Mohawk Valley Express Volume 2 Number 10 October 2022

FREE Daniel Enea

3rd Generation Funeral Director

VOLUME 2: NUMBER 10

OCTOBER 2022

Business is Blooming!

Story and photos by Carol Vogel

Though the days are getting cooler and winter is coming, Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses in Dolgeville, NY, is gearing up for its winter season.

Shipping their famous plants across the United States and around the world year-round, violets are their specialty. From humble beginnings to a household name, the tradition continues, bringing locally grown beauty into homes across the globe.

World Famous Violets

Most of the African Violets found today are varieties that Mr. Lyndon Waldo Lyon of Dolgeville bred. Mr. Lyon arrived in Dolgeville in 1921. His love of African Violets started with a single leaf, a gift from his niece. A single leaf can propagate a full-fledged plant when placed in damp soil or water. From here, he began his home nursery, where he studied and experimented with Paul in the greenhouse. hybridization through explained the history cross-pollination. of how it all began. “He Paul Sorano, the found out there was a grandson of Lyndon race to create double Lyon, is the owner of pink violets. He got into the greenhouses and the race late, but he beat

everyone to the punch.

And once that happened, everything just exploded.

People were coming from all over the country.

It was amazing!” Paul

remembers, “Every room on the second floor of his house was filled with plants growing. I lived across the street, so I

me right back to the age of 5. It’s crazy how much Just a few days before it reminded me of my school started, I walked elementary school days. through the entrance to Benton Hall Academy. When I arrived at the The empty hallways classroom, there she were gleaming, waiting was, waiting for me. She for excited students to was smiling and had pour back in on their first kicked off her shoes. day of school. The fresh Here was Tracy Young, smell of floor polish sent the S.T.E.A.M. Specialist,

and Engineering by Design instructor for K-5th grade students here in Little Falls (image on left).

Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead

by Katie Drake

Please See BLOOMING Page 3

Everything about the S.T.E.A.M classroom is fun. It’s filled with sunlight from the tall bright windows adorned Please See STEAM Page 2

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

BILL MACRI

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

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STEAM From Page 1

River Hills Properties The Mosher Team

Call 315-868-4596

Come join us for a FREE breakfast.

Do you have questions about Adult Immunizations or need to get a flu or COVID Booster?

Please come and receive information about adult Immunizations, who should get them and why?

Following the Office for the Aging Public Hearing Immunizations will be given by Herkimer County Public Health. The Office for the Aging will hold a short public hearing about senior services and a representative from Herkimer County Public Health will provide information and administer Flu and COVID 19 boosters. Please bring your insurance card if you would like to receive a vaccination.

Date: Thursday, October 27, 2022 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM Location: Francesca’s Banquet Hall & Catering 144 E. Main Street Ilion (Free parking; handicapped accessible; If you need any special accommodations such as translation services or documents with larger print please let us know 3 business days prior to the meeting)

To reserve a seat call 315-867-1121, please RSVP by Thursday October 20th.

This information brought to you by NY Connects, your link to Long Term Services and Supports;

www.herkimercounty.org, Office for the Aging; phone 867-1121.

with plants and creations from her students. Bins are filled with clean recyclables for the kids to use to build things.

The tall ceilings give the impression the space is even larger than life. It’s a perfect place to cultivate creativity through outside-the-box thinking and learning.

According to the Institute for Advanced Study, S.T.E.A.M. Education is an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.

Tracy is a teacher, and she exemplifies what all great teachers do, change people’s lives.

She was one of the first to know about STEAM or Engineering by Design (EBD) before it was even a thing around here.

“I was. In my classroom, a lot of things were handson. I believe it’s because that’s how I learn the best.

I love to tell my kids that when I was in school, I wasn’t a good student.

Not naughty-wise, but academically. I did ok, but I had to put in extra effort to do well. When I was reading, I was a re-reader I had to read it twice to understand it.

And that’s okay. It just took me longer than everybody else.”

“I was in my master’s program at St. Rose, and our teacher was teaching us how to do borrowing with math using matchbox cars. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ I finally understood it.’ It’s learning with your hands.

When our Superintendent brought in someone from BOCES that said we have this Engineering

by Design curriculum - I said I would LOVE to try it! After teaching STEAM lessons for a while, I saw how engaged the kids were and how much they loved it and urged the administration to make STEAM part of our curriculum. LF City School District had the curriculum first and then built the STEAM lab for the program.”

my little neighbor, and I always make a point to ask her over the fence how her day at school was. Usually, she just says, “Good!” But one day earlier this year, she excitedly told me that she designed a snowshoe at school using only five materials and that they had to draw a picture and then build it. She went on and on and was excited and engaged about her snowshoe project. While talking with Tracy, she told me about that very same STEAM lesson as she showed me some of the student’s drawings of their snowshoes in their engineering journals.

