Mohawk Valley Express Volume 4 Number 1 January 2024

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Mustard Seed is going to be 30 years old in 2024 Village. “The fire code had the maximum occupancy The Mustard Seed is as three people, including going to have a birthday my mom and I, so that’s this year, as it will turn how it started.”

30 years old this coming July.

She said that they had dip mixes like they have Julie Webster, the owner, now, spices, and made stated, “Thirty years ago, their own incense, while my mom came into my she made tie-die clothes bedroom with an herb and candles. “Fun things shop article in her hand that teenagers do.” and said, ‘Hey, want to do this? It looks like fun.’” “My mom had a garden, so she did the ‘herby’ They lived in Ilion at the side of it. We started with time, and so they opened lotions and potions and a ‘teeny-tiny shop’ in the all of that,” she said.

By Dave Warner

Her mother ended up getting some partners and moving the shop to Little Falls in 1997 in the Antique Center.

“I moved away and did an internship and managed a cigar store down in Maryland—small business-type stuff. I met my husband, who is from Photo by Dave Warner - Julie Webster working the front desk at the Mustard Seed in Little Falls. here, and moved back,” week; then, they moved the Stone Mill building, Webster stated. up to Garden Street for a and they approached us about doing a bigger They had the shop on couple of years. space or being in with the second floor of the Antique Center, and it Webster stated, “David other people. We were was open seven days a and Richard were buying Please See MUSTARD Page 3

Young pulls in National STEM award

years prior to that, Young had left the classroom Tracy Young is at it to go into the library to again, one of seven create some STEAM/ people receiving an STEM lessons there.

ITEEA award, becoming one of the trainers of “We figured that was Engineering by Design going to be a focus, and (EBD), and receiving we didn’t even know the National Teacher of about this program. I Excellence Award. was just creating my own lessons.”

How did it all begin? The EBD program at Benton They came up with some Hall Academy started seven years ago, but two Please See AWARD Page 2

By Dave Warner

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M O H A W K

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AWARD From Page 1

Photos by Dave Warner - Tracy Young (above) assembles materials for the next project (below) discusses a project with a group of students.

interesting lessons, targeting each of the grade levels as they came through the library.

“They weren’t based on any Grand Challenge Standards. We had originally wanted Project Lead the Way in the high school, but thinking about how many kids would go into it - it’s very rigorous - we felt that we wanted something that more kids would be able to do,” she said.

Project Lead the Way was also very expensive, so it was another reason they didn’t go down that path.

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Andy Zaffarano worked for BOCES and was trained in Engineering

By Design (EBD), and he was friends with Dr. Levitino. Zaffarono told them that it was a very cost-effective program that could work for everyone.

Young said, “It starts at the elementary level, and then it works up to the high school level.

We looked at it, and Dr. Levitino said, Tracy, would you like to do it?”

She started right away with first grade and fifth grade and said they could immediately see how much the kids were doing that wasn’t normal.

“It was more higher-level learning, and they were having fun. They were hands-on and engaged.”

Instead of the lessons she was researching and making up in the library, this program was all mapped out and based on the fourteen Grand Challenges of the World. “Kids were really thinking at a higher level, like worldwide. Things that are going to help us change the world.

We figured this would be how kids would learn in the future, and it would help our kids be better leaders.”

She also felt that it would help the students work better together. “We decided that this was going to have to be a fulltime position.”

work because in order to be in this position, you have to allow kids to fail.

Sometimes, that’s hard as a teacher - you don’t want your kids to fail. But, part of this program is to show how failure works with your learning. You have to overcome those obstacles.”

Young believes that approach has really helped the students at Benton Hall because they’re able to verbalize where they failed and how they overcame the problem. “They don’t see it as such a negative thing. It’s more of a learning tool for them.”

Each student in the elementary school goes through the program.

Young spends 40 minutes a day for six weeks with those students on a rotating basis. “I’ll have five classes per six-week session. Up until we did our building project, I was just in a regular classroom. It was crowded, but it worked.”

