Mohawk Valley Express Volume 3 Number 3 March 2023

FREE 7507 STATE ROUTE 5, (corner of Bidleman Road) LITTLE FALLS NY 13365

315-508-5131 www.mohawkvalleyfunerals.com

Service pricing starting at $995

Largest facility in area with most off street parking

Daniel J. Enea 3rd Generation Funeral Director

VOLUME 3: NUMBER 3

MARCH 2023

Little Falls Resident writes music for Nina Simone: The Lost Album

By Dave Warner

Little Falls has always been known for having some of the most unique and interesting people, and Stephanie Sheppard is one of them. Fifty-two years ago, she and her brother wrote six songs for the legendary Nina Simone to perform.

Unfortunately, Simone died before any of them were recorded. Longtail Films, out of England, made a documentary

about the lost music and found just the perfect performer to bring them to light.

In the film, superstar Emeli Sande sets out on an emotional journey to bring to life that set of songs written for Nina Simone but never performed. Forgotten for all these years, these songs are beautiful and illuminate Nina Simone’s world. They are messages from the past.

The film has never been shown in the United States. But, on March 18th at Rock City Centre at 6 pm, you’ll get to watch the movie, hear from the film’s creators in England with a prerecorded interview, and

by Dave Warner - Stephanie Sheppard strums a bit on her then get Stephanie’s Photo guitar. perspective as she fills in the details about being music with Oscar Stivala to raise money for The at the center of such an and his Jazz Trio. Oscar Creative Outpost. important historical work. has created an 18×24 oil on canvas painting Sheppard started writing After that, there will be of Nina Simone to be wine, cheese, and live auctioned off at the event Please See NINA Page 3

Connecting the Dots: The Artist and The Astronaut

By Katie Drake

On this journey through life, we are fortunate to meet folks along the way who are unique and special in some way. The connections we feel and form with certain people can have a profound effect.

Photo submitted - Friends Jerry Carr, Pat Musick Carr, and Bill Muench.

That’s precisely what happened to Bill Muench.

Bill is an energetic modern Renaissance

man living with his family in Manchester, Vermont.

He has spent the last 32 years at Burr & Burton Academy teaching high school students English, Psychology, and, most recently Cinematography, while coaching basketball. Sixteen years ago, he connected with two people who deeply impacted him.

Bill was inspired to do something important

because of that connection, and he’s coming to Little Falls in a few weeks to share that with our community.

Pat and Jerry Carr met Bill Muench and his wife Barb in Manchester and quickly became friends.

The Muench’s became fond of Jerry and Pat and found each of them and their story fascinating.

Please See DOTS Page 6

W W W . M Y L I T T L E F A L L S . C O M

BILL MACRI

ASSOCIATE BROKER C: 315.360.1920 O: 315.866.2209 bill.joemacrirealty@gmail.com joemacrirealty.com

235 S. Main St. Herkimer, NY 13350

M O H A W K Page 2

V A L L E Y MARCH 2023

E X P R E S S

Deborah Kaufman Announces Bid for Mayor

the south for most of my career, you don’t find little Deborah Kaufman was towns like this anymore raised in Little Falls and that have this quality of has fond memories of the life.” community she grew up in. For the past 15 years, Why have you decided she has been involved to run for Mayor? in initiatives that connect and give back to her hometown. Now, after “Well, I have been careful consideration, thinking about it for a few she’s running for Mayor. years. When the Mayor’s “I’m excited! Little Falls first term was up, he was is such a unique place, not going to run, and at and having been all over that moment in time, I the world and living in thought, ‘there’s really Story & Photo by Carol Vogel

Chic.

Modern.

Upscale salon.

no one else stepping up.’” When the Mayor decided to continue on with another term, she tabled those ideas and kept pressing along with what she was doing.

nothing seems to have changed to any great extent.”

Fund Raiser within a 75-mile radius of Little Falls.

Her husband, Dave, urged her to speak with a female politician who could give her some With the 2023 election perspective on running coming up, she began for office since Little Falls has never had a seriously thinking about female Mayor before. running again. “I looked Elise Stefanik was around, and I saw things speaking at a September that have been declining 11th Commemoration for a number of years. at the Fire Department It goes way back, and in Herkimer, and she spoke with Deborah for a few moments after the ceremony. “She was such a delight and was so supportive. It made me realize that I can do this, and I should do this.”

She enjoys a challenge.

“Even though Little Falls is a very small city compared to others who had won the DRI Grant previously, and we had been told we ‘didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell’ of getting it…” she pushed ahead. “Game on!” Deborah laughs.

“Dave and I wrote the downtown revitalization grant that was awarded for $10 million to the city, and I thought, I really want to be part of the solution.”

Pohlig’s

HOME FURNISHINGS ESTABLISHED 1888

Paint & Paint Sundries Flooring & Ceramic Tiles Window Shades & Treatments Mattresses Wallpaper & Borders

634-636 E. Main Street P.O. Box 93 Little Falls, NY 13365

P. (315) 823-2640 F. (315) 823-2641 Specializing in colors, blondes, extensions, lashes, brows and waxing.

522 East Main Street Little Falls, NY 13365 315-508-5043

Robert Pohlig OWNER

The grant was about reconnecting, rebuilding, What do you bring to and growing the city again.

Working over 19 months, the table?