Tracy has forged several impressive partnerships through her STEAM and EBD curriculum. She created partnerships with Herkimer College, MVCC, and Utica University, giving our Little Falls Elementary students on-campus college experiences.

During her school breaks, she partners with Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts to do STEAM camps and A great example: Often Project Fibonacci to do in the afternoon, I see Please See STEAM Page 5

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BLOOMING From Page 1 was very close.”

Things were moving along so quickly Lyndon built Lyndon built three-tiered the second greenhouse benches with fluorescent in 1956. By 1959, he had lights for growing. These built the third and largest 3-inch tubes and 100lb greenhouse.

Lyndon light fixtures were a was well-respected by massive undertaking at professional botanists the time. “Around 1949, as the world’s most he started growing inside important breeder of his house, and in 1954 African Violets. In his he had the first double lifetime, he developed pinks. He showed them in around 800 varieties!

St Louis – and of course, Lyndon is known for that caused quite a stir creating the ideal because no one had seen houseplant. His African anything like that before.” Violets Flower most of By the mid-1950s, he the year and require very had a greenhouse with basic care - if you forget 5,000 plants, including to water them, they will his famous double-pink typically bounce back violets. One of his plants from wilting. was called “Double Bountiful,” and a grower “Lyndon was also a in Ohio bought the plant pioneer in variegates, for $1,000.00! “He had a trailing violets, minis, and couple of different deals semis. His hybridizations where he would get paid are world-renowned, royalties for each plant and it all started here in that was sold. So that Dolgeville, NY.” is how he built the first greenhouse in 1954.”

All in the Family

In 1982 Paul took over ownership of the greenhouses, but he had been working and learning from his grandfather for many years. “When I was 12 years old, I helped him here and there and worked weekends in High School. I went to college and helped out as I could. I worked down in Schenectady for GE for a while, and then the oil embargo happened in the 70s.”

“During that tough time – like the pandemic everyone was stuck home. People wondered what they could do as a hobby, and they got into plants in a big way.” He had heard that the business was booming, and in 1974, his grandfather coaxed him to come back. “There were days there were so many customers we were sleeving plants

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS - OCTOBER City of Little Falls

Golf Course.

October 4, 2022 Common Council Meeting - Bills 6:30 pm, Public Hearing 6:50 on Local Law #2 Reducing Board of Assessment and Regular Session 7:00 pm in the Common Council Chambers in City Hall.

October 11, 2022 - Black Lives Matter - Embrace Diversity Potluck Picnic - 11:30 am - 1:30 pm Little Falls Presbyterian Church, 16 Jackson St. 315-823-3004 for details.

October 10, 2022 - Jack Hollingsworth Community presentation on smartphone photography at Rock City Center, 7 pm, 690 E Main St. October 12, 2022 - Police and Fire Board Meeting Bills 6:30 pm and Regular Session 7:00 pm in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

October 13, 2022 - Golf Commission Meeting 8:00 am at the Municipal

October 19, 2022 - Urban Renewal Agency Meeting - 8:15 am in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

October 20, 2022 Tourism Meeting - 8:30 am in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

October 20, 2022 Chicken Schnitzel Dinner (includes chicken cutlet over buttered egg noodles, German red cabbage and dessert), Emmanuel Episcopal

Church, 594 E. Albany St., Little Falls. NY 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. or sold out. Donation $14.00.

Eat In or Take Out. Free Delivery - Herkimer and Little Falls. Reservations recommended 315-7414672.

October 20, 2022 - Fall fundraiser cocktail party for The Herkimer County Humane Society. 5-9 pm, Redefined Alchemy LLC - The Asteroga House II. October 22, 2022 - 3-10 pm, Rock Valley Brewing Chilie Cook off 2. Sampling at 3 pm, live music at 6.

For more information visit 315Foodies.com.

October 24, 2022 - 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 30, 2022 - From 5-7pm Trick or Treat in Little Falls. Also don’t forget to stop in and say hello to the fire department at the same time for a treat. Any questions, please call the City Clerk at 315-574-5246.

Dolgeville October 14, 2022 - Rustic Ties - Doors open at 7 and Gridley Paige starts playing at 8 pm.

