Mohawk Valley Living 63 December 2019 by Mohawk Valley Living

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IN THE VALLEY CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS

EXPLORING THE ARTS, HISTORY AND CULTURE OF OUR REGION

DECEMBER 2018

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH OUR NEW EXHIBITION

WINTER

WARMTH

COVERLETS, QUILTS, AND CLOTHING On view through December 30 Discover how previous generations kept warm during cold upstate winters with exquisite examples of winter clothing, quilts and more from the Fenimore’s remarkable collections. Additional exhibitions include Puzzles of the Brain: An Artist’s Journey through Amnesia, Hamilton’s Final Act: Enemies and Allies, and four others! These events are made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

MORE REASONS TO VISIT See Fenimore decked out for the holidays with festive décor in several galleries! Receive $2 OFF regular adult admission* Get 10% OFF any purchases in the Museum Shop* Free hot cocoa and cookies in the Fenimore Café with admission.* *Just say “Winter Warmth” to receive $2 OFF regular adult admission and 10% OFF in-store purchases. No other discounts apply. Does not include memberships or purchases in the Fenimore Café. Show your admission receipt for free hot cocoa and cookies. Offer expires 12.30.18

Above: Girl’s Ermine Hood, ca. 1870-1885. Velvet, ermine, silk. Gift of Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. Background image: (detail) Quilt, late 1800s. Susan E. York Bullard (1863-1934). Cotton.

5798 ROUTE 80 | COOPERSTOWN, NY

OPEN TUESDAY – SUNDAY 10 AM – 4 PM CLOSED MONDAYS, THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS

F E N I M O R E A R T. O R G

Holiday Open House: November 16th || 5pm - 7pm

Join us for a night of special sales, refreshments, and restaurant deals. Preview the holiday merchandise at your local shops, and support the community.

Night of Lights: November 30th || 5:30pm

Most shops will stay open until 7pm. Enjoy live music, a sing-a-long with the Canastota Community Band, free refreshments and sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;mores, horse- drawn wagon rides, fire truck parade, and the annual tree lighting ceremony. Santa will arrive at 6pm!

Maxwellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chocolates: December 8th || 12pm - 2pm Make and decorate holiday cake pop workshop. Create and decorate your very own free holiday treat. Holiday Activites: Wagon rides, Santa visits, holiday movies and more free festivities throughout the month of December.

Next Issue:

Many Thanks

January 1st

Available exclusively at our sponsors. Visit our website for list of pick-up locations.

contents 6 9 12 19 20 27 31 33 34 37 40 41 43 45 48 50 51 52 54 55 58 66 68 74 75

Oneida County History Center ADK Journal Christmas Events Fort Plain Antiques Restaurant Guide Antiques Guide Made Here MV Classical Nola’s in Utica December in the Forest MVL Crossword Reflections of My Youth Highwheeler Coffee On the Farm with Suzie MV Gardens & Recipes Bode MV Astronomy Club Local Photography Breweries/Wineries Events Gallery Guide MV Nature Herkimer Co. Historical Society Tales from Shawangunk, Part 51 Genesee Joe Advertiser Directory

by Sharry L. Whitney

Last month I was so “high” on my first conquered Adirondack high peak that I forgot to take the opportunity to give thanks during this season of thanksgiving! I believe it’s never too late (or too much) to give thanks. I’m feeling very sentimental and appreciative of our major sponsors who have been with us since the beginning. Mark and Jim Turnbull of Turnbull Insurance, Steve Ponte and Joe Steet of the Steet-Ponte auto dealerships, and Art White of White’s Farm Supply. When I say we couldn’t do this without them, it is no exaggeration. If you need dependable insurance, a new or used vehicle, or farm and lawn equipment, please visit them (or just stop and thank them even if you don’t.) Visiting any of our advertisers is the best thanks you can give if you’re a fan of MVL Magazine or TV show. I would also like to thank our amazing and dedicated writers, editors, proofreaders, and delivery people. And, of course, a special thanks to our one and only super salesperson and friend Susan, who has great respect for local, small businesses. Also, thanks, Gary for your article this month giving me ideas of what to add to my Christmas wish list! •

On the cover: Nola’s Restaurant in Clinton, NY Zinn Brilliant’s 2018 Ornament of the Year Mourning dove in the snow

MOHAWK VALLEY LIVING MAGAZINE December 2018

PUBLISHERS Lance and Sharry Whitney EDITOR Sharry L. Whitney DESIGN & LAYOUT Lance David Whitney ASSISTANT EDITORS Shelley Delosh Jorge L. Hernández ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Susan Collea CONTRIBUTORS Peggy Spencer Behrendt, Tim Flihan Carol Higgins, Jorge L. Hernández, Brian Howard, Suzie Jones, John Keller, Melinda Karastury, Susan Perkins, Matt Perry, Cynthia Quackenbush, Denise Szarek, Gary VanRiper CONTACT US (315) 853-7133 30 Kellogg Street Clinton, NY 13323 www.MohawkValleyLiving.com mohawkvalleyliving@hotmail.com Mohawk Valley Living is a monthly magazine and television show that explore the area’s arts, culture, and heritage. Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of Mohawk Valley Living, Inc. Printed at Vicks in Yorkville, NY.

watch mvl every sunday!

Riggie is roaming around the magazine and hiding in the advertising areas. Next to him you’ll find a letter. Find all the Riggies and rearrange the letters to answer this month’s riddle. Enter by the 15th of this month to be included in a drawing for a $200 shopping spree at one or two of our advertisers! (Excluding media, banks, and Stewart’s Shoppes)

This Month’s Riddle: New Hartford

Winter is an exciting season and this team is the reason! Avid fans scream and shout for this, a band of sellouts!

Hint: 2 words, 11 letters

See the answer and winner to last month’s riddle on page 78 One entry per household per month. Mail to: Riggie’s Riddle, 30 Kellogg St., Clinton, NY 13323 or by email: mohawkvalleyliving@hotmail.com

7:30am and 11pm on wfxv 11:30am on WUTR 20

Mohawk Valley Living is brought to you by

Steet-Ponte autogroup

Turnbull

INSURANCE SERVICE

the Oneida County History center

The blizzard of 1925 crippled the city of Utica, dumping 22 inches of snow on January 29th.

Blizzards

Oneida County’s Historic snowstorms by brian howard, executive director

On the cusp of another Mohawk Valley winter, readers can take comfort in knowing that their forebears weren’t spared the snowstorms that we’re sure to encounter. If anything, we are better equipped than past generations to weather the weather! We have already seen one storm this season and are ready for more. Two landmark blizzards stand out in our history. The great blizzard in March 1888 dumped several feet of snow from the mid-Atlantic to New England and paralyzed travel throughout the northeast corridor. Incidentally, this is also the one that claimed former Senator Roscoe Conkling (R-NY) of Utica, who died in New York City after collapsing during the storm

Keeping the electric trollies running was a priority during both the 1917 and 1925 blizzards.

Toy Shop

Because Play Matters

Specialty Toys

The News Source of Old Forge, Inlet and Surrounding Communities FREE Newspaper Available in the Greater Old Forge Area! www.weeklyadk.com

Events • Classes

Refreshments Samples-Giveaways

See facebook for schedule

36 New Hartford Shopping Center • 315.758.1652 or 877.721.PLAY Open Mon-Sat 10-8pm, Sun 12-4pm • www.ladyandleap.com

Christmas Open House! December 15th & 16th

531 Varick St., Utica 765-6463 www.utica-rememberwhen.com

Tues-Thurs 8-5:30, Fri 8-7. Sat 8-4, Closed Sun & Mon www.facebook.com/sosweetcandycafe

People wait for the electric trolley. The storms of ‘17 and ‘25 took down power lines. Restoring the trolley service people depended on was a top prioity.

The Olde w

Kountry Market

ive t c e l e S conds SeConsignment shop

for women, men and children Everyday, Business, & Semi Formal Wear

Your Source for:

Gift Boxes-Shipped! Homemade Pies Bulk Foods & Spices Canned Goods, Candies, Jams, Deli Meats & Cheeses, Yogurt, Baked Goods, Outdoor Furniture, Gifts & More!

Clothing, Accessories, Shoes, Books

Mention MV Living for 10% off total purchase!

Accepting consignments today, no appointment necessary!

8469 Seneca Tpke #102, New Hartford (315) 864-8447 • Tues-Fri 11-7, Sat 10-6, Sun 11-3 www.selectiveseconds2017.com

FRIENDLY BAKE SHOP

Merry Christmas!

Place your holiday orders now!

122 E. Main St., Frankfort

thefriendlybakeshop.com (315) 894-8861 Tues-Fri: 7-5, Sat: 7-3, Sun: 7-12:30

Cascade, Plymouth, & Hand-Dyed Yarns Knit and Crochet Supplies Classes: Beginners to Advanced!

6505 Route 5, Vernon, NY 13476 (315) 829-3035 Mon-Wed 9-5, Thur-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-4

Saturdays 9 am to 2 pm 101 Main St, in Pioneer Alley CooperstownFarmersMarket.org

Love & Stitches 214 Oriskany Blvd., Whitesboro 315 570-3316 • Tues-Fri 4-7, Sat 10-5 www.loveandstitchescny.com

and contracting pneumonia. In January 1966 another great blizzard brought life to a halt across the northeast. In Oswego, over eight feet of snow accumulated between January 27 and January 31. In the wake of this storm the state took substantial (and long overdue) measures to improve municipal capacity to respond to snow crises. Between 1888 and 1966 our area sustained many storms, some of which remain documented in the History Center archives. The pictures here are from 1917 and 1925 and show just how substantial these seasonal storms could be. Bundle up, friends, we’re in for a long one! •

Oneida County History Center 1608 Genesee Street, Utica (315) 735-3642

Open Tues.-Fri. 10-4, Sat 10-2 www.oneidacountyhistory.org

Oneida County History Bookstore at Sangertown!

Black Friday weekend: Friday Nov. 23rd-Sunday, Nov. 25th Saturday Dec. 8th- Sunday Dec. 23rd Visit us at the mall or the History Center on Genesee Street this holiday season for a great selection of local history!

Gifts for your fur friend!

Holiday Open House! Dec 1 & 2 21 Seneca St., Oneida Castle (315) 240-7565 • Open daily 10-5 www.mypawsboutique.com

Cold Cuts, Pecorino Romano, Ricotta, Mozzarella, Imported Provolone, & much more! Visit us for all your Italian Favorites! You’ll love our prices!

1150 McQuade Ave., Utica Mon: 8-4; Wed-Fri: 8-4:30; Sat: 8-Noon; Sun & Tues: Closed • 315-724-5578

Visit Our Showroom!

•Carpet •Hardwood •Laminate

•Linoleum •Ceramic Tile •Vinyl Tile

Michael SanFilippo Owner

315-733-3697 Why pay more? Come to Mike’s Floor Store!

3 Main St., Whitesboro • EMAIL: mikesfloorstore@gmail.com 8

adirondack journal

Holiday Gift Ideas for the 3-Season Hiker! story and photos by Gary VanRiper

“It’s beginning to look a lot like…” You know the song! And that means if you have a three-season day-hiker in your life who has not been naughty, but nice, this is the season you might be looking for a gift he or she would like. It can be a challenge since the selection of clothing and gear can be such a matter of personal preference. It is not just a matter of color or style of a backpack or rain jacket. Even the weight of an item is a consideration to the hiker that is trying to pack safely but efficiently. A gift certificate to a reputable outdoor store or company which has a good selection of gear is not as personal, but for the may be most practical.

All of the writer’s hiking clothes – hat, shirt, pants, and socks are treated with InsectShield to help protect from ticks that carry lyme disease.

Alyssa Sadallah, Executive Pastry Chef

Custom Cakes, Cookies & Gourmet Pastries Fresh Hot Beignets every Sunday!

Taking holiday orders now! Seasonal Cupcakes & Cookies, Truffles, & More! 12 Erie St., Yorkville (315) 864-8124 • Tues 8-4, Wed 8-6, Thurs & Fri 9-4, Sat 8-2, Sun 9-12 wickedsweets@hotmail.com • Find us on Facebook: Wicked Sweets by Alyssa

If you do decide to go for it and know sizes for clothing avoid cotton! There is a well-known phrase among seasoned hikers. “Cotton kills.” That is because cotton absorbs moisture and holds it close to the body. Hypothermia can occur even at temperatures above freezing. All of my shirts for hiking have wicking properties. All of my socks have a high concentration of Merino wool. And all of my pants are synthetic which are so comfortable, I wear them almost all of the time. In fact, I wear them so often all of our grandkids call them ‘grandpa pants’. However, don’t ask for grandpa pants at the store – I’ll take no responsibility for what they may try to sell you. And did I happen to mention, avoid cotton! Light colors are better, reflecting heat and making it is easier to see ticks . Darker colors can also attract bees. A great idea is a gift certificate from InsectShield®. The hiker in your life can have any new clothes treated with this repellant which is good for up to 70 washings. With the ever-growing threat of Lyme Disease from ticks, ALL of my clothes, including my hat, have been treated with InsectShield®. For details visit the website (www. insectshield.com). Does it really work? All I can say is that with all the hiking I do, including off-trail bushwhacking, I have yet to find a tick. I take other precautions as well, including wearing long pants and gaitors. And there is another good friend of the serious hiker. Gaitors. These are worn over boots and pants and create a seal to help keep debris out of your boots and help prevent ticks and bees from making an unwelcome entrance up an open pant leg! Every hiker should also carry a headlamp. One never knows when there might be an emergency making it necessary to exit the woods after dark or even have to stay the night. Trekking poles can be collapsed and carried, but I use them 100 percent of the time for balance, for helpful lift on an ascent and for

Gaitors help prevent debris from entering boots

Trekking poles for help with descent.

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taking pressure of knees and legs during a descent. I recommend a pole that locks the sections in place. Hydration is vital while on the trail and on longer hikes it can be tough carrying several pounds of pure water. Water filters are another must. I use a Katydyn Hiker Pro. And to keep everything nice and dry during inclement weather or while pushing through foliage wet with rain or early morning dew, consider a pack cover. Most are very light and can consolidate into small balls easily packed away when not in use. Guidebooks and maps and a camera to document each trip all make great gifts. The camera I carry is compact and I keep it in a hard-shell and waterproof case. Patches! I hike for patches! There are patches available for all of the Adirondack’s highest peaks. And there are always gift memberships available for the Adirondack Mountain Club which includes a number of benefits including a subscription to Adirondack Magazine. For more information see www.adk.org/ membership/membership-benefits. Let me close this 2018 by wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. And a safe and happy new year! •

Trekking poles for balance.

Gary VanRiper is an author, photographer, and pastor at the Camden Wesleyan Church. He has written 15 children’s books with his son, Justin. Find out more at:

www.adirondackkids.com

Water filters to help ensure hydration.

SUNNYBROOK FARM (315) 841-4910

Stock up for the holidays sale!

Pack covers help keep the pack and gear dry when passing through rain or dew-drenched foliage.

Shop USA Made Artisan Made Shop Shop Local Shop...

20% Off Local Beef & Pork Mention this ad for discount

Home Deliveries to the areas of Clinton, Sauquoit and New Hartford

Hours: Mon-Fri 8-4, Sat by appt. only

Pick up at Williams Fence 2033 Brothertown Rd., Deansboro www.sunnybrookmeats.com

www.thevillagecrossing.com Tues-Fri: 11am-5pm, Sat: 11am-4pm 11 W. Park Row, Clinton (315) 853-5299

MV family

Holiday FUN Mohawk Valley Performing Arts: The Nutcracker Saturday, Dec. 1st, 7:30pm Sunday, Dec. 2, 2pm

The Stanley Center for the Arts 259 Genesee St., Utica

Tickets: (315) 724-4000 www.thestanley.org

Who’s on your good list this holiday season? Give them their favorite Fly Creek Cider Mill products in a gift box or basket: • • • • •

Jams, Jellies and Preserves Hard Cider, Wine and Spirits Salsas and Cheeses Gift cards and MORE! FLYCREEKCIDERMILL.COM

288 Goose St, Fly Creek, NY

Utica Dance performs The Nutcracker Ballet at MVCC in Utica, December 14-16

Come visit with Santa! Saturday, December 1, Noon-3pm

Naturewood Knoll Tree Farm Christmas Shop 2408 State Route 169, Little Falls (315) 823-1133 Open through Dec. 23, Wed-Sun: 12-3 www.christmastreesny.org/custom/ naturewood

An ocean of poinsettias of all sizes and colors for your holiday decorating and gift-giving. Grown right here in our greenhouses! Kissing Balls • Wreaths • Fresh Cut Trees Christmas Dish Gardens • Cyclamens • Frosty Ferns Open Mon-Fri: 7-5:30, Sat & Sun: 9-4 • 9182 River Rd, Marcy (315) 368-4497 • www.riverroadgreenhouses.com

Annual Service of Lessons & Carols

Sunday, December 2, 4pm The Hamilton College Choir continues a holiday tradition by performing at the Annual Service of Lessons and Carols.