Initially, the program was just in a regular classroom, and they educated a They saw how successful team of teachers on the the program was, and program. “That didn’t it identified the kind of facilities that they needed, 3 Canal Street which then generated a Fort Plain lot of planning for the (518)993-2387 Fax: (518) 993-2302 new STEAM lab that was built so that it would Briggs Street Plaza, CALL US FOR A QUOTE ON ALL be very user-friendly Johnstown OF YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS! and kid-oriented. “It’s (518)762-8200 (800) 836-2885 | shultsagency.com Fax: (518) 762-1400 all hands-on, and they can reach everything shultsagency.com INTEGRITY • VALUE • SERVICE they need. Everything’s on wheels, so we can make groups and group SAVE THIS AD! learning because that’s Joe Macri Home Improvement how they work together,” 35 Years Experience she stated.

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Last year, they were awarded the ITEEA STEM School of Excellence Please See AWARD Page 5

M O H A W K MUSTARD From Page 1 in there almost fifteen years.”

balance.

”I do close for camping She said, “There have in the summer - that is a been a whole lot of thing,” stated Webster. iterations.”

All the sewing, the smelly In 2020, she closed down, stuff, the food, and promising her husband everything they make is she would not do a retail displayed in the store. business again. “It is “When I started this, my a ball and chain, so I sister Jenny was helping was making everything me quite a bit. We had at home, and we were wondered what the odds doing markets and what- were of sustaining a shop not when we could.” with everything being made just by us.”

Then she caught wind that the space she is in Webster said that thirty now (407 Canal Place) years ago, that was the would become vacant. “I business model but that contacted Jayne (Ritz) she didn’t think they and said, I’ve been could do that again. thinking about this, but in our new iteration, I’d However, “This year like to have an inspected has blown me away. kitchen. Do you think The support for that. It’s that’s even remotely absolutely mind-blowing.” possible in this space?”

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have to go through that trouble. “I told her that it didn’t matter what size it was but that it should be special.”

The woman told her that she must love what she does, and Webster said, “I absolutely do love 100% of what I do.” ”Especially with all the hours, it’s a labor of love.

I am so fortunate to still be doing this - that’s amazing,” she said.

She said that they’ll continue to evolve the business and come up with new product ideas.

“I’d love to take a step up or two, but that step is humongous.”

Photo Submitted - Little Falls factory workers prior to the 1912 Textile Strike.

A Women’s Strike - November 1912 It might be said that the strike at Little Falls is a women’s strike.

a young Polish woman with a two-year old child is now locked up in the Herkimer jail on a It was caused indirectly charge of assaulting and by the enactment of the otherwise mistreating Webster said that it would 54-hour law for women Officer Kenney, a former mean employees and all, workers; about 70% member of the U.S. Army but it might be down the of the workers in the and now employed by the knitting mills are women Central Detective Agency road. and girls; women largely of Albany. ”In the meantime, we kind predominate in the picket Webster said, “This is of have to think about line; a young woman It was, and it changed Despite the daily insults what I want to do, this how big we want to be. nurse, who cast her lot everything for the and indecencies to is what I’m doing, here’s with the strikers, was one How are we going to get business. “Everything which these young girls that we now make, I me, and these customers there without overdoing of the first to be arrested have been subjected make here instead of at have said, we’re happy to it? I don’t want to burn for “inciting to riot’; a girl by the small army of out because it still needs became chairman of the special policemen and home. That left us with support you.” to be rewarding and fun.” Strike Committee after some family time, so my detectives working for She was wrapping the arrest of Organizer husband is not mad.” the mill owners, despite Christmas presents for To find out more, you can Legere; a fourteen yearproddings, and actual ”We’re careful, but right a customer, and the visit their website or Like old girl is secretary of the same committee, and Please See STRIKE Page 5 now, it’s the holidays, so woman told her she didn’t them on Facebook. we’re open every day.

In December, I’m here, making, making, making,” Chipping • Trimming • Stumping • Cleanup she said.

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M O H A W K

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS - JANUARY

City of Little Falls January 2, 2024 Common Council Meeting - Swearing in ceremony 6:15 pm.

Auditing of the bills: 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting: 7:00 p.m. City Hall.

