4,000 to build the monument because “the Continental Congress had instructed…. New York to erect a monument to General Herkimer at a cost of $500,” and an appeal was made for this $500 plus interest. The total cost of the monument was $12,000. The remainder of the money was derived from family members who had descendants at the battle, New York State, and

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Dedication of the corner stone of the First Church of Christ, Scientists building, 1914. The building was purchase by the History Center in 1988.

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other donors interested in the project. The monument was built using granite from abandoned locks on the Chenango Canal and was dedicated on August 6, 1884.

The History Center did not have its own home for the first few years of existence and operated out of room at the public library on Elizabeth Street. In 1896, the Munson-Williams Memorial Building, located at 600 Park Ave at John Street and Elizabeth Street, became the headquarters of the Oneida Historical Society. The building closed temporarily from 1921-1929, due to a lack of funds, but reopened in 1930, sharing its space with the Utica Academy of Medicine to help with funding. In the 1960s the organization moved to the basement of Fountain Elms and moved to its current location at 1608 Genesee Street in the late 1980s.

The building at 1608 Genesee Street was originally built by the Church of Christ, Scientist, in 1914. The accompanying image shows the first stages of construction and the dedication of the cornerstone. The building was purchased in 1988, by the History Center, and after several renovations, it opened to the public in 1991. This new location provided much-needed space for the ever-growing collection of artifacts, archives, manuscripts, and maps in the lower level, and a 5,000 square foot gallery on the main level for exhibits, public programs, a bookstore, and events.

Prior to its current home, the Oneida Historical Society was housed at 600 Park Ave.

Oneida County History Center 145th Anniversary Telethon May 19th, 5-8pm!

We invite you to celebrate local history by visiting us in person or online. Please support the organization by becoming a member during our upcoming 16th Annual Telethon, presented by the Bank of Utica, which will be broadcast live on WUTR-TV and streaming on CNYHomepage.com on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, from 5-8pm.

The History Center is a non-profit organization and does not receive any government funding. You can help support our mission and keep local history alive.

Current Mission: To protect and preserve the past of Oneida County, as well as, Central New York, for present and future generations. The History Center seeks to make this rich heritage readily available to researchers, families, and students enhancing the community’s knowledge and appreciation of its history. •

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

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

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Mountain Views to Enjoy Again and Again

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View from Bald Mountain

Mark Lowell on the summit of Gothics with its spectacular views

Mark Lowell trekking the ridge along Jay Mountain

9

There will likely be some snow in the shadows of the mountains in the high peaks region (I know. It was on May 24, 2007, when I hiked Big Slide, and there was still more than enough snow all along the trail on the dark side of the mountain to have a snowball fight!).

After having hiked well over 100 mountains in the sixmillion-acre Adirondack Park and completed many of the mountain quests, (including the 46 highest peaks, the Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge, The Saranac 6, The Tupper Lake Triad, The Chester Challenge, and The Fulton Chain Trifecta), there is a short list of mountains I have hiked, or would like to hike, again and again.

In the high peaks region, few views compete with Pyramid Peak which is on the shoulder of Gothics which also boasts spectacular outlooks. It is a great combination to hike which, depending on your approach, can also be started or finished with a visit to Beaver Meadow Falls.

Another mountain I have been on several times is Algonquin, the second-highest peak among our mountains, second only to Mount Marcy. Aspiring 46ers who hike Algonquin for the first time, usually try to climb Wright and Iroquois mountains as well.

There are marked trails for these peaks mentioned, and Algonquin may have a summit steward during the summer months to greet hikers and answer questions.

Among less ambitious climbs, I enjoyed the hike up and along Jay mountain, near Keene, which has a long ridge, with wide-open views on both sides. After walking through the forest and reaching elevation, you will come to a ‘highway’ with several bumps along the way until you finally reach the true summit. It is a long hike to the summit, but because there are such wonderful payoffs all along the way, you don’t have to hike the several miles to the end to be satisfied.

Among fire tower mountains, of course, Bald Mountain between Old Forge and Eagle Bay is always wonderful. It is a relatively modest climb and there are several commanding views of the Fulton Chain of Lakes all along the way. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve ascended this popular mountain over the years. A map table in the fire tower’s cab helps you

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identify where you are and what lies out on the horizon.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of the mountains I have climbed several times, or long to climb again. Simply examples of those peaks at various elevations and degrees of difficulty which have some of the more stunning views.

You must be in good physical condition for any of the high elevation treks. I am 67 years of age now and have always worked out all twelve months of the year to be ready as well as had an annual physical for a green light from my doctor. When hiking in these mountains: have a plan, take a map (even if trails are advertised as being marked), wear proper clothing for the time of year, and have the right gear. I do not hike the mountains without trekking poles to help maintain balance while navigating steep and irregular terrain.

Have access to plenty of water – avoid dehydration!

Do not hike alone. Do have a great time!

The Adirondack Mountain Club has a wealth of information and resources to help make your experience on the trails positive and safe and safe. www.adk.org • Gary VanRiper is an author, photographer, and pastor at the Camden Wesleyan Church. He has written 19 children’s books with his son, Justin.

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Young Justin VanRiper at Moss Lake. Our annual trip became a family tradition.

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Sarah Birmingham enjoying the view from the summit of Algonquin Mountain in the Adirondack High Peaks

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richard enders

remembering richard part 1 Several years ago, Chris Bord called to tell me he was writing a piece about the life of his friend Richard Enders and asked me some questions about working with Richard on our TV show. After I hung up, I contemplated his endeavor and thought, how can someone capture Richard? When I read the finished piece I was pleased that I recognized the man in the story; Chris had drawn a fine portrait of Richard. I even learned some things I didn’t know about our Mohawk Valley Living host. We hope you will too. Thank you to Chris for letting us share this story and to Eileen Enders for the family photos.

Richard Enders: Life on Stage

by Chris Bord January 7, 2015

On a recent December evening, Richard Enders sat by himself in a backstage dressing room at Utica’s Stanley Theater. He has a pre-show routine – review the script, shoulders to the ears, a deep breath in and out, and a little bit of arm shaking. Followed by “total fear” that he’s forgotten everything. “It never changes,” he says. “But it was worse when I performed Boz the first time, and I was afraid everybody would hate it.”

Enders celebrated his 73rd birthday in 2014, not bad for a sick-

ly kid about whom doctors A young Richard towers above his parents, warned his parJohn “Jack” and Florence Enders ents, “Don’t be surprised if he doesn’t make it to adulthood.” At this point, he’s best known for the role he’s played since 1992, the titular character in Players of Utica’s annual musical Scrooge; he’s also in his tenth year as host of Mohawk Valley Living, a weekly TV program “that explores the arts, entertainment, culture, and heritage of the greater Mohawk Valley region of New York State.” Although Richard Enders is probably the most recognized actor/celebrity in Utica, Mohawk Valley residents of a certain age also remember him as Oneida County’s District Attorney, a position he held from 1971-1981, winning three elections (he chose not to run a fourth time.)

Richard Donald Enders came into the world (“via c-section”) on December 15, 1941 at St. Elizabeth Hospital, “under the cross,” as his mother liked to remind him – referring to the large cross on the front of the building, right above the labor and delivery ward. Flor-

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ence Moran was a raven-haired Irish beauty with a fierce jealous kids to play in, “that must have been ten feet deep. Well, over my head at streak. “Which is ironic,” he recalls, “because I’ve never met a least.” Richard remembers Cornhill as a wonderful place to grow up. “It man more devoted to his wife than my father. He worshipped her was a neighborhood – families living together and close to one another.

– she could do no wrong.” Florence was born May 12, 1911; John I used to help my grandmother [Helen Moran] roll cigarettes on the old Enders (“Jack”) was five years older, of German/French ancestry tin-topped kitchen table. We’d walk down to the James Street Theater (the family surname was once spelled Endres.) They were mar- for movies.” (Years later, Richard would make his musical-theater debut ried in St. Agnes church, one of the on the James Street stage.) “I returned to the dozens of Roman Catholic parishes old neighborhood recently. The owner took in Utica. Shortly after Richard was me through my old house and it all came born, Jack enlisted in the Navy at age back – like I was a boy again. It was won36 to fight for his country, heading to derful.” the Pacific and leaving a heartbroken Richard and his brother attended BlessFlorence with two young boys (Riched Sacrament Elementary, between St. ard’s brother John, aka “Jackie,” was Agnes and St. Jane – five short blocks up seven years older.) One of Richard’s from Seymour. The teachers were Francisearliest memories is meeting the bus can nuns. “We got a phenomenal education. at the corner of James and Seymour Grammar, handwriting (the Palmer Methwhen his father returned four years od), and they’d march us over to the church later – Jack lifted his youngest son for confession once a week. I can’t say it 24-year-old Richard home for the onto his shoulders and carried him enough. The dedication of those women holidays with his parents in 1965 home. amazes me.” He remembers one in particu The Enders home in those days lar: “Sister Mary James. She had strawberry was 1569 Seymour Ave, in Utica’s blonde hair – I could tell by her eyebrows.

Cornhill neighborhood, named literally for the corn fields that She sent all of my schoolwork home when I got sick, and made sure I had been cleared for homes around the turn of the century. In didn’t fall behind.” front of every house was an elm tree. “It was amazing – the When Richard was eight, in the winter of third grade, he fell down branches met over the street and it was like a cathedral. Part of several times as the family walked to church. The doctor came to the Utica died when the elm trees died,” of Dutch Elm Disease in the house and diagnosed rheumatic fever, which confined Richard to bed for 1950’s. As the trees were cut down they left deep holes for the the next three months. Rheumatic fever affected 25 in 100,000 during the

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1950s, mostly children, and killed about 22,000 each year. Survivors often emerged with damaged heart valves. During Richard’s convalescence, Bob Vandenburg, a family friend, visited and without preamble or comment tossed a mutt onto the bed. Richard named her Boots, and she remained his constant companion during recovery.

“One of the worst memories of my life is coming home from college and seeing her basket hanging in the garage. That’s how I found out she’d died.”

The illness shaped Richard’s life, in how he was treated by his family and how he regarded himself. “My Uncle Gene and Aunt Ann had a cottage on Oneida Lake. I remember my Uncle waking me early in the morning to go fishing, and my Aunt telling him, ‘Don’t wake little Richie. He’s not well, you know.’ I expected to die at any time.” Pause. “By the way, there’s nothing better in this world than freshly caught perch, fried in butter on an iron skillet.”

The Roman Catholic Church dominated Richard’s early life. “I loved church back then,” he says. “It was more theatrical – more

mystical. The priests spoke a different language, and there were more candles, incense and pageantry – a lot of that has been lost.”

Richard served as an altar boy at Blessed Sacrament Church, a responsibility he undertook with utmost sincerity. “You had to be careful – certain sins had to be confessed right away.” Many years later, he told the following anecdote in one of his plays. “It was High Mass, about fifteen minutes before. Impure thoughts were very bad, and I was having a bad morning. So I knew I wouldn’t be able to accept Communion, which was REALLY bad because my whole family would be there, and they’d want to know why. So I asked the priest to hear my confession. ‘NOW?’ ’Yes, please. It’s an emergency. Bless me father, for I have sinned. It’s been fifteen minutes since my last confession. I’ve had impure thoughts… twenty-two times.’”

The story always brought down the house, mostly due to the way it was told, with a mischievous grin and the confidence of a performer who knows the audience gets what he’s talking about.

Next month: Richard catches the acting bug!