Christmas in Little Falls • Saturday, December 8th

Historical tours, free horse and carriage rides, visit with Santa Claus, caroling, indoor farmers’ market and an artisans’ fair. City of Little Falls • www.christmasinlittlefalls.com

Victorian Yuletide: A NYS Christmas Through December 30, 2018

Winter Concert, Intersections, Wednesday, December 5, 7:30pm

Led by Danan Tsan, The Hamilton College Choirs present the semester’s final concert.

Fountain Elms

Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute 310 Genesee Street, Utica (315) 797-0000 • www.mwpai.org

Wellin Hall, Schambach Center

Hamilton College, Clinton • www.hamiltonpa.org

Kirkland

New York legalized the celebration of Christmas in 1848 and the state led the way in the adoption and promotion of holiday traditions that are still observed today.

Art Center

Community Conversation December 9, 2018 Free to the Public 2:00 - 4:00pm Free to the Public

Sip some tea and Tour the KAC!

Meet the teachers, our amazing art preachers!

91/2 East Park Row - Clinton, NY 13323 315.853.8871 - www.kacny.org

Candlelight Evening The Farmers’ Museum

Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol

Saturday, December 8, 3-7pm

One of the region’s best-loved holiday traditions! The landscape takes on a magical appearance, illuminated by hundreds of candles.

December 7-9 and 13-16, 2018 Tickets $10-20 online at: www.playersofutica.org

Players of Utica

The Farmers’ Museum

1108 State Street Utica (315) 724-7624 • www.playersofutica.org

5775 Highway 80, Cooperstown www.farmersmuseum.org

Holiday Hoot at the Utica Zoo

Victorian Holiday Ornament Workshop

Saturday, December 8, 1-3pm

New this year: Breakfast with Santa! Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs. Sausage, Fruit, Juice, Milk, Coffee. Two seatings available; 9a- or 11am. Pre-sale tickets are required. Free hot drinks, cookies, and candy. Holiday Hoot is included with Zoo admission.

Saturday, Dec. 8, 9am-12pm

Create two or more original holiday ornaments using an array of provided materials including authentic reproduction Victorian “scraps,” and bring any crafting materials you wish to include.

Utica Zoo

One Utica Zoo Way, Utica (315) 738-0472 • www.uticazoo.org

Madison County Historical Society2222 435 Main Street, Oneida www.mchs1900.org

Breakfast with Santa

Mohawk Valley Choral Society: George Frideric Handel’s Messiah

Sunday, December 9, 8:30am

Enjoy a buffet breakfast menu. The cost is $6 per person and free for children ages 10 and younger. Santa has a gift for the young ones and a free gift card raffle for the adults. Santa will be accepting Christmas wish letters and don’t forget to bring your camera

Sunday, December 9, 2pm

Our Lady of Lourdes Church 2222 Genesee St, Utica www.mvchoral.org

Whitesboro Fire Department 171 Oriskany Blvd, Whitesboro

Naturewood Knoll

Tree Farm Open through Dec 23 Wed.-Sun., 10am - 6pm

Trees, wreaths, greens, fine art, toys, ornaments, stocking stuffers!

2408 St. Rt. 169, Little Falls (315) 823-1133

See Santa!

Sat., December 1, 12-3 14

8211 State Rt 12, Barneveld 315-896-3934 Tues-Fri 10-5:30, Sat 10-2 www.adirondackart.com

Berry Hill Book Shop

• children’s bookstore • reading tutoring • arts enrichment • literacy enrichment • birthday parties

Books mak great gifts!e

Displayed indoors or cut-your-own!

Fresh Wreaths Customed Designed by Order! Mail order wreaths available!

Visit our Christmas Gift Shop

Massoud’s TREE FARM

Over 75,000 used books!

2349 Rte 12-B, Deansboro, NY 315-821-6188 Open Tues-Sat 10-5 dls@berryhillbookshop.com

Christmas Trees!

Mon: 10-2, Tues-Fri: 10-7, Sat: 10-4

(315) 765-6262 • 587 Main St., New York Mills

(315) 737-5011 • 9716 Roberts Rd., Sauquoit Open daily: Mon-Fri: 9-8, Sat & Sun: 9-6

Holiday Gift Baskets, Christmas Trees (Pre-Cut and U-Cut!), Wreaths, Cookie Trays, & Stocking Stuffers! North Star Orchards Farm Market & Bakery

Open daily 8-6 Rte. 233, Westmoreland 315-853-1024 www.northstarorchards.com

Give local art, Wear local art, Display local art, Love local art.

For the gifts you love to give and receive! Complimentary gift wrapping!

Paintings & Photography, Drawings, Jewelry, Candles, Fleece, Felted & Woven Garments, Knitwear, Quilting, Wood Carving, Pottery, Baskets, Tinware, Lighting, Stained Glass, & much more!

Open 7 days a week at 1 College St, Clinton (315) 853-1453 www.artisanscorner.blogspot.com

clothing and giftware for men, women, children and infants

Open: Mon-Sat 10-6, and Sundays after Thanksgiving 20 West Park Row, Clinton, NY 315.853.3650 www.kriziamartin.com 15

Third Annual Szopka Festival & Competition Saturday, December 8, 11am-2pm

Handmade Szopka, live music, crafts, items for purchase, awards presentation, & a visit from St. Nick. The exhibition itself will feature community entries of Polish Szopka. Szopka are unique Nativity scenes that are ornately rich and detailed miniatures using recycled materials, colored foil, and assorted trims.

Gingerbread Houses Saturday, December 15, 10:30am

Build your own Gingerbread House to take home. Space for this program is limited. Please register online or call. Ages: 5 - 12

Utica Dance presents The Nutcracker Ballet Friday, December 14th, 7pm Saturday, December 15th, 2pm & 7pm Sunday December 16th, 2pm

MVCC Utica Campus

MVCC Theater 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica Tickets are $15 at www.uticadance.com Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door

Leon Etienne: The Magic of Christmas Saturday, December 22, 3pm

Leon will make a special appearance at The Stanley and perform close-up sleight-of-hand magic. A visit from santa too!. Tickets are just $25, with partial proceeds to benefit The Stanley.

Stanley Theater

Utica Public Library

303 Genesee St., Utica (315) 735-2279 www.uticapubliclibrary.org

261 Genesee St., Utica www.thestanley.org • (315) 724-4000

NYS INSPECTIONS • OIL CHANGES • TUNE UPS • COLLISION WORK • AC

Complete Collision and Mechanical Repair Since 1987 Central NY’s Destination for Unforgettable Events

A charming estate perched above historic Hamilton, NY. Offering comfortable lodging and a unique venue for weddings, corporate events, reunions, and other special celebrations.

Call for information or tour • (315) 825-5485 • www.ashlingacres.com

7509 Route 5 • Clinton, New York 13323 • Phone 315-853-8804

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School Instrument Rental Programs New & Used Musical Instruments

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Local Christmas Tree Farms Buttenschon Christmas Tree Farm, 9663 Luke Rd., Marcy • (315) 865-4849

Litchfield Christmas Tree Farm, 590 Silver St., Ilion • (315) 894-1347

Candella’s, 9256 River Rd., Marcy • (315) 736-8782

Massoud’s Tree Farm, 9716 Roberta Rd., Sauquoit • (315) 228-8296

Country Roads Tree Farm, 9647 Taberg-Florence Road, Taberg • (315) 336-0477

Naturewood Knoll Tree Farm - 2408 State Rt. 169, Little Falls • (315) 823-1133

Douglas Tree Farm, 7885 Postal Road, Oriskany • (315) 737-5032

North Star Orchards, 4741 State Route 233, Westmoreland • (315) 853-1024

Evergreen Acres, Fairway Lane, Sauquoit • (315) 768-7579

Pasadena Plantation, 1817 Thayer Hill Road, Boonville • (315) 942-6593

Henderberg’s Tree Farm, 6579 Henderberg Rd. South, Rome • (315) 737-5032

The Ransom’s Tree Farm, 9821 State Rte 365, Holland Patent • (315) 865-5069

Keith Tree Farm, 9382 Keith Rd. N. Brookfield • (315) 228-8296

Trenton Trees, 8982 Trenton Falls-Prospect Road, Remsen • (315) 896-4264

Asthma? Allergies? Pets?

Holiday Extravaganza!

Sunday December 16th Noon - 5:00 pm

30% off one item! *not valid on already discounted items

Refreshments served

Liberty Tabletop USA made flatware Wed & Sat: 11-4:30, Thurs & Fri: 11-7 • (315) 363-3003

622 Sherrill Rd., Sherrill

Off-Center Records Fall into Savings!

Get your $100 coupon at www.enjems.com 2010 Oriskany St. West Utica, NY (315) 733-0421

Carpet, hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile, and luxury vinyl

We Can Help!

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Sales • Service • Supplies 4299 Middle Settlement Rd., New Hartford (315) 525-7232

All things music - New & quality used Records, CDs, tapes, books, tees, memorabilia, guitars & accessories, drum accessories and more!

We are YOUR Downtown Music Connection! Hours M-Sat 11-6 116 Bleecker St., Utica, NY 13501 315-738-7651

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Stocking: Hats, Gloves, Mittens, Fur Hats, Sweaters, Capes, Ruanas, Socks, Slippers, Blankets, Moccasins, Pillows, Boot Inserts, Yarn, Scarves, Jackets and more.

*70% Baby Alpaca Looking for the *Designed For Skiers WARMEST Socks *Infused w/ Aloe Vera on the planet? Our Alpaca socks *Odor Resistant

Made in the USA!

Layaways Available!!

are up to 5X warmer than wool and are Naturally “water and odor” resistant. Alpaca breathes better than any other Natural fiber so your feet stay Warm, Dry and Comfortable!

Open Sundays Thru Christmas 11am - 4pm

27 West Main St., Little Falls, NY 13365

Gift Certificates Available!!

Ph. 315-823-1100 Mon - Fri: 10am-5pm / Sat: 10am-4pm Mastercard/Visa/Discover/Am Express 18

The Everyday Adventures of Mohawk Valley Girl

fort plain antiques by Cynthia Quackenbush

I asked my husband, Steven, while he was reading Mohawk Valley Living, to search for someplace we could go. He came up with Fort Plain Antiques and Salvage. I say, well played, Steven. From Herkimer to Fort Plain was a pleasant drive with beautiful views of mountains and farmlands. We found the place without incident and were immediately charmed. I think repurposed big, old, brick buildings are perfect for antique stores. You can sense the history. Also, there is plenty of room for lots of merchandise without things becoming too cramped. We wandered through several rooms on two floors, admiring and marveling. We saw old bottles, glassware, and vintage clothes, including some awesome hats. One thing we were especially interested in, which we had seen on the Facebook page, was a set of shelves filled with salt and pepper shakers. My mom has collected salt and pepper shakers for years. Dad has to keep building more shelves for her because we keep finding nice ones to buy for her. There was plenty of other merchandise to look at and envy. Of course, it is dangerous for a woman my age to go through an antiques store. “Hey, I used to have one of those. That’s an antique? I’m old!” Some people go on to think, “If

DEANSBORO SUPERETTE

Since 1967

Home of the Monster Sub!

Feeling a bit unhinged? Fort Plain Antiques is the perfect therapy!

hamilton

indoor winter Farmers Market Sat. Dec 8th & Sat Dec 22nd, 10am - 1pm Visit Santa at both markets!

Middle Eastern Favorites! Consignment Shoppe

Wed 10-4, Thurs 10-6, Fri 10-4, Sat 10-3

(315) 896-2050

8024 Route 12, Barneveld

Featuring local meats, produce, baked goods, Artisan breads, cheeses, jams, salsa, chocolates, coffee, honey, maple & hand crafted goods. TasteNY free food sampling by Parry’s.

Humous, Kibbie, Falafel, Babaghanoush , Taboulie, Grape leaves, Spinach pies.

Open 7 days a week! Rt 12B, Deansboro (315) 841-4377 www.deansborosuperette.com

Parry’s, 100 Utica Street, Hamilton 19

I still had that, I could sell it and be rich!” I’m sure that would never work for me. Either I use my things and they get broken or worn out, or, if they are decorative, I like them too much to sell them. But I am definitely susceptible to the feeling old part. Then again, like the lady behind the counter said, “I’m vintage.” Steven and I were more interested in the antiques than the salvage, because we are not handy with tools. However, people who are handy can find a great many distinctive items to use for their projects. There are doors, hardware, sinks, plumbing, and more. Maybe I could learn to be handy. We chose a salt and pepper shaker for my mom. I feel comfortable putting that in my article, because I intend to give it to her before this is published. I saw a number of other little things I would love to purchase for various people on my Christmas list, so another drive to Fort Plain may be in my future. As we were paying for Mom’s present, I noticed a few necklaces hanging up in an adjoining aisle. I went over and checked them out while Steven paid for the salt and pepper shakers. Then, I carefully pointed them out to him. After all, Christmas is coming for me, too! •

Searching for my lost shaker of salt

Fort Plain Antiques

1134, 55 Willett St, Fort Plain • (518) 332-0395 www.fortplainantiques.com Tuesday- Saturday: 10am-5pm, Also by chance or appointment C

Premiere Shooting and Hunting Let us help you find the perfect gift!

Gift Certificates, Memberships, Pheasant Hunts, & More!

• Sporting Clays • Pheasant Hunting • Shotgun Instruction • Pistol Instruction • Skeet, Trap & Five Stand • Rifle Range • Pistol Range

103 Main St., Whitesboro (315) 768-1462 Wed-Fri 6-2, Sat & Sun 6-1, Closed Mon & Tues

Wholesale Orders Call (315) 733-6603

Country Corner

Thrift Store Located in the First Presbyterian Church House

Route 365, Holland Patent Open 1st three Sat’s: 9-1 & 4th Thurs: 9-1 foothillsruralcommunityministry.com

Savor the fresh, rich flavor of hand-crafted chocolates! • Custom Gift Trays • Holiday Party Trays • Chocolates for any occasion Call for special orders!

11 Ellinwood Dr., The Orchard, New Hartford (315) 765-0256 • www.meyerschocolates.com Tuesday-Friday: 10-5, Saturday: 10-3

Visit Our Fully Stocked Gun Shop

Let us find your next shotgun, rifle, or handgun. We do custom fitting. We buy, sell, and trade. Beretta range, Browning, Winchester, SKB Dealer, Caesar Guerini, Syren, Benelli, Fabarms

3291 Burns Rd., Vernon Center 315-829-2529 • 315-796-4587 For complete information, including our schedule of events, please visit our website:

www.vernonnational.com

www.parryshamilton.com

Hamilton, NY

the mvl

restaurant

guide

“Home cookin’ at it’s finest!”

HOME STYLE COOKING

Friday Fish Fry!

•Daily breakfast

& luncheon specials •Ask about our family bowling special!

Serving breakfast and lunch daily

6798 State Rt. 20, Bouckville

8125 Rt.12, Barneveld, NY

(315) 893-4044 • Open Mon-Sat 6-2, Sun 6-Noon

(315) 896-2871 Open early every day!

CASSVILLE

CLINTON

Friday Fish Fry 11:30am-8pm

n Ope or y a f frid er! Dinn

1/2 lb. Juicy Angus Burgers!

1717 Route 8, Cassville (315) 839-5000

Open Mon-Thurs 6am-2pm, Fri 6am-8pm, Sat 6am-1pm, Sun 7am-Noon , Breakfast Served til Noon

CLINTON

BOUCKVILLE

BARNEVELD

Clinton

ALE HOUSE

Family owned & family friendly! Casual dining - Lunch & Dinner

Featuring NY State craft breweries & full bar (Utica Comets games live streamed!)

Live entertainment every Friday! • Wed. Trivia Nights!

43 Meadow Street, Clinton (315) 381-3021 Mon, Wed, Thurs & Fri: 11-1am, Sat & Sun: Noon-1am, closed Tues.

Where good friends Meet to Eat! Enjoy breakfast or a quick lunch! 8170 Seneca Tpke., Clinton (315) 732-3631 Mon-Fri 6am-2pm, Sat & Sun 6am-1pm

Primo Pizza at the Kettle

315-381-3231

The Most Unique Upside Down Pizza You Ever Tasted!

Celebratinign Weekday Specials 10 Years ! Tues- 20” X-Large Cheese Pizza . . . . $9.95 Clinton Wed- Small Cheese Pizza & 20 Wings . . . $16.95 (Toppings 2.25 ea, X-Cheese 2.95)

Thurs- 2 Large Cheese Pizzas . . . . . $17.95 (plus tax /toppings extra)

Specialty Rolls

9 West Park Row, Clinton 315.853.3052 Nolasinclinton.com

Sausage............$10.95 Spinach..............$10.95 Antipasto............$11.95 Sausage & Greens. . . .$12.95 Eggplant..........$11.95

Every Day Specials

Large Cheese & 20 wings . . . . $22.95 Large Cheese & 30 wings . . . . $29.95 (plus tax. celery, blue cheese, toppings extra)

Open Monday, Christmas Eve until 4pm & Monday, New Years's Eve until 8:30 pm! Place your orders now!