January 8, 2024 Police and Fire Board Meeting - Bills 8:30 am and Regular Session 9:00 am in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

January 16, 2024 Board of Public Works Meeting - Bills 6:30 pm and Regular Session

7:00 pm in the Mayor’s Brehon Law presentation at Irish Cultural Center Conference room in City Join us at The H.A.R.P. oldest recorded legal Irish Cultural Center of Hall.

Museum at the Irish system in history (after the Mohawk Valley, 623 Cultural Center of Sanskrit). It pre-dated Columbia St, Utica. All January 18, 2024 the Mohawk Valley the Magna Carta by ± are welcome to attend Chicken & Biscuit Dinner for a presentation 2,000 years. Yes, 2000! this program and the at Emmanuel Episcopal about Brehon Law on museum is wheelchair Church, Parish Hall, Wednesday, January Come learn a little more accessible. There is no 594 East Albany St. Eat 17, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. about it, how it worked, charge for this event, HARP Museum and what if it had been in or take out. Curbside as however donations are member allowed to continue? pickup and walk-ins Committee most appreciated. welcome. $15 includes Patty Foley shares her Would it work today? chicken and biscuit with research into this topic.

You can attend this Please register at iccmv. gravy, mashed potatoes, Brehon Law is the presentation at the org/my-calendar/ or leave peas and carrots and original, native law of H.A.R.P. Museum located a message at 315-733dessert. Free deliveries Ireland, and the second- on the second floor of the 4338 ext. 6. to Little Falls, Dolgeville, Herkimer, Mohawk and Ilion. Please call 315Join us at The H.A.R.P. Brigid’s crosses are In Christianity, St Brigid 741-4672 to reserve Museum at the Irish associated with Brigid of and her cross are linked your dinner.

Cultural Center of the Kildare, one of the patron together by a story about

Celebrate Ireland’s St. Brigid’s Feast Day Mohawk Valley on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. as we celebrate Ireland’s St. Brigid’s feast day by learning to weave the cross named in her honor.

Materials from Ireland and instructions included.

Brigid’s cross or Brigit’s cross is a small cross usually woven from rushes. Typically it has four arms tied at the ends and a woven square in the middle.

saints of Ireland. The crosses are traditionally made in Ireland on St Brigid’s feast day, 1 February, which was formerly celebrated as a pagan festival (Imbolc) marking the beginning of spring. Many rituals are associated with the making of the crosses.

Traditionally they were set over doorways and windows to protect the home from any kind of harm.

her weaving this form of cross at the death bed of her father, a pagan lord, who upon hearing what the cross meant, asked to be baptized.

You can attend this presentation at the H.A.R.P. Museum located on the second floor of the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley, 623 Columbia St, Utica. All are welcome to attend this Please See FEAST Page 6

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AWARD From Page 2 Award for the work that they’ve been doing.

on board. Owen D. Young will be starting the program with grades four Young says after that, and five. “It’s becoming they decided to take it more popular because I to a whole other level. “I feel, deep down, that this was awarded the New is how kids will learn. If York State STEM Teacher we instill that these are of Excellence Award world problems at such last year. I will receive a young age, they’ll start the National Teacher of thinking about how to Excellence Award this solve them by the time year in Memphis. It’s not they get into high school.” just for me; it’s for the kids that were here. They are The middle school is the ones actually getting doing versions of EBD, the award because they but they’re going to be are the ones doing the trained to do the full program and are able to version. The high school do all of these projects.” is also doing a different version of the EBD She said that she brings program as well for those those projects to other who decide to go into it. conferences and shows what the Little Falls “I feel like it’s really going students are working on. to take off. I feel like we In addition, she is not need to make it known to teaching other school other surrounding school districts how to run the districts that it’s right here. program.

“Frankfort/ It’s very cost-effective.

Schyler is doing the The kids can promote elementary EBD now, better than I can. When and Herkimer County we have guests come in, ARC is also going to I never tell the kids what have an Engineering by to say. I take five kids and Design Program,” she say, what can you tell stated. them about EBD?”

and take what I know and get it out of my head,’” Young stated.