Deborah and Dave put Her background includes together a successful over 35 years in grant proposal package. executive-level positions, “Getting the DRI grant with 22 of those years for the city will help, but self-employed, running we also know it is just a her own businesses. stepping stone. It would Heading up multiple allow us to leverage that private companies as to go after additional well as a public company grants and to really start in domestic and moving forward on some international business of the things we need climates gives her desperately.” unique insight. “There have a deep are opportunities to grow “I revenue, and a business appreciation for what background gives you businesses do, and a different perspective,” when I look at our small businesses downtown, I she stated. realize there is so much Her resume includes we could be doing to help writing business plans support them, so they are and grants that help more sustainable. Trying communities and start-up to open a business in this companies raise money. climate it’s really tough Her local work includes for people,” Deborah raising approximately explains. “When you $2 million for the Youth really start working with and Family Center people, there are ways to capital campaign and the collaborate and to share $10 million Downtown ideas and as a group to Revitalization Initiative really achieve a whole lot (DRI) grant to the city. more.”

She is also the only NYS Registered Professional Please See KAUFMAN Page 5

M O H A W K

V A L L E Y

E X P R E S S

MARCH 2023

Page 3

NINA From Page 1 songs when she was twelve. “I became an actress at that age and was performing in offBroadway plays in the City.”

From there, she continued with her acting career. “I was a cardcarrying professional actress.”

Sheppard’s Granny got her a steel-stringed guitar at a pawn shop when she was twelve, and she played that for three years before being able to afford a Goya guitar. “I wanted a Martin because everybody had one, but I couldn’t afford it. My mother said if you’re going to get this Goya, then you’ll study properly. So I studied classical guitar.”

She had to write an essay to go to the Interlochen Arts Academy, and at the time was playing Cello, guitar, and recorder and studying dance, theater, and voice. “Very famous people went to Interlochen. There were maybe one hundred of us that first year for freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years.

It was rough because it was the first year of the school being open, and we were all floundering.”

“We heard every day that we were America’s gifted youth. When you’re fourteen or fifteen and being brainwashed like

that, you’re fearful of making a mistake. But, I got to play at Lincoln Center, Music Academy in Chicago. I got to do lots of things, and it was great.”

Brooklyn. He told her to bring her guitar and some songs. “We’re looking for music,” he said.

When she got there, he asked her to sing some of the songs for him.

Sheppard graduated in “As I was singing, Nina 1965. “It was really hard, Simone walked in with but I wasn’t writing my her two bodyguards.” own words (to the music) at that point because I Stroud introduced her, had so much going on.” and he said, “I think these songs would be perfect She spent the next for you, and we’re going several years in Bermuda to sign her. She looked involved in theater, dance, right at me and said OK.. and music, returning to that’s great, bye. She NYC in 1968. was there for like two minutes. Andy said, OK, “I did Jean Brodi on you’re in.”

Broadway for a year.

After that, I went back to He sent the contracts to Bermuda and was writing her, and they signed to songs.” produce six songs for him. About a month later, Her brother said he had she got a call from him written all these poems saying that he and Nina and asked her if she were getting divorced and wanted to write music for that she didn’t live in the them. “He was a poet United States anymore, major at BU and a Latin and they couldn’t do Major. His poetry was anything with the songs.” very esoteric, so I said yes.”

“By that time, my brother had moved to England.

“I wrote a bunch of songs I went back to Bermuda for his poetry, maybe and told him about the as many as fourteen of situation. Andy didn’t do them.” anything else with our music, so the rights to At about that time, she the music came back to met someone who knew my brother and me,” she Andy Stroud, who was stated.

Nina Simone’s husband.

“She was doing ‘Hair’ at Sheppard had also tried the time, and I had just to get Essex in London finished Brodie.” to produce her songs, but that didn’t work, so she Sheppard was invited to said, “I’ve had it,” and meet him at a studio in moved to London. “I put

Photo Submitted - Stephanie Sheppard with her guitar in the 70s.

all the music I’d written have all the music that in an envelope, put it in a your dad and I wrote drawer, and said, screw together.” it.”

“He said, what are you “Fast forward to two talking about? I told him years ago, when I first we wrote music for Nina moved to Little Falls. My Simone, and he said brother had just died, and what?” my nephew Patrick, his younger child, who is a Her brother had never brilliant musician, came told his son that he wrote over to this country for a wedding. I said Pat, I Please See NINA Page 11

If you are looking for something and can’t find it anywhere ask us!

We can order it!

18 North Ann Street Little Falls | 315-823-0320

Big City Options...Small Town Charm!

Call and Inquire-We Deliver!

Ask About Our COUPON

10%

New Bourbon Rewards Points Club.

Build up points and use them to purchase specialty bourbons we have in stock like

OFF

Buffalo Trace, Blanton’s, Weller and More!

YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE

Exclusions apply.

FREEExpires TO1/31/22.

JOIN!

Page 4

M O H A W K

V A L L E Y

MARCH 2023

E X P R E S S

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - MARCH City of Little Falls March 3, 2023 Mean Girls - High School Version, 7-9 pm, Little Falls High School.

March 4, 2023 Mean Girls - High School Version, 7-9 pm, Little Falls High School.

Meeting, 8:00 am in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

March 9, 2023 Community Blood Drive, Holy Family Parrish Gym, 1-6 pm.

