Mohawk Valley Living 87 February 2021 by Mohawk Valley Living

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MAGAZINE TAKE ONE!

EXPLORING THE ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF OUR VALLEY

FEBRUARY 2021

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MOHAWK VALLEY LIVING MAGAZINE

Available exclusively from our sponsors.

February 2021

PUBLISHERS Lance and Sharry Whitney

contents 6 10 13 14 17 20 22 24 25 26 27 31 37 39 44 46 47

EDITOR Sharry Whitney

Oneida County History Center ADK Journal Local Photo Club Restaurant Guide Antiques Guide February in Nature Valley Girl Local Comic Strip MV Crossword MV Astronomy Club On The Farm with Suzie Matt Perry’s Nature MV Gardens & Recipes Tales from Shawangunk, Part 75 Advertiser Directory News & Notes Contest Answers

DESIGN & LAYOUT Lance David Whitney

Hang in There! by Sharry L. Whitney

This month we feature a new regular comic strip by a local artist that takes us back to a simpler time–growing up in the 1970s and 80s. This month’s strip reminded me of the popular poster, seen everywhere back then, of a kitten clinging to a bar with the inspiring words, “Hang in There.” That’s where we are right now–just hanging on. Our local businesses need us more than ever as they cling to life. The winter months are typically hard for a business, but after nearly a year of this pandemic, with months to go, many are just barely surviving. Please do what you can. By a friend, and yourself) a Valentine’s Day gift. Order a nice Valentine’s Day dinner from your favorite restaurant. Buy and light some local candles and reminisce about the days when a simple free poster from a book club filled you with joy. Dream about the days to come when we can visit with friends and neighbors at our favorite local shops and venues. Just hang in there. •

ASSISTANT EDITOR Shelley Malenowski ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Susan Collea CONTRIBUTORS Peggy Spencer Behrendt, Carol Higgins, Suzie Jones, John Keller, Melinda Karastury, Rebecca McLain, Susan Perkins, Matt Perry, Cynthia Quackenbush, Denise Szarek, Gary VanRiper CONTACT US (315) 853-7133 30 Kellogg Street Clinton, NY 13323 www.MohawkValleyLiving.com mohawkvalleyliving@hotmail.com Mohawk Valley Living is a monthly magazine and television show that explore the area’s arts, culture, and heritage. Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of Mohawk Valley Living, Inc.

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Riggie is roaming around and hiding in the advertising areas of the magazine. Next to him you’ll find a letter. Find all the Riggies and rearrange the letters to answer this riddle. Enter by the 15th of the month to be entered in a $100 shopping spree at 1 or between 2 of our advertisers! (Excluding media and banks) One entry per household per month. Mail to: Riggie’s Riddle, 30 Kellogg St., Clinton, NY 13323 or email: mohawkvalleyliving@hotmail.com NOTE: Please enter Riggie’s Riddle and crossword puzzle in separate emails.

Presidents’ Day Riddle: Presidents come and presidents go, Some visit for campaigns, don’t you know? Truman stopped to campaign in ‘52. One dropped by for baseball, can you guess who? Hint: 2 words, 11 letters

See the answer and winner to last month’s riddle on page 47!

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Universalism &the 2nd great awakening by Rosemarie Hall

Oneida County History Center Volunteer Proclaiming its hopeful message of universal salvation (“Not hell… but hope,” in the words of 18th century Universalist John Murray,) the Universalist faith found a voice in Upstate New York in 1805 when the Rev. Nathaniel Stacy founded the Universalist Society of Whitesboro. Stacy hailed from Gloucester, MA, where his fisherman father had early shown an interest in Universalist philosophy. The Universalist Church in America had its start in 1785 in the town of Oxford in that state. The younger Stacy was also influenced after meeting prominent Universalist circuit preacher Hosea Ballou. It was as a result of these and similar contacts that Stacy came to “introduce the doctrine” to our area. Ballou, although born in 1771 into a Calvinist Baptist family, had, while still a teen, identified closely with Universalist, Unitarian, and Deist beliefs, driven as he was by an inability to reconcile the idea of eternal damnation - an idea shared by

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Reverend Stacy was influenced by prominent Universalist circuit preacher Hosea Ballou

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most a contemporary Protestants – with that of a loving, compassionate God. Stacy felt at home with a belief system that Ballou brought to fruition in his 1820 “Treatise on Atonement,” in which he promulgated the idea that people sinned when they failed to act in accordance with their best understanding of moral good. Traditional Christianity, in comparison, taught that sin was infinite evil and represented total defiance of God’s will. The Universalists, Unitarians, and Deists were related faiths, all rebelling against the spiritual excesses of revivalist movements that were sweeping across the state early in the 19th century. It was said that while Unitarians believed in Hell, they also felt God was too good to ever condemn anyone to such a place. The Deist position was that once he started the world, God adopted a hands-off policy when it came to human affairs. All three denied the deity’s trinitarian nature and were therefore commonly viewed as heretical. Nevertheless, upstate New York - and Oneida County in particular – had, early in the 19th century, become a kind of epicenter of the Second Great Awakening, the first “awakening” having occurred between 1730 and 1750 when an abundant outpouring of religious fervor swept through the American colonies. This “Second Awakening,” during the first part of the 19th century, led to the development in Upstate New York of many new religious faiths, among which were the Latter Day Saints, founded by Joseph Smith in Pal-

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myra in 1830, and the Oneida Community, founded in 1848 by John Humphrey Noyes and centered in the village of Oneida. Noyes and his followers preached the perfectibility of humankind, practiced a form of free love called “complex marriage,” and developed what became a thriving business model beginning with the manufacture of steel traps. The Community’s silverware eventually came to be sold around the world. Whitestown, which had at one time comprised three-quarters of Western New York State, proved receptive to Stacy’s teachings. Stacy, now a preacher who supported himself by teaching school, wrote: “In Whitestown, the first (Universalist) congregation was composed of all religious classes and all kinds of people…” These included many prominent citizens. Among the latter was Hugh White of Middletown, Connecticut who, in 1794, had settled in the wilderness of what would become, just four years later, Oneida County. In 1788, he founded Whitestown (“White’s Town.”) In 1815, White donated property at the intersection of what is now Genesee Street and French Road in Utica, on which the Universalist Society’s modest meeting house was built, and its associated cemetery established. White, who died in 1812, lived to see the population of what was sometimes called “Whitestown Country” reach almost 300,000. The enormous tract occupied by Whitestown was eventually subdivided, resulting in the formation of numerous communities including Westmoreland, Steuben, Paris, Mexico, Peru, Cazenovia, Frankfort, and Augusta. Whitestown’s penultimate division resulted in the creation of Utica, in 1817, with New Hartford following in 1827. This explains why the Universalist Society of Whitesboro was not named

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the Universalist Society of Utica, as at the time of its formation, Utica did not exist. The Society was a pioneer in its denomination, being only the third of its persuasion in New York State, predecessors having been established in New York City in 1797, and, in 1805, in Hartwick, N.Y. Dwindling membership led to the Society’s demise in 1845, and the French Road meeting house was sold to local Presbyterians, a much larger group that had been organized by well-known preacher Jonathan Edwards in 1791. The Presbyterians eventually sold it to local Baptists. Partially burned in 1850, the building continued to stand until sometime during the 1880s when, suffering from decay and neglect, it was finally torn down. The old Universalist burial ground, now known as the French Road Cemetery and in a somewhat dilapidated state though still partially surrounded by a fence, can still be seen. Almost a century later, in 1960, The Universalist and Unitarian churches merged. The Unitarian Universalist Church continues to be represented in our area by congregations in Utica, Barneveld, Camden, and Little Falls. •

The Unitarian Church of Barneveld’s meeting house was dedicated January 30, 1817

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St. Paul’s Universalist Church in Little Falls was dedicated June 9, 1868

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adirondack journal

Sharing Adirondack History Through the Eyes of a Child (at Heart!) Story and Photos by Gary VanRiper

Gary VanRiper, age 1, at the historic theme park, Land of Makebelieve, Upper Jay, NY

Arto Monacoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Land of Makebelieve set childrensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; imaginations into hyperdrive 10 10

We are slowly emerging from the dead of winter marching toward the first day of spring. I don’t do any mountain climbing during this season. I just practice the daily physical grunt work required to stay in climbing shape to hit the trails in warmer weather. The emphasis during the long stretch of long winter nights was usually shared between coaching high school basketball and reading, researching, and writing. With basketball cancelled this season, it has provided extra time to search for more children’s books set in the Adirondacks to add to the collection. Just this week I discovered Nancy Drew had another adventure in the region – and learned about multiple titles from this series that, decades ago, was second only to Tom Swift in its popularity! This is also the time of year (for twenty-one years now) when the writing of our own children’s books set in the Adirondacks takes place – accompanied by yet more research. With each story revolving around an actual person, place, or thing in the Adirondacks, it is not unusual to end up searching through vintage postcard images to help set something chosen to write about in its proper time and place. For our first book, it was the historic mailboat that for years served the Fulton Chain of Lakes. We brought one of the first mailboats out of retirement for the story. The postcards aided not only in the boat description but also helped our artist with the cover illustration. In the third book, The Lost Lighthouse,

Miss America, one of the historic mailboats that served the Fulton Chain of Lakes

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The ‘new’ Arrowhead Hotel in Inlet was built in 1914 and removed in 1963. Artifacts still surface from time to time near the lakefront

This is a view of Fourth Lake as was seen from the Arrowhead Hotel in Inlet. The location is now known as Arrowhead Park.

