Mohawk Valley Express Volume 3 Number 10 October 2023

Festival pro tips for the 2023 Little Falls Cheese Festival

LITTLE FALLS, NY –

The eighth annual Little Falls Cheese Festival is just around the corner – Saturday, October 7th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To help you prepare for the event, here are some tips from cheese festival pros:

*Check out the website, littlefallscheesefestival. com, before you go. Not

only will that give you an opportunity to scout out vendors and make a wish list, but you’ll also be able to see the times and locations of music acts and free performances of “Where’s the Cheese?” by the Little Falls Theater.

*Wear comfortable walking shoes. The Little Falls Cheese Festival

Please See CHEESE Page 5

Little Falls Resident, Deena Bak, Reflects on Her 2023 “Burning Man” Experience

By Denise Gregorka

By now, most people have become familiar with the Burning Man Festival because of the recent wild weather, which has recently held up thousands of people in the Nevada desert. Deena Bak of Little Falls was there and recounted her experience from this

year’s Burning Man.

What is Burning Man

Burning Man 2023 was a week-long gathering in the Black Rock Desert in Pershing County, Nevada. The 35th Burning Man event took place from August 27th to September 4th. An

estimated 73,000 people attended this year. This experimental arts festival builds a city of 70,000+ people in the middle of Nevada’s desert once a year. The event is guided by ten stated principles: radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, Please See BURNING Page 2

Photo by Dave Warner - A crowd of over 10,000 people visited the 2022 Little Falls Cheese Festival. This year, there are additiional vendors, shuttles, and bathrooms available.

Photo submitted - Deena and Larry wearing plastic bags.

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radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy.

This season, the attendees were challenged by close to an inch of rain. The rain created a sticky mud that caused organizers to announce a stay-in-place order. While emergency vehicles were still able to move, bathrooms were unable to be serviced, ice was rationed, and many people’s belongings were damaged.

I asked Deena what attracted her to Burning Man. She stated, “I heard about the event about ten years ago, and I’ve always been drawn to artistic experiences for the free-spirited. It sounded like the ultimate adventure to me. I think I was attracted by all of the big art installations and especially the costumes. I am a Leo, and I love playing dress-up. I love the idea that you can be whoever you want to be at Burning Man with no questions asked. It is an environment of

acceptance and nonjudgment.”

They arrived at Burning Man very early in the morning on Monday, August 28th, and were happy to have timed it to not have to wait in a large line like many of the entrants did

The Gift

There is no commercial buying or selling, and the crowd is encouraged to barter or give away items in order to preserve the spirit of gifting. The community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships,

transactions, or advertising. Burning Man encourages radical selfreliance, allowing the individual to discover, exercise, and rely on their inner resources. Deena and Larry knew just what they could share with people. They are the owners of Diamond Mountain Mining here in Little Falls and mine Herkimer Diamonds from their land. They also have live gem shows showcasing gems from all over the world. Deena stated, “Everybody brings the fun. Everything is put on by the people, for the people. It’s incredibly participatory. They say there are no observers at Burning Man. There’s no such thing as a passive observer.” Deena and Larry were part of a theme

camp which was named “Solar Powered Snow Cones.” She stated, “We served snow cones to everybody on the playa every afternoon.”

She added, “Our personal gift to the playa was a Crystal Cart. I love crystals, and we have no shortage of them, so we basically made a little lemonade stand that would tuck into my friend’s wagon. We had a banner on top that said “But of Quartz” because puns are very popular in the world of Burning Man. I thought the crystals would last us for days, but they were gone in an hour and a half. A crowd of people gathered around. It was honestly one of my favorite parts of the Burn. You know the saying that ‘when you give, the giver receives a gift.’ It was a joy seeing the recipient’s faces light up. It made many people happy, and it brought me a lot of joy. I had so much fun interacting with everybody. That cart was so much fun.”

Entertainment

Green View Restaurant at the Canajoharie Golf Course

Open to the Public Daily 10am-8pm forLunch and Dinner

Homemade items featuring NYSand localproduc ts Sandwiches,Burgers,Steak,Seafood,Salads,Appetizers

Little Falls Community Co-Op

Bulk foods, spices, supplements, and hard to find items at discounted costs.Beauty products, housewares, gardening equipment, seeds, gifts, local products, books and more!

MARGARITAMONDAY ever yMonday

Get aFREE Margarita with a$10 purchase from the Margarita Monday Menu featuring avariety of Mexican items (1 free per person)

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May 11 and 25 August 10 and 24

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July 13 and 27 October 12 and 26

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There was non-stop music, color, and enjoyment coming from all around the camps.

The DJ, Diplo, who was on the news as one of the people who walked out of Burning Man with Chris Rock, was camped close to her in the “Looner’s Camp.” On Friday morning, Deena woke up to an opal sky. A crowd near-by was watching a hot-air balloon and listening to music. She looked around to find the DJ and then saw that it was Diplo in the balloon basket. He had his whole sound system set up

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in the balloon. Deena watched him perform. He came down and greeted everyone.

The Rain

Deena and Larry planned to watch the Man burn on Saturday night and then go home on Sunday morning.

She stated, “The rain started Friday night, and we stayed sequestered in our RV and tried to sleep through most of it. We couldn’t go anywhere. We didn’t have any negative emotions. It was more like acceptance and surrender. I was a little anxious that I would miss the Man Burn. At first, I didn’t realize how long the delay would be, and then it stretched on. I was thinking, ‘This is going to affect our RV return, my pet’s care at home, and my business.’” They accepted that they had to stay put and could hear that the party kept going.

They could hear music going late into the morning hours during the rain.

As far as getting around, that was the problem. Deena said, “In Burning Man, you have to ride a bike. It is incredibly vast, and it is a super big city! Without a bike, you can’t really do too much. The bikes couldn’t get through the mud. It was so sticky

you would literally sink. Your tires would sink right in. We were stuck in place. You could walk, but your boots would pick up all the mud. It was super sticky and would build up 4” thick on the bottom of your boots. One of the funny things was watching people develop their footwear as the rain went on. I tried to tape plastic bags around my calves. We saw two people walking by, and I said, ‘They look like pros.’ They told us, ‘The key is: sock, bag, shoe sock.’ The sock on the outside gave them traction in the mud. People used every combination you could think of. It was just hilarious watching people slide around. The footwear was quite entertaining.”