She said that when kindergarteners are talking about what criteria they are following, the constraints they have in their project, or modifications they’ve had to make, it amazes everyone. “At the end of a class, they have to make a presentation, and they’re talking in front of their peers, which is something that adults have a hard time doing.”

Page 5

at conferences, and has been an advocate at ITA. “If anyone ever wants to talk about what I do, I’m like, I teach an Engineering by Design program - do you want to hear about it? Let’s talk

about it.”

Young will be running all three of the Engineering

by Design sessions and the showcase in Memphis this summer.

Photo by Dave Warner - Tracy Young instructing some of her EBD students.

Where does it go from here for Little Falls students?

She said everyone at the elementary school level is already getting the training, but she hopes everyone will get it through eighth grade. “Once they’re in high school, they’ll get to branch out into special areas since other programs will go along with it.”

They also review the program every three years to improve it. Young The OESJ School “One kid, who is definitely is part of that process as District has come in and not a pen and paper kid, well. She also teaches observed the program stated, ‘This is a place EBD at Purdue once and is thinking of coming where I can be myself a semester, presents STRIKE From Page 3 blows from police clubs, their spirit is untamed.

them.

For more on the 1912 Anyone wishing a treat Little Falls Textile Strike should hear them singing see our website exhibit at “The Marseillaise” and littlefallshistoricalsociety.

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Walking Alone to Nowhere

Sadly, it doesn’t have to be that way. Certainly While riding with Kay not in the world’s richest down Protection Avenue country. If the hundreds on our way to breakfast of “super-rich” paid their with Jen and Devin at fair share of taxes, the Debbie’s in New Hartford, resources would be I noticed him. He was available to fund regional slowly making his way homeless shelters replete through the rain, dressed with lodging, meals, and in a khaki hoodie and qualified counselors dragging a suitcase able to help them find behind him. Beneath the their way, to treat them black baseball hat with with a kindness and the red lettering indicating consideration every that he was a Vietnam person regardless of vet was a wrinkled face, circumstance deserves; undoubtedly belying the shelters which offer the fact that he was younger homeless the one thing than he looked. I thoughtHe wasn’t the only one. I they need the mostthere goes another one can’t count on both hands HOPE; shelters which walking alone to nowhere. the number of homeless provide a path to a future people I’ve seen walking which includes gainful Who was he? What was employment and thus, he? Maybe once upon the streets of Herkimer. the chance to reclaim a time, a gung-ho man- Each has his or her own vestiges of a once happy child who upped and story, and they run the life. We have the money. enlisted at 19, did a tour age gamut from young We have the qualified in ‘Nam and returned to old. I can only imagine personnel. Do we have home to taunts of “baby- the whys. Kids with drug the will? killer” and “loser,” got addictions booted out of married to a childhood their homes by parents New Year’s Day sweetheart, got a job, who couldn’t take them and resolutions began to raise a family anymore. Victims of are synonymous. before those invisible child abuse and others Resolutions-you knowwounds of that God- struggling with a plethora those things we make mental illnesses forsaken conflict began of on January 1 and, more to take their toll. Agent unable or unwilling to often than not, break Orange. PTSD. Maybe get the help necessary within a week. I’m a he tried unsuccessfully to turn their lives around. prime example. Last to get help from the Regardless of the whys, year, I resolved to drop VA-doctors who missed they’re out there, and 20 pounds by Eastereverywhere. appointments-disability they’re no more vanilla shakes, claims shot down time God’s children all-a God waffles with whipped and again-stamped whose son never would cream, Milky Ways, or not applicable-pre- have turned his back on Please See ALONE Page 8 conditions. them.

A Column By Ray Lenarcic

Photo by Evan Martyniuk - Deborah A. Kaufman is sworn in as the first female Mayor in Little Falls’ history by State Supreme Court Justice Mark Rose while her husband, David E. Warner, holds the family Bible.

