Mohawk Valley Living 131 October 2024 by Mohawk Valley Living

YOUNG AT ART: A Selection of Caldecott Book

Illustrations

September 14 - December 29

Through picture books, readers embark on visual journeys that engage all of the senses and encourage curious, imaginative, and thoughtful interactions with the world around them. Since 1938, the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, has recognized the significant impact of art on early reading experiences, awarding the Caldecott Medal for excellence in this area. This exhibition includes original illustrations from Caldecott Medal recipients and from “runner-up” Honor books, as well as other illustrations by award-winning artists.

Elizabeth O. Jones (1910-2005), Prayer for a Child, 1944; watercolor, 6 1/2 x 5 3/8 inches; Courtesy of Wichita Falls Museum of Art at Midwestern State University

NEW YORK TO PARIS:

Street Photography by Todd Webb

September 21- December 29

AMERICAN MASTERWORKS through December 29, 2024

BOUNDLESS SPIRIT

American Folk Art at Fenimore Art Museum

September 14 – December 29, 2024

ART OF THE EVERYDAY

American Genre Painting

September 28 – December 29, 2024

Right: Snowy Day in Boston, 1907-1910, Maurice Brazil Prendergast, oil on canvas, Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, New York, Gift of the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust. N0021.2023. Photograph by Richard Walker.

Courtyard Rue Vercing’toria, Paris, 1950, Todd Webb, gelatin silver print, Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, New York. Museum purchase. N0013.2022(09).

This exhibition has been loaned through the Bank of America Art in our Communities® program. Additional support provided by exhibition series sponsors Christian and Cheryl Heilmann, Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D., and the Family of F. X. Matt II

MEMBERS PREVIEW THURSDAY, OCT. 17

5:30–7:30PM MUNSON MUSEUM OF ART

Next Issue: November 1st

Celebrating Life

by Sharry L. Whitney

On August 24, my father-in-law, Skip, underwent brain surgery. He knew the risk going in at age 84, but took it. He still has so much yet to live for. That morning, I wandered to my village green during the Art and Musical Festival seeking comfort and distraction.

I called my daughter-in-law and asked her to bring her family to the green. She said she didn’t think she could be happy on this day. I told her that it was a day to celebrate life and that’s what Skip would want. She agreed to

As I strolled about the green, I saw local potter Jonathan Woodward lifting a vase out of a barrel of fire. He was making raku pottery. I told him what our family was going through that day and asked him to fire a vase for me. As he placed the glazed bisqueware into the fire, I couldn’t help but see the parallels with what Skip was going through. Raku firing is filled with risk and the unknown. The previous vase had burst apart in the process and the reaction of the glazes to the violent heat is always a mystery. When the vase emerged from the fire, I saw brain neurons branching out and embracing the vessel.

I’ve known my father-in-law for over 35 years. An engineer, he founded a successful precision machine shop. He has a passion for gardening, nature, and bird watching. He is a

The Merlin Brothers

by matt perry

The Merlin brothers, Mal and Lars

On August 1st, 2024, two young Merlin falcons were brought to our sanctuary by Deb Saltis of Falcon Heart Rescue. The brothers—who we later named Mal and Lars—had been rescued after falling from their nest as downy nestlings. Deb successfully raised them to the fledgling stage, and our sanctuary aviary was selected for their soft release. Under Deb’s supervision, we followed a soft release protocol to help the birds adjust to their new environment. This involved allowing them to become accustomed to the habitat surrounding their enclosure for several days before releasing them.

After three days in the aviary, we decided the brothers were ready. So, at around 9:30 AM on August 3rd, I opened the cage. They immediately sensed the change, fixing their gaze on the open door and bobbing their heads as falcons often do before taking flight. After a few minutes, Mal—the bolder of the two—darted out and headed toward the main beaver pond. Moments later, I saw him zoom by in the opposite direction, his flight swift and relatively high. He didn’t seem like a novice at all. After briefly disappearing from view, he reappeared above the aviary grove, this time flying southward. His flight was strong and confident, but he

soon vanished from sight. Shortly after, I heard songbirds giving alarm calls from the direction he flew, indicating he had landed and caught the attention of our resident nesters.

Thirty minutes later, Lars made a swift, direct flight out of the cage and landed high in a cherry tree along the tree line. He perched there for a few minutes, taking in his surroundings. It wasn’t long before his presence was noticed by the Kingbird parents who had raised a brood near the beaver pond. One Kingbird flew near the perched Merlin; he produced some twittering warning calls before breaking off and returning to his territory. Lars responded with high-pitched whistles and then took off, soaring high above the treetops. With rapid wingbeats, he initially flew east before veering south. Like his brother, his flight was strong.

then flew onto a large dead snag, where he seemed to be in a playful mood—dancing around on his perch and playing with pieces of bark. He attempted to land on a thin branch, which promptly snapped off. Undeterred, he flew off with part of the branch in his talons, eventually dropping it to the ground. The brothers then flew together, engaging in some light sparring—a first for them, as they’d never before had so much space to fly in. They were reveling in their newfound freedom.

By 10:50, the Merlins were perched together in a streamside willow. Although a few birds sounded alarm calls, none came to mob or haze the young raptors. Mal

Watching them, I was struck by how much they reminded me of young Peregrine Falcons—their species’ larger cousins. Certainly, the brothers shared more in common with Peregrines than with young

Kestrels, both in their flight style and sibling interactions. Mal made a quick detour over the beaver pond before landing back on the snag near his brother. As Mal touched down, Lars took off, eventually landing in a tree overlooking the dam at the main beaver pond. A Great Blue Heron rose from the shallows and glided beneath him, and Lars watched in what looked like pure amazement as the feathered 747

cruised by.

When I returned at 2:00 PM, I spotted one of the Merlins right away. It was Lars, calling incessantly from a high perch in a cherry tree. Twenty minutes later, I located Mal. He had moved down to the old beaver pond system, where I found him flying energetically from treetop to treetop. Suddenly, Mal dashed off on what appeared to be a hunting run. His flight was arrow-straight, but he dipped low as if trying to intercept a target on the ground. The maneuver reminded me of the technique I’ve seen both Merlins and Peregrines use when hunting shorebirds on mudflats—flushing birds from the ground to catch them mid-air. This tactic must be instinctual, as he certainly couldn’t have practiced it in the restricted confines of the aviary.

I soon lost sight of both Merlins, though I could still hear them vocalizing from time to time. Their calls frequently gave away their locations. One might think this would be a disadvantage for a bird of prey, which ideally remains stealthy to avoid detection by potential prey and competitors. However, these two were still essentially fledglings, and young raptors often emit begging calls to let their parents know where they are.

This signaling helps parents deliver food and prevents the fledglings from being mistaken for intruders. Siblings also use calls to communicate with each other—to coordinate play or warn of danger.

At 4:40 PM, the two Merlins were playing again. They flew in a tight circle around a streamside willow before landing, nearly simultaneously, on the same branch. Perched side by side, Mal looked at Lars curiously as his brother began preening, cocking his head one way, then the other—another behavior reminiscent of young Peregrines. Soon, they were back in the air, flying close, sparring, and circling over the main beaver pond.