I was curious if they observed any uneasiness with the people around them. Deena stated, “I can’t speak to the totality of the experience. I am sure many people had a bad time if they weren’t prepared, if their tent flooded, or if they ran out of food and weren’t planning to stay

two extra days. Many of us were very wellstocked and provisionally prepared. The general attitude that I saw was just community and care. I watched a camp take down one of their structures, and they did it ‘fireman brigade style. The whole camp lined up, probably seventy-five people, and they took the pieces of the dome apart and transported them across the mud with everyone standing in a line. Teamwork. Other people in our camp got together and made sure that anybody with a tent that may be wet had an RV to go to and that everybody had enough water. I didn’t see a ton of anxiety, at least where I was. Everyone was taking care of one another and in good spirits.”

The Exodus

Leaving Burning Man was its own experience. Deena recalled, “We started exodus early on Monday and finally got to the line around noon. You don’t just leave Burning

Please See BURNING Page 7

Photo submitted - Deena, with her crystal cart.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - OCTOBER City of Little Falls

October 3, 2023

Traffic Committee 6:15 pm in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

October 3, 2023

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

October 7, 2023

Little Falls Cheese Festival, downtown, 10 am - 5 pm. The Little Falls Cheese Festival has become known as New York State’s premier gathering of cheesemakers, reminiscent of its early history as the nation’s cheese market capital. With 80 booths, 22 New York cheesemakers,

and over 120 varieties of cheese to sample, the 2022 festival drew an estimated 10,000 visitors to the community from all over the Northeast. For details, visit www. littlefallscheesefestival. com.

October 10, 2023

Recreation Commission 6:00 pm in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

October 11, 2023

Urban Renewal Agency - 8:15 am - Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

October 15, 2023

Haggowween

Spectacular 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm - Paradise

Gardens, Gatherings & Gifts, 475 Dice Rd. A family-friendly event, free

admission. Come see Llama and Alpacas, food trucks/vendors, music, games & prizes, and the Happy Haggs Dance Troupe of CNY!

October 16, 2023

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

October 18, 2023

Golf Commission Meeting - 8:00 am at the Little Falls Municipal Golf Course.

October 23, 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.

October 31, 2023

Halloween in Little Falls is a fun, family-friendly event that draws children and adults from all over

the area. It’s an evening of visiting with friends, taking the family out, and looking at the Halloween decorations, and a Citywide night of community spirit. It runs from 5-7 pm.

Little Falls Elks

October 7, 2023

Porch Party - Join us for an outdoor lawn/porch party featuring fall views, food, drinks and fun. Kick off the party with free wine tastings from 3 pm on. Corn hole tournament starts at 3:30 pm. $10/ person, pick your own partners. 100% payback.

October 13, 2023

Fall Forest Paint and Sip. 6:30 pm - 9 pm. $35 per prepaid 11x14 canvas. Sign up ahead of time.

October 20, 2023

Join us for a night of laughter featuring 3 comedians on Friday, at 7:30 at the Little Falls Elks club. Tickets are $20

per person and $35 a couple pre-paid. Tickets are $25 per person and $40 a couple at the door. Come and have some fun and support the Lodge!

Frankfort

October 21, 2023

The Helping Animals Live Organization (H.A.L.O.) is having its 10th Annual Holiday Craft & Gift Show from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Ilion/Frankfort VFW. Admission is free. There will be food, a bake sale, and raffles. All proceeds will benefit the organization.

Ilion

October 12-13, 2023 10 am - 5 pm - Rummage sale St Augustin Church, 78 Second St, Ilion.

October 14, 2023 10 am - noon - Bag DayTwo bags for $3.00.

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stretches across five blocks of Main Street, and you’ll want to cruise the entire length of the festival to make sure you don’t miss anything.

*Bring a cooler bag to keep your purchases fresh – it can get warm in October.

*Plan to leave your dog at home. The festival organizers love dogs, but the event is on pavement and likely to be crowded, making for a stressful outing for our four-legged friends. Service dogs only, please.

*Take advantage of the free shuttle service to and from downtown Little Falls. No cruising around looking for parking, no stress, no worries – and we’ve added busses

this year, so less waiting. Signs will steer visitors to free parking at either Veteran’s Field (274 Burwell Street) or Industrial Park (25 Industrial Park), with shuttle buses running continuously from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

*Pick up the free Festival Program Booklet when you arrive. Not only will this have a helpful map in the centerfold, but the booklet contains information about Little Falls’ involvement in cheese history.

*Speaking of cheese history, be sure to check out the Herkimer Home booth at the M&T Bank pocket park (501 E. Main Street). New for this year’s festival, the Herkimer Home booth will feature

dairy tools, colonial clothing, depictions of dairy production during that time, and (weather permitting) periodic demonstrations using 18th-century reproductions of butter churns, cheese presses, and other tools. The booth will also feature children’s activities, such as mason jar buttermaking.

*Arrive at 10 a.m. when the festival opens. It’s the best way to ensure your favorite vendors haven’t run out of anything, and you’ll likely beat the crowds.

*Don’t forget to take a mid-day break! Not only will all of the local restaurants, pubs, and cafes be open, but our popular “food truck food

court” in the M&T Bank parking lot offers a full variety of refreshments and includes live music and plenty of shaded seating.

*Above all else, have fun! The Little Falls Cheese

Festival is New York State’s premier gathering of cheesemakers, with an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people in attendance last year. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or by visiting littlefallscheesefestival. com.

Irish Ghosts, Banshees, & Fairies

Join us at The H.A.R.P. Museum at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley on Wednesday October 25 at 7:00 PM and learn about the origins of Halloween from the Irish Samhain tradition.

In old Ireland, Halloween was known as Samhain — the time of year when the barrier between ours and the spirit world was thinnest. Many of our bestknown scary legends and

Halloween symbols: Jack O’ the Lantern, witches on brooms, costumes, and trick-or-treating trace their origins to Ireland. Our seanchaí agus ceoltoirí (storytellers and musicians) will be Susan Romero, Bill Fahy, Mike Carroll and Mike Hoke of Craobh Dugan-O’Looney. Join us on Wednesday, October 30, at 7:00pm for spooky stories and real fairy tales from Irish folklore.

