Thursday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY

to Dean Eisenhut's cousin,

KELLEY SWARTHOUT

visiting professor of Spanish

at Colgate University

and guest at the home of her grandmother, Heddy Eisenhut.


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It's Garbage Day!
28 degrees;

Two or three inches of snow have fallen overnight, but there's no precipitation right now.

WKTV predicts that: "On Thursday,( a ) lake band will drop southward further through Oneida and Herkimer Counties and into the Mohawk Valley. Again, heavy snow is likely within the lake band. Outside of it, there will be a couple periods of snow tonight and tomorrow, depositing perhaps up to an inch or so each time they develop. It will be chilly, but not too cold and breezy. Sporadic power outages are possible tonight where ice is still caked on powerlines. Into Thursday, here's our snowfall forecast for the day:



Lake snow will settle south of the Mohawk Valley tomorrow night, with additional accumulation possible. The bottom line for the next 24-36 hours: Occasional snow, with locally heavier snow underneath the lake bands.
It will turn much colder Thursday night and Friday, with lows from zero to the low teens and highs Friday only in the upper teens. Our next storm arrives Saturday."

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I've just received a "Hello and Thank You" Email from Ken McConnell, writing from his home in Wesley Chapel, Florida.

(Thanks, Ken!)

In a Happy New Year's note from Les Risley, who is enjoying LOOKING at our snow, this bit of "It's a Small World" News:

"Had an interesting talk on airplane yesterday... on way from Philly to Tampa. Couple had come from Syracuse , changed planes and were headed to Brooksville. It (after talking) was the former Jean Eastman that lived on Babbott Ave. Her mother ran nursing home. So, she knew where I lived and had graduated with Dan Condon so she knew Gil, Bernie etc. Small world, isn't it? She and her husband John Meyers will be married 60 years next September."

(That's neat, Les! Thanks for writing!)

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Although Routes 12 and 20 and 315 were nearly bare, yesterday, all of the side- and back roads were very rough and ice-covered.

Parking lots posed a particular problem for shoppers, who "stutter-stepped" down grades to keep from having their feet go out from under them!

There was just a tiny fraction of an inch of ice on twigs on Austin Road .........

.... but ice ......



........and rime coated bushes and trees at the top of Shanley Road at Paris Hill.

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Small picture;

GREAT BIG GOOD NEWS!

Mayor Jim Younes telephoned me, yesterday afternoon, to tell me that he and his wife, Maryanne, have indeed purchased the former "Hap's" building and that they will open a

DINER

ON FEBRUARY 8 OR 15!

They plan on being open Monday through Saturday from 6 - 2:00

and Sunday from 7 to noon.

And what will the diner be called?


"THE VILLAGE DINER"

(of course!)

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Not such Great News!

(but right across the road, at Fallon's Sangerfield Auto & Tire
- a full-service gas station -
gasoline was priced at 3 cents less, per gallon.)

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DRIVE CAREFULLY, EVERYONE

and have a great day!

Early Wednesday

It's Recyclables Day!

27.5 degrees at 5:50

Strange Weather!

Here's the link to the WIBX School Closings list:

just up, at 6:07

WATERVILLE CLOSED

The headline on today's Observer-Dispatch reads: "Slippery Roads ahead: Morning Storm Expected."

From WKTV, as of Tuesday evening: "South of Route 20: Snow tonight, mixing with sleet by Midnight. Becoming all sleet and freezing rain overnight. A couple inches of snow and sleet possible, followed by some light to moderate icing. Freezing rain will continue into the morning and early afternoon. Temperature and daylight may limit ice accumulation on some roadways, but ice should build up on trees and powerlines, perhaps in excess of 1/2" in spots, before transitioning back to snow after dark.
Between Route 20 and I-90: Snow tonight, mixing with sleet just after Midnight. Precipitation will become mainly sleet and freezing rain later in the overnight. Sleet and freezing rain will continue through the morning and early afternoon. Temperatures may briefly warm above freezing during the early-mid afternoon. Ice buildup will continue on trees and powerlines, as well as some roadways, and could reach as much as 1/2". Precipitation will transition back to snow and some plain rain after dark."