Kaufman sworn in as Mayor State Supreme Court Justice Mark Rose swore in Deborah A. Kaufman as the first female Mayor in Little Falls’ history. His father, Judge Edward Rose, was also going to be part of the ceremony but had to bow out at the last minute for health reasons. The elder Judge Rose was the City Court Judge when he appointed Ann Burrows as Acting City Court Judge, the first woman Judge in the City’s history.

The ceremony was held in the Council Chambers last Wednesday, with Kaufman’s family members coming in from Maryland, Albany, Syracuse, and the local area. Campaign

supporters were attendance as well.

in

Rose stated, “The City of Little Falls was first recognized by Governor Burnet in 1725 as a place of location when he allowed the Palatine Germans to settle ‘no further west than the Little Falls’ as distinguished from Big Falls in Cohoes, this area became large in history, notwithstanding its diminutive start.”

Formed as the Village of Little Falls in 1811, Herkimer’s only City is full of history. “It became a leader in the knitting industry and the marketing of cheese.

Please See MAYOR Page 8

Maybe he subsequently chose to take the alcohol cure to cope with the interminable nightmares and fits of rage, which found him screaming at the kids and reacting with backhands to his wife’s pleas to get help.

Marriage fell apart. Job lost. Journeys to here and there, aimless and dependent on handouts and temporary housing in church warming stations.

Haunted daily by echoes of the past. Walking alone to nowhere.

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FEAST From Page 4 program and the museum is wheelchair accessible.

The $10 fee includes materials and instructions for you to weave a cross to take home with you.

Children under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult.

Please register by calling 315-733-4228 or visiting iccmv.org/my-calendar.

M O H A W K

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Canal Side Inn celebrates five years He said that he and Dave had been trying It seems like just to get approval to build yesterday that I wrote townhouses up at about the Canal Side overlook, and when he Inn being purchased and was in town, he went to under new ownership, just sit at the bar. but it looks like it was five years ago, just before “I was watching and Valentine’s Day. looking around, and I

By Dave Warner

Rosenbaum said that they hear those same sentiments from their guests all the time. “We just wanted to make sure that continued.”

He said that they had some things to learn that they hadn’t thought of. called Dave in Boston “When you think about Today, Neil Rosenbaum, and said, ‘there’s a magic it, the restaurant is open one of the owners, in this building. I don’t basically twenty-five wanted to reflect on the know what it is.’ Having hours a week, and during purchase, those years, been here for a while those hours, everything and where they might be now, it’s Canal Place and has to be done right, going.

Little Falls in general,” he done on time, and in a stated. certain order.”

“Dave Casullo has been going there since he was a kid, and I had been “It’s such a special place Doing that day in and day going for the five years and has such a long out, month after month, I’d been coming down history that we thought it and being consistent is to meet with Dave. We tied in with some of the the toughest challenge. “If knew it was a special other plans that we had to somebody comes in and place, and James was create this sort of center you’ve been awesome getting to a point where in Canal Place. We felt for thirty-seven days, and he was tired and was with what we wanted to they don’t have a good taking longer and longer do with the Stone Mill meal, they don’t care - having a fine dining about the other days,” he off each year,” he said. service would be helpful, stated.

Rosenbaum said that so we talked ourselves the year they bought it, into thinking we could Then, getting the right it had been closed from run a restaurant, even people are the hardest though we didn’t have thing in any business. “We January through April. the experience.” were fortunate enough

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to find John at the very beginning because he knew everything about running a restaurant, so that was very helpful, but we’ve learned a lot along the way. But it’s that day in and day out, every meal, every guest, every drink grind.”

He said, then there are the events where you’re serving forty or fifty people at the same time.

“How does that happen?

Well, if you stay in the kitchen, you see how that works.”

When it comes to staffing, he said that they’ve been One thing he said they very fortunate. “We’ve not didn’t understand was the had a problem staffing timing and the process any of our businesses required to serve a meal. in Little Falls. I think it’s “How do they get your because people here meal ready shortly after want to participate in Little Falls being a great place. you finish your appetizer?

I really believe that.”

How does all that work between the servers and Rosenbaum also said the kitchen? It’s like a they were fortunate ballet, and you don’t see through Covid that they that if you’re just going didn’t have to lay anyone to a restaurant,” stated Please See FIVE Page 9 Rosenbaum.

