Mohawk Valley Living April 2014 Issue

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EXPLORING THE ARTS, CULTURE & HERITAGE OF OUR VALLEY

APRIL 2014

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Fishing on the

West Canada Creek

Morning on Moss Lake Spring on the Farm Rome Artist

Rome Sports Hall of Fame

Ukrainian Eggs

On the Cover: Trout Fisherman, 1974 This issue is dedicated to the memory of Micheal

Cover photo by Anne LaBastille (1935-2011) ecological consultant, writer, photographer and lecturer. LaBastille became a licensed NY State Guide in the 1970s. She is best known for her autobiographical Woodswoman trilogy in which she explores her experiences building a cabin and leading a Thoreau-like existence in the Adirondacks.

MOHAWK VALLEY LIVING MAGAZINE April 2014

PUBLISHER Vincent R. Whitney EDITOR Sharry L. Whitney DESIGNER Lance David Whitney ASSISTANT EDITOR Shelley Delosh ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Susan Collea CONTRIBUTORS Peggy Spencer Behrendt, Lisa Ferguson Crow, Jeana Ganskop, Brian Howard, Suzie Jones, John Keller, Frank Page, Susan Perkins, Matt Perry, Tim Pryputniewicz, Cynthia Quackenbush, 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 & television show exploring the area’s arts, culture, and heritage.

Copyright © 2014. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of Mohawk Valley Publishing.

We’re Growing

by Sharry L. Whitney

contents

Spring is here at long last! The snowdrops are cautiously peaking out, wondering if it’s time to make their move. Soon the crocuses will follow. They’re not the only things growing – we are too, thanks to you!

When you shop our advertisers and thank them for supporting our magazine, not only does it keep the publication ‘free,’ but it also allows us to expand!

It always seems like we never have enough space to include everything we’d like to. But this month we have more advertisers, which means more pages! This gives us more room for articles, photographs, artwork, and stories from our amazing team of contributors. More room to spotlight interesting places we’ve visited over the years, like the West Canada Sports Shop in Middleville. Room to feature famous locals, like Rome’s great athletes. More room for beautiful photographs from local photographers like Gary VanRiper and Matt Perry.

We also have more room to feature road trip ideas, local history, landmarks, good food, picnic spots, and more – encouraging us all to get out and explore our backyard, to take time to “stop and smell the roses.” Or, at least this time of year, the snowdrops!

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Oneida County Historical Society Herkimer Community Museum Moss Lake Rome Sports Hall of Fame Artist: Mary Fragapane West Canada Creek Dolgeville History West Canada Sports Shop Made Here Artist: Mary Kuchera Herkimer Co. Hisotrical Harbinger of Spring Notes from the Road MV Music Awards?

Our First Year 1974/75 Arctic Visitors On The Farm with Suzie Gallery Guide MV People Natural Provider Recipes- Dandelions Blarney Rebel Band MV Flash Lit MV Comics

Printed at Vicks in Yorkville, NY.

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Springtime inspirations from the Oneida County Historical Society collections

by Brian Howard, Executive Director and Jeana Ganskop, Director of Collections and Outreach

Take a Stroll Take Time to Garden

Gardening is a great activity for children. These young boys are gardening at “Christmas Gardens,” across the street from Fountain Elms on Genesee Street.

Did you know? The Proctor families gave Utica nine parks, including over 600 acres. The Christmas Garden and adjoining flower garden were bequests to the city of Utica following the death of Mrs. Maria Proctor. Now known as Kopernik Park, it is the site of the Kopernik Memorial, which honors Polish astronomer Mikolaj Kopernik (Nicolaus Copernicus).

While you are gardening, you might need an extra tool.

This laundry fork is not just for laundry, according to the label: “Wash Aid 39c/Safety Laundry Fork and for Dyeing Clothes/Cooking and Canning; Deep Freeze Aid/Adjusting Draperies/Gardening (etc.).”

These mid-19th century gentlemen, ladies, and children are strolling past the home of Alexander B. Johnson on Genesee Street.

Did you know? Johnson was a Utica banker for many years and married Abigail L.S. Adams, a niece of President John Quincy Adams. In 1900, the Savings Bank of Utica opened its “Gold Dome Bank” on the site.

High-buttoned 19th century ladies’ shoes are not recommended for your stroll. They would stylishly cover your feet and, with 10 buttons, you wouldn’t have to worry about laces coming untied.

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Wear Flowers on Your Head

On Exhibit: In the late 19th century, bicycling became a major pastime in this region. The “ordinary” bicycle, seen here and also known as a “high-wheeler” or “penny-farthing,” prompted the bicycle craze that started in the 1870s. Imagine the difficulties in mounting and balancing! By 1892, the “ordinary” bicycle declined in popularity and was replaced by the safety bicycle, the forefather to the modern bike.

Inspire the spring crocuses and daffodils by adorning your head with flowers.

Did you know? Hats shade the sun and protect against the cold, but they became a fashion mainstay for women in the Middle Ages when the church decreed that their heads must be covered. The style of hats changed over the years, sometimes becoming more elaborate, sometimes becoming simpler. The hat with light green feathers and veil (above) dates to the 1940s. Women’s hats fell out of fashion beginning in the 1960s and in 1967 the Catholic Church dropped its women’s head coverings dress code.

Oneida County Historical Society

Celebrate May Day May Day is traditionally celebrated on May 1st. In this photograph, Utica school girls partake in May Day festivities including dancing around the Maypole. With half the girls dancing in one direction and the other young ladies skipping and weaving around them in the opposite direction, the ribbons they carry are woven into a pretty design on the Maypole.

1608 Genesee Street, Utica

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The Everyday Adventures of Mohawk Valley Girl:

A visit to the herkimer community museum Given my love of museums, I had been interested in checking out the Herkimer Community Museum. On a recent Saturday, my husband Steven and I finally got the chance.

It is a kid-friendly place. I was a little sorry I had not provided myself with a kid but felt sure we would enjoy ourselves anyways. We opted for a tour, because I knew I was going to write about our visit. Also the ladies there were so friendly and upbeat, it was a pleasure to spend more time with them. Deb, the lady who actually gave the tour, was very knowledgeable.

Since I had mentioned my possible interest in volunteering as a docent, she interspersed her talk with what she liked to say to kids at various points, and which points they especially liked.

Signs warn not to touch the exhibits or cross the ropes, but This pommel statuette of Tutankhamunis just one of the many treasures that were buried with the young King Tutankhamunis in his tomb. Egyptions believed that these items would acompany them in the afterlife.

we were allowed to touch a couple of the replicated artifacts. The first two rooms were about dinosaurs. I think a lot of us still feel the fascination with dinosaurs we felt as kids. Once in a while, I still buy a package of the little plastic ones and put them on different shelves in my house. They stay there till I give them away to some visiting child or put them aside in favor of more grown-up décor.

In addition to dinosaurs, the museum features a display on the Pharaoh Tutankhamen, popularly known as King Tut. I find the pharaohs’ tombs fascinating, because the ancient Egyptians believed you could so take it with you.

They were buried with all kinds of stuff they thought they might need in the next life.

The most hands-on exhibit is the fossil dig. It is a large sandbox with a grid over the top made of string, which is how archaeologists keep track of what they find where.

“Oh, right,” I said. “Because they have to be so specific and delicate.” I remembered when I was in sixth grade in the

One of the largest predators to have ever walked the Earth, the Tyrannosaurus rex grew to lengths of 50 feet and a hight of 20 feet. These creatures could weigh as much as 7 tons!

Rome Public Schools, the excavation of Fort Stanwix was going on. Somebody told me the archaeologists dug with teaspoons. In retrospect, I’m thinking they used something a little more specific to archaeology, but the image of how careful they had to be stuck with me. In the museum’s display, students can use brushes to uncover artifacts hidden in the sand.

“I put a few silly bones in, too,” Deb said. Of course Steven and I have a great appreciation of all things silly.

We visited the gift shop before we left. It’s small but fun. We purchased a dinosaur skeleton, which we thought could double as a Halloween decoration.

We enjoyed having the tour. Howev-

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The grid layout of archeological digs is used to document the location of different artifacts discovered.

The Triad of Mycerinus is one of a series of 5 group statues discovered in the Valley Temple of the pyramid of Menkaure.

er, each exhibit also has placards with all the information. Another time I might just wander at my own pace and read the placards.

The museum is located at 301 N. Prospect St. in Herkimer. Museum and gift shop are open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information or to schedule a tour contact Daniel Sargent, Assistant to the

President, Herkimer County Community College, (315) 866-0300 ext. 8525 or email sargentda@herkimer.edu. You can visit the museum’s website at www. herkimercommunitymuseum.com and you can Like them on Facebook. Adults – $5.00 each (includes admission for one accompanying child age 12 or under).

Children 12 and under – $1.00 each.

This golden throne bears Tutankhamun’s name in it’s earlier form, suggesting that it may have been his coronation throne.

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Moss Lake

a Must Hike or Perfect Paddle Story and Photos by Gary VanRiper

Moss Lake is one of the hundreds of small lakes found in the Adirondack Park. This one is a favorite of mine for a number of reasons. It is only a short hour-and-a-half ride from Utica. It is also a short carry from the parking lot to enter the water with a kayak or canoe. Moss Lake offers several coves and a small island hosting an osprey nest that has been active for years during the species’ breeding season.

There is also a 2.5 mile hiking loop all the way around the lake where whitetailed deer may linger and the more secretive warblers, such as the Blackthroated Blue, can be found nesting trailside in the witch hobble plants.

It is, however, the “voice of northern wilderness” that has drawn me most often to this lake. Common Loons arrive on Adirondack lakes as soon as the ice departs, and can usually

be heard or spotted by late April or early May. I have yet to paddle on Moss Lake without spying at least one Common Loon, usually a breeding pair, and on several occasions more than half a dozen at once.

When paddling, it is desirable to get out on the water as soon as possible – even just before dawn. The lake can be other-worldly then, the surface like a silver mirror. If the call of a loon

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Black-Throated Blue Warblers breaks the silence at that time, you are definitely in another world, the sense heightened when socked in by slowly dissipating fog.

As the fog gives way to the early morning light, the shoreline and island are less and less abstract. Then clearly, there is the osprey soaring to the nest to feed its young with the morning catch, the damselfly sailing on a floating leaf, the motionless frog on a fallen log. And because it is so early, the water surface is still like glass, and so it is easy to spot, even off in the distance, the shapes of the loons.

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Early morning fog lifts from Moss Lake. more difficult, and it’s much harder to enjoy watching the water birds with just their heads now bobbing in and out of view. The quality of the light has also changed from warm to cool, the sound of the wildlife has grown quiet and the scenery has begun to lose much of its definition. That is when I head for shore, and as I am pulling my boat out of the water, that is usually when many of the visitors with their boats just begin to arrive.

But really, by that time, the show is over.

Let’s see now – breakfast at the Hard Times or the Tamarack Cafe?

The island hosts an active osprey nest.

