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

It's 31.5 degrees at 5:00 a.m. on the last day of January

The YNN Weather Forecast: "A warm front will lift into the region with area-wide flurries and light snow showers. A few sprinkles may begin to mix in by daybreak as temps climb through the 30s.

Tuesday will be very mild with clouds and spotty sprinkles lingering from the Thruway and points north. Highs will be in the low to mid 40s. Unseasonably warm weather will stick around into Wednesday with scattered rain showers. Highs will be well into the 40s.

Temperatures will gradually turn cooler in the second half of the week with fairly quiet conditions."

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

With forecasters predicting "possibly heavy lake effect snow," yesterday morning, I decided to do my usual errands and take a brief ride-around earlier rather than later.

At around 9:00, the view of Tassell Hill from Hanover Road looked like this.

But then the snow stopped, the sun came out, and by mid-afternoon we were
"back to square one."



A snowplow woke me up very early this morning,
but this is the depth of the overnight accumulation on my porch!


Thursday is Ground Hog Day!


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

IN THE MAIL

I only received two replies or comments regarding the question of whether or not "The Star Spangled Banner" should be sung by everyone or just the main performer(s):

Lynne Matteson wrote: "My advice to 'Grandpa' is to look around and see the number of people of all ages who aren't singing,their arms are hanging at theirs sides, and guys have their hats on. Grandpa should proudly let the little guy sing."

Diane Bancroft added these comments: "After 30 years of music teaching, I’ve learned that the public must be taught proper protocol. They honestly don’t know – heck, most don’t even know all the words. The announcer, as the link said, should be inviting the people to stand and JOIN IN THE SINGING of our national anthem. Maybe a few 'ringers' need to be around the gym to get people going. It should not be a performance by one. Also, the key really needs to be Ab (A flat) the standard one, or nobody will be able to reach 'the rockets’ red glare!'

Thank you both!

So: now you know what to do!

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

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

AT THE LIBRARY

The Book of the Month in February

for the Waterville Book Discussion Group will be


"A Change in Altitude"
by Anita Shreve.

A major author in terms of critical acclaim and bestseller status, Anita Shreve limns the secrets at the core of our closest relationships and the ways in which lives can turn on the axis of a single catastrophic event. Call the Library at 841 4651 to reserve a copy.

Meeting at the Waterville Library on Wednesday, February 22, at 12 noon.
Pack your lunch; coffee, tea, and dessert will be served.

**********

LOOKING AHEAD

Click to enlarge and save file to your desktop.


The Village of Waterville

Waterville Central School


Waterville Public Library

********

More when it happens!

Have a good day, everyone!

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

It's Garbage Day

26 degrees at 6:30 a.m.

The overnight snowfall has covered us with a two- or three-inch thick white blanket. Another layer is in the forecast.

The Weather Foreast from WKTV: "*A lake effect snow advisory is in effect for Madison and Oneida County until 1pm.*

Widespread snow overnight will create some slick spots on the roadways this morning. Additional snow will fall today from lake effect that will set up across Southern Oneida and Madison County. The steadiest snow will take place this morning, before winding down after noon. Here's a look at today's snowfall forecast:"

For current driving conditions across the state, go to 511NY!

After the image of the map opens, go to the left hand column, labeled "Traffic Conditions," and "click" on boxes 1, 2, and 8.

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

Although there was a Winter weather smorgasboard, over the weekend - a little of this, a little of that, and even some thunder - the ground was nearly bare on Sunday afternoon ...........

............. and the only snowmobiles in sight were on trailers behind vehicles heading either North or South on Route 12.

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

GOOD READING

"How Cold is it, Kate?"

by Hobie Morris, published in the Madison County Courier.

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

We're used to seeing lots of styles of wooden "tents" that are placed over shrubbery as protection against damage from heavy snow ............

................ but only at the Mowreys, on Sanger Avenue, can you tell where prize rose bushes have been planted!