March 15, 2023 Urban Renal Agency Meeting - 8:15 am in the Mayor’s conference room at City Hall.

film screening, music and more. Nina Simone: The Lost Album with, Rock City Centre, 6 pm - 10 pm. Free and open to the public. Make reservations at creativeoutpost.org/ events

March 9, 2023 Playdate 10 am, Sharon’s Cookbook Club 5:30 pm: Bracelet Class 3-4:45 Breakfast for Dinner. pm.

March 10, 2023 Playdate 10 am, Oscars Movie Nominees Marathon.

March 25, 2023 Knitting & Crochet 11 am, American Revolution Class 12:30-2 pm.

March 20, 2023 Board of Public Works Meeting - Bills 6:30 pm and Regular Session 7:00 pm in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

March 11, 2023 March 27, 2023 Knitting & Crochet 11 am. Teen Creative Writing 5-6 pm, Book Club 6 pm.

March 13, 2023 Teen Creative Writing 5-6 March 28, 2023 pm.

Dream Workshop 5:30 pm.

March 14, 2023 Little Falls Public Teen Art Night 5:30-6:30 March 29, 2023 Library pm.

Toddler Craft 10 am, Flash Fiction 6 pm.

March 1, 2023 March 15, 2023 Toddler Craft 10 am. Toddler Craft 10 am, March 31, 2023 Flash Fiction 6 pm.

Flash Fiction 6 pm.

Playdate 10 am.

March 7, 2023 Common Council Meeting - Bills 6:30 pm, Regular Session 7:00 pm March 16, 2023 in the Common Council Tourism Committee Chambers in City Hall.

Meeting - 8:30 am in the Mayor’s conference room March 8, 2023 at City Hall.

Police and Fire Board Meeting - Bills 9:30 am March 16, 2023 and Regular Session Lasagna Dinner, 10:00 am in the Mayor’s Little Falls Emmanuel Conference room in City Episcopal Church, 4-7 March 2, 2023 Hall. pm or sold out.

Tweens & Teens Bracelet Class 3-4:45 pm.

March 9, 2023 March 18, 2023 Golf Commission Community Presentation, March 3, 2023 Playdate 10 am.

March 16, 2023 Teen Advisory Board Meeting 5:30 pm.

March 17, 2023 Playdate 10 am.

March 4, 2023 March 18, 2023 Knitting & Crochet 11 am, Knitting & Crochet 11 Death Cafe 1 pm. am, American Revolution Class 12:30-2 pm.

March 6, 2023 Railroad group 5-7 pm, March 20, 2023 Teen Creative Writing 5-6 Teen Creative Writing 5-6 pm. pm.

March 7, 2023 March 21, 2023 Laurie’s Make & Take Kids Spring Craft for kids 3:30-5:30 pm.

6-10 @ 4:15 pm.

March 22, 2023 March 8, 2023 Flash Fiction 6 pm.

Flash Fiction 6 pm.

March 24, 2023

Dolgeville March 2, 2023 Regular Meeting Dolgeville Forward at the George Ward Memorial Library, 6:30 pm.

March 9, 2023 Meeting and greet for Dolgeville’s new Chief of Police Matthew Wright from 6-9 pm at the Dolgeville Fire Station, refreshments will be served.

Salisbury Fish Fry every Friday during Lent. Eat in or take out from 4:30 - 7 pm at the Salisbury Fire Station.

March is National Irish American Heritage Month March is National Irish American Heritage Month, and the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley is celebrating in a big way.

In addition to regular weekly events at the ICCMV, the Program and Events committee is proud to announce the following programs.

Derek Warfield & the Young Wolfe Tones-On Thursday, March 2nd Derek Warfield & the Young Wolfe Tones will kick off National Irish American Heritage month at the ICCMV! Although this band has been together since 2008, front man Derek Warfield has been singing the songs

of Irish history, freedom and tradition for more than 50 years! Derek and the Young Wolfe Tones will reprise many old songs of rebellion, freedom-fighters, and independence. This band played at the General Post Office in Dublin on April 16, 2016 at 12 Please See IRISH Page 5

M O H A W K

V A L L E Y

MARCH 2023

E X P R E S S Page 5

KAUFMAN From Page 2 What issues are most important to you?

secure and sustainable way for the future.”

“We have to strengthen the security and the safety of the community.

It’s one of the top things people are concerned about,” Deborah says.

“Financially, we need to assess our situation and be able to right the ship, so we are going forward in a sustainable way.”

She says it’s important to uncover innovative ways to bring in more money to the city in order to continue to provide essential services (police, fire, ambulance, trash, roadways, etc.) without sacrificing others.

“We need to be able to project out and build momentum from not only what we are doing today but move forward in a

“When you don’t have jobs, it’s really hard for people to stay. Our unemployment is 7.5 %.

We have a 31% poverty rate, so we have fewer people buying homes and paying taxes, and we lose population.”

Her research also found “57% of the kids in our schools are getting the subsidized lunch program because of low income.

Because of that poverty, 55% of those will not go to college.” Deborah mentions that Little Falls has a lot of good things going for it educationally, but we need to provide students with additional training opportunities and jobs here in the community. College is Why Now?

IRISH From Page 4

noon--exactly 100 years after Padraig Pierce stood there, reading Ireland’s Declaration of Independence!

You will not want to miss this historic, traditional, and moving group at the Irish Cultural Center in Utica!

March 10th at 2.00pm and 7.00pm Craobh Dugan O’Looney will host musician Randal Bays from Seattle.