Gary VanRiper is an author and photographer. He has written 13 children’s books with his son, Justin.

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White-Tailed deer linger by the shore.

Rome sports

hall of fame

Museum Features Racing Champion Dave Packer’s Speedboat The Rome Sports Hall of Fame is the only municipal sports hall of fame with its own museum in New York State. It houses 52 sports exhibits that capture the thrill and the achievements of Rome’s gifted athletes with pictures, trophies, uniforms, and equipment depicting their days of glory. Inside, there are also Richie Evans’ NASCAR Championship race car and Dave Packer’s National Championship speed boat.

Dave Packer, a 1958 graduate of Rome Free Academy, was a 15-time National Champion powerboat racer. He broke a world speed record in 1977, clocking at 110.938 mph. Packer amassed over 300 career wins during his 30-year career, racing in the United States, Canada, Hawaii, and Australia.

One of two of Dave Packer’s speedbots on display at the Rome Sports Hall of Fame.

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She is currently the head coach of the Arizona State Women’s Tennis Team entering her 30th season at the helm of the Sun Devils program.

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Rome Sports Hall of Fame Open Memorial Day to Labor Day Wed-Sat: 10am-5 pm, Sun: Noon-5pm Visits by special appointments are possible any time of year by calling (315) 339-9038.

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Thomas Myslinski, Jr., Still in the Game Thomas Myslinski, Jr., born in Rome, NY in 1968, was a National Football League offensive lineman, originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1992. He played nine seasons for several different NFL teams before being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995. Myslinski is currently the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A helmet from Myslinski’s Pittsburg Steeler Days as an offensive lineman, 1996-1997, 2000.

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Local Arts:

Mary Fragapane Story and Photos by Sharry L. Whitney

Artist Mary Fragapane of Rome is following in her grandmother’s footsteps yet also blazing her own trail. Her grandmother was an oil painter who enjoyed painting scenery.

Mary remembers visiting her grandmother’s house when she was a girl. “She always had a studio in her home,” she remembers. “It was a magical space.” Mary has been an artist since before she can remember and when her grandmother died, there was no question to whom to give the paints and canvases. It wasn’t until her late 20s, however, when Mary decided to become a “real” artist. It was at that point, working a “regular” job, that she decided to build her life around her art. “Being an artist isn’t something you do,” she explains, “it’s something you are.”

She admits it’s not always easy. “The hardest part is doing it every day.

Discipline.” She says she makes it a point each day to walk into her studio and “hope something happens.”

Currently she is on what she calls a “creative ‘bender’ with public art.” Her first experience with public art was when she was hired, along with a dozen other artists, to paint murals for the nearly 3 miles of fence for Woodstock ‘99 in Rome, NY. “It was an opportunity to get paid as an artist,” she remembers. Now she

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In her studio, Mary Fragapane enjoys painting expressionistic female forms and, more recently, horses (top). Her studio art is very different from her public art (bottom).

See Mary’s work in the exhibit, Ignite the Spirit: Central New York Women in Art. Opening reception, Thursday, April 3, 5-7pm at The Tech Garden Art Gallery, 235 Harrison St., Syracuse, NY

creates one or two large public or commissioned pieces each year. She has painted murals for the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Brewerton Public Library, Spanish Action League in Syracuse and recently the walls inside Pedro’s Kitchen in New Hartford. “Public art is completely different than my studio art,” Mary says. “It’s whimsical, fun, and usually thematic.”

Mary’s studio art is expressionistic and she sometimes incorporates other mediums like pastels and ink into her acrylics. Many of her paintings focus on abstractions of the female form and more recently she has been drawn to painting horses. Her work captures the emotion in her subject’s body language. “Sometimes what I paint is just how I feel when I get up.”

And it’s not a long commute to work. Like her grandmother, she has a studio in her home, and it’s a magical space.

New York’s Premier Trout Stream

The WEST CANADA CREEK

by John M. Sweeney

NYS Licensed Guide #2667

April 1st! To many, this means April Fools Day. To the thousands of fishermen and fisherwomen in New York State, the first day of April marks the beginning of a new Trout Season.

With the exception of a few border waters that we share with other states, the trout season in New York State opens on this day and has for as long as I can remember. We’ve had a very long, cold winter this year and many waters will be high and cold and even have snow and ice along the shores. We may have to wonder who the “April Fools” really are! In spite of these conditions, many fishermen will take to the waters on April 1st to begin the new season and carry out a time-honored ritual.

In the Mohawk and Kuyahoora Valleys, trout fishing means the West Canada Creek. Some may sneak off to another waters like the Oriskany Creek, Sauquoit Creek, Spruce Creek, or Mohawk River, but the West Canada Creek has been and will remain the premier attraction, not

only on opening day, but throughout the season. In fact, it is so familiar to locals that many just refer to it as “the West Canada,” or “the Crick.”

To people outside the Mohawk Valley, The West Canada Creek is not that well known. The name “West Canada Creek” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. It’s condition and fate is not discussed at Trout Unlimited meetings from coast to coast. No one has named a famous fly after it. Many may ask ‘just where the heck is the West Canada Creek?’

It happens to be located in the southwestern Adirondacks, and it has the length, size, aesthetics, and quality of fishing to make it one of the premier trout streams of the northeast. It is significant enough to require a chapter in the book, Trophy Trout Streams of the Northeast, and a soon-to-be-released book, entitled 50 Best Places to Fly Fish in the Northeast.

Originating in Hamilton County in the Adirondack Mountains of NY, the West Canada begins where the outlets of West Lake, South lake, and Mud Lake join together. This is the beginning of the North Branch of the river. Some ten miles to the south, Twin Lakes Outlet marks the beginning of the South Branch. The South Branch of the West Canada flows almost west and the north branch flows southwest, and the two join together just above the hamlet of Nobleboro.

At Nobleboro, the Creek crosses State Route 8 and proceeds in a southeasterly direction toward Hinckley Reservoir. Below Harvey Bridge, it empties into Hinckley Reservoir. The dam which created this impoundment was built in 1914. Hinckley Reservoir is about eight miles long and nearly three miles wide at it broadest point.

The angling opportunities in the reservoir are substantial and large brown and rainbow trout are caught there each year. In 1959, another power dam was created at the hamlet of Trenton. The West Canada Creek flows below the hydro-power dam at Trenton Falls for about

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Happy fishermen on the West Canada Creek.

State Department of Environmental Conservation created a “Trophy Section” on the West Canada Creek. It ran from the bridge at Trenton Falls for 2.2 miles downstream to the point where Cincinnati Creek enters the main river.

In this section, anglers could only keep three fish per day and they had to be over twelve inches in length. This was at a time when the general creel limit was 10 fish per day and no size limit.

The immediate result was that most people stopped fishing this section. For the few that did, large trout in ever increasing numbers was the reward!

The next step by the Department

twenty-five miles to its confluence with the Mohawk River at Herkimer, NY. This section of the stream provides the very best angling opportunities. It can be described as ‘classic northeastern freestone water,’ and its size length and quality of fishing are what make the West Canada Creek a foremost trout stream.

Although there are substantial numbers of trout throughout the Creek, some areas are obviously better than others. These are the areas that attract the most fishermen, and generally, produce the most and largest fish.

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was to make this same area a Special Regulation Area. Anglers could use only flies or artificial lures and no fish could be kept. By now the section had attracted considerable attention because of the excellent opportunity to catch trophy-sized fish and this change was welcomed by those who frequented this area. Finally, about four years ago, the Special Regulation Area was extended to include the segment from Cincinnati Creek down to the Comstock Bridge which crosses Route 28.

The total Special Regulation Area now runs from Trenton Falls Bridge to the Comstock Bridge. The total is about 3.3

Anglers can catch a number of different fish species in the West Canada Creek.

Brook trout, also known as “brookies,” are the angler's favorite.

miles. This Special Regulation Area is frequented primarily by fly fishermen.

It tends to have the best hatches of insects and, because all fish must be returned to the water unharmed, there are good numbers of large fish and they are very wise and sophisticated. This Special Regulation Area may be fished throughout the year, there is no closed season there.

Below the end of the Special Regulation Area at Comstock Bridge, The West Canada Creek runs for many more miles to enter the Mohawk River at Herkimer, NY. This stretch is largely open water with good public access.

There are at least ten public access sites marked by large DEC signs and several other road pulloffs that are quite obvious. These are all good places to fish and the only restrictions are the current limits of 5 fish per day with no size lim-

it. Also, within the 5 fish limit, you may only keep two fish over 12 inches.

As time goes on, more and more fishermen throughout New York State and even from other states have become aware of the great fishing opportunities available on the West Canada Creek.

On the other hand, some knowledgeable fishermen still call it the “best kept secret” in New York.

Every year, for many years now, the State of New York has raised and stocked about 42,000 brown trout in the West Canada Creek. The stocking is done primarily by volunteers, so there is always a need for more help. Most of the stocked trout are yearlings of 7-9 inches. In addition, some 1,200 twoyear-old fish of 13-16 inches are stocked in Herkimer and Oneida Counties each year. Although many of the stocked fish are caught each year, there are always

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some holdovers that grow to trophy sizes. Unfortunately, natural reproduction on the West Canada Creek is somewhat limited due to the fluctuations in water levels. In spite of this, many large fish are caught each year. I have had clients catch fish up to 25 inches, and many take fish of 17-22 inches in a season. A lot of stories to tell about these.

In closing, be inspired to fish the West Canada Creek. You won’t find much better trout fishing anywhere in New York State and it is right here in the Mohawk Valley – your own backyard!

John Sweeney has been fishing the West Canada Creek since 1957. He wrote the chapter on the West Canada Creek in Trophy Trout Streams of the Northeast.

He has fished in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska,

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and throughout New York state. In 1993, he started John’s Guide Service and has since guided hundreds of clients on the Delaware River, Ausable River, and of course, the West Canada Creek.

John with a happy client!

John’s Guide Service Professional Guided Fly Fishing Trips John M. Sweeney NYS Licensed Guide #2267 (315) 823-9399 jswee934@wildblue.net www.johnsguideservice.com WARNING: Below Trenton Falls and the Hinckley Dam, West Canada Creek is subject to sudden water surges from the upstream power dam. Wading anglers must be careful to watch for rising waters and then quickly move to shore.

Download this map on our website!

Go to: www.mohawkvalleyliving.com and click on the link to download this map.

Produced by The Mohawk Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Learn more about their mission to conserve, protect, and restore America’s coldwater fisheries and watersheds at: www.tu.org

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2014 Season

Presenting World-Class Music, Theater, & Dance!

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Celebrating our first year!

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April 5, 2014, 7:30 pm Wellin Hall admission

World renowned jazz singer, composer, producer, arranger, and six-time Grammy nominee Nnenna Freelon has earned a well-deserved reputation as a compelling and captivating live performer.

International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) April 18, 2014, 7:30 pm Wellin Hall admission

Considered to be one of the most important and effective proponents of new concert music in the United States, ICE performs new and rarely performed works.