October 20, 2022 - The Dolgeville - Manheim Library will be hosting a Sunday Salon at 2 pm featuring Bill Kardas, the anchor weatherman from WKTV. His weather predicting presentation will include the criteria used by various models

when predicting hurricane direction and intensity.

October 28, 2022 - Rustic Ties - Doors open at 7 and Skeeter Creek goes onstage at 8 pm with the Valley’s biggest Halloween Party.

Salisbury Salisbury Historical Society presents their special programs October 23, 2022 at 2:00pm - Salisbury Iron Mine - ‘Million Dollar Investment’ Presented by Robert Schmid - Open to the public and free of charge.

Salisbury Historical Society 1805 Frisbie House.

Intersection of Route 29 and 29A, Salisbury Center, NY.

Irish Cultural Center holds two October events The Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley announces that there will be two programs at the Center in October. On Sunday, October 9 at 1.00 the ICCMV proudly welcomes Briege Murphy, a singer/song-writer from Ireland.

Briege will share her music, songs, and stories at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley.

The audience will be mesmerized by her voice, her songs, and her stories.

You will not want to miss hearing Briege Murphy, direct from Ireland.

Briege Murphy, is a native of The Ring of Gullion valley, South Armagh- an area rich in songs and storytelling. Her songs are often inspired by the surroundings of the beautiful hill country in which she was reared, and still lives with her family.

Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

Advance tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite.com or from the 5 Points Public House at the Irish Cultural Center.

Upon release of her first album “The Longest Road “, Briege carved out her place as one of the strong women of Irish music-moving her audiences by her words, her lilting melodies, and her passion for Ireland, her native home.

One week later, on Sunday October 16th at 2.00pm the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley is hosting a family-friendly Halloween-themed Paint and Sip Class, led by Jill Rae Vennara.

All are welcome to join, including families with children age 6 and older, teens, and adults of all ages! No art or painting experience is

necessary as Jill Rae will lead the group in creating a beautiful Halloween scene which may include a full moon, bats, a spider in a web, a scary old tree, pumpkins and more!

Sunday, October 16th will be the perfect day for a fun family or adult activity!

Seasonal and ageappropriate refreshments will be served during the Paint and Sip Class.

The class costs $40 for painters aged 16 and over, and $20 for younger artists, aged 6 through 15.

The youngsters will paint a smaller canvas. Come join us and watch your creative side emerge!

Please reserve a spot via Eventbrite.com or call 315827-4291 to reserve your spot. Class size will be limited; please reserve early.

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STEAM From Page 2 Drone Camps for kids.

Most impressive, Tracy Young co-teaches a class at Purdue University - the number one engineering school in the country!

Tracy grew up here in Little Falls and remains humble despite her vast accomplishments. She didn’t always want to be a teacher. “It’s funny.

When I was in 10th grade, I wanted to be an interior decorator I was going to move to NYC and become a famous decorator. Now, I hate decorating anything in my house. My mom was the assistant teacher at BOCES, and she was at the church across from the YMCA. I loved to go down there and volunteer, and I just decided teaching was what I wanted to do.”

What does she love most about her job? “Gosh, I’m not sure I can narrow it down to one thing. I love to see the ‘aha’ moments that the kids have. When they figure out that they can solve a problem and work together, I want kids to say, hey, it didn’t work out here, and I failed here, but I could still solve the problem.

One of my biggest goals is to show students that failure is part of learning, it’s okay to fail, and sometimes it’s how you learn best. There are different ways to get to the right answer.”

Because Tracy spent so much time at the YMCA, now the Youth and Family Center, she worked closely with Tony DeLuca. Tony said, “Tracy worked for us for years. She started as a receptionist at the Y, worked her way up to

a Head Start teacher, and helped us start the Universal Pre-K program that is still running today.

She is one of my greatest success stories.”

And as to the start of school, well, Full S.T.E.A.M. ahead. “The first day of class, I ensure my students know three things. First, I want kids to feel safe when they are Favorite thing about Little here. I tell them that while Falls: “I’ve lived and worked here for so long they are in my classroom, that I’m one of the oldest I’m their grownup. Two, I teachers here. I have so want them to feel loved. I many connections. Kids tell them I love them, and that I had early in my I do. Three, don’t choke career, I now have their - if you are eating in my children or grandchildren class, be careful and in class. I’m so happy we chew your food. If I can finally have the skating make students feel safe rink up and running again. and loved, then teaching That was by far one of my them is a piece of cake.” favorite things when I was younger. My mom could drop us off, and we’d be there all night long just skating. Freezing and skating and freezing.