When I arrived at 7:00 the next morning, the excitement was already underway. A Great Blue Heron lifted off from the beaver pond, and Lars immediately sailed out to intercept it, making a brief hazing run before returning to the snag. Shortly after, both brothers launched after another airborne target—something I couldn’t see—and returned together to land in the big willow tree. By mid-morning, it became clear the Merlins were attempting to hunt. They made several quick forays over the meadows and ponds, each time diving low and skimming over the tops of the grasses and goldenrods to flush out

prey. Though they returned empty-taloned each time, they were honing their predatory techniques.

Around 10 AM, I placed their food on the railing of the footbridge, ensuring it was visible to them—making the change while both had their eyes on me. This seemed a far better option than placing it on top of the aviary, where dense tree cover obscured their view. The strategy proved effective; when I returned in the early afternoon, I found the dish empty, indicating they had taken advantage of the meal.

Later in the afternoon, the Merlins attracted the attention of a Blue Jay after a spirited chase through the grove of streamside willows. Mal briefly engaged the jay, pursuing it before landing on a willow branch beside Lars. The Blue Jay took up a sentry position just above them, intermittently calling out to its unseen companions, seemingly updating them on the predators’ movements. Before long, about a dozen Blue Jays converged on the scene, looking ready to rumble. They took turns diving at the perched raptors, emitting sharp, piercing calls at close range before swiftly pulling away. The jays that weren’t diving bobbed their bodies up and down, pointed their bills toward the action, and called excitedly. The Merlins appeared fascinated rather than made anxious by their newfound pariah status; they seemed to view it as a novel challenge rather than a threat. Lars promptly took off after one of the more assertive jays. The jay deftly dropped like a stone into the tangle of willow branches to evade him, while Lars, swift and agile, circled back to his perch. The jays then intensified their efforts, swirling around the Merlins like gulls around a fishing trawler.

Overnight a substantial amount of rain had fallen,

Get ready to say hello to our new products! Traditional Egg Nog and delish Mint Milk Chocolate are available only from mid-October to mid-January, so grab them before they are gone!

and Lars interact on their willow perch

and I was curious to see how the Merlins had fared. To my relief, they were both perched in the large snag when I arrived in the morning, seemingly unperturbed by the storm. Their calls intensified as I approached, clearly signaling their anticipation for breakfast. Mal made a quick pass by the bridge railing where their food dish had been replenished but didn’t stop. Lars followed suit, swooping over the dish before choosing to land next to his brother in the willow. Shortly after, they took to the air together, engaging in some spirited

sparring. Their playful skirmish was soon interrupted by the arrival of an immature Cooper’s Hawk, who unexpectedly joined in their aerial game. After a brief display over the meadow, all three birds landed together in the big snag, momentarily aligning in size and stature. The Cooper’s Hawk, distinguishable by his browner plumage, longer tail, and proportionally smaller head, soon darted away, closely pursued by Lars. Mal quickly joined the chase, and the trio disappeared low toward the old beaver ponds.

Within a minute, the Merlins returned alone, the Cooper’s Hawk likely resuming his own essential hunt. The Merlins circled back to the bridge railing where Lars briefly engaged a Blue Jay before Mal settled down to feed. As Mal fed, a Green Heron— roughly the size of a crow and perhaps curious about the young raptors—landed in the large snag. This new arrival captured the attention of the Blue Jays, who swiftly redirected their mobbing efforts from Lars to the heron. Unperturbed, Mal continued to eat, even taking a piece of food back

to the willow. Lars, distracted by the commotion involving the Jays and the heron, attempted to feed but soon joined the unfolding aerial drama.

Lars and Mal then darted through the air together, weaving and crisscrossing like a pair of foraging swallows. They made a quick pass by their food dish before landing in quick succession on the bridge railing. Mal settled on the rim of the dish to feed, while Lars playfully tugged at his brother’s tail, adding a touch of levity to their mealtime. Later on, I located Mal perched atop the roof of our small greenhouse. His presence agitated the nesting birds nearby, triggering a chorus of alarm calls. A pair of Catbirds appeared particularly distressed; one perched conspicuously on the branch of a hawthorn, looking visibly indignant, while its mate nervously darted back and forth across the access road.

Upon my return late morning, I quickly spotted the Merlins perched high on either side of the bridge—Mal on the large snag and Lars in the willow. Shortly afterward, Mal swooped low past me and settled on a branch adjacent to his brother. To my surprise, a Belted Kingfisher landed on a branch about fifteen feet below Lars. There were still a few in the local bird

Blue Jays often harassed the Merlins – but the brothers didn’t mind

The Olde Kountry Market

community curious about the Merlins. As for the brothers, they seemed blasé about the Kingfisher. Soon after, a flock of Turkey Vultures appeared, gracefully circling low over the meadow and ponds before drifting westward. Whether their presence spurred the Merlins into action is unclear, but both birds promptly took flight. Lars dipped into the meadow, skimming over our wildflower garden, inadvertently disturbing a hummingbird that mounted a valiant attempt to chase him away.

In the afternoon, I initially couldn’t find either of the Merlin brothers. Eventually, I located Mal perched quietly in the willow grove, unusually silent. Despite searching all their usual spots, Lars was nowhere to be found. It’s possible Lars had secured prey and was feeding in seclusion to avoid sharing with Mal. After some chores, I resumed the search for Lars but with no success. As I prepared to leave for the day, I pondered the possible reasons behind Lars’ disappearance. He might have had an accident, fallen prey to a predator, or he might have decided to leave the area. The latter seemed the most plausible—dispersal from the natal territory is an instinct in raptors. Although the sanctuary wasn’t their birthplace, my role as a surrogate parent providing food and protection might have led them to view it as their parents’ home territory. Lars’ departure could be driven by the need to avoid competing for resources with what he perceived as his family, or perhaps by genetic impulses pushing him to reduce the chances of inbreeding. These factors combined suggest that Lars, whether fully prepared for independence or not, felt compelled to venture beyond the safety of the sanctuary to carve out his own path in the wild.

In mid-afternoon the following day, I spotted Mal at the old beaver ponds, just as the rain began to fall. He perched at the top of a dead hemlock tree. With wings extended, he seemed to relish the shower brought on by the rain. Regrettably, this encounter would be our last. Emulating his brother’s actions from the previous day, Mal decided it was time to move on. The next day, despite a thorough search, I found no sign of the brothers, marking a poignant close to their chapter at the sanctuary.

In reflection, while I cannot assert with absolute certainty that the soft release of the Merlins was successful, I believe that the process went well. In my experience, soft release proves significantly more beneficial than the alternative—a stark and unsupported transition from captivity to the wild, devoid of the nurturing presence of parental figures to protect and sustain the young birds. Given the high mortality rates among immature raptors, where estimates suggest that 50 to 75 percent do not reach maturity—soft release offers a critical advantage. It provides these young birds with a transitional support system to bolster their chances of survival. Embracing soft release practices, when feasible, is not just a choice but a responsibility to these magnificent creatures, allowing them a better chance at life in their natural habitats.

the mvL restaurant guide

On the Side

in their 50s, Grogan invited Honeywell to play with his band in 2017, and “we all got along,” says Honeywell. The quintet officially formed in 2018, but balancing practice with work and family commitments proved difficult. This led to the band’s name, Maybe Sunday—a nod to their frequent discussions about finding time to rehearse. As Honeywell puts it, “We’d always be talking about when we could practice, and we’d joke, ‘Maybe Sunday?’”