Tues-Thurs: 11am-9pm, Fri & Sat: 11am-10pm, Sun: 1pm-8pm

7756 Route 5, Clinton Located next door to Spaghetti Kettle www.primopizzeria1.com 21

Ilion

HERKIMER

RESTAURANT & BAR Casual American Cuisine

good food, good wine, good friends, good times

Roasted fresh daily on site! Come taste the difference! Breakfast and Lunch

123 Mohawk St., Herkimer • 315-866-1746

70 Otsego St., Ilion Mon-Fri: 6-2, Sat: 7:30-2 • (315) 985-0490 • www.mooserivercoffee.com

www.jamosrestaurantandbar.com • Open 7 days a week! 11am-9pm

LEE CENTER

little falls

r Book you rty a p y a holid ! today 229 (315) 533-7

Est. 1982

Catering Banquets & too!

Traditional French & American Cuisine Owner/Chef James Aufmuth

Let it snow!

Fine Dining • Lounge Grill Menu • Bed & Breakfast

We're located right on the C-4 snowmobile trail!

We use seasonal products from local and regional farmers and artisan producers. Serving fresh, sustainable seafood and fish.

Quality Food • Fresh Ingredients • Relaxing Atmosphere • Offering Daily Specials!

Located at historic Canal Place, Little Falls (315) 823-1170

5345 Lee Center-Taberg Rd., Lee Center

Serving Dinner Wed & Thurs: 3-9pm, Lunch & Dinner Fri & Sat: 11:30-9, Sun: 11:30-8 Closed Mon & Tues www.gonecoastalrestaurant.com

Serving dinner Tues-Sat at 5pm www.canalsideinn.com

MARCY

9663 River Rd., Marcy

Open Daily 7am-3pm

Fresh Haddock • Giambotta Mushroom Stew • Chicken & Biscuits Meatloaf Goulash & More!

Newly Remodeled!

823-3290

Breakfast, Lunch, Homemade Soups & Sandwiches and our delicious Desserts Including our Famous Cream Puffs! Canal Place, Little Falls Next to Showcase Antiques

Order your Christmas Cookie Trays now!

Take Out & Delivery!

797-7709

Mon-Thu 6am-2pm, Fri 6am-7pm, Sat 6am-1pm, Sun 7am-1pm

NEW HARTFORD

Homemade comfort foods Full menu available til 2am!

25 beers on tap, specializing in NY State craft beers! Thursday Night is Wing Night!

2018u Best Bar

best Best Happy Hour FIRST PLACE Best Wings BEST OF THE

10 Clinton Rd., New Hartford • (315) 732-9733 Mon-Sat: 10am-2am, Sun: 12pm-2am www.killabrewsaloon.com 22

NEW HARTFORD

Phoenician R E S TAU R A N T

Enjoy authentic Lebanese Cuisine

Full Buffet & Salad Bar served Mon-Fri 11:30-2:30 Wednesday Night Buffet 4:30-8:30, Serving Lunch & Dinner Mon-Sat Full Menu Available Mon-Thurs 11:30-9pm, Fri & Sat 11:30-10pm

623 French Road, New Hartford (315) 733-2709

All you can eat Lunch Buffet $9.95! Mon-Sat: 11:30am-3pm

All you can eat Dinner Buffet $12.95! Tues & Wed only

Eat In Or Take Out • (315) 797-9918 • 609 French Rd, New Hartford NY Open 7 days a week for Lunch, Dinner served Mon-Thurs: 5-9, Fri & Sat: 5-10 Sun Hours: Lunch: 12-3, Dinner: 4:30-9 • www.uticaminar.com

Locally Owned & Operated

1700 North James St., Rome (315) 336-1111 Breakfast & Lunch daily 7am-3pm

“We are your home town pizzeria!”

past 5 years! Voted #1 pizza for

(315) 736-4549 • Open 7 days a week • 4462 Commercial Dr., New Hartford www.tonyspizzeriaanddeli.com

Catering Available • Homemade Desserts Every Day

2634 Genesee St., South Utica (315) 724-6795 Breakfast & Lunch daily 7am-3pm Dinner Fri & Sat 5pm-10pm

4784 Commercial Dr., New Hartford (315) 736-1363 Breakfast & Lunch daily 7am-3pm

www.raspberriescafeutica.com • Facebook: Raspberries Rome / Raspberries Utica • Kids Menu Available

MVL Ad_Layout 1 7/8/15 3:05 PM Page 1

OHIO (Cold Brook)

OLD FORGE

2755 13324 826-5050 2755 State State Rt Rt.8,8,Cold ColdBrook, Brook,NY NY• (315)•826-5050

Mon. 4 - 9pm • Tues. Wed. - Sun. 12&Noon Open Wed - SunClosed 12-9,•closed Mon Tues- 9pm Great Food • Great Spirits • Great Times

Life is Good at The Ohio Tavern!

ROME

Brenda’s Natural Foods Something Good & a Lot of It! www.brendasnaturalfoods.com

Natural Food Cafe Now Open! Featuring: Gluten-free options and homemade soups!

Fresh to you!

Mexican & American Fare Sushi selections too!

Eat in or Take out

Featuring Daily Specials

127 North St., Old Forge

Tues-Thurs: 11:30am-9pm, Fri & Sat: 11:30am-10pm, Sun: 11:30am-8:30pm, Closed Mon • (315) 369-3141

Natural Groceries • Supplements • Local Foods Organic Produce & Plants

236 W. Dominick St., Rome (315) 337-0437 M-F 9:30-6, Sat 10-3

~Merry Christmas~

Please Place Christmas Orders By December 16th!! Champagne Brunch

Banquets

Weddings

8524 Fish Hatchery Rd, Rome, NY 13440 315-533-7710 www.deltalakeinn.com

- Ha n d ma d e - A l wa y s F r esh - Nev e r F ro zen -

Our Handmade Italian Christmas Specialties: Assorted Cookies, Struffoli, Pitta 'nchiusa, Turdilli, Torrone, Croccante, Panettone And More; Including Gluten Free Options!!

Weekend Specials! Haddock Specials

Prime Rib Every Sat. Night! Gluten Free Menu!

Shop In Store For Our Line Of Pasta, Sauces, Starters And Ready To Cook Meals; Other Local Products Too!! We Can Also Ship Our Products!!

Celebrate Our 5th Anniversary!! Contact Us For Your Holiday Catering Needs: With Our Open House Weekend, Greens, Eggplant “Parm”, Saturday, 12/1 & Sunday, 12/2, Starting At 9:00 AM!! Meatballs And More!! Plus Christmas Specials, Look For Our Expanded Including Lasagna, Christmas Hours!! Stuffed Calamari And Much More!! -www.sammyandanniefoods.com-

Open Monday -Through- Friday 8:00AM -To- 4:00PM

Wood Fired za! Brick Oven Piz

Authentic Homemade Pasta Available! 5 Signature Sauces To Create Your Own Entree!

(315) 33PIZZA

615 Erie Blvd. W., Rome Open M-Thurs 11-9, Fri & Sat 11-10, Sun 12-8

DiCastro’s BRICK OVEN

salisbury

Sharon SPrings

The Country Store with More!

Order your delicious fruitcakes & sugar plums!

Snacks, Beer, Pizza, Wings, Subs, Gas, Diesel, Non-Ethanol Gas, Gifts and much, much more!

Mon-Thurs 11-3, Fri-Sun 8-3 195 Main St., Sharon Springs (518) 284-2575 www.blackcat-ny.com

2114 Rte 29, Salisbury 315-429-3224 Open 7 Days a Week UTICA

Sheri’s

EASTSIDE DINER Breakfast • Lunch Homemade & Fresh Daily!

Catering Available!

SIMMER Jamacaican Restaurant

Island herbs and spice with a delightful bite!

• Serving lunch and dinner • Traditional Jamaican cuisine! • Take out & delivery Friday Fish Fry • Breakfast Served All Day

2199 Bleecker St., Utica (315) 790-5250 Monday-Saturday 6-2, Sunday 7-2

606 South St., Utica • (315) 507-4015

Mon-Thurs 11am-9:30pm, Fri & Sat 11am-10:30pm, Closed Sun.

Don’t like fruitcake? That’s only because you haven’t had Black Cat’s delicious Drunken Blonde Fruitcake!

simple. fresh. delicious. breakfast • lunch • espresso • pastries • cakes

1st Floor Breakfast, Lunch, “Grab-and-Go!” Deliveries, 8am-2pm Take Out & Catering!

Holiday Cookie Trays!

Signature Cakes, Grab-n-go cakes, Cookies, In-house Macarons, Pastries, Cheese Cakes & Pies

Check out our weekly specials on facebook and at www.rososcafe.com

Open: Monday-Friday: 9-2 185 Genesee St., 2nd Floor, Utica

315 735-7676

53 Franklin Square, Utica • (315) 790-5747

Hours: Mon-Thurs 7-7, Fri & Sat 7-9, Sun 8-1 (breakfast only)

bitebakeryandcafe.com

#downtownutica

UTICA

Contemporary American • Private Functions • Reservations Recommended

900 Culver Ave., Utica • 315-765-0271 • Open Tues-Sat 4:30-9pm www.willowsofutica.com

Yorkville

Breakfast & Lunch Catering Available

Breakfast Sandwiches Deli-Style Wraps/Sandwiches Salads, Soups & more! Homemade Baked Goods & Multi-Color Bagels - a kid’s favorite!

Free Delivery(min. $20) • Family Owned & Operated!

219 N. Genesee St., Utica

(315) 790-5353 • M-F: 6-4; Sat: 7-3; Sun: 7-2

vernon

KARAM’S Middle Eastern Bakery & Restaurant

Traditional Lebanese fare for breakfast & lunch! Middle Eastern Specials and Groceries Pita and Flat Bread • Spinach & Meat Pies • Baklawa

Tues - Fri: 9am -5pm, Sat: 9am - 3pm

(315) 736-1728 137 Campbell Ave, Yorkville www.karamsbakery.com

Nothin’ Fancy Cafe

American & Italian Cuisine Serving Lunch & Dinner

Great Food • Great Service • Great people

THE

BLACK STALLION

Gluten Free Options!

Call for your Xmas celebration reservations or catering needs!

5656 Route 5, Vernon • (315) 829-2203

www.theblackstallionny.com Open 6 days a week for Lunch & Dinner, Closed Monday

Serving breakfast, lunch, & Friday dinners Eat in or take out • Catering available too!

Book your wedding, banquet, or party at our Event Center on-site (seats up to 200) Affordable 7,000 sq.ft., Wooden Dance Floor, We Cater or Bring your own!

10 Ruth St., Vernon • (315) 829-4500

Mon-Sat: 5:30am-3pm. Fri: til 8pm, Sun: 5:30am-1pm, Facebook: Nothinfancycafevernonny

Whitesboro

Serving Lunch & Dinner Lunches Served Fri, Sat & Sun Happy Hour Daily 4-7, $2 Drafts & $2.50 Well Mixers Tues: $9.99 Prime Rib & $2.99 All-U-Can-Eat Spaghetti Open Wed: $6.99 Pasta Specials, 10 Boneless Wings $6.00 New Year’s Eve! Thurs: All-U-Can-Eat Chicken Riggies Dinner at 3:30 Taking reservations now Sun: .60c Wings at bar & $14.99 16oz Sirloin Dinner

Buy a 25$ Gift Certificate & Get a 5$ Bonus Gift!

409 Oriskany Blvd., Whitesboro • (315) 736-7869 26

Catering & Banquet Facilities Available • www.69steakhouse.com

Don’t forget to make your holiday dinner and party reservations!

mv living

antique shopping guide Little Falls

Celebrate Christmas in Little Falls, Saturday, December 8th, 2018!

Fort Plain

SHOWCASE

Antiques of CNY Little Falls Mohawk

Antique Center

MOHAWK ANTIQUES MALL

Celebrating our 19th year in business!

Antiques & Art Barneveld

Paintings & Prints 8010 Rt 12, Wood Carvings Mapledale Plaza Primitive Antiques Barneveld Thurs-Monday 11-6 315-896-5115 Postcards

Attic Addicts The Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Closet

Pristine, Practical, and Priced Right!

Specializing in estate sales, large and small.

Conducted with respect and dignity. We take the pressure out of estate liquidation, moving, or downsizing. Call for a consultation:

(315) 736-9160

Consignment at its Finest!

Clothing Jewelry Household Items Furniture Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm Sat: 10:30am-3pm New consignment by appointment only

22 Oriskany Blvd., Yorkville (315) 736-9160 www.thequeenclosetatticaddicts.com

Open Fri, Sat, & Sun in November & December Closed for Winter Dec. 31 - Mar. 31

10242 Route 12N, Remsen (315) 831-8644

www.backofthebarnantiques.com

BlackCat

ANTIQUES

A little bit country, a little bit primitive! Your destination for furniture, hand stenciled signs, vintage clothing, warm glow candles, silk arrangements & more!

Multi Dealer Antique Shop

Primitives • Furniture • Artwork Smalls • Antique Accessories

14 East Main St. Earlville (315) 691-5721

Open Tues-Fri: 9-4, Sat: 9-2, Closed Sun & Mon

Wed-Sat: 10-4, Sun: 11-3 • (315) 264-1755

4803 Rt. 31, Vernon

Dawn Marie’s Treasures Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Vintage, Gift & Gourmet 18 West Park Row, Clinton (315) 796-9099 • Open Mon-Sat 10-6

A multi-dealer shop specializing in advertising, petroliana, lamps, glass, furniture & quality smalls.

Shop Dawn Marie’s this Holiday Season!

QualityAntiques

Spices, Salts, Maple Syrup, Honey, Jams & Jellies, Soaps, Lotions, CDB Oil & Other Specialty Goods

The Gallery Antiques at Pinebrick Look for our 1960s Texaco sign!

For your holiday gathering & decor: We have it! Cards, Candles, & Chocolates: We have it! Furs, designer bags, jewelry: We have it! Unique & affordable gifts for everyone: We have it!

(315) 893-7752

6790 Route 20, Bouckville

Olive Oils & Balsamic Vinegars

Tasting Room!

3300 Rt. 46, Bouckville

Wed-Sat 10-5, Sun Noon-4, Closed Mon & Tues (315) 412-1296

Merry Christmas!

Foothills

Mercantile

Antiques,Vintage, Gifts & Furniture!

Fort Plain Antiques & Salvage 30% O LLC

Like Us On Facebook!

Now thru Dec 31 Holiday Sale

SHOP HOURS: Tuesday - Saturday — 10 - 5 Also by Appointment • Closed Sun and Mon Closed Thanksgiving - Christmas Day - New Years’ Day

Over 30 Vendors! Christmas Sales

Open 7 Days: 10-5:30 • 8124 Route 12, Barneveld (315) 896-2681

55 Willett St., Fort Plain, NY • www.fortplainantiques.com • 518-993-1045 • 518-332-0395

Main Street Gift Shoppe

Newport’s Best Kept Secret for Primitive Gifts!

Primitives, Handmades, Candles and Fixins, Home Decor, Furniture, Lighting, Textiles, and Olde Century Colors Paint

Visit our ever-changing Gift Shoppe to fill your home with the warmth of the season!

The Online Exchange We Can Help You Buy, Sell, and Trade Globally! Now an FFL dealer! 6338 St. Rt. 167, Dolgeville

(315) 429-5111

7431 Main St Rt. 28 Newport, NY

www.TheOnlineExchange.Net

OPEN: Wed-Sat 11:30am til 7pm (315) 845-8835 www.mainstreetristorante.com Check out our popular Ristorante on site!

ONEIDA COMMONS

Little Falls

Antique Center More than 50 vendors on 2 floors!

Vendor Mall

Over 40 Vendors

Christmas in Little Falls! Saturday, December 8th

Thruway Exit 29A 25 West Mill St., Little Falls Open Every Day 10-5 315-823-4309

Wine Tasting/Gifts/More

Gifts • Home Décor Jewelry • AVON Antiques • Collectibles Local Artisans & Crafters Nelson Farms Local Foods 315-280-0577 157 Cedar Street, Oneida

oneidacommons.com

Handicapped-accessible

Over 160 Vendor booths and display cases!

Tue-Sun: 10-5

Dec 6: LADIES NIGHT 5-8pm

Antiques • Art • Crafts

www.littlefallsantiquecenter.com

Registered user of ebay

Like us on Facebook!

Minutes from I-90 & TS Casino!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15th, 10-5

Christmas HOLIDAY PARTY

“Karaoke” Xmas music, the MAM Holiday train show, as well as MAM’s very own SANTA CLAUS! Come one, come all, for a day full of fun and excitement!

100 E. Main St., Mohawk (Thruway Exit 30)

(315) 219-5044 www.mohawkantiquesmall.com

MOHAWK ANTIQUES MALL

Mon, Wed-Sat: 10-5, Sun: 11:30-4:30 Closed Tuesdays

THE POTTING SHED ANTIQUES

Purchase any Antique Ornament from our 10’ tree & you could win a $25 gift card! Through Dec. 24 Join us for Christmas in Little Falls, Saturday, Dec. 8th! “Spin the Wheel” up to 15% off! Complimentary Homemade Christmas Cookies & Coffee

Antiques make 2018 great gifts! best BEST OF THE

Merry Christmas from Don, Nancy & Staff!