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SENIOR MEALS FOR JANUARY 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.

Jan 01 - Happy New Year 2024!

Jan 02 - Chicken and biscuits, mashed potatoes, broccoli, banana bread.

Jan 03 - Ham, scalloped potatoes, peas and carrots, sherbet.

Jan 04 - Macaroni and cheese, green beans, stewed tomatoes and zucchini, sugar cookie.

Jan 05 - Philly cheeseburger on bun, coleslaw, three-bean salad, brownie.

Jan 08 - Sweet and sour chicken, seasoned noodles, Sonoma blend vegetables, frosted birthday cake.

Jan 09 - Beef stew, tossed salad, biscuit, peanut butter cookie.

Jan 10 - Pulled pork on a bun, baked beans, Brussels sprouts, Mandarin oranges.

Jan 11 - Cream of celery soup, egg salad sandwich, macaroni salad, vanilla ice cream.

Jan 12 - Sweet sausage on a roll with peppers and onions, O’Brien potatoes, peas, pears.

Jan 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No meals.

Jan 16 - Meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes, country blend vegetables, chef’s choice pie.

Jan 17 - Chicken marsala, macaroni twists, Italian green beans, peaches.

Jan 18 - Frittata, hash browns, sausage, muffin, fruit cup.

Jan 19 - Spanish rice, cauliflower, wax beans, frosted cupcake.

Jan 22 - Baked fish, rice pilaf, spinach, chocolate ice cream.

Jan 23 - Yankee pot roast, oven roasted potatoes, carrots, pineapple tidbits.

Jan 24 - Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, harvard beets, oatmeal raisin cookie.

Jan 25 - Chicken and vegetable stir fry over rice, fresh fruit.

Jan 26 - Roast turkey dinner with gravy, stuffing, broccoli, pudding.

Jan 29 - Ziti with meatballs, tossed salad, garlic bread, chocolate chip cookie.

Jan 30 - Roast pork with gravy, noodles, squash, fruited gelatin.

Jan 31 - Potato corn chowder, chicken salad sandwich, coleslaw, 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.

ALONE From Page 6 7:00 PM “chocopops.” others-clubs, church

By January’s end, I had groups, high schools, gained 10. individuals-to join the cause. Call 315-866This year’s resolution is 7765 if interested. I truly to research the problem, believe that together we motivate Coalition can make a difference members to get on board, so that sometime, that and DO SOMETHING, old warrior will walk no matter what, to through the rain, through alleviate the problem of the wind, and never walk homelessness in this alone to nowhere, but to area. And I appeal to somewhere.

Photo submitted - Homeless tents on a sidwalk.

MAYOR From Page 6 In fact, because of its extensive trade here, it became recognized as the cheese capital of the United States.

Add to the luster of that notoriety is the boast of becoming America’s first Board of Trade and the first to export cheese to England,” he said.

Little Falls Historian Pat Stock provided details about past Presidents and Mayors of the City, stating, “M.W. Priest served 11 one-year terms. Isaac Richmond and Arphax Loomis both served five terms, and S. Richmond and T. Dasey both served four.

Rose remarked that it Ted Wind had five terms had taken 197 years for of four years and a few the City to have its first months. These lists came female mayor. Little Falls from my own records, the is one of only 62 cities in 1960 City Directory, and the state and is the only an article written for the city in Herkimer County.

Historical Society.”

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FIVE From Page 7 off. “A lot of people were very supportive and came down and bought takeout meals, gift cards, and things like that.”

through the Cafe.”

Raechel Frink used to be a server at the restaurant but has now been promoted to Director of He said they’ve also been Guest Experience. “She fortunate to have leaders is going to be involved like Katy, Rachel, and (in addition to her work Marica, who attract other in the UPS Store) and people to work for them. responsible for making “People around here sure that the way we want to be involved in treat guests, no matter something that matters. what business it is, is It’s part of the fabric of consistent and topnotch.”

Little Falls.”

Rosenbaum said that it’s a testament to Chef John that when he passed, there were two guys in the kitchen who could pick up the slack without any real problem and continue on.