He recalls performing at Woods Valley the “night before the world shut down.” In April 2020, while all performance venues were closed, the band released their debut album, “Above the Trees.” Despite the challenging circumstances, the four-track album helped them gain a following. Sean Nevison of Nippertown (the Capital Region’s music hub/website), praised the album, calling it “a very tight and well-produced recording with strong vocals and guitar elements.” He suggested that this album would be the perfect summer soundtrack for cruising with the windows down and the dial cranked to 11.

The band was on the brink of recording a new EP when health and family commitments forced two members to leave. Honeywell and Jim Grogan stepped up to write a new song, and Nick Mellace joined the band. The quartet now consists of Mellace on bass and vocals, Honeywell on lead guitar and vocals, Julie Grogan on keyboards, and Jim Grogan on drums. “Nick is in his early 30s and brings younger influences, Julie’s a girl into Maniacs, and Jim is a fan of The Who,” says Honeywell. Jim shares Bryan’s own eclectic musical tastes, including hard rock, Grateful Dead concerts, show tunes, and his childhood experience playing trombone.

The band’s sophomore EP, Tabula Rasa, has been building momentum beyond their well-received August performance at the Kirkland Art Center. Daniel Steen of NYS Music (nysmusic.com) offered a glowing review, praising Tabula Rasa for its exploration of life’s complexities—uncertainty, change, and relationships—against a backdrop of alternative rock infused with punk and psychedelic elements. Steen

Maybe Sunday rocked the Kirkland Art Center’s 1st Annual Local Music Showcase in August, where they took top prize.

Julie Grogan has been the band’s keyboardist since the band’s inception

Maybe Sunday performs at Copper City Brewing Co. in Rome. It will host their release party on Saturday, November 9th.

Bryan Honeywell started his musical career on trombone, but found his calling on guitar.

highlights The Who, The Cure, Genesis, The Replacements, and Tragically Hip as some of Maybe Sunday’s influences, noting how these inspirations combine with the band’s imaginative lyrics to forge their distinct sound.

Honeywell says the band is pleased with the album’s reception. Part of the prize from their Local Music Showcase success is more recording time at Big Blue North Recording Studio in Utica. “We are thrilled to get back in the studio with Pam at Big Blue,” he says.

Maybe Sunday plans to book gigs along the Thruway, Albany, and maybe Rochester. They are scheduled to perform once a month at Al’s Wine & Whiskey Lounge in Syracuse starting this January. “It’s hard for a band with original material to get bookings over cover bands,” Honeywell laments. “Sometimes it costs us money to travel and perform gigs.”

The band eagerly anticipates their album release party on Saturday, November 9th, at Copper City Brewing Company in Rome. They also hope to return to Woods Valley for the 2025 live music concert series. Honeywell expressed the band’s desire to perform more frequently and write new material. “We like hanging together,” he says, adding, “We enjoy entertaining ourselves.”

Make your brain happy, listen to Tabula Rasa at: maybesundayband.com And please Listen/Like/ Share! •

Cullen Pumpkin Farm

Picked pumpkins & gourds. Corn maze, wagon rides, and pumpkin train!

Open daily 10am-6pm

(315) 867-3878

587 Cullen Rd., Richfield Springs www.cullenpumpkinfarm.com

Fall Fun Guide

Fort Rickey Fall Fun Days

Pumpkin painting, corn maze, tractor rides, arts & crafts, food and treats.

Weekends 10am-4pm Through October 27 (315) 336-1930

Rome-New London Rd., Rome www.fortrickey.com

Things That Go Bump in the Night Ghost Tours

(6 nights) October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26–with six tours each night beginning at 5:30pm

The Farmers’ Museum farmersmuseum.org Cooperstown

Tues-Fri: 11am-5:30pm Sat: 11am-4pm

Boston Habana Oiled Leather

Will’s Cackleberry Castle

Hayrides, talking pumpkin, displays, concessions, bouncy house, family cornfield walk.

Utica Zoo Spooktacular

Halloween and harvest celebration with trick-ortreat stations, food trucks, dancing with the Happy Haggs Dance Troup (Saturday only), informational booths October 19 & 20: 10am-3pm (315) 738-0472

1 Utica Zoo Way, Utica www.uticazoo.org

Windy Hill

4th Annual Car Show

Sat., October 18, 8-11am

Lucid Street Music 1-4pm, Food trucks, Free Wagon Rides through the Orchard

Windy Hill Orchard (315) 822-0046 and Farm Market 577 East St., Cassville

Weekends 0am-4pm through Oct 12 (315) 853-1024 4741 Rte 233, Westmoreland www.northstarorchards.com

Opening Day: Friday September 13 Thurs: 4-8:30pm, Fri: 4-9pm, Sat. 10am-9pm, Sun. 10am-8pm, Columbus Day: 10am-8pm 1175 Hillsboro Road, Camden (315) 245-0104 or 225-1638 www.cackleberrycastle.com U-Pick Apples & Pumpkins at North Star Orchards

Annual Remsen Depot Corn Maze

Annual corn maze, hayride, and snack bar.

Weekends through October 13th Fri: 6-8pm, Sat: noon-5pm & 6-8pm, Sun: noon-5pm

Adults: $8, Under 12: $6 (315) 831-3409

10613 Depot St., Remsen www.remsendepot.com

Pumpkin Junction

Pumpkins, Halloween store, Cornfusion Corn Maze Open daily: 9am-8pm (315) 794-4604

2188 Graffenburg Rd., Sauquoit www.pumpkinjunction.com

*Disney Jr. Live On Tour: Let’s Play

Tues., Oct. 15, 6pm Stanley Theater, Utica www.thestanley.org

Film, Warren Miller’s 75 Wed., Oct. 16, 7:30-9:30pm

Celebrate the historic anniversary with emerging athletes and storytelling

Stanley Theatre Utica, 259 Genesee St., Utica www.thestanley.org

Munson After Dark

Sat.., Oct. 19, 9pm-Midnt. Enjoy hot music and cool drinks as the Museum’s Root Court is transformed into Utica’s newest nightspot.

Munson

310 Genesee St, Utica munson.art/product/36533

Gina Holsopple & Band

Sun., Oct. 20, 3-4:45pm 3-time SAMMY nominee and an award-winning singer-songwriter.

Remsen Arts Center

9627 Main St., Remsen remsenartscenter.org/events

*Free Kids Paleontology Event Sun., Oct. 20, 3-5pm

Fossil ‘dig” and assembly of a life-sized dinosaur cutout led by paleontologists Mike and Roberta Straka Unity Hall, 101 Vanderkemp Ave., Barneveld www.unityhall.com

Monk Rowe’s Five Families Ensemble

Fri., Oct. 25, 7:30-9pm Unity Hall, 101 Vanderkemp Ave., Barneveld www.unityhall.com

Daniel Adam Maltz, Fortepiano

Fri., Oct. 25, 7:30-9pm Maltz specializes in Viennese Classicism especially the works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven Schambach Center

198 College Hill Rd., Clinton hamilton.edu/performingarts

“Death Takes A Cruise”

Mystery Dinner Theater

Fri., Oct. 25, 7-9:30pm

To benefit cancer patients in CNY by the JM Chubbuck Foundation, Inc. Cocktail hour at 6pm followed by buffet dinner and show.

Hart’s Hill Inn

135 Clinton St., Whitesboro Visit events tab at thejmcf.org

Randall Bays

Sat., Oct. 26, 7:30pm

Masterful Irish fiddler celebrated for his soulful melodies and intricate ornamentation.