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

********

The Waterville AYSO

Spring Season Sign-ups

• The first is on Thursday evening, February 2nd at Oriskany Falls Public Library from 6 to 7:30pm.
• The second sign-up will be Saturday, February 4th at the Waterville Public Library from 11am to 1:30pm.

Any child who turned 4 as of August 1, 2011 is welcome to play. Children do not need to attend Waterville school to play, all are welcome. The fee is $25 to register and $20 for the uniform. The season begins on April 21st. Levels U5, U6 and U8 play Saturday mornings and all older levels play on Sunday afternoons. Please participate in our free soccer swap program by bringing old, but still good soccer balls, cleats, shinguards or Waterville uniforms to registration to be reused by another player. Please visit Waterville AYSO website for more info www.aysoregion492.clubspaces.com or call Registrar Kristine Prindle at 315-430-0253. Currently Waterville AYSO is looking for volunteers to help coach, referee, maintain fields, organize team photos and a uniform coordinator. If interested, please call Commissioner Gwenn Werner at 315-825-5485.

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

New Hours at the

COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTER

Located at the Junior-Senior High School campus, the Fitness Center is available to students during the day and community members may join for a small fee and use the facility during adult-only sessions.

Exclusive Hours for Members Only:
Monday – Friday
5:15 am – 7:15 am
Monday – Thursday
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturdays and Sundays
8:00 am – 11:00 am

Click HERE for more information and Membership Fees

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

Looking for a more intense training and/or specialized workout?
Check out Josh Lewis' Garage Gym in Oriskany Falls!

*********

IN THE MAIL

From a gentleman who sent a question and added: "I realize this is a crazy question. I am asking you because you can find out anything!"

"Last night I went to a basketball game and before the game a young girl got up and did a great job of singing the National Anthem. My grandson started to sing loudly at the same time I told him to sing quietly. He is only 3 and a half but he knows the song. Afterward, I got thinking he was probably the only one doing what he should by singing along. Shouldn't we all be singing? I know its not going to happen, but I just was wondering if I let him sing out loud would that be rude or is it rude not to sing at all."

You can read the information that I found via Google by clicking HERE and then HERE.

What's your advice to "Grandpa"?

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

FOR THE RECORD

***********

Snow pictures later today .

Have a great day, everyone!

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

William L. Doyle

1928 - 2012

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

Library Snow Fest Postponed!

*********

From Jill Getman at the Watervillle Public Library:

"Our annual Snow Fest Activities, which had been scheduled for this Saturday, January 28,
have been RESCHEDULED for Saturday, Feb. 25th, from 12 - 2 pm.

Maybe by then there will be a few feet of white stuff to play in!"

*********

It's Garbage Day

28.9 degrees and just a bit - probably not even an inch - of new snow.

*******

The YNN Weather Forecast: "Milder Thursday.

Rain Showers/Wintry Mix Develop Thursday

Tonight will be mostly cloudy and chilly with scattered flurries. Lows will be in the 20s.

An area of low pressure will approach on Thursday with mostly cloudy skies and rain showers or a wintry mix developing during the afternoon. Highs will be in the upper 30s to near 40. Precipitation will fall largely in the form of rain Thursday night into early Friday morning. Any leftover rain showers will end as flurries and light snow showers Friday with temperatures settling through the 30s. This is after early morning highs in the lower 40s.

Saturday will feature plenty of clouds along with a few scattered flurries and snow showers. Temperatures will remain on the mild side with highs near 40. It will bit cooler on Sunday with scattered flurries or light snow showers with highs in the 30s.

We still do not expect any bitter cold anytime in the near future."

**********

All of Tuesday's fog has dissipated by yesterday, leaving a clear view of bare fields on West Hill beneath a gray sky.

Sangerfield, as seen from Newberry Road.

**********

In the Village

New Neighbors are Coming!

There are SOLD signs in front of homes on Conger Place ..........

..... Osborne Avenue ...........