The event will be held at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley, 623 Columbia St, Utica, NY. The Irish Cultural Center and the H.A.R.P. Museum are wheelchair accessible and open to all. Please visit our events calendar at iccmv. org/my-calendar/ for the Eventbrite link to register for this free event or leave a message at the ICC 315-733-4228 Extension 6.

SENIOR MEALS FOR OCTOBER

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.

Oct 02 - Tuna casserole, peas, beets, frosted birthday cake.

Oct 03 - Beef stew, biscuit, tossed salad, peanut butter cookie.

Oct 04 - Meatloaf, rice pilaf, Brussels sprouts, apple.

Oct 05 - Chicken and biscuits, mashed potatoes, broccoli, chocolate ice cream.

Oct 06 - Frittata, sausage patty, muffin, hash browns, fruit cup.

Oct 09 - Closed for Columbus Day.

Oct 10 - Macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes and zucchini, green beans, brownie.

Oct 11 - Chicken stir fry with vegetables, rice, sherbet.

Oct 12 - Chili con carne with shredded cheese, corn bread, tossed salad, sugar cookie.

Oct 13 - Philly cheeseburger, creamed potatoes, dill carrots, apple crisp.

Oct 16 - Cream of broccoli soup, egg salad sandwich, chocolate chip cookie.

Oct 17 - Roast turkey dinner, stuffing, mixed vegetables, Mandarin oranges.

Oct 18 - Oktoberfest! Sauerbraten, German potato salad, red cabbage, black forest cake.

Oct 19 - Chicken cacciatore, rotini in sauce, Italian green beans, fruit cocktail.

Oct 20 - Ham and scalloped potatoes, peas and carrots, vanilla ice cream.

Oct 23 - Pot roast, boiled potatoes, carrots, frosted cupcake.

Oct 24 - Chicken and rice casserole, beets, green beans, pudding.

Oct 25 - Roast pork with gravy, sweet potatoes, country blend vegetables, peaches.

Oct 26 - Cream of potato soup, turkey sandwich, coleslaw, brownie.

Oct 27 - Baked fish with lemon butter sauce, rice, spinach, oatmeal raisin cookie.

Oct 30 - Lasagna, tossed salad, garlic roll, brownie.

Oct 31 - Hamburger cabbage casserole, cauliflower, carrots, chef’s choice pie.

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.

Man. They call it ‘exodus’ for a reason. There were about nine lanes of traffic that had to be funneled to a two-lane paved road. The party continued in line. People were dancing on their RVs. It probably took us about nine and a half hours to get to the line. As we were leaving, we were just getting to the place where we could see where the paved road was starting, and we could see ‘the Man Burn’ off in the distance.”

Deena was a little disappointed that they had to leave and didn’t get to see the Man burn close-up.

I asked if she felt like she was cheated out of a “normal” Burning man experience. She stated, “ What is a normal Burning Man? I think a

lot of the veterans were saying that this was their favorite burn ever because the mud forced people to go back to the ten principles. It wasn’t just a party where you could show up, have a good time and leave. It really forces you to check on your neighbor, be selfreliant, problem-solve, surrender to what is, and realize that you are not in control. A lot of people said that this was the best Burning Man they ever had. I have nothing to compare it to. I feel that I have to go back. I would anyway because I had such a great time, but I have to see the Man burn. I could see myself going every five years.

Reflection

Deena stated that she felt like she was in another dimension.

“When people talk about Burning Man, there’s a lot of resistance to calling it a festival. It’s more of a social experiment. It’s a temporary community. It’s an art piece. It’s a city. It’s ephemeral. It’s a culture. It’s an alternate way of doing life. What if we took care of one another? What if there was no money? What if we cared about the environment? What if we had a gifting economy? What if you could be yourself with no judgment? What would that world look like? It was a beautiful place to be. It was akin to visiting another country, or even like visiting another planet.”

Lasting Impressions

Deena feels that the Burning Man experience has made her a better person. She summed

up her feelings: “Life is short, and it is what you make of it. Don’t wait for life to happen. Go out and do it. The principle of immediacy is something I took away from Burning Man. Don’t wait for later. When is later? You might not get later. Do it now. If you have an idea, don’t wait for someone else to make it happen; No one is coming to do it. You should do it. For me, I believe Burning Man is the greatest party on earth because you can do what you want. Whatever makes you passionate about life...people bring it there. It’s 80,000 passionate and engaged individuals bringing what they love to one place

for a temporary amount of time, and that was so magical. It reminded me that wherever you are in the world, you are responsible for creating that magic. We are here to help one another, and we are here to make each other’s experiences better. The whole thing was exhausting and exhilarating, and there was a lot of beautiful learning.”

I so enjoyed hearing Deena’s account of her experiences at Burning Man and the philosophy that she shared.

May we all adopt a more caring heart for one

Haunted Ghost Tour set at 1834 Jail

By Donna Thompson

The 1834 Jail, located on the village of Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners, is haunted, according to paranormal investigators who were in the building recently.

They’ll be sharing their findings when the Friends of Historic Herkimer County offer an 1834 Jail Haunted Ghost Tour on Saturday, Oct. 28, with groups of up to 15 people starting the tour every 15 minutes between 7 and 11 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be reserved by calling 315-867-5036 or emailing friends1834@ aol.com.

“During our spirit box Estes method session, one of my spirit manipulation objects lit up as we asked the spirits questions, and they responded,” Bernadette Rice, who leads the Within The Veil Paranormal team, said in an email, adding, “There were a few spirits who preferred to communicate through the ball and several through us and the spirit box.”

“People have reported seeing shadowy apparitions and hearing strange noises through the halls,” according to a post on the Friends group’s Facebook page.

Last year’s Haunted Jail tour drew 116 visitors eager to explore the historic jail during the nighttime hours, said Katie Nichols, treasurer of the Friends of Historic Herkimer County, and she expects this event, scheduled close to Halloween, will also draw a crowd.

Even the moon is cooperating.

“I looked it up. There’ll be a full moon that night,” said Friends President Jim Greiner.

He said that the Herkimer County Historical Society will also be sponsoring a nighttime paranormal investigation of the 1834 Jail the previous Saturday, Oct. 21. Ticket options for that event include a nighttime tour of the jail or a lecture and investigation of both the society’s Suiter mansion and the 1834 Jail. Information is available at herkimercountyhistory. org.