Being at the YMCA, basketball, swimming, and the city pool. You can walk anywhere; we would pack our lunches and ride our bikes over the Wind Bridge to have lunch on Moss Island.

So many great memories growing up in Little Falls.” Student’s engineering journal.

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New event venue in Little Falls taking reservations for 2023 events now for next year, so they’ve scheduled an A new event venue is open house for Saturday, poised to open in 2023 October 8th, from 12 to 2 at Paradise Gardens, to showcase the venue.

Gatherings & Gifts at 475 BUG Country Radio will Dise Road in Little Falls. If be there to play some you haven’t had a chance Country tunes, and there to go by there, then you will be refreshments, missed our previous tours, and plenty to see. article about them, but this is one cool place, Bob said, “We already had and they’re expanding. everything for an event center. We’d purchased Helen and Bob Kimbro it for our son’s wedding. have been pretty busy We had china, crystal, since we wrote about silverware, tablecloths, them almost exactly a tables, decorations, and year ago, grading land everything. We had our and building the facility heart set on having an that will be called The event center somewhere, Pavilion at Paradise so we decided we can’t Gardens, Gatherings & have it in the loft, so we’ll Gifts. just build something.”

by Dave Warner

In fact, they realize that He said that he worked people are booking with Melvin King Builders

on the design. “I sat down with Melvin, and we came up with a design structure.

I had some things in mind. We wanted it to be an open center without Work continues on The Pavilion at Paradise Gardens, Gatherings support posts so that you & Gifts in expectation of all of the events that will be booked for wouldn’t have obstructed 2023. work, cutting the creek of the Mohawk Valley. views.” line, and a bunch of brush Every direction you look, it’s a pretty view.”

“We started it last fall, removal.” and they got their part said they’re done pretty quickly, then They also have created a They we rushed to get the nice outdoor area, where planning on having the concrete poured before if a bride wanted to get whole facility open for an it started snowing. We’ve married under an arbor, event. “If they’re here for four hours and the kids been working on it all they’d be able to do so. are getting antsy, bring summer, trying to get it finished. It’s getting The couple expects to them down to see the close, but they’ll be some be able to handle up to animals, or bring them up things we’ll do next spring 150 people for an event. to the loft,” Bob stated. before we actually have “We’re looking at having “We want people to enjoy events from mid-May the whole place so they’re events,” he stated. until mid-October,” Bob not just stuck at an event space wondering about Helen said, “We worked said. really hard to get the land manicured.

Bulldozer “It has magnificent views Please See VENUE Page 8

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Little Falls Antique Center has new tenant was big on the gaming scene. “He played the If you haven’t noticed, original Starcraft and there is a door on the Diablo when all of east side of the Little that came out. I have Falls Antique Center, and memories when I’m 2, 3 it’s a very cool space that & 4 years old of playing now houses Doodles and the original Nintendo.”

Dragons. Kyle June and Katherine Jantz opened “I’ve been gaming in the business during the some form or another my Garlic Festival. entire life. It’s just part of who I am at this point,” June was born in he stated.

Wisconsin, moved to Indiana when he was Jantz’s story was similar, young, and grew up with more game time with there until he was 18. her family, playing Doom He met Jantz online, and and Quake, and Massive he moved to Maryland Multiplayer Online with her when he was (MMO) games like World 20. They then moved to of Warcraft. her mother’s home in the Adirondacks before The couple met on a heading to Utica for three Minecraft server, and years and then finally to they didn’t really care for Little Falls. each other at first. “She lived a decent way away June said that his father in the game, and she

by Dave Warner

brought a couple of her animals to my house as a way of saying sorry, and I was completely ungrateful for what she did,” he said.

He then started working for her in the game, and then they started playing other games together.

“Eventually, one of us Katherine Jantz and Kyle June pose in their new business space, Doodles and Dragons. asked the other if we were dating, and that’s our price range that is game store for 2-3 years. when we decided we amazing, so we bought “Her cousin is bipolar were dating.” it,” June said. and also autistic, so she works through a program They moved to Little The couple has always called RCIL (Resource Falls about three years had retail jobs of some Center for Independent ago. “We were looking sort, so starting their Living) to help take care for houses in the City own business seemed of him. He has always because my little brother natural to them. “We loved the idea of a game and family were planning knew Meeples had gone shop here, so it was just on moving here because under, so we knew it was a combination of things of the hospital and so the perfect time for us to that worked really well.” much that is here,” stated open our store.”

“I enjoy being in retail and Jantz.