................ and Putnam Street.

*******

A gate of icicles seems to stand, instead of hang, at the opening of a cave in Forge Hollow.

Good News for those who live on Gridley-Paige Road south of Shanley Road: the bridge in Forge Hollow, which had been closed for several weeks, is open, again!

***********

WEEKEND EVENTS

THURSDAY AT THE LIBRARY

6:00 p.m.

Come 10 minutes early for free popcorn!

ALSO:

Remember that the Library's Annual "Snow Fest" is scheduled for Saturday!

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

At St. Bernard's Catholic Church

The ANNUAL CLOTHING GIVE-AWAY

OPENS AT 9:00 ON FRIDAY.

The give away is open to the public and there is no limit on the quantity of items people may take away. In addition to clothing there will also be small household items, bedding, kitchen items, shoes and toys. The give-away opens Friday, January 27, 9-12 & 4-6 and Saturday January 28th 9-12. This greatly anticipated annual event is sponsored by the Waterville Food Pantry, Waterville Senior Citizens and the Social Action Committee of St. Bernard’s Church. The giveaway is held in the basement of St. Bernard’s Church, 199 Stafford Avenue, Waterville.

I'm going to try and stop at the church, today, and take some "preview" pictures!

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

AT SOUTHGATE MINISTRIES

Friday is "Senior Day."
starting Jan. 27th from 11:00 - 2:00 and continuing on the last Friday of each month.

Lunch will be served at noon with fellowship
around table games, videos, conversation, etc.

RSVP to 841-3266 & leave message with number attending, walk-ins welcome.

Come in out of the cold and enjoy!

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

Friday Fish Fry at the Legion

4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

**********

Stoltzfus Family Dairy

OPEN HOUSE

Friday and Saturday

(Click to enlarge.)

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

Hamilton Indoor Farmers Market

at Parry's Store, 100 Utica Street

Saturday, January 28th, 8am-1pm.

Featuring 20+ vendors with local produce, meat, baked goods, honey, maple products & crafts.

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

Tom said it first!

................... and a Great Weekend, too!

It's 33 degrees and foggy / misty / murky at 4:30 p.m

I just came over the hill from Clinton a little while ago, and here are two views from high in Hanover:

View West, toward Deansboro and West Hill.

View East, to Tassell Hill.


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

From the Observer-Dispatch: "Freezing Rain Advisory in Effect until 11:00 p.m.

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

The YNN Weather Forecast: "Brisk & Chilly With Minor Lake Effect Overnight

Seasonable Wednesday. Tonight will be mostly cloudy, breezy and chilly with scattered snow showers and flurries. Nothing more than a coating to an inch or two is possible in localized spots through the night. Lows will be in the 20s.

Outside of a few flurries early in the day, Wednesday will feature clouds and some limited sun with highs in the low to mid 30s.

A new storm system will head this way Thursday with increasing clouds and a mix of rain and wet snow showers later in the day into Thursday night. Highs will be around 40. It will be a bit cooler Friday with any leftover precipitation ending as snow. Highs will be in the 30s.

We still do not expect any bitter cold anytime in the near future."

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

Eva Lamb

1922 - 2012

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

IN THE NEWS

Front Page Headlines
from the January 25th issue of
The Waterville Times.

*********

Deputies: Sangerfield couple high on bath salts, kids living in deplorable conditions.

From CNYCentral.com

********

For more about CNY Flavors' visit with Mike Latreille at "Michael's Fine Food & Spirits,"
click HERE.

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

WCS SPORTS SCHEDULE
at digitalsports.com


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

AT THE LIBRARY THIS WEEK

Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. Birdseed Biscuits

Ages 5-11 | Sign Up

Encourage birds to visit your yard this winter with a hanging homemade birdseed biscuit.

Contact: Amanda Briggs 841-4651 amanda@watervillepubliclibrary.org

*****

Thursday: Family Movie Night

Free Movie. Free Popcorn.