315-736-5214

A Multi Dealer Shop

Featuring 60 Dealers displaying a diverse array of antiques and collectibles.

315-337-3509 Open Daily 10-5, Closed Tuesdays

Sweet Treat Giveaway- Dec 8 & 9! Route 233 Westmoreland, NY 1/4 mile North of NYS Thruway Exit 32 www.westmorelandantiquecenter.com 64

Best Local Antique Store

Antique & Unique! Buy • Sell • Trade

See The Man 54 N. Main St., Sherburne (607) 316-8463 • Open Wed-Sun

Painted and Repurposed Vintage & Antique Furniture

6831 Indian Opening Rd., Bouckville

Open Sat & Sun 10-4 (315) 893-7162

Victorian

Rose

Showcase Antiques of CNY Open Daily 10-5 • Handicap Accessible www.showcaseantiquesofcny.com

VOTED #1

Don & Nancy Hartman, 52 Oriskany Blvd., Whitesboro (Next to Kinney’s)

75 Antique Dealers Quality Antiques, Collectibles, Furniture, Art and Jewelry

375 Canal Place, Little Falls (315) 823-1177

337 Genesee St., Utica (315) 738-1333 www.vintagefurn.com

An eclectic mix of vintage, antiques, & home decor

315-893-1786 Open Daily 10-5

3371 Maple Ave., Bouckville www.victorianrosevintage.com

ernon Variety Shoppes

Antique & Variety Shoppes

5349 Route 5, Vernon (315) 829-2105 Open 10-5 every day

Located 4 miles North of Sylvan Beach

Weeden’ s Mini Mall

100 Shops Located under One Roof

8056 Route 13, Blossvale (315) 245-0458 Open 10-5 every day

Mohawk Valley road trip

Made here Photos By Melinda Karastury

Be sure to seek out locally made products this gift-giving season. We met many skilled artisans at the Sauquoit Valley Fine Arts & Crafts Show. Many craft fairs may be over, but most vendors can be found online at their Facebook pages and Etsy stores. Here are just a few of the artisans we met.

Mary Jo and Howard Astrachan of Astrachan Artistry

Photography & jewelry

Astrachan Artistry

Mary Jo and Howard Astrachan â&#x20AC;˘ Oneida www.astrachanartistry.com

Skilled woodworker, Ethan Bauer

Ethan Bauer uses naturally colored exotic woods

Woodworking

Bauer Woodworks Ethan Bauer â&#x20AC;˘ Clinton

@Bauerwoodworks, ebauer1414@gmail.com Available at Artisan Corner, Clinton & MVCA, Little Falls

This year, pass down

Pa s t . A h t i W t n e s Pre

With the delicate beauty of handmade metal ornaments, cast on original molds from 1880. Their brilliance will be a treasure forever. See the history unfold:

www . zinnbrilliant . com Or Visit: 73 Elm Street Cooperstown,

Holiday Shop Hours:10 am to 4 pm Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays (Except Thanksgiving)

Weaver and jewelrymaker, Joan Palmer Ganele was featured on the Mohawk Valley Living TV show.

Jewelry/Textiles

Lily

Joan Palmer Ganeles • Utica

Handmade jewelry and handwoven fiber arts www.lilyoolily.com

Clinton

Wine & Spirits

Live entertainment every Friday! • Wed. Trivia Nights!

Open Mon-Sat: 9-9, Sun: 12-5 • All credit cards accepted

43 Meadow Street, Clinton (315) 381-3021

Ilion

10 East Main St., Ilion • (315) 894-8142

ALE HOUSE

Family owned & family friendly! Casual dining - Lunch & Dinner

Featuring NY State craft breweries & full bar (Utica Comets games live streamed!)

Mon, Wed, Thurs & Fri: 11-1am, Sat & Sun: Noon-1am, closed Tues.

mohawk valley food

nola’s in clinton story and photos by Jorge L. Hernández

A wonderful place for holiday gatherings is the cozy Nola’s Restaurant in Clinton, NY. It’s centerpiece is a friendly chef’s bar serving up tapas, those small dishes so popular with diners in Spain. The opener represents a trio of those tasty dishes. Our tapas board offered Berbère Hummus, Marinated Olives, and Baba Ghanoush, surrounded by bread chips and crudités, just a sample of the available bites. As in Spain, with a glass or two of wine, the tapas themselves would suffice as a meal. If the names so far sound international, that’s intentional. Pressed to describe the type of food served, owner Janssen Fay of Clinton replies, “New American. No, make that global cuisine. We pull from all areas.” Janssen should know. He’s run Nola’s for 13 years, transforming the brick-faced interior of the former Park Row Booksellers into a culinary exercise of gustatory options. What’s the most popular entrée? “No matter what we’re offering on the menu or what the specials are, it’s the salmon,” Janssen says. The salmon is described on paper as Blackened Salmon with Cilantro Rice Pilaf, Broccolini, Peruvian Green Sauce, and Aji Panca Chili Sauce. Sounds plenty global to me. And the most popular appetizer? “Besides the tapas, it’s the roasted brie,” Janssen says. That brie comes with caramelized dates and

The cozy, inviting interior of Nola’s Restaurant makes it the perfect place for holiday gatherings

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walnuts and served with rosemary crostini and orange “dust.” The Roasted Beet Salad followed our tapas the evening of our visit: red and golden beets with watercress, shaved Spanish manchego cheese, and a warm bacon vinaigrette. Nothing could be better than that! If these options so far didn’t pique your interest, our choices were the Grilled and Brined Bone-in Pork Chop with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Parsnips, and Brussels Sprouts over Puréed Butternut Squash with Spiced Candied Pecans and Maple Jus. And if that wasn’t quite what you wanted, how about our choice of the Lamb Ragu—Braised Lamb Shoulder, Sweet Peas, and Mint Pesto over Homemade Pappardelle? That was certainly enough of a world trip for us! Janssen studied in the culinary program at MVCC’s Rome campus and worked for about 11 years at O’Connor’s Alexander Hamilton Inn in Clinton. “When the opportunity opened up on the square for a restaurant, I was ready,” he says. It’s a family affair at Nola’s, which Janssen owns with his wife, Leah Johnson-Fay. An amalgamation of their children’s names—Nicholas, Olivia, and Ella—was the inspiration for the restaurant’s name. What does the owner want people to know? “We’re only 10 minutes from Utica,” Janssen says. “Some people say we’re so far away, but we’re not. Besides Hamilton College, we pull in people from Colgate and Syracuse,” he says. “And we try to be

Owner and chef Janssen Fay

Colorful and delicious roasted beet salad

Tapas are small, fun, flavorful dishes that can become a meal.

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farm-to-table,” Janssen concludes. “We get anything we can find local, like our lamb from Bach Farms and our beef from Green Acres Farm.” The menu is basically seasonal yet stable. Specials are served, like lamb shanks with Peruvian blue potatoes or grilled scallops on recent nights. A renovation this year includes a chef’s bar that accommodates seven. “It’s a personal dining experience where people can watch a chef prepare their meal from a mini-kitchen,” Janssen says. Why does he work so hard? “I’m insane,” Janssen says with a chuckle. “But seriously, I’ve always been a little artistic. I like the blend of science and art working in a restaurant.” Oh, I almost forgot dessert! A large square dish of a traditional Crème Brûlée and a Torta di Noce, a nut cake served with whipped cream. For the holidays or any time of year, whether you’re in the mood for small dishes or a hearty plate, Nola’s is a gathering place to enjoy fine food and drink.•

Nola’s savory grilled and brined bone-in pork chop

Braised Bach Farms lamb shoulder with sweet peas and mint pesto and homemade pappardelle

Nola’s Restaurant

9 W. Park Row, Clinton, NY • (315) 853-3052 Lunch: Tuesday-Saturday: 11:30am-2;30pm Dinner: Tuesday-Saturday: starting at 5pm www.nolasinclinton.com

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MV NATURE

Mourning Dove

december in nature

the coming of the snowbirds story and photos by Matt Perry With the arrival of the snow and cold temperatures, a different cast of wild birds begin to show up around the nature preserve, and not just there. People I know from around the region call and excitedly tell me what’s showing up at their bird feeders and in their yards. Sometimes, folks don’t know exactly what they have, and I must go through a game of 20 questions to figure it out. They may recognize the species but refer to it by a colloquial name – an alternate common name that is too general and may refer to several quite different species. At this time of the year, the name “Snowbird” often comes up. To some, the snowbird is the Dark-eyed Junco, represented in the eastern U.S. by a race called the Slate-colored Junco. Although the junco does breed in forested ravines in the Mohawk Valley, they often don’t show up at bird feeders until the snow flies. Although they appear identical to our summer residents, most juncos that spend the winter here hail from Canada. It’s impossible to tell the nationality of any given individual junco and they certainly don’t give themselves away with a Canadian accent. When looking down at them feeding in the snow beneath a bird feeder, juncos look almost uniformly charcoal gray. A

better look reveals that they do possess a fair amount of white plumage. Their bellies and outer tail feathers are white. Perhaps that alone makes them worthy of the “snowbird” moniker. To many people the Snow Bunting is the quintessential snowbird. They even have “snow” in their proper name! The Snow Bunting’s body and wing plumage shows a substantial amount of white – although later in winter they (especially the adult male) appear even whiter after their rust-colored feathers wear down and reveal the white beneath. Unlike the junco, the bunting does not breed locally. They spend their summers nesting on the Arctic tundra, and only come this far south during the cold season. Although a few will occasionally visit a bird feeder (and when they do it causes quite a stir), Snow Buntings are more commonly associated with large agricultural fields and expansive beaches. They like wide open, windy spaces where they can find wind-blown seeds to crack open and devour. They tend to travel and forage in large flocks of 50 or more. The movement of Snow Bunting flocks could

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almost be described as a flurry as they weave low over the ground in a tight undulating mass. Their wings are black at the tip and white toward the body and they flash as the bunting flaps them in rapid flight. The American Tree Sparrow is another contender for the title of snowbird. They arrive in the Mohawk Valley in mid-fall and typically leave before April is done. The Tree Sparrow is among the most dedicated visitors to bird feeders and they often take their place on the ground right next to the juncos. A Tree Sparrow can be distinguished from the similar Chipping Sparrow by its bi-colored bill, the chestnut patches on either side of its chest, a dark central breast spot, and by its dark legs. It’s hard to compare the two species in the field, since virtually all Chipping Sparrows migrate south before the Tree Sparrows arrive from Canada. And, yes, the Tree Sparrow is yet another Canadian breeder that only comes to our region to spend

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the winter months. The Northern Shrike is not usually referred to as a Snowbird, but they could be. They are mostly white and gray and show a prominent black face mask. Like the other species I’ve mentioned, the Northern Shrike only comes south of Canada during the cold months. Sometimes known as the “Butcher Bird,” the shrike has a raptor-like bill that is hooked at the end. About the size of a jay, the shrike is a predatory songbird whose menu includes small mammals and birds. That means if you see one around your feeder, he’s looking for something more substantial than sunflower seeds. The Butcher Bird has a grisly habit of impaling prey items on the thorns of hawthorn trees and sometimes even on the sharp barbs on barbwire fences. This is their method of storing food for later use. While the coming of Tree Sparrows, juncos, and Snow Buntings are expected every year, that’s not the case with the shrike. Their appearances south of the Canadian border are far less predictable, and sometimes we go a few years without one visiting our preserve. In that way they are more like another class of snowbirds, the ones collectively referred to as “winter finches.” For us, “winter finches” encompasses about seven different species of finch that are not dependable visitors to our part of the country. They all move based on the condition of the wild food supply in the far north and/or west. Included in the winter finch lineup are the familiar Common Redpolls and the highly elusive crossbills. All these finch species could also be considered snowbirds given the time of year they tend to occur. Perhaps the most enigmatic of these, and one that most of us have had at least some experience with, is the Evening Grosbeak. In

Purple Finch male and female

American Tree Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

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the late 20th century, flocks of yellow and black Evening Grosbeaks were expected at our bird feeders – at least for a week or two during late fall or winter. Since the 1990s, their visits have become increasingly infrequent and their flock sizes have fallen. Now, except for high elevation areas in the Adirondacks, the Adirondack foothills, and the highlands of Madison County, it’s typical for us to go many years without seeing them. Once they were like living vacuum cleaners at our bird feeders – snarfing up sunflower seeds at an incredible rate. In those times I remember hearing some folks complain about their voracious appetites. Now when they come to a feeder, it’s akin to entertaining royalty. Welcome your majesties. Another bucket of seed will be coming right up. Perhaps the most popular snowbird of all is the Snowy Owl and they are every bit as unpredictable in their movements as winter finches and shrikes. If the Arctic vole population crashes, we have a better chance of seeing some come our way, but it’s never guaranteed. This snowbird is almost universally appreciated wherever and whenever it shows up. They most often occur in high open fields, the shores of large lakes, and airport runways, but sometimes they may be spotted in shopping centers and, unfortunately, on highways where they can quickly get into trouble. Although, no one can ever guarantee a winter replete with Snowy Owls and winter finches, I can write with confidence that if you have a bird feeder, and you keep it full, some snowbirds will appear and there’s even a chance that you may draw in something rare. •

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mv crossword

DECEMBER Crossword (All answers found in the pages of this magazine! Solution will appear in next month’s issue)

Across 1. The name of the general store in Hamilton that has a winter farmers market, see page 19. 3. Mohawk Valley Girl enjoys antiquing and some ___ Coffee, see page 43. 6. Fountain Elms annual ___ Yuletide, see page 3. 8. The quintessential snowbird, see page 37. 10. Shortly after New Year’s, spacecraft New Horizons with rendezvous with ___ Belt, see page 51. 11. Have allergies? Get a ___ vacuum, see page 17. 12. Nola’s Restaurant serves ___, small dishes popular in Spain, see page 34. Down 1. The animal featured in Bossone Sausage & Meat Co., see page 43. 2. Listen to live on-air music on Christmas Eve during Genesee Joe’s Christmas ___, see page 74. 4. Have breakfast with Santa at the Utica Zoo’s Holiday ___, see page 14. 5. Denise Szarek’s recipe this month is ___ cake, see page 49. 7. Brian Howard shares photos of blustery winter ___, see page 6. 9. Old-fashioned handmade ornaments by ___ Brilliant, see page 32. 10. What you call a flock of crows.

December Crossword Puzzle

Clue: A common event in January. (1 word)

Unscramble the letters in the yellow boxes then email answer to: mohawkvalleyliving@hotmail.com, by 12/20/18 You will be entered to win an MVL Mug and a bag of delicious, fresh-roasted Moose River Coffee!

Answer to last month’s crossword on page 78

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Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All!

Artist Mark Bode

refelctions of my youth

Christmas on Pinnacle Drive by Tim Flihan

It was during my formative years that I lived on Pinnacle Drive in Utica, N.Y. I went from believing in Santa to ruining it for my younger sisters and brother. Not that I wanted to ruin it, but it seemed like the right this to do at the time. Sorry. It was a wondrous time, though. My family was still close, both literally and figuratively. My father would spend days decorating the outside of the house with lights, and we had a life-size Santa and his sleigh with four reindeer (eight was probably overkill). It looked great with all the snow that seemed to fall with greater frequency than it does these days. The days leading up to Christmas were filled with joy and anticipation. Before I stopped believing, I would count down the days and made sure that I had done everything I could not to be on the naughty list. During those days, my house was

My nana was the force behind maintaining this tradition, by cooking seven fish dishes.

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turned into a bakery. My mom and grandmother baked for weeks making Christmas cookies, cakes, and pies. My favorite was the cheesecake slices with graham cracker crust, but there were many others that caught my eye and my fancy. To this day, I look forward to the goodies that would come through the mail from my mom and sisters. Christmas Eve was steeped in tradition. My nana was the force behind maintaining this tradition, by cooking seven fish dishes. However, it was probably closer to 10. I still do my best to continue the tradition, but it seems harder and harder as my family has moved and set up their lives away from here. I still do it, but it sadly is for me, more than for anyone else. Pinnacle Drive was like anywhere else, but to me it was special. Even today, over 40 years since our family moved to another house, I remember my friends and neighbors from there. Many have passed on, but the memories of the relationships still permeate my soul and have a special place in my heart. I’ll never forget waking up on Christmas morning, and like most homes with young children, waking up before dawn and sneaking into my parents’ room to wake them for the huge reveal. Santa came!