WA. In the afternoon, Randal will teach a multi-instrumental class applicable to melody instruments such as Debunking Irish Myths- fiddles, flutes, whistles, On Wednesday, March banjos, mandolins, and 8th at 7.00pm Mark Sisti other instruments typically will engage his audience found at an Irish music by letting them know the session. The workshop truth about familiar Irish will be in a comfortable beliefs. He will discuss and fun environment! things such at the fact that Come, learn some new St. Patrick did not drive trad Irish tunes! the snakes from Ireland, that the shamrock is not That evening, Randal, the national symbol of an Irish-style fiddler Ireland, and that green and guitarist who brings is not Ireland’s national power and passion to the color. Come learn more old tradition, will perform about the truths of all at the ICCMV. He’s well things Irish. known on both sides of the Atlantic for his fiery Randal Bays Multi- fiddling and his devotion Instrumental Workshop and Concert-On Friday, Please See IRISH Page 8

not the only path forward, and tradespeople are desperately needed in the area.

“As time has gone on, I’ve realized that you can do just so much from the outside. And the time now, for me, is there’s “We really have got to more to be done. I can do get busy. It requires a more. It’s time, and I am lot of effort. It requires a going to do what I can.” full-time Mayor, which I intend to be. It requires Deborah mentions the different thinking and waterfront, the scenery, collaborating, bringing and the culture of Little people in that can help Falls as a whole. “It’s - both on the public side charming! We have a and on the private side.” hospital, a movie theater, a bakery, a butcher shop, “I have the vision that we a grocery store, great should be the beacon of restaurants, and shops, hope for a lot of people, and we have amazing city not only our own people. services. We really have We’re the only city in a lot of things here to work Herkimer County. People with.” Her optimism and should be looking to us excitement are palpable. to have an answer and “The people are very to see what they can do welcoming – you don’t with their community.” get that everywhere.”

“I

am

looking

at

Little Falls as a safe, prosperous, vibrant, and inclusive community. My perspective about why now? I feel like enough is enough. How long are we going to wait to fix this?

The time is now. Let’s do it on our watch. Not just for today but so that the town has the vibrancy we grew up with long into the future.”

To learn more about Deborah Kaufman and her platform please visit her website at: www. kaufmanformayor.com or meet with her at Bonita’s Sandwich Shop on March 6th and 13th from 1:30 pm until 4 pm each day or at Paca Gardens on March 24th from 2-5 pm.

If you would like to see your story in the Mohawk Valley Express - email it to news@ mylittlefalls.com

Page 6

M O H A W K

DOTS From Page 1 Jerry Carr served as a marine fighter pilot, flying intelligence missions during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was one of 19 people chosen from over 6,000 applications to work for NASA on the second group of astronauts. He was a spacecraft communicator (Cap Com) and was named Commander of the longest space flight to date in Skylab 4. On Christmas Day in 1973, he got his turn and made one of history’s first and longest spacewalks.

rights activist, having spent much time at Cornell University in the 1960s. When Vietnam and Civil Rights protests began, she turned to art to understand it all and became an accomplished environmental artist. Her large and small, indoor and outdoor sculptures and works on paper are featured in over 100 public and private collections, including more than 50 museums and public spaces in the US. She has an MA and Ph.D. from Cornell University and has authored four Pat Musick is a civil books.

V A L L E Y

MARCH 2023

E X P R E S S

about these two uniquely amazing people and their unlikely love story Apple founder Steve as they participated in Jobs once said, “You some of the most historic can’t connect the dots moments in human looking forward; you history. can only connect them looking backward. So, Muench gathered six you have to trust that hours of interview footage the dots will somehow with Jerry about his connect in your future.” stories and experiences, six hours of footage of Pat Later in life, Musick taught on hers, and six hours of art and psychology at the interviews of the couple University of Houston about their life together. when she met Jerry at a small church in Webster, Bill says, “I treated it Texas. They fell in love and married, and the dots like a phone call, Pat here, and Jerry in space began to connect. leading their separate In 2016, the Muench’s lives: life on the ground, were invited to Bentonville, and life up there. As each Arkansas, to celebrate story was told, I hunted Pat’s 90th Birthday and down different people visit her commissioned to interview to create installation of “A Place alternate viewpoints. I’d jump in my car and make Where They Cried.” it happen. It was all about This important outdoor connecting the dots.” work is a 6’x65’x8’ stone sculpture that sits along a walking trail on the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art grounds. It represents the Native Indian people who traveled through Arkansas as part of the Trail of Tears, a forced migration in the early 1800s, where 4,000 died.

Traveling to Arkansas, experiencing the sculpture, and celebrating his friend Pat, moved Bill Muench. He said, “Someone should make a documentary about Pat and Jerry.” Bill’s wife, Barb, told Bill it should be him.

He decided that it would be him. Muench embarked on a 6-year journey to learn about Pat and Jerry’s lives. He wanted the world to know

fan of Hobin and would often go out to watch him play. Hobin even performed at Bill’s prom in 1980. Thirty years later, Bill reached out to him to ask if he could include one of Todd’s songs in the film. Hobin said yes, and after watching it, asked Bill if he could take a crack at scoring the film.

A friendship began. The Artist and the Astronaut score is all original music

by Todd Hobin.

The Artist and the Astronaut is quickly gaining attention in film circles. It was the Official Selection of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival in 2022 and won the esteemed Spirit of Independents Award.