Kirkland Art Center

9 1/2 East Park Row, Clinton www.kacny.org

*Pumpkin Party

MVCC Family Fun Series

Sat., Oct. 26,12-1:30pm

Come in costume, paint mini pumpkins, enjoy treats, and dance with Wednesday Addams and Jack Skellington. MVCC

1101 Sherman Dr., Utica Atrium, Plumley Complex mvcc.edu ^visit ^events

The Vampire Circus

Sat., Oct. 26,7:30-9:30

Stanley Theatre Utica, 259 Genesee St., Utica www.thestanley.org

Bluegrass Jam

Sun., Oct. 27, 6:30pm

Bluegrass musicians are welcome to join in!

Kirkland Art Center

9 1/2 East Park Row, Clinton www.kacny.org

*Trick-or-Treat Street

Tues., Oct. 29, 4-6pm

Calling all little ghouls and goblins! Join us for a spooktacular evening of indoor trick-or-treating.

Rome MVCC Atrium 1101 Floyd Ave. Rome

*Halloween Parade, Clinton Fire Department

Thurs., Oct. 31, 6:30pm

Starts at the corners of Colllege St. and Chenango Ave. Donuts, cider, and costume contest.

Village of Clinton

October in Central New York’s forests is a time of dramatic transformation, as the landscape shifts from the greens of summer to a kaleidoscope of autumn colors. This vibrant display is not just a feast for the eyes; it signals that the forest is undergoing a significant ecological transition. As leaves change color, birds migrate south, and mammals prepare for winter, October serves as a reminder of the relentlessness of nature’s cycles.

The vivid colors of autumn are the result of complex biochemical processes within the leaves of deciduous trees. Throughout the growing season, leaves are rich in chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, converting it into energy for the tree. However, as daylight decreases and temperatures drop in autumn, chlorophyll production slows and eventually stops. As the green fades, other pigments in the leaves become visible, revealing the brilliant reds, oranges, yellows, and purples that characterize fall foliage.

Carotenoids are pigments that produce yellow and orange colors. Unlike chlorophyll, carotenoids are present in leaves throughout the growing season but are usually masked by the dominant green of

chlorophyll. In September and October, as chlorophyll breaks down, the yellows of birches, hickories, and aspens, and the oranges of sugar maples and oaks, emerge. Anthocyanins are pigments responsible for the red and purple hues in leaves. Unlike carotenoids, anthocyanins are produced in response to specific environmental conditions, such as cool nights and sunny days. The sugars trapped in the leaves react with sunlight, and produce the vibrant reds seen in species like red maples, sumacs, and dogwoods. The intensity of red coloration can vary greatly depending on the weather; ideal conditions—sunny days and cool, but not freezing, nights—produce the most striking reds. Tannins are responsible for the brown color of some oak species. As chlorophyll and other pigments break down, the tannins become more visible, giving some trees their characteristic muted autumn tones.

The diversity of tree species in the Mohawk Valley’s forests ensures a rich palette of colors each fall. Sugar maples, with their fiery oranges and reds, are among the most celebrated, while red maples contribute deep reds and purples, and ashes provide a rain-

bow of more subtle pastels. Oaks display colors from rich red to russet brown, and birches, hickories, and aspens add splashes of bright yellow to the mix. Together, these colors create stunning mosaics that are so satisfying for us to behold.

As the forest canopy transforms, the skies above are filled with the movements of migratory birds. October is a peak migration period for many birds including the sparrows and kinglets, small songbirds that travel southward to escape the harsh northern winters. Sparrows such as the White-throated Sparrow and the Song Sparrow are abundant during this time. These birds often gather in our fields and forest edges to feed on seeds and insects before continuing their journey. White-throated Sparrows, easily identified by their distinctive white throat, black and white cap, and yellow lores, are especially common, often seen in flocks foraging on the ground. Their

Red Squirrels collect and store nuts and seeds in October

plaintive whistled song, although somewhat garbled and not as clear as it sounds in the spring, can still be heard in October as many prepare to depart. Of course, as most of us with birdfeeders know, quite a few also remain to spend the winter.

Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets are also on the move in October. These tiny birds are among the smallest in North America, yet they are hardy travelers capable of long migration flights. Golden-crowned Kinglets, with their striking striped crests, can be seen flitting through the lower branches of conifers, energetically searching for insects. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are just as common, their namesake red crown often hidden, but their rapid, fluttering movements, wing flicking, and characteristic double note warning calls make them easy to distinguish.

Both sparrows and kinglets rely on the rich resources of the forests to fuel their journeys. Insects, seeds, and berries provide the necessary sustenance for these small birds to complete their migrations, and the forests’ varied habitats offer shelter and rest along the way.

October is a busy time for creatures like squirrels, chipmunks, and mice, as they stockpile food and build up energy reserves to survive the winter. Squirrels and chipmunks engage in scatter-hoarding—gathering and storing food in various hidden locations. Eastern Gray Squirrels are often seen darting up and down trees, carrying acorns, hickory nuts, and seeds to bury in the ground. These cach-

es will serve as a vital food source during the winter when fresh food is scarce. Chipmunks, meanwhile, stuff their cheek pouches full of nuts and seeds, storing them in burrows for easy access during the colder months.

White-tailed deer are also preparing for winter, though their strategy is different. Instead of hoarding food, deer focus on increasing their body fat by feeding heavily on acorns, berries, and other available vegetation. This fat serves as an energy reserve, helping them survive the winter when food is less abundant. As October progresses, bucks begin to shed the velvet from their antlers in preparation for the rut, or mating season, which peaks in November.

October in our region’s forests is a time of remarkable change and heightened activity. The stunning display of fall foliage, driven by intricate biochemical processes within the leaves, sets the stage for a season of preparation and migration. Whether you’re marveling at the brilliant colors of the trees, listening to the calls of migratory birds, or observing the industriousness of squirrels and deer, October in the Mohawk Valley offers a rich and immersive experience of nature at its most vibrant. •

Red Oaks in full color

Ruby-crowned Kinglets migrate through in October

october Crossword

Answers found in the pages of this magazine!

Across

2. Mal and Lars are what kind of bird?

3. Precedes ‘set’ and ‘go’

4. Where you might find the 9-day-old pease porridge.

6. Keep an eye out for these Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned birds migrating this month.

7. Follows ‘here,’ as in one place and another.

9. Chauncey Goodrich’s crowing achievement. See Oneida County History. (2 words)

10. What makes Jupiter’s moon Europe special?

12. Sandwiched between ‘beg’ and ‘steal.’

13. What Inertia Wellness Center specializes in. See page 8.

Down

1. King Arthur’s wizard adviser.

2. Kirkland Art Center’s Local Music Showcase winning band (2 words)

4. This farm in Franklin Springs grows vegetables and flowers. 2 words (abbr.)

5. Electronic “wizard” electronic game popular in the 1980s.

8. These trees symbolize enduring love of family and is also the name of our featured restaurant

11. Post St. Farm grows many of these type of vegetables.

12. Follows bibbidi and bobbidi.

There’sawizardinourpuzzleandalsoa“wizard”forouranswer! Unscramble the letters in the yellow boxes then email your answer to: mohawkvalleyliving@hotmail.com by the 18th of this month. You’ll be entered to win an MVL Mug and a bag of delicious, fresh-roasted FoJo Beans

Post St. Farm in Franklin Springs

by suzie jones

John and Allie Howard of Post St. Farm in Franklin Springs at their farm stand

I was fortunate to chat with Allie Howard of Post St. Farm in Franklin Springs this past week. Relative newcomers to the Clinton Farmer’s Market, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know these young folks and marvel at their gorgeous produce and flowers over the last few years. Vegetable and flower farmers are already incredibly swamped with fieldwork this time of year, but Allie and husband, John, are expecting their first baby at any moment. Giving me a few minutes of her time was an enormous gift, indeed!