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Box Office information and tickets (315) 859-4331 www.hamilton.edu/college/performingarts

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Utica: 1420 Champlin Ave Utica, NY 13502 (315) 732-2350

Rome: 305 Erie Blvd W Rome, NY 13440 (315) 337-3340

Alder Creek: 11254 State Rte. 12 Alder Creek, NY 13301 (315) 831-3690

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20

a trip to the

dolgeville-manheim historical society If The History Fits The Dolgeville-Manheim Historical Society is located in the former Alfred Dolge Hose Co. No. 1 Fire Station on Main Street in Dolgeville.

The village, previously named Brockett’s Bridge, was renamed Dolgeville in 1887 in honor of Alfred Dolge an industrialist who came to the village in search of a location for felt manufacturing. Fueled by the felt-making industry, the village grew from just over 300 people to over 2,000 in a few years. The resourceful employees of the felt mill, many German immigrants, used waste scraps of felt to make shoes to keep their feet warm. This attracted the attention of an entrepreneurial young traveling salesman named Daniel Green in 1881. Mr. Green took the idea and a pair of slippers home to his brother in Canastota, NY. The two brothers returned to Brockett’s Bridge and presented the idea to Mr. Dolge who agreed to make the felt footwear.

By 1884, the Daniel Green Shoe Company had sold 27,000 pairs of slipper. In 1885, the “indoor footwear” moved outdoors with the addition of felt heels that could be worn on the street.

Fancy colored felt was also added with white piano felt soles and sales jumped to 75,000 pairs. Today, over 100 million pairs later, Daniel Green footwear is still being made, now owned by Elan Polo International headquartered in Nashville, TN.

More from Dolgeville next month!

21

MV heritage:

west canada sports shop Middleville

by Sharry L. Whitney

The West Canada Sport Shop in Middleville is a part of local fishing history. The building itself, overlooking the creek for which it’s named, is over 150 years old. The shop was opened by a couple of young men in 1952. Owner, Henry “Hank” Dmitri, still remembers it fondly. He and his lifelong friend, George Rinko, grew up together, went to school together, enlisted in the Navy together, and even became brothers-in-law. After the service, George came up with the idea of opening a sporting goods shop together.

“We didn’t have a nickel to our names,” Hank recalls.

“Some guy in Utica gave us credit for merchandise, and we were in business.” Although Hank lost his best friend in a tragic accident only six years later, he has mostly fond memories of his over 60 years in business and many a sportsman does, too.

In fact, it would be hard to find a fisherman of the West Canada

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who hasn’t shared a fish story at the shop. The walls are covered with pictures, postcards, and newspaper clippings tacked to the walls, like a local sportsman’s museum. Old photographs show the shop in its glory days packed “to the gills” with fishing supplies.

Hank says the snowmobile craze that began in the 60s created a booming business for new merchandise that lasted for 40 years. Today, the pace is much slower. After a couple mild winters, and declining interest in fishing, business is winding down.

Hank isn’t restocking, and at age 85, he’s talking about retiring, but he told us that when we visited him a few years back. Like an enduring fisherman, this old-line shopkeeper has yet to reel in his line.

West Canada Sport Shop, 10 Bridge St., Middleville Open Mon-Sat: Noon-5 (315) 891-3804

Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week!

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Top left: Hank waiting on customers in the early days. Top right: Avid hunter/fisherman, the late Steve Juras of Little Falls, pictured at the West Canada Sport Shop in the 1950s. Shop co-owner, George Rinko, is behind the counter. Bottom left: Hank recently lost another loyal customer to time. Avid hunter/fisherman, Frank Tangorra, of Herkimer died on March 11, 2014. He was paralyzed at age 19 from an artillery shell in Italy during WWII. He didn’t let them stop him from a lifetime of hunting and fishing, visiting the West Canada Sport Shop “hundreds of times.” Here he is pictured with a pike from Peck Lake in Gloversville. Bottom right: Hank Dmitri waits on Mike Miller of Little Falls, a regular customer of the West Canada Sport Shop in Middleville.

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CRC Raceway Founded in 1993 by Frank Calandra Jr., Team CRC is known around the world for their 12th scale radio controlled (R/C) model car products and racing.

Located in Rome, NY, CRC Raceway & Hobby manufactures, designs, and promotes R/C model car racing. They also have an indoor and outdoor race track. The outdoor track is open April-September with nighttime racing under the lights! Check for their 2014 racing schedule at: www.teamcrc.com

CRC Raceway & Hobby

6785 Martin St, Rome (315) 339-6050 CRC delivers another 1-2 punch! Japanese CRC driver Hayato Ishioka and USA driver Brian Wynn of Rome, NY, dominated the 2014 Snowbirds Competition in Orlando using CRC’s new WTF-1 Formula 1 car, finishing 1st and 2nd respectively.

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New York Mills

JP Ross Fly Rods In 1997, JP Ross realized his dream of owning a fly shop when, at age 20, he opened Rising Trout Outfitter (and one year later, JP Ross Fly Rods) in New York Mills. Seventeen years and over 5,000 fly rods later, JP and his staff of “ADK Trout Bums” and two black lab mascots Montana and Patton, operate the company out of a cabin/shop behind JP’s home in Whitesboro. JP Ross is known around the world for building the finest handmade custom fly rods. www.jprossflyrods.com JP also started Trout Power, a clean water initiative launched around education and awareness for the West Canada Creek. Annual fishing tournament, June 7, 2014, 5:30am-2pm. Sign up at: www.troutpower.com

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Local Arts:

Mary Kuchera Story and Photos by Sharry L. Whitney

Working from the white shell and the yellow colored dye, to brilliant red and black, Mary Kuchera builds up layers of colors and patterns to create beautiful pysanky eggs, a traditional Ukrainian symbol of spring and rebirth.

Mary Kuchera has been creating beautiful pysanky eggs for nearly 80 years, but that’s just a short time in the long, ancient tradition of Ukrainian egg decorating. The practice dates back to the 5th-3rd millennium BC in Eastern Europe when ancient cultures worshiped a sun god, the source of all life. Birds linked humanity to their god and their eggs were considered magical objects, representing life and rebirth.

Painted eggs (often made of rock and clay) were shared and celebrated during spring rituals and festivals marking the end of winter.

Mary explains that the patterns and symbols painted on the eggs have meaning. “Early people believed the eggs had powers. For example, an egg with an insect on it would scare away the evils in the dark, because insects made noises at night.”

She also says they would bury their “magic” eggs with their crops in the spring to help the harvest.

After Christianity became the religion of Ukraine, the symbols and their meanings changed.

Mary’s parents immiMary Kuchera shows off one of her prized Ukrainian eggs, an ostrich egg that took her 45 hours to create.

Using a special tool (kistka) that is heated over a flame, Mary Kuchera draws intricate patterns with molten beeswax. When the layers of wax are removed, a beautiful pysanky egg is revealed..

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grated to the United States from Ukraine and bought a farm in Oriskany. “I’m a farm girl!” she exclaims. She grew up during the Great Depression and remembers watching her mother paint eggs. She recalls her father bartering the painted eggs for groceries at the Ukrainian grocery store in Rome. She explains that then and now, Ukrainian people find comfort in the eggs - a proud connection to their homeland.

At age 88, Mary still enjoys creating pysanky eggs and is sharing the tradition with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Using the traditional batik method, she creates patterns by writing in beeswax with a special tool that she heats over a flame.

She adds layer upon layer of wax, sealing the colored dyes beneath - light colors to dark. Once all the layers are completed, she heats the egg and gently wipes away the wax to reveal, like magic, a beautiful Ukrainian egg!

See Mary Kuchera’s beautiful pysanky eggs and learn about the process and symbolism at the New Hartford Public Library, Sunday, April 6, 2014, from 2-3:30pm.

The ancient symbols on pysanky eggs have meaning, like the insect motif that early Eastern Europeans believed protected them from evil spirits in the dark. Fish images symbolize prosperity and later represented Christianity.

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Historical Herkimer County:

monumentAL

by Susan R. Perkins

American Doughboy The statue of the American Doughboy stands in the Frankfort Memorial Park on the east side of Litchfield Street across from the Frankfort Town Hall. The monument was dedicated September 4, 1929. It was erected in honor of the boys of Frankfort and vicinity who served their country in the first World War. The monument states “Those who gave their all: Guiddo Altimonto, Ralph Baldwin, Daniel Dwyer, R. Leslie Maynard, George A. Minor, Leslie W. Smith, DominickVallone and Augustus F. Beach.” On the 12th anniversary of the first contingent leaving Frankfort, Altimnonto’s young son Guiddo unveiled the statue. Utica pilot Jack Wright flew low over the marker and dropped white carnations to the crowd of 1,500.

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Olga G. Bushnell Monument Little Falls Church Street Cemetery has a monument of a little girl named Olga G. Bushnell (18811890) and her dog Jim. Stone mason Thomas H. Johnson (ca. 1840-1899) of Little Falls made the monument from a photograph of Olga and her dog. Her parents wereGillette Dr. Kenyon Henry Munger A. Bushnell (1856-1896) and Alice G. Bushnell (1859-1893), who lived at 309 South Ann Street in Little Falls.

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Dolgeville Volunteer Firemen’s Monument

Alfred Dolge Bust The Alfred Dolge memorial bust plaster model was carved in February of 1893 by Carl Brasch of Leipzig, Germany, Alfred’s cousin. The bronze bust was cast in New York City. It stands on a granite pedestal, which originally stood in front of the Alfred Dolge High School. The dedication of the bust was held on September 17, 1948. Alfred’s son William was present at the dedication and son Rudolph gave a brief radio telephone communication from Caracas, Venezuela.

The bust was moved to the front lawn of the Village of Dolgeville Municipal Hall on October 21, 1991.

The Dolgeville Volunteer Firemen’s Monument stands between the Dolgeville Cemetery and St. Joseph’s Cemetery on a plot of land that was deeded by both cemetery associations. Jenny & Nelbach of Utica designed the monument in 1913.

Inscribed at the bottom of the monument reads; “Erected in the Memory of the Volunteer Firemen 1914”. In the helmet of the figure are the letters “D.F.D’. The base of the monument is five feet four inches square and the height to the top of the figure is 14 feet. The unveiling of the monument took place on Flag Day, June 14, 1914. A memorial service was given by Rev. W.J. Hart that morning at the Dolgeville Methodist Episcopal Church for the three fire companies of the village. At 2:30 that afternoon, the Dolgeville Band led the procession of the active and exempt firemen of the village up West State Street to the cemetery. The Rev. Father Smith made the acceptance of the monument for St. Joseph’s Cemetery Association and the Rev. G.A. Moulton of the Universalist Church spoke for the Protestants. Eli Fenner, who was the oldest fireman of the village, and Aleck Bissett and Carl Ward, the youngest members of the Alfred Dolge and Gen. J.P. Spofford Hose Companies unveiled the monument.