In 2023 it was named an official selection of the Madrid Indie Film Festival and an official That led Bill to travel selection of the Omaha nationwide to interview Film Festival. people from NASA, Cornell, and even the Next month, the local Nixon administration, to company Daneli Partners name a few. His film is is hosting a public premier filled with never before of The Artist and the seen footage of the early Astronaut here in Little space pioneers, includes Falls at Valley Cinemas important events in on Saturday, April 1st, American history, and at 7:30 pm, which will how Pat and Jerry benefit the Mohawk combined talents to Valley Center for the Arts. render some of the most Tickets for the film are enduring art installations limited and will include a in America. cocktail hour to meet Bill Muench and Todd Hobin Muench says the title was and a Q & A to follow the obvious to him and aptly premier. titled his film, ‘The Artist and The Astronaut.’ He then enlisted the help of You can purchase tickets a talented musician and as soon as they are Central New York legend released, the second in his own right, Todd week of March, at the Mohawk Valley Center Hobin. for the Arts, at Valley Back in 1979, Bill was a Cinemas, and online.

M O H A W K

V A L L E Y

MARCH 2023

E X P R E S S Page 7

Little Falls native Justus D. Barnes: pioneer movie actor and milkman One of the most obscure yet famous people ever to be depicted on a United States postage stamp is early motion picture actor Justus D. Barnes.

He was the second of four sons born to Orin P. and Hannah Barnes. His father was a tinsmith and Civil War veteran and his mother was an immigrant from Ireland.

In the early years of the movie industry, actors were considered incidental to movie production and were not credited by name.

The first film thespian to gain a personal identity and fame was Florence Lawrence (1886-1938), who was credited simply as the biograph girl in her early films for that studio.

The early practice of anonymity for actors coupled with the fact that a high percentage of early films are lost makes compiling a complete list of Barnes’ films highly problematic.

The first film role for Barnes that we know of is also by far his most famous. In the Edison Manufacturing Co.’s The Great Train Robbery (1903), he has a close-up in the closing scene of the movie in which he points his pistol at the audience

and fires.

This is the scene depicted on the stamp commemorating the birth of the motion picture industry in the Celebrate the Century 1900s pane of 15 (Scott 3182).Barnes is not identified by name on the stamp. The inscription on the back of the stamp states: “ ‘The Great Train Robbery,’ directed

by Edwin S. Porter in 1903, was one of the first commercially successful story films. The box-office hit became part of the Western genre.”

Although he almost certainly appeared in more films for Edison, Barnes’ next known credit was in a film by the Thanhouser Co. (latter known as the Thanhouser Film Corp.) in 1910. The Thanhouser phase of his film career is the best documented, with credits known in more than 80 films produced between 1910 and 1917.

In the days before Hollywood, most of the film industry was based in New York: Thanhouser in New Rochelle and Edison in Manhattan and the Bronx after beginning production in West Orange, New Jersey.

Barnes is also depicted on a Mali 150-franc stamp (Scot 723a) from a set commemorating the centenary of the motion picture industry. On this stamp his name is given as “George Barnes.” I used to think this was a design error, but now I know that the actor used both names.

For unknown reasons, he was billed as George Barnes in at least 10 Thanhouser films produced between 1910 and 1917.

Because actors were not billed, the original release of The Great Train Robbery, either name could be considered correct.

Acting then didn’t pay near as well as it does today.

The 1920 census, the first after the end of his film career, finds Barnes working as a domestic servant in Brutus, New York.

On the 1930 census he was employed as a milkman in Brutus, New York. Barnes is buried in the Weedsport Rural Cemetery in Cayuga County, New York.

Barnes likely got his foot in the door as a movie

All kinds Of Unique Vendors under one roof!

Artisans, Crafters, Antiques to Retro including Food Items.

Vendors Wanted

actor because he lived where the movies were being made.

Also home of

315-628-1506

www.renewedandrescued.com

142 North Main St., Herkimer • 315-219-9195 Open Tues-Fri: 10-4:30, Sat: 10-4, Closed Sun & Mon www.mohawkvalleycommunitymarket.com

Insurance... We Can Help DOLGEVILLE • HERKIMER

We invite you to come and visit our NEWLY UPDATED Herkimer office at 410 Folts Street & Rt 28, Herkimer, NY. www.hbegroup.com 315-429-3181 315-866-3140

Page 8

M O H A W K

V A L L E Y

MARCH 2023

E X P R E S S

SENIOR MEALS FOR MARCH

IRISH From Page 5

To reserve a meal, call the Herkimer County Office for the Aging at least one business day in advance, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315-867-1204 or 315-867-1634. If you will not be home for meals, call 315867-1204 at least a day in advance. All sites are handicapped accessible.

to the traditional style of playing. He has a special love for the fiddle traditions of Counties Clare and Galway, where he’s spent many a night playing tunes with the masters of that intricate music. Come, relax and enjoy Randal’s great music!

Mar 01 - Sloppy Joes, O’Brien potatoes, Pacific blend vegetable, pie.

Mar 02 - Omelet, hash browns, sausage, muffin, fruit cup.

Mar 03 - Cheese lasagna, Italian blend vegetables, garlic roll, birthday cake.

Mar 06 - Tangy meatloaf, au gratin potatoes, red cabbage, pears.

Mar 07 - Pulled pork kon a bun, baked beans, California blend vegetables, ice cream.