Midnight update:
Snow has moved into the region. To the south snow is beginning to mix with sleet and even freezing rain. That mix will spread north through the night and most folks should see a mix by 3-4 AM, except the Tug Hill and Adirondacks. Snow accumulation by daybreak should be a coating to 2" south of the Mohawk Valley. And perhaps 2-4" elsewhere, with isolated higher amounts possible north of the Mohawk Valley. Ice accretion should be 1/10" to 1/4" in most areas, with slightly higher amounts possible south of I-90. Temperatures should remain steady or rise a few degrees.

Here's the link to the WKTV "School Closings" list.

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Despite the cold, Tom climbed the ladder to change the sign!

It was still icy-crunchy under foot, yesterday, but the sidewalk was clean in front of Morgan's and the sidewalk display was in place!

Afternoon runners were out in force!

Something's happening, and

I'm just waiting for confirmation!

It appears that ALL of the units at the Pumilia Townhouses on Madison Street have been spoken for and more people are investing in the future of Waterville!

This Sanger Avenue building, damaged by fire last year, is being renovated by its new owner, Mr. Wayne Brouillette.

Extensive refurbishments are also under way at this residence on Madison Street.

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I happened to be on Osborn Avenue, yesterday afternoon, when a train came through.
Whistles sounded, bells rang and gates came down.

I couldn't help but think that a train coming through Waterville 100 years ago would have stopped at the depot.

I'm sure that many of you have read the account of the arrival, in 1867, of the very first train to come to Waterville - but if you haven't or if you're curious about what it took to feed the 10,000 guests, click here!

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PLANNING AHEAD

PAM HOWARD CAMP BENEFIT
at Stinkers Tavern 118 W. Main Street, Waterville.

JANUARY 11, 2009 - NOON TIL 5PM

Pam is a life-long resident of Waterville. She was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and is currently undergoing costly treatments. As her friends, we would like to help this family with some of the costs involved.

Please come join us at the benefit.

$15 DONATION

Food, drinks, raffles, Chinese auction, door prizes and more…..
Any donation for a Chinese auction can be dropped off at Stinker’s Tavern from 4-7pm weekdays.

If interested in making a monetary donation, please make checks payable to:

Carol Camp, 7 Tyler Road, Waterville, NY 13480

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FOR THE RECORD


("It's the war in Israel," I was told.)

**********************

Val Schenk guessed what was going to happen at Key West

on Saturday!

Best Wishes, Mark!



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More later.........

In the meantime ---- drive carefully, and

Have a Good Day!

Tuesday

The Epiphany



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News spread rapidly around town, yesterday, of the sudden - and most untimely - death of Rebecca S. (Gorton) Fleming, whose Obituary appears in today's issue of the Observer-Dispatch.

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BIG TRASH DAY!
It's 10.8 degrees and starry-clear.

WKTV's forecast: "Most of Tuesday will be quiet, with partly cloudy conditions. High clouds will lower and thicken as the day progresses. This is out ahead of an extremely complex storm that will pass through Wednesday. We're actually going to be dealing with two storms. The first will track into Western New York...the primary storm. The secondary storm will be a coastal low that forms to our east. Getting caught between those two systems poses forecasting problems.
The first question will be how much snow we see in advance of the first storm. We expect snow to arrive here around Midnight tomorrow night. The snow may start earlier south of Route 20, as dry air will slow the advance of it further north. The snow may begin later in the Adirondacks. Snow may pick up steady to heavy at times overnight into the morning commute Wednesday. The duration of this heavier snow may be a bit short lived though.
As the transfer of some energy from the main storm to the secondary storm takes place, a lull will occur. At the same time, warmer air will filter in a few thousand feet up. This will allow the snow to mix with and change to either sleet or freezing drizzle. Backlash snows will kick in behind the storm for late in the afternoon Wednesday and early Wednesday evening."

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It seemed to be extremely quiet in the village, yesterday. Perhaps that was because - although it was sunny, and not too cold - sidewalks and parking lots all had a tricky surface of very slippery hard-packed snow and ice!

Icy sheen at Hubbard's Corners.

There was more activity on the snomobile trails, which now seem to cross every field in every direction!

One image that I'm NOT seeing is that of tracks made by X-C Skis!

Pictures of skiers, anyone?

Sunset from the CVS parking lot.