From Allie:

“My husband John and I started Post St. Farm in 2021, but we’ve been growing our own food since 2019. It all started with a few raised beds next to our house where we grew lettuces, tomatoes, hot peppers, and more for our consumption. We then started a little roadside stand and put our fresh veggies out for locals to enjoy. After 2020, we took a hard look at what we wanted our future to be. John was previously in construction and decided to end his time in that field and pursue market farming full-time. I continued my day job as a journalist and editor until April of this year. I made the leap of going full-time with the farm and haven’t looked back. We’re inspired by the need for food accessibility, food quality, sustainability, and nurturing our land. A few people we look up to are Eliot Coleman, JM Fortier, and Erin Benzakein—pioneers in market farming, vegetable growing, and cut flowers, respectively. We’ve learned that this job is hard but important. Our community is very supportive and sometimes we can’t keep up with the demand! We look to expand our business, our team, and our infrastructure as we move forward. But it takes a lot of hard work.

“We grow a variety of heirloom vegetables, salad greens, and flowers. We offer vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, radishes, beets, turnips, onions, garlic, squash, cucumbers, potatoes, kale, Swiss chard, celery, bell peppers, microgreens, sprouts, cabbages, collards, and more. Our salad greens— like our signature blend of mixed greens—and others like arugula and spinach are what we’re known for. You can’t beat fresh-cut salad greens! For flowers, we grow a variety of cut flowers that thrive in our growing zone. For us, these are zinnias, snapdragons, lisianthus, sunflowers, dahlias, rudbeckia, celosia, amaranth, gomphrena, ageratum, anise hyssop, scabiosa, asters, cosmos, gladiolus, tulips and more.

“Our flower operation is a wonderful value-add to our farm. While vegetables are our mainstay, flowers add an extra edge to our offerings and bring in additional income to support our operations. We offer market bouquets all season long, host several flower subscriptions, take custom orders, and service events like weddings, parties, and more. This year, we did two full-service weddings and several a la carte orders. We will be scaling back a bit on our wedding services

We didn’t have to improve load lift capacity by up to 22%. We already had the competition beat. And we didn’t have to increase the backhoe’s digging depth by 30%.* But we did. And now, after more than a 1000 hours of testing from the scorching heat of Texas to the frigid air of Michigan, the new 2024 MT2 models are here. Proven and ready to outperform expectations of what tractors this good should cost. Start Blue. Stay Blue.

Start Blue. Stay Blue.

with our new arrival coming soon, but will continue to offer a la carte wedding flowers for pickup. The wedding business is its own beast and we’re just breaking into it!

“John and I are co-owners of Post St. Farm. John focuses mainly on vegetable growing, overall operations of the farm and greenhouse, land management, irrigation, and lots of other tasks to keep our farm running. I focus on flower growing and harvesting, finances, our website, social media, general upkeep and organization around our business, seasonal hires, and more. Speak-

ing of seasonal hires, we have at least two part-time employees on the farm in the summer and look to hire more staff as we grow and expand.

“I love the flexibility and freedom you get from working for yourself. It’s stressful, yes, but I get to work outside, with my husband, and grow a dream that we’ve been working so hard at for a few years now. It’s very fulfilling, especially when we get feedback from our customers at farmers’ markets and on social media. It makes the blood, sweat, and tears all worth it. We are working to have our farm in one centralized location on a new plot of land where we established our greenhouse and some new beds. We’ve been working off three separate plots and are looking to bring everything together where our greenhouse is lo cated. We also have plans for our own farm market, u-pick, introducing new crops, and much more. But first, we’re expecting a baby any day now!

“As the market season wraps up, our produce, greens, and more can be found on our Virtual Farmstand website at poststfarm.com/order. Ordering is open from Sundays-Thursdays

and pickup or local delivery is on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at our home base on Post Street. We offer all our products you would typically find at the market on our website and we update it weekly as new items become available.

“I should also mention that we have a produce CSA that we offer during the summer months. We love our CSA customers and are working to adapt our offerings as we move forward. Spots open up for 2025 this fall, so keep a look out!”

During market season, Post St. Farm can be found at the Clinton Farmer’s Market every Thursday from 10am-4pm. For updates, follow them on Instagram at @ poststfarm and on Facebook. Be sure to check them out! •

Jones and her husband,

Together, with their children, they produce specialty goat cheeses and gelato. Find them at local farmers’ markets and online at www.anotherjonesfamilyfarm.com

THE APARTMENT CONNECTION

Deborah Bali • Andrew Samel • Angela Pohleven

Suzie

Peter, own Jones Family Farm in Herkimer.

Pay it Forward Thrift Store in Herkimer

by CynthiA M. Quackenbush

Where do I start to list all the things I love about thrift stores? They are emporiums of unusual and delightful items, from useful to decorative to fun to just plain surprising. You can get a frisson of virtue from shopping there because you are recycling things that may otherwise have ended up in landfills. And when the thrift store is run by a church, you can also feel happy that your purchase will support good works.

Pay it

Forward Thrift Store is an excellent example of everything great about thrift stores. It is walking distance from my house, and right across the street from the post office. Therefore, on many a Saturday, when I walk to the post office to mail things, I make a side trip and see what I can find. I am rarely disappointed.

One Saturday, I was in need of pants for work. My place of employment is hard on clothes, and the clothes don’t have to look beautiful, so I had high hopes of finding some. Well, there was a rack of jeans for $1 each! This was awesome! I tried on three pairs in three different sizes (my weight tends to fluctuate by a few pounds at any given time). All three fit, if you can believe such a thing. Score! On a rack next to the jeans, I found a fabulous leopard print blazer. Who couldn’t use another fancy blazer? Full disclosure: I haven’t worn the blazer yet. Maybe this weekend…

I had another successful shopping trip there when my friend Kim visited. It’s always better to shop at a fun store with your bestie! I found a present for my mother: a miniature rosary in a glass bottle. Then I snagged a tiny frog on a clip for myself. After I found a pair of animal print sneakers that fit perfectly, I thought I should stop shopping. For one reason, I need to start getting rid of things in my house before I bring home even more. That was when Kim showed me some duck shower curtain rings. “You have to get these,” she said. It is

Pay It Forward Thrift Store is located in the First United Methodist Church in Herkimer

true I like ducks. My late husband, Steven, and I had a growing collection, mostly of small rubber duckies. We often surprised each other with unusual ones we had purchased or won in claw machines. We have several different colors and ones from almost every major holiday. Kim was right; I needed to dress up my shower curtain. I had to force myself not to look at the jewelry or the glassware. I do NOT need any more wine glasses, I reminded myself, OR any more jewelry! Well, I guess the frog on the clip could be considered jewelry, but he was awfully small.

