It's Recycling Day
24 degrees and dry at 6:15 a.m.
The WKTV Weather Forecast: "High pressure remains in control of our weather today, with just a few high clouds working in from the south and west. Highs will climb into the mid 40s. Mostly clear skies tonight with lows in the mid 20s.
Seasonably cool but generally sunny days continue throughout the week & weekend with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s."
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Yesterday was Bright and Sunny
I went on my annual hunt for Bittersweet Vine. It isn't common in this area and is also "protected" ...
..... but, with permission of the owner, I picked a few sprigs to bring home.
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I spotted another "Christmas doorway," this one on West Bacon Street.
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IN THE NEWS
from the Utica Observer-Dispatch
from the Utica Observer-Dispatch
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SPECIAL EVENTS
This evening in Deansboro:
This evening in Deansboro:
Town of Marshall Historical Society, Marshall Town Hall, 7:30 p.m.
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The Waterville Women's Club BAKE SALE
Saturday, at Foodking, opens at 9:00!
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ON SATURDAY
Saturday, at Foodking, opens at 9:00!
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ON SATURDAY
Please click to enlarge!
Here is the accompanying Press Release. It's rather long, but very interesting and it records an important event in Waterville's history. I could not find an on-line source to link to it.
Mohawk Valley Astronomical Society
P.O. Box 52
Clinton, NY 13323
www.mvas-ny.org
Contact: Carol Higgins, Phone: 315-724-0958
Waterville Public Library
206 White Street
Waterville, NY 13480
http://www.watervillepl.org
Contact: Jeffrey Reynolds, Phone: 315-841-4651
ASTRONOMY CLUB INVITES PUBLIC TO STAR GAZE
AT NEW OBSERVATORY AT WATERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Public Invited to Telescope “First Light” Celebration on November 17, 2012
Waterville NY - November 13, 2012 – The Mohawk Valley Astronomical Society
(MVAS) and the Waterville Public Library (WPL) invite the public to a “First Light Celebration”
marking the opening of the new state-of-the-art observatory on Saturday, November 17, 2012. The
observatory is located on the Library grounds at 206 White St., Waterville, NY.
The celebration begins at 7:30 PM with a fun and educational program called “Let’s Cook
Up a Comet...and Some Shooting Stars!” in the Library’s Program Room. A laser-guided tour of
the night sky starts outside at 8:00 PM, where members point out constellations and other
interesting objects such as galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. The Observatory will be open and
the public can use the 16” Meade LX-200 research grade telescope. All activities are free!
Additionally, the Leonid Meteor Shower will put on its annual show that evening. Every
November as the Earth orbits the Sun at roughly 67,000 miles an hour, it travels through dusty and
rocky debris left by Comet Tempel-Tuttle. “Some of the debris hits our atmosphere and we see
‘shooting stars.’ We’ll be on the lookout for meteors and possibly fireballs as they streak through
the sky,” said Carol Higgins, President of MVAS.
“We hope the public will join us at the observatory to take part in the celebration and enjoy
a fun evening. You may want to bring a lawn chair and blanket to relax in comfort as you count
the meteors at this wonderful dark sky site. Remember to dress warmly,” said Higgins.
The Story Behind the New Observatory
In 2011, WPL and MVAS formed an innovative public-private partnership to construct and
operate an astronomical roll-off roof observatory on the Library’s grounds. Construction was
made possible completely through grants from the New York State Library Public Library
Construction Fund and Waterville’s own Edward S. Barton Foundation. Numerous community
volunteers generously donated materials and manpower.
MVAS moved its Meade telescope, eyepieces, filters, binoculars, and other accessories
into the new observatory in October 2012. In addition to the equipment, the club also has an
extensive collection of over 1,000 observing guides, books, star atlases, and videos.
Page 1 of 2
This unique collaboration opens a new chapter in the ever-growing and active astronomy
club. The MVAS telescope was previously housed in an observatory on private land, so public
outreach locations were limited to places such as local parks and schools where members shared
their own telescopes and binoculars with the public.
“At the new observatory the public can view the universe through a powerful telescope,
and attend interesting programs in the Library’s high-tech Program Room. The possibilities are
endless,” said Jeff Reynolds, Library Director.
Future Events, Programs, and Workshops
In cooperation with WPL, the Society will regularly present a complete array of programs
and events, free and open to the public. MVAS is a member of the NASA Night Sky Network, the
Astronomical League, and the International Dark Sky Association. The club receives educational
kits from NASA throughout the year, and quality printed materials for distribution from other
organizations and publishers.
MVAS offers club memberships to everyone regardless of their level of expertise. In
addition to monthly meetings with presentations, members receive a discount on books and
publications such as Sky & Telescope and Astronomy magazines. Members can also be trained to
operate the Meade telescope.
“We have every expectation that this new facet to our constellation of program offerings
will increase traffic to the library, thereby substantially enhancing usage of all our facilities and
services,” said Jeffrey Reynolds. “A welcoming destination for people of all ages, I believe our
motto is the best reflection of our bright and exciting future at the Library. It truly is a place where
everyone can Explore, Dream, and Discover,” added Reynolds.
The Mohawk Valley Astronomical Society (MVAS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1989.
The members are an enthusiastic group of over 70 local amateur astronomers with varying degrees of knowledge and
interests. The mission of the organization is to advance the study, understanding, and appreciation of astronomy
among its members, and encourage the public's awareness of matters related to astronomy.
MVAS holds a monthly meeting featuring a presentation about a current astronomy-related topic.
Throughout the year the astronomy club hosts numerous public observing events and educational presentations.
Meetings, programs, and observing events are free and open to the public. The new observatory at the Waterville
Public Library observatory houses the MVAS research-grade 16” Meade LX-200 telescope with a full range of high
quality accessories, and collection of over 1,000 books, atlases, observing guides, and media items. MVAS web site:
www.mvas-ny.org
The Waterville Public Library was originally founded in 1874, and received its absolute charter as a public
library from the University of the State of New York in 1939. Presently, the Library serves the greater Waterville
community from an 8,000 square foot, ADA accessible, state-of-the-art facility that opened in spring, 2006.
Construction of the observatory was made possible completely through grants from the New York State Library
Public Library Construction Fund and Waterville’s own Edward S. Barton Foundation.
Our motto is “Explore, Dream, and Discover at Waterville Public Library.” We are here to maintain
collections, provide facilities and deliver programs and services that inform, educate, inspire and delight our
community members at all stages of life. WPL web site: www.watervillepl.org
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FOR THE RECORD
Hunting Season Opens on Saturday the 17th at daybreak.
If you're going hunting or just like walking in the woods or country fields, remember - between now and December 9th - to wear something really bright! You can get vests like this for less than $4 at Amazon.com!
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HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND EVERYONE!