Sue Perkins is the Executive Director of the Herkimer County Historical Society and historian for the town of Manheim.

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Notes from

The Road Milford

All Aboard!

Ride a historic 1869 train. The beautifully restored Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad has been operated since 1996 by the Leatherstocking Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. The Easter Bunny Express is visiting Milford Saturdays and Sundays, April 12, 13, 19 & 20, 2014. Departing at 2pm from the Milford Depot at 136 East Main St, Milford. Reservations required. (607) 432-2429 www.lrhs.com While in town, see the incredible collection of paintings by the Old Masters at Murdock and Murdock Fine Art Gallery at 117 East Main Street, Milford.

Call (607) 286-9941 to visit daily from 10-5.

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Waterville

The Towers of Waterville The historic Tower Homestead (Harding Home) on Tower Street in Waterville is one of the village’s oldest structures. It was built circa 1800 and purchased and added on to shortly after by general merchant, Reuben Tower. Tower became a New York State Legislator and was instrumental in the development and completion of the Chenango Canal. His youngest son, Reuben Tower II, built his “tower” home and office (now the Masonic Temple)overlooking Waterville in 1896. Today, nine bells cast by the Meneely Co. of Troy, NY, still ring out from atop the 103’ tower - a resounding testament to the Tower family’s contribution to Waterville and the area.

While in town, visit the old-fashioned F.P. Morgan Hardware store, complete with tin ceilings and water-powered elevator! Also stop at NY Pizzeria for Rosa and Frank’s famous pizza, wings, and riggies!

www.watervilleny.com

Visiting Bouckville The Bouckville Feed Mill, once also known as Summit Feeds, is the only remaining building of the Mott’s Complex.

The tiny Chenango Canal Cottage Museum.

Water spills over the remains of the old Chenango Canal aqueduct into the Oriskany Creek.

Built between 1849 and 1851, the cobblestone Ye Olde Landmark Tavern was once known as the Old Stone Store.

Bouckville - American as Apple Cider!

Samuel R. Mott came to Bouckville by way of the Chenango Canal in 1868 and founded his cider and vinegar business, Mott’s. At one time the company boasted that it was “The largest producer of cider and vinegar in wood and glass in the U.S.” When you head south on Canal St. from Route 20 in Bouckville, you pass the big red Louis J. Gale & Son feed mill. This was once a vinegar plant for the Mott’s company and is the only remaining building from the Mott complex.

The mill is situated on the Chenango Canal that was in operation from 1834 to 1878 and connected the Susquehanna River to the Erie Canal. On the corner of Canal St. and Route 20, is the tiny Chenango Canal Cottage Museum. Next to the museum is a fishing deck that overlooks the canal and is handi-

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capped-accessible. From here you can follow the Towpath Trail 6.5 miles south to the village of Hamilton or 2 miles north to the Oriskany Creek where an aqueduct once crossed the creek.

From the parking area here, follow the path east about 25 feet to a “secret” fishing spot where fishermen claim the fish are easier to catch after they’ve been disoriented going over the small waterfalls!

While in Bouckville, experience colonial hospitality at Ye Olde Landmark Tavern, built during the heyday of the Chenango Canal. James Coolidge originally wanted to built an octagon shaped building on the site, but the limited lot size required some ingenuity. The result was this unusual 6-sided structure. Serving dinner daily, 6722 State Rte. 20, Bouckville, NY, (315) 893-1810

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A Most Elusive Harbinger of Spring Story & Photos by Matt Perry

The strange Jack-in-the-Pulpit may be purple or green.

The Bloodroot Flower is early to bloom but doesn’t last long.

The Waterthrush’s nest is well hidden and features a “runway.”

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Toad Shade is the most unusual of the trilliums.

Previews of the spring may be evident in March, but it’s not until April that things usually get rolling in the natural world. In mature woodlands, the ground may become covered with rafts of flowers. Many of these, like the aptly named Dutchman’s Breeches and its close relative, Squirrel Corn, are diminutive species that can be easily overlooked by inattentive hikers. Then, on the other hand, there are the trilliums. Though the Red Trillium may have started blooming back in March, White Trillium usually comes into its own in April and is by far the more common species in the Mohawk Valley. When supplied with rich soil and ample shade, I’ve seen White Trillium (or Trillium Grandiflorum) cover entire hillsides. From a distance, it can appear as if the ground was mottled with snow.

Toad Shade (Trillium Sessile) is one of the least familiar species of trillium in the region. It has blooms which range in color from burgundy to pale green.

One of the distinctive things about this plant is its lack of a flower stem. The

bloom emerges right at the place where the plant’s 3 leaves meet. The foliage of Toad Shade appears mottled and often shows a pattern suggestive of military camouflage. Its flowers are not as brightly colored or as showy as other trilliums, but they can look more lavish. Someone might think that Toad Shade would make a nice corsage, but then again, they are rare in the Northeast so don’t even think about picking one! Oh yes, and they can smell pretty bad too!

While scanning the forest for flowers, keep your ears open! As April progresses, bird song numbers can increase exponentially. By mid-month, I try to stay alert for one particular bird song that begins with 3 swooping whistles and ends in a rapid jumble of notes. The song’s tempo changes so abruptly, it almost sounds as if the singer got into a car crash before finishing his song.

The identity of the singer is the Louisiana Waterthrush – and don’t be thrown by the name, for they are not exclusive to the great State of Louisiana – nor are they a thrush. About the only

helpful part of their common name is the “water” part. In fact, the Louisiana Waterthrush spends its life in close association with water, and more specifically, running water. These birds are denizens of heavily wooded gorges. They hunt, breed and sing, all while in close proximity to rapidly-running, shady streams.

A related species called the Northern Waterthrush also has an affinity for water, but they prefer wooded swamps and other habitats that feature still or sluggishly moving water.

I recently told an audience that despite popular folklore, the American Robin makes a poor harbinger of spring since the species can be found year-round in our region and even in the midst of the harshest The Louisiana Waterthrush sings above a stream.

33

winter. Someone in the crowd asked what species I would replace it with.

Without hesitation, I offered up the Louisiana Waterthrush. This bird never spends the winter in Upstate New York.

Invariably, it overwinters in the tropics of Central and South America and only comes north to breed. They reach the Mohawk Valley in mid-April, arriving at least 2 weeks ahead of almost all their fellow migrants from the tropics (known collectively as Neotropical Songbirds).

The Louisiana Waterthrush is impatient to return to its breeding grounds even if that means it will occasionally have to tolerate late-season snow and ice. The species’ dependence on shallow streams to catch much of its prey makes it likely they can eke out a living even during a cold spell. The vast majority of other Neotropical Songbirds are not as flexible and must rely on more temperature sensitive flying insects and foliage dwelling larvae for sustenance.

Of course, I soon regretted my nomination of the Louisiana Waterthrush for the job of harbinger of spring simply because the bird is virtually invisible; it’s practically a disembodied voice. How can a bird that no one ever sees be a harbinger of anything?

About 2 decades ago I spent time trying to get to know the species. I searched the region’s wooded gorges and without too much trouble I was able to find 3 locations where the bird was singing. In an attempt to view one of the singers, I climbed down into a steep-sided gorge. While balanced precariously on a ledge, I listened to the song and scanned the surrounding trees to find the singer. The song was so loud that I was positive the bird had to be right in front

Dutchman’s Breeches is related to Wild Bleeding Heart.

The Northern Waterthrush is a denizen of wooded swamps.

White Trillium is the most common trillium in our region. of me, but I just couldn’t pick it out.

The fact that the song was reverberating through the gorge didn’t help me to hone in on it, but still I was convinced that it had to be somewhere close by. Finally, I heard a loud “smack” (one of the bird’s trademark alarm calls) and then the next volley of songs came from much farther up the ravine. Somehow this bird had moved right past me without being seen.

Welcome to the world of the Louisiana Waterthrush, for this is how the typical encounter with the species goes. After many more hours of dedication, I finally began seeing this elusive bird, but only after I learned a lot more about its behavior and its habitat. One of the reasons they are so hard to see is that they stay so close to the ground, often flying less than 6 feet over the stream. The truth is that, when looking for birds, most people tend to cast their gaze a bit higher than

that.

You would expect that a singer with such a bright and exotic song would have the most splendid plumage – and you would be wrong. The plumage of both waterthrush species is on the drab side. Though they are classified as belonging to the warbler family, they share the generally sober appearance of a woodland thrush. Their back, wings, and tail are uniformly brown. Like the woodland thrushes, their underside is whitish and covered with dark spots.

Toad Shade Trillium

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The Louisiana Waterthrush has a broader white eye line and pinker legs than the Northern Waterthrush, but otherwise the only easy way to tell the two species apart is by their very different songs and by the habitat in which they are found during the breeding season. Another thing the waterthrushes have in common is their compulsive habit of tail-bobbing.

When standing or walking, they bring their tails up and down in a rhythmic manner, which can be both confounding and amusing. Why do they do it? I’m so glad you asked. If you find out, be sure to let me know! Often when birds exhibit such novel and inexplicable behavior, it’s chalked up to being part of a distraction display. Such a display is best represented by a parent bird feigning a broken wing or dragging its body along the ground in an attempt to make itself a more attractive target to a perceived predator. The idea is to draw a predator’s attention away from the nest or young.

The problem with this explanation being applied to the waterthrush’s tail bobbing behavior is that the birds do it all the

time and not just when tending young.

About 6 years ago, I found an active nest of a Louisiana Waterthrush.

It was within a few feet of a woodland stream and only about one foot above the ground. It was well concealed and tucked tight into the root-ball of an upturned tree. The nest itself was a wellmade cup of mud, sticks, rootlets and other soft plant fibers and was fairly unremarkable, but what was interesting was the straight leafy path that led from the nest directly to the stream. This bird builds a front walkway! The literature sometimes refers to this as a “runway,” which is apt since the parent Louisiana Waterthush does nearly as much running as it does flying. At the nest I found only one parent – presumably the female – on duty. She made many trips back and forth to the nest, trying her best to satiate the appetites of her 5 gape-mouthed nestlings. It seemed like a big job for a single parent. I feared that something might have happened to the male since I never did see him.

The Mohawk Valley is close to the

northern extent of the Louisiana Waterthrush’s breeding range, but there are indications that the species’ range may be in the process of contracting. Certainly over the last 10 years they have been increasingly difficult to find in our region.

One last word about April that bears mentioning is that April 7th is International Beaver Day. It’s a day when we can all reflect on not only the charismatic beaver but also on the wetland habitat that they create. Beaver wetlands are home to scores of other creatures since so many depend upon wetlands for at least part of their life c y c l e .

The April 7th date was chosen because it is the birthday of world-renowned beaver advocate and Dolgeville resident, Dorothy Richards.

Richards spent 50 years studying beavers at her “Beaversprite”

April 7th is International Beaver Day.