June said they had “We found a house within researched the idea of a Please See TENANT Page 8

Jobs & Fighting To End ★ Creating The Inflation Crisis

Supports Upstate small businesses & manufacturers.

Opposes reckless government spending causing inflation. NEVER voted to raise taxes.

Energy Prices & ★Lowering Supporting Upstate Farms

Fighting to stop Joe Biden’s war on American energy & lower prices of gas, heating bills, & utilities. Leading to save family farms from Albany's assault on rural New York.

Access & ★ Improving Lowering Healthcare Costs

Secured over $100 million funding for rural hospitals & health centers. Delivered $4 million in recovered Social Security & Medicare benefits to Upstate & North Country seniors.

★ Supporting Troops & Veterans

The chief advocate for Fort Drum. Delivered $5.5 million in owed VA benefits to NY-21 veterans.

Wrote & passed the largest pay raise for our troops in a decade.

the Blue, Opposing New ★ Backing York ‘Bail Reform,’ & Securing our Southern Border

Elise wrote legislation to end dangerous “Bail Reform” & has fought to oppose Kathy Hochul’s failed policies.

Fighting to stop the historic border crisis and secure our southern border. Elise is endorsed by every local & state police union & the border patrol.

M O H A W K

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TENANT From Page 7 talking to people, and she loves making art. I really want to facilitate an area where people can come, play some board games, and just enjoy themselves for a few hours. That is what I want. I have no age restrictions on who can come in here,” stated June.

with typical beverages and snacks if you get hungry. “We’re thinking about doing some fancy teas and things when winter comes. We only want to offer new things,” he said.

They are both very focused on the community aspect of what a space For those that are more like this might bring to die-hard gamers, they the City. “We’re not really have dice and miniatures, looking for a profit-driven and they host tutorials on business right now,” how to build character stated Jantz. sheets for different games.

Plans include a trading card presence and They have two coolers the hosting of card

The inside game area of the new Doodles and Dragons business in the Little Falls Antique Center in Canal Place.

tournaments. They are closed Monday and Tuesday and open Wednesday & Thursday

2-8, and Friday 2-10, Saturday 12-8, and Sunday 12-6.

You can follow them on

oh

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l ey Cent e r f or

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Holiday

* Social Security * Medicare * Better Veterans Health Care AND... * The Biggest Year of Job Growth in American History!

r ts

M

THANK DEMOCRATS FOR:

Art Show & Sale

VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS Early Voting Oct. 29 – Nov. 6 Election Day Nov. 8, 2022

December 2022 Over 20 artists came together for the first MVCA Holiday Art Show and Sale.

Artists created smaller, unique works of art, one-of-a-kind and affordable. Don't miss this chance to find the gifts you’re looking for!

401-403 Canal Place, Little Falls, NY Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 12-4PM extended hours from December 1-24th 315-823-0808 MohawkValleyArts mvca_fine_arts www.mohawkvalleyarts.org th

Anniversary

Paradise Gardens, Gatherings & Gifts

Facebook or call 315508-5001 for details.

VENUE From Page 6 what else they can do.”

Helen said that one of the reasons they got the alpacas is because they’re so friendly. “Twoyear-olds can walk up to them. They don’t have a mean bone in their body.”

The facility is a 5,000-square-foot openair building with a bridal suite and a groom’s suite. They were going to put large crystal chandeliers up there, but they found out it was too windy and replaced them with iron ones. “The iron chandeliers blend in a lot better with the decor up there,” stated Bob. They have a large fountain and will be building a fire feature as well, with a patio, whiskey barrel tables, and more.

If you’d like to find out more or book an event, you can call 315-3641234 or visit their website at paradiseggg.com.

Antiques, Collectibles & Gifts at the Barn

(& visit the stables to see the alpacas, llamas & donkey

475 Dise Road, Little Falls, NY

Wedding & Event Center at the Pavilion coming soon

315-364-1234

Taking reservations now.

www.ParadiseGGG.com

Tues-Sat 10-4

Email your story idea to: news@mylittlefalls.com

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OCTOBER 2022

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BLOOMING From Page 3 just as fast as we could. Shipping Worldwide We were sleeving about 20,000 plants a day at While their plants have times.” been shipped worldwide for many years, the Through the years, Paul Pandemic caused some has put a lot of time, hiccups. “We stopped effort, and money into worldwide shipping updating the heating during the pandemic system and greenhouse because packages were structures to make them more energy efficient. being lost or taking two “We put pipes under the or three weeks to get to benches to place plants beneath, and we added fluorescent lights. Only a few benches on one greenhouse were done that way at first. When I came here, we started doing this under all the benches, so we doubled our space without having to build another greenhouse.”