Mar 08 - Chicken and biscuits, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, brownie.

Mar 09 - Macaroni and cheese, stewd tomatoes and zucchini, green beans, pudding.

Mar 10 - Tuna noodle casserole, peas, broccolli, cookie.

Mar 13 - Chicken florentine, noodles, spinach, tropical fruit.

Mar 14 - Cheesy ham and rice casserole, beets, cauliflower, pudding parfait.

Mar 15 - Hamburger with peppers and onions, O’Brien potatoes, peas, Jell-0.

Mar 16 - Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Corned beef dinner with potatoes, carrots, and cabbage, soda bread, Shamrock cookie.

Mar 17 - Stuffed shells, Italian blend vegetables, lima beans, garlic roll, orange.

Mar 20 - Spanish rice, corn, green beans, peaches.

Mar 21 - Baked chicken in cream sauce, mashed potatoes, broccoli, fruit cocktail.

Mar 22 - Ziti with meatballs, tossed salad, Brussel sprouts, cookie.

Mar 23 - Wild rice and chicken casserole, warm three-bean salad, red cabbage, pudding.

Mar 24 - Lemon butter fish, seasoned noodles, spinach, Mandarin oranges.

Mar 27 - Beef stew with potatoes and carrots, green beans, biscuit, pineapple.

Mar 28 - Sweet and sour chicken, noodles, Japanese blend vegetables, banana.

Mar 29 - Hamburger cabbage casserole, corn, lima beans, yogurt.

Mar 30 - Ham with mustard sauce, scalloped potatoes, peas and carrots, ice cream.

Mar 31 - Vegetable lasagna, Italian blend vegetables, tossed salad, brownie.

All meals are served with 8 ounces of milk, a slice of bread, and margarine.

Desserts have no concentrated sweets. The suggested donation is $3. Mail donations to Herkimer County OFA, 109 Mary St., Suite 2501, Herkimer, NY 13350. Envelopes are available from drivers.

Arise & Go in Concert-On Wednesday, March 15th at 7.00pm, the ICCMV welcomes Arise & Go, a superb trio with roots in New Brunswick, Ithaca and Utica. With Ellie Goud-Roddy on fiddle, Tim Ball on Guitar and Utica-native Michael Roddy on uillean pipes and whistles, Arise & Go will get your hands clapping and your toes tapping to their vibrant collection of the dance music of Ireland, Scotland and Atlantic Canada.

Blending pipes, whistles, fiddle, and guitar, the group’s varied musical backgrounds combine to produce a sound which is both grounded in tradition and uniquely fresh and driving. From intimate house concerts to festival stages, Arise & Go has been hailed for their “precision and energy”. You will not want to miss this evening of great traditional music!

Máire Ni Chathasaigh &

Chris Newman - Irish Harp & Guitar Duo-On Friday, March 24th at 7.00pm, Máire and Chris will offer an evening of great music with one of Ireland’s most influential harpists and her guitar virtuoso partner. Chris and Máire have performed at over 175 folk, Celtic, arts, harp and guitar festivals in Europe, the USA, Australia, and Asia. They have performed almost two thousand concerts in venues large and small.

And the ICCMV is proud to welcome them to Utica, NY!! Be sure not to miss this concert of traditional tunes of Ireland played

by Máire Ni Chathasaigh on Irish harp and Chris Newman on guitar!

The Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley welcomes everyone to our programs and events.

For all the information on each event, please see our Facebook page (“Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley”), our website (iccmv.org) or find these events on Eventbrite.com. If you have any questions on any of the programs, please email irishccmv@ gmail.com or call 315733-4228 Ext 6. We look forward to seeing you at the ICCMV in March!

ATTENTION Senior Citizens 55+

Year round janitorial/landscaping position available immediately in the Herkimer area. Vacation/Holidays paid!

Great work environment!

For more info and an application call

GreenThumb Environmental Beautification Inc. at 518-435-2471 or Trish at 518-883-4390

M O H A W K

V A L L E Y

MARCH 2023

E X P R E S S Page 9

Community Co-Op says ‘Goodbye’ to one of the founders food-buying co-op in college, and so I knew After almost 50 years how that worked, and I with the Community had a supplier that we Co-Op, Mary DeLuca could use here, so the has decided that it’s time concept kind of came to start the next chapter from that.” of her life, so employees, friends, and customers She said there were a lot sent her off with a toast of people in Little Falls on Friday afternoon, her that were interested in last day at work. seeing it happen.

By Dave Warner

Tony DeLuca talked about the early days and said, “The Co-Op grew to a point where we could afford a secondstory storefront above the bar on Main Street.”

At that time, there was a payphone that everyone used, and the rent was about $60 a month.

“It was a joyful experience when you opened the door and saw that the shelves were filled with things you normally had to travel to Syracuse to get,” he said.

get served whatever we have there.”

He said that it works the other way as well. People who come into the Food Pantry with food allergies can be sent to the Co-Op. “It’s a synergistic service,” he stated.

When asked about her fondest memory, she said, “This might be it, right here.”

“This hasn’t been an easy decision for me to make.

But I’m looking forward to doing some other things, and the time is right, and Robyn (Safford) is the right person to take my place. It’s all good.”

She plans to spend more time with her grandson and family and travel. “I have lots of projects I haven’t had time to do.