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nature preserve in the Adirondack foothills. She began her studies in the 1930s when the beaver was just beginning to be reintroduced into the state after over-trapping had decimated the population by the early 1800s. Richard’s work helped rehabilitate the beaver’s image from that of a fur-bearing, nuisance animal to that of an important “keystone species” and one that is a crucial for creating and maintaining healthy wetland ecosystems. Following Richard’s death, the non-profit organization called Beavers: Wetlands and Wildlife (BWW) was formed to help carry on her educational mission.

To celebrate International Beaver Day, I suggest you travel to a beaver pond and observe their good work for yourself. Do remember to bring binoculars – there may be lots of wildlife to see.

To learn more about the beaver, its habitat, and how people can coexist with them, please visit BWW’s website: www.beaversww.org

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Celebrate International Beaver Day with a visit to a pond!

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 writes a weekly blog about the nature preserve, which can be found at: talesfromthewilds.blogspot.com

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The Music never stops:

mohawk valley music awards?

By John Keller

Photo of Silky Soul by Marc Goldberg

This is a subject that has been on my mind for a long time. The annual Syracuse Music Awards (SAMMYs) inductions have recently taken place, and I have a question. Why doesn’t the Utica/Rome/Valley have music awards?

We have a great musical history.

We’ve had those who have achieved stardom like Annette Funnicello and Eric Thorngren, local legends including Paul Angerosa and Lenny Milano, and great memorable bands such as moe. and Target. Yet this area seems to nearly ignore its musical contributions and heritage. For art, MWPAI

has a Festival of the Arts where paintings, sculptures and photos are voted on. The OD has a ‘Best Of’ local shops and services poll every year.

Local music needs an award, too.

Over the years, I’ve talked with a great many musicians, past and present, and have realized their history is rich with wonderful stories and passion. I did an interview a couple years ago for MVL on Doug DeMarche Sr. He released one single, ‘Lisa,’ but the trials and tribulations he went through to try and get it distributed and played, were amazing. Another musician was in a band that toured with Paul Re-

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vere & the Raiders. There are a great many bands and individuals that have accomplished wonderful things, hit records, performing with top stars, big tours and more.

There are few compilations of local music from the past. “Doctor” Jerry Kraus was fundamental in releasing 3 volumes of ‘The Rock of Central NY’ compilations. Two were released in the 80s and one in the early 2000s, covering mid-70s to late 90s. Rock 107 released one LP of local music in the 80s. Before that, Hank Brown had ‘The Best of Twist-A-Rama’ in the early 60s, which was reissued

on CD by Norton in 1998. Although these are wonderful compilations, we need more to commemorate our musical past, and present. Syracuse has released numerous volumes of ‘The History of Syracuse Music’ with area songs from the 50s to today.

The SAMMYs are a tremendous event that gets the entire populous involved. It invokes revenue, and it brings the community together. It is a huge musical happening that crosses ALL genres of music, and celebrates the area’s musical legacy and their outstanding achievements.

We could, should, and need to do the same thing. Maybe call it the CENNY awards for Central NY recipients. Eligibility would be Utica, Rome, The Valley (Frankfort/Herkimer) and surrounding areas. We can include not only present musicians/ bands, but those earlier pioneers – Terry Daly, Eric & the Chessmen, Andy & the Classics, Touris, Mr. Edd, Mere Mortals, etc. Include also

radio DJs, promoters, labels, and venues that play(ed) an important role in developing a music scene – Hank Brown, Jerry Kraus, 4 Acres, Captain Trip’s, Tony Cee, Mark records, KAMA, Hurd, et al. It’s time we show our musical heritage to the world!

Another extension of this idea is, of course, a local music “Hall of Fame.” Here would house records, posters, photos and more showing our musical past. Depending on the size, maybe a large room at The Stanley or the Utica Public Library could be used to start. People would come to listen to the music on headphones in a ‘library.’ Promo photos and concert posters/flyers line the walls. Maybe some video footage showings or radio broadcasts with local artists.

Monk Rowe has amassed an audio archive of interviews with Jazz artists at Hamilton College. This Hall could do the same with local musicians of our past. It would be a huge endeavor, but if accomplished, would be amazing.

There are a great many (local) bands and individuals that have accomplished wonderful things...

Build it s l o w, b u t capt u r e this before it’s lost to us forever.

I truly believe the awards aspect should be taken into thought. There are more than enough artists here that deserve to be duly acknowledged for their contributions to our entertainment. Let’s show them we care!!

If you’re a local musician who performed in the 50s-70s, please contact me for an interview. I want to know your story! Write to: mohawkvalleyliving@hotmail.com

Local musician, John Keller, is the owner of Off Center Records in downtown Utica, NY.

Tim writing by candlelight. Watercolor painting by Peggy.

Our First Year Part 7, 1974/75 Shawangunk nature preserve, cold brook

by Peggy Spencer Behrendt

40

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. Their goal was to experience a worthwhile existence while minimizing harm to the environment. These are excerpts & reflections from Peggy’s journal chronicling their adventures.

APRIL 1975 Spring tenderly, leisurely enters our forest on wafts of intermittently warm breezes that bring a great sense of relief and comfort. At last, the great cold is leaving.

Our snow bound road melts into a charming boulevard between golden rays of Colts Foot. These first spring wildflowers look like dandelions but are hardier, and more eager, blooming while snow patches are still melting, even before their own soft and fuzzy petit leaves can emerge. I hear a gentle whispering. Ah, it is the murmuring of the first, tiny, green leaves newly emerged from the quaking aspens. Tears come to my eyes in gratitude for

Tim pulling a carrot from the garden a few years later.

their awakening.

A porcupine ambles high among the branches, nibbling succulent, fresh leaves.

Great hosts of yellow Cowslips (Marsh Marigold) illumine the marshes. We eat their new leaves and buds, discarding cooking water first, as our book on wild, edible foods recommends. They are tasty, nutritious and free. We find spicy, aromatic wild peppermint in running water next to a marsh that we dry for delicious, stomach comforting tea.

We like grazing for free food but know we must have a garden, too. First we must clear an opening in our forest. We will not use power tools.

Though strenuous, cutting trees with a bow saw is easy compared to removing the stumps. The roots are thick, intertwined and difficult to access. The forest floor has undulations of hills and furrows like petrified waves of soil. As a child I imagined these might be ancient human burial cairns but in fact, they are the burial cairns of great-grandparent trees. Their massive fallen trunks form mounds of rich soil as they decay, feeding their descendants with precious humus and nutrients like the life supporting wisdom pool left to us from our own ancestors.

I’m introduced to a land-clearing tool.

At the end of a long, sturdy handle is the head of an axe and the blade of a stout hoe.

I love swinging it and feeling the power of the cut into the roots; “Whack!”

It’s a challenge to find all the connections before the stump is relinquished by the earth in an abrupt “snap!”

We’re covered with as much dirt as the stump, sweaty, exhausted and exhilarated.

I love working together like this, in the

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clean air, on our own land, with the strength of our hands and a shared vision of the life we wish to create.

We roll it off to the side of the garden site, and hope it will decay quickly. After installing a six foot high fence, we begin a daily task that lasts for years of bringing in two buckets of sandy soil, and scraping up a feed bag full of leaf mulch or sphagnum moss from the forest marshes to increase the organic matter and raise the soil level.

Spencer Prindle makes us a wooden yoke for carrying buckets that takes the strain off our shoulders. Over the years, we create a prolific garden of deep, rich soil; growing life-sustaining food in soil one conservationist declared would never bear fruit.

We get our saws sharpened by Mayo Levesque in Poland. Retired from jobs in lumber camps, his work was valued greater than gold by the lumbermen. I am surprised when he agrees to teach me, and this becomes another pearl in our treasure box of survival skills making all our future years of woodcutting so much easier.

I learn about another wonderful tool; a “come-a-long” winch. We get stuck occasionally in the soft shoulders of our road and connect the winch to a tree to pull our truck out of the mire. It’s hard to keep our good clothes clean and we’re sometimes sweaty and exhausted before we even get to our jobs even though we shower every

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Friends helping us build the Children’s Cottage; 90 year old Millard Brenning (of Barneveld), Janice Reilly (of New Hartford), Tim, and Joel Rinne (of Syracuse).

day.

One day after church one of the older ladies asks to speak to me privately.

“Uh, Peg,” she begins, hesitatingly.

“These new polyester fabrics don’t breathe well and they hold odors more readily… I don’t mean to criticize… but….”

I get the point and quickly interrupt before we are both further embarrassed.

“Oh, thank you for telling me about this. I really appreciate it. I’ll be more careful.”

I give her a brief hug and go to find Tim. As soon as we’re alone, I burst into tears and confess that I was told that I have BO. He comforts me as best he can and we start carrying deodorant in the truck.

I love playing music for Tim’s church services, but the most fun is the fellowship hour.

“Peg,” Tim says, “it’s cute, though little strange, when you crawl under the coffee table to play with the little kids, but you’re spending too much time talking to the handsome young men. You need to circulate and visit with other people, too.

“Why should I? I’m having a good time. You’re just jealous!”

“No I’m not! It’s your job to circulate.“ “It’s not my job. It’s your job! You’re the minister!”

“You’re a minister’s wife. It’s both our jobs!”

I am furious. “You can’t tell me what to do and who to talk to!”

I am only 26, grew up in the Christian Science church and the job of “Minister’s Wife” is totally new to me. Eventually, I realize he is right. We share the income, and we share the responsibility. Gradually, I get very good at circulating and enjoy meeting the many different kinds of people

in our churches.

We begin building a special cottage for the children. They will be spending school vacations and long summers with us. It’s not much farther away than a room in a large house so we consider path between us like a long hallway through a large home, except this one is Mother/Father earth. Living trees form these walls and the metamorphic sky is its’ eternal ceiling; lit by sun, moon and stars; washed by rain and dew; dried by warm winds.

This means our adolescent children can stay up late, play loud music, and have a place to live when they’re older. It is also a home for their mother and her husband if they would ever want or need it.

We find 17’ long 3x10 beams from a demolished church in Utica. Too long to stick out the back of the truck, from the tailgate, they rest on the cab and project far over the hood of our little truck like an awkward crane. Laid on cinder block pilings that go below frost level, they become the floor. Contractor, Ed Hinge in Barneveld and his brother, Bill give us used windows and other valuable building scraps.

We use trees cut from our garden site for beams. We re-use the crooked nails from

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Peg visiting “Uncle Grunt.”

The finished Children’s Cottage when solar panels were added later to power lights.

the scrap wood men, but it keeps the toilet paper dry, and by straighten- snow & rain off our heads. ing them with A sprinkle of dry leaves per use a hammer, keeps the odor benign and every week, s o m e t i m e s Tim throws burning paper down the hitting our hole and sweeps it out. When I see soft fingers flames and smoke licking up, I think of instead. Ply- the gateway to hell and wonder when it wood bits will burn down, but inherent moisture are pieced seems to prevent that, and the inferno together like keeps out spiders. a patchwork In an antique shop, we find a kerquilt. Janice osene cook stove with a 4 inch wide & Jim Reilly in New Hartford give us wick, and I am thrilled to think I can a job replacing their 150 year old, cedar cook without starting a hot fire in the wood shake roof. We cut the rotted ends off the stove. Also, I can heat a sadiron and press shakes, turn them around and use them to our Sunday clothes but am appalled to cover the plywood and insulation. It looks discover that it also turns them black with soot. The only remedy is to quickly wash beautiful!