Movie: Dolphin Tale

Arrive 10 minutes early for popcorn.

*****

Friday: Valentine Cards for Soldiers

3:30 PM All Ages | Sign Up

Come in and make a card for a soldier and make one for someone special in your life.
The library will ship the cards to the troops overseas.

*****

Saturday: Snowfest - 12:00 Noon - 2:00 PM

All ages can jump into their snow gear and join us for snow building contests, obstacle courses, snow painting and new this year make a sno cone from the freshly fallen snow. Inside we'll have hot chocolate for everyone! You will need your own snow building materials for the snow sculpture contest.

**********

FRIDAY SPECIAL




********

Have a good evening, everyone!

Monday afternoon for Tuesday.

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

Carolyn A. Heath Thompson

1957 - 2012

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

Monday Mud!


A year ago Main Street looked like this!

But today, the temperature at 5:3o Monday afternoon is 45 degrees.

A field next to Route 20 near Madison.

Snowmobile trail next to Osborn Avenue.

Main Street.

******

The YNN weather forecast for Tuesday as of Monday afternoon: "As low pressure tracks to the north and east, our weather pattern will remain a bit unsettled through the overnight with scattered rain and snow showers. It will be cold and breezy with lows in the mid 30s. Tuesday, a westerly flow will kick up scattered flurries and snow showers, especially east of Lake Ontario. Temperatures won’t be as mild with highs in the upper 30s. Wednesday is shaping up to be a day of improvement as flurries and snow showers taper. Temperatures are expected to remain on the chilly side with highs in the low to mid 30s.

Thursday, we’ll be under the influence of a warm front which will allow temperatures to climb into the low 40s. However, sun will give way to increasing clouds with rain/snow showers developing from south to north later in the day. The way things are looking right now, temperatures will continue to run above average through the end of the week and into the first half of the weekend with highs in the upper 30s."

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

IN THE NEWS

CNY FLAVOR features Mike Latreille!

PLANNING AHEAD


Hamilton Indoor Farmers Market at Parry's Store, 100 Utica Street
Saturday, January 28th, 8am-1pm
Featuring 20+ vendors with local produce, meat, baked goods, honey, maple products & crafts.
Please call 315-824-0002 with any questions.

The Waterville Methodist Women are sponsoring a bus trip to:
Sight & Sound Millennium Theater in Lancaster, Pa.
Friday and Saturday, July 20th and 21st, 2012

The performance will be " JONAH "

"Unlike any show you've ever seen, this energetic adventure will have you on the edge of your seat from the time you step into the theatre. A new, completely immersive experience, Jonah promises to move you to laughter and tears. From the enormous whale swimming over your head to the thunderous effects of the powerful storm, and a mighty 30-foot-tall ship that breaks apart right before your eyes, the story of Jonah will astound and captivate the young and young-at-heart alike. Playing for one fantastic season only!"

The trip is an overnight stay and will include hotel, Good 'n Plenty Restaurant, Amish farmlands tour and, of course, shopping. If interested contact Helen Olmstead - 841-8544

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

Have a good evening and a good day tomorrow!

It's Garbage Day

34.7 degrees at 5:15 a.m.

(That's 34.7 degrees warmer than it was yesterday morning, at this same time!)

Although it was cold, very little snow fell over the weekend.

The deepest snow in the village was in heaps along West Main Street, where merchants had shovelled the sidewalk.

The wind that came along with the cold formed drifts along a fence row on Sally Road........

.............. and against one of Dave Sullivan's stone walls up in Hanover.

LOOKING AHEAD

The WKTV weather forecast as of Sunday evening: "*Freezing Rain Advisory for Herkimer, Hamilton, Fulton and Montgomery Counties from 6AM to 2PM Monday*

Quiet weather continues for most of tonight, with temperatures bottoming out near 20 degrees this evening. A warm front moves in overnight, with temperatures increasing after Midnight. Some freezing drizzle is possible late tonight into Monday morning but little to no ice accumulation is expected but some untreated roadways may be slick. The best chance for freezing drizzle will be to the north and east of Utica.