I used to make my own DeLuca said that they bread and do some grew out of that and sewing projects. There went to Doc Pianna’s are a lot of things I’d like building on Garden St, to do.” and then after a few years of success there, Through its partnership the church called. “They with the Food Pantry, said we’re mothballing the Co-Op serves a wide the church, and we’d like range of individuals. Tony to provide something to DeLuca said, “That’s part the community that is of the whole picture. within our mission. We Having natural goods don’t want to sell it to here at a reasonable a corporate entity, and price. Those experiencing we don’t want it to be food insecurity can go destroyed.” to the Food Pantry and

If you would like to see your story in the Mohawk Valley Express - email it to news@ mylittlefalls.com

DeLuca continued, “They gave us a great deal, and we came in and built this place. Mary’s been a part of that from the beginning. We were able to parlay a lot in order to make this thing work.”

Mary said, “I was in a

Contact me for all your real estate needs!

Photo by Dave Warner - Mary DeLuca poses with some of her friends, co-workers, and shoppers during her retirement party.

Page 10

M O H A W K

V A L L E Y

MARCH 2023

E X P R E S S

of their last five games.

Their NHL parent team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, has yet to make a trade that significantly impacts the Crunch heading into the trade deadline.

As hockey season heads into the home stretch for 2022-23, fans in Central New York have a lot to be excited for.

Six of the area’s college hockey programs are still playing in their respective postseason tournaments and the two American Hockey League teams that call the region home are neck in neck in the North Division standings as the Utica Comets and Syracuse Crunch continue to battle each other for a chance to play in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Goals Per Game: 2.98.

Goals Against Per Game: 3.04.

Head Coach; Kevin Dineen.

The Comets struggled in February, going 3-60-1 and falling from second place in the North Division at the start of the month to third place where they currently are. On the bright side, they are currently on a two-game winning streak that snapped a four-game losing streak.

On February 26th, their NHL parent club the New Jersey Devils sent defenseman Nikita College and professional Okhotiuk and forward hockey are not the Andreas Johnsson to the only levels of the San Jose Sharks as part game represented in of the Timo Meier trade. the Mohawk Valley. With the trade deadline The Girl’s High School looming in both the NHL hockey season reached and AHL, more moves its conclusion on could be on the way.

February 18th at the Nexus Center in Utica, For the Utica Comets’ and the Clinton Warriors remaining schedule and skated away with the ticketing information, visit NYS Championship. It is https://uticacomets.com. the school’s second state title since 2020.

Syracuse Crunch Here’s a look at where each of the professional and college hockey teams in Central New York stands through the end of February. Please note, all statistics, records, and current statuses are as of February 27th.

American Hockey League Utica Comets Record: 25-20-5-2, 57 points - 3rd in the North Division.

Goal Differential: -3.

Record: 25-19-4-3, 57 points - 2nd place in the North Division.

Goal Differential: +13.

Goals Per Game: 3.47.

Goals Against Per Game: 3.22.

Head Coach: Ben Groulx.

The Syracuse Crunch played eleven games in February. They started the month by defeating the Comets 4-3 in a shootout but then proceeded to lose five straight games.

They got back on track in the last half of the month, however, as they won four

For the Syracuse Crunch’s remaining schedule and ticketing information, visit https:// syracusecrunch.com.

College - Division I

Photo credit: Scott Kinville - Colgate Raiders Women’s Hockey.

take place on March 3rd in #3 Colgate Raiders New Haven, Connecticut.

Women’s Hockey Colgate Raiders Men’s Record: 30-5-2 (overall), Hockey

in the best-of-three Semifinal series of the College Hockey America Tournament on February 24th and 25th. The thirdseeded Orange dropped 18-3-1 (ECAC).

Record: 14-15-5 (overall), the first two games to Goal Differential: +87. the Lakers and were 8-5-4 (ECAC).

Goals Per Game: 4.0. eliminated from the Goals Against Per Game: Goal Differential: +8. tournament. The losses Goals Per game: 2.8.

1.7.

Syracuse’s Head Coach: Greg Fargo. Goals Against Per Game: ended season.

2.6.

Coach: Don The Colgate Raiders Head College - Division III (ranked third in the nation Vaughan. and the second seed in #1 Utica Pioneers Men’s the ECAC) began their The Raiders closed out Hockey ECAC Tournament play their regular season on February 24th with a on February 25th and Record: 24-2-1 (overall), best-of-three opening- will enter the ECAC 20-0-0 (UCHC). round series as the Tournament as the fifth Goal Differential: +107.

Class of 1965 Arena seed. As the fifth seed, Goals Per Game: 5.8. against the seventh- they will host the twelveGoals Against Per Game: seeded Princeton Tigers. seed Dartmouth at the 1.8.

The Tigers shocked the Class of 1965 Arena on Head Coach: Gary Raiders in game one, Friday, March 3rd in a Heenan. openingdefeating them 3-2. They one-game nearly pulled off the round playoff game. If The Pioneers are the sweep the next day, but they defeat Dartmouth, number-one team in Raiders Captain Danielle they will advance to the Division III and the Serdachny scored a third- best of three games number-one seed in period goal to give her Quarterfinals round. the UCHC postseason team a 3-2 victory evening tournament.

They Orange the series. The winner Syracuse began their tournament takes all game three was Women’s Hockey play on February another close one, but 22nd by defeating the Kalty Kaltounková scored Record: 10-24-2 (overall), Arcadia Knights 5-2 at a third-period goal to give 6-10-1 (CHA). the Adirondack Bank Colgate a 2-1 win in not Center. The win against only the game but the Goal Differential: -34.

