A Great Loss

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Villagers were the first to know, but now word is spreading throughout Central New York and beyond of the sudden death, on Tuesday, of Watervillian and famed watercolorist W. Ralph Murray.



He was a most accomplished artist and sought-after instructor, but he wore his great talents and enormous popularity in a cloak of kindness, generosity and humility.

He will be greatly missed by a great many.

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It's Garbage Day

59 degrees - showery.

WKTV's forecast: "An area of low pressure passing to the north of Central New York will draw in warm, humid air today, along with showers and thunderstorms.

A mild, wet start to the day. Clouds and showers passed through early this morning, and we expect more showers and storms are we head into the day today. Some storms may be capable of producing gusty winds and small hail. In between those storms, expect mostly cloudy skies and humid weather, with highs in the low 80s.

Thunderstorm activity is expected to die down this evening. Mostly cloudy tonight, with overnight lows in the upper 50s.

More showers and storms on Friday as a cold front stalls near the area.

As we head into the weekend, an area of low pressure is expected to develop along a stalled frontal boundary. This storm is expected to cross through the northeast Saturday, likely giving us a period of rain. The storm exits by Sunday, with a few leftover showers. Drying out, but staying on the humid side as we head into next week."

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Not completely trusting in Nature to provide, Fr. Tom Servatius - supervised by Erwin Browne - waters the front porch "garden" at the St. Bernard's rectory.

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There was some excitement at The Waterville Times, yesterday, when a swarm of bees moved into a young linden tree in front of the Times' office. Such was the buzzing activity there, for a few hours, that the DPW were summoned to block off the area to prevent pedestrian conflict with the small creatures.

This was as close to the tree as I was inclined to get, but watch next week's issue of The Times for a photograph of the bees and their rapidly-constructed nest taken by fearless Kristi Kosmoski who actually took an office chair out to the sidewalk and stood on it, nearly amongst the branches, "to get a better look" (and some good pictures, too!)

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In the Park at the Farmers' Market, Mary's girls picked out crunchy, healthy items at the Longview Farms tables ......................

............ while other shoppers (and I) gave serious consideration to which of the
"Pammyakes" goodies would taste the best ...........

Cute cap, at "Sonshine."

.......... Mary ponders another wonderful selection offered by "the plant lady."

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The Car Wash Sign

The wonderful new sign at "Louie's."

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I love the blossoms on this crop, growing next to Lewis Road, but I don't know what it is! Do you?

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Baseball games will resume tomorrow night.

Have a good day, everyone.