Time to get up! The room was filled with gifts and my siblings and I couldn’t wait to not only open them, but to play with them! The only problem was that you couldn’t play with them all at once. In fact, some of the gifts, like bikes or baseball equipment, had to wait until spring. One year, I got my first set of skis. They were wood skis with cable bindings. The boots were made of rubber, and I had no idea how to even stand up in them. I’ll never forget taking them out on my front lawn and trying to ski down the four-foot slope into my driveway. It might as well have been Whiteface to a 6-yearold, but in fact it was still my driveway. It wasn’t until the next day that I carried them up to the Carrocks’ backyard, where the real hill existed 40 feet downhill that ended up in the backyard of the Russos. It was glorious. I don’t ski anymore and haven’t in years, but I’ll never forget it. I lost contact with most of those people, but now through social media I am able to touch base with many of them. One of those people who learned to ski in that backyard actually moved to Colorado to ski and is still there today. I may have been the oldest child in my family, but is was my sister Mari-Fran (Cissy to everyone) who broke the news to me that Santa did not actually exist. She was

a master at locating gifts that my parents had hidden in places they were convinced were fool proof. Little did they know she had scoped out those places even before they did. Julie, Robby, and Cathy all either benefited from Cissy’s prowess or suffered from it. It is what it is; I don’t think it had any long-lasting effect either way. Pinnacle Drive was a wonderful place to grow up in East Utica. The names of the people from there are a who’s who of East Uticans: Arcuris, Tresolines, Leones, Carrocks, Trincos, Russos, Trottas, Brunos, Gigilottis, Grazianos, Albericos, and even the Flihans resided there at one time or another. It was a great time, and I will never forget those people who are life-long friends. Merry Christmas to all, and God Bless. •

Look for a new book by Tim Flihan coming soon!

Tim Flihan is a life-long Utican who currently resides in Frankfort, NY with his wife, Leslie, and dog Cooper. Tim graduated from Proctor High School in Utica, NY and with a BS from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY with a degree in Behavioral Science.

Email: Timflihan@outlook.com Facebook stories page: Reflections from Utica – Short Stories by Tim Flihan

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The Everyday Adventures of Mohawk Valley Girl

highwheeler coffee by Cynthia Quackenbush

When Steven and I were shopping at Fort Plain Antiques and Salvage, I mentioned we might look for a nice place to eat. The lady behind the counter suggested Highwheeler Coffee, pointing out the flier on a nearby table. Well, we are all about coffee shops, so we decided to check it out. I had to stop at the Stewart’s to ask where Canal Street was, but it was not far and we easily found a parking space in front of the shop. It was readily apparent how the shop got its name: an old-fashioned bicycle with a giant front wheel and tiny back wheel was in one front window. The other front window had an old coffee grinder and the words “Fine Tea” on the wall beneath. Inside was bright and inviting, with hardwood floors, tables, and a few easy chairs. Local artwork hangs on the walls. We went up to the counter and saw some yummy-looking baked goods in the display case. Lunch was

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also available, but I decided I was more in the mood for a sweet treat. “Is that carrot cake?” It was! “I’m torn between that and the chocolate cheesecake.” The lady behind the counter told me the cheesecake was flour-free, if that made a difference. It doesn’t matter to me, but I made a mental note for my friends with celiac’s. Then, I saw another tempting morsel. The lady told me it was tiramisu. I had never had tiramisu, so decided to try it. Steven got a rocky road cookie and a cup of coffee. We sat at a table near the window to eat. I pointed out the easy chairs but preferred a table for eating. Perhaps sometime when we return for just coffee (or tea), we can sit in the chairs. I don’t know when that will be, though, since I still have carrot cake and chocolate cheesecake to try. As we sat enjoying our snack, we enjoyed the friendly atmosphere of the place. Not only the workers, but the other customers were nice. I felt really sorry we do not live closer to Fort Plain. I would definitely make Highwheeler a regular stop. •

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An Evening with Cheesemakers and a Chef by Suzie Jones

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The word “community” can mean so many things. It can be a town, a feeling of kinship, or just the public at large. When I think of my community, there are actually many communities to which I belong: fellow farmers, my immediate neighborhood, and the Mohawk Valley, to name a few. In the middle of November, I was lucky enough to experience a wonderfully warm and unique feeling of community. We held a fund-raising event at our farm and called it “An Evening with Cheesemakers and a Chef”—all to benefit the Little Falls Cheese Festival. We invited fellow cheesemakers to share their beautiful and delicious cheeses, and to mingle with anyone willing to buy a ticket. The first part of the evening was a reception in our new cheese plant addition, complete with a talented jazz quartet accompaniment. We then moved inside our home for a sit-down dinner personally prepared by Tim Hardiman of Tailor and the Cook and his marvelous staff. Despite the snow and chilly temps, it was a truly magical evening! I loved this event. If I had to pinpoint what was so special, I would have to say that it was both the colliding of several distinct communities and the willingness of individuals from each of these communities to give of themselves and their talents. People that usually run in very different circles met for the very first time, created a unique experience and communed over something we all love—cheese! This is, of course, very fitting as a fund-raiser for the Little Falls Cheese Festival. Now entering its fifth year, the festival requires a whole community of volunteers, city officials, and small business owners to work together with imagination and energy. So many people with such different backgrounds coming together and giving of their talents can accomplish something truly great…and further enrich our sense of community. Farm-to-table restaurants and small shop owners that promote our area’s foods and spirits have been hard at work promoting that sense of identity and cooperative spirit. “Local” may be the marketing term du jour, but it is so much more than that. Chefs like Tim Hardiman have chosen to embrace and elevate our community’s distinct character—an enormous gift to all of us that I hope will set the tone and foster community development for years to come. I certainly owe Tim and his staff a great debt of gratitude for making our fund-raiser such a success. For me, community can also include friends and

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©2017 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland Agriculture is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or afﬁliates. New Holland Construction and CNH Industrial Genuine Parts is a trademark in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or afﬁliates. Any trademarks referred to herein, in association with goods and/or services of companies other than CNH Industrial America LLC, are the property of those respective companies. MRC

Clinton Tractor and Implement Co. 31 Meadow St., Clinton, NY 13323 www.clintontractor.net 315-853-6151

Photo: Amanda Relds

Challenger 400 4x4 SALE $7,499.00

“An Evening with Cheesemakers and a Chef”—to benefit the Little Falls Cheese Festival.

Peter Jones chats with other cheesemakers, Leon and Angela Atwell of Grassy Cow Cheese loved ones no longer with us, but whose influence is still very much felt. My mother-in-law, Judy, was there in spirit the evening of our fund-raiser. (She passed away 21 years ago this month, the result of a tragic car accident. It was just a few days before Christmas and she had been en route to the post office to mail gifts to far-flung friends and relatives.) Judy had been an artist and avid collector, gathering fun Mexican folk art, Currier and Ives prints, and antique furniture, half of which we inherited. We used her grandmother’s silver and china for the dinner service, set on the dining room table Judy lovingly refinished half a century ago. Judy would have been in her element that evening, enjoying the interesting guests and engaging every person in the room. For the years I knew her, she took every opportunity she had to personally connect on a meaningful level and to meet new individuals. Despite her interest in collecting objects, what she really treasured was people. I’ll admit, farming 24/7 isn’t terribly conducive to treasuring people. Animal care is a higher priority most days. But my farm’s—and every farm’s—mission is to feed people. The cheesemakers who were able to join us that evening and freely give of their time and talents (and cheese!) all recognize that building on our community’s strength is in our best interest. My wish for you this holiday season is that you give and receive the gift of community—gifts of kinship and warmth. Give of yourself and your time. Buy local foods, shop at mom and pop stores and craft fairs, and give gift certificates to locally owned restaurants. Remember your loved ones here and afar, and those who are no longer with us. Look for ways to build community at every opportunity. Maybe even consider volunteering your time and talents to put on a local cheese festival? (Wink, wink!) The benefits are too long to list! • Suzie Jones and her husband, Peter, own Jones Family Farm in Herkimer. Together, with their children, they produce specialty goat cheeses and gelato. Find them at local farmers’ markets and online: www.anotherjonesfamilyfarm.com

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mohawk valley Gardens

What Do You Grow in a Greenhouse in Summer? By Denise A. Szarek

During the summer, greenhouses often go unused by many vegetable and bedding plant producers in the northeast. We have eight greenhouses of varying sizes on our farm--that’s a lot of underutilized space. In 2013, we were asked to participate in a SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) Grant Project. The project was being run by the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Bacterial Wilt disease is the greatest limiting factor in production of edible ginger, with crop losses upward of 60%. A major objective for this grant was to provide growers with bacterial wilt free planting material. Through the process of tissue culture, plantlets free of bacterial wilt were multiplied. These plantlets were then grown hydroponically in pots filled with clean media atop benches in order to maintain a bacteria wilt free environment. This is where we come in. Distribution of this bacterial wilt free planting material was sent out to growers who agreed to follow the recommended cultural practices. Growers in mainland states, including Alabama, California, Minnesota, Virginia, New York, and Oregon have all found a demand for edible baby ginger as our shorter growing season preclude us from growing fully mature ginger seed. We now have a use for some of our greenhouse space during the summer. Since 2013, we have partnered with an organic ginger grower in Hilo that we were introduced to through the SARE Grant Program. Each year in November, we place an order with them for our ginger seed for the next growing season. In January, they confirm our order from their harvest of seed ginger. In March, it is air-shipped to us at the farm. This year we will be planting 300 lbs. of ginger seeds. When we receive the ginger, we first make sure there is no damage from shipment from the cold, and then start planting it in our soil-less potting media in the planting house. All the rhizomes are planted in seeding trays to sprout. We then place them on heating mats or in our hot box. In June, when our bedding plants and veggie starts are out of the greenhouse, the ginger is planted in grow bags, similar to the way you would plant potatoes, and set up in one of our now empty greenhouses. Ginger is a heavy feeder and requires lots of water and

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nutrients throughout the growing season. The greenhouse mimics its environment in the tropics, providing plenty of sunshine, heat, and humidity for it to thrive. In October – November, we are ready to harvest. Our days are becoming shorter and the nights are getting colder. Ginger will stop growing when the temperature gets below 50 degrees. As we harvest the baby ginger, we bring it to market; whatever we don’t sell each week is frozen. Through the month of November, we bring fresh ginger to the market. Depending on the weather, by mid- November we pull the entire remaining harvest and freeze it. We then have it available for sale frozen all season long, hopefully until the next harvest is ready. This grant project not only helped us bring a new locally grown product to the market, but it allowed our seed stock partner in Hawaii to have another revenue stream for his ginger rhizomes. Our seed partner is located in Hilo, where the volcano is erupting. We have been worried about them all summer. There was no activity on their website or Facebook page. We were beginning to think the worse, that they or their farm had perished at the hands of the volcano. We are very happy to report that we heard from them in October; only a small section of their ginger fields were damaged by lava and their farm and fields have been spared, as well as their homes. We placed our order for ginger and turmeric with them in November, and the cycle will continue. Why am I sharing this story with you in December? Well, first of all, it’s a time for us to count our blessings and reflect on the many wonderful people who are connected to us in so many ways. It’s a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the coming year. Gardeners are the eternal optimists, you know! It’s also an opportunity for me to say thanks to those of you who follow my column every month and stop by our booth at the farmers’ market to let me know. Here’s to another year of great gardening and recipes. But, it’s the holiday season. What better time to share my ginger cake recipe with honey butter! •

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MVL RECIPES Fresh Ginger Cake

Honey Butter

4 ozs. fresh ginger, grated (we use our fresh or frozen baby ginger) 1 C. mild molasses (we use Grandma’s) 1 C. sugar 1 C. vegetable oil (we use peanut oil) 2½ C. flour 1 tsp. ground cinnamon ½ tsp. ground cloves ½ tsp. black pepper 1 C. water 2 tsps. baking powder 2 eggs, room temperature

1 C. sugar 1 C. heavy cream 1 C. honey (we use Heartsease Hill) ¾ lb. butter (we use Kriemhild, softened) 1 tsp. vanilla In a saucepan combine sugar, cream, and honey. Heat on medium high heat and stir until it comes to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Put softened butter in a blender, and pour in the hot mixture over the butter. Blend until well mixed. Add vanilla, and blend again. Pour mixture into your container of choice. This recipe fills 2 pint-sized mason jars and one ½ pint sized jar almost exactly. Cover and let cool in the fridge. Keep refrigerated. Great for holiday gift giving!

This is one of my most often requested recipes, and I have to admit it’s not one of my family recipes. It is, however, from one of my favorite pastry chefs, David Lebovitz. A great holiday gift selection for you or a friend is David’s book, Ready for Dessert: My Best Recipes. This recipe is in there.

Position the oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9-by-3-inch round cake pan or a 9½ inch spring-form pan with a circle of parchment paper. Slice and chop the ginger very fine with a knife (or use a grater). Mix together the molasses, sugar, and oil. In another bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper. Bring the water to the boil in a saucepan, stir in the baking soda, and then mix the hot water into the molasses mixture. Stir in the ginger. Gradually whisk the dry ingredients into the batter. Add the eggs, and continue mixing until everything is thoroughly combined. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for about 1 hour, until the top of the cake springs back lightly when pressed or a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top of the cake browns too quickly before the cake is done, drape a piece of foil over it and continue baking. Cool the cake for at least 30 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen it from the pan. Remove the cake from the pan and peel off the parchment paper. This cake gets better with age, so it’s great to make a day ahead!

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Mohawk valley astronomical society

JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN by carol higgins

In the cold, dark, unexplored outer region of our solar system, an exciting drama will unfold this month. A NASA spacecraft named New Horizons is on a dangerous mission, each day getting closer to a historic rendezvous with the furthest planetary object ever visited. The close encounter will occur about 33 minutes after the stroke of midnight as we ring in the New Year on Jan. 1, 2019. The destination? Kuiper Belt object 2014 MU69, otherwise known as Ultima Thule. New Horizons launched on Jan. 19, 2006, to explore Pluto. It traveled almost 3 billion miles, so far away from Earth that it took over 4 hours and 25 minutes for data to travel one way. When it arrived for the close flyby on July 14, 2015, it was zooming along at 32,500 mph and only 7,750 miles above the surface. Before arrival, we had no idea what Pluto or its five moons looked like. They only appeared as blobs even when the mighty Hubble Space Telescope took pictures of the system. When the first close-up photos arrived, the mission team and scientists were shocked. We learned Pluto is an icy place with an atmosphere, huge canyons and mountains, and a complex, colorful surface containing suspected cryovolcanoes. The largest moon, Charon, is about half the size of Pluto, and their orbits are bound together in what is called tidal locking. Its four small moons behave like oddly spinning tops.

New Horizons returned a goldmine of data and photos that will take years to analyze and interpret. It took almost a year The photo is an illustration of New for all onboard data to arrive at Earth as the Horizons and Ultima Thule. spacecraft continued to travel further away Credit: NASA from us. Which leads us to where we are today. tions so far from the Sun? Currently, Ultima There are always challenges and unThule is still a tiny point of light, and apknowns in space exploration, but we don’t pearsImage to beCredit: about 30 ESA, miles across with redoften get to use words such as “drama”Hanny’s and Voorwerp. NASA, W. Keel, Galaxy ZooaTeam dish brown surface. Some researchers sus“intrigue” when talking about a mission. pect it is actually two objects tidally locked This one is quite unique. New Horizons together in a close orbit! New Horizons will remained healthy after its Pluto encounter, fly only 2,200 miles above the surface. Is and the team didn’t want to waste a perthere dangerous debris in the area that will fectly good spacecraft. After much research damage the spacecraft? and deliberation and help from the Hubble Throughout December and January telescope, they realized New Horizons was we’ll be posting mission updates on our on a flight path toward a newly discovered MVAS Facebook page, so join us as we object named 2014 MU69. They proposed follow this journey into the unknown. On an extension of the mission, and it was apJanuary 1 we’ll have to patiently wait until proved. 10 a.m. to learn whether New Horizons sur Ultima Thule is about 4.6 billion years vived, and 8 p.m. for the first flyby image to old, and researchers believe it is a preserved be returned. Good luck, New Horizons! sample of material created when our solar Wishing you clear skies! • system formed. It’s in a region called the Kuiper Belt, a wide band far beyond the orbit of Neptune filled with millions of icy Join MVAS from 7:30-10:00pm objects, comets, asteroids, dust and gas. Pluto is considered a Kuiper Belt object. So on Saturday, December 1st, what’s the drama and intrigue? for an evening of stargazing at For starters, Ultima Thule is about a Barton-Brown Observatory, billion miles past Pluto and is very small. It now takes over six hours for a radio signal 206 White St., Waterville to reach Earth. Will the spacecraft’s instruThe event is free. ments be affected by the low light condi-

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local photography A view of Little Falls in autumn. © Robert Ostrander

The Oriskany Monument - Dedicated August 6, 1844 to mark the site of The Battle of Oriskany August 6th 1777 © CLiff Oram, 2018

Small Dog Sitters

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Kast Hill Farm

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Artisan Cheese handmade by the Felio Family and sold locally throughout the Mohawk Valley!

For locations visit: www.threevillagecheese.com Also see us every Saturday at the Oneida Co. Market at Utica’s Union Station!

1749 Historic Old Fort Johnson, Fort Johnson, NY Built by Sir William Johnson, Home served as a Indian Council and Military Post. © Jenny Galough, 2018 The Village of Ilion from Armory Hill. © Robert Ostrander, 2018

Mohawk Valley Through the Lens Check out their popular Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MVTTL

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Nooks & Crannies Weekly, biweekly and monthly cleanings available.