The Haunted Ghost Tour is just one of the ways the Friends of Historic Herkimer County are working to raise funds to maintain and restore the old jail, which is on the National Historic Register. That designation can help obtain funding, said Greiner, “but it doesn’t save it from the wrecking ball.” And the organization is working to restore and preserve the jail for years to come.

The group is currently selling raffle tickets for a painting by George (The Waterman) Lewis, and a Daily Raffle Fundraiser is coming up in December. The ongoing engraved brick program has been popular as people continue to purchase bricks in memory of or in recognition of loved ones, organizations, high school classes, businesses, and more.

But restoration of the building will take more than can be raised through these events.

The group is seeking a Consolidated Funding Grant from New York State to fund the second phase of the restoration

project - restoring the building’s exterior. The focus will be on the Church Street side of the building, which is in especially rough shape.

“We’re asking for more than $300,000,” said Nichols. If the application is successful, the group would have to raise matching funds toward the project, she added, “We’d have to raise $90,000.”

The Friends group has a contract with C.T. Male to write the grant.

The first phase of the restoration project focused on the building’s interior and those who attended last year’s haunted jail tours were among the first to see the completed work, which included shoring up walls in the basement and cleaning out and whitewashing the cell area.

Nichols said the group was pleased with the work of Ganem Construction of Latham on the project.

If the exterior of the building is not restored, however, the interior work could be compromised, she added.

Grant awards are due to be announced at the end of the year.

The 1834 Jail is best remembered for housing Chester Gillette in 1905 following his arrest for the murder of Grace Brown and, in 1885, as the site where Roxalana Druse, known as the last woman hanged in New York State, was held after being arrested for the murder of her husband, William Druse.

Please See JAIL Page 10

The Friends of Historic Herkimer County will host a Haunted Jail Tour Oct. 28 at the 1834 Jail. Tickets are $20 each and the price includes a nighttime tour of the jail and a chance to learn of the findings of a recent investigation by a paranormal group.

Photo by Donna Thompson

‘Moose’ hangs it up after 50 years

By Dave Warner

I don’t have to give his name because if you’ve been in Little Falls any time during the last 50 years, you’ve probably stopped in at Ed & Bud’s on Main Street and spoken with Moose. This weekend, though, the ride ended as Robert Kurzbach went ahead with his final toast and an exit to retirement.

“Ed & Bud were my father and uncle that started it. It wasn’t here, but they bought a tavern where the West End Liquor store was.” He said they bought it in 57 or 58 and stayed there until urban renewal came along, and they came up to the current location and bought it.

“It’s been here since 1972 when they opened here,” he said.

Since then, it’s been seven days a week thing.

“I started working for Ed & Bud in 1973, and now, 50 years later, I’m going to hand it over to the next guy. It will be a little bit before it reopens, but hopefully, it will reopen as a bar and grill,” stated Kurzbach.

“It’s just been a staple of Little Falls for a long time. I get a lot from people about ‘what are we going to do?’ I don’t know what I’m going to do, so it’s sort of like a bittersweet thing for me because it really hasn’t been a job,” he said.

However, since the pandemic, things have been much tougher.

“Stuff started getting a little more stressful in my mind. We were closed, and then the re-opening had the social distancing and everything that the governor was throwing at the bars like you couldn’t get a beer unless you ordered food.”

“They closed me in March, and I reopened in the middle of June, so at no time did National Grid or Spectrum bills stop. Taxes were due in May from the City, so that was when it sort of got stressful. Up to that point, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to make a living,” said Kurzbach.

He said that when he was first working in the bar, a woman and her boyfriend were in the bar, and the girl went into the lady’s room and didn’t come out. “She died when she went in the bathroom. That’s when I was 18, and I’d just started working here. That was hard to handle.”

Luckily, he said the woman’s brother was there and took care of it.

Moose said another memory was one where he went to play cards on his birthday instead of working in the bar. “I fell down and messed up my elbow and was going to come down and drink. I got home, got a phone call, and they said, ‘Moose, I just got arrested in a sting.’ So on my birthday, I break my elbow and get a $3,000 fine for serving a minor.”

He said the bartender got off the charge of endangering the welfare

of a child charge, but “I still had a civil penalty of $3,000, so I’ve worked every birthday since then.”

Moose said that there are so many other memories. “We used to do a Christmas Party every year, which was

always a smash.”

“The biggest thing people have been asking

Please See MOOSE Page 11

Photo by Dave Warner - Robert ‘Moose’ Kurzbach pauses while serving customers at Ed & Bud’s on Main Street in Little Falls.

JAIL From Page 8

A Visiting Spy - Belle Boyd

1882 HERKIMER COUNTY NEWS NEWSPAPER |

SEPTEMBER 1, 1882

| BELLE BOYD: IN TROUBLE AGAIN:

Mrs. F.M. Hammond, nee Belle Boyd, who some years ago resided in this village, has again come to grief. In 1864 the adventurous Belle married an officer of the U.S. Navy in England. Shortly after, a daughter was born, and growing up to womanhood her hand was sought in marriage by a young man named Collier. Things went along smoothly until recently, when the redoubtable Belle thought it was time

for them to get married and was requested to do so by the old lady, but young Collier refused at present, whereupon Mrs. H. whipped out a revolver and attempted to shoot the recalcitrant lover. Not liking such sport, he wrenched the weapon from her and left the house, followed

Please See SPY Page 12

The gallows used in Jack Sherman’s play, “Roxy,” which debuted in 2015 at the Ilion Little Theatre, is an eye-catching item on display on the main floor of the jail.

When told of the need for a gallows for the play, Greiner said, his first reaction was, “You don’t just pick one of those up somewhere.” But when the woodworking class at Herkimer BOCES was approached about the possibility of building one based on a newspaper picture, “They went nuts over it” and produced a replica, he said.

The fascination with the Gillette case continues, said Greiner, and what has become known as the “Gillette cell” in a corner of the jail’s second floor is a highlight of any tour of the jail. Gillette was actually assigned a double cell and used the second as a walk-in closet, according to an article Greiner wrote.

There are other stories associated with the jail as well and others besides Chester Gillette, who were charged with murder and held in the same cell Gillette

occupied while awaiting the results of their trials, he said. One man didn’t wait for a trial.