Moving forward, he said that Katy Tomei is now running everything that has to do with culinary.

“The Cafe, the restaurant and catering, which is exciting. It’s going to give us a big opportunity, especially since we now have the Venue.

There will be one point of contact that can do anywhere from a $125 five-course meal to wraps and a charcuterie board

in five years, I hope that it would be as great as it’s always been.”

“We appreciate the support and the regulars that come in. It’s a lot of fun,” he said.

One of the things they’re going to add in the upcoming year is packages, including meals, overnight stays, and events. “From May 1st until October 31st, we are jammed. So, those packages should bring people here from November through April.”

When asked where they’ll be five years from now, he said, “My hope and expectation is that it’s something that the To find out more or to community is proud of make a reservation, visit and draws people to Little canalsideinn.com/ Falls.”

Photo by Dave Warner - The inside dining area of Canal Side Inn.

Photo by Dave Warner - The bar area of Canal Side Inn.

He said that what is unknown is how much high-end catering they’ll be doing in the Venue. “I sort of think of things one year at a time, so I guess

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For the Woolner family hockey is a way of life from a young age, Owen’s mother, Caren, Hockey isn’t just a game had to learn the game for Owen Woolner and on the fly. Hailing from his family - it’s a family Long Island, Caren had bond. attended a few Islanders and Rangers games but Woolner has been skating didn’t experience youth since he was three years hockey. When Owen old. While some never was five months old, the mastered the skill, Owen Woolners became Utica had a built-in advantage Comets season ticket to begin his journey in ice holders, and it was then hockey.

Caren says she was “immediately hooked.”

His father, Dr. Tim Woolner, was born and “It’s been a learning raised in Canada and curve for me, but I’m was a hockey star in pretty good now,” Mrs. his youth. He grew up Woolner said about her in Heidelburg, Ontario, experience as a “hockey where hockey is king, mom.” “I get his skates and the population is so sharpened every week, sparse that Little Falls but he’s so independent would be seen as “the now when it comes to big city.” that kind of stuff. It’s much easier than when he was “Heidelburg is two and six. Just growing and half hours northwest of watching him, it’s been Toronto,” Dr. Woolner pretty awesome, and I’ve said. “It has less than 500 learned a lot about the people, and you would game”. have to go to the general store to get your mail”.

The hockey mom title extends to sports mom, as The elder Woolner recalls Owen also plays baseball the lengths his teams while his younger sister would go to play their Abby plays basketball games. and is a cheerleader as well. Although Abby does “People forget how big not play hockey, there is Ontario is. You could drive still a competitive streak twenty-four hours north between her and her and still be in Ontario. brother on the ice.

Thunder Bay (located on the shore of Lake “If she sees Owen going Superior in northwest fast, she wants to go Ontario just above the fast, too,” the Woolner Minnesota border) was matriarch said with a grin. the long haul, which was an eighteen-hour bus As for Owen, he began ride.” playing hockey at the age of four with the “It got so cold once that Utica Jr. Comets Learn we had to leave the bus to Play (LTP) program. running during the game He then went on to the so the diesel wouldn’t Whitestown Wolfpack freeze up,” Dr. Woolner LTP, Clinton Youth said with a chuckle.

Hockey, and the Utica Jr. Comets program. He is While Dr. Woolner was now playing for the 12U well-versed in hockey Oneida County Hockey

By Scott Kinville

Photo submitted - The Woolner Family.

Photo by Caren Woolner - Own Woolner at Monroe Street skating rink in Little Falls.

CNYHockeyReport.com The premier destination for news and scores from all over the Central New York hockey scene Scott Kinville scott@cnyhockeyreport.com 315-868-1051

Club team of the Snowbelt Hockey League. He also played ball hockey in the Mohawk Valley Hockey Club youth program.

His favorite players are “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky and Connor Bedard. Like his favorite players, Owen is a center and is off to a great start, with sixteen goals scored so far this season.

Owen describes his game as “trying to be pretty much everything.

The shooter, trying to get back on D, covering for my defense, and I’m a good puck carrier.