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707 Bleecker Street, Utica, New York 315-735-9712

Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 12pm-6pm

8231 State Route 12, Barneveld (315) 896-4444

Mon 7-5, Wed-Fri 7-5, Sat 7-3, Sun 7-Noon

15

the mvl restaurant guide

cassville n Ope r fo r! ne Din

Friday Fish Fry: 11:30am-8pm

1/2 lb.

Juicy Angus Burgers!

Specialty Sundaes!

Hershey’s Hard Ice Cream, Soft ServeChoc, Van & Twist, Milk Shakes

& Ice Cream Too! 1717 Route 8, Cassville (315) 839-5000

Open 7 Days a Week • Open 6am-8pm or later, Serving Breakfast 6am-Noon

CLINTON

Where good friends Meet to Eat! Enjoy breakfast or a quick lunch!

8170 Seneca Tpke., Clinton (315) 732-3631 Mon-Fri 7am-2pm, Sat & Sun 7am-1pm

Visit our New website!

1

#

Primo Pizza

Enjoyprimopizza.com

315-381-3231

The Most Unique Upside Down Pizza You Ever Tasted!

g Celebratinin 12 Years !

Clinton

Weekday Specials Tues- 20” X-Large Cheese Pizza . . . $11.95 Wed- Sm. Cheese Pizza & 20 Boneless Wings $19.00 Thurs- 2 Large Cheese Pizzas . . . $18.99

MVL Ad_Layout 1 7/8/15 3:05 PM Page 1

cold brook

(plus tax / toppings extra)

Specialty Rolls

Sausage...........$11.95 Spinach............$11.95 Antipasto........$13.75 Sausage & Greens . . . $14.50 S t rom b ol i . . . . . . . . $11.95

Every Day Specials

Small Cheese & 20 wings . . . . $25.00 Large Cheese & 25 wings . . . . $35.00 (plus tax. celery, blue cheese, toppings extra)

Tues-Thurs: 11am-9pm, Fri & Sat: 11am-10pm, Sun: 1pm-8pm

7756 Route 5, Clinton Located next door to Spaghetti Kettle • Enjoyprimopizza.com 16

2755 826-5050 2755 State State Rt Rt.8,8,Cold ColdBrook, Brook,NY NY•13324 (315)•826-5050

Mon. 4 -Open 9pm • Thurs, Tues. Closed Wed. - Sun.Sun 12 Noon Fri &•Sat 12-9, 12-8- 9pm Great Food • Great Spirits • Great Times Not taking

LifeOffering is Good The& Ohio Tavern!Reservations PubatFare Daily Specials!

Forestport

Over Port sized ions

us o m Fa Food! for

Quality Food • Fresh Ingredients Relaxing Atmosphere • Offering Daily Specials!

Prime Rib Special - Fri & Sat T-Bone Special - Daily

Lunch • Dinner American Fare • Full Menu Available Open: Wed & Thurs 4-8, Fri, Sat & Sun Noon-8:30

10626 North Lake Rd., Forestport 315-392-7077

Open Daily 7am-3pm

Book your party today!

(315) 533-7229

Dine In & Take Out

STEAKHOUSE

little falls

lEE Center

5345 Lee Center-Taberg Rd., Lee Center

Special Menu for Mother's Day!

New Hours! Thurs 3-9, Fri 12-9, Sat 3-9, Sun 3-8, Closed Mon-Wed • www.gonecoastalrestaurant.com

Call for reservations

New Hartford

823-3290

Breakfast, Lunch, Homemade Soups & Sandwiches and our delicious Desserts Including our Famous Cream Puffs!

Canal Place, Little Falls Next to Showcase Antiques

Phoenician R E S TAU R A N T

Homemade comfort foods Full menu available!

23 beers on tap, specializing in NY State craft beers!

Please wear mask until you are seated.

Call ahead for parties of 5-10.

u

best

We are excited and hope to see everyone soon!

VOTED #1

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

Eat In, Take Out & Curbside Pickup!

#1 - Best Local Bar #1 - Best Wings!

Open at 11am daily 10 Clinton Rd., New Hartford www.killabrewsaloon.com • (315) 732-9733

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

New Hartford

2020 u

BEST OF THE

rome

Dine In & Take Out

“We are your home town pizzeria!”

Thank You For Your Support!

Stay Healthy & Safe! past 5 years!

Voted #1 pizza for

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

Inside Dining Available Reservations Appreciated Due to Limited Seating!

(315) 33PIZZA

615 Erie Blvd. W., Rome

Open: Thurs: 4-8pm, Fri: 4-9pm, Sat: 12-9pm, Sun: 3-8pm, Mon: 4-8pm, Closed Tues & Wed

DiCastro’s BRICK OVEN

sherburne

rome

Restaurant • Ice Cream Parlor

Bring in Mom on Mother’s Day for a FREE small cone!

OPEN DAILY 11am-10pm End of N. Madison Street at Ridge Mills, Rome • (315) 339-2622

Soft Ice Cream & Homemade Hard Ice Cream!

Come try our Wine, Beer & Hard Cider Ice Creams

Also serving a full menu of delicious lunch and dinner options!

64 North Main St., Sherburne (607) 674-4397

Open every day and Open year-round

17

Utica

Chili Dogs Hamburgers, BBQ Shakes & More!

Fish Frys on Wed, Thurs & Fri! Eat in or Take out

1401 Oriskany St. West, Utica

Outside

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

1256 Albany St., Utica • 315-790-5200 Wed-Sun: 7am-2pm

Breakfast, Lunch, Seating & Grab-and-Go Deliveries, Available!

Take Out & Catering!

Check out our weekly specials on facebook and at www.rososcafe.com

Open: Monday-Friday: 8-2 185 Genesee St 2nd Floor, Utica

315 735-7676

(315) 724-0136 • Mon-Sat: 11am-8pm

Sheri’s

EASTSIDE DINER Breakfast • Lunch Homemade & Fresh Daily!

Breakfast & Lunch Catering Available

Contemporary American • Indoor Dining Open • Reservations Only

Breakfast Sandwiches Deli-Style Wraps/Sandwiches Salads, Soups & more!

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

Friday Fish Fry • Breakfast Served All Day

2199 Bleecker St., Utica (315) 790-5250 Open 7 Days a Week, 7am-2pm

Free Delivery(min. $25) • Family Owned & Operated!

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

(315) 790-5353 • Open 7 Days a Week

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

219 N. Genesee St., Utica

Vernon

Classic Italian to Creative Nightly Specials!

The Vullo Family has been catering to your needs since 1972

We can’t wait to see you again!

whitesboro

Serving Lunch & Dinner Lunches Served Friday, Saturday & Sunday Happy Hour Daily 4-7, $2.50 Drafts & $2.75 Well Mixers

Tuesday: $2.99 All-U-Can-Eat Spaghetti Wednesday: $7.99 Pasta Specials We are following Covid Guidelines Reservations are Recommended

5656 Route 5, Vernon • (315) 829-2203

www.theblackstallionny.com • Open Wed & Thurs 3-9, Fri & Sat 3-10, Sun 12-7, Closed Mon & Tues

Dine In, Take Out,

& Curbside Pick-Up! 10 Boneless Wings $6.00 Thursday: $15.99 All-U-Can-Eat Chicken Riggies 409 Oriskany Blvd., Whitesboro • (315) 736-7869

Catering & Banquet Facilities Available • www.69steakhouse.com

Yorkville

Now Open!

M

Over 80 years serving the Mohawk Valley!

Visit our 3 locations:

Oriskany Blvd., Yorkville • Ilion Marina, 190 Central Ave, Ilion • Maynard Dr., Marcy 18

Regular Hours

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

antique shopping guide Little Falls Fort Plain Herkimer Mohawk Valley

Community Market Thew Ne

SHOWCASE

Antiques of CNY

Little Falls Mohawk

Antique Center

MOHAWK ANTIQUES MALL

Antiques & Art

Westmoreland Formerly of Barneveld

Now Open!

5475 State Rt 233, Westmoreland Artsy1Antiques@GMail.com

Open Wed- Fri 10-6, Sat & Sun 10-4

7000 Sq. ft Multi Dealer Store!

Furniture: Victorian to Mid-Century Lots of Art! Architectural Salvage Primitives Records, Books, & Collectibles

Celebrating 21 years in business!

Attic Addicts The Queen’s Closet

Pristine, Practical, and Priced Right!

Specializing in estate sales, large and small.

Conducted with respect and dignity.

We take the pressure out of estate liquidation, moving, or downsizing.

Call for a consultation:

(315) 736-9160

Consignment at its Finest!

Clothing, Jewelry Household Items Furniture Summer Hours: Mon-Fri: 10-5 May 1st-Oct 1st

New consignment by appointment only

22 Oriskany Blvd., Yorkville (315) 736-9160 Facebook: The Queens Closet & Attic Addicts

19

Black Cat ANTIQUES & GIFTS

Bear Path Antiques Spring is Here!

Open Daily 10-5

A general line of quality, affordable antiques Open Thursday-Monday: Closed Tuesday & Wednesday

www.backofthebarnantiques.com

(315) 369-9970 • 13912 State Rte 28, Otter Lake

Check out our new location!

Your destination for furniture, hand stenciled signs, vintage clothing, warm glow candles, silk arrangements & more!

including furniture, primitives, smalls, china, and antique accessories.

10242 Route 12N, Remsen

(315) 831-8644

A little bit country, a little bit primitive!

If coming from a long distance call to check hours

14 East Main St. Earlville (315) 691-5721

Open Tues-Fri: 9-4, Sat: 9-2, Closed Sun & Mon

Broad St. Flea Market 601 Second St., Utica

(315) 941-0925 • Wed-Fri 10-5, Sat & Sun 10-4, Closed Mon & Tues

We have moved to a new location.

Bigger And Better Than Ever!

Loaded with an even larger variety of items!

Like Us!

Celebrating Our 45th Season Offering Early Antiques Primitive Wares Needfuls Purposeful Stuff Open Most Every Day: 10-5

Multi Dealer Antique Shop

Primitives • Furniture • Artwork Smalls • Antique Accessories Wed-Sat: 10-4, Sun: 11-3 • (315) 264-1755

4803 Rt. 31, Vernon

Canal House Hazel Mae’s Antiques Located in the Shoppes Multi-Dealer Shop

Specializing in antique furniture, glassware, jewelry, books, linens and so much more.

at Johnny Appleseeds 3402 Old State Rd, Erieville Rug Hooking • Punch Needle Wool • Supplies • Classes

6737 Route 20, Bouckville (315) 893-7737 Open Thursday - Sunday 10-5

The Gallery Antiques at Pinebrick ANTIQUE GALLERY

Signs you should visit The Depot!

20

6768 Route 20, Bouckville (315) 893-7676 Open Apr-Oct: 10-5 daily; Nov-Dec: 10-4 daily January-March: Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10-4 www.depotantiquegallery.com

Our lovely gallery offers a full range of antiques, fine furniture, and vintage collectibles!

A multi-dealer shop specializing in advertising, petroliana, lamps, glass, furniture & quality smalls.

Look for our 1960s Texaco sign!

(315) 893-7752

6790 Route 20, Bouckville

MADISON INN ANTIQUES

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

Celebrate Spring!

Find a treasure for your pleasure!

Like us on Facebook!

Over 160 Vendor booths and display cases!

FURNITURE • TOOLS BOOKS • COLLECTIBLES GLASS • PRIMITIVE Space available Call: 315 335-1689

7417 St Rte 20 • Madison 315-893-7639 Open Thurs-Sun 10-5

Maple Park Country Store • Vintage • Antiques • Collectibles • Garden Plants • Canning Items

and a little bit more!