John Henry House, 67, of Columbia Center, who was arrested in 1924 for the murder of his fifth wife, Harriett Schmoll House, hanged himself in that cell as the district attorney was preparing to take the case to a grand jury, according to Greiner. Two of House’s earlier marriages ended in divorce. One wife died in childbirth, and another by suicide under questionable circumstances.

Other notable cell occupants included Jean Gianini, of Poland, a teen who expressed no remorse about killing his teacher and was found not guilty by reason of “criminal imbecility;” Michael Camerano, who

fled to Italy after being accused of the 1926 murder of Leroy Sweet in Frankfort and was extradited four years later; Anthony DiPiazza, who was arrested in Frankfort for killing a man after a card game; and his grandson, Benedict DiPiazza, who was arrested in 1964 after he shot and killed Noreen Jones in the Frankfort Police Station.

The 1834 Jail was used from 1834 until it was closed in 1978. The Friends of Historic Herkimer County, formed in 2004, leased the building from Herkimer County and has been working since then to restore it.

For more information on the Friends and efforts to restore the jail, visit their page on Facebook by searching for Friends of Historic Herkimer County.

Jim Greiner, president of the Friends of Historic Herkimer County, stands on the gallows used several years ago for the play “Roxy” about the trial of Roxalana Druse for the murder of her husband.

Photo by Donna Thompson

Photo submitted - Beattie House: 654 East Main Street, Little Falls, N.Y. | On the porch is Belle Boyd Hammond, her husband Col. John Swaiston Hammond and their children | The Hammonds lived here from the fall of 1872 until spring of 1873, with the hotel being owned by Miss Francine “Fannie” Hawn. | First bank in Herkimer County, the “Herkimer County Bank” temporarily conducted banking business here in late 1832, while waiting for the Old Stone Bank to be built | Circa 1872

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me about is the holiday drink called the Tom and Jerry, and it’s super popular. The Reindeer Run has ended here for the last several years, and they’d do the trophy presentation. After that, it was like the official kickoff of the holiday season. We’d sell hundreds of them,” he stated.

He said that not until last year had one of those been broken. “All that time, we never broke or dropped one.”

When asked about retirement, he said he would spend a little time getting the place ready for the next guy. “I’ve lived upstairs for 40 years, so I’ve acquired a lot of stuff. He’s given me some time to stay here, and in that time, I’ll be doing that.”

“I’ve been watching where the homeless people have been hanging out, so I’ve got an idea where I’ll end up,” he said.

When told about a camp by the water, he said, “I’ve always wanted a place by the water, so that might be a thing. I’ll buy a fishing license this year, so I have something to eat.”

Moose said, “It’s a story told, but I’m kind of humble. It’s a good thing since it doesn’t have ‘police blotter’ on it.”

He also wanted to know how many papers we were going to put this in so he could go out and pick them all up. When told it would run from Nelliston Fort Plain to

Frankfort, he said, “I’m going to have to borrow a truck.”

Moose is a part of Little Falls history that will be sorely missed...

Photo by Dave Warner - Moose serves his last customers

by the now irate women, who fired several shots after him, none of them taking effect, however.

1884 HERKIMER COUNTY NEWS NEWSPAPER |

OCTOBER 24, 1884

| BELLE BOYD: CONFEDERATE SPY

LIVED IN LITTLE FALLS:

Mrs. J.W. Hammond, better known as the famous Belle Boyd, who lived in this village during the winter of 1873, and now a resident of Texas, has quarreled with her husband on account of being too intimate with other men. Both are suing for a divorce, Mrs. Hammond claiming that her husband’s charges against her are false, and that he is guilty of marital infidelity and brutality. Hammond says he will never again live with her, so Belle will once more be left on the stream.

1889 BELLE BOYD: IN TROUBLE:

Belle Boyd, who gained great notoriety as a rebel spy during the late war, has been detected in passing a forged check in Philadelphia. She was arrested, but through the intercession of friends was subsequently released. There are a

number of other serious charges against her, all of which are of a criminal character. The obtaining of goods under false pretenses seems to be her favorite plan of operation, and she has succeeded in swindling a number of Philadelphia merchants in that way. Any incidents relating to her career will be read with interest by many of our citizens, as she was a resident of this village about ten years ago, and made herself very conspicuous while she lived here, she was known as Mrs. Hammond, and no one suspected that she was the notorious Belle Boyd. Subsequent developments in Utica, where she removed from this place, first divulged the truth as to her real personality. Col. Hammond, her husband, was an Englishman and a commercial traveler. It appears that she still lives with him in the relationship and is now employed by a Boston firm. Belle, during her short residence here, created quite a sensation. She was a stylish woman, and her acquaintance was eagerly cultivated. She represented that she had large means, and the report which she caused to be circulated that she intended to rent

a large house and make this place her home, caused quite a boom in rents among those who had desirable places to let. Belle, however, was only playing a sharp confidence game, and after contracting a number of debts, which are still unsettled, she went to Utica, where she also flourished for a time, but was soon involved in financial troubles. Since then, we have lost trace of her until this Philadelphia episode.

1890 THE LITTLE FALLS TIMES NEWSPAPER

| BELLE BOYD: LAST NIGHT - JANUARY 25th:

Cronkhite Opera House should have been filled to overflowing last night. The entertainment given by the famous Belle Boyd, under the auspices of Post Galpin, was a surprise, a most pleasing surprise. Belle Boyd is a woman of superb physique and charming presence, dressed in a riding-habit of Confederate Spy as she stepped before the spotlights last night, she showed no traces of having been one of the active participants in the force strife of the Rebellion. Madam Boyd has the faculty of being able to tell a good story well, and for nearly two hours she swayed the audience with her eloquent and vivid descriptive story

of camp and army life. Her narrative is unique, novel and of intense interest. Her appeal for the cementing of the bond of fellowship and goodwill between the North and the South was timely and should bear good fruit. Her whole story was artistically and eloquently told and a number of our substantial citizens were so favorably impressed that they will make arrangements for her early reappearance among us.

1890 THE SATURDAY GLOBE | BELLE BOYD: HOTEL CONFRONTATIONFEBRUARY 1st:

Belle Boyd, the Rebel Spy, has been filling numerous dates, delivering lectures in Herkimer County and Central New York. Belle and her husband, Nat R. High, had been boarding at the Girvan House (present-day Snyder Apartments) in Little Falls. Saturday morning, this noted hostelry was the scene of a sensation, in which Mr. and Mrs. High and Hotel Clerk Jackson figures as the principal parties. The reporters of the daily papers of the country metropolis were hungry for this kind of sensation.