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we read that at one time there were two lighthouses along the Fulton Chain. The lighthouse near Alger Island still stands. But what happened to the other one? We decided it would be fun to offer a possible solution to that mystery. When our characters learned about the Land of Makebelieve that once drew thousands of visitors with young children to Upper Jay, they decided to create their own story town in the forest and invite their friends! Journey into the Land of Makebelieve was a special tale to write since my parents had taken me there in 1955 when both the theme park and I were just a year old! And then there was the former Arrowhead Hotel in Inlet that stars in a story in our collection of five short stories. The original hotel was lost in a fire in 1913. The ‘new’ Arrowhead Hotel was built the following year and stood until it was removed in 1963. Artifacts from the hotel still occasionally surface along the lake area where the hotel once stood. We know the spot in the hamlet today as Arrowhead Park. With six more weeks of winter until the official start of another spring season, and depending on what the groundhog has to say, be sure to remain active in mind and body. Enjoy your favorite hobbies and activities. Stay safe and stay well! • Gary VanRiper is an author, photographer, and pastor at the Camden Wesleyan Church. He has written 19 children’s books with his son, Justin. Learn more at: www.adirondackkids.com

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The tunnel under the Adirondack Railroad along Old Poland Road. Everybody beeps their horns while passing through this tunnel! by Gabe Oram

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Little Little Falls Falls

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Over 160 Vendor booths and display cases!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Find a Unique Treasure For Your Sweetheart! 100 E. Main St., Mohawk (Thruway Exit 30)

(315) 219-5044 www.mohawkantiquesmall.com 18

MOHAWK ANTIQUES MALL

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

Main Street Gift Shoppe

Primitives, Handmades, Candles Curtains, Home Decor, Furniture, Lighting, Textiles, Olde Century Colors Paint, & so much more!

We are Open Year-Round!

7431 Main St Rt. 28 Newport, NY OPEN: Wed-Sat 11:30am til 6pm

February Freeze Sale All Month Long!

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THE POTTING SHED ANTIQUES

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All kinds of Unique Vendors under one roof. Artisans, Crafters, Antiques to Retro including Food Items.

142 North Main Street, Herkimer • 315-628-1506 or 315-219-9195 Open Tues-Fri:10-5, Sat & Sun: 10-2 www.MohawkValleyCommunityMarket.com

The Online Exchange, LLC

ALL U.S. COINS WANTED

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Buying and Selling Coins, Large Selection of Jewelry (gold, silver, costume), and Antiques. Buying scheduled by appointment.

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

Antique & Unique! Buy • Sell • Trade

See The Man 54 N. Main St., Sherburne (607) 316-8463 • Open Wed-Sat 10-5

Victorian Rose Vintage Antiques & Collectibles Open Fri, Sat & Sun 10-4 315-893-1786 • 3371 Maple Ave., Bouckville www.victorianrosevintage.com

uuuuuuuuuuu u u u u u u u BUYING & SELLING Antiques, u u Mid-Century, and Vintage thru 1975 u u OPEN 10AM-5PM, Closed Wed. u u *5,000 sq.ft. Multi-Dealer Store u u *BEST Variety of UNIQUE Finds u *103 SHOWCASES u u *26 DISPLAY BOOTHS u u u *1,000’s of Affordable “Smalls” For Sale u u *Get on our Monthly CUSTOMER WANT LIST u u (315) 823-1177 u u 375 Canal Place, Little Falls u u Next Door to Ann Street Deli u u u uuuuuuuuuuu

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Weeden’ s Mini Mall

Loaded with Antiques, Vintage, Collectibles, & many kinds of Unique Items! Over 40 Years in Business! Face Masks and Social Distancing Required

8056 Route 13, Blossvale (Located 4 miles North of Sylvan Beach) (315) 245-0458 • Open 10-5 every day

Whistle Post Antiques

Specializing in Lionel Trains We Buy & Sell! (315) 838-0144

Handcrafted signs & decor Custom orders available (315) 893-7604

Signs of Love at Whistle Post Creations in Bouckville!

6845 St. Rt. 20 Bouckville Hours: Sat & Sun: 10-4 19

MV NATURE

NATURE in february story and photos by Matt Perry

Most of us experience winter birdlife from the comfort of our living rooms or kitchens. Indeed, peering out our windows at bird feeders can afford us candid views of birds and other wildlife. We essentially use our houses as observation blinds and the food we put out as bait to lure subjects into view. We then enjoy serendipitous visits of animals to our yard; the creatures have no idea they’re being observed. Those of us that get seriously into watching our feeder birds soon realize there is much more to know about birds than simply recognizing field marks and identifying species, although those skills are important to master. Observing behavior is key to gaining a more profound understanding of wildlife and how they interact in their environment. Keeping stocked feeding stations is something a few of us do yearround, but most do only in the winter. Of course, that’s the time animals benefit most from supplemental food sources. By providing food for birds and other animals we remove some of the vagaries of their dependence on an often-unreliable natural food base. In nature, the supply of food in the form of seeds, fruit, and nuts varies greatly from season to season, year to year, and from region to region. There’s no doubt that feeding animals allows a greater population to inhabit an area. As many could not persist without the extra food. In other words, our feeding stations allow more chickadees, cardinals, finches, squirrels, and many others to survive the winter in our region and near our homes.

I’ve been watching bird feeders for close to half a century, and I’ve never gotten tired of it. The feeders we have at our nature preserve are varied and spread out over many acres. Visiting and filling them daily has given us an excellent window into what birds and other animals do in the depths of winter. Black-capped Chickadees are plentiful in the Northeast and quite common in the Mohawk Valley. These non-migrant, winter residents are frequent guests at almost every one of our feeding stations. Interestingly, each small Chickadee flock (usually composed of one or two families) carves out their own winter territories within the preserve, and a few overlap with territories belonging to neighboring flocks. As I travel from feeder to feeder, the flock leaders of each group greet me as I approach their territorial border. With much vocalizing, they will often then usher me over to the feeding station within their claim. I sometimes refer to this as the “ice cream man effect”, likening it to children’s response to hearing or seeing an ice cream truck entering their neighborhood. Chickadees are more gregarious and friendly than the average songbird and having them chase after you and sometimes land on you is a most gratifying experience. Some of our feeding stations are as simple as a wooden post that we put seed on top of. Something as basic as that is enough to pull in a loyal clientele of animals. For a long time, I’ve tried to determine if Chickadees coming to the feeders

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Chickadees at a fencepost feeder have a pecking order. I believe they do, but with most flocks, the pecking order is not vigorously enforced. It tends to seem that the most aggressive individuals get first dibs at the feeders. These more assertive birds could be considered the flock leaders or the alpha flock members. They are probably synonymous with the flock’s breeding pair(s) and the ones more likely to scold or chase away any foreign flock member that invades their space. Watching these individuals, I’ve never known them to prevent others in their flock from getting a share. The best I can determine is that their higher rank entitles them to get the first share if not always the largest share. Interestingly, the order in which the rest of the flock feeds is apparently random. While all Chickadees take their seed and immediately fly off, spending an average of fewer than five seconds on the feeder itself, the places they go with their food varies. Most of them take their sunflower seed or peanut to a nearby branch, far away from fellow flock members. There, they grip the seed firmly in their feet or wedge it in a fork of a branch. If necessary, they free the edible part of the seed from its hull by hammering on it with their bill. It usually takes less than a dozen hammerings to extract a sunflower seed’s meat. After devouring the food, the Chickadee cues up again for another serving. Far from being nasty