3921 State Route 26 Vernon Center (315) 240-5393 Open Tues, Wed, Thurs & Sat: 10:30-5, Fri: 11-5

Enjoy the Spring!

We are loaded with lots of treasures.

Come in and find yours!

100 E. Main St., Mohawk (Thruway Exit 30)

(315) 219-5044 www.mohawkantiquesmall.com

MOHAWK ANTIQUES MALL

We’re Worth the Trip…

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

Closed Tuesdays

Vendors Wanted!

142 North Main Street, Herkimer • 315-628-1506 or 315-219-9195 Open Tues & Wed: 10-5, Thurs: 10-6, Fri:1 0-5, Sat: 10-4, Sun: Closed A Division of Herkimermall, LLC www.MohawkValleyCommunityMarket.com

Oh what you’ll discover at the MV Community Market!

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

JUNE 4th-6th, 2021 August 16-22, 2021

21

The Online Exchange, LLC Offering all types of Auction and Appraisal Services (973) 984-6900 • 20 Beach Street, Bloomfield, New Jersey 07003 www.nyeandcompany.com

ESTATE & HOUSE SALES • APPRAISALS • ALWAYS BUYING

THE POTTING SHED

We Can Help You Buy, Sell, & Trade Globally!

Registered user of ebay

Now an FFL dealer!

(315) 429-5111 • 6338 St. Rt. 167, Dolgeville

Renewed & Rescued

COINS • JEWELRY • ANTIQUES

Consigners wanted!

Household Items & Decor Refinished Furniture, Jewelry, Local Artisan Products 142 N. Main Street, Herkimer

(315) 628-1506 • Tues - Fri 10-5, Sat & Sun 10-2

uuuuuuuuuuu u u u u u u u BUYING & SELLING Antiques, u u Mid-Century, and Vintage thru 1975 u u OPEN 10AM-5PM, Closed Wed. u u *5,000 sq.ft. Multi-Dealer Store u u *BEST Variety of UNIQUE Finds u *103 SHOWCASES u u *26 DISPLAY BOOTHS u u u *1,000’s of Affordable “Smalls” For Sale u u *Get on our Monthly CUSTOMER WANT LIST u u (315) 823-1177 u u u 375 Canal Place, Little Falls u Next Door to Ann Street Deli u u u uuuuuuuuuuu

showcase antiques

ALL U.S. COINS WANTED

Buying and Selling Coins, Large Selection of Jewelry (gold, silver, costume), and Antiques. Buying scheduled by appointment.

Call (315) 794-5214

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

www.thepottingshedantiques.com

Don & Nancy Hartman, 52 Oriskany Blvd., Whitesboro (Next to Kinney’s) Masks available $1

See The Man 54 N. Main St., Sherburne (607) 316-8463 • Open Wed-Sat 10-5

Victorian

Rose

Vintage, Antiques, Crafts & Collectibles

315-893-1786 Open Daily 10-5

3371 Maple Ave., Bouckville www.victorianrosevintage.com

Whistle Post Antiques

M

Loaded with Antiques, Vintage, Collectibles, & many kinds of Unique Items! Over 40 Years in Business!

Face Masks and Social Distancing Required

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

Buy • Sell • Trade

Quality Consignments & More

ANTIQUES

Weeden’ s Mini Mall

Antique & Unique!

Specializing in Lionel Trains Visit us! Handcrafted signs & decor We Buy & Sell!

June Show Custom orders available (315) 838-0144 (315) 893-7604 4th-6th

6845 St. Rt. 20 Bouckville Hours: Sat & Sun: 10-4

MV NATURE

Yellow Warbler

songbirds of may story and photos by Matt Perry

I’ve said it before in these pages and I can’t emphasize it enough. May is the finest month of the year for birders and most naturalists. It’s something like Christmas, your birthday, and the 4th of July all rolled up in one. My only regret is that we don’t have three or four months of May each year. Not to take anything away from June. June is also highly prized and perhaps the most essential month in nature, given that it is when most breeding takes place for birds. But it’s May that is unmatched in bringing about excitement, and that is due to the sheer variety of bird species that pass through the region during their annual spring migration.

The number of warbler species alone that might be encountered during the month is in the high 20s. Of course, typically they are not going to come to you. One needs to go to the right habitat and seek them out.

Unlike during the previous summer and fall, the birds encountered in May are exuding energy. They are primed for the nesting season; they are dressed to kill in their boldest and most vivid plumage, and they are singing their spring songs with gusto. If you visit the right habitat – one conducive to attracting and sustaining migrant songbirds, you can be a witness to an explosion of activity that is arguably unparalleled during the rest of the year. On a good day, what ap-

pears as a sleepy woodland habitat wakes up with hundreds and sometimes thousands of visiting birds, all eagerly feeding after an evening of nocturnal migration. Finding and keeping pace with a mixed foraging flock of warblers and their allies can be a challenge, but one that is gladly met. Of course, if you locate a flock, the challenge is then to identify as many of its constituent birds as possible. Sure, that sounds straightforward and easy. It’s important to point out that most of these birds will be in the treetops and constantly moving. For the most part, you can’t expect one bird to stay in your binoculars for more than a second. And that’s about the average amount of time you have to slap a name on the species. It’s not like you always have a field-guide-worthy view of the subject either. Frequently, you’re looking almost straight up and getting only a partial view of the undersides of the birds. For some of them, you might only see part of a tail and belly. Luckily, for some species, that’s all you need to clinch an identification. Most fortunately, the flock members are vocalizing and although the cacophony of fifty birds simultaneously singing can be difficult to parse, with practice it can be done, and more identifications can be ren-

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The Eclectic Chic 21 Seneca Ave Oneida, NY 13421

Open Mon/Tues: 10-5 | Wed/Thur/Fri: 10-6 | Sat/Sun: 10-5

dered. Also, after you’ve identified some of the songs, you can attempt to get a visual of a specific singer.

The weather in May is extremely variable and in the age of climate change, it is even more so. Neotropical songbirds (including the warblers) leave their wintering grounds in the tropics and arrive in the Mohawk Valley during May for a reason. Traditionally this is when our trees break bud – when the leaves and tree flowers first begin to emerge. This is also traditionally the time when leaf-eating insects (mostly species of Lepidoptera) hatch and begin their life cycles. These insects constitute the fuel of the songbirds – without it, they are in trouble. If the trees break bud early – say in April, then the birds miss out on the smorgasbord they depend on to fuel their heightened amount of activity. In years when May is warmer than normal, migrants may not linger with us for more than a day, or they might skip over our region completely and head directly to their northern breeding grounds. Of course, in warmer-than-average conditions, the birds can still locate food, it just takes more effort, and it represents more of an energy expenditure on their part. If they arrive

Mohawk Village Market

Your old-fashioned, full service butcher!

Butcher Block Meats (no pre-packaged meats) Specialty cuts - Storemade Patties & Salads Complete Grocery Line

Open Monday-Saturday! 24 West Main St., Mohawk (315) 866-3344 Follow us on Facebook!

23

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

here and the weather is too cold and the trees are behind schedule, then they risk starvation or dying of exposure. I recall a few instances of watching warblers during a cold snap and instead of looking high up in the treetops to see them I was looking at the ground. Desperate warblers will forage on the ground and in the leaf litter if there is no alternative to finding sustenance. Interestingly, warblers, when they are cold, suspend singing.

They save vital energy reserves by not vocalizing and by slowing down their foraging speeds.

Like anything in the natural world, there is never any guarantee that you’re going to see what you set out to find when venturing out on the trail. You might find a sizable flock of warblers in the woods or you might find a smaller group of orioles and grosbeaks in an old orchard. Bear in mind that in May, the likelihood of you finding something interesting is much greater. You only need to keep your eyes and ears open and your binoculars at the ready. •

Scarlet Tanager

Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Personal, Business & Life Insurance Planning From a local company established in 1866

Turnbull

INSURANCE SERVICE

600 French Road, New Hartford • 315.735.9201 www.turnbull-insurance.com

Kitchen & Bath Cabinets Hardwood Flooring & Countertops

Cabinetry for Every Budget!

FREE In-Home Estimates Installation Available

315-822-0010

Corner of Rte. 8 & 20, Bridgewater Showroom Open Tues 11-6, Wed-Sat 11-4 or by appt. www.knottybynature.com

Cabinetry by Shiloh, Aspect & Waypoint

Black Burnian Warbler

Over 40 years in Business

Lessons We're open! Thank you for supporting Repairs local businesses and keeping music alive!

Layaway Rentals LOWEST PRICES School Instrument Rental Programs Sheet Music New & Used Musical Instruments Lighting WE BUY USED EQUIPMENT L SHOP LOCA D N A SAVE BIG!

(315) 732-3502

8441 Seneca Turnpike, New Hartford www.bigapplemusic.net

We Will B Any Catalo eat g or M Order Pric ail e

G N I W O T 24 HOUR

N O T CLIN SION I L L CO 315.853.5665

Specializing in Weddings & Banquets

PO Box 292, McBride Ave. Clinton, NY Fax: 315.853.4751

EXCEPTIONAL CUISINE • COMPETITIVE PRICING PROFESSIONAL WAIT STAFF ACCOMMODATIONS UP TO 200 GUESTS WEDDING RECEPTIONS • REHEARSAL DINNERS • BRIDAL & BABY SHOWERS FAMILY REUNIONS • BUSINESS MEETINGS • ALL OCCASION PARTIES

Friday night dinners featuring our famous fresh haddock fish fry!

Full menu available - Serving every Friday 4-8:30

16 Erie St. Yorkville, NY 13495 (315) 736-9359 www.clubmonarch.net

A

“We’ll Take Care Of You”

GatesCole.com

Visit Our New Online Shop! shop.the-sneaker-store.com

4490 Commercial Drive, New Hartford (315) 736-9237 Mon-Sat: 10am-7pm, Sun: 11am-3pm www.the-sneaker-store.com

25

The Everyday Adventures of Mohawk Valley Girl

houle flower farm

in Little Falls

I love flowers. To me they are a never-failing source of beauty and joy. Last year, I discovered two new lovely sources of such beauty and joy in Little Falls at Houle Flower Farm and AW Greenhouse Gardens.

I can’t remember if it was I Spy CNY or My Little Falls who shared Houle Flower Farm on Facebook, but right away I said, “Ooh!” Houle offers bouquets at a self-serve hut outside their farm on the corner of Rt. 170 and Davis Road.

Driving from Herkimer, Google sent me out Rt. 28 and West End Road, which is a lovely rural drive. I pulled in to find one bouquet left to purchase. Phew!

I loved that the bouquet was in a mason jar. I was especially happy when it fit right into my cup holder for the return drive. This time I took Rt. 170 into Little Falls. Being me, I was soon wondering if I had chosen the right direction. I confess to yelling, “Yes!” and making a fist pump when I realized I had.

My lovely bouquet was soon gracing my mantle.

Different flowers will be available, depending on what

Barney’s Angels

Dog Sitting & Daycare

(315) 525-3330 • Home Environment • Clean & Safe • Friendly • Spacious • Daily FB videos

4361 Acme Road, Ilion

Big dogs welcome too!

www.barneysangelsdogsitters.com 26

Tabitha sets out filler plants for bouquets

Jack helps his mom with some late-in-the-day planting (and playing) in the dirt.

We Are Open!

Jewett’s Cheese House

A family business since 1970 NY State aged cheddar 1-20 years old!

Over 400 items of cheese & gourmet foods.