From the editor of the Saturday Globe:

Will you permit me space to correct through your widely circulated columns

the sensational articles which have appeared in different papers regarding the difficulty between my husband, Nat R. High, and Jackson, the clerk at the Girvan House in Little Falls. We had arranged with Mr. Devendorf, the proprietor, to make this hotel our headquarters while making and filing dates in the Mohawk Valley and surrounding country (as I had old friends and dear ones in Little Falls). It was fully understood we were to come and go and pay at first $1.50 per day and afterwards $1. Per day. Mr. Devendorf had received money on this board account and was out of town on a hunting expedition. On Saturday morning, Jackson, the clerk, came to our room, No. 4 (we had occupied No.16 and No.2 and were then in No.4) and asked to see me. My husband said, “my wife is not up yet.” A gentleman would have gone away, but he stood there and insisted on seeing me. I said,” who is it?” He replied, “Jackson.” I said, “I can’t see him until I get up and dress.” As Mr. High turned to speak to me, Jackson walked in the room uninvited and presented the bill. I saw at once that it was incorrect and said, “Your bill is not correct. When I get up and I get dressed I will see you and go over the itemized statement and you can correct the errors and it will be paid.” He was insulting in manner and language and said there were no strings tied to me, that I could come and go as quickly as I liked. My husband ordered him out of the room, but he refused to go, and Mr. High ejected him and went out into

the hall, closing the door after him. In the tussle which followed, Jackson tried to throw him down the office stairs and the barkeeper rushed upstairs and tried to help Jackson. It was when I went into the hall (I had thrown a bedspread and blanket over my gown) and cried “Cowards, two to one! If you throw him down those stairs, I’ll shoot the one who does it.” Then the affair ended. The barkeeper was manly enough to come and apologize for his part in the transaction. There was an overcharge of $16.40. Mr. High had his overcoat torn, but no physical damage was done.

Yours, etc.

Belle Boyd-HammondHigh

The Rebel Spy

Nat R. High Manager for Belle Boyd

Mr. High and his wife, Belle Boyd, are at present stopping at the Girvan House and will remain there until Mr. Devendorf’s return when the hope to settle matters amicably to all concerned.

1930 HERKIMER COUNTY NEWS NEWSPAPER | LITTLE FALLS ONCE HOME OF FAMOUS CONFEDERATE SPY -

JUNE 16, 1930:

The obituary in The Herkimer County News of June 15, 1900, reads:

“Belle Boyd, the noted spy of Confederate fame, died suddenly of heart disease at Kilbourne, Wisconsin, Monday night, June 11, 1900.

She was 57 years of age. During the winter of 18723 she lived in the house of Miss Fannie Hawn, on the corner of Main and William Streets. She was at that time married to Colonel Hammond, agent for a well-known New York wholesale tea and coffee house. While here she carefully concealed her identity, and no one knew that the famous Confederate spy was living in town. From Little Falls she went to Utica and remained there for some time. While there they got into some financial trouble and then it was discovered who she was. She came back here some 10 or 12 years ago and gave a lecture on her experiences during the war. “Before leaving she and her so-called husband got into some altercation with the clerk

at the Girvan House, at which pistols are said to have been drawn but no harm was done. When she first appeared here as Mrs. Hammond, she was a bright, attractive woman and a brilliant conversationalist, but on her last appearance she was a wreck of her former self. She claimed

relationships with several of the first families of western Virginia. The story of her escapades and adventures during the war have frequently been published in the papers and periodicals of the country and many of them read like romances than fact.” …

Paradise Gardens, Gatherings & Gifts hosts a Haggoween Spectacular

By Dave Warner

Paradise Gardens, Gatherings & Gifts, at 475 Dise Road in Little Falls, is hosting the Happy Haggs Dance Trouple of Central New York for a Haggoween Spectacular on October 15th from 2:00 - 5:30 pm.

They’ll also have llamas, alpacas, food trucks, vendors, music, games & prizes. The event is free, and the first 50 children who attend will receive a free movie pass to Valley Cinema.

Helen and Bob Kimbro are hosting the event, and Bob stated, “There are about 25 women in the group of Happy Haggs, and they dress up like witches in costumes, and they go around and support all kinds of organizations in the area.”

Kimbro says that the

group approached them about having an event up there, and they said yes.

“They told us a little bit about what they wanted to do and wanted to rent the space, but we said that we wanted to contribute to the community, so we’re letting them use the facilities at no cost.”

He said this is not just a local group but also international. “Apparently, it began in Germany. The event is mainly focused on children, and dancing is going to be at the end. They’re going to have prizes as well.”

Kimbro said that they’re also going to be giving tours of the Llama and Alpaca barn for the children to see. “They’ve also invited some dance groups from neighboring areas to attend. I think they have three or four other troupes.”

“The other day, they were practicing on their version of the Ghost Busters song, so it should be something that kids will recognize,” he said.

If you’d like to find out more, you can call 315364-1234 or visit their website at paradiseggg. com

Photo by Dave Warner - Paradise Gardens, Gatherings & Gifts is located at 475 Dise Road in Llittle Falls, just north of the golf course.

Potential projects highlighted as Herkimer seeks DRI/NY Forward awards

By Donna Thompson

The village of Herkimer has submited an application for New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative/ NY Forward program, and Mayor Dana Sherry is optimistic about the village’s chances.

“It’s our time,” she said during a public information event Wednesday evening, Sept. 13, at the Herkimer VFW. “We’ve checked all the boxes, and we’re going for it. Herkimer Next, the Herkimer 9, the IDA (Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency), volunteers - we’re all working together.”

She invited those attending the informal event to check out the displays, ask questions, and use a survey form to provide feedback and suggestions.

The Downtown Revitalization Initiative

(DRI) provides a $10 million award to one community in each of the state’s 10 Regional Economic Development Council regions. A consulting team is provided to each winning community to guide in developing a strategic investment plan with multiple complementary projects. NY Forward allows up to three awards in each region, with winning communities receiving $4.5 million or $2.25 million for projects focused on building renovation and redevelopment rather than new construction.