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with each other, Chickadee etiquette seems to dictate that you wait politely and patiently for the bird ahead of you to leave before you return for another serving. One February day, most of the individuals I watched ate their seeds immediately, but there were a few preservationists in their midst. Two members out of ten in the flock were opting to store their seeds instead of eating them right away. I watched one of these more responsible birds place its seed beneath a torn piece of elm bark. Sure enough, the same individual came back for another seed. This one he stored in a different location – in a bark crevice on a large Basswood Tree. Interestingly, he was only storing seeds that had their hull intact (not peanuts). Those seeds would surely keep better than ones taken out of their shells. Would these birds be able to recall where they stored their seeds? Blue Jays, Crows, and Ravens do and it’s likely that Chickadees do as well. Why were only two out of ten Chickadees seen storing food? Were they the older ones that had experienced winter before and so were determined to provision themselves for times of famine? One of the enduring mysteries for me is where my feeder Chickadees go to spend the night. I understand that they retire to tree cavities and that one cavity may host multiple birds and even multiple species. However, so far, I have yet to catch Chickadees in the act of retiring for the night. I have observed Downy Woodpeckers and White-breasted Nuthatches entering their evening hideaways and it happens very fast. Essentially, if you blink you miss it. I must assume that Chickadees are also quick to disappear into their night chambers. The incentive for being fast is clear: The last thing they want is for a predator to know where they are sleeping. Observing birds and other wildlife in February (or any time) can be a wonderful activity. Critical analysis of what you observe can often lead you down a road of conjecture and to a place of more questions than answers. The available literature on bird behavior is plentiful and can help you find answers, but some things you observe may not be well covered there. We should always remain open to discovering something novel. Understanding birds should ultimately lead us to a more holistic view of them in their habitat. Maintaining feeding stations can be a responsible thing to do, but birds, like all living things, do not survive on food alone. One question we can ask ourselves and have a reasonable chance of answering, is what we can do on our properties to assist birds? What can we do to augment their habitat, keep them healthy, and keep them returning year after year? These are all good things for us to ponder as we experience the last weeks of winter and look forward to a spring resplendent with life. •

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The Everyday Adventures of Mohawk Valley Girl

Melrose Supermarket in Frankfort

Melrose Supermarket in Frankfort is not your ordinary grocery store

I have always loved a store that is more than just a store, if you know what I mean. I was, therefore, very interested to check out the gift section at Melrose Supermarket in Frankfort. I had to purchase some groceries, why not multi-task and also get material for a blog post or article? I had fun looking over the small area and taking pictures. I made note of the Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day offerings. I’m over my post-Christmas letdown and ready for another holiday! I also admired some teddy bear angels as well as some more elegant angel ornaments. I coveted a couple of lovely shawls, although I already own a few capes and shawls of my own. Still, one more wouldn’t hurt, would it? Right next to the gift section I noticed a cooler with fancy cheeses, cheese balls, and that sort of thing. I thought, how clever! That is a grocery and a gift. I love to give food as a gift. For one reason, the recipient doesn’t have to find a place to put it. When I continued to do my grocery shopping, I was reminded once again that Melrose Supermarket is no ordinary old grocery store. I saw a display with tantalizing snacks: wasabi peas, yogurt-covered pretzels, mixed nuts… Yum! I paused to take another picture. As I continued up the aisle, I heard a voice say, “I have to find out what she’s taking a picture of.” It was a young man who worked there. He asked if there was a problem with the display.

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We Are Open!

Jewett’s Cheese House

A family business since 1970 NY State aged cheddar 1-20 years old! Over 400 items of cheese & gourmet foods.

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Colorful fruits and vegetables at Melrose Supermarket

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Oh, dear! He thought I was one of those people hunting for things to photograph to shame stores on social media – that was certainly not the case here. “Oh no,” I hastened to assure him. “On the contrary. I write a blog. I’m going to make a post about how great you guys are.” He liked that. Naturally, I made a stop at the butcher section, one of the best in the area. I hesitated over some of the store-made entrées and sides: macaroni salad, meatballs… ooh! Pasta Fagioli! Yum! I did bring my husband a gift, but I found it in the kitchenware section, not the gift shop. It was a large coffee mug with a retro illustration telling me the best coffee was brewed in Frankfort. Hmmmm… I wonder. There are quite a few good coffee makers in the Mohawk Valley. I think somebody should do a competition, something along the lines of Riggie Fest or Meatball Madness. That would be worth a blog post! •

Melrose Supermarket is much more than a grocery store. Look for fun holiday shopping sections.

Melrose Supermarket 208 E Main St, Frankfort

(315) 894-3272 • Winter hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-7pm, Sat & Sun: 8am-6pm

Cynthia M. Quackenbush, a.k.a. “Mohawk Valley Girl,” writes a daily blog about her everyday adventures in the Mohawk Valley. Follow her frugal fun at: mohawkvalleygirl.wordpress.com

Adorable angel bears

Melrose Supermarket has its own line of spices

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Bossone’s Sausage & Meat Co.

Specializing in Lionel Trains We Buy & Sell! (315) 838-0144

Handcrafted signs & decor Custom orders available (315) 893-7604

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Sundays: Fried Meatballs & Fried Dough!

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ADVENTURES OF THE MEMORY MARINER

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mv crossword

february Crossword

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

Across 1. This Utica truck sales & service business was founded in 1955. 3. See better in 2021, See ___Path Vision in Utica or Little Falls. See our Directory: Optometrists 5. What Utica Cutlery Co. is famous for. 6. For 50 years bibliophiles have flocked to Berry ___ Books in Deansboro. Reopens February 2! See our directory: Books 7. What Utica Bread does. 8. Local farmers’ solution for getting produce to customers during pandemic. 10. This religious belief took hold in Upstate New York in 1805, See Oneida County. 12. Valley Girl visits this supermarket in the Valley. 13. ___ upon a star 14. Family cheese business in Earlville since 1970. See our Directory: Cheese Down 1. Gary VanRiper’s parents took him to this ADK theme park in the 1950s. 2. This winter song bird is a “grab-n-go” feeder. See MV Nature. 4. Fountain Elms’ first inhabitants, Helen and James Watson ___. 8. The Utica Shale ___ (or area) lies under most of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. 9. Let’s grow a ___. See MV Gardens. 11. The meaning of the Arabic name Al Almal, the space orbiter. See MV Astronomy.

MVL Crossword Puzzler:

Traditionally in winter, this Great American event is scheduled for the spring this year. (4 words) Unscramble the letters in the yellow boxes then email your answer to: mohawkvalleyliving@hotmail.com by the 18th of this month. You’ll be entered to win an MVL Mug and a bag of delicious, fresh-roasted FoJo Beans coffee!

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Mohawk valley astronomical society

mars super slueth by carol higgins

The arrival of February brings with it the happy news that winter is half over. But for planetary scientists, this month marks the exciting end of a seven-month, 300 million-mile voyage by three spacecraft, and the start of unique and ambitious missions to explore planet Mars. All three launched in July 2020 to take advantage of an alignment of Earth and Mars that occurs every 26 months, providing the fastest path to Mars. First to arrive is the Al Amal (Hope) orbiter on February 9. Developed and managed by the United Arab Emirates with help from U.S., Canadian, and other international partners, Hope is UAE’s first interplanetary mission. Onboard are three science packages: a high-resolution color camera, and an infrared and ultraviolet spectrometer. It will monitor and collect data about the layers of the atmosphere and weather to help researchers better understand climate dynamics such as dust storms and clouds, and the ongoing loss of atmospheric hydrogen and oxygen. On February 10, China’s Tianwen-1 Mars spacecraft arrives. It carries two main components: an orbiter, and a separate lander/rover combination that will be sent to the surface a few months later. The orbiter will serve as a relay station to send data back to Earth, and has seven science packages including two cameras, subsurface radar equipment, spectrometer, magnetometer, and several particle analyzers.