(800) 638-3836 934 Earlville Road, Earlville (between Poolville and Earlville) Open Mon-Fri: 9:30-5, Most Sundays 10:30-3, closed Sat. www.jewettscheese.com

Houle Flower Farm bouquets come in mason jars

All Sizes!

Put the car back in the garage!

A family run business specializing in the manufacturing of affordable, well-contructed:

Storage Sheds Gazebos Pole Barns Garages (attached or unattached) Decks Free estimates for Pole Barns & Garages (315) 853-5285 4932 Rt. 233, Westmoreland Fully insured with over 30 years experience! See examples at: www.ssheds.com

is in season, so I look forward to treating myself to more beauty and joy. Houle also offers flowers by the bucket for special occasions and events.

I drove out one more time last year for flowers for my mantle, and to take a few more pictures. I was delighted to meet Tabitha Houle, the woman responsible for all the beauty. She showed me around a bit and we chatted.

I’m looking forward to the 2021 flower season. Though Tabitha reminds me that Mother Nature is in the one in charge, she does hope to have arm loads of tulips for Mother’s Day. You can see the flower bloom calendar, pre-order bouquets, and even subscribe to a CSA bouquet share on their website. •

Houle Flower Farm

2115 Davis Rd., Little Falls Open Thursday-Sunday: 9am till sold out www.houleflowerfarm.com Cynthia M. Quackenbush, a.k.a. “Mohawk Valley Girl,” writes a daily blog about her everyday adventures in the Mohawk Valley. Follow her frugal fun at: mohawkvalleygirl.wordpress.com

The team behind the flowers at Houle Flower Farm, John, Jack, Olivia, and Tabitha Houle

Spring tulips thrive in their plastic wind tunnel in anticipation of Mother’s Day

Located in Munnsville, Custom Woodcraft has been handcrafting wood furniture and designing beautiful cabinetry since 1979.

You’re not just buying cabinets, you’re investing in a tradition.

Bossone’s Sausage & Meat Co.

Utica’s Pork Store

Try our Famous Sausage!

Deli items • Beef • Steaks • Cheeses • Dry Goods Sundays: Fried Meatballs & Fried Dough!

711 Bleecker St., Utica

(315) 765-6409 Open: Thurs & Fri 9-4, Sat 8-2, Sun 8-Noon

Custom Woodcraft Quality Cabinetry & Furniture Crafted exclusively for you 2509 Perry Shumaker Road Munnsville (315) 843-4234

1-800-843-3202

27

T YATAK BOOTHER PRESENTS

midnight. the time beyond parental tv control...

ADVENTURES OF THE MEMORY MARINER

midnight Monsters

and a darkened living room became another world.

WWW.TOYATAK.COM

a universe filled with monsters i’d visited so many times that they became my friends...

i was terrified, but felt safe.

they came after me, but never caught me. A crocheted blanket, my formidable shield...

...a shield that withered with passing adolescence in that shadowy room when monsters were my friends.

This comic by a local artist is sponsored by Ravenswood Comics!

mv crossword

MAY Crossword All answers found in the pages of this magazine!

Solution will appear in next month’s issue

Across 3. Mohawk Valley Girl visits this flower farm in Little Falls.

4. Don’t miss the Oneida County History Center’s ___ at 5pm on May 19th on WUTR! 7. You don’t have to go to Egypt to climb this peak.

See ADK Journal.

8. ___ Rick’s Snack Shack in Rome is open for the season! See page 17.

10. It doesn’t cost a fortune to make this MV Gardens dish. 2 words 11. New exhibit of famous pop art by this artist opens at Fenimore this month. 2 words 13. I Love Mohawk Valley ___!

15. This flower farm in West Winfield opens on May 1st. See page 43.

Down 1. You can start or end your hike of the peak in #7 Across with a visit to the beautiful Beaver ____ Falls. See ADK Journal.

2. “Famous for Food” see Restaurant Guide.

4. Need to remove some trees? Call Rick ___, page 47.

5. One of Richard Enders’ favorite Latin phrases that means “time flies.” 2 words 6. Richard Enders’ favorite season.

9. Euphemism for space “junk” in this month’s MV Astronomy.

12. One of the brightly-colored birds in Songbirds, Scarlet ___.

14. Suzie Jones is swimming in ___ this month.

MVL Crossword Puzzler:

May’s riddle: What is spelled on Richard Enders’ vanity license plate.

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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localphotography photography club local

Pine Grove Dairy Farm, Duanesburg, NY

by Jenny Galough

Schine Memorial Hall 1881- Built as the Kasson Opera House and then expanded in the 1920s.

Present day it serves as a multi-use retail and business in Gloversville, NY.

by Jenny Galough The famous covered bridge in Salisbury Center. One of the jewels of the community.

by Gabe Oram

Mohawk Valley Through the Lens Check out their popular Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MVTTL

30

mohawk valley Gardens & recipes

farming for change

by Denise A. Szarek

In all the years I’ve been writing about vegetable gardening shareholders, and when we ended our CSA program this past and cooking from the garden, I realized I’ve never really talked October we were feeding 55 share families. about our farm.

While we were very successful with the CSA program, Bernie started Szarek Greenhouses in 1996, with the blessCOVID-19 and our compromised immune system changed all ing and support of his father-in-law, Fred Atkinson, on his farm. that. We had 55 shareholders depending on us to feed them in Bernie and Fred worked side by side for many years, wholesal2020. But we had to re-think what that would look like. To coming bedding plants and hanging baskets and mums to many of ply with all the COVID rules, we were forced to pre-bag everythe local nurseries in the area. They started with one greenhouse one’s veggies, when they came for pick up they had to stay in and each year reinvested in the farm and their cars and we brought the food to them. added another greenhouse. Fred passed in It took the “community” out of CSA. Not Bernie Szarek reads in the warmth of March 2000. being able to have help on the farm from the greenhouse In 2003, Bernie and I married and I family, took a toll on Bernie. So we dejoined him in the greenhouse. That fall we cided that it was time, after 10 successful grew all the mums for our wedding that years, to end the CSA. we held at the Farmers Museum in Coo In March 2020, we were now perstown. In the following years, we added faced with how to bring our veggies to two more greenhouses for a total of 8. market, when the farmer’s markets were In 2008, with the downturn in the econshut down and we had a greenhouse full of omy, we realized that we needed to change greens: lettuce mix, spinach, arugula, and the direction of the farm as folks around pea shoots. us struggled with the economic downturn.

I remember seeing Jose Andres, Flowers were a luxury, and by no means an of The World Kitchen, on a TV interview essential purchase. saying, “The business of feeding people is In 2010, we sold our first shares in the most amazing business in the world.”

“Three Goat Farm-CSA.” CSA stands for So we bagged up all the greens we had in Community Supported Agriculture, the model for our modern the greenhouse and delivered it all to The Country Pantry in CSA started in Japan in 1987. Basically, a person will buy a share Clark Mills. We continued to send whatever veggies we had over in our farm in the fall and winter, and then in spring and summer the summer and into fall. in return, we give them a share into our summer harvest. It gives We then decided to open up “Szarek’ Succulent Shack” at us operating capital when we need it in the spring, and they reap our farm. In May, we sold plant starts, to the many new gardenthe reward in summer through fall. In 2010 we started with 11 ers looking to learn how to garden during a pandemic. Bernie

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MVL RECIPES

gave out lots of sage advice with each plant purchased. He even made a couple of house calls to help folks with their garden sites.

We also sold our fresh veggies and included products from many of our farmer friends who were scrambling to find other outlets for their products. It was a win-win for all of us! So many of you came and supported us!

As the holidays drew near something else Jose Andres had said in that interview kept coming back to me “Without empathy, nothing works!” It kept coming back to me, time and time again.

As we were working with The Country Pantry, we knew there was more that we could do to help.

Since we didn’t need or want for anything, we asked our adult children to join us and take the money they would have spent on us for Christmas and we would adopt a family from the Country Pantry and give them a Christmas. We received so much more than we gave.

While we were gathering gifts and food for our Christmas Family, I saw a Facebook post about a homeless couple in Syracuse who had just moved into an apartment and had nothing but the clothes on their back. We contacted the owner of the Facebook page who had contact with the couple and with the help of another friend loaded our van, with a refrigerator, pots, and pans, new bedding and towels, and lots of our veggies. We did a drop and run on their front porch to keep everyone anonymous.

Over the winter as more and more opportunities continued to come our way to help others, I realized we had the wherewithal to help others through the farm. We have so much to share: the ability to grow our food, the ability to share the food we grow with those who need it, and the ability to build a community of helpers through our farm.

So this March, a year out from the start of the pandemic, we opened the stand with a program that hopefully will allow us to help lots of folks. We wanted to do something that would allow people in need access to the good, clean food that we grow on our farm while preserving their dignity. Our solution: Change it forward When someone makes a purchase at the “shack” they have the option to donate their change. For every $10 donated, we will give a $10 coupon to The Country Pantry, and they will be able to give the coupons to any of the families they serve. Those families will be able to redeem the coupons for any food we sell at “Szarek’ Succulent Shack.” The more change donated the more families we can help. We will also donate additional $10 coupons each month.

Without empathy, nothing works!

Since we are talking about using our “change” for the better good. I thought I would share my recipe for “Copper Pennies.”

Copper Pennies

By Denise A Szarek

1 lb carrots, sliced into ¼ inch slices 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 med green bell pepper, finely chopped ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 8 oz canned low salt-added tomato sauce 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar ½ tsp Dijon mustard ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce 2 T brown sugar

Photo: www.heart.org

Put carrots in a medium pot. Cover with water, bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium high, cook 5-8 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in Bell pepper and onion cook 2 minutes. Drain veggies into a colander and set aside.

In the same pot stir together the remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until heated through and well combined, stirring constantly. Stir in the veggies tossing to coat. Serve warm (or for a cold salad, cover and refrigerate for 4 hours).

Enjoy!

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Heather O’Connell Hometown/current town: Originally from Hamburg, NY; currently Oneida, NY Instruments: Piano is her main instrument. Also a diehard chorister and was a percussionist from middle school to college, specializing in mallet instruments.

Age when began music: Has been singing since she could talk. Started official piano lessons at age 4 Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, with an emphasis in piano and vocal music, from Crane School of Music @SUNY Potsdam (1993 grad); Master’s Degree in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia (Completed in 1997) Current position: High School Vocal Music Director at Oneida High School for 10 years. Prior to that, taught Elementary General Music and Chorus in Oneida for 18 years. Also an accompanist for the Oneida Area Civic Chorale for 28 years, as well as an accompanist for a variety of All County Choruses, Area-All State Choirs, NYSSMA soloists, and local high school musicals.

Collaborations: As a choral director, she has had the privilege of preparing students to perform alongside Grammy-award winning artists Melba Moore, The Alumni Ensemble of Harlem from NYC, and Kenny Rogers. As an accompanist, she has had the opportunity to work alongside some truly remarkable musical/ choral directors, including: Jeff Welcher (former OHS choral director), Kimberly Nethaway (former OACC director), Dr. John Warren (Director of Choral Activities at Setnor School of Music, Syracuse University), and José (Peppie) Calvar (Assistant Director of Choral Activities at Setnor School of Music, Syracuse University), to name a few.

Personal influences: I have had some really wonderful teachers throughout my life who helped shape me into the person I am today. Honestly, I am most positively influenced by watching so many incredibly talented colleagues, both at the public/ private school and collegiate levels, simply do what they love - teaching music!

They truly inspire me to want to be the very best at whatever it is I’m doing.