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Friday night dinners featuring our famous fresh haddock fish fry! Full menu available - Serving every Friday 4-8:30

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Seasonal cleanings, Move in/move out cleanings and Post-construction cleanings also available.

Unique Garden Gift Shop! Fresh-Cut Trees/Live Wreaths Holiday Centerpieces Kissing Balls & more! 8442 St. Hwy 28, Richfield Springs www.melindasgardenbarn.com

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What’s on tap

at local Breweries & Wineries Bullthistle Brewing Company

45 S Main St., Sherburne • (607) 674-2337 Saturday, Dec. 8, 4pm Bristles & Brews Saturday, Dec. 15, 7pm 2nd Annual Ugly Sweater Party

Brimfield Winery & Cidery

Closed for the season, see you in the spring! 8300 Brimfield St., Clinton • (315) 853-8175

Copper City Brewing Company

1111 Oneida St., Rome • (315) 281-8987 www.coppercitybrewing.com Sunday, Dec. 2, 2pm Craic Live Thursday, Dec. 6, 7pm Jess Novak and Ben Wayne Debut Sunday, Dec. 9, 2pm Jerry Yerman Thursday, Dec. 13, 7pm Paul Case Live on the East Side Sunday, Dec. 16, 2pm Colin Aberdeen Sunday Session

The First Farm Brewery in Chenango County

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45 South Main St., Sherburne Open: Wed. & Thur. 4-9pm; Fri. & Sat. 11:30 am - 10pm (607) 674-BEER BullthistleBrewingCoLLC

Crazy Williez Brewery

546 Silver Street, Ilion • (315) 895-0166 Saturday, Dec. 8, 7pm Frank Diskin Sunday, Dec. 16, Noon Cookies and cocoa with Santa Saturday, Dec. 22, 6pm Have a Beer with Santa Willie Friday, Dec. 28, 7pm Ryan Matter in the taproom Saturday, Dec. 29, 7pm Nick Bontempo

Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard

288 Goose St, Fly Creek (607) 547-9692 • www.flycreekcidermill.com

Weekends through Dec. 24, 10am-4pm

Wassailing Weekends: traditional cider- based holiday drink will be the focused tasting.

Good Nature Brewing

Farm Brewery: 1727 NY-12B, Hamilton (315) 824-2337 • goodnaturebrewing.com Sunday, Dec. 9, 3pm Austin Macrae Sunday, Dec. 16, 3pm Mark Zane

Local wine, gifts, and more! 400 Academy Street Prospect, NY 13435 Wed-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-6

315-205-4045

ProspectFallsWinery@gmail.com Facebook.com/ProspectFallsWinery @WineB4Wildrness “Wine Before Wilderness”

546 Silver St. Ilion • (315) 895-0166

A wide variety of household pet food, treats, toys, and accessories

Life’s crazy, drink simple!

Nail Creek Pub & Brewery

720 Varick Street, Utica (315) 793-7593 • www.nailcreekpub.com

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 11:30pm

Irish Seisiún, traditional music. Thursday Nights, 10pm Matt Lomeo

Prospect Falls Winery

400 Academy Street, Prospect (315) 205-4045 • prospectfallswinery.com Sunday, Dec. 2, 2-5pm Karen Caruso Saturday, Dec. 8, 2-5pm Cathie Timian & The Hired Hands Sunday, Dec. 16, 2-5pm Max Scialdone, Be sure to wear that ugly Christmas Sweater!

Closed Dec. 24 & 25, and Dec. 31-Jan. 4

16 Stone Brewpub

9542 Main St., Holland Patent • (315) 865-8500 Sat., Dec. 1, 6pm Christmas Tree Lighting Sunday, Dec. 16, 1pm Musicians Holiday Potluck Feast & Party

Woodland Farm Brewery

6002 Trenton Rd, Utica (315) 864-3051 • www.woodlandbeer.com Tuesday, Dec.. 4, 5-8pm Seth Owen Becker Tuesday, Dec. 18 , 5-8pm J. Schnitt

Tastings in our tasting room! Dec. 7- Kronenbourg, Carlsberg, & Jack’s Abby 5-7pm Dec. 14 - Adirondack 5-7pm Dec. 21 - Brown’s 5-7pm Jan. 18 - Troeg’s Brewery 5-7pm Jan. 25 - Artisanal Brewery 5-7pm Serving wholesale & retail customers. Specializing in domestic and craft beers & ciders and spritzers.

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We pick up the Utica Peregrine Falcon’s saga right where we left off in last month’s article. The falcons surprised us by successfully hatching two eggs on May 9th. Given all the interruptions during the early incubation process, we thought there was only a slight chance the first two eggs laid would hatch, but they did. Still, there were two more eggs left in the nest. Would they also hatch? Astrid acted like they would. Perhaps she could feel movement inside one, or maybe she could hear the chick within calling. When adjusting the remaining eggs, sometimes she would jostle them with a rapid shutter of her body. This quaking motion induces the chick inside the egg to begin breaking out of the shell. A third chick finally did hatch in the early morning on May 12th. Ares brought food to the nest box just before 6 a.m., and when Astrid rose to do a feeding, we got to see the new nestling for the first time. It had completely dried off and was white as cotton. It was stretching its head up to vie for food with its older siblings. There was a noticeable size difference between the chicks. The new one was only half the size of the others. How would it be able to compete for food? As it turned out the youngest chick did very well for himself and after a few days, he was muscling his way to the front of the chow line. Astrid loathes to leave young chicks, but she did fly off a couple

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Astrid tops off the youngest chick of times that day, and when she did, Ares came in to babysit. During his first short shift he just stared at the writhing heap of babies with a look that said, “What do I do now?” The three chicks became highly animated when Astrid left, and they were asking to be fed. Of course, Ares didn’t have anything. He just stood before them and waited for them to calm down. When they

finally did, he gingerly gathered them up and began brooding. Falcon nestlings develop at an astonishingly rapid pace. By May 17th, the sole remaining egg was well beyond any chance of hatching, but it became the yardstick to measure the chicks’ growth by. The two older chicks were more than double its size. At that point they had started to become ambulatory in the box. Watching them lumber around like wind-up toy penguins, it was difficult to believe that in a month’s time they would be among the most graceful birds to put wings to sky. Now for the first time, they had walked away from each other. They were no longer the “chick pile” they had been since hatching. The 17th was a hot, sunny day and each nestling tumbled off to different corners in search of

shade. Soon enough, Astrid returned and was immediately faced with a conundrum. Her aim was to shade the chicks, but they weren’t together. The nestlings were as far away from each other as they could be in a three-foot-wide box. Astrid picked up one of the chicks with her bill and plunked it down where she could shade it properly. She then tried to move another by scuttling it along with her wing, but that didn’t work so well. It didn’t help that whenever she would move one chick, another would shuffle off. Her solution was to shade them in shifts. She would go over to one, tuck it beneath her for a little while, leave it, and then do the same with one of the others. It wasn’t the most efficient solution. By May 21st, the nestlings’ walking had become stronger. They weren’t flopping over as often. Even though they showed only the smallest eruption of flight feathers, they had begun to flap their wings. Their eyesight had become keener and they began reacting to what they saw happening outside of the box. After that, milestones in their development were attained on a near-daily basis. Less than a week later, the oldest nestling was observed holding down a scrap of food with his talons and picking

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at it with his bill. That’s the way the big birds do it. On May 31st, the nestlings’ dark wing and tail feathers protruded out at least an inch and impinged on their pure white, snowman-like appearance. Besides their coal-colored face masks, they suddenly all had patches of tan plumage behind their eyes. Behaviorally, they had become more independent inside the box; resting separately and engaging in their own exercise routines. We noticed something else at this juncture: sometimes when a chick would stare at a distant object, they would rapidly bob their heads up and down for a few seconds. This is what falcons do to assess the distance of an object--an invaluable skill for a bird of prey. The Utica Peregrine Falcon Project held a public contest to name the three nestlings. Out of the names submitted we chose Milo, Angel, and Petra. The names were assigned based on hatching order, with Milo being the eldest and Petra, the youngest. The middle chick was given the name Angel, which for us represented a hedge since we weren’t yet sure of Angel’s gender and that name would work either way. It turned out that Angel was a male. In fact, all three nestlings were male, which represented a first. Although Astrid and Ares have produced

more males than females in five years, this was the first season that no females were produced. As for the names, the chicks would grow into them, especially as their individual personalities emerged. At different points during their development, telling the three boys apart would prove a great challenge, but while they were all still in the box, it was relatively easy. By the first week of June, they were all approximately the same size, but Petra’s plumage development was behind that of his older brothers. As for Angel, he quickly earned the reputation as the wildest one in the bunch – the fun-loving mischief-maker. Falcon nestlings know how to stir up trouble. Stomping on your nest mates, pulling their tails, grabbing them when they least expect it, and stealing their food are all recognized pastimes for a high-spirited nestling. Angel did all those things and more. Milo wasn’t above similar antics, but he was mainly known for his sleepiness. This probably wasn’t fair, but of the three nestlings he was the one most likely to be enjoying a daytime snooze. One day Astrid laid down the law at the nest box. The rule was: “No more cuckoos!” That was how we interpreted it anyhow. Ares is famous for catching cuckoos,

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fed, but he had nothing else. Angel then tried to get the food away from Milo, but he failed. As it happened the chicks had all eaten well that day and it was time to call it a night. Petra fell asleep with his bill up against the lip of the box while staring at Ares gets a chance to do a feeding Ares, who stood guard on the box’s long perch. storing them on ledges and/or bringing He only woke up when Angel came over them to the nest as meals for the chicks. It and deliberately stomped on his tail. shouldn’t be news to anyone who has fol- Another important milestone occurred lowed the Utica Falcon’s story for the past on June 11th when Angel stepped onto the several years, but Astrid hates eating cuck- outer lip of the nest box and did some wing oo flesh and she doesn’t like to feed it to flapping. For us, the first time a nestling her chicks either. Despite that, Ares quite perches precariously on that thin piece of happily provides his mate and family with wood 15 floors above a busy street is discuckoo after cuckoo. Sometimes it’s cuck- quieting. At this time the chicks remained oo for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Most of well covered in downy fluff and were still what he brought were Black-billed Cuck- a week away from their fledging window. oos, but Yellow-billed Cuckoos would also However, experience told us that the nestshow up regularly on the menu. On June lings’ stunts would only become more 5th, Ares had come to the box with a fresh daring as the days progressed. Two days Black-billed Cuckoo and began feeding the later, they had begun venturing onto the vechicks with it. He didn’t get very far before randa platforms on either side of the nest Astrid barreled into the box and confronted box. It takes some dexterity to maneuver him. Instead of taking the meal from him, onto them, but they soon had the technique she hurried him out and the cuckoo with down. Angel and Milo were the first ones him. After that, Ares didn’t bring anoth- to get onto the west veranda. They flapped er cuckoo for a while. At least not when their wings and played some before setAstrid was around. On that same day, an- tling down for a snooze. The big surprise other milestone in nestling behavior was for us was that Astrid brought food to them achieved. The chicks were starting to grab and conducted a feeding on the veranda. It prey away from their parents. That evening, probably doesn’t sound like a big deal, but Ares brought some non-cuckoo leftovers to Astrid had never done that before. In fact, the box. Milo grabbed it from him, took it in all the years we’ve monitored her, we’ve to the corner and fed on it by himself. The never known her to feed chicks anywhere other two squealed at Ares, begging to be outside the confines of the nest box.

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By June 15th, it was clear the parents were trying to entice the chicks to fly. It seemed like it was a little premature for this crew, but we had to have faith that Astrid knew best. At 8 that morning, all three nestlings were perched on the lip of the box and looking out. Astrid repeatedly flew by them, alternating her landings between the long perch and the verandas. Several times she made a big show of launching into the canyon. Each time she did this the youngsters would watch with rapt attention and let out squealing calls. It wasn’t only the liftoff she was demonstrating, she was also showing them safe places to land. Typically, the adult falcons prefer to land on the very thinnest ledges on the State Office Building – those located directly above and below each office window. Astrid and Ares normally shun the deeper window ledges due to unexpected appearances of people at the windows. Peregrines don’t generally appreciate being disturbed, but when it comes to the safety of their young at fledging time, people in windows are no longer a major concern. Later in the morning, it was Ares’ turn to coax the young. While Astrid was busy checking out a Minnie Mouse balloon (of all things!) that was floating by on the wind, he picked up some scraps of food and tried to interest the chicks in following him into the canyon. Despite the demonstration flights, none of the nestlings took to the air that day, although they did some impressive hopping and jumping between the box, the perches, and the verandas. They would be fledging soon and increasingly they looked the part. In fact, they had undergone a near-complete molt into juvenile plumage. They were snowmen no longer. They had black malar (or sideburn) markings on their faces. Slate blue feathers, edged in beige covered their backs and heads, and their light undersides were heavily streaked with brown. Their flight feathers (wing and tail feathers) were all in place and looked neat and pristine. They did retain some downy white fuzz on the top of their heads, but that

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vestige of their natal plumage would soon be gone. On June 17th, Angel became the first of the 2018 season’s nestlings to fledge. His first flight was a rocky ride that featured some perilous landings, but also some remarkable recoveries. After launching from the box, he sailed high over Elizabeth Street and attempted a landing on the Grace Church Steeple, but not on any of the easy perching places. Instead, he tried to put down on the almost vertical outer wall. He grappled onto the masonry for a few moments before pushing off, finding his wings, and landing on the roof of a nearby building. After exploring the roof and scuttling a roosting

Milo chases after Angel

flock of Pigeons, he launched again, this time heading for the Courthouse. There, he successfully put down on one of the many facets of that building’s roof. Apparently, he hadn’t tired himself out, because after only a few minutes he was up again. He flew back to the Adirondack Bank building and landed on the vertical brick wall just below a window ledge. There he grappled on to the bricks like a big blue bat. Showing a surprising amount of strength and agility he managed to climb straight up until he was able to scamper onto a narrow window ledge. There, he stayed for several hours, but before nightfall he attempted to climb up the window screen. He made it about half way up before giving up. He was left hanging by his talons again. After about five minutes (to us it seemed longer!) he let go and half flew, half fell to a lower window ledge. There, he wisely decided to spend the night. All things considered, he had done well. He got into difficult situations but was able to keep his wits and use his strength to find his way to

Angel tries to pull himself up onto a window ledge safety. The very next day was one of the wildest days we had ever experienced in the downtown canyon. First thing in the morning, an unknown Peregrine flew through and got the entire family worked up. Alarm calls came from all directions but, based on Astrid and Ares’ more subdued reaction, it was an immature falcon. The stranger flew from the steeple to the State Building roof, circled and then came back toward the Adirondack Bank. Astrid gave some sharp alarm calls and that was all it took to

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Another good landing for a fledgling

send the young bird on his way. He headed south and out of the canyon, not to be seen again. Following that, Angel flew again. He flapped his way around the south side of the State Building, came back into the canyon, and landed on the bank’s roof. Directly following Angel’s flight, Ares came to the box, grabbed some food scraps, but while attempting to hand it off to one of the nestlings, the food slipped from his grasp and fell. Ares flew straight down after it but pulled up before reaching street level. Before the morning was done, Angel made several more impressive flights, one which culminated in a tricky landing on a narrow ledge on the State Office Building. He was doing exceptionally well. In all the excitement none of the Fledge Watch volunteers realized that there was only one chick at the nest box. Milo had gone around a pillar and was on a ledge just beyond the east veranda, but Petra was nowhere to be seen. Of course, sometimes the nestlings flatten themselves out on a ledge and/or cram themselves right up against a

wall where you can’t see them even with the cameras. In other words, we weren’t overly concerned, but we should have been. At 12 noon, I got a call from local Wildlife Rehabilitator Judy Cusworth. She had just picked up a juvenile Peregrine Falcon from the Utica Zoo. She informed me that a couple of good Samaritans had found the falcon sitting on Elizabeth Street, not far from the corner of Genesee Street. They covered the fallen bird with a coat and brought him directly to the zoo. Apparently, Petra had stumbled off the nest box perch and fell to the street below. Petra was checked for injuries at Judy’s facility (Woodhaven Wildlife Center) and was given a clean bill of health. We took him back downtown and prepared to release him directly through the hatch in the back of the nest box. At 12:30, we weren’t sure where Angel had flown to but, as if to keep us on our toes, Milo took that opportunity to fledge. He flew directly over to the State Building and according to the fledge watchers, he made a solid landing on a wide window ledge. It was an excellent first flight. Shortly after, Angel was accounted for back on the State Building. We were glad to have them back in view given that a storm was threatening. At some point after Milo landed, one of the parents dropped food off to him on his ledge. They obviously knew right where he was. After the storm passed, Astrid was on the west veranda and Ares was on the State Building with the two fledglings. Meanwhile, we were waiting for the right moment to release Petra. At 7:20, both

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fledglings were still in place on the State Building and Astrid was on a window pillar on the Adirondack Bank. We were in place to transfer Petra back into the nest through the hatch in the back of the box. As soon as we began to open the office window to access the hatch, Astrid began swooping in front of the box and giving alarm calls. Initially, Petra was very hesitant to move from the carrier to the box and, given Astrid’s display, we weren’t surprised. The process took about 20 minutes. Once he transferred, he seemed at home and went right back to being a nestling. Of course, Astrid took a while to get over the outrage of having the box breeched. The important thing being, she was hazing us and the box and not Petra. Ares had gone hunting a little earlier and had just come back with prey. He plucked it on the hotel and then flew it to the State Building. Astrid took it and brought it to the box. After giving it to Petra, she resumed her hazing operations. At one point, Ares joined in and gave some alarm calls. Later in the evening, Astrid seemed to be trying

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to get Petra to go to the west veranda. She still didn’t trust the box with its suspicious trap door. The release had gone very well, and things were, more or less, back to normal. Over the next few days, the flying (and landing) abilities of Angel and Milo improved immeasurably. They spent many hours tearing through the canyon, chasing each other and their parents. “Talon-tag” became their favorite game. This entailed the two brothers locking talons during midair sparring matches. Like much of what they do, it was amazing to watch. At just after 6 p.m. on June 22nd, Petra fledged. His maiden flight was strong. He flapped his way through the canyon and to a landing on a high window ledge on the west face of the State Building. That happened to be a bleachers seat view for an ensuing downtown block party. To monitor him, two of us had to brave the merriment and loud music. We stood among the crowd – the only ones looking up with binoculars toward the State Building and not looking at the stage where there was a band was playing. The music was loud, and the antics of the revelers were distracting, but we had a good view of Petra. Although none of us saw his actual landing, he looked fine and didn’t seem troubled by the noise or the

crowd. Usually new fledglings stay in place for hours (if not days) following their first flight, but breaking with that tradition, Petra took to the air again. At 6:30 he made a very competent flight to the Adirondack Bank and then back to the State Building. Petra then landed on the roof of that building and Angel joined him there. At just before 7:00 p.m., Ares arrived on the State Building roof with food and began tearing bits off. He was feeding Petra as if he was still a chick in the nest. At just after 7 o’clock, Petra surprised us again, by leaving the roof and flying over to the County Building. It was a perfect flight and a decent landing. Ten minutes later, he was up again and winging his way back to the roof of the State Building. This time Astrid joined him on the roof and, just as Ares had done before, she fed him like a nestling. As far as any of us could recall, this was the first time the parents fed a fledgling in this manner away from the nest area. Remarkably, by the end of that evening, Petra had made eight flights in 2½ hours, which was a record for a newly fledged Peregrine – at least in this canyon. For Petra it was a spectacular debut, especially considering his initial tumble out of the nest.