The volunteers staffing the store are always friendly and helpful. I like to spend some time chatting with them about my purchases and anything else that comes to mind. On other trips to Pay It Forward, I have found books, a DVD, and even postcards. I love sending people postcards. After writing this article, I’m thinking I must make another trip there soon. I guess I’d better start cleaning my house to make room for more stuff! •

Pay it Forward Thrift Store

by and see our newly renovated

Valley Girl’s animal print sneakers from Pay It Forward Thrift Store

the willows in east utica

by Maryann Vanderpool-Imundo

Since 2010, the willows restaurant on Culver Ave in Utica has been pleasing customers with excellent contemporary American cuisine.

The meaning of its name can be found in its logo: a delicate sketch of a willow leaf suspended above a sturdy earthenware plate. It appears on an exterior sign bolstered by a lamp post amid the peaceful sound of rustling leaves.

Luke Barrett, Executive Chef and Owner of the willows said, “The name, the willows, just stuck. It seemed appropriate since we’re located right across the street from Proctor Park, where there are so many trees.”

It was Barrett’s happy childhood memories of helping his grandfather Frank Lawrence with his catering business in Little Falls that led him to attend culinary school at Johnson Wales in Rhode Island. Shortly after, he began his dream of becoming a restaurateur.

Since willow plants symbolize enduring love of fami ly even after a loved one’s passing, the willows’ decor pays homage to Barrett’s ancestors by showcasing family heirlooms such as an antique sewing ma chine, stained glass windows, wall hangings, wooden cabinets, and antique cookbooks.

The ambiance is further enhanced with attractive table settings exhibiting artistic crockery. Barrett said, “We love Clinton Pottery. Our plates, vases, water pitchers, ramekins, and cups are all from them.”

The willows restaurant derived its name from the trees at nearby Proctor Park

Luke Barrett of the willows followed in his grandfather’s footsteps

Munson presents ModernWomen ModernVision

This fall, Munson Museum of Art in Utica will host the exhibition “Modern Women | Modern Vision: Photographs from the Bank of America Collection,” highlighting the bank’s renowned collection of photography. “Modern Women | Modern Vision” will present more than 80 images created exclusively by women artists spanning much of the last century. The exhibition is on view from Oct. 19, 2024, through Jan. 12, 2025, at Munson Museum of Art.

Diverse in style, tone, and subject, these legendary images range from spontaneous to composed as well as monumental to intimate in scale. “Modern Women” reveals the bold and dynamic ways women artists have contributed to the development and evolution of photography in the face of discrimination by critics and consumers alike.

“From Dorothea Lange’s breathtaking image of a mother and child during the Great Depression to Cindy Sherman’s contemporary film stills, imagery that has become a part of the history of our times will enhance the understanding of the towering contribution made by these artists during the turbulent decades of the 20th century,” observed Stephen Harrison, Munson museum director and chief curator.

Women photographers have played a vital role in framing the modern experience through the lens of the camera. They have embraced the art form from its introduction in 1839 through the technological developments of the early 1900s and have used their perspective to produce extraordinary views of the world around them.

Women have negotiated waves of social, political, and economic change, increasingly leveraging the camera as a means of creativity, financial independence, and personal freedom.

“In this exhibition, there are portraits of people from all walks of life that enable us to see and understand humanity,” said Mary Murray, curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Munson. “Landscapes are framed to underscore our footprint on the earth. Several artists have staged images to unveil the creative artifice of the medium and to reveal how biases are shaped because of photography.”

Disrupting the longstanding constraints placed on women’s social behavior and gender roles, early trailblazers helped establish

Sandy Skoglund (American, b. 1946) Revenge of the Goldfish, 1981. Cibachrome print, AP 7/30

Lisette Model (American, b. Austria, 1901–1983)

Twelve Photographs: Woman at Coney Island, New York, c. 1939–1941. Printed 1976 Gelatin silver print Bank of America Collection

photography as a vital form of creative expression. They also laid the groundwork and served as role models for subsequent generations of artists.

The exhibition unfolds through a closer look at six themes within the collection: Modernist Innovators; Documentary Photography and the New Deal; The Photo League; Modern Masters; Exploring the Environment; and The Global Contemporary Lens. Familiar works by Margaret Bourke-White, Imogen Cunningham, Cindy Sherman, and Carrie Mae Weems as well as iconic portraits by Dorothea Lange and Diane Arbus; street photography by Ruth Orkin and Helen Levitt; and edgy appropriation photo-collages by Barbara Kruger combine to tell a dynamic story of the 20th century in a display rich in history, beauty, poignancy, and power.

Curator Mary Murray will present a free gallery talk at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 23, on “The Problem with Portraits,” highlighting a selection of photographs by Dorothea Lange, Cindy Sherman, Carrie Mae Weems, and others in a discussion about the uncomfortable nature of authentic representation.

This exhibition has been loaned through the Bank of America Art in our Communities® program. •

ICY WORLD EXPLORER

by carol higgins

During the night of January 7, 1610, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei pointed his homemade telescope to Jupiter. The planet was known for thousands of years, but this was the first time a magnifying instrument was used to observe it. That night he spotted three “stars” close to Jupiter. The next night he noticed the trio had moved and a fourth had appeared. A week later he concluded they are moons that orbit the planet and published his famous discovery in March. Today they are known as Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, all easily seen with amateur astronomer telescopes. Europa is a compelling target for scientists, and, on October 10th, the largest planetary explorer spacecraft that NASA has ever built is scheduled to launch to investigate the intriguing moon. This month, we focus on the Europa Clipper mission!

What is so special about Europa, particularly since Jupiter has 95 moons and overall 293 are moons orbiting our solar system’s planets? Water is essential to life on Earth, along with chemical building blocks, energy sources, and long-term stable conditions. Scientists suspect Europa may have those properties. Six spacecraft have flown by Europa since 1973, capturing images and information about its unusual surface covered with cracks and ridges, and clues about the interior. That data and recent observations confirm Europa has an icy shell between 10 and 15 miles deep, and provides strong evidence of an underground global saltwater ocean

containing twice as much water as all of Earth’s oceans.

Europa Clipper is an orbiter with a challenging main science goal: determine if Europa has conditions below the surface that could support life as we know it. To answer that difficult question, NASA set three science objectives: investigate the moon’s composition; characterize surface geology; measure the thickness of the icy shell, and discover and study the underground ocean. To accomplish those objectives, the spacecraft carries a sophisticated suite of nine science instruments, along with navigation, propulsion, communications, and power systems. All are designed to withstand Jupiter’s intense radiation field.

The imaging system has two cameras. One takes high-resolution images to provide surface geology information, the other uses infrared imaging to detect warmer areas where liquid water may have reached the surface. A second pair of images detect the contents of Europa’s atmosphere (even plumes erupting from the surface) and map the composition of any hotspots to understand surface geology. A magnetometer determines the icy shell’s thickness and confirms if an ocean exists. Another instrument detects magnetic field distortions to gain clues about the ocean. A mass spectrometer analyzes atmospheric gases and ocean chemistry, while a surface dust analyzer determines the chemistry of material ejected into space from Europa.

Europa Clipper near Europa, illustration Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Europa is slightly smaller than Earth’s moon and orbits about 417,000 miles from Jupiter. On average Jupiter is about 500 million miles from the Sun, so Europa Clipper will have a long trip once it launches. After traveling 1.8 billion miles, it arrives at Jupiter in April 2030 and slowly and carefully adjusts its trajectory to enter an elliptical orbit around Jupiter – taking it on a path to regularly fly past Europa and begin its science mission in Spring 2031. During its four-year mission, the spacecraft makes 50 close flybys of Europa, some only 16 miles above the surface during its closest approaches.

Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch on October 10th on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. In case of weather or other delays, a 21-day launch window is available. For the latest mission news, spacecraft information and to watch the exciting launch, visit the https://europa. nasa.gov website. GO Europa Clipper! Wishing you clear skies! •

Hanny’s Voorwerp. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, W. Keel, Galaxy Zoo Team

Spiced Apple Dutch Baby

by Nat Levin

Encountering semi-wild apple trees and sampling their fruits is one of the great joys of fall in Central New York. The Mohawk Valley is full of roads lined with old apple trees, and remnants of orchards that are now fading into the forest. It is a delight to try an apple from one tree, then another, and another, each variety yielding a spectrum of flavors, from honey-sweet to tart to astringent flavors. While you can enjoy certainly replicating this tasting experience in a managed orchard, something is thrilling about the discovery that comes with stopping along the road.

This spiced apple Dutch baby recipe was developed with a more tart apple in mind, but by all means, use what’s available to you. Adding buckwheat flour makes for a denser, more substantial pancake, which firms up quickly after it comes out of the oven. The contrast between the soft, tart apples and the slightly sweet pancake batter is irresistible. Think of this as an indulgent breakfast or a fairly austere dessert. For breakfast, serve it with yogurt and syrup; for dessert, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a cloud of whipped cream will elevate it to a more luxurious treat.

For the batter:

½ cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup buckwheat flour

3 eggs

2 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon kosher salt

½ cup whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

For the apples:

2 large, tart apples, peeled and sliced into ½ inch wedges

4 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon cardamom

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons rum, applejack, calvados, or brandy

A day before serving, make the batter. Combine batter ingredients and mix thoroughly until all flour is absorbed (food processor, blender, or immersion blender are preferable, but you can whisk by hand too). Refrigerate overnight.

An hour before serving, remove the batter. Preheat oven to 450.

Melt butter in a 12” cast iron pan, then add apple wedges, spices, and sugar. Sauté in the butter until the apples begin to soften, about five minutes, then deglaze the pan with the rum. Whisk the batter before using, and if it seems too stiff, add a ¼ cup of water to loosen it. Then pour batter on top of the apples – some of them will migrate to the side, and that’s okay – and put pan in the oven. Bake at 450 for ten minutes, then turn the oven down to 375 and bake another ten minutes, or until the pancake is puffed and lightly browned. Serve warm or at room temperature. •

In-store Repairs

733-7676 www.alisonsjewelry.net

Middle Settlement Rd.

10:30-5, Sat:

Falafel, Babaghanoush , Taboulie, Grape leaves, Spinach pies. Since1967

6am-6pm, Sat: 6am-5pm,

Jack Riffle and Natalie Levin of Local Foods Mohawk Valley

october 2024 GALLERY GUIDE

Chauncey Goodrich Historical Hall of Fame Inductee

By Patrick Reynolds

The Oneida County Historical Hall of Fame was started in 1946 and honors individuals from Oneida County who impacted our community and the world. Its goal is to ensure that noteworthy people in our community and their achievements are recorded in local history. Four individuals will be officially inducted on October 10, 2024: Dr. John Cochran, Army Surgeon General and physician to George Washington; Charles Gaetano, founder of Charles A. Gaetano Construction Corporation, entrepreneur and philanthropist; Chauncey Goodrich, Godfather of all modern potatoes; and Carolyn K. Tyler, a barrier-breaking educator.

Often overlooked in the annals of history, Chauncey Goodrich is a worthy inductee. When the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s spread causing malnutrition, starvation, and death, Goodrich took it upon himself to solve the problem.

Goodrich was born in Troy, NY in 1801. He graduated from Union College in 1825 and attended Princeton Theological Seminary. In the fall of 1828, he began teaching at the Oneida Institute, a progressive manual labor college in Whitesboro, NY that “unified classical education with agricultural, horticultural, and mechanical labor.”

American farmers experienced a disastrous loss of their potato crop in 1842. The potatoes sprouted and grew normally but later developed ‘dead spots’ that quickly engulfed the plant, causing the potatoes to rot before harvest. This was early evidence of the potato blight that would soon spread

Oneida County History Center, director of Public Programs

the globe.

In 1841, Goodrich moved to Utica and began working as a chaplain at the State Lunatic Asylum where he oversaw the farm. He was an experimental botanist who carefully studied the effects of climate and cultivation on various crops. When the potato blight arrived, he began a long experiment to solve the problem.

Goodrich believed potatoes were losing “vitality” during their approximately 100 years of cultivation in North America. He sought to solve the problem by reintroducing “vigorous, native potatoes” from South America to cross with the enfeebled American crop.

Goodrich, using his own money, obtained several potato cultivars from Chile in 1859 and cross-bred them with local potatoes. He experimented for sixteen years and tested over fifteen thousand potatoes seeking a viable, blight-resistant variety.

His crowning achievement was the Garnet Chili potato, a blight-resistant and productive strain he distributed throughout the country at cost. Goodrich was lauded in the agricultural journals of his day for his botanical experimentation and publication of numerous papers on the culture and disease of the potato. It was remarked at a meeting of the New York State Agricultural Society in 1865, that at least three million dollars had already been saved by the introduction of the Garnet Chile potato.

It is worth noting that Mr. Goodrich, from constitutional idiosyncrasy, was never able to eat a potato and that he tested the various varieties solely by chemical analysis, taste, and observation of cooking qualities.”

Further experimentation with the Garnet Chili by Albert Bresee and Luther Burbank yielded the now ubiquitous Burbank Russet. Commonly used for french fries, it is the most widely grown potato in North America. DNA fingerprinting has shown the Garnet Chili potato to be the genetic ancestor of no fewer than 150 varieties (or 94%) of potatoes grown in the 21st century in America and Europe.

Goodrich published over 130 papers on agriculture, botany, and potatoes. His last paper was finished just days before he died in 1864. •

TALES FROM SHAWANGUNK

by Peggy Spencer Behrendt

In 1974, Tim and Peggy Spencer Behrendt set off on an adventure. They began a new life in the woods of Cold Brook, NY, without modern conveniences like electricity or indoor plumbing. These are excerpts and reflections from Peggy’s journal chronicling their adventures and also her childhood memories growing up in Westmoreland.

We tried to instill in our children and grandchildren our values of respect for the woods and its inhabitants while making their connection a fun experience.

1986 - When I got home from Utica today, grandsons Todd (9) and Brandon (7) were here with Tim. Brandon wanted to play basketball with us or hide and seek or follow the trail to Black Creek. I made pizza first, then we played hide and seek among the trees between our cottages. Tim was IT. The boys ran toward the Children’s Cottage and I snuck up onto the roof of our cottage. Brandon finally found me after Tim had found them. I put my finger on my lips to ask him; “Shh, don’t tell” and he whispered, “I won’t tell them, Grandma.”

So, he immediately told Todd, and they went into the house and came out wearing our gardening shirts and a couple of our hats to try to make Tim think they were me! It was really cute! They ran around and whistled like Tim and I do to signal each other. Brandon sang out in a high voice, “I’m over

here.”