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Mohawk valley astronomical society

space debris by carol higgins

May’s sunshine and rising temperatures inspire us to get started on our spring cleaning and yard work. But in the region above our planet where satellites orbit, various crew, and cargo vehicles travel to the International Space Station, and missions begin their trip to destinations in the solar system, things are not that easy when it comes to finding ways to clean up the neighborhood. This month we’ll take a look at the unwanted objects circling our planet – commonly known as orbital debris or “space junk”.

The Soviet Union launched the first manmade object into orbit on October 4, 1957, a small satellite named Sputnik. Recently the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) reported that over ten thousand satellites have been launched since then, and over 3,300 active satellites were orbiting our planet as of December 2020.

Today we rely on satellites for communications, navigation, weather and environmental reports, television shows and movies, banking and commercial services, planetary science, and national defense to name just a few benefits we take for granted. But there is a downside to the story, and the main culprit is dangerous debris that travels with those satellites.

NASA defines space debris as “any human-made object in orbit about the Earth that no longer serves any useful purpose”.

It includes upper stages of rockets, satel-

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lites, or spacecraft that reached the end of a mission or malfunctioned, fragments creOrbital Debris around Earth ated by the collision or explosion of satelNASA ODPO lites, and unintentional sheddings such as paint chips and insulation. satellite hit a functioning Iridium-33 satel International partners and the U.S. lite, creating 2,000 objects and destroying Space Surveillance Network continually the $15 million satellite. track debris because the consequences of The Hubble Space Telescope and the ISS an impact with a satellite, the InternationHanny’s Voorwerp.

Imageimpacted.

Credit: NASA,Astronauts ESA, W. Keel, Galaxy Team are also in theZooHubble al Space Station (ISS), and other valuable repair missions discovered numerous imassets could be devastating. Sometimes pacts on the outer metal surfaces, including collision avoidance maneuvers are used, one segment with over 50 hits. They also changing the altitude of a satellite or the noted an impact had completely penetratISS for example. Debris particles are ed an antenna dish. The ISS has also been tracked by size and divided into three risk damaged, including a circular chip in one categories: catastrophic, mission ending, of the Cupola windows that appeared in and significant impact or loss of mission.

2017, causing one of the four-layer panes NASA is tracking at least 26,000 to be replaced as a safety measure. baseball-size or larger objects (10 cm and Some debris will eventually burn up above) in the catastrophic category. Over in the atmosphere, but that can take many 500,000 marble size or larger (1 cm and decades. In the meantime, international above) objects are in the mission-endspace agencies are working together to iming category and can puncture fuel tanks, prove satellite reliability, propose refueling spacecraft, and other critical systems. Obof aging satellites and deorbit strategies, jects in the third group are the size of a and offer ideas to capture and remove degrain of salt (1 mm and larger) and there bris such as the European Space Agency’s are over 100 million of them. Since evClearSpace mission and Japan’s two-phase erything is traveling 17,500 mph, those mission to remove one of their upper stage tiny objects can crack windows, penetrate rockets. To learn more about NASA’s efspacesuits, and damage important infraforts to track and mitigate orbital debris, structure such as solar panels. visit the www.orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov Several events have created large dewebsite. bris fields. In 2007, China’s experiment to Wishing you clear skies and good destroy a non-functioning satellite generathealth! • ed over 3,000 pieces. In 2009, a Russian

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On the farm with Suzie

So. Many.

EGGS!

by Suzie Jones

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Our chickens are laying so many eggs right now.

They are laying mountains of eggs daily, filling their nesting boxes and leaving me to gather, wash, and package for a couple of hours each and every day.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat. It never stops!

Every spring, it’s the same story. The longer days and increasing hours of sunlight kick their little bird brains and reproductive systems into some sort of frenzy and they start popping out eggs like they’re on a mission. Whatever that “mission” may be, it is tied to the laws of Mother Nature herself.

Spring is the time for birth and rebirth, for new life and new beginnings. Spring is the best time to raise baby chicks: The vegetation is tender, the days and nights are warmer, and the entire summer lies ahead for growth. By the time fall rolls around, that spring chick will be hardy and mature enough to survive her first winter.

The egg-laying frenzy will eventually slow down and by the time hot summer temperatures become the norm, the ladies will have relaxed a little. While they will continue to lay somewhat sporadically, it will appear more of a hobby rather than their purpose in life.

Personally, I have had a long and complicated relationship with eggs. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I remember well the best nutrition science at the time believed that eggs were bad for you. Butter, whole milk, cream, and eggs were thought to cause heart disease and block arteries. Science has gotten better on the subject, of course, and we now know that it’s not so black and white. Much depends on the quality of the eggs and dairy (pastured and/or grass-fed is best), and each individual’s genetic makeup, activity levels, overall diet, and other habits. But I still have vivid memories of opening the fridge of my childhood home to find the eggs were replaced with a carton of egg-like substance and the butter replaced with margarine.

Like so many, my family has a history of high cholesterol and heart disease. My paternal grandfather died of a heart attack at age 42; my maternal grandfather had a heart attack and bypass surgery in his early 50s. My own father has been on statins (cholesterol-reducing drugs) since he was 32. I’ve just started on one myself, now that my overall cholesterol has ventured into the 300-range (recommended is under 200). Although my LDL (bad cholesterol) is high, my HDL (good cholesterol) is also very high, thanks in part to eating free-range eggs

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rich in omega-3. Despite a relatively healthy diet, few vices, and a moderately active lifestyle, I have also inherited an over-achieving liver.

So, how does a farmer with a family history of heart disease deal with an overabundance of eggs? We sell as many as we can, of course. We’ve donated to a local food pantry and given extras to loyal customers. And we continue to eat them. My favorite breakfast is an egg fried in olive oil with a side of tomato and avocado, and a cup of coffee. I make frittatas, gratins, and omelets filled with spinach and feta for lunch or dinner. And I (very infrequently) will make the world’s most indulgent but most delicious dish: Eggs benedict.

So if I may suggest, please pick up some farm-fresh, free-range eggs from a local stand today and make this easier-than-you-think decadent dish to celebrate spring and to boost your HDL. The farmer will certainly thank you…they’re up to their eyeballs in eggs just like me!

Eggs Benedict 1-2 whole eggs per serving 1-2 tablespoons vinegar (white or apple cider) 1-2 English muffin halves per serving, toasted

Fill a frying pan with about 1” of water, add vinegar. Bring just to the boil, and turn down to barely a simmer. Slowly and carefully crack 1-2 eggs per person directly into the water, spaced far apart. If serving more than can fit comfortably in the pan, do so in batches.

I like to carefully flip the eggs once it is clear that the whites have firmed up, or you can choose to place a cover over the pan. Keep a close eye on your eggs; you want the whites to be cooked, but the yolks still quite soft.

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Hollandaise in a blender 3 egg yolks 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice pinch salt ½ cup melted butter

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Suzie Jones and her husband, Peter, own Jones Family Farm in Herkimer. Together, with their children, they produce specialty goat cheeses and gelato.

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Mohawk Valley nature

monitoring nature story & photos by matt perry

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The other day it was brought home to me just how much of my brain is devoted to monitoring nature and wildlife. I was making my rounds of our nature sanctuary, just as I do nearly every morning; observing and listening to wildlife as I walked. However, I wasn’t only monitoring the place where I was physically located. Via a Bluetooth earphone, I was also listening to the audio feed from our downtown Peregrine nest. And, through the same earpiece, I was hearing bird songs from my partner’s yard as I checked in with her to say good morning. Separating out the source of each sound isn’t as difficult as it might seem.

Since I know these areas, I have context. I know what species are likely to occur in all three locations and I know how to sort them. The Titmouse, the Carolina Wren, and the Cardinal; their songs emanated from Wendy’s yard a few hundred miles away; the House Sparrow, the traffic noise, the jackhammer; that was all from the falcon’s urban domain; the Bluebirds, the Pileated Woodpecker, and the Song Sparrows; those were all from our nature preserve.

Perhaps this all sounds like nothing more than full-blown obsessive-compulsive behavior on my part but monitoring nature, individual animals, and even entire habitats, can be a fascinating undertaking. More than that, it assists us in understanding and identifying trends in wildlife and plant populations and helps us to gauge the health of our shared environment.

Monitoring individual animals or wildlife families over time provides us with insights into the range of behaviors attributable to a species. Also, for those of us interested in preserving nature and protecting species, illustrating the life histories or the trials and tribulations of a family of wild animals helps people to empathize with them, and may lead to a better conservation ethic on the part of the public.

I am probably most strongly associated with the monitoring I’ve done of the Spring Farm Beavers and with the Utica Peregrine Falcons. Indeed, those are among my longest-running and most in-depth monitoring projects. Regular readers of Mohawk Valley Living Magazine know only too well my interest in these subjects by way of my yearly updates.

Twenty-one years of behavioral data on three generations of a single beaver colony – one unhindered by human management pressure, has been eye-opening for me. Learning about gender-based work allocation, breeding pair fidelity, territorial ranges of a colony, the engineering proclivities of colony patriarchs, the role of a matriarchal understudy, and general family dynamics have all proved enlightening. Being able to compare how three different

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patriarchs engineered their pond systems on the same streams has been especially interesting. It’s somewhat Adult female Coyote like seeing what three different artists would do with a blank canvass.

When it comes to the Utica Peregrines, our monitoring efforts have been as exhaustive as any ever undertaken with wild subjects. Using streaming web cameras and streaming audio, we have been able to follow these raptors through virtually every aspect of their lives. With multiple nest cameras, we have been able to see all behavior that takes place at the nest area which, given the species’ year-round attachment to their nest ledge, has given us a tremendous amount of information. Our tworoof mounted PTZ cameras have enabled us to track the Peregrines when they are away from the nest area. This has furnished us with some of our most compelling behavioral information. Something as seemingly banal as observing a Peregrine Falcon drinking water has served to confirm a behavior not generally associated with the species. It was an accepted fact that Peregrines obtain all the water they need via their food. Thanks to our PTZ cams, we have confirmed many instances of falcons drinking water. More interesting has been studying the evolving relationship of our principal pair, Astrid and Ares, and observing how their method of rearing young has changed over 8-years of breeding. The behavior of the nestlings – how they learn to fly and how they relate to each other and to their parents has given us much to contemplate over the years. Perhaps the most compelling behavior ever observed with the Utica falcons occurred in 2015 when one male fledgling (Comet) went out of his way to bring food to a sibling (Skye) who was hesitant to fly due to a bruised wing. This case of what might be characterized as “altruistic” behavior in an immature Peregrine Falcon is something the species is not known for.

Probably the only part of the falcons’ lives we are not privy to is their hunting behavior. Since most of that takes place beyond the range of our PTZ cameras, we are largely blind to it. Typically, the most hunting behavior we see is when we are on-site for the fledge-watch period. That takes place in June and July when the young falcons begin to leave the nest. We can however make many inferences regarding

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hunting behavior based upon the prey brought back to the nest area. When Ares brings back marsh-dwelling species like rails (Virginia Rail and Sora), we know he is obtaining them by flushing them from their cattail jungles. He would do this by flying low over the reeds and snatching any bird startled into flight. Peregrines are most famous for the perilous long dives they make at flying prey. In these dives, also called “stoops”, a falcon can reach speeds of over 200 MPH. However, based upon prey Eastern Screech Owl captured, we know that some proportion of roosting in a nest box prey is obtained by chasing and grabbing prey during lateral flight.