The lander/rover has two cameras, ground-penetrating radar, climate monitor, magnetic field detector, and mineral analyzers. The mission goals include lookSkycrane lowers Perseverance to Mars ing for subsurface water and investigating Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech the soil, geology, environment, and atmosphere of the planet. This is China’s second attempt to reach Mars, the first failed the Ingenuity Helicopter! It is small and to leave Earth orbit almost ten years ago. weighs wingspan Hanny’s Voorwerp. Imagefour Credit:pounds, NASA, ESA, with W. Keel,aGalaxy Zoo Teamof A successful Tianwen-1 mission would about four feet. It will only make short, 90 make significant contributions to the scisecond flights up to 15 feet in altitude but entific community. it will be the first time flight has been at And last but not least, the super sleuth tempted on another world. of them all arrives on February 18. That The February 18 landing is around day NASA’s Perseverance Rover attempts 3:30 p.m. (EST) and promises to be exa landing in an ancient river delta at the citing and nerve-wracking. Some refer to edge of Jezero Crater, the site of a lake the Entry, Descent, and Landing phase as about 3.5 billion years ago. Perseverance “seven minutes of terror” as we await a is the most sophisticated rover ever built, signal from the rover indicating it safely evolving from the accomplishments of touched down. First, its heat shield has to NASA’s four successful rovers. Its main survive a fiery descent through the Marmission is to search for signs of ancient tian atmosphere where temperatures will microbial life, learn about past environreach 3,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Then a ments, collect rock and “soil” samples for parachute has to sufficiently slow the vefuture retrieval, and run an experiment to hicle so the “sky crane” can deploy its caproduce oxygen from the atmosphere. bles and gently lower the rover to the surThe six-wheeled rover is the size of a face. It will take 11 minutes for its landing small car and carries a wide array of scistatus report to reach Earth. NASA will ence instruments. It has 19 cameras and cover the landing live, visit the https:// the science payload has seven major sysmars.nasa.gov/mars2020 website. Februtems; weather and dust analyzer, x-ray ary promises to be quite a busy month on spectrometer, ground-penetrating radar, Mars! spectrometers, lasers to search for organ Wishing you clear skies and good ic compounds, and two microphones. But health!• one of the most exciting experiments is

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On the farm with Suzie

the farmer’s park-it by Suzie Jones

Wine & Spirits Ilion

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Local Artisan Cheese Curd Our Cows, Our Milk, Our Cheese

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GET 0% ON SELECT MODELS* DURING MAHINDRA’S RED TAG SALES EVENT!

They say extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. This phrase perfectly encapsulates the local food industry during COVID. At the very beginning of the pandemic almost one year ago (feels longer than that, doesn’t it?!?), good farmer friends Kelly Perrin of Quarry Brook Farms in Sherburne and Jennifer Rankin of Slate Creek Farm in Remsen were inundated with orders for meats and eggs from their customers. You may recall grocery meat counters were near empty and there was general panic since so much was unknown about the spread of this novel coronavirus. Longtime customers and new buyers alike were keeping Kelly and Jennifer busier than ever, driving all over the Mohawk Valley and beyond, to put their wholesome products in the hands of eager buyers. It was a little crazy and definitely stressful! Thankfully, the two ladies put their heads together and devised a plan: Why not take orders from their customers and schedule regular pick-ups together, at centrally located sites outdoors where goods could quickly and safely change hands? Parking lots became their locale of choice, and customers were happy to pop over for a quick pick-up. Kelly and Jennifer both created their farm websites where buyers could place their orders and pay at any time of the day or night. We had a similar experience here at Jones Family Farm. Customers were calling, emailing, and sometimes showing up on our doorstep, looking for foods they couldn’t find in the grocery store. We opened a small farm store in our new cheese plant and created a farm website to take orders. We bought a delivery van and hired a driver to do home deliveries. But something about Kelly and Jennifer’s elegant and efficient approach had me hooked. I joined them this past fall and we officially dubbed our little venture the “Farmer’s Park-It.” The response from all of our customers has been nothing short of wonderful. As much as we appreciate their support and purchases, customers seem to equally appreciate our efforts to not only feed them, but keep them safe until the pandemic is under control. “Please tell me you’re going to keep doing this!” “I love what you gals are doing, I can’t thank you enough!” and “I’m so grateful to you all; this is the only time I leave my house!” are phrases we hear each and every week. The cooperation between we farmers is revealing untold possibilities when we work together to solve problems in an elegant and meaningful way. By promoting one another, we’ve all seen an increase in sales. Because we know each other’s strengths and high quality, we are comfortable recommending each other’s products and are more responsive to customer needs. Customer word-of-mouth is bring-

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Located in Munnsville, Custom Woodcraft has been handcrafting wood furniture and designing beautiful cabinetry since 1979. You’re not just buying cabinets, you’re investing in a tradition.

ing us new buyers. We have invited a wonderful vegetable farm to join us (Kingfisher Farm in Sauquoit) and another farmer offering a wider range of proteins (Plumb Rocky Farm in West Winfield) to better serve our customers. Although this venture was born out of response to a pandemic, we are beginning to wonder where we will go from here. In this strange new world of ordering everything from Amazon, how will local food carve out a space to survive once COVID is defeated? In April of 2020, I wrote a piece for Mohawk Valley Living entitled, “Resiliency and Interdependence”. It was still very early in the pandemic, and we were all reeling from shortages and supply chain disruptions. I wrote something in that piece that I believe even more strongly today, “…diversity in farm size may have saved the day. Saving small farms is more than just maintaining open spaces and uplifting livelihoods of local families; it is a safeguard against the collapse of our food system” in periods of major upheaval. Local food producers, including all of us at the Farmer’s Park-It, have to face the fact that investors are pouring money into the likes of Amazon, Kroger, and Tyson. As much as each of us has pivoted to face the challenges of this past year, we have many more challenges ahead of us. Extraordinary times will continue to call for extraordinary measures and I cannot wait to tell you what we do next! • **The Farmer’s Park-It takes place every other Thursday, 3-3:30pm in the New Hartford Shopping Center parking lot, across from Peter’s Cornucopia. Orders must be placed and paid for ahead of time via each of the participating farmer’s websites: jones-family-farm. square.site

Suzie Jones and her husband, Peter, own Jones Family Farm in Herkimer. Together, with their children, they produce specialty goat cheeses and gelato. Find them at local farmers’ markets and online at www.anotherjonesfamilyfarm.com

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Mohawk Valley nature

The Spring Farm Beavers in 2020 part 2

story & photos by matt perry

Tippy feeds on willow leaves

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This is a continuation of last month’s article on the adventures of the Spring Farm CARES Nature Sanctuary Beavers in 2020. After discovering that Lucy, the runt of Tippy’s litter, had been injured, we decided to capture her and take her to be examined by Wildlife Rehabilitators and veterinarians. X-rays of her back legs and lower back revealed nothing conclusive, so cage rest and good nutrition were prescribed. We were convinced she would be able to return to the Beaver colony after a few days. On July 21st, we had her walk around on the grass to assess her locomotion. Sure enough, her walking had improved and there was no sign of a limp. She crawled around like a little bulldog over the lawn. Before releasing Lucy back to her pond, we painted two of her toenails with non-toxic waterproof nail polish so we would be able to recognize her from her siblings. Almost immediately, she bulldogged over to the water and set sail into the pond. It was then that I noticed her swimming did not look nearly as good as her walking. Her paddling was jerky and somewhat tenuous. She did manage to successfully dive and, presumably, she got through the lodge entrance. When Lucy didn’t come out the next day, I began second-guessing my decision to release her so soon. All seemed OK again when, on the afternoon of the 23rd, Lucy came out of the water and took treats from us at the shelter. Her movements both in and out of the water seemed stronger. However, the green polish on her front toenails had disappeared. After Lucy finished her carrot and sweet potato pieces, she joined her mother in the pond. All the new kits were in the pond feeding on willow leaves and there were a total of seven of them! I counted them about a dozen times to be sure. In 21 years of observing this colony, we have never had more than six kits in a litter. Quite often there have been less than six. That afternoon, we discovered that Tippy had gone over to Morton’s Pond and had spent the night. Perhaps she needed a break from her seven kits. Most of the yearlings were there as well. Tippy remained at the main pond (Morton’s Pond) for three days before returning to Julia’s Pond and her young kits. After August I never confirmed seven kits in the pond again. Most often, there would be no more than four or five. Was it possible that Lucy became injured again and remained in the lodge? There was no way to know for sure without busting into the lodge and we weren’t about to do that. She may have simply changed her schedule and shifted to a more nocturnal coming out time. Throughout the long history of our Beaver colony, we have had