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Fledging from the nest was by no means the end of the story for Utica’s latest batch of juvenile Peregrines. We continued to monitor them until they finally left their parent’s territory in mid-August. Watching their aerial antics and monitoring their interactions with each other and their parents made for a fascinating summer. As I write this in early November, Astrid and Ares continue to hold and defend their territory in the downtown canyon. As it looks now, they are anticipating a sixth breeding season come this spring. As always, we encourage everyone reading this to watch the live video feed from the nest box and to come downtown in June (date to be announced) to participate in our annual fledge watch. As always, it’s the best show in town. •

Matt Perry is Conservation Director and resident naturalist at Spring Farm CARES in Clinton. He manages a 260 acre nature preserve which is open for tours by appointment. Matt is also regional editor of “The Kingbird”, which is a quarterly publication put out by the New York State Ornithological Association. Matt’s short nature videos can be viewed on the web. Look for Spring Farm CARES Nature Sanctuary on Facebook.

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Jennie M. Bingham (1859-1933) Bible Study Professor and AuthoR by susan Perkins, Executive Director

Miss Jennie M. Bingham was born in Fulton, N.Y., the daughter of the Rev. Isaac Sabin Bingham and Jane Mills Bingham. Jennie had five brothers: Charles, Melville, Wilbur, George, and Franklin and one sister, Mary. The Reverend Bingham entered Methodist Episcopal Ministry the year after graduating from Cazenovia Seminary in 1838. His first church was in LeRoy, N.Y. In 1860, he was editor of the Northern Christian Advocate. The Reverend Bingham served in DeKalb, LeRoy, Carthage, Lowville, Evans Mills, Adams, Syracuse, Watertown, Rome, and Herkimer. Jennie spent most of her life in Watertown. In 1892, she was living in Herkimer with her parents. She is listed as doing literary work. It was from 1892-1906 that Jennie was a professor of English Bible Study at the Folts Mission Institute in Herkimer. In 1906, Jennie moved to Syracuse to live with her widowed sister, Mary Bingham Myers. In the 1910 Census, Jennie is listed as an editor and publisher of a magazine. Jennie’s first article published was a little story entitled “A Hospital Sketch,” which appeared in the Christian Union. Among her early productions was a missionary story, “A Grain of Mustard Seed” (1881). Eight-thousand copies were sold during the first six months after publication, the proceeds of which founded a home in Japan. Jennie wrote literature, essay writing, fiction, poetry, Sunday-school helps, and art criticism. She also reviewed books. Some of her short stories have appeared in Harper’s Young People. She is the author of two books Annals of the Round Table (1885), and All Glorious Within (1891). She supported charities of New York City, and part of her labor had been in visiting them and writing concerning them. A few

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of the charities were the Newsboys’ Lodging-House, Five Points Mission, Flower Mission, Florence Night Mission, and Children’s Aid Society. In our collection at the Herkimer County Historical Society is a booklet called “Five Christmas Stories” by Jennie M. Bingham published by the Herkimer Democrat, Herkimer, N.Y. The five stories are “How Hallock Learned the Meaning of Christmas,” “Roxany,” “A Christmas Vision,” “Saint Hilda,” and ”The Story Daddy Told Me.” The first story starts on Christmas Eve with what fraternity brothers Hallock and Murray did that was anything but special. On their way home from gambling, they stole a family’s small Christmas tree, which had striped candy hung on it, a sugar elephant, and a doll for the children of Tom and Hepsy Jones. There was cardboard with the words on it that read, “Thou shalt call His name Immanuel, God with us.” They set the tree up in their dorm room. Here’s an excerpt from “How Hallock Learned the Meaning of Christmas:” “Both young men had grown sober. What seemed fun last night was not fun at all this morning”… “All right, sir. Let’s go down to the city short meter, and buy some trinkets for Tom’s kids, and set ’em up a fine, first-class Christmas tree, and leave it by the door, right by the door-bell and git.” When the family got up Christmas morning and discovered the Christmas tree was gone, what a sad scene it must have been. But then: “The door-bell rang with a quick, sharp pull, accompanied with thumping and noise. The babies cried so that Hepsy did not get to the door right off, and Tom and Buddy were ahead of her…. Such shouting and commotion and general ‘taking on’ had never been known in Hepsy’s house before. There might have been a lively plundering scene only that Hepsy brought things to order hastily, had the tree brought in properly and set up, and the family assembled, their faces washed (this with a difficulty), and the gifts distributed according to directions. And then so many packages read, “For Hespy,” what did it mean? Never mind: It meant secondarily, that Hepsy had a new dress, some very bright colored ribbons, a gorgeous hat, and the first dollar bill she had ever owned in her life.” Hallock and Murray learned their lesson about stealing. They made a less fortunate family’s Christmas better anonymously. According to Jennie’s obituary in the Syracuse Journal of June 28, 1933, she had moved to Syracuse 27 years earlier (1906). She taught Bible lessons at the YWCA and organized classed in the First and Fourth Presbyterian Churches and the First Reformed Church while living in Syracuse. She was also a member of the Methodist Church. Jennie left an estate of $10,000. • Sue Perkins is the Executive Director of the Herkimer County Historical Society

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Tim prepares the Children’s Cottage for their winter visit

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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 ask our friends not to tell us the weather reports, especially when the forecast is for clouds, cold rain, blizzards, or worse, for days and days. It can be quite depressing and doesn’t do any good to know, unless there are crop or travel concerns. We become rather fanatic about it, and look foolish sometimes turning away or covering our ears and bursting into some irrelevant noise like children do, so we don’t have to hear it when it can’t be stopped. One irrepressible friend can’t resist saying (every time we meet): “I know you don’t want to hear this, but….” We prefer to live in the moment, take what’s happening and make do. We hope for improvement if the weather is unkind, savor it if it’s benign. The one weather report we can rely on is change. Last month, autumn storms sent cascades of multi-colored leaves to earth in their last dance on the wind. Only the clinging beech leaves and tamarack needles still grant us a remnant of brilliant gold and genial rust before winter’s monochrome. When

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the leaves were still up, ephemeral winds sounded like the rustling swish of silk skirts, but now they wail fiercely through our naked trees, lifting the grounded leaves into great swirls and sky-borne whorls as if they are trying to regain their place on the branches. Eventually, probably annoyed with all this frolic, cold rain weeps from the heavens, plummeting heavily on the downed leaves, making them stay put on the earth so they can protect roots from the coming winter cold. The first snow comes, floating through the sky in misty clouds of eiderdown. All becomes still except for the pitter-patter of soft flakes melting into the earth. Then, one day it gets very cold, the snow begins to stick around and we stay inside more. It can be comfortably toasty inside with a wood stove, but sometimes it cranks up and the house becomes like a sauna. So we must take off some clothes. Or it gets too low because we each think the other was tending it. Then we must put on extra clothes. During the Winter Olympics of 1994, we heard that the Norwegians say: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” It’s true for us, except that we sure spend

Tim and Peg offer ministry and music

a lot of time and energy taking them on and off! One Sunday, we go to church in Salisbury Center, just east of Barto Hill, the highest elevation in Herkimer County with a road, noted for its wild winds and storms. A fierce wind blasts rain and sleet just as we arrive and the very walls of the church tremble. Only

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two other people are able to join us. It grows darker and darker outside and the electricity goes out. We light the church candles, I play a hymn on the old, foot-powered reed organ, and we sit close together on the old pews speaking in soft voices that contrast with the tantrum of blustery blasts. Although it’s intimidating, and we have a strong sense of fearsome awe and Neighbor Renee Rizzo slides fragility as the earth down our snowbanks elements rage outside, we also experience a peculiar mystical sense of peace and comfort in the tiny circle of friendship that glows around us as we companionably wait within the protection of these old wooden walls. This sense of connection, of intimacy with family and community often weaves its particular magic at the many sacred and secular gatherings of December. The darkening days and increasing cold make us conscious of our tenuous relationship with existence, drawing us closer together, and we find comfort in each other’s companionship. I offer to teach our neighbor’s young daughter how to make a little balsam wreath in our little Crafts Shop midway between us. She is vivacious and fun, but eventually gets tired, starts to cry about something, and won’t be comforted. She goes running up the road when I try to wipe her nose, and I can only follow miserably behind, listening to her loud wails of distress echoing throughout the forest, thinking: “Her father will think I’ve abused her.” I cowardly linger behind as she mounts their steps and he opens the door, but my worries were for naught. “Daddy, look what I made!” she announces proudly with a big smile through runny nose and tear-streaked cheeks. “That’s wonderful, darling!” He waves to me. “Thanks, Peg!” The first winter

Three generations build a SnowBehr Man

Tim, Peg with grown up daughters Heidi and Rebekah 1984

we lived here (1974), we gathered with our children in our tiny one room cottage with a half loft, for a simple Solstice/Christmas/ Hanukkah celebration with candles, a kerosene lamp, and the glow from the fireplace for light. We popped corn on the wood stove, and ate wild apples from the root cellar for treats. A little budget book for Dad, hand-crocheted slippers made from wool from their pet sheep, and a few comic books for the children sufficed for gifts. We sang songs, told stories, played with the warm candle wax when we were bored, and made plans to visit friends. It was not exciting, but we created a warm island of kindness and goodwill in the midst of the bitterly cold, snow laden Adirondack forest around us. Mid-1970s. After doing Christmas Eve services here, we are spending a green Christmas eve night with my mom and dad so I can help in the morning with preparations for the family gathering later that day. I am slightly appalled when Mom suggests that one of us sleep on the daybed by the Franklin stove and one of us upstairs in my old bedroom. “They are married, Betty,” my father admonishes. “Well, they’re just single beds,” she replies with a frown.

We choose the daybed by the wood stove, and are comfortable enough because we are accustomed to being closely entwined to keep warm enough when the fire goes out at night in our cottage in the woods. We awaken to Bing Crosby singing, “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” through their speakers. The brown earth has disappeared. Great puffs of fluffy, white snow piled up on every twig, branch, and bush give us the impression of being on top of a cloud. We must be in heaven! It’s good that we didn’t try to go to Ohio where Tim’s folks live, but he likes to reminisce about the special mantle scene they always had with a ceramic Santa and his reindeer pulling a little plastic sleigh full of packages through puffy cotton folds of white cloth. Tim remembers his older brother drawing up a hand-written program and directing his little brother and sister Penny to sing carols to their parents before they got up Christmas morning. I am happy to be in my old home, hearing the chimes of the grandfather clock; my mother’s step in the kitchen as she sings to herself while preparing food; the delicious aroma of buns baking, or toasted bread wafting into the rest of the house; the creak of the stairs as Dad comes down to breakfast; their

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happily making very realistic looking mice out of chocolate! I see enough of the live ones at home! Last summer, I opened my wooden music cabinet in the Crafts Shop and found myself fact to face with the big, brown eyes of one. We stared at each other for several seconds. I’m wondering how come the mothballs I put in there didn’t deter him, and he’s wondering who the heck ripped off the whole side of his house! I was just about to leave and give him time to move out on his own (this is in a loosely enclosed building), when it occurred to me to just see if there might be more. Yep! There’s another one staring at me from the top of Brahms “Intermezzos.” Should I look further? Yes, again! Five pair of soft, dark, mouse eyes are staring at me from the top of my precious music books! “You guys better clear out before I get back!” I admonish. They particularly liked the oldGrown-up daughter Becky er manuscripts, nibbling the old palooks down from our loft like per into decoratively ruffed edges,

familiar voices saying words I’ve heard so many times throughout my life, “Is breakfast ready?” “Did the paper come?” “Have the plows come through yet?” Dad tilts his head up to look through the bottom of his bifocals to read the thermometer, forgetting that they are still propped up on his head. Mom laughs at him. I stroll into the kitchen to see what needs to be done. Besides the numerous casseroles, pies, and buns I expected, I am slightly piqued to see that my creative and playful mother is

Pegs Mom opening the oven with Grandpa and sister, Joyce

Santa and his Sleigh - Tim’s special childhood mantle scene. 1940’s

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Tim (front) with siblings Dave and Penny sang carols for their parents 1940 and made a cozy nest of them behind the A, B, and C folders. More than a little frustrated, I had a very brief and tearful debate with myself between giving up music or finding another storage location.

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My career was saved when I found a nice, old, mouse-proof metal cabinet for them at Bittersweet Pines. 1984. Now, our children have grown up, received as much education as they want, and have good paying jobs. They come here from the far ends of our country one December with their spouses, some managing to fit into their Children’s Cottage. Tim chops an extra hole in the ice over the creek in front for them to get wash water, and have showers with the sprinkling can. When we all gather in our cottage, it is fairly bursting! We don’t even need to run the wood stove with so many warm bodies heating it, and I gingerly step around many legs and feet as I serve wine, quiche, and tea. They are excited that now they can afford to be generous, and there are so many gifts, we have to pile them outside on a tarp, bringing them in, one by one until there is no room to move! I am always consciously sentimental about our family and church gatherings, knowing that our time together is brief, that one day the light from some beloved faces will flicker

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out, and they will be sorely missed. We still have the lovely wind chimes we received from our children that December of abundance, and when they sweetly ring throughout the year, we are reminded to cherish such moments with family and friends, to be patient and kind, and try to spread goodwill in all that we do. •

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This month I’d like to catch you up on some 92.7 The DRIVE happenings. December 5th we will be hosting a giveaway party for our “Lost in Bermuda” Cruise giveaway at Danielle’s Valley View on the Parkway in Utica. We have been qualifying listeners on air and will do so until the 4th. The public is invited to this party, and we will draw a handful of last-minute qualifiers for the trip, prior to beginning the giveaway. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. On-air qualifiers will need to check in with our staff by 6:45 p.m. Besides the grand prize drawing, there will be some consolation prizes and other giveaways There will be hors d’oeuvres and live music by Thunderwatt, and a silent auction benefiting Hospice and Palliative Care, a great way to get some cool gifts for the holiday. The night also will feature a cash bar and a menu of some of that great Danielle’s food. I wonder if they make “figgy pudding”? “The Genesee Joe Christmas Spectacular,” featuring live music on the air, will be happening again from noon until 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Kelly Yacco is currently working on his group, which has been a yearly feature. I can’t get into the specifics now, but listen for the line-up on “The Joe

Show.” In addition to the live music, I have some holiday tunes specifically recorded for the show from The Blarney Rebel Band, Jim Inman, Thunderwatt, and more. A splendid time shall be had by all! A sample of New Year’s Eve happenings: Jennie and the Buckshot 5 at Silverado Inn, Grit N Grace at Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Syracuse with Brass Inc., Max Scialdone Band at Daiker’s, Showtime at Breezes on Leland Ave., Curtiss Road at Jim’s Irish Harbor Pub in Canajoharie, Simple Props at Lukin’s, Gridley Paige at The Gig at Turning Stone, Classified at Del Lago Casino, and Soul Injection at Mohawk Casino, Hogansburgh. Look for an updated list under calendars at 927thedrive.net Congratulations to Wicked, the kings of the modern glam rock movement. They will be featured at the New Jersey KISS Con in the Parsippany Hilton on Dec.7-9. Wicked will appear on December 8th. With the year coming to an end, I truly want to extend a heart-felt thank you for your support of “The Joe Show” and 92.7 FM The DRIVE. We are a locally-owned small business, and your business and listenership do mean a lot. Thank you! Go check out some live and local music!