It only costs $250 to build, whereas the iron every time it’s re-heated and try not to scorch myself in the steam. our cottage had cost $450.

It emits noxious fumes “Uncle Grunt” is that gather up in the located between loft where Tim is the two cottages. studying in the He is related by morning.

He marriage to Aunt opens the winMarys’ House dow and I get cold. I which is the quaint want to cook. He wants two-holer that serves to breathe. After days of my Grandfather’s disagreeable negotiations, camp overlooking the I finally agree to wear a St. Lawrence River. sweater if I want to cook But Uncle when he is in the loft.

Grunt has only one We get a week off from hole. If you’re tall, outside jobs. Even though your knees peek out I’m often sick with exthe door when you haustion, I love it here. sit down. Male visitors We climb a huge hemcomplain that it’s built lock and sit up top in the wind, for women and women think it must be built for The one-wick burner that Peggy used. 8-10 inches tall.

enjoying the view and imagining the warm homey familiarity of these avenues and spaces created by masses of great limbs and trunks for the creatures that live up here. Trees are a comforting, undemanding presence, like strong, gentle friends It’s raining now. I do like it – not being around people very much…no hassles, just breezes, birds, squirrels, trees, weather, bugs and things. Wonder why I don’t feel the same around people? Maybe I expect and want people to accept me and I don’t expect nature to.

The sound of the spring rain is lovely. We are safe and warm and dry. We are growing roots here.

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

www.shawangunknaturepreserve.com

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Snow Buntings take flight over a winter corn field.

arctic visitors

Story & Photos by Heather Perretta, BS, MS, Interpretive Naturalist

I stood on a road that intersects a wide expanse of cornfields and grazing lands. It was a mild morning with a slight breeze. I watched snow buntings as they disappeared over a knoll and knew they would return as quickly as they departed. Suddenly the breeze intensified, shifted, and I heard what sounded like a winter storm whipping across the land. The sound of beating wings amplified the wind and as buntings took to the sky, I was immediately transported hundreds of miles away to the frozen tundra where winter storms manifest in seconds and winds create a vortex of white. In Central New York, I was able to experience sensations of the Arctic amid of a storm of snow buntings. The spirit of their home came with them.

US Fish and Wildlife Service reports that a large number of the 201 recorded arctic bird species make the journey from the treacherous north to the contiguous United States each winter. Snow buntings, short-eared owls, rough-legged hawks, and snowy owls are examples of arctic birds that winter in our area. Open farmland resembles tundra. It is the place where arctic visitors reunite and assimilate into our winter ecosystem. Seeds from field plants and agricultural crops are food for snow buntings and small rodents who in turn are eaten by hawks and owls. This article explores this abbreviated food web and describes how competition for resources is not limited to the breeding season.

Snow buntings are small songbirds

that forage in large flocks. Mostly white with brown and black markings, they are well camouflaged on the ground among dried plants and snow as they eat seeds and corn kernels left over from last fall’s harvest. In flight, the flock resembles snowflakes filling the sky and fluttering to earth.

Short-eared owls are medium-sized owls that hunt small rodents in late afternoon and throughout the night. They perch on utility poles, fence posts, and trees. Gliding over open fields in large arcs, they listen and look for prey.

In flight, short-eared owls resemble hawks with flat faces. On top of exceptionally long wings, muted rusty red patches contribute a splash of color to an otherwise brown body. From below, they are almost white with a few black

Snow Buntings are small songbirds that forage in large flocks.

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Rough Legged Hawk

markings. Short-eared owls are most easily observed in our area during migration. They are endangered species in New York due to a decline in the breeding population throughout the state and especially near the St Lawrence River, according to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Rough-legged hawks perch on the tops of trees. Hovering in open fields, they appear suspended in air while hunting small rodents. Rough-legged hawks exhibit two distinct color patterns called morphs or phases. Both color morphs are present in Central New York. The dark morph resembles a crow when perched. In flight it

Short Eared Owl

is unmistakable because of long white patches that extend from body to wing edge. The light morph can be distinguished from the red-tailed hawk, which it resembles, by a light colored head and dark chest band when perched. In flight, dark bands are visible mid-way on the underside of the light morph’s wings. Rough-legged hawks are most visible on windy days when they “play” in the wind, riding swift air currents and practicing flight skills.

Snowy owls are the most publicized and easiest to recognize of all arctic birds. They perch, patiently hunting rodents, rabbits, and birds in open fields. Snowy owls, rough-

Short Eared Owl

legged hawks, and short-eared owls occupy the same niche in the Arctic and in Central New York.

Competition for resources creates conflict between owls and hawks. One afternoon near dusk, I was watching a rough-legged hawk when my eye a caught a flash of white. In an instant the snowy owl was on the hawk’s tail, air-to-air combat ensued. After minutes of maneuvering, both birds retreated to separate fields for rest. I could see the snowy owl’s eyes were fixated on the rough-legged hawk. Moments later he was airborne. Covering ground at a rapid pace, he flew straight for his adversary. This time, the hawk anticipated the attack and was out of sight

before the massive owl could do damage.

Hierarchy creates understanding to prevent physical conflicts that could harm individuals. I watched a short-eared owl making lazy arcs over the ground. As the passes concentrated in one area, I knew it detected prey. Positioning its wings the owl caught a little extra air, hitched itself higher in the sky, and plummeted to earth headfirst. It landed and quickly tugged its meal from the dried grass.

Rather than taking flight with its catch, the owl crouched down and looked warily over its shoulder.

What could it be looking at? The story soon unfolded as a roughlegged hawk swooped in and the owl flew off to the safety of a tree.

The hawk searched the area where the owl stood. It found nothing.

The short-eared owl had gobbled its meal quickly in anticipation of the robbery and retreated rather than fighting.

Posturing and aggression like this increase as breeding season draws near. Arctic migrants will soon fly north. There, they compete within their species for nesting sites, mates, and food.

Competition for food and hunting territory also occurs between species as every pair work to raise young successfully.

Spring migration provides an opportunity to observe arctic birds that wintered here and birds that are passing through. Audubon Alaska is sponsoring The 2014 Great American Arctic Birding Challenge from March 1st – June 1st to encourage people to look for and record birds during spring migration.

This information helps scientists understand more about bird migration and populations. Visit their website at http:// ak.audubon.org/2014-great-american-arctic-birding-challenge to find out how you can participate or contact me by visiting http:// heatherperretta.com to join my team.

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On the farm with Suzie:

No Kidding Around

by Suzie Jones

Springtime on our farm is exactly what you would imagine it to be – filled with babies. We breed our goats and sheep to give birth at several points during the winter and spring, with the newest moms (often referred to as “replacement” does and ewes) giving birth at this time of year. This means baby goats and lambs are bouncing all over the barn, racing up and down, playing ‘king of the mountain’ by climbing on their unamused mothers, and practicing butting heads like they can’t wait to grow up. There are literally piles of babies sleeping in every corner because they love to cuddle with one another for warmth while their moms eat hay. It is such a busy, chaotic time, it’s hard to imagine how all the moms and babies keep things straight.

Yet, they do. Each mom

knows her baby’s call; each baby responds when Mom says ‘it’s time to eat.’ They know each other’s voices, they recognize their smells. It’s an amazing thing to witness.

As magical as a barn full of baby farm animals may sound, it represents years of hard work, hard-learned lessons, and mountains of perseverance. For example, I’ve learned that first-time moms are the most challenging.

Their frames are often slightly smaller and their pelvis and various ligaments are not as limber as the seasoned birthers, so they are more prone to needing assistance during birth. Even worse, their mothering instincts are all over the board. If I’ve done my homework and chosen replacement does and ewes from good mothers, I can only hope good mothering instincts will kick in. But sometimes they are not good mothers; in fact, sometimes they are terrible.

Four mothers rejected their babies this season, making my busy job even harder. Finally, new moms are simply not as good at producing large volumes of milk. Again, if I’ve done my job and chosen my replacements carefully, I will have good milk producers that will quickly raise healthy, meaty

“As magical as a barn full of baby farm animals may sound, it represents years of hard work, hard-learned lessons...”

babies.

Called ‘selective breeding,’ this is the farmer’s attempt to breed animals for specific traits. It is both a science and an art – and I have great respect for folks who do it well.

My approach is nowhere near scientific and at no other time of the year is my lack of breeding expertise more apparent than in the spring.

Nutrition, of course, is of the utmost importance just before babies arrive and for the few months following their birth. About a month before her due date, a goat or sheep should be getting the best feed possible, with a free-choice, balanced mineral supplement.

She shouldn’t get fat, though, because that, too, can cause terrible problems, including ketosis and difficulty giving birth. After having her baby, good feed and minerals continue, although she’ll be eating and drinking significantly more in order to support milk production. That all sounds well and good, but how do you make sure this proper balance is met? Since we are a small, grassbased operation, we do not work with a nutritionist, nor do we have anyone testing our hay. Instead, I spend many hours observing our animals, feeling babies for full bellies,

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checking eyelids for anemia, and watching out for those that hang back during feeding time. Not working with a nutritionist is an enormous gamble, however. The past two years of drought followed by a much-toowet summer produced very poor-quality hay here in Central New York and has made for an extremely difficult spring for many small producers. A number of small local farms experienced high levels of mid and late-term miscarriages as a result.

This, too, is a time to be aware of any potential health problems. Moms can develop mastitis; babies can develop coccidiosis, “floppy kid” syndrome, or white muscle disease. Again, we’ve been extremely fortunate to experience very few of these problems, but that doesn’t allow me to be lax in my management.

I have to watch for hot (or God forbid – cold) udders, for damaged or sore teats, weak babies, muddy butts, runny noses, even sagging ears.

I have to recognize the difference between a lamb’s normal, plaintive hungry call and a weaker cry that means she isn’t getting as much milk as her husky brother. Preventing potential problems is every farmer’s first line of defense, usually in the form of clean bedding, adequate housing, fresh air, and proper nutrition. Of course, Mother Nature is often wicked and unpredictable, so the next line of defense is catching and treating health problems as early as possible.

But would I say I have it “all figured out?” Absolutely not! That barn full of rambunctious baby goats and lambs is both a joy and a sobering challenge – every day, all year long. This humbling life as a goat farmer has me truly appreciating the experienced farmers around me, whose skills in animal husbandry seem to come so naturally. These days, it seems there is so much focus on whether a farm is organic or not, or feeding genetically modified grains or not. All the while we’re missing the bigger picture: successfully raising happy, healthy animals in a sustainable manner is infinitely more complex than diet or management style alone. You can’t learn it in a book; you can’t even get the full picture with a degree in agriculture – it takes years of doing. And good farmers seem to understand that they are never done learning.