Lucy and one of her litter mates

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many examples of individuals (or the entire colony) abruptly altering their emergence times. In the first week of August, we were seeing five of the new kits, a few yearlings, and Tippy at Julia’s Pond. One afternoon I watched one of the yearlings groom a new kit. The kit was reveling in it, rolling, turning upside-down, and stretching. The session went on for more than ten minutes. The next day, heavy rain produced moderate flooding, but all dams held, and little damage was incurred. On August 14th, GenLo was out at Julia’s Pond. We hadn’t seen him in some weeks. As usual, I initially mistook him for Tippy. After I realized it was him, I tried to tempt him over with a potato at the end of a ski pole, but he wasn’t having it, and grumpily swam over to the other side of the pond. The actual Tippy emerged a few minutes later and took her treat from my hand. Five of her young kits were out in the pond along with a recently returned yearling. A fair-sized Snapping Turtle was being seen in Julia’s Pond at this time. It submarined around looking for apple pieces and nipping at them from underwater. We’ve seen this behavior many times in the last several years, usually at Morton’s Pond. Snappers find apples irresistible. As was the case at Morton’s Pond, the Beavers, including the kits, showed no apprehension regarding the turtle. I recalled hearing about how Beavers at another sanctuary were seen physically taking a large Snapper by its shell and ferrying it to a distant part of their pond. In that case, the Beavers’ motivation was to stop the reptile from eating their apples. In the third week of September, Beavers started coming out quite early in the afternoon at both inhabited ponds, but their emergence times soon became unpredictable. While the yearlings were going back and forth between the ponds, Tippy was content to stay at Julia’s Pond. However, for some reason, she became timid and wouldn’t come out of the water to take food. I had to treat her like GenLo and toss a sweet potato to her from a distance. We hadn’t seen GenLo in a while but his nocturnal endeavors in the vicinity of Julia’s Pond were plain to see. He had taken down a young White Ash tree and had designs on a few others in a small grove just south of the pond. On September 18th, I saw the beginnings of an underwater food cache at Julia’s Pond. This meant the Beavers were planning on spending their winter confinement period at Julia’s Pond. It remained to be seen if any of the yearlings were going to overwinter at Morton’s Pond. By late September, we noticed the different cultures that developed at the two ponds – one early emerging and one late-emerging. Other than Tippy, all the other Beavers hadn’t been coming out until after dusk. Tippy was the nonconformist at Julia’s Pond, emerging early one day and late the next. As it happened, it took some days for the kits at Julia’s Pond to synchronize their emergence times with the newcomers. Meanwhile, Tippy was growing half shy again. She was coming out and

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swimming around the pond a few times and then going back into the lodge. She would come close to me several times only to push away again into deep water. She would eventually take something from me, but usually not until her third time out. I didn’t know what was making her anxious. The breeding season was still a few months off, so perhaps predators in the habitat were responsible for her mood. In the meantime, GenLo was staying up so late working on his projects that he was sometimes still on the job the next morning. In mid-October, the Beavers were still building their underwater food cache at Julia’s Pond. Work on the dam was taking place at Morton’s Pond, Sarah’s Pond, and most zealously at Julia’s Pond where most of the sanctuary’s Beaver power was concentrated. One afternoon I watched Tippy adding material to the dam at Julia’s Pond. This was notable since I’ve only rarely seen Tippy involve herself in dam maintenance. Work on the lodge and dam at Julia’s Pond was almost continuous. Presumably, GenLo was doing most of the heavy work in the overnight hours. By day, the younger colony members were seen beavering away at it. Every afternoon, Tippy was adding a few things to the dam while yearlings were walking armfuls of mud up the sides of the lodge. The lodge at Julia’s Pond was becoming an imposing structure – attaining at least twenty feet in length and five feet above the water at its highest peak. Mud and peeled branches were being applied to it every day. The food cache was located a few feet away from the northern face of the lodge where it would be easily accessible to the Beavers during the winter. At that point, we had nearly convinced ourselves that the entire colony was set on inhabiting Julia’s Pond for the winter. On October 16th, a Bobcat was seen a quarter-mile from the main ponds. Perhaps the presence of the wildcat was the reason the Beavers had recently become shy about coming near shore. It was unseasonably warm during the third week of October and Beaver work carried on with no abatement. I was still not seeing more than five of the young kits at the same time and so a full count continued to elude me. After a cold spell that marked the start of November and brought with it four inches of snow, we experienced another warm-up. On November 8th, GenLo was out in the afternoon puttering around the east side of the pond and then checking out a remote section of the dam. While he was there something got him riled up and he responded by slapping his tail on the water more than a dozen times. Two other Beavers were in the pond swimming during part of their father’s display, but they didn’t seem overly concerned about anything. It

Neako Hightower checks out the Beavers’ handiwork

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was possible that GenLo was upset about someone taking compost from a pile at the edge of the nearby meadow. GenLo never appreciates human activity taking place close to his ponds. Meanwhile, one of the yearlings took a few armfuls of mud and walked up the side of the lodge with it. Other yearlings and two kits collected the Aspen Branches I had brought and added them to the food cache. By November 12th, afternoons at Julia’s Pond had once again become lively with Beavers. Tippy was staying out for much of the mid-afternoon period. She had lost all trepidation and was coming out of the water to take treats in person. When she is particularly friendly, the first thing she does upon leaving the water is to give a couple of quick head shakes. I was once told by a fellow Beaver enthusiast that the head shake is the equivalent of Beaver laughter. Meanwhile, the yearlings at Julia’s Pond were interested in adding materials to the dam and lodge while the younger kits were more inclined to add branches to the food cache. On November 13th, the last big Quaking Aspen in the old grove finally came down. GenLo and his crew worked by night to strip it of branches and grow the food cache. The trunk of the Aspen was too thick to easily section and move so they feasted on the bark right where the tree fell. Back at the pond, one of the Muskrats tried a new tactic in stealing the Beaver’s Food. Instead of swimming circles around Beavers and trying to snap up their food before they can find it, this guy would approach a Beaver that already had food and, with no warning, would fling itself at a Beaver’s head. Surprised Beavers reacted to this stunt by dropping their food and executing an emergency dive. Nobody expects a flying Muskrat! Of course, then the crafty critter would swim back and claim the relinquished carrot or sweet potato. In past years I’ve seen Muskrats snatch food from feeding Beavers, but in more than twenty years of watching the two species interact, I’ve never seen this method of food theft. As far as I was concerned, this was an innovation. The same Muskrat was seen employing it at least 25 times and it proved to be successful 90 percent of the time. In response, I began giving the Muskrats, including the great tactician, their own treats. The outrageous self-hurling Muskrat

behavior ceased and was not observed again. The beaver ponds froze over on November 17th. It was the first time the younger kits had seen ice. A few of them came out of the lodge at 2:15 PM, which was early. They were like children experiencing the first snowfall of the season. They immediately set out to break up the ice; something An Osprey flies over the pond they instinctively know how to do. They were mainly using the bust-down method, which entails a Beaver climbing onto the ice with its front paws and busting It was all in good fun. By this time, Beavers had it down into the water. If the ice isn’t too thick, ceased visiting the main ponds and, as expected, this can be a very effective method to widen an the water levels there dropped. When Beavers ice hole or make a channel. Obviously, it’s easi- stop maintaining dams, they leak more, and their er for older, larger Beavers to do since they have water levels drop. greater weight to wield. In the third week of the At the start of the second week of December, month, temperatures oscillated between winter ice once again covered the ponds, and the Beaand early fall norms. One day we had iced-over vers deployed their crack team to deal with it. ponds and three inches of fresh snow and a cou- All the usual methods were used including batple of days later (the 20th) the temperature was tering the ice from underneath with their backs, 60 °F. Beaver activity at and around Julia’s Pond busting it down with their weight, biting it, and remained high. using their heads as torpedoes to bash up through The Beavers were still wandering widely it. The yearlings and new kits took their task around the meadow at night. Their logging trails seriously and by the end of the afternoon they and the pencil point stumps of small trees were had opened up nearly an eighth of the pond. On evidence of that. They were still stripping the December 17th, the temperature dipped into the bark off the unmovable trunk of the last Aspen teens and a storm deposited at least ten inches of and feeding on it right where it fell. Closer ex- snow. The ice on top of the Beaver Pond warmed amination revealed a pattern: A Beaver would and melted under the deep snow and transformed anchor their top incisors into the bark and then into a thick layer of slush. By the time I reached bite upwards with their lower incisors to pry out the pond in the afternoon, Beavers had already a long chip. They would then move a couple of made holes in it. Christmas Eve saw the arrival of inches down and do it again. The result was a a significant rainstorm. The rain and rapid snowstraight line of double punctures above a verti- melt combined to create flood conditions in the cal line of slashes that ran several feet down the region. Fortunately, we didn’t receive as much trunk. rain as predicted. The streams ran high, but the The first week of December was marked by Beaver dams including the one at Julia’s Pond all cold temperatures and some snowfall. Tippy be- held. A few days later, the temperatures plunged gan coming out at Julia’s Pond again after not again, and close to a foot of powdery snow fell. being seen for a week and a half. About five year- Beavers were coming out as normal through the lings and six young kits were out and about in the weather rollercoaster ride. A trail camera caught pond in the afternoons. One of the kits punched some of the Beavers’ nighttime antics, including a sweet potato out of my hand before taking it. a wrestling match between a couple of the young