Back in the early days of our nature sanctuary, I set up several bluebird nest box trails in what were destined to become our main reforestation fields. The boxes were designed to be open easily for cleaning purposes and the weekly monitoring of the breeding progress of the bird tenants. Everything I saw happen inside a box, I wrote on a chart, and I had separate charts for each trail. I recall being amazed at how fast the boxes were discovered and used by birds, with almost every box becoming inhabited during the first year of the project.

Nest box trails are a wonderful way of providing housing for cavity-nesting species, especially in areas largely devoid of natural tree cavities.

We learned a great deal about what species use the boxes, how their nests are constructed, which species are good neighbors with Bluebirds, which species are aggressive neighbors, how long incubation takes in several species, and how successful each species is in raising their young to the fledgling stage. By far the most common inhabitant of most nest boxes were Tree Swallows – birds that had barely any representation at the sanctuary before we installed the houses. Tree Swallows make their nest mostly out of grasses, but they tend to decorate the rim of the nest with bird feathers – often white ones. Some Tree Swallows have more of a flair for decorating than others and may use many more feathers and even use them to create a canopy over the nest.

In the nests at Spring Farm, I was finding that the swallows preferred using duck and grouse Black-capped Chickadee feathers. They utilized mostly small downy nestlings in a Bluebird box feathers and body contour feathers, but also some long flight feathers which would be secured onto the rim of the nest by their base.

Most parent birds temporarily flee the scene when you are checking the nest boxes. However, Tree Swallows go on the attack. It’s not uncommon when checking a row of boxes inhabited by Tree Swallows to have a dozen of them diving at you and trying to drive you out of the field. During these dives, they swoop within inches of your head – giving light chat-

ter calls while doing it. The risk of prematurely fledging young prevented me from opening the boxes during the last five or so days before typical fledging time. The last thing you want to do when checking on your tenants is to scatter their chicks in the field before they are ready to leave. One of the greatest pleasures of checking the boxes was occasionally coming upon the nests of an unexpected species. Great-crested Flycatchers had used a few of our boxes over the years and coming upon one of their nests was always a treat. As the Tree Swallow decorates their nest with feathers, the Great-crested Flycatcher prefers using the shed skin of a snake as their finishing touch.

Experienced birders can monitor the birdlife in a habitat simply by listening to it. This is primarily true during spring and early summer when birds are most vocal. Monitoring by sound frees up the naturalist to use their eyes for something else; something like surveying aspects of nature that have no sonic component. This would include wildflowers and butterflies, and even the land itself. Change in a habitat is inevitable and it happens whether people are involved or not. A natural process like an open meadow developing into a forest can be tracked in real-time. In a process called “old field succession,” an open piece of land goes through a largely predictable evolution that has recognizable stages. At each stage of development, the habitat becomes attractive to a different set of breeding birds and other animals. In the beginning, a fallow field is home to species that prefer to nest in tall grasses and wide-open spaces. At our nature sanctuary, some of the open field breeding birds were Savannah Sparrows, Bobolinks, and, for a short time, Grasshopper Sparrows.

After five years, shrubs and sun-loving “pioneer trees” began to grow in the fields, interrupting the open space and pushing the habitat into a new distinct stage of development; one that catered to a different cast of birdlife. Suddenly, no longer attractive to Savannah Sparrows and their grassland-loving allies, the brushy terrain began attracting nesting Common Yellowthroats, Song Sparrows, and Field Sparrows. After five more years, trees like Aspen, Gray Birch, Pussy Willow, hawthorns, and Scotch Pine attained greater heights; the field developed a more significant vertical dimension, and more bird species were able to set up housekeeping. Birds like Bluewinged Warbler, Rufous-sided Towhee, Brown Thrasher, American Goldfinch, and several other species find this stage of a field’s development to their liking. In another five years, the field is almost unrecognizable. Groves of bushes and tangles of rose and blackberry brambles become sizable. The trees are larger and more numerous,

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and some different species have begun invading from the wooded edges. In terms of the sheer number of bird species able to utilize the habitat, the field enters the most productive time of its existence thus far. It has lost none of its cast of characters from its previous incarnation but has gained many others.

Now Baltimore Orioles are nesting in the high branches of the young trees and Gray Catbirds are nesting in the brambles below. American Robins build their nest about ten feet high in the pines and willows and Alder Flycatchers and Eastern Kingbirds are hawking insects from high snags. Cedar Waxwings and Cardinals are also building nests in the young trees.

Although all old fields may follow a similar trajectory in their evolution, none are exactly the same. Our fields at the nature sanctuary, although close in proximity to each other, evolved at markedly different rates, and the composition of the tree community that colonized each field also varied considerably.

The soil’s fertility, the direction the field’s slope faces, the depth of the water table, and the composition of the field’s border trees, all contribute to the habitat’s evolution. After twenty to thirty years, a field begins to take on attributes of a forest. The trees that do best in this environment are species that grow taller and can tolerate shade cast by their neighbors.

Most of the sun-loving pioneer trees that first colonized the field start to die back as they are

Savannah Sparrow nest

ns 3 Generatio e th Serving y! lle Mohawk Va

unable to compete with the taller hardwoods.

The habitat then goes into its least productive stage for breeding birds. Some of our fields have reached this stage at the nature sanctuary.

I find that most of the birds that do nest in this young forest habitat make their homes at the edges of woods where one habitat type meets another. The young woods stage can last for more than fifty years and breeding bird productivity may not improve until the trees are mature, and a forest understory develops. In a century, the field might take on attributes of a mature forest or a climax forest, which would be characterized by healthy tree species diversity and a well-developed forest understory.

These woods would become populated by many forest-living birds like Wood Thrushes, Scarlet Tanagers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Ovenbirds, and many more species.

Trail cameras (AKA game cameras) have proven to be great tools in the study and monitoring of wildlife in a habitat. Originally employed by big-game hunters to see what trophy animals are strolling near their tree stands, now many folks use them to see what comes into their yards after dark. I’ve used them on trails, beaver dams, Woodchuck burrows, and carcasses. Putting a trail camera near the carcass of a roadkill deer can yield particularly interesting results. It can provide you with an excellent window into the scavenger/predator population of a habitat. The first Bobcat I ever detected at the nature sanctuary was photographed walking away from a deer carcass. Interestingly, the wildcat wasn’t seen feeding on it; she only investigated it and then strolled off.

The behavior witnessed by Coyotes, Turkey Vultures, and Red-tailed Hawks warrant their dedicated article, and so I won’t cover that here. However, I will mention the caution that some Coyotes show when confronted with trail cameras. They generally don’t trust them.

Whether it’s on account of the sound they make when the infrared light clicks on (generally inaudible to us) or it’s the association they make with the cameras and the deer hunters that persecute them is unclear to me. These are not necessarily mutually exclusive concepts.

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Some coyotes will feed in front of the cameras but will show a great amount of anxiety. Often a Coyote will drag a carcass away, usually just out of view of the camera, so it can feed in peace. Interestingly, Gray Foxes also can show significant trepidation when near a camera. It almost seems that fear of cameras is mostly a dog thing.

When it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter how you go about monitoring wildlife and nature, all that matters is that you pay some attention to it. The best way to begin preserving natural ecosystems is to recognize and appreciate them, and to assign them value.

If we value nature and wildlife, there will be an incentive to keep them around. Whether for scientific knowledge or pure enjoyment, try to monitor something in nature. You don’t necessarily need expensive cameras or fancy equipment to do it. You don’t even need identification guides. Just use your awareness and the rest should come naturally. • 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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Shawangunk nature preserve, cold brook

TALES FROM

SHAWANGUNK Chapter 78

by Peggy Spencer Behrendt Tim enjoys biking with great grandson, August

A roadside litter pick-up in spring

47

Todd and Kim).

She is a vision of total absorption and mindfulness.

For her, every step she takes brings a discovery of objects of infinite beauty and fascination; leaves, flowers, rocks, twigs, ferns… which she collects in her wagon Great granddaughter or basket. She pretends Sylvia loves to gather she has met a baby galeaves and flowers zelle and drops blades of grass along her path so it will follow her home. We find a homemade invitation from her in our mailbox to attend a Sloth Birthday Party at her house but discover that it was delivered too late to allow us to attend. No matter though, it didn’t actually happen.

She simply enjoys the planning and is unconcerned with facilitating the actual event. So, we leave pretend birthday gifts for the pretend sloth.

Her younger brother, August, (age four) loves to leap over mud puddles until he decides to walk into one. Then he’s unhappy because his sneakers are wet. He also loves to whiz around on a tiny, two-wheel

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.

May! Sunshine! Kind rains. Gentle winds.

Plant buds burst in an ecstasy of fulfillment.

Mornings and evenings of melodious music.

Meaningful tasks that draw us out into this heaven.

Tim can now walk through the woods and trails looking for dead trees and limbs to cut. He loves the freedom to roam alone in our wilderness to talk to the trees and watch for wildlife, knowing that he is minimally impacting the environment when he takes a dead tree and leaves some limbs to decompose and replenish the soil.

We sometimes meet relatives on the road. Our daughter Becky and her husband Gael are often on a machine with lumber and equipment to create and maintain bridges and benches for Preserve trails. Or we meet them quietly savoring the beauty of the peaceful trails they’ve created. They are the first in spring to venture in a canoe on Black Creek and are sometimes rewarded by a glimpse of a mama bear with cubs, a doe and fawn, or a scampering ermine bounding over hillocks of decaying trees metamorphizing into lush green mosses and wildflowers.

We might also meet our six-year-old great-granddaughter, Sylvia (with her parents

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Grandson Todd helps us with his big chainsaw

bike without pedals, using his own feet for propulsion, proud of how fast he can go.

He flies up to me one day and says, “I have to come with you to make sure the monsters don’t eat you.”

My heart melts! So protective, already!

I gently turn him around to head back to his parents.

They also like to roam on our woodland trails and last year we took August on his first canoe ride in one of our shallow beaver ponds. I talk about crafts, gardening, and exchange plants with Kim; bloodroot, tansy... Todd helps us occasionally with heavy chores, and brings his big chain saw to cut up some huge logs left for us by the town Highway Department when they widened Pardeeville Rd. Tim prefers to cut most of our wood by hand with a bow saw (this results in iron-hard arm muscles). I sharpen the saws and set the teeth, to make it easier. We have a small electric chain saw, now, that I also like to use since there’s no pull-start, choke, and gas to deal with. Tim doesn’t approve of me using it, because of the danger, but I sneak in some cutting sessions when I know he’s occupied elsewhere. There’s something very satisfying about slicing through a big chunk of wood like a knife through butter with a well-sharpened saw!

I love seeing family but also love my time alone in the garden, planting, weeding, watching things grow. I am always thinking of ways to minimize tilling and weeding without herbicides and artificial mulches, and recently came across a concept called: “Sterile Seed Bed Techniques.” Most weed seeds emerge from the top 2.5” of the soil where conditions are favorable, so in this technique, they are allowed to germinate and are then killed or suppressed, before planting your vegetable crop. This will only work if you do not then till your soil below the top 2.5” because that will bring up more dormant weed seeds which will then have optimal conditions to germinate. I decide it’s an idea worth studying and experimenting with.

Yes, fresh food grown on your land, raised by your labor is the taste of stardust and ripe earth, of gentle sun, thirst-quenching rain and warm breezes. Equally so, is fresh food from local farms which also has a lower environmental impact because it doesn’t require transportation over great distances.

On our train ride from Amsterdam to Paris in 2001, we saw large agricultural areas divided into small garden plots. I learned that they are family vegetable (allotment) gardens outside of large cities for people who live in apartments and homes without land. They often have a small greenhouse and/or a shed on each plot which may be fixed up so that gardeners can sometimes stay there to tend to their crops.