Paul travels from time to time for special events in the violet and flower world. The African Violets Society of America (AFSA) is a national convention that takes place in a different U.S. city every year. “I have been going to that for over 45 years,” Paul says.

Because of his expertise and family history, he has been recognized on both the local and national stages. Paul was even on Martha Stewart’s show twice.

A video from his second appearance can be found here: https://youtu.be/5_jiRu6wTw. The Greenhouses employ between 5-10 people, depending on the season. They work hard and consistently to keep plants healthy and growing through many stages of propagation.

The staff is helpful and happy to give advice and instruction on caring for your plants.

people or longer,” Paul explained. There were delays domestically as well. “We even had issues with Rochester for some reason – packages would get there and just sit for days. If violets in the package aren’t receiving extremely hot or extremely cold temperatures and

staying between 60-75 degrees, they can last a couple of weeks,” Paul says, but the shipping delays during Covid were not conducive to plants arriving at their destinations in good health.

Things are getting back to normal now. “For all

countries, we have to have a Phytosanitary Certificate for shipments, which is a special form we fill out,” Paul explains.

Phytosanitary certificates are official documents that certify that the plants have been officially inspected, are free from quarantine pests, and Please See BLOOMING Page 13

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Chic.

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Upscale salon.

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V A L L E Y

OCTOBER 2022

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Dolgeville 5k benefits non-profit organization that we able to re-home. “If we created when we had our don’t have something Kelly Daukontas with first 5K,” she said. that kids need, then we Live Well Fitness Health buy it.” & Wellness Center in They purchase “Cleats Dolgeville has created a and various sports Daukontas said they non-profit to raise money equipment for kids that couldn’t do it without their to help kids stay in sports need it. This year was sponsors, who help make by purchasing athletic the first time we could do the event happen. equipment for needy that,” Daukontas stated. kids.

She said that they also If you need more “We started the Live Well take donations from the information, you can Community Wellness community, so they have email kellyfit.nutrition@ Program last year, a lot of cleats and shin yahoo.com or call 315which is a non-profit guards that they were 717-5637.

by Dave Warner

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Robert Pohlig OWNER

M O H A W K

Ice Wagon and Chief of Police As Life Savers May 25, 1899

A few minutes past 11 o’clock today Goodell Brothers’ delivery team, in charge of Vene Goodell, became frightened while standing on Main Street near the head of Third Street. Mr. Goodell was in a house nearby, but a weight was attached to the animals. This proved of little service, however, as the steeds dashed up Main Street at a break neck clip. As the frightened beasts neared Ann Street, the funeral cortege of Julia Sullivan was coming down Main Street. The drivers of the two carriages preceding the hearse, containing lady pall bearers and bearers, saw the runaways coming and turned into Ann Street.

The hearse was too far away from Ann, however, to seek that avenue of escape. On came the runaways, while those who witnessed their mad race held their breath as they thought of the awful havoc they would make in the funeral procession.

It was a moment of awful

suspense. Ira Trask’s big ice wagon and Chief O’Rourke’s bravery obviated a dreadful tragedy, however. The ice wagon was standing in front of O’Rourke & Hurley’s Drug Store. The runaways struck it square in the rear and made as much of an impression on it as an egg shell striking the Empire Express. The impact broke the fastenings which held the team to the harness and they were soon tearing up the street.

Chief O’Rourke jumped from the sidewalk in front of Babcock’s and caught the animals bringing them to a standstill. His act of bravery was unstintedly praised by all who saw it.

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Page 11

Lyrics of the Mohawk

by Frank H. Willard. (printed in The Journal & Courier - June 3,1884)

I.

Rollway Mountain Looming above the rocky town, The shadowy Rollway rises, steep, Veiled by a forest dark and deep; Torn by a torrent, plunging down.

Pale shine the stars; the moon’s cold light Lingers on Lover’s Leap to-night.

II Moss Island Below the Gulf Bridge, emerald-green, Girt round

by Mohawk’s silver flood, Moss Island lies-a sweet, wild wood, Fragrant with fern and eglantine.

The river rocks a painted boat; Songs, ringing o’er the water, float.

III Profile Rock Above the tortuous river road, Frowning with stony, sphinx-eyed stare, Stands

Profile Rock, eternal there.

The weary wagoner, with his load, Goes hurrying past; black clouds roll by; Red lightning cleaves the lowering sky.