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Lucy is examined by a vet

Beaver “hieroglyphics”

kits. They shoved each other to-and-fro for a few minutes while other Beavers fed on Aspen bark. The year ended with the entire Beaver colony living at Julia’s Pond. The colony includes the matriarch and patriarch: Tippy and GenLo; up to 6 yearlings and up to 7 young kits. We never did confirm Lucy’s presence again after July, but she may have kept a low profile for a few weeks after her release. By the time we saw her again, she may have grown and changed enough to be easily confused with her siblings. We at the Spring Farm CARES Nature Sanctuary thank all those that helped with diagnosing and rehabilitating Lucy. Thanks especially to Wildlife Rehabilitator, Judy Cusworth. Also, thanks to Rehabilitators, Deb Saltis and Sarah Bookbinder. Special thanks to Veterinarians, Dr. Cassandra Thomas and Dr. Paul Bookbinder. • Matt Perry is Conservation Director and resident naturalist at Spring Farm CARES in Clinton. He manages a 260 acre nature preserve which is open for tours by appointment. Matt is also regional editor of “The Kingbird”, which is a quarterly publication put out by the New York State Ornithological Association. Matt’s short nature videos can be viewed on the web. Look for Spring Farm CARES Nature Sanctuary on Facebook.

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Let’s Grow a Rainbow by Denise A. Szarek

Let’s Grow a Rainbow – or in other words, an Immunity Garden! The veggies you buy at the grocery store are often harvested weeks and months before they show up on store shelves. This is so they will travel well and have a longer shelf life. The fresher the veggie, the higher the nutrient levels. Picking fresh veggies as you go provides optimum nutrition. In 2021, the importance of well-being and a healthy immune system will be more top-of-mind than ever. And the more colors on our plate, the better off you’ll be. Planting a garden full of vibrant vegetables fosters a diverse diet loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that support your immune system, while a dazzling medley of squash, radishes, and tomatoes adds appetizing eye candy to your garden and your salad bowl. The colors of your vegetables reflect the different phytonutrients and antioxidants inside. That’s why multi-hued meals give you more health benefits and disease-fighting power than monochromatic ones. Try growing the following nutrient-rich veggies - to color your 2021 diet. Broccoli Packed with Vitamins A, C & E, this cool-weather veggie can be directly seeded in the Garden up to 5 weeks before the last frost. It loves a sunny spot and will be ready to harvest within 6-8 weeks. Garlic Garlic truly is a superfood! It enhances our recipes with savory flavor and its nutrient value makes it one of the most powerful immune-boosting veggies in your garden. Plant cloves in fall, for a harvest of garlic scapes in spring and fresh garlic in early summer. Spinach The delicate leaves of spinach contain antioxidants and beta carotene, needed to build immunity and fight infections. Also considered a cool-weather veggie, it can be started in the garden in early spring. Cabbage Cabbage is high in Vitamin C and an incredible vegetable for balancing our gut health when fermented, as in sauerkraut. Did you know 70% of our immune cells live in our gut? Pick a spot with full sun and plant in early spring for summer harvest. Cabbage is what I call a “twofer” veggie.

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Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place 1st five ingredients on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil and salt, toss to coat. Roast veggies for 30-35 minutes or until golden and tender. Let cool. Place roasted veggies, cumin, and broth in a blender, and blend until smooth. Pour into a saucepan over medium-low heat, to rewarm, add chard leaves. When leaves are wilted and soup is warm, serve in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and garnish with pumpkin seeds. Enjoy!

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Tim and daughter, Becky

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

We are staying at Shawangunk all winter for the first time in twenty-one years instead of spending it in our cute little 1977 12ft. camper in Florida. We miss the majesty and infinity of aqua blue and greens of the ocean, but now have fathomless shades of crystalline white and ephemeral blue of snow and ice, and the ruddy glow in our cheeks now comes from frosty rime instead of burning sun. We’re rediscovering the sensuous emerald depths of evergreens, and beauteous shapeshifting of snow outside our windows. Fortunately, we don’t have to shower outside anymore, as we did the first ten years we lived here, but we still don’t have running water in the house. (Although it runs serenely under the ice in our stream.) Tim chops a hole through the ice, then brings it in with a bucket. Around 3pm he often asks; “Do you want me to put the shower water on the woodstove?” “Not until after supper,” I reply. I object to having to lift it off the stove every time we want to put more wood in. Bedtime finally draws near, and I ask;

“How’s the shower water?” becheck the thickness of ice cause the cat is in my lap and I don’t on our new ice rink want to get up and disturb our amiable comfort. Tim leans forward in his chair, dips his fingers in, and announces; “It’s almost the temperature you like. Here, feel it.” He then lifts off the 2-1/2 gallon garden sprinkling can weighing about 20 pounds and offers it to me to test. “OK, let’s give it a couple more minutes,” I determine. “I like a hot shower.” More often though, it’s already times scorching, and we have to mess around, leaping down to pouring hot and cold water back and forth lick water off my ankles, but I hurry by until it feels right. and climb into the loft to dry in sauna-like heat. Tim always offers to hang it up for me, and Tim always adds a little cold water. I scrub I say ok, but then he starts doing his exercises. his back for him, then Little Behr and I are enSince I don’t want to wait, I hang it myself. Be- tertained by the gyrations of the sprinkling can sides, I like feeling independent and still strong bouncing around as Tim concludes his shower, enough to lift 20 pounds over my head to hang aiming the showerhead this way and that, up, it on the big hook. I reluctantly step onto the down, and all-around “clackity, clackity.” It frigid floor of our shower stall with bare feet looks like it could be a strange mating dance and immediately counteract it with deliciously by a garden water spirit. hot (sometimes too hot!) water pouring out of He charges out of the shower stall with the sprinkler can when I tilt it down. Get wet, water dripping from his beard as he dries off, soap and scrub up, rinse off. Simple! I duck then stands very straight and flexes his muscles under the can and reach out for a towel. Our for me; “Can you still see my stomach musnew kitty, Little Behr, is sitting on the bed two cles?” he asks. “Yes, Tim,” I reply, giving him feet away, reaching out to play with me, some- a friendly glance. But I’m more interested in

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crawling under the warm covers and doing some reading before finally snuggling beside him for a long winter’s night under homemade quilts. If we’re lucky, the fire in the stove will last until we can feed it again when we wake during the night. Often, there are only coals left, and we sit in the cold blowing on the embers until the friendly flash and crackle of cheery yellow flames begin, so we can close Tim and his steady girlfriend practice the door and dampers, letting it burn slowly and some smooching in the 1950s steadily until morning. We try to get out each day for a long walk, or snowshoeing, and are experimenting with constructing an ice rink. With many beaver ponds so near, we considered simply clearing off some space on one, but decided it’s too risky. So, we bought a huge tarp (30’ x 50’) and spread it on somewhat level ground with the sides resting on shoveled up snow mounds by our children’s guest house. It took about 10 hours to fill with water from their well. As of this writing, we’re waiting to be sure it’s completely frozen before skating on it, but it’s looking grand. Like all of you, we are managing the best we can during the present world crises, trying to keep our health and spirits up. Such events often have momentous effects on our lives, as do the choices and decisions we make in the pursuit of love and a life-mate. Late in 1942, during WWII, my parents had only been married for a few months before my father was sent to Memphis, TN for special Naval training. Thinking he’d have little free time, Mom decided to stay at her job at Utica Mutual. But he was extremely disappointed that she wouldn’t be joining him. His letters (twice daily) to her were quite amorous until this last one. He wrote; “So you don’t think my liberty will make it worthwhile for you to come down. I don’t blame you for not wanting to come. If you ever change your mind though, let me know because I’ll be waiting. I guess you’d be pretty bored most of the time. Goodnight Betty, and Yes! I do. Roland In the margins he added; “ I’m blue tonight” My mom’s heart must have melted when she read that little side note because soon after, she joined him in Memphis. She never expressed any regret, and always spoke of that time with great affection. Tim’s romantic tribulations began in kindergarten. He was resting in the cloakroom during nap time, and pretty little Katie Beckwith, a particularly petite (19 pounds!) classmate whom he considered to be his girlfriend, was sent to wake him up. Feeling amorous, Timmy gave her a good kiss. Being an unwilling recipient, she cried and told their teacher, Miss Tilton, so Timmy had to stand in the corner. This may be in the genes, because our daughter, Rebekah, also got in trouble for kissing a reluctant recipient in elementary school. Tim’s mother seems to have had better luck, as she was selected to be a Valentine Cupid when she was only 5 in 1921. My amorous elementary school inclinations extended only to giving Valentines. In1961 (age 13), I wrote in my diary; “Gene wasn’t there so I couldn’t give him his Valentine. The other boys made fun of it.”