Applications are due Sept. 29, and Sherry expects the awards will be announced by the end of the year.

Earlier this year, the village was awarded more than $173,000 to complete a Brownfield Opportunity Area Plan for a 32-acre area along its North Main Street

corridor, she said.

Posters and displays at the public meeting drew attention to several potential projects that would help revitalize Herkimer’s business district.

Sally Raia shared her plans for the 1889 Palmer House at 269 North Main St. In addition to having her real estate office in one of the storefront spaces in the large structure, she hopes to develop a 4,000-squarefoot venue that could host events in the evening and an Internet cafe during the day. She envisions having a highend consignment shop offering clothing and an artisan bread and sandwich shop in two of the storefront spaces. As for the upstairs levels, she plans to have affordable housing on one floor, space for visitors on the next, and an art studio on the top floor.

“There’s good natural lighting there,” she said.

Raia said the businesses and housing will be petfriendly and smoke-free.

So far, she said, she has done some painting on the exterior and made minor repairs. The

Red Cross has agreed to collaborate by installing alarms throughout the building, and Raia offered the Red Cross space there in the event of an emergency.

Robert Cirillo and Preston Moore want to turn the building on the east side of North Main Street that once housed the Salvation Army Citadel into Cittadella’s Salvation, an upscale rotisserie/ bistro-style establishment

with a capacity for 150 patrons. Their plans show canopies added to the building to provide shelter for outdoor seating, and they hope to show movies on the outside wall.

“We want it to be a highquality destination that will draw people to the valley,” said Cirillo. He added that they also plan to work with local nonprofit groups in an effort to improve the community.

The name they’ve chosen reflects both the building’s history and their goal.

The Salvation Army had its local headquarters

Please See HERKIMER Page 17

Andrew McKay, part owner of the Herkimer Originals and HMQ 1890 LLC, discusses the potential for repurposing the former H.M. Quackenbush factory and several other vacant buildings in the village of Herkimer. Photo by Donna Thompson

The Palmer House 1889 has a long history on Herkimer’s North Main Street. New President and CEO Sally Raia is hoping to make it a center for business, entertainment, housing and even an art studio. Photo by Donna Thompson American

HERKIMER From Page 16

starting in 1923, said Cirillo, moving to its current location on North Prospect Street in 1986.

A citadel is a stronghold, said Moore, and a savior is one who saves from loss. “This is about the salvation of Main Street,” he said.

Scott Tranter of Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner, located at the corner of North Main and West Albany streets, has a multi-faceted plan that includes making the diner handicapped accessible, adding a new kitchen, and eventually expanding into the building next door. He has first rights of refusal on the building, which currently houses a law office, he said, and he hopes to link the diner to that building and have roof access for outside dining. He envisions creating a grotto and offering beer and wine.

The amount of assistance businesses could receive

from the state if the village’s application is successful remains to be seen said Tranter, but he added, “If we can pull this off as a community, it benefits us all.”

Representatives of the Herkimer 9 were on hand to discuss plans for the H.M Quackenbush factory building and the North Main Street area, as well as the Herkimer Originals basketball team and efforts to have Herkimer native Lambert Will recognized as the inventor of the game of basketball.

Will has been nominated to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, according to Scott Flansburg, president and founder of the Herkimer 9. Votes are cast by members of a secret society, he said, counted by the group’s president and the ballots are then burned.

A copy of the bill passed by the New York State Assembly recognizing

Herkimer as the birthplace of basketball, Lambert Will as the game’s inventor, and the Mohawk Valley as the game’s principal influence on the game was posted at the event. The state Senate has yet to act on the bill, said Brion Carroll of the Herkimer 9 Foundation.

The Herkimer 9 owns the H.M. Quackenbush building, which has been named to the New York State and National Historic Registers, and among the plans for that structure include a business incubation center, a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Center and a museum to educate visitors about Lambert Will and the village’s role in the history of basketball and the accomplishments of inventor H.M. Quackenbush. The molds and some machinery for manufacturing nutcrackers are still in the building, according to Flansburg.

He noted that the

Photo

organization has taken down one of the buildings on the property and planted grass in place of the parking lot that fronted on Main Street.

Andrew McKay, partowner of the Herkimer 9 and HMQ 1890 LLC stressed the need to highlight the village’s history and discussed the potential for repurposing several vacant buildings in the community, including the Episcopal Church on North Main Street, the Baptist Church building at the corner of North Washington and Green

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streets and the L.W. Bills Elementary School on North Washington Street.

Flansburg offered Herkimer 9 Foundation raffle tickets with a guitar autographed by Alice Cooper as first prize - Cooper, a friend of Flansburg’s, came up with the Herkimer Originals name and sketched the team’s logo - and a copy of the book Nais-Myth: Basketball’s Stolen Legacy by George and Darril Fosty with Brion Carroll signed by the authors and Alice Cooper as second prize.

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Plans for Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner include expanding into the building next door and adding rooftop seating for outdoor dining.

by Donna Thompson

Hockey is back in Central New York

By Scott Kinville cnyhockeyreport.com

All across Central New York, the nights are getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. Soon, lawnmowers will be put in storage to be replaced by leafblowers and rakes – and then shovels and snowblowers. For some, this is far from a reason to despair. In fact, it is a reason to rejoice because it means one thing.

Hockey has been a longtime favorite of sports enthusiasts throughout the region. With a rich hockey history at all levels, from the old Eastern Hockey League, high school, college, and the two American Hockey League teams that call Central New York home, fans here have been very fortunate indeed. This coming season will continue the region’s affection for the sport.

The puck drops on a new season for the American Hockey League (AHL) and most of Central New York’s college hockey programs. Fans will have

to wait until November for the Hamilton College Continentals Men’s and Women’s Hockey seasons to start, as well as high school hockey.

Here’s a look at the teams that will start their new seasons in October.

American Hockey League

The Syracuse Crunch

Home rink: The Upstate Medical University Arena (Syracuse, NY).

Division: AHL North Division.

Head Coach: Joel Bouchard.

2022-23 overall record: 35-26-7-4, 81 points.

The Crunch finished in second place in their division.

October schedule: Oct. 13 at Utica, Oct. 14 vs. Bridgeport, Oct. 20 at Cleveland, October 21 at Cleveland, Oct. 27 vs. Utica, October 28 vs.