Temperatures continue to climb on Monday with clouds and rain. Highs in the low to mid 40s. Cooling off on Tuesday into the mid 30s with a few snow showers."

***********

IN THE NEWS

From the Oneida County Courier: "2012 Oneida County Crop Congress Announced"

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Special Events this week at

THE WATERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Family Movie Night
Thursday, January 26th 6pm | Free Movie. Free Popcorn.|

Please arrive 10 minutes early for popcorn.

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

Snowfest
Saturday, January 28th 12-2pm

All ages can jump into their snow gear and join us for
snow building contests,
obstacle courses, snow painting
and new this year - make a sno cone from the freshly fallen snow.

Inside we'll have hot chocolate for everyone!
You will need your own snow building materials for the snow sculpture contest.


***********

Can't read the sign? This is what it says:

Support Group Meeting

for Parents with Children that have an IEP
or need extra help in school.

JANUARY 24TH 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.

Waterville Public Library

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

SouthGate Ministries is now an area coordinator of
Food$en$e,

a program operated by the Food Bank of Central New York.

Food $en$e is designed to increase self-sufficiency by helping individuals stretch their food dollars. The Food Bank is able to purchase food items in large quantities at discounted prices, and this savings is passed on to the program’s customers. The Food Bank operates this service with 44 sites in a 14 county area.

Monthly Food $en$e packages are created by the Food Bank and a newsletter is generated and distributed to each site coordinator. The coordinators are responsible for taking orders from customers, placing the order to the Food Bank and distributing the packages on a specific date. A food package contains 10-12 items, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, and staple food items.

Anyone wishing to stretch their food dollars can participate. The cost of the package is $15.50 and participants pre-pay with cash or EBT card, and they pick up their Food $en$e packages at the end of the month.

This month's package.

My thanks to Nancy Ayala and her daughter, who provided the photographs of this month's packages and also the following information:

"Next month is: 2lb chick nuggets, 1lb polish sausage, 12oz pollack fillets, 12oz salibury steak, can tuna, pierogies, mashed potatoes, frozen mixed vegetables, can corn, can mandarin oranges, 2 fresh produce.

This month's "specials."

"Additional 'specials' available for next month are: 10lb chicken tenders, 5lb tilapia, 2lb meatloaf, 5lb mixed produce, 2lb stuffed pork chops, case hot pockets, & 92oz stuffed cabbage - prices range from $6 - $17.

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

You can learn more and sign up at
The Waterville Public Library Feb 2nd 4:30 - 5:30,

all others by phone - 861-2097 or 750-5785

Pick up @ SouthGate Feb 17th 3-4pm.

If you can't make the pick up time you can send someone to get it for you but we don't have storage room. You can sign up for the following month at pick up.

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

A reminder that

SouthGate Ministries will be hosting

Senior Days

starting Jan. 27th from 11:00 - 2:00

and continuing on the last Friday of each month.


Lunch to be served @ noon with fellowship
around table games, videos, conversation, etc.
RSVP to 841-3266 & leave message with number attending, walk-ins welcome.
Come in out of the cold and enjoy!

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

FOR THE RECORD

Special Thanks to Travis Bauer who recognized the location of the maple tree that the raccoon was trying to climb, last Thursday, and then volunteered to notify the property owners of its presence.

*****

About Three Weeks Ago!


Yesterday.

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

A little history: the white building that is nearly always in the background of these photographs was built for 'Squire Oliver Norton by a Major Jotham Tower in 1799 . Also that same year, Tower built the tavern house directly across Route 12 - now "Michael's Fine Food & Spirits," for Ebenezer Hale. These buildings, along with the Gorton family home on the north side of Route 20, are three of the oldest in the area.

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

Have a great day, everyone!