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Christmas Trees Massoud’s Tree Farm, Sauquoit . . . . . . . 14 Naturewood Knoll, Little Falls . . . . . . . 14 North Star Orchards, Westmoreland . . . . 145

Bowling Adirondack Diner and Lanes, Barneveld . . 21 State Bowl with Cosmic Bowling, Ilion . . . . 52 Vista Lanes, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Auto Dealerships Steet-Ponte Auto Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Automotive Repair Clinton Collision, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Precision Unlimited, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . 16

RoSo’s Cafe & Catering, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . 25 So Sweet Candy Cafe, Utica . . . . . . . . . . 6 Willie’s The Original Bagel Cafe, Utica . . . 26

Catering Club Monarch, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Gone Coastal, Lee Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Nothin’ Fancy Cafe, Vernon . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

SZAREK’S Hanging Baskets Hydroponic Heirloom Tomatoes Vegetable Plants Fall Mums 7446 E. South St., Clinton 315.853.5901

Coffee Moose River Coffee, Ilion . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Consignment Infinityy Closet, Boonville . . . . . . . . . . 69 The Online Exchange, Dolgeville . . . . . . . 29 The Queen’s Closet, Yorkville . . . . . . . . 27 Renewed & Rescued, Herkimer . . . . . . 52 Second Hand Rose, Oneida . . . . . . . . 48 Selective Seconds, New Hartford . . . . . . . . 7 Walk-in Closet, Barneveld . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Contractors Cobblestone Construction, Utica . . . . . . . 10 Delis Little Italy Imports, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Meelan’s Meat Market, Clark Mills . . . . . 71

• children’s bookstore • reading tutoring • arts enrichment • literacy enrichment • birthday parties

Books mak great gifts!e

Mon: 10-2, Tues-Fri: 10-7, Sat: 10-4

(315) 765-6262 • 587 Main St., New York Mills 75

Olde Kountry Market, Vernon . . . . . . . . . 7 LaFamiglia Bosonne’s Sausage, Utica . . . . . 43 Dentistry Neighborhood Family Dentistry, Utica . . . . 60 Diners Adirondack Diner and Lanes, Barneveld . . 21 Charlie’s Place, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Riverside Diner, Marcy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Sheri’s Diner, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Suzi’s Place, Bouckville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Wendy’s Diner, Cassville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Dog Sitting Barney’s Angels, Frankfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Dumpster Rentals Cobblestone Construction, Utica . . . . . . . 10 Estate Sales Attic Addicts, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 The Potting Shed Antiques, Whitesboro . . . 30 Events, Entertainment, and Activities Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown . . . . . . . . 2 Fly Creek Cider Mill, Fly Creek . . . . . . . . 12 Fountain Elms Victorian Yuletide . . . . . 3 Goodsell Museum, Old Forge . . . . . . . . . 67 Hamilton College Performing Arts . . . . . 59 Hamilton for the Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Herkimer College Great Artists . . . . . . . 36 Kirkland Art Center, Clinton . . . . . . . . . 13 Little Falls Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Sunnycrest Orchards, Sharon Springs . . . . . 39 Vernon National Shooting Preserve . . . . . . 20 Farm Equipment Clinton Tractor, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Hobby Hill Farm Sales, Rome . . . . . . . . . . 67 White’s Farm Supply, Waterville/Canastota . . 80 Farm Markets Cooperstown Farmers Market . . . . . . . . . . 7 North Star Orchards, Westmoreland . . . . 15 Sunnycrest Orchards, Sharon Springs . . . . 39 Parry’s Inddor Market, Hamilton . . . . . . 19 Twin Orchards, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . 65 Whitesboro Farmer’s Market . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Feed, Animal Carhart’s Feed & Pet Supply . . . . . . . . . . 54 Kast Hill Farm, Herkimer . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Financial Services Van Meter & Van Meter, Little Falls . . . . . . 73 Firewood and Wood Pellets Lincoln Davies, Sauquoit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Fitness Centers and Gyms Curves, Herkimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Flooring Enjem’s, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Lincoln Davies, Sauquoit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Mike’s Floor Store, Whitesboro . . . . . . . 8 Florists Clinton Florist, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Michael’s Greenhouse, Sauquoit . . . . . . 42 Village Florals, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . 73

Funeral Services McGrath, Myslinski, Karboski & Nunn, Utica . . 65 Prince-Boyd & Hyatt, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Furniture John Froass & Son, Inc., Sherrill . . . . . . . 44 Ironwood Furniture, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Jeff ’s Amish Furniture, Jordanville . . . . . . . 61 Utica Brews, Utica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Furniture Makers Custom Woodcraft, Munnsville . . . . . . . . . 35 Garden Centers, Greenhouses, and U-pick Candella’s Farm & Greenhouses, Marcy . . 36 Melinda’s Garden Barn . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Michael’s Greenhouse, Sauquoit . . . . . . 66 MV Growers Association . . . . . . . . . . 38 North Star Orchards, Westmoreland . . . . 53 River Road Greenhouses, Marcy . . . . . . 12 Sunnycrest Orchards, Sharon Springs . . . . . 39 Szarek Greenhouses, Westmoreland . . . . . 59 Gift Shops/Shopping The Artisans’ Corner, Clinton . . . . . . . . 15 Between Us Sisters, Munnsville . . . . . . . . 71 Butternut Barn, Richfield Springs . . . . . . . 28 DiBella’s Gifts, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Fusion Art Gallery, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . 55 The Gathering Place, Poland . . . . . . . . 73 Krizia Martin, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Lady & Leap Toy Shop, New Hartford . . . . 6 Main St. Ristorante, Gift Shoppe, Newport 29 Oneida Commons, Oneida . . . . . . . . . . 29 Paca Gardens, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Remington Country Store, Ilion . . . . . . . 35 Sunnycrest Orchards, Sharon Springs . . . . . 39 The White Begonia, Sherrill . . . . . . . . 69 Zinn Brilliant, Cooperstown . . . . . . . . . . 32 Golf Courses and Driving Range Twin Ponds Golf & Country Club, NY Mills . . 49 Gravel and Gravel Driveways Copper City Landscaping, Rome . . . . . . 45 Grocery/Convenience Stores The Country Store, Salisbury . . . . . . . . . . 25 Deansboro Superette, Deansboro . . . . . . . 19 Little Italy Imports, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Mohawk Village Market, Mohawk . . . . . . . 49 Olde Kountry Market, Vernon . . . . . . . . . 7 Reilly’s Dairy, Inc., Sauquoit . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Hardware/Lumber/Farm & Home Lincoln Davies, Sauquoit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Morgan’s Hardware, Waterville . . . . . . . . . . 40 Parry’s General Store, Hamilton . . . . . . . 20 Pohlig Enterprises, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Turner Lumber, Barneveld . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Wightman Specialty Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Insurance Gates-Cole Insurance, New Hartford . . . . . 55 Farm Family Insurance, Boonville . . . . . . . 66 Turnbull Insurance, New Hartford . . . . . . . 71 Interior Design/Custom Window Treatments The Added Touch Drapery, New Hartford . . . 58 Jewelry Alison’s Jewelry & Repair, Utica . . . . . . . . 59 Fall Hill Beads & Gems, Little Falls . . . . . . 16 Goldmine Jewelers, New Hartford . . . . . . 51 Landscaping Copper City Landscaping, Rome . . . . . . . 45 Lighting Mills Electrical Supply, Rome . . . . . . . . . . 68 Liquor Stores and Wine Beer Belly Bob’s, Ilion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Ilion Wine & Spirits, Ilion . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Trenton Station Liquor & Wine, Barneveld . . 71 Lodging Canal Side Inn, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Maple Syrup (see Produce) Meats, locally raised (see Produce) Media 92.7 The Drive WXUR, Utica . . . . . . . . . 74 FOX33/WUTR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Weekly Adirondack, Old Forge . . . . . . . . . . 6 WKAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Monuments & Memorials Yorkville Memorials, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . 65 Musical Instrument Sales, Rentals, Lessons Big Apple Music, New Hartford . . . . . . . 16 Natural Food Stores Brenda’s Natural Foods, Rome . . . . . . . . . . 24 Cooperstown Naturals, Cooperstown . . . . . 58 Peter’s Cornucopia, New Hartford . . . . . . . 70 Sunflower Naturals, Barneveld . . . . . . . . . . 52 Tom’s Natural Foods, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Optometrists Towpath Vision Care, Little Falls . . . . . . . 37 Paint and Painting Supplies Lincoln Davies, Sauquoit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Parry’s General Store, Hamilton . . . . . . . 20 Pohlig Enterprises, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . . 27 Urbanik’s Paint & Wallpaper Co., Utica . . . . . 53 Pet Supplies Paws Boutique, Oneida Castle . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Hearing Consultants Hearing Health Hearing Centers, Rome . . . . 50

Physical Therapy Inertia PT, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Health and Wellness Infinity Tree, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . 69

Pizzerias DiCastro’s Brick Oven, Rome . . . . . . . . . . 24 Primo Pizzeria, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Tony’s Pizza, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Horse Boarding Kast Hill Farm, Herkimer . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Portable Toilets and Bathrooms Mohawk Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 & 72

Primitives Between Us Sisters, Munnsville . . . . . . . . 71 Butternut Barn, Richfield Springs . . . . . . . 28 Main St. Ristorante, Gift Shoppe, Newport 29 Produce, Local Ben & Judy’s Sugarhouse, West Edmeston . . Grassy Cow Dairy, Remsen . . . . . . . . . Jewett’s Cheese, Earlville . . . . . . . . . . . Jones Family Farm, Herkimer . . . . . . . Shaw’s Maple Products, Clinton . . . . . . Stoltzfus Family Dairy, Vernon Center . . Sunnybrook Farm, Deansboro . . . . . . . Three Village Cheese, Newport . . . . . . . Tibbits Maple, New Hartford . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . .

56 64 62 34 62 60 11 52 71

sponsor news White’s Farm Supply, Inc. Recognized with Kubota Elite Award of Excellence

Quilt and Yarn Shops/Services Heartworks Quilts & Fabric, Fly Creek . . . 62 Love & Stitches, Whitesboro . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Tiger Lily Quilt Co, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Real Estate Hunt Real Estate, Welcome Home Team . . . 57 John Brown Team, Coldwell Banker . . . . . . 47 Record Stores Off Center Records, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Restaurants and Cafés Ann St. Deli, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bagel Grove, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bite Bakery and Cafe, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . Black Cat Cafe, Sharon Springs . . . . . . . . The Black Stallion, Vernon . . . . . . . . . . . . Canal Side Inn, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . . . Clinton Ale House, Clinton . . . . . . . . . Club Monarch, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Country Store, Salisbury . . . . . . . . . . . Delta Lake Inn, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DiCastro’s Brick Oven, Rome . . . . . . . . . Gone Coastal, Lee Center . . . . . . . . . . . Jamo’s Restaurant, Herkimer . . . . . . . . . . Karam’s Middle East Bakery, Yorkville . . . . Killabrew, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . Main Street Ristorante, Newport . . . . . . Minar Fine Indian Cuisine, New Hartford . . Nola’s Restaurant, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . Nothin’ Fancy Cafe, Vernon . . . . . . . . . . . Ohio Tavern, Cold Brook . . . . . . . . . . . Phoenician Restaurant, New Hartford . . . . The Pickle Boat Grill, Old Forge . . . . . . . . Raspberries Cafe, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RoSo’s Cafe & Catering, Utica . . . . . . . . . . Route 69 Steakhouse, Whitesboro . . . . . . . . Sammy & Annie Foods, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . Simmer Jamaican Restaurant, Utica . . . . The Tailor and The Cook, Utica . . . . . . . . Wendy’s Diner, Cassville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Willie’s The Original Bagel Cafe, Utica . . . The Willows, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22 25 25 24 26 22 21 53 25 24 24 22 22 26 22 29 23 21 26 24 23 24 23 25 26 24 25 26 21 26 26

Sewing and Mending The Gathering Place, Poland . . . . . . . . 73 Shoes Karaz Shoes, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 The Sneaker Store, New Hartford . . . . . . . . 63 The Village Crossing, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . 11

GRAPEVINE, Texas – Kubota Tractor Corporation is pleased to honor White’s Farm Supply, Inc., located in Canastota, Lowville and Waterville, NY, with Kubota’s Elite Award of Excellence, the company’s most prestigious dealership certification and designation. The certification program was created by Kubota’s senior leadership team in conjunction with its National Dealer Advisory Board to recognize dealers around the country that are providing customers with the “ultimate Kubota experience” from top quality equipment, to sales and financing, customer satisfaction and best in class service. “Whether it is landscapers, contractors or large property owners, today’s customers expect equipment dealers to be top-notch, full-service partners. Kubota’s Award of Excellence program recognizes dealers that are already there, meeting and exceeding customers’ expectations,” says Todd Stucke, senior vice president, sales, marketing and product support for Kubota. “Simply put, they are our very best, and they’ve set the bar high. For that, we thank and applaud them.” •

Larry Brennan Joins White’s Farm Supply White’s Farm Supply, Inc. is excited to welcome Larry Brennan. Larry comes to us with 35 years in the automotive industry. He resides in Clayville and enjoys fishing, hiking and making wood signs. He is looking forward to serving our current and new customers as our commercial sales rep out of our Waterville location. Larry can be reached at 315-771-1437 for all of your commercial equipment needs. • 77

Shooting Preserves Vernon National Shooting Preserve . . . . . . 20 Small Engine Repair J.B.’s Small Engine Works, Utica . . . . . . . . . 47

LAST MONTH’S riggie’s RIDDLE ANSWER

Snowmobiles/ATVs Hobby Hill Farm, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Thrift Shops Country Corner Thrift, Holland Patent . . . . 20 Towing Services Clinton Collision, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Toy Shops Lady & Leap Toy Shop, New Hartford . . . . 6 Trailers and Trailer Accessories Boulevard Trailers, Whitesboro . . . . . . . . 39 Tree Services and Tree Farms Turk Tree Service, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

The answer to last month’s riddle about an after-Thanksgiving strut is:

Travel Agencies The Cruise Wizards, Whitesboro . . . . . . . . 51

Turkey Trot

Vacuum Sales Rainbow, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

The winner drawn at random from a record number of entries is Mary Checchi of Oriskany.

Websites Utica Remember When . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Weddings and Banquets Ashling Acres, Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . Club Monarch, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . Twin Ponds Golf & Country Club, NY Mills Vernon Downs Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . .

16 53 49 32

Yarn and Knitting Supplies Love & Stitches, Whitesboro . . . . . . . . . . 7 Yogurt Stoltzfus Family Dairy, Vernon Center . . . 60

November’s Crossword Solution The answer to last month’s puzzle:“Lobster” The winner drawn from all correct answers is Patricia Couchman of Herkimer NYS INSPECTIONS • OIL CHANGES • TUNE UPS • COLLISION WORK • AC

Complete Collision and Mechanical Repair Since 1987

7509 Route 5 • Clinton, New York 13323 • Phone 315-853-8804 78

Stop in today and see why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so easy to do business with Steet-Ponte! Steet-Ponte Chevrolet

Steet-Ponte Ford Lincoln Mazda

3036 State Route 28 Herkimer, NY 13350 (315) 866-5080

5074 Commercial Drive Yorkville, NY 13495 (315) 736-3381

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Steet Toyota Scion

5046 Commercial Drive Yorkville, NY 13495 (315) 736-8291

4991 Commercial Drive Yorkville, NY 13495 (315) 736-8241

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10% Off All In Stock Toys!

White’s Farm supply, inc. in White’s Farm supply, White’s Farm Supply, Inc. Your Power Specialists Your Equipment Power Equipment Specialists

Your Power Equipment Specialists Canastota Franklin Franklin Lowville Lowville WatervilleWate Canastota Canastota Franklin Lowville Waterville 4154 Route 31 387 Center St 8207 Route 26 962 Route 12

Route 31 St. 387 8207 Center St 268207962 Route 26 12 962 Ro 4154 Route 31 4154387 Center Route Route 315-697-2214 607-829-2600 315-376-0300 315-841-4181 (315) 697-2214 315-697-2214 (607) 829-2600607-829-2600 (315) 376-0300315-376-0300 (315) 841-4181315-84

www.whitesfarmsupply.com www.whitesfarmsupply.co Inventory may vary from items shown above. Inventory may vary from items shown above.

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