Laval.

Website: https:// syracusecrunch.com

Note: The Syracuse Crunch are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary season. For more details on the celebration, visit the website above.

The Utica Comets

Home rink: The Adirondack Bank Center (Utica, NY).

Division: AHL North Division.

Head Coach: Kevin Dineen.

2022-23 overall record: 35-27-6-4, 80 points. The Comets finished fourth in their division.

October schedule: Oct. 13 vs. Utica, Oct. 15 at Toronto, Oct. 21 at Bridgeport, Oct. 27 at Syracuse, Oct. 28 vs. Rochester.

Note: The Comets will be on the road for most of April while the Adirondack Bank Center hosts the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

College Hockey –Division I

The Colgate Raiders Women’s Hockey Team

Home rink: The Class of 1965 Arena (Hamilton, NY).

Conference: ECAC.

Head Coach: Greg Fargo. 2022-23 overall record: 32-6-2. Colgate finished the season ranked fifth in the national polls.

2023-24 preseason national ranking: fourth.

October schedule: Oct. 6 + 7 vs. #10 Penn St., Oct. 13 + 14 vs. Mercyhurst, Oct. 27 at RPI, Oct. 28 at Union.

Website: https:// colgateathletics.com

Note: Colgate won its third consecutive ECAC Tournament Championship last season. Their 202324 regular season has already begun as they split a pair of games on Sept. 29 + 30 at home vs. #2 Ohio St.

The Colgate Raiders Men’s Hockey Team

Home rink: The Class of 1965 Arena (Hamilton, NY).

Conference: ECAC.

Head Coach: Mike Harder.

2022-23 overall record: 19-16-5. Colgate won the ECAC Tournament Championship.

October schedule: Oct. 7 + 8 vs. UConn, Oct. 13 + 14 at Sacred Heart, Oct. 20 + 21 vs. UMassLowell.

Website: https:// colgateathletics.com.

Note: Legendary head coach Don Vaughan has retired after thirty seasons behind the Colgate bench. The new head coach is Mike Harder –who is also Colgate’s alltime leading scorer.

The Syracuse Orange Women’s Hockey Team

Home rink: The Tennity Ice Pavilion (Syracuse, NY).

Conference: CHA.

Head Coach: Britni Smith. 2022-23 overall record: 10-24-2.

October schedule: Oct. 6 + 7 vs. Merrimack, Oct. 13 at RPI, Oct. 14 vs. RPI, Oct. 17 at Cornell, Oct. 20 + 21 at Boston U., Oct. 28 + 29 vs. #10 Penn St.

Website: https://cuse. com.

Note: Syracuse’s regular season has already begun, as they won two games at Post University on Sept. 29 + 30.

College Hockey –Division III

The Utica Pioneers Men’s Hockey Team

Home rink: The Adirondack Bank Center (Utica, NY).

Conference: UCHC.

Head Coach: Gary Heenan.

2022-23 overall record: 25-3-1. Utica finished the season ranked fifth in the USCHO national poll.

Please See HOCKEY Page 19

HOCKEY From Page 18

The 2023-24 Men’s Division III preseason rankings were not available as of this printing.

October schedule: Oct. 20 vs. U18 USNTDP (exhibition), Oct. 27 + 28 vs. Adrian College.

Website: https:// uticapioneers.com.

Note: The Pioneers went undefeated (20-0-0) in the UCHC last season. They also achieved their first number-one national ranking in the history of the program.

The Utica Pioneers Women’s Hockey Team

Home rink: The Utica University Nexus Center. Conference: UCHC.

Head Coach: Dave Clausen.

2022-23 overall record: 22-3-3. Utica finished the season ranked thirteenth

in the USCHO national poll.

The 2023-24 Women’s Division III preseason rankings were not available as of this printing.

October schedule: Oct. 14 at Norwich (exhibition), Oct. 20 vs. SUNY Canton (exhibition), Oct. 27 + 28 for the Utica University Kickoff Tournament.

Website: https:// uticapioneers.com.

The Pioneers are hosting the inaugural Utica University Kickoff Tournament on October 27 and 28. The participating teams are Utica, Suffolk, Adrian, and Elmira.

The Morrisville Mustangs Men’s Hockey Team

Home rink: The Morrisville IcePlex (Morrisville, NY).

Creative Designs participating in ‘Petal it Forward’ event

Creative Designs by Tiffany and collaboration partners are participating in “Petal it Forward” on October 18th. For the last eight years, thousands of floral industry members in all 50 states have organized teams on one day in October to take part in the event, which is a goodwill initiative where participants hand two flowers or bouquets to an unsuspecting stranger, urging them to keep one and share the other with someone else.

It’s a powerful way to illustrate the positive health benefits of giving and receiving flowers. Science has proven that flowers reduce stress and anxiety and make people happy.

Each set will be given to a person at no charge.

Distribution will begin at 10 a.m. on the 18th from the shop located at 78 S Main Street, Dolgeville, and will continue until all flowers are handed out.

Conference: SUNYAC.

Head Coach: Kevin Krogol.

2022-23 overall record: 8-17-0.

October schedule: October 28 vs. Lebanon Valley College.

Website: morrisvillemustangs. com.

Tiffany Rutkowski, owner of the shop, shared, “I’m hoping to make this a great day of cheer in our area- I couldn’t do it without the help of our collaboration sponsors, allowing more to be reached than I could do on my own! Collaborators are MyLittleFalls.com, Dolgeville business’ Gehring Tricot Corp, Green Acres Drive-In, and Raindrops on Roses Bed + Breakfast of Herkimer—many thanks to them for helping to pull this off.

For questions, please get in touch with Tiffany at 315-429-8777. We hope to see you then.

The Morrisville Mustangs Women’s Hockey Team

Home rink: The Morrisville IcePlex (Morrisville, NY).

Conference: SUNYAC.

Head Coach: John Briggs.

2022-23 overall record: 8-16-1.

October schedule: October 27 at Lebanon Valley College.

Website: morrisvillemustangs.com.

Note: John Briggs is entering his first season as head coach of the Mustangs. He replaces Melissa Lomanto – who has returned to her alma mater Utica University as an assistant coach.

Photo by Scott Kinville - The #4 Colgate Raiders got a late goal from rookie Emma Pais to defeat #2 Ohio State in their regular season opener.