My first “date” was at about the age of 15 or 16 with the son of our church organist. I’d never met him, so she and Mom must have come up with this brilliant idea since we were about the same age. I accompanied him and his parents to their Adirondack cottage. Along the way, I remember having this crazy thought flash through my mind! “Hmmm, they must have money if they have a camp in the Adirondacks, so I suppose I should marry this guy.” The thought horrified me! I didn’t enjoy myself and never saw him again. A n d understanding the difference between kissing Grandpa and kissing a date mystified me. (I should have been in Tim’s class!) Tim’s mom was a I had to Valentine Cupid watch for in 1921 kisses on

TV or in magazine pictures, to learn how romantic kissing is supposed to be done. Then I’d practice by kissing myself in the mirror. If I’d grown up in the 1880s, I might have Author and artist Edna Teall wrote Ms. Teall’s depiction of a church had plenty of of kissing games in the 1889s social during the 1880s in the ADKs experience. According to Edna West Teall in her interesting and charming book; “Adirondack ter midnight. “…the boys stepped right up and Tales” put their arms around you and usually smacked “…I, a well-brought-up girl of a conserva- good and proper. Occasionally there…was tive family – and undoubtedly my mother be- some extra time added, but the kisser was likefore me – thought nothing of receiving fifteen ly to be teased a little for his technique.” or twenty osculations (kisses) from a dozen “Three Little Maids” was one of the popdifferent masculines between any sunset and ular games then. Three girls, or boys, stood in sunrise. It was considered quite proper…and the center of a circle while the rest sang this was done, so to speak, mostly in the public song, and marched around, holding hands. eye…. At the end of the tune, the three in the middle She explains that it was the custom at a would choose a partner from the circle. They’d church “sociable” for young unmarried folks kiss, change places, and the song would begin to play kissing games throughout the evening, again. with the endorsement of adults, and any fairly When there wasn’t space for this, they might popular girl might be kissed every five or ten play; “Crying In The Corner For A Wife.” A minutes during “ring plays” from eight ‘til af- boy or girl would be set in a corner to noisily C

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for your face shape. My turn came. She said to me; “You have a long, oval face.” And from then on, I thought I looked like a horse. In his teens, Tim was vivacious and had lots more kissing practice than I. One of his female classmates was Our children were greatly taller than most of the boys, but that amused when Tim explained was easily addressed. A friend’s reproduction basement room where the kids often congregated had a saggy spot on an old couch where the springs pre- had collapsed. She could sit in this depression, tend grief. making it more comfortable for lips to meet at Girl after girl or boy after the same level. boy was brought to them…but he or she Tim always had a girlfriend. The school pawould continue to weep until the one came per reported in 1950: “Mary Stevens and Tim whom he/she favored and kissed. Then they’d Behrendt (age 13) have taken the step.” (going change places. steady) Perhaps having girlfriends made up for During adolescence, I became more the physical confrontations (almost daily) that self-conscious of my appearance. Boys took many boys had to enter into to establish domiShop Class where they learned how to build nance and pecking orders. and repair things. Girls took Home Economics While young fellows were dealing with where we learned how to measure food, follow physical confrontations, we young gals were recipes, sew, and talk about childcare. One day, dealing with menstruation, training bras, and we lined up and one by one and our teacher stockings. When I saw female classmates havgently took our faces in her hands and told us ing a clandestine conference over a tiny calenwhat shape it was; pear shape, heart shape, dar with dates marked off, I innocently asked; round… I think this was considered important “What are you looking at?” “If you don’t because in lady’s magazines you’d sometimes know, we’re not going to tell you” was the putsee an article recommending the best hairstyle off accompanied by rolled eyes, making me

feel rather dumb. Wearing a bra made me feel even more like a horse in a harness. Then there were stockings, with tight girdles and garters! I felt very grown-up the first day I wore stockings to school until I realized that sitting on garters all day is torture, and high heeled, dress shoes with pointed toes compounded the pain! Adults generally didn’t explain sex and romance to children when we were growing up. Consequently, as an enlightened (although embarrassed) parent, Tim explained reproduction to our children at a very early age. “You and Mommy do that!?” they exclaimed in amused astonishment, and actually rolled on the floor laughing. They also thought he was kidding when he explained that they were living on a great round ball called Earth. Knowing the “facts of life,” didn’t seem to have any detrimental effect on them, but likely saved them from much of the misunderstanding, confusion, and mistakes we suffered. We highly recommend it. • 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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Advertiser Directory please support Our sponsors, they make this magazine possible Antiques Antiques & Art Westmoreland . . . . . . . . . 17 Attic Addicts, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Black Cat Antiques, Earlville . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Broad St. Flea Market, Utica . . . . . . . . . 18 The Bull Farm Antiques, Vernon . . . . . . 18 Dawn Marie’s, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Foothills Mercantile, Barneveld . . . . . . . 18 Little Falls Antique Center, Little Falls . . . 18 Madison Inn Antiques, Madison . . . . . . 18 Mohawk Antiques Mall, Mohawk . . . . . . . 18 Mohawk Valley Community Market, Herkimer . . . 19 The Online Exchange, Dolgeville . . . . . . . . . 19 The Potting Shed Antiques, Whitesboro . . . 19 See the Man Antiques & Collectibles, Sherburne . . 19 Showcase Antiques, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . 19 Victorian Rose, Bouckville . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Weeden’s Mini Mall, Camden . . . . . . . . 19 Whistle Post Antiques, Bouckville . . . . . . . 19 Antique Auctioneers Nye & Company Auctioneers . . . . . . . . . . 18 Art Galleries/Museums Fusion Art Gallery, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Art and Custom Framing Fusion Art Gallery, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Heartwood Gift Barn, Sherburne . . . . . . . . . . 29 Auto Dealerships Steet-Ponte Auto Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Automotive Repair Clinton Collision, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Precision Unlimited, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Entertainment & Events Town of Webb Visitors Center, Old Forge . . . . . . 3

Candy So Sweet Candy Cafe, Utica . . . . . . . . . . 20

Estate Sales Attic Addicts, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 The Potting Shed Antiques, Whitesboro . . . . . . 19

Catering Club Monarch, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 RoSo’s Cafe & Catering, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Willie’s The Original Bagel Cafe, Utica . . . . . . 16

Farm Equipment Clinton Tractor, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Hobby Hill Farm Sales, Rome . . . . . . . . . . 29 White’s Farm Supply, Waterville/Canastota . . . . . . 48

CBD Products RAW ADK, Barneveld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Utica Hemp, New Hartford, Utica . . . . . . . . 32

Farm Markets Cooperstown Farmers Market . . . . . . . . . . 6 Horn’s Family Farm, Remsen . . . . . . . . . . 8

Cheese Grassy Cow Dairy, Remsen . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Jewett’s Cheese, Earlville . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Jones Family Farm, Herkimer . . . . . . . . . 33 Stoltzfus Family Dairy, Vernon Center . . . . . . . . 9

Financial Services Van Meter & Van Meter, Little Falls . . . . . . . 25

Clothing Paca Gardens, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Queen’s Closet, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . 17