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Program on Civil War scheduled at the Library The Little Falls Public Library is pleased to announce an upcoming reading and discussion series, “The Civil War: A Military History,” as presented by the writer and historian Giacomo Calabria. Sessions will be conducted Saturdays, October 15th, October 29th, November 5th, and November 19th, from 1 PM to 2:30 PM in the Library’s Community Room. The Community Room space is handicap accessible. The event is free and open to the public, but registration for the classes is required.

To register, you can stop in to sign up at the library’s front information desk during the library’s regular business hours or call 315-823-1542.

The Civil War: A Military History’s programming will largely focus on texts related to the Civil War and address racial issues and societal divisions from 1861 to 1865. The referenced texts will include, among others, excerpts from Lincoln’s Inaugural Address, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, The Emancipation Proclamation, and Grant’s Memoirs.

The Little Falls Public Library, with funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARPA), administered by the Central New York Library

Resources Council, is launching a mobile hotspot and Chromebook lending program.

Political Science of the Game of Thrones.” Mr. Calabria has presented programs at the Little Falls Public Library in the past, which were entertaining, educational, and well-received. This series should be no exception.

For more information on this and other upcoming library events, you can visit the Little Falls Public Library’s website at www. lflibrary.org, check out The program will be the library’s Facebook presented by Giacomo homepage at http:// Calabria. Mr. Calabria is w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / a Humanities New York littlefallslibrary, or contact scholar and author of by phone at 315-823numerous and diverse 1542. The Little Falls articles and stories, Public Library appreciates including “Abraham this opportunity to share Lincoln’s Steampunk local history and culture Presidency” and “The with the community!

Little Falls Public Library to Launch Mobile Hotspot & Chromebook Bundle Lending Program

The program is intended

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to help bridge the digital divide and allows for the expansion of the internet access and digital literacy services provided by the library through on-site computers and free public Wi-Fi by providing internet services and equipment for home use.

The hotspots & Chromebook bundles have a three-week load period and are available, free of charge, to cardholding patrons of the Little Falls Library.

Interested borrowers must be at least 18 years of age and in good standing. A borrowing agreement form must be completed, in person, at the library before bundles can be checked out.

Further information can be obtained by contacting the library at (315) 8231542.

M O H A W K

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OCTOBER 2022

E X P R E S S Page 13

BLOOMING From Page 9 conform to the current phytosanitary regulations of the importing country.

He submits the forms to his inspector in Oneida, who then comes to the greenhouses to check the packages on the day they are preparing the orders.

plants. They are usually in the same family.

African Violets are in the Gesneria family. We grow shade plants, so the conditions allow for all of these plants to be grown in the same houses.”

The Greenhouses are a wonderful escape from “We grow 700- 800 the cold and colorless different varieties of winter months. “We’re violets right now. There open every day except are tens of thousands Sundays year round.” out there, and every day Come visit the warm people are hybridizing and colorful sights of the more varieties. We also greenhouse. They even sell related plants. We have a private collection call them companion of Orchids you can view

as they are in bloom most of the year. One even smells like chocolate!

Orders are taken online at www.Lyndonlyon. com or in person at the greenhouses. If you prefer, you may also print out the order form from the website and mail it in.

Call ahead for directions and to confirm winter hours at 315-429-8291.

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Page 14

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She’s swept three of the five bodybuilding shows she has entered all before her 25th birthday She ended up winning the whole show, all four classes, and got her pro card that day as well.

“I was just blown away.

From that competition, I qualified for the Yorton competition, and that’s the biggest event the Super Bowl of bodybuilding, and it was down in Poughkeepsie last year.”

Grippe had played soccer in school, so Cassie Grippe is from she had done strength Frankfort, but most of training, cardio, and us in Little Falls know other workouts to keep her because of the in shape. “As I got older, restaurants she has been I realized, wow, you can bartending at. In fact, she really get injured playing has a nickname, but we’ll soccer. So I hung up my bring that up later. cleats and focused more on weightlifting.”

Grippe graduated from Frankfort High School She joined a gym and and then went to college got a personal trainer in Albany. “I moved back and group classes, which last October, and that’s she thought was always when I got involved in a hobby. “I liked lifting Little Falls because I weights, and so many started bartending all the people asked me if I’d places here, waiting to competed professionally, go back to school for my and I always took that as a compliment. I told Master’s Degree.” them no, I just like lifting “I’ve always had a spot weights.” in my heart for the Valley.