Arcadia advanced them series. to the Semifinals which Goals Per Game: 2.2. took place in Utica on Colgate now moves on February 25th against to the ECAC Tournament Goals Against Per Game: the Manhattanville Semifinals, where they 3.2 Valiants. In that game, will face the third-seed the Pioneers dismantled Quinnipiac Bobcats Head Coach: Britni Smith. the Valiants 11-0 and and Clinton native Mia advanced to the UCHC Lopata. That game is a The Orange played one-game playoff that will the MercyhurstiLakers Please See HOCKEY Page 11

M O H A W K

V A L L E Y

MARCH 2023

E X P R E S S

HOCKEY From Page 10

NINA From Page 3

Championship game which they will play at the Adirondack Bank Center on March 4th against the second-seed Nazareth Golden Flyers.

music. “His wife didn’t know anything. Nobody knew,” she said.

Films and told Pat this would make a great documentary.”

Sheppard asked if he’d like her to send the package over because he was now the musician in the family. “I sent him everything. All the sheet music, and I also sent him a song of mine. When Patrick went home, he started talking to his mate Sam and told him that his dad had written all this music.”

Sam then pitched it to his boss, and the rest is history. “The film took two years from the idea to the filming this past November,” stated Sheppard.

#12 Utica Pioneers Women’s Hockey Record: 22-2-3 (overall), 17-1-2 (UCHC).

Goal Differential: +108.

Goals Per Game: 4.9.

Goals Against Per Game: 0.9.

Head Coach: Dave Clausen.

The twelfth-ranked Pioneers entered the UCHC Tournament as the conference’s number two seed and opened their Tournament schedule on February 22nd by defeating Lebanon Valley 4-0 at the Nexus Center. The win over Lebanon Valley advanced the Pioneers to the Semifinals, where they hosted the Manhattanville Valiants on February 25th and dominated the Valiants in a 7-1 win. They will now travel to Rochester to face the number one seed and thirteenthranked Nazareth Golden Flyers on March 4th for the UCHC Tournament Championship game.

1.2.

Head Coach: McNamara.

Emily

The sixth-ranked Hamilton College Continentals Women’s Team is the number two seed in the NESCAC Postseason Tournament.

They opened their tournament on February 25th at Sage Rink where they defeated the seventh seed Williams Ephs 3-1.

They will now play the third seed Colby Mules in the Semifinals on March 3rd at Sage Rink. The Continentals defeated the Mules in both games they played this season by scores of 1-0 and 3-0 respectively.

Page 11

The film will also be livestreamed, but you must register for a unique viewing link.

“That’s how the movie came about,” she said.

If you’d like to watch the trailer for the film, register for the free At the time, Sam was event, or purchase studying film and wanted raffle tickets, please to do movies. “He was visit creativeoutpost.org/ working for Longtail events/.

Hamilton College Continentals Men’s Hockey Record: 13-10-2 (overall), 11-5-2 (NESCAC).

Goal Differential: +10.

Goals Per Game: 2.7.

Goals Against Per Game: 2.3.

Head Coach Rob Haberbusch.

The fourth-seeded Continentals hosted the fifth-seed Colby Mules in a one-game NESCAC Tournament Quarterfinals #6 Hamilton College matchup on February Continentals Women’s 25th at Sage Rink.

The Continentals lost a Hockey heartbreaker dropping a Record: 19-4-2 (overall), 3-2 decision in overtime to the Mules. With the 12-3-1 (NESCAC). loss, the Continentals Goal Differential: +39. were eliminated from the Goals Per Game: 2.7.

Goals Against Per Game: NESCAC Tournament.

A NIGHT OF JAZZ A SCREENING OF THE DOCUMENTARY NINA SIMONE: THE LOST ALBUM FIFTY-TWO YEARS AGO, EIGHT SONGS WERE WRITTEN FOR THE LEGENDARY NINA SIMONE TO PERFORM. UNFORTUNATELY, SIMONE DIED BEFORE ANY OF THEM WERE RECORDED. A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE LOST MUSIC WAS MADE WITH LITTLE FALLS RESIDENT STEPHANIE SHEPPARD. IN THE FILM, SUPERSTAR EMELI SANDE SETS OUT ON AN EMOTIONAL JOURNEY TO BRING THOSE SONGS TO LIFE. JOIN US FOR WINE, CHEESE AND MUSIC IN A FUN-FILLED EVENING OF HISTORY.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY OSCAR STIVALA AND HIS JAZZ TRIO

MARCH 18, 2023 6-10 PM Rock City Centre 690 E Main St, Little Falls NY 13365 For Tickets Visit creativeoutpost.org/events or call 315-508-5310 for details

Page 12

M O H A W K

V A L L E Y

MARCH 2023

E X P R E S S

Tax Season is Here We offer many services to help make Tax Day a smooth process.

Come by to print, shred, fax, copy, scan and ship today.

The UPS Store Little Falls (315) 508-4726 store7193@theupsstore.com 410 Canal Place, Little Falls, NY 13365

Spring Cleaning We’re starting our lists for spring clean ups and lawn mowing! Make sure you’re ready for the warmer weather by contacting us today.

Call or text: 315-523-1378 Email: services@rockcity.dev rockcity.dev/services