These local food sources can become critically important when emergency situations (such as war or extreme weather) make it difficult to get food to urban areas from far away. And the Old lovers, Peg and Tim explore added benefit is that it major European citiesTim and Peg are allows people of all ages introduced to London. and lifestyles to connect with the earth and provide children an oppor-

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Peg struggled with acute bursitis in France

tunity to play (and help) in the fresh air as well as provide fresh food for family and friends.

Perhaps it would be expedient for us in America to devote less space to lawns of grass and more space to vegetable gardens, fruit and nut trees, and native wildflowers and grasses to encourage beneficial insects and birds. This would provide healthy exercise as well as be better for the health of the planet. I understand that there are community gardens in the Utica area available for individuals and families, or you can share a vegetable bed with a group. Contact “For The Good” (315) 797-2417 in Utica.

On our European tour, I made a big mistake in my concern about having healthy food. (I’d heard

that it would be expensive there.) Although our sweet daughter made sure we had nice little snacks between meals like salmon & cream cheese baguettes left from the day before, I carried too much extra food in my backpack (like apples) and this extra weight is what probably caused bursitis to develop in my shoulder just as we entered France.

Everything was so different and interesting there! Our charming hotel in Paris had an elevator that could only fit two people at a time. Our room was old-fashioned and small with a high ceiling and ancient wooden beams. The pillow went the full width of the bed with the bottom sheet wrapped around it. Our window opened with French doors onto a tiny balcony overlooking a narrow street.

However, I couldn’t sleep. My shoulder pain became so unbearable during the night, I decided to try an old-fashioned pain killer I’d seen in countless movies. (If it worked for amputations, it should work for me, right?) I drank some whiskey I found in the fridge.

Bad idea! It amplified my misery in a nightmarish way and didn’t help the pain! (I’ve never reacted well to alcohol.) Tim went out in the morning looking for a pharmacy to get aspirin, but then I worried that he’d never find his way back! I should have just gone for professional medical help, but I feared it would be impossibly expensive.

I was able to manage better with ibuprofen and could continue our explorations, strolling thru

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Becky and Gael check us in at a tiny, ancient Parisian hotel

Par i s i a n streets and along the Seine River. The statuary throughout the city seems so casual but is amazingly realistic, and dramatic. In the shop display windows, we saw beautifully decorated pastries and chocolates. We strolled through large, colorful, sweet-smelling flower and vegetable markets, and passed stands of interesting magazines and postcards. Becky and Gael bought me a beautiful scarf that I ended up using as a sling. Some proprietors stood outside urging us to come in for food. We saw English muffins being baked fresh on hot stones and got a delicious, fresh crepe cooked by a woman right in front of us filled with eggs and cheese. As she cooked, her husband sang with the radio doing wine toasts with customers to promote their wine. I think he was having more fun than her!

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stasy of art! It would be easy to spend one’s life studying all that it holds. To pass through in one day, seemed almost torture. I surprised myself by bursting into tears with embarrassed emotion at the beauty of one of the paintings and particularly loved the room full of paintings by Rouen.

Each massive canvas was a whole story to ponder and to wonder about who the characters are, what they’re doing, and why. We particularly enjoyed scenes of peasant life showing their houses and lifestyles, and I was tickled to note that musicians are usually depicted as happy. Then we saw real, ancient, Egyptian harps. (They didn’t look like they could sound very good.) and we saw a real Egyptian mummy.

It was so small compared to us!

As we hiked back to our hotel (my feet were hurting), Tim dashed a/head and pretended he was one of the street performers, standing like a Mummy on the bridge of the Seine as we crossed.

I pretended to put money in his cap, but instead of slowly bowing, he reached over, grabbed and kissed me - the little rascal!

Our trip to Europe was quite wonderful, but as Dorothy said: “There’s No Place Like Home!”

We returned to the wonders of Spring; to the return of the Hermit thrush singing arias in the forest canopy; to humble buds of Purple Trillium sprinkled like stars among the trees; to pink & white striped Spring Beauties and golden Coltsfoot glowing along the dirt roads. We returned to the percussive “glunking” of the elusive American Bittern echoing from our cattail swamps and the persistent and repetitive call of a tiny Saw-Whet

We saw an actor (Mime) dressed as an Egyptian mummy on a bridge. (So weird)! He would slowly bow if you put a coin in his bowl. There were houseboats on this river, like in London and Amsterdam, but the current is much faster. I couldn’t resist buying a cute tiger puppet at a Nature store by the Eiffel Tower and ended up using it as a mitten because it was so cold. (There were a few snow flurries.)

In the elevator to the top of the tower, I used it to interact with children near me. What fun! My puppet “Tigre” would purr, kiss them on both cheeks, and ask their names (in French), then they got to put it on their hands.

We ate lunch outside the Louvre in a park and I fed pigeons out of my hand. Local police occasionally whizzed by, patrolling on roller skates!

The Louvre was an astounding plethora of delicious, amazing paintings and sculptures, an ec-

Owl from deep in the mysterious forest at night.

Spring heralds the return of the Hermit thrush singing arias in the forest canopy; the humble buds of Purple Trillium sprinkled like stars among the trees; the pink and white striped Spring Beauties and golden Coltsfoot glowing along the dirt roads.

Our ears welcome the sound of the percussive “glunking” of the elusive American Bittern echoing from our cattail swamps and the persistent and repetitive call of a tiny Saw-Whet Owl from deep in the mysterious forest at night.

We are often totally exhausted at the end of a Spring day at Shawangunk from doing too much and attempting to savor every delightful event of spring. We desperately need our beds and deep slumber so we can rise early to meet the morning, but can’t resist a final walk between the setting sun and the rising moon to the closest beaver pond where we can watch evening breezes ripple the water, feel it toss our hair and caress our cheeks.

We watch for the shimmering, pearlescent water trails of ducks, beavers, and otters swimming in the fading light, as we fill our hearts and souls with the ardent songs of millions of frogs and toads who celebrate this precious Spring evening with us. • 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.

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Advertiser Directory please support Our sponsors, they make this magazine possible Antiques Antiques & Art Westmoreland . . . . . . . . . 19 Attic Addicts, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Back of the Barn Antiques, Barneveld . . . . 20 Bear Path Antiques, Forestport . . . . . . . . . 20 Black Cat Antiques, Earlville . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Broad Street Flea Market, Utica . . . . . . . 20 The Bull Farm Antiques, Vernon . . . . . . 20 Butternut Barn, Richfield Springs . . . . . . . 20 Canal House Antiques, Bouckville . . . . . . . 20 The Depot Antique Gallery, Madison . . . . 20 The Gallery Antiques at Pinebrick, Bouckville . . 20 Little Falls Antique Center, Little Falls . . . . 21 Madison-Bouckville Antique Week . . . . . . 21 Madison Inn Antiques, Madison . . . . . . . . 21 Maple Park Country Store, Vernon Center . . . 21 Mohawk Antiques Mall, Mohawk . . . . . . . 21 MV Community Market, Herkimer . . . . . 21 The Online Exchange, Dolgeville . . . . . . . . . 22 The Potting Shed Antiques, Whitesboro . . . 22 See the Man Antiques & Collectibles, Sherburne . . 22 Showcase Antiques, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . 22 Victorian Rose, Bouckville . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Weeden’s Mini Mall, Camden . . . . . . . . 22 Whistle Post Antiques, Bouckville . . . . . . . 22 Antique Auctioneers Nye & Company Auctioneers . . . . . . . . . . 22 Art Classes, Open Studios Azure Arts, Richfield Springs . . . . . . . . . . 13 Art Galleries/Museums The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown . . . . . 23 Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown . . . . . 5 Fusion Art Gallery, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Kirkland Art Center, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . 45 Art and Custom Framing Fusion Art Gallery, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Heartwood Gift Barn, Sherburne . . . . . . . . 38 Artists Janice Wnuk, Garden Mentor . . . . . . . . . . 42 Auto Dealerships Steet-Ponte Auto Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Automotive Repair Clinton Collision, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Bakeries and Pastry Shops Caruso’s Pastry Shop, Utica . . . . . . . . . . 15 Karam’s Middle East Bakery, Yorkville . . . . . 18 Love Bites Bakery, New Hartford . . . . . . . . 6 Ramon’s Bakery, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Star Bakery, Whitesboro and Utica . . . . . . . 51 Bike Shops Dick’s Wheel Shop, Herkimer . . . . . . . . . . 11 Books Berry Hill Book Shop, Deansboro . . . . . . . 6 Treehouse Reading Room, New York Mills . . . . 7 Cabinets and Kitchens Custom Woodcraft, Munnsville . . . . . . . . . 27 Knotty By Nature, Bridgewater . . . . . . . . . 24

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Candy So Sweet Candy Cafe, Utica . . . . . . . . . . 31 Catering Club Monarch, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 RoSo’s Cafe & Catering, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Willie’s The Original Bagel Cafe, Utica . . . . . . 18 CBD Products RAW ADK, Barneveld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Utica Hemp, New Hartford, Utica . . . . . . . . 53 Cheese Grassy Cow Dairy, Remsen . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Jewett’s Cheese, Earlville . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Jones Family Farm, Herkimer . . . . . . . . . 55 Stoltzfus Family Dairy, Vernon Center . . . . 49 Clothing Paca Gardens, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Queen’s Closet, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . 19 Comics Ravenswood Comics, New Hartford . . . . . . . . 29 Consignment The Online Exchange, Dolgeville . . . . . . . . . 22 The Queen’s Closet, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Renewed & Rescued, Herkimer . . . . . . . . . . 22 Contractors Ed Smith Contractor and Handyman . . . . . . . . . 55 Delis and Meats Bosonne’s Sausage, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Little Italy Imports, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Meelan’s Market, Clark Mills . . . . . . . . . 51 Mohawk Village Market, Mohawk . . . . . . . 23 Olde Kountry Market, Vernon . . . . . . . . . . 34 Pulaski Meat Market, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Diners Charlie’s Place, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Sheri’s Diner, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Wendy’s Diner, Cassville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Dog Sitting Barney’s Angels, Frankfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Doors, Residential & Commercial JM Door Co., Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Estate Sales Attic Addicts, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 The Potting Shed Antiques, Whitesboro . . . . . . 22 Events, Entertainment, and Activities Goodsell Museum, Old Forge . . . . . . . . . 32 Oneida County History Center, Utica . . . . . . . . . 7 Farm Equipment Clinton Tractor, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Hobby Hill Farm Sales, Rome . . . . . . . . . . 38 White’s Farm Supply, Waterville/Canastota . . . . . . 56 Farm Markets Cooperstown Farmers Market . . . . . . . . . . 11 Horn’s Family Farm, Remsen . . . . . . . . . . 42

Oneida County Public Market, Utica . . . . . . . 14 Fencing B&K Fencing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Financial Services Van Meter & Van Meter, Little Falls . . . . . . . 29 Flooring Mike’s Floor Store, Whitesboro . . . . . . . . . . 39 Funeral Services Prince-Boyd & Hyatt, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Furniture Ironwood Furniture, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Jeff ’s Amish Furniture, Richfield Springs . . . 39 John Froass & Son, Sherrill . . . . . . . . . . 48 Furniture Makers Custom Woodcraft, Munnsville . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Furniture Rustic and Woodcrafts Thorn Apple Hill, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Garden Compost Devine Gardens Vermicompost . . . . . . . . . 15 Garden Center and Greenhouses Aceti’s Classic Gardens, New Hartford . . . . . . 44 Casler Flower Farm, West Winfield . . . . . . 43 George’s Farm Products, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Green Lakes Home & Garden, Richfield Sps. . . . 13 Heywood Greenhouses, Remsen . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Juliano’s Farm and Greenhouses, Utica . . . . . . . . 50 North Star Orchards, Westmoreland . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Szarek’s Succulent Shack, Clinton . . . . . . . . . 54 General Contractors Ed Smith Contractor and Handyman . . . . . . . . . 55 Gift Shops/Shopping Artistans’ Corner, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Between Us Sisters, Munnsville . . . . . . . . . 23 Fusion Art Gallery, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Golf Courses and Driving Ranges Brimfield Driving Range, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . 10 Woodgate Pines Golf Club, Boonville . . . . . . . . 15 Grocery Stores, Co-ops, and Convenience Stores Deansboro Superette, Deansboro . . . . . . . . . 35 Little Italy Imports, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Olde Kountry Market, Vernon . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Mohawk Village Market, Mohawk . . . . . . . 23 Richfield Springs Community Food Co-op. . 33 Handyman/Repairs Ed Smith Contractor and Handyman . . . . . . . . . 55 Hardware/Lumber/Farm & Home Lincoln Davies, Sauquoit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Morgan’s Hardware, Waterville . . . . . . . . . . 24 Turner Lumber, Barneveld . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Wightman Specialty Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Hearth Shops and Fuel Buell Fuel Hearth & Home, Deansboro . . . . . . . . . . 50

Ice Cream Shops Dom’s Delights, Ilion .