If I’m too tired, I try to go to the bench, but I don’t like to do it when we’re in the offensive zone when we’re trying to keep possession and win the game.” At eleven years old, Owen Woolner already sounds like he could be a hockey analyst on ESPN. His father has noticed Owen’s game shines off the ice as well.

“One of the things is whenever you get to the rink, even before you’re on the ice, even before you’re dressed, whenever you see your teammates, I always see you smile,” a beaming Dr. Woolner said while looking at his son. “He’s one of those kids that likes the camaraderie of being part of a team.”

He also wants to follow in his father’s footsteps, as after his playing days are over, the younger Woolner wants to be a hockey coach.

The father/son on-ice relationship Please See HOCKEY Page 11

M O H A W K HOCKEY From Page 10 Caren recalled her son’s first time on the ice without his father. “That was his first night out without Tim in pads,” she recalled. “It was actually hilarious. I couldn’t even believe he put the equipment on - he was four.”

Dr. Woolner began coaching his son in Clinton Youth Hockey when Owen was seven.

After three seasons in Clinton, the Woolners moved over to the Utica Jr. Comets program, where Dr. Woolner also served as an assistant coach. Like most parents, Dr. Woolner jumped at the chance to coach his son but noted it’s not easy having your dad as a coach - especially at a young age.

“The hardest thing for him (Owen) is when to separate me being a father and me being a coach. That’s difficult because I’m telling him what to do, but I’m telling all of the players to do this. I’m all of the players’ coach. I have to tell you just like I tell everybody else.”

Ever the watchful mom, Caren has a closeup observation between her hockey player son and her hockey coach husband.

“All the kids who have parents on the coaching staff, it’s a tough road for them, but it’s also awesome. During those COVID years, parents weren’t even allowed in the rink. You had to let your kid just go in at six or seven years old. He (Tim) spent hours tying skates because the kids had to get ready. It was very comforting for me to

know that he was there with him (Owen) because it made me feel a whole lot better. And with him just watching out for all of the kids because that’s the kind of coach that he is.”

Alone, but not really Owen Woolner is the only player on his team from Little Falls. Although Owen does not have any classmates who can relate to his hockey team experience, it is not a problem for the Woolners.

They have turned it into a life experience.

“Youth sports is a building block to life,” Dr. Woolner said regarding what youth sports can teach young people. For Owen, he has learned how to make friends with other players from other teams all over the region. One of those opponents wound up being a teammate of his this season.

At a Utica Comets game this past Saturday, Owen and his current teammate Mason found out they had a dustup of sorts when they were on opposing teams last season. Owen was on a breakaway, and Mason threw his stick at him, trying to stop his future teammate from scoring (it temporarily worked, but Owen scored on the penalty shot he was awarded as a result). A year later, the boys had a good laugh about it and are now really good friends.

“It’s been nice in that respect, meeting and continuing to see the same families and watching the boys and girls all come up

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been the best. Like the other day, when he saw together,” Caren Woolner that kid from Center said about meeting State (another youth organization and spending time with hockey people from outside of based in Morrisville), you knew immediately that their home community. they knew each other.

While their son adores It was adorable, actually, the game, his parents and that’s what we see the big picture of his love to see, having that interactions with others camaraderie.” and what that has given Goals, points, and Owen. championships are great, “It shows him a bigger but Owen Woolner’s world socially and also parents want just one of sports,” Caren said. thing from their son’s “Being able to go in and youth hockey experience. meet all of these people from different areas and “As long as he’s on the continue the relationships ice and happy, that’s to this day, I think that’s what I care about.”

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THE SHIPPING

PRINTING

FAXING

PACKING

COPYING

SHREDDING

RETURNS

SCANNING

NOTARY

STORE The UPS Store Little Falls

Hours:

410 Canal Place, Little Falls, NY 13365

Tuesday - Friday: 8am-6pm

(315) 508-4726

Saturday: 9am-5pm

store7193@theupsstore.com

Sunday - Monday: Closed

Plan Your Event Today: 315-823-0208 events@rockcity.dev