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I confess that I'm getting bored with "snow pictures!"

I kept remembering some shots that I'd taken two years ago today - on January 6, 2007 - which, 'tho not a day of national historical importance, can be remembered because ..............

in Waterville the temperature reached 60 degrees!

Dolly, Nancy and Lynn were out running ...........

............ and I found this pansy in my front yard!!

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It snowed a few days after that, and I posted this series of Bird Photographs, which I'll do again, for their benefit.

Here are some of the varieties of birds that were at my feeders, yesterday.

Except for the last, the photos are all from "Google Images."

Cardinals,

chickadees,









tufted titmous(es) - or is it "titmice"?











house finch,











juncos,












mourning doves,










and my fairly rare pair of Carolina Wrens.

The greediest is this red-bellied woodpecker. He'll work on a block of suet 'til it's nearly gone!

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Out in the cornfields, watch for wild turkeys and flocks of little Snow Buntings: you won't see them until they all fly off, flashing their white wings!

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LOOKING AHEAD?

On that very sunny day, last week, when I looked to see if Fr. Tom was out on his front porch pondering the design of his Summertime Garden, he was actually at "Longwood Gardens,"


enjoying the Christmas Displays, there, and pondering Christmas '09 Displays at St. Bernard's!


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FOR THE RECORD

UNCHANGED

Have a Good Day, Everyone!

Monday w/ correction

It's Garbage Day!

It's 30.7 degrees;
overcast, but no precipitation.

Several school in northern Oneida County are on a one-hour delay,

Waterville is NOW on the list.

(as of 7:17.)

WKTV's forecast: "Light freezing rain will continue into the morning hours (on Monday) before ending by noon. Some lake effect will develop towards Monday evening across the north country. There will be accumulating snow across the Tug Hill, Northern Oneida, and Northern Herkimer County tomorrow night.
It stays cold throughout the week, with some sunshine on Tuesday. Our next storm moves in Tuesday night and into Wednesday. This storm will likely be primarily snow, but the latest indications are that some sleet may mix in at times, especially south and east of Utica. Cold air and lake effect will follow behind this storm on Thursday and may last into Friday. "

VILLAGE BOARD MEETING

tonight at 7:00 at the Municipal Hall.


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On Saturday, more than a dozen vehicles were parked along the roadside and in the yard at the site of the newest Habitat Home, on Gridley-Paige Road.


(Click the image for information about the project.)

It is hoped that the Clarks and their two children will be able to move into their new home on February 1st, or very soon thereafter!

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Mr. and Mrs. Dale Meszler, of Sanger Avenue, visited with Governor and Mrs. Paterson during the annual Open House at the Governor's Mansion in Albany on New Year's Day.

Ms. Debbie Clingenpeel of Jacksonville, Florida, was a guest at the home of her sister, Missy Brouillette, and her family on Barton Avenue last week. She had come to celebrate New Year's and to experience Winter in Waterville ( which she did -- from the inside, looking out!)

Diane, Kevin, and Scott Bancroft and Ms. Gail Prentice delivered Ms. Stephanie Bancroft to the airport in Syracuse on Saturday, wishing her "Bon Voyage" as she set off for Santiago in the Dominican Republic. She will be studying there for the spring semester of college and will be returning on April 29th.

It was bright and sunny, yesterday, and snomobilers made the most of it, many taking breaks out at the Legion or at Nice 'n Easy in Sangerfield.

This trio was riding westward next the curving sweeps of corn and alfalfa fields on Lewis Road.

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Best pix of all!

Phill Sexton sent me a folder full of wonderful views from his latest High Peaks hikes!



Climbing "Giant"

Setting out, looking down on Chapel Pond and the highway between Keene Valley and the Northway.

Is that Chapel Pond, again, an hour or two later?

Reaching the Summit of "Giant" - twelfth highest, at 4,626'.

(Click the image for more information about Giant.)

Thanks loads, Phill! Wish I could have been with you!

(A few days later, Phill and his friend Mike bagged "Dial" and "Nippletop" via Bear Mountain returning by way of Elk Pass: that's 12 miles on snowshoe!
I'll post a few pictures from that scoot in a day or two!)

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PLAN AHEAD!

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Have a Great Day, Everyone!