Funeral Services Prince-Boyd & Hyatt, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Comics and Collectibles Ravenswood Comics, New Hartford. . . . . . . . . 25 Consignment The Online Exchange, Dolgeville . . . . . . . . . 19 The Queen’s Closet, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Renewed & Rescued, Herkimer . . . . . . . . . . 19 Contractors Ed Smith Contractor and Handyman . . . . . . . . . 38

Awards & Engraving Speedy Awards, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . 31

Convenience Shops Stewart’s Shops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Bakeries and Pastry Shops Karam’s Middle East Bakery, Yorkville . . . . . 16 Ramon’s Bakery, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Star Bakery, Whitesboro and Utica . . . . . . . 33 Wicked Sweets, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Delis and Meats Bosonne’s Sausage, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Little Italy Imports, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Olde Kountry Market, Vernon . . . . . . . . . . 34 Pulaski Meat Market, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Bike Shops Dick’s Wheel Shop, Herkimer . . . . . . . . . . 8

Diners Charlie’s Place, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Sheri’s Diner, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Wendy’s Diner, Cassville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Books Berry Hill Book Shop, Deansboro . . . . . . . 6 Treehouse Reading Room, New York Mills . . . . 7

Cabinets and Kitchens Custom Woodcraft, Munnsville . . . . . . . . . 30 Knotty By Nature, Bridgewater . . . . . . . . . 21

Dog Sitting Barney’s Angels, Frankfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Flooring Mike’s Floor Store, Whitesboro . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Furniture Ironwood Furniture, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Jeff ’s Amish Furniture, Richfield Springs . . . . . . . . 36 Furniture Makers Custom Woodcraft, Munnsville . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Garden Center and Greenhouses Szarek’s Succulent Shack, Clinton . . . . . . . . . 38 General Contractors Ed Smith Contractor and Handyman . . . . . . . . . 38 Gift Shops/Shopping Artisans’ Corner, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Between Us Sisters, Munnsville . . . . . . . . . 20 Fusion Art Gallery, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Krizia Martin, Clinton Rome . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Full Moon Reflections, Camden . . . . . . . 22 Main Street Gift Shoppe, Newport . . . . . . . 19 Grocery Stores, Co-ops, and Convenience Stores Deansboro Superette, Deansboro . . . . . . . . . 26 Little Italy Imports, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Olde Kountry Market, Vernon . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Richfield Springs Community Food Cooperative . . . . . 8

Serving Rome & Utica Since 1946

Handyman/Repairs Ed Smith Contractor and Handyman . . . . . . . . . 38 Hardware/Lumber/Farm & Home Lincoln Davies, Sauquoit . . . . . . Morgan’s Hardware, Waterville . . Turner Lumber, Barneveld . . . . Wightman Specialty Woods . . . . .

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36 21 37 35

Hearth Shops and Fuel Buell Fuel Hearth & Home, Deansboro . . . . . . . . . . 42 Insurance Farm Family Insurance, Boonville . . . . . . . . 33 Gates-Cole Insurance, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . 42 HBE Group, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Turnbull Insurance, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . 21 Interior Design/Custom Window Treatments The Added Touch Drapery, New Hartford . . . . . . 33

Jewelry Alison’s Jewelry & Repair, Utica . . . . . . . . . 7 Freeman & Foote Jewelers, Utica . . . . . . . . . 40 Goldmine Jewelers, New Hartford . . . . . . . . 31 Lawn Mowers, Leaf, and Snow Blowers SD Power, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Lighting Mills Electrical Supply, Rome . . . . . . . . . . 26 Liquor Stores and Wine Ilion Wine & Spirits, Ilion . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Prospect Falls Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Trenton Station Liquor & Wine, Barneveld . . . . 38 Maple Syrup Ben & Judy’s Sugarhouse, West Edmeston . . . . 43 Shaw’s Maple Products, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . 6 Tibbits Maple, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . 35 Meats (See Delis) Media 92.7 The Drive WXUR, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . 43 FOX33/WUTR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 WKAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Weekly Adirondack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Monuments & Memorials Yorkville Memorials, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Musical Instrument Sales, Rentals, Lessons Big Apple Music, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . 21

WKAL

TALKRADIO 1450

Ironwork Raulli’s Iron Works, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Natural Food Stores Cooperstown Naturals, Cooperstown . . . . . . . . 12 Peter’s Cornucopia, New Hartford . . . . . . . . 41 Non-Profits and Social Service The House of the Good Shepherd, Utica . . . . . . . . 11

sponsor news

Optometrists Towpath Vision Care, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . 23 Paint and Painting Supplies Urbanik’s Paint & Wallpaper Co., Utica . . . . . . . 36 Physical Therapy Inertia PT, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Pizzerias DiCastro’s Brick Oven, Rome . . . . . . . . . . 15 Primo Pizzeria, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Tony’s Pizza, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Portable Toilets and Bathrooms Mohawk Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Primitives Between Us Sisters, Munnsville . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Main Street Gift Shoppe, Newport . . . . . . . . 19 Produce, Local Ben & Judy’s Sugarhouse, West Edmeston . . Grassy Cow Dairy, Remsen . . . . . . . Jewett’s Cheese, Earlville . . . . . . . . . Jones Family Farm, Herkimer . . . . . Shaw’s Maple Products, Clinton . . . . . Stoltzfus Family Dairy, Vernon Center . . Tibbits Maple, New Hartford . . . . . .

Executive Director Christopher Connolly

Assistant Director, Elaina Rose

Herkimer County Historical Society News The Herkimer County Historical Society welcomes New Executive Director, Christopher Connolly and new Assistant Director, Elaina Rose. Connolly is a former teacher and business owner at Ole Sal’s Cafe and Creamery in Little Falls. Rose has a degree in Visual Arts with a concentration in Art History. She is excited to move back to Herkimer County. Her future plans are to start working on her Masters in Museum Studies.

. . . . . 43 . . . . 27 . . . . 22 . . . . 33 . . . . . 6 . . . . . 9 . . . . 35

Quilt and Yarn Shops/Services Tiger Lily Quilt Co, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Record Stores Off Center Records, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Restaurants and Cafés Ann St. Deli, Little Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Club Monarch, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . DiCastro’s Brick Oven, Rome . . . . . . . . . Gone Coastal, Lee Center . . . . . . . . . . . Karam’s Middle East Bakery, Yorkville . . . . Killabrew, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . Main Street Ristorante, Newport . . . . . . . . Nola’s Restaurant, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . Ohio Tavern, Cold Brook . . . . . . . . . . . Patio Drive-In, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phoenician Restaurant, New Hartford . . . . . . RoSo’s Cafe & Catering, Utica . . . . . . . . . . Route 69 Steakhouse, Whitesboro . . . . . . . . Sammy & Annie Foods, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . Tailor and Cook, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . .

15 11 15 15 16 15 19 14 14 15 15 15 16 15 16

Volunteer Kathy Huxtable; Volunteer Resource and Fund Coordinator, Russeen Young; and Volunteer Linda Pratt research for a client at the Resource Library at 406 North Main Street in Herkimer.

Berry Hill Closed in January Book Shop Over 75,000 used books!

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Wendy’s Diner, Cassville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Willie’s The Original Bagel Cafe, Utica . . . . . . 16 The Willows, Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Shoes Karaz Shoes, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Sneaker Store, New Hartford . . . . . . . . . . 34 Signs, Handcrafted Whistle Post Creations, Bouckville . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Snowmobiles/ATVs Hobby Hill Farm, Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Tile and Masonry Yoder Tile & Masonry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Towing Services Clinton Collision, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Tree Services and Tree Farms Rick Turk Tree Service, Rome . . . . . . . . . . 43 Weddings and Banquets Club Monarch, Yorkville . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Answer to last month’s Riddle about These Utica Pros:

Basketball Players

The Utica Pros was an American basketball team that was a member of the American Basketball League in 1950-51

Winner: Isabelle Malysa of Cassville

Wineries Prospect Falls Winery, Prospect . . . . . . . . . 38 Yogurt Stoltzfus Family Dairy, Vernon Center . . . . . . . 9

last month’s crossword solution

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

Complete Collision and Mechanical Repair Since 1987 Answer to last month’s puzzle about what 2020 is: Hindsight Our winner of last month’s crossword: Pat Carchedi of Sauquoit

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Mohawk Valley Living 87 February 2021

Articles inside

ADK Journal

On The Farm with Suzie

MV Crossword

MV Astronomy Club

Contest Answers

February in Nature

Local Photo Club