I finally let tired Tim find me and we went to the outhouse where Todd was hiding and Tim said, “Oh, there she is, in the outhouse!”

Then we took them to the trail head that starts at our homemade springboard. They were still wear ing our grungy old work clothes. We told them how to follow the marks on the trees and sent them off on their first big solo hike which they started by leaping off the springboard. We followed quietly behind, just out of sight to make sure they didn’t get lost and to let them feel their aloneness with nature.

Todd noticed some bear scat along the path, and they made it to the creek with very few de tours. Brandon said he wanted to see the bear poop on the way back, but when Todd pointed it out, he barely glanced at it as he hurried by. Must have made him nervous. He led the way back.

Tim told them about the day he found a drunken mouse in the wine cupboard. We’d had wine in an aluminum sack and the mouse had chewed a hole in it!

Peggy’s needle felted witch. She offers a felting workshop this month!

Becky was even kind to flies

Now 2024. Last summer, on a late morning bike ride I noticed a small piece of oatmeal in my mouth, which I surmised had loosened from between some teeth. I debated; should I spit it out, swallow it, or look and make sure it is what I think it is? I looked. Just imagine how I felt to discover a slightly masticated deer fly that had somehow flown into

my mouth unnoticed. UGH! At least it didn’t taste bad. Then my brain started mercilessly teasing me with the ridiculous old song, “There was an old woman who swallowed a fly….” What a narrow escape I’d had, because to catch the fly, the old woman in the song consequently ate a spider that “wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.” Then she swallowed a bird to catch the spider, a cat to catch the spider, a dog to catch the cat, a goat to catch the dog, a cow to catch the goat… until she ate a horse and “died of course”! I kept my mouth shut for the rest of the ride and only spoke through gritted teeth.

Our daughter Rebekah would likely feel sad for the fly. Around 1970, when she was in first grade, during outdoor recess, she noticed semi-frozen house flies struggling to free themselves from the ice on the windowsills of her classroom. She felt sorry for them and during her free time, used a pencil to chip away the ice around each one so she could bring them inside to let the ice melt and set them free. She was also even able to enlist the help of some of her little classmates to join her crusade. When the teacher discovered what was going on, however, she told Becky that “Flies are not worth bothering with.” And this was Becky’s first realization that the lives of some creatures are ot valued

by humans.

Now she advises us on our walks together to watch out for little toads so we don’t accidently step on them.

When I was young, I too could imagine and sympathize with the plight of other creatures. I still can easily enter into what the consciousness of various plants and animals might be like. Perhaps all children do that

Todd jumps off our homemade springboard

Todd and Brandon take their first solo trail

when they play with their stuffed dolls, animals, and toys and put words and actions into them. I even debated whether a pretty rock I wanted to collect would prefer to come home with me or stay where it was. I’ve hardened a bit because the possible consciousness of rocks doesn’t concern me too much anymore. And as a gardener, I’ve become a ruthless pruner and weeder, a murderer of plants. Tim is not very good at weeding and I think part of it is his sympathy with plants. Some people take this consciousness as far as becoming fruitarians, only eating what may be harvested without killing or harming the plant, i.e. fruits, nuts, and seeds. I hav-

en’t heard that this can be a healthy diet over the long term. I think nuts and seeds want to sprout and live, too, so what’s the point?

Vegetarianism and awareness of the likely ability to experience feelings and sensations among all flora and fauna are much more common these days, but they used to be rare. When my Sunday School friend, Peter Burg from Clinton, caught a mouse in a humane Havahart trap during the winter, he wouldn’t release it outside in the snow and cold, he kept it warm and fed inside a ventilated aquarium in his house until spring. He not only didn’t kill the mouse, he treated it with compassion.

Meeting my husband Tim was the final confirmation of my intuitive but secret feelings of caring and empathy for all other creatures. Here was a man, a strong, handsome, virile man who, like I, cherished and valued other life forms. He was smart, educated, athletic, and most of all, kind, and still is.

For the many years we did ministry, a tiresome issue occurred regularly whenever we sat at a table to eat with new acquaintances at an event. We received a well-meaning, but usually skimpy vegetarian course while our dinner companions received hearty meat-based entrees. An innocent but in-

vidious question was inevitable. “Why are you a vegetarian?” We didn’t wish to be rude, or evangelistic, but to talk about it could put a damper on their enjoyment of their meal and make us sound judgmental. I always squirmed while letting Tim deal with it.

I recently read that some people pursue strictly carnivorous diets, eschewing vegetables completely. An article in a September 2024 issue of The Guardian by Niloufar Haidari interviews an advocate of this diet, Anthony Chaffee. “Plants are trying to kill you,” Chaffee tells Niloufar and compares the long-term health impacts of eating salad to those of cigarettes and alcohol. He believes that strictly eating flesh is our “ancestral human diet.” However, Dr Peter Ungar, paleoanthropologist and evolutionary biologist at Arkansas University says, “There is no single ancestral human diet. …even Neanderthals…have barley grains embedded in the dental calculus on their teeth.”

I think that our ability to be omnivores, able to eat almost anything we can get, has helped our species survive.

Whatever your sympathies are, and your need to be a healthy person, it’s a wonderful thing to try to minimize your environmental impact through not only your lifestyle but your diet. And finding ways to give children positive experiences in nature is also a great way to care for the earth and their future.

We are all children of the Earth and have a right to survive. Let us do it as kindly and gently as possible. •

The Shawangunk Nature Preserve is a deep ecology, forever wild, 501©(3), learning and cultural center. Tim and Peggy still live there and can be contacted through their website. www.shawangunknaturepreserve.com

Upcoming Workshops at SNP

Saturday, October 19, 2024. 9:30am HALLOWEEN SCULPTURES with Peggy Behrendt

Make a hand-crafted Halloween ornament using dry needle-felting technique with soft, dyed wool in many color options. Pictured is a sneaky spider and a Witch rising from the misty mosses of the swamp. You may come up with your own ideas like a tombstone, a pumpkin, a bat…. Materials cost will range from $5 to $20 according to what you choose to make. This a fun sculptural technique that involves repeatedly punching a slightly barbed needle into a wad of wool, making it condense into the shape you want.

Meet at 217 Shawangunk Rd. Cold Brook. Call 315-723-2813 by October 12th to attend.

“Tales from Shawangunk” Book 3 is now available for a $15 donation to SNP at Peter’s Cornucopia, The Sunflower, Little Falls Community Co-Op, and Shawangunk Nature Preserve. It also may be borrowed through Mid-York Library from the Poland Library.

continued from page 4

talented cook and puzzle enthusiast, and his lifelong hobby is building G and HO gauge scale steam engines. He’s a seasoned traveler, sharing countless adventures with his daughters, including trips to Alaska and many national parks. In 2017, he accompanied our family to Costa Rica and fearlessly went zip-lining with his grandsons.

These are the things I thought about while walking around the festival until my son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter arrived. We celebrated Skip and life that afternoon as we watched our little girl have too much fun with a red balloon. I was grateful for my community and remembered how important this village and its people are to me. I stayed until the last band, Old Main, unplugged and invited

the lingering crowd to sing along.

As my father-in-law embarks on the difficult road to recovery, I hope memories of his many adventures comfort and bolster him. The vase that came out of the fire that day will remind me of how my father-in-law faced the unknown in his quest for life and how my community helped lift me up and celebrate life. •