It’s always been home. According to Grippe, her But Little Falls is just the Uncle Dave Drapalski perfect little City for me. (from Little Falls) was I’ve always said that if I always into powerlifting moved back home, I’d and bodybuilding. “He move to Little Falls. There was always at the Y down are so many events going here, and every time I went over there on Sundays, on.” we used to reminisce She says that the best job about bodybuilding and powerlifting,” she said. she’s had is bartending at the Renaissance. “I’ve Covid came along, and all just met some of the best the gyms shut down, so people with the craziest she had to get creative. stories. The connections “At that time, I was still I’ve made in Little Falls living in Albany, and we are just wild to me.” went looking for workout

by Dave Warner

“All these pros were going to be there, and I thought if I qualified for it, equipment, and the I might as well go for it,” prices had gone through she said. the roof.”

At the time, she was She said she was lucky still bartending at the because she had a lot Renaissance, and she said, “The whole Little of equipment back in Falls community was so Frankfort. “I put 400 supportive of me. They’d pounds of weight in my tease me because they’d little Civic and dragged it come in and be drinking back to Albany and made and eating food, and I’d this basement workout eat out of my Tupperware area, kinda like a dingy to prepare for the event.” gym.”

Grippe was making the gym work for her, and her Aunt Grace had done the same in her basement, hanging up pictures of her Uncle’s bodybuilding and powerlifting on the wall, along with her brother Jerry. “I was down there one day, and they said that the only way I could get my picture on the wall was if I did a bodybuilding competition.”

It was a challenge that Grippe wanted to take on, so during Covid, she prepped herself and did her first body competition in June of 2021. “It was out in Syracuse, and it was all natural (OCB) bodybuilding. I didn’t know much about it. I taught myself to pose, and Grace, Dave, and my Mom came.”

not expect much because they had been doing this for years. “I ended up getting third overall, which was humbling, but that qualified me again for this year.”

“I felt like I had to do better - I had to beat myself, so I trained again this year, and I went back and got the Gold,” she stated.

“I was nervous this time because it was me against me, and I have to do better because the last time I’d gotten third.

So, this time I completely coached myself, which gets hard towards the end because you’re your own worst critic.”

During the interview, she said that her next goal was to compete on an international scale, and she would compete in an event on September Grippe said that there 30th. The results are were about 50 girls that now in from that event, she was competing with at the event and that she did Please See SWEPT Page 15

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Page 15

SWEPT From Page 14 and she received a 1st in class but was one spot shy of receiving her IFBB Pro card (International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness - which allows for international competition).

what I’m eating because you have one body, and your body is an engine.

You have to fuel it the way you want your engine to run.”

clients and programming for exercise and strength training.

“I’m hoping that being in the medical field, involved with nutrition and sports What is she going to do after this? “I enjoy that somehow, this will all food, I’m Italian, and I come together. I like to love Christmas cookies. keep things complicated,” My customers knew that she said. because I made so many cookies and delivered Instagram/team_tekilla. them all to my customers this past Christmas Eve. I’m a huge foodie, and I enjoy weekends, friends, and family.”

She said, “The athlete in me is disappointed and knows I could have switched some things and have gone all the way. But I have to remember I’ve only been doing this for a year, and there is much more room for growth. This journey has made me a better While doing this, Grippe athlete and coach.” has worked four jobs, taken on personal trainer Grippe had a chance to clients, and is a certified reflect on everything the surgical tech.

Now next day during her 25th she plans to go to PA birthday. “I realized that (Physicians Assistant) at just 25, I had swept school at Utica College to three of the five shows RN/NP. “That’s the plan...

I’ve ever done - taking to be an NP or PA, but home first in all divisions honestly, I’ve built up a and placing in the top business and launched three in the two others. my training team this I broke a deadlift record year called Team Tekilla.” of the XPS Federation for weight class as well She says that the joke while working and going behind that is that she to school. I’d say this always had a bottle of has been a successful Tequilla in her trunk, and journey.” she did these different events, and somehow, Until this point, it had the trunk Tequilla always been a hobby for Grippe, found its way out of the but now that she’s a pro trunk, “So everybody and can win prize money, knew me as the Tequilla she plans on doing more. girl, so I said, let’s make “At least you’re training this a fun team.” for something and not footing that expense. If Her slogan for the team? you get the IFBB Pro “Sweet or salty, you pick card, you’re on top of the your poison. How many world. If I achieve that, times do you hear people the sponsorships would say pick your poison? You be through the roof,” she can either drink or party, stated. or lift heavy weights and do a bodybuilding show.

After last weekend, she is I tell the clients, it’s up to now in what she calls the you.” off-season, but she still has to continue training. Grippe is a certified “That’s the fun season. nutritionist and does I’m always conscious of nutrition plans for her

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