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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 at: www.anotherjonesfamilyfarm.com

State Route 12B Clinton, NY 13323 (315) 853-6151 www.clintontractor.net

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Clinton Tractor & Impl Co Meadow Street Rt 12b Clinton, NY 13323 (315) 853-6151 www.clintontractor.net

©2013 CNH America LLC. New Holland is a registered trademark of CNH America LLC.

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5798 Route 80 Cooperstown New York

The Adirondack World of Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait April 1 – September 1

This exhibition has been organized by the Adirondack Museum.

Overlooking Otsego Lake, the Fenimore presents a variety of compelling art exhibitions April through December.

Going out: Deer Hunting in the Adirondacks, 1862, Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819 – 1905), oil on canvas, 1973.36.1 (314), Gift of Harold K. Hochschild

FenimoreArtMuseum.org

APRIL

GAllery Guide Of Time and the Mohawk River Through June 1, 2014 Featuring painted, sketched, and printed views of the Mohawk River and Erie Canal from the mid 18th to 21st century.

Arkell Museum

2 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie, NY (518) 673-2314 www.arkellmuseum.org

Frank Rollins Photography Retrospective April 4 - 24, 2014 Opening Reception Friday, April 4th 5-7pm

Also on display: Off Your Walls! - A Group Show of Private Art Collections

Cooperstown Art Association

22 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY (607) 547-9777 www.cooperstownart.com

It’s a Family Affair Through April 30, 2014

TeensART & Artistic Discovery 2014

Kirkland Town Library

Through May 10, 2014

Opening Reception: Saturday, April 5, 11:30am–1:30pm 55 1/2 College Street, Clinton, NY (315) 853-2038 www.kirklandtownlibrary.org

The Landscape Revisited: Martin Weinstein, Jonathan Beer, Sandra Gottlieb Through May 2, 2014 The Landscape Revisited presents three New York artists specific vocabularies examining how memory works in images and feelings with reflection and remembering through what is real and imagined.

Edith Langley Barrett Fine Art Gallery Library Concourse, Utica College 1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, NY (315) 792-5289 www.utica.edu/gallery

Opening Reception: Sat., April 12, 12-3pm

Earlville Opera House

18 East Main St., Earlville, NY (315) 691-3550 www.earlvilleoperahouse.com

SUNYIT Meets MVCC Through May 2, 2014

Opening Reception: Wednesday, April 16, 4:30pm Featuring work created by both SUNYIT and MVCC students.

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Drilled Shaft Paddywack, the works of PrattMWP Professor Jenna North (Wendy Well) Through April 26, 2014 Opening Reception: Friday, April 4, 6-9pm

The Other Side

American Berserk by Brian Cirmo

Through May 16, 2014 Opening Reception/Art Lecture: Tuesday, April 15, 1pm, Room 225, IT building

Juergensen Gallery

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Luminous Journeys Through the Abstract

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April 3-May 31, 2014 Reception: Sunday, April 6, 3-5pm Featuring works by Bell, Bigness, Godfrey, Hudson, Hughto, Jacopelle, Loy, and Sickler

Winter Air

Through April 27, 2014

A juried group exhibition of visual works that convey the very distinct but intangible sensations of walking outside on a cold day.

Kirkland Art Center

View

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A Day in the Garden: Jim Ridlon

Through April 26, 2014

Brenda’s fascination with texture, color, depth, and dimension is revealed by her use of various materials and mediums.

Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts

April 26-May 24, 2014 Opening Reception: Saturday, April 26, 6-8pm

Broad Street Gallery

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20 Broad Street, Hamilton, NY (315) 825-5235 www.hamiltoncenterforthearts.com

Life During Wartime

Above and Beyond, Exploring the Landscape in Pastels works by Susan Whiteman

April 3-August 3, 2014 Gallery Talk: Friday, April 4, 1:10pm Featuring artworks created between the 17th and 20th centuries and presenting a dramatic array of interpretations of war.

Through April 30, 2014

Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute

The Artful Lodger Gallery

310 Genesee Street, Utica, NY (315) 797-0000 www.mwpai.org

Artist’s Reception: Sunday, April 27, 3-5 pm

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Time to Climb Part 2: by Ruth Ann Dandrea

The diary she started chronicles hikes that began before dawn and ended well into darkness. It tells of wet feet, thunderstorms, turning back, going on and reaching panoramic vistas. Of friends, joy, jubilation and mourning. It revels in after-climb swims in icy brooks, warm beer at the end of the trail, and meeting new people. On a September climb up Wright Mountain, Bonnie Sanderson shares a “360 degree view of autumn,” and from the summit of Nippletop, she proclaims, “It seems as if we could see all forty-six high peaks.” Her diary tells of injuries borne and recoveries celebrated. She climbed Giant after three months of knee issues that made her wonder if her hiking days were over. She fell on her face in a foot of snow three steps down Lower Wolfjaw and three more times after that and so devised en route another strategy for descending that involved

putting down the heels of her brand new micro-spikes first. She aborted a trek up Haystack Mountain due to hazardous wind conditions at the top, returned to the lodge after ten hours on the trail, to learn her brother had died that morning.

Perseverance illuminates the tales. “This hike [up Panther Mountain] noted for mud… lived up to its reputation,” Sanderson writes.

And, she finds the climb from Donaldson to Seward, “very tough, steep, with black flies and mosquitoes.” Often the notes tell of time lost on the wrong trail, of getting confused on unmarked paths. But always, always is the serene satisfaction of having tried one’s best and seen something worth remembering. Of having pushed one’s body, mind, heart and spirit to a new limit. Even after her least favorite climb up Couchsaraga whose entry begins: “I write while the mud is still fresh on

my clothing, boots, and gear, and the bruises and cuts on the body clearly visible,” and goes on to claim, “this is my last high peaks venture,” she includes a parenthetical “but I’m secretly looking at the next,” noting “it surely couldn’t be any worse.”

The little notebook isn’t only a list of the tired troupers “limping home moaning,” though. The entries also reveal the camaraderie of “a great day with good people;” the nostalgia of finishing, “I’ll miss that Dix Range;” the thrill of “three peaks in one day;” the relief of returning, “Never was a glass of wine, mushroom stew and a hot shower more welcome;” and the determination to go on, “We’re ready for the next one.”

The entry on Saddleback calls it “a colorful hike.” Sanderson, whose “eyes were

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recently opened to new perspectives by art classes,” didn’t rush, but waited for the “views to appear between the trees.” She “took in the surroundings - lush color, cascading waterfalls, wildflowers, grasses and all things wild.” She uses her developing talents as a watercolor artist to appreciate the “bluets, miniature meadows of them” along the way.

Rather than simply summit, she determines to pay attention to “the smell and taste of the trail.”

The journal reflects determination, too, in the way it shows progress. Sanderson completes two hikes in 2005, three in 2006, four in 2007 and by 2010, she was mastering six in a single summer that stretched into October. In 2012, she starts numbering her peaks. Counting down how many are left. When she and her new hiking partner, a stranger the day before, returned from a fourteen hour day doing Haystack and Basin, whose highlight was “seeing Mount Marcy…a particular thrill as it was so close,” after returning on the Shorey shortcut “despite its reputation of PUDs (pointless ups and downs),” hot, thirsty and

sore, they were greeted with applause and relief from their fellows at the JLB who’d saved them dinner and been worried for them in the dark. “I’m psyched about having only one more,” wrote Sanderson.

Around that same time, Sanderson reached a summit of another kind, when a book about women’s paddling, Wow: Women on Water, that she co-authored was released by North Country Books. Summers have never been exclusively about hiking for Sanderson. She kayaks with the WOW group on Thursdays, plays tennis and golf in her free time, takes, and teaches, classes and serves as a member of the board for Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement (MVILR). Winters, she is a ski instructor at Snow Ridge Ski Resort in Turin. Year round she is Gram-Bonnie and role-model to her six grandchildren, one of whom recently called her from the top of Cascade Mountain, having conquered his first high peak. Half an hour later, she received a second call; the six-year-old and his eight-year-old brother, (and their parents, of

Perseverance illuminates her tales...

course) had summited the neighboring Porter Mountain, and a pair of future 46-ers was born.

But, “this was the best,” wrote Sanderson of last summer’s last climb. Her partner was her son Mike, with whom she’d begun the venture twenty-seven years earlier. The two left their Raquette Lake campsite at 6am, on August 16, 2012, ambled the five-mile walk in on the Ward Brook Trail, and took a leisurely stroll, “just pleasant,” up Seymour Mountain. They ate lunch at the top, took pictures (Sanderson is also an accomplished photographer), rested and descended carefully over mossy rocks. They stopped at a leanto for another rest and a change of socks, walked out at 6:07pm, returning to Golden Beach Campground to family and friends, cheers and champagne, and “a great finish to a long adventure.”

Anybody who knows Bonnie Sanderson, though, knows that standing at the summit of her forty-sixth high peak finished nothing. There will always be new mountains to climb for this educator, musician, artist, writer, and outdoorswoman extraordinaire.

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Anticipating Spring

By Lisa Ferguson Crow

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Our community root digging class chopping dandelion roots we gathered.

Dandelion root is considered a “digestive bitter” as it stimulates digestive juices by its flavor.

Spring is one of the best times of year to gather roots. The general rule is to harvest roots before the plant flowers in the spring or after the first frost in the fall. The reason for this is that, in perennial or biennial plants, the roots are the storage houses for nutritional and medicinal compounds during the winter months. The entire energy center of the plant descends to the root in the fall where it stays dormant, yet vital, until the weather warms and the sun calls for life to arise once again in the spring.

Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale) is one of my favorite spring roots to gather and the entire plant is edible including the leaves and flower. The leaves can be gathered all year long, but are the most tender and least bitter in the spring. It is important when you gather Dandelion to carefully consider the place you are gathering from. Dandelion is considered a ‘weed’ by many people and is the target of vast amounts of herbicides yearly. Suburban lawns, city parks, school yards, etc. are potential places where chemicals may have been applied, albeit much to no avail as the Dandelion is nearly impossible to eradicate.

The Common Dandelion is native to Europe and Asia but has naturalized pretty much everywhere. It grows 2-18” high, has a hollow stem that contains milky juice, and has leaves that are either cleft or lobed. The flower head is bright yellow and 1-2” wide and has no poisonous look-alike.

“This is the celebrated plant in which the common people of every land have faith” -19th century New Zealand herbalist James Neil

Dandelion root is used as a spring tonic because it is cleansing and clearing to the liver improving function and bile production. It is a pancreatic regulator as it contains a compound called inulin which decreases the rapid rise of insulin while at the same time lowers serum blood glucose. These liver supporting properties make Dandelion root useful for a variety of common conditions including PMS, high cholesterol, acne, and eczema. It is also commonly and traditionally used as a mild laxative and gentle diuretic.