Gilligan’s, Sherburne . .

Papa Rick’s Snack Shack, Wendy’s Diner, Cassville

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Rome . . . . .

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Insurance Farm Family Insurance, Boonville . . . . . . . . .

Gates-Cole Insurance, New Hartford . . . . . . .

HBE Group, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Turnbull Insurance, New Hartford . . . . . . .

Serving Rome & Utica Since 1946

. 31 . 17 . 17 . 15

. . 51 . . 25 . . 8 . . 24

Interior Design/Custom Window Treatments The Added Touch Drapery, New Hartford . . . . . . . . 42 Ironwork Raulli’s Iron Works, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Jewelry Alison’s Jewelry & Repair, Utica . . . . . . . . . 7 Fall Hill bead & Gem, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . . 32 Goldmine Jewelers, New Hartford . . . . . . . . 40

TALKRADIO 1450

Lawn Mowers, Leaf, and Snow Blowers SD Power, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

WKAL

Lighting Mills Electrical Supply, Rome . . . . . . . . . . 35 Liquor Stores and Wine Ilion Wine & Spirits, Ilion . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Prospect Falls Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Trenton Station Liquor & Wine, Barneveld . . . . 15 Maple Syrup Ben & Judy’s Sugarhouse, West Edmeston . . . . . 51 Shaw’s Maple Products, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . 33 Tibbits Maple, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . 42 Meats (See Delis) Media 92.7 The Drive .

WFXV . . . . . .

WKAL . . . . . .

Weekly Adirondack

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Monuments & Memorials Yorkville Memorials, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Musical Instrument Sales, Rentals, Lessons Big Apple Music, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . 24 Natural Food Stores Cooperstown Naturals, Cooperstown . . . . . . . . 9 Peter’s Cornucopia, New Hartford . . . . . . . . 48

Tinctures Lotions & More!

MANY OF OUR CBD PRODUCTS MADE IN NEW YORK

CBD OIL

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Optometrists Towpath Vision Care, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . 27 Paint and Painting Supplies Urbanik’s Paint & Wallpaper Co., Utica . . . . . . . 12 Physical Therapy Inertia PT, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Pizzerias DiCastro’s Brick Oven, Rome . . . . . . . . . . 17 Primo Pizzeria, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Tony’s Pizza, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Pools and Spas Swan Pools & Spas, Ilion and New Hartford . . . . . . . . 46

THC-FREE AND TRACE THC AVAILBLE

You’ve seen the news stories, now try it for yourself!

Have questions?

Our friendly staff are waiting to serve you today!

VISIT US TODAY: NEW HARTFORD • HERKIMER • ROCHESTER WWW.UTICAHEMPCO.COM OR FIND US ON FACEBOOK!

Portable Toilets and Bathrooms Mohawk Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Primitives Between Us Sisters, Munnsville . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Produce, Local Ben & Judy’s Sugarhouse, West Edmeston . . . . . . .

Grassy Cow Dairy, Remsen . . . . . . . . . . .

Jewett’s Cheese, Earlville . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jones Family Farm, Herkimer . . . . . . . . .

Shaw’s Maple Products, Clinton . . . . . . . . . .

Stoltzfus Family Dairy, Vernon Center . . . . . . .

Tibbits Maple, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . .

51 36 26 55 33 49 42

Quilt and Yarn Shops/Services Heartworks Quilts & Fabric, Fly Creek . . . . . . . . 10 Tiger Lily Quilt Co, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Record Stores Off Center Records, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Restaurants and Cafés Ann St. Deli, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Black Stallion Restaurant,Vernon . . . . . . . . . . .

Buffalohead Restaurant, Forestport . . . . . . . . .

Club Monarch, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DiCastro’s Brick Oven, Rome . . . . . . . . .

Gilligan’s, Sherburne . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gone Coastal, Lee Center . . . . . . . . . . .

Karam’s Middle East Bakery, Yorkville . . . .

Killabrew, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nola’s Restaurant, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . .

Ohio Tavern, Cold Brook . . . . . . . . . . .

Patio Drive-In, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phoenician Restaurant, New Hartford . . . . . .

RoSo’s Cafe & Catering, Utica . . . . . . . . . .

Route 69 Steakhouse, Whitesboro . . . . . . . .

Voss’, Yorkville, Ilion, Marcy . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

The Willows, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17 18 17 25 17 17 17 18 17 16 16 18 17 18 18 18 16 18 18

Septic Installation, Residential and Commercial Yanuk Excavating . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Storage Sheds & Garages Shafer & Sons, Westmoreland . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Pleasant View Structures, Vernon . . . . . . . . . 49 Shoes Karaz Shoes, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Sneaker Store, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . 25

Szarek’s Succulent Shack

The shack is stocked with Oliver’s Organic Eggs, Kriemhild butter, Jones Family Farm cheeses and gelato, Shaw’s Maple products, Heartsease Hill honey, Kelly’s Jellies, as well as other specialty products.

Fresh seasonal veggies and scones available on Saturdays.

7443 E. South St., Clinton 315.853.5901 • Open Daily 9-4

continued from page 4... role as Mohawk Valley Living host only in the meals provided by our featured restaurants, the offerings of fresh eggs, milk, vegetables, and meats from the generous farmers we met on our travels, flower baskets for his wife when visiting greenhouses (never second guessing his selection), and the adulation of fans (though he would always deflect praise to Lance and me, pointing to us and saying, “These are the real geniuses behind the show. They make me look good.”) He hosted the show because he loved it. When I would comment on how friendly he was people when they came up to him on the street, he would claim it was a learned behavior from his political days, but I know it was an innate personality trait.

Richard truly loved Utica (New York City a close second). There was hardly a place we visited where he didn’t have a fond personal family memory.

His devotion to his family was always apparent when he reminisced. A true testament to this fact is that all four of his children settled within a few miles of their parents. When the family celebrated Richard’s 75th birthday at Club Monarch in 2017, it was an honor for Lance and me to be included. Though we thought we knew Richard, listening to his children speak about their father revealed so much more and still brings me to tears when I recall that day.

Through the years, we worked with Richard through various health setbacks, once filming him from the waist up because he had just been released from the hospital and was yet unable to change out of his hospital clothes.

Sometimes we wouldn’t know until we were headed down the road and were catching up on the past week, that he had just been through surgery a few days prior! One time we even filmed him seated with his foot wrapped up during a bout with gout that he openly shared with the audience. Another time he cut his shin stepping over some barbed wire while filming and I told him we should take him home (he was on blood thinners), but he insisted we continue and just “keep an eye on it” (though we tried to wash out the bloodstains so Eileen wouldn’t see). The quintessential stage actor, he lived by the motto, “The show must go on.”

I will forever cherish the conversations we had in the MVL vehicle— Richard and I in the front, while Lance filmed out the back window—sometimes fun and entertaining and other times philosophical and educational.

Though he ended up a lawyer, Richard said many people believed he would become a teacher. I believe he was. I will never again confuse farther with further because of his mnemonic, “I can go no farther and I will speak of this no further.” And to this day, when doing voice-overs, I remember what Richard taught me—pronounce ‘the’ like thuh and not thee, unless implying uniqueness. He taught us many things, including some Latin phrases, his favorite being tempus fugit (time flies) that he mischievously pronounced fuggit (like nugget). But what I learned most from him was to live in the moment, carpe diem (seize the day), and to “stand in the place where you live,” as he did.

When Lance and I were first formulating the Mohawk Valley Living TV show, Lance came up with the idea of Richard’s costume of a light blue button-up shirt and khaki pants. He thought that it would give our host the appearance of the “everyman,” someone with whom our audience could relate.

We soon realized that it wasn’t necessary—our audience could sense Richard’s authenticity. They knew his love for his family and community was real.

Merriam-Webster defines everyman as “the typical or ordinary person,” and though every week he proudly donned that “typical and ordinary” Mohawk Valley Living uniform, Richard Enders was anything but. •

Off-Center Records All things music - New & quality used Records, CDs, tapes, books, tees, memorabilia, guitars & accessories, drum accessories and more!

We are YOUR Downtown Music Connection!

Hours M-Sat 11-6 116 Bleecker St., Utica, NY 13501 315-738-7651

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Signs, Handcrafted Whistle Post Creations, Bouckville . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Snowmobiles/ATVs Hobby Hill Farm, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Towing Services Clinton Collision, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Trailers and RVs Boulevard Trailers, Whitesboro . . . . . . . . . . 40 Tree Services and Tree Farms Rick Turk Tree Service, Rome . . . . . . . . . . 47 Weddings and Banquets Club Monarch, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Wineries Prospect Falls Winery, Prospect . . . . . . . . . 15 Yogurt Stoltzfus Family Dairy, Vernon Center . . . . . . . 49

last month’s crossword solution

Answer to last month’s puzzle about what treat comes April 3rd: Tomato Pie Utica’s 4th Annual Tomato Pie Day was held at the Parkway Center on Saturday, April 3 The winner chosen from all correct answers: Tracie Kaminski of Holland Patent

Answer to last month’s puzzle: IRISES in celebration of our new granddaughter, Iris!

Winner: Forrest VonDauber of Richfield Springs

Edward Smith

Your personal handyman!

A quick solution to your everyday problems.

Welcome, Iris Skye Whitney Photo by Jessica Naegele of JDeAnnPhotography of Sherrill (315)731-7427 • www.jessicadeannphotography.weebly.com 55

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WWW.WHITESFARMSUPPLY.COM KubotaUSA.com © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2021. $0 Down, 0% APR financing for up to 84 months available on purchases of new Kubota BX2380, LX2610SU and all L01 series equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Example: 84 monthly payments of $11.90 per $1,000 financed. Customer instant rebates of $700 for L01, $600 for LX2610SU, $500 for BX2380 are available on qualifying finance or $1,200 L01, $1,000 for LX2610, $800 for BX2380 on cash purchases. Additional instant rebate of $500 is available with purchase of one new qualifying implement. Some exceptions apply. Offers expire 6/30/21.

Terms subject to change. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For complete warranty, disclaimer, safety, incentive offer and product information, consult your Dealer or KubotaUSA.com.