The root can be eaten along with the entire plant and is considered a “digestive bitter” as it stimulates digestive juices by its flavor. Those of us

raised on a traditional American diet may have limited taste experience because our food is flavored with either table salt or sugar. ‘Bitter’ is definitely a unique experience and may take some getting used to, but, I assure you, it’s well worth it and you may find yourself growing to love it.

Dandelion’s nutritional package is second to none; its iron content is greater than spinach and contains more Vitamin A than carrots. It is also high in vitamins B-1, B-2, B-5, B-6, B-12, C, E, P, and D, biotin, inositol, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc.

I like to cook the roots in a stir fry with other vegetables.

The leaves can be steamed as any other green or simply added to salad.

We can also enjoy eating Dandelion flowers. I collect the blossoms to make a massage oil for muscle-skeletal pain associated with what is called “external armor” or for those of us who hold a great deal of tension in our musculature as a defense mechanism. Most of us have heard of, or ourselves made, Dandelion wine from these bright, lovely blossoms. My favorite way to use the flowers is to make Dandelion Fritters.

Light and sweet, they can be dipped in maple syrup or good old fashioned confectioners’ sugar for a yummy and nutritious snack!

The last few moments of winter’s deep peace and stillness are upon us in the Northeast as the promise of Spring begins to emerge from the frozen depths of the Earth and our hearts. It may seem that all outdoor gardening and gathering activities cease through these cold months, but it is actually the best time to plan, dream and create intentions for the upcoming growing season. Because there is not much to gather in the wild at this time, I thought it would be a good opportunity to discuss and explore some of the important aspects of wild plant gathering.

Make sure you have a good guidebook and know how to 100% identify the plant you are harvesting and that you are harvesting the proper part of the plant in the right season. I always cross-reference with at least two sources and if you have access to a local herbalist or knowledgeable plant person it is always best to check with them. It is also great to have a friend to gather with so there can be a consensus about identification.

Ethical Wildcrafting Basics: 1. In our times where there is prolific pollution please avoid main roadways and golf courses and corn fields, any unfamiliar lots or city backyards that have not been tested for heavy metals, power lines, industrial areas and old houses that could have lead paint leaking into the soil.

2. Only harvest what you can use and be sure to harvest no more than 1/3 of a stand of even abundant plants.

ALWAYS avoid harvesting endangered plants. List of At-Risk plants at: www.unitedplantsavers.org 3. Only take the part of the plant that you need, leaving whatever is possible so that the plant may continue to grow.

If you just need the flowers, often the rest of the plant can still thrive and produce new growth.

4. Be sure to harvest healthy, vibrant plants that appear to be well nourished and vital, but leave the biggest and strongest. These are sometimes called the ‘mother plants’ and are important for the continued reproduction of healthy plant communities.

5. Plant or distribute seeds while harvesting, replant pieces of roots, and wait to harvest roots until the plant has gone to seed. According to Herbal Ed Smith of Herb-Pharm, “A good wildcrafter should be able to increase the population of plants instead of decrease it.”

6. Most importantly, give thanks. Many wildcrafters and herbalists offer prayers to the plants that they harvest to show respect and reverence for all that humans benefit from their medicine.

Lisa Ferguson Crow is a community herbalist in Newport. She has been practicing herbal medicine for more than 20 years. For information go to: www.hawthornehillherbs.com

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My favorite guidebooks: Necomb’s Guide to Wildflowers Peterson’s Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers

Dandelion Fritters

cooking with

dandelions

1 egg 1 cup of milk 1 cup of flour Optional: Sugar, honey or syrup to taste Mix egg and milk in a bowl. Stir in flour.

Dandelion Root Stir- Fry

Fill the bottom of a skillet with about 1� of cooking oil. I use coconut oil. Heat oil over medium heat.

1 onion 2 cloves of garlic 6-8 dandelion roots sliced 2 carrots sliced 1 tablespoon of fresh minced ginger root Oil and seasonings: salt, tamari, pepper, etc.

Heat oil in skillet. Add onions and garlic and cook until translucent. Add roots and spices. Stir fry until tender.

You may want to add some sweetener such as honey, maple syrup or a touch of molasses at the end if the taste is too bitter for your palette.

Dip dandelion flowers in batter holding by the base swirling until the entire flower is covered. Drop into skillet flower side down.

Flip them over when the bottom side is brown and brown the other side. Remove from pan and drain on a dry towel.

Optional: drizzle with maple syrup or dip into powdered sugar.

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GENESEE JOE’S LIVE & LOCAL:

Blarney rebel band I live in an apartment that was once inhabited by a great Central New York musician. Over 30 years ago, when I lived next door, I was introduced to our new tenant, Mark Sisti. I soon realized what a great musician Mark was and what a great family of musicians he came from. The Sisti Brothers are first class guys and musicians, too.

Mark, along with fellow guitar slinger and brother Dan and bass playing Al have made CNY a much more musical place. It was an honor to play with Dan in the Downtown Funk ‘n Blues Band and to occasionally sit in with Mark and Al on their other projects.

Through the years they have been in bands such as the Justice McBride Band, Les Brers – to name a few – and their Celtic music project, the ever popular Blarney Rebel Band.

Blarney Rebel Band has been playing Celtic music for about twelve years. The band consists of four full-time members, the three Sisti Brothers and Gene Voce on drums, and a rotating trio of fiddlers: Shawn Hayley, Amanda Straney, and Katie Mitchell. These multi-talented musicians also play tin whistle, flute, Bourbaki, mandolin, banjo, accordion, concertina, and various Celtic percussion.

When asked about the origin of the project, Mark said, “While we all have an extensive history playing in local rock bands, it was the purchase of a Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem album decades ago that started a lifetime obsession

with Irish music.” Their biggest influence from an Irish music standpoint is, unquestionably, Vincent Colgan. “Anyone around here who plays Irish music got into it through listening to Vince,” he says.

The Blarney Rebel Band has released some CDs. Their first, Buy My Soul, has sold world wide. The cut, Stand with Me Boys, placed number one in the Irish and Celtic podcasts of 2009. The second album the band released, Beneath the Surface, garnered rave reviews everywhere and receives extensive airplay on radio stations around the world. While the first two CDs contained a few traditional tunes, the most recent CD, Pursuit, “is our most ambitious effort yet,” says Mark, consisting entirely of BRB original material.

Attending a Blarney Rebel Band show is an experience - they may play anything from the traditional Celtic to original Celtic songs and even Celticized renditions of anything from Pink Floyd to U2. Maybe even a classic TV theme as well! They have shared the stage with some of the top groups in Celtic music and, around here, you can catch them performing at Piggy Pat’s in Washington Mills, the Celtic Harp in Utica, and, of course, this summer at the Great American Irish Festival! For more information and tour dates visit: www.blarneyrebel.com or check them out on facebook.

Listen to Genesee Joe live on 92.7FM, The DRIVE. www.927thedrive.net

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MV Flash lit:

Beer-Battered PBJ Short Story by David Griffin

When I was in college in Utica in1962, my Uncle Jack decided Ray Kroc was a genius. The day the hamburger chieftain invented a cheap and fast burger a new industry was born, not to mention the resuscitation of the State of Maine’s ailing potato business. Jack saw that McDonald’s successful formula could be generalized to other foods and so he invented O’Dooley’s Beer Battered PBJ, which wasn’t much more than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich rolled in a batter and dropped in a deep fryer. As long as he was careful about timing the drop, the PBJ’s ingredients wouldn’t leak out.

The batter came as a dry powder

from a supplier Jack met at a gun show.

To each plastic bag he added a quart of water and a can of beer. Although the mix was originally intended for fish fries, the yellow powder was general purpose and could have been used to make Beer Battered Bowling Balls. The stuff looked like high grade plutonium ore. In fact, after a few drinks Jack would pass a bag around to friends in his basement rec room and claim exactly that while he explained he got it from an international arms dealer he met on a trip to Algiers. Jack had been no farther east in his life than St. Johnsville.

My uncle opened the very first (and last) BBPBJ Stand in the garage behind

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his house on Mummery Street. I can’t tell you how much he spent on a splendid sign, constructed with replaceable numbers. It read, “O’Dooley’s Beer Battered PBJ - 0000003 SOLD.” He placed it out in front of his house near the road.

The neighbors were excited to have an entrepreneur amongst them, but not in a positive way.

After a month of very few sales , Jack became convinced he needed more publicity. He called me up one night to discuss the problem. At the time I was the only member of our family crazy enough to listen to him. He had worked his way down through the family’s age groups before he

found my sympathetic ear. I thought it was my entrepreneurial skills that attracted him. I’d had some business success with my paper route in high school. I recommended he move his sign down the street to the corner at a busier thoroughfare. The next afternoon I helped him drag it to a new location next to the dry cleaner on the corner. Two days later it was gone.

“Taken by someone who is going to steal my idea,” he moaned over the phone when he called.

Not really. The dry cleaner had called Jack’s house while he was out to complain and my Aunt Alice telephoned me with an offer of $5 to take the sign in my father’s car to the dump. In truth, I stored it behind our house. One never knew.

“Don’t say a word about this,” my aunt whispered over the phone. “Maybe he’ll forget about the damned thing.” I didn’t tell her I had the sign in my back yard.

Uncle Jack was inconsolable. I felt so bad I was the cause of his sorrow, especially when on the third call to me that

evening he was close to tears.

“Without that sign,” he sniffled, “no one will ever know of my creation.”

“You could make another sign,” I said.

“That sign cost me all the spare cash I’ll have for a month,” he said.

“Well,” I said, “why not put an ad in the paper? Offer a reward and maybe the culprit will put the sign back on the corner,” hopefully just a bit farther away from the dry cleaner.

The ad appeared the next day in the newspaper. “Reward: For the return of my sign ‘O’Dooley’s Beer Battered PBJ Emporium – 0000009 SOLD.” I put the sign back on the corner late that night. No one collected the reward, of course.

Because of the ad, a local reporter showed up two days later with a photographer in tow and the result was a big spread in the Sunday newspaper’s Neighbors Section. 000009 almost immediately zoomed up to 0000187.

Uncle Jack was back in business.

Practically everyone knew of him and his sandwich now, including the City Health

Department, the State Business Practices Board, the Alcohol Board of Control, the Internal Revenue Service , the nearby Third Avenue Baptist Church and even the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. More than one of them offered him a deal he couldn’t refuse and no one ever heard of his sandwich again.

Years passed before Aunt Alice would have anything nice to say about me. At my wedding she told my new wife, “Don’t believe a word he says. He never gave me my five dollars back.”

David Griffin was born in Utica. He is a member of the first graduating class of Notre Dame High School and continued his education at MVCC, SUNY Oswego, and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, from where he obtained his master’s. He retired from a career in corporate planning and now writes from the South Carolina coast. Dave authors the popular blog Monk In The Cellar. He is widely published in anthologies and magazines. They are well received by those who love him. He seldom hears from those who don’t.

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