By Lula Anderson
Another week and another Holiday gone. I wasn't sure about the weather, and if my sons would be called to work for Thanksgiving, so I made my turkey and a ham on Sunday, and divvied it up among them so they could have dinner even if they weren't home. As it turned out, they didn't have to work, so we went to the VFW hall and partook of the Windham Community dinner for Senior Citizens. We went with Opal and Pat so we had someone besides ourselves to eat with. It made the holiday somewhat special, but not like the old days when we had more family than chairs. We went early, got home early, and everyone went their own way. Judy's sons had to work until 3, so a late dinner was planned for them. Bill M and Maria came over, so there were 5 vs the 15 to 25 they used to have. Bill misses the days when the Hudecek family used to gather on the enclosed porch. It took 5 minutes just to pass the food around. Memories.
Since the week was broken up by the holiday, it seemed like there were two weekends in it. Walter has been helping me with my baking, as I can't see the controls on my range and have been known to put it on broil when I should be baking. It's nice to have someone in the kitchen with me again. I used to have my husband help with small domestic chores, you know the ones you need an extra pair of hands to help. Open the oven door when you have a heavy pot in your hand, open the fridge when you're struggling to put something in before the door slams shut just as you are ready to slide something in. Ah, the struggle is endless. Now Walter calls me to do that stuff.
Don't forget this weekend is the Red Cross Blood Drive at the Windham Ambulance building-Senior meeting room starting at 9, We're a little short of our goal, so please come by and give the gift of life.
Stop in at the Ashland Town Hall for their Free Will Offering breakfast starting at 7:30 until 11:30 either before or after giving blood, then at between 10 and 4 you should head to the Windham Hensonville UMC for their annual Christmas Tea and Craft Sale. Santa will be arriving at 2, so bring the family. That night, stay in Windham for the Parade of Lights, starting at Mitchell Hollow Road and proceeding to the school. Santa will be at the Center Church when he's done at the tea.
On December 13, come to the Ashland UMC annual Cookie Walk for your Holiday cookies from 11 - 2. That night you can head down to Catskill High School for the Catskill Glee Club concert starting at 7:30. WOW How are we going to find time to decorate and shop??
AS I REMEMBER IT
Since I haven't published in November, I have been looking through past notes and see that I missed my recollection of Election Day. I served on the Election Board for the Town of Ashland for many years. I started as a Poll Watcher. We checked out who was legal to vote, or not, made sure the voters knew proper voting procedure, and if someone needed a ride, went to pick them up.
The next year, I was asked to sit on the board. We had the old voting machines with the levers and button to release the curtain, which also registered the vote. The machines in Ashland were under the "protection" of Willie Drum and Reggie Cross who would prepare them about a week in advance. They would take them out of the closet and make sure they were in working condition. Sometimes they needed new curtains, sometimes just a quick clean up. The big day would arrive and we would show up at 5 AM to set up . It would be a long day as the polls didn't close until 9. It was in the days before the IPad, so the voter would have to go to the table to sign in. The worker would check your name off in the book, then you signed below your official signature. You were directed to the voting booth where you grabbed the red handle above your head and pulled to the right. Next you checked the names and pushed the lever over the person you wanted to vote for. When you opened the curtain, the vote was registered on big sheets in the interior. After the polls closed, we would have to manually add up the numbers,. Absentee ballots were opened and manually counted. Some nights the numbers wouldn't match and we would count and recount. When everyone checked out, the paperwork was sealed in a pouch and sent to Catskill to be verified. Machines would be packed up and sent to Catskill with our town's name on it to get ready for the following year
Everyone in town had something to do that year. The Ashland Church woman would be busy making and selling chowder and turkey dinner. The Ladies Aux would hold a bake sale. Busy , Busy Busy
One year, Mr Nendiline put his truck in drive instead of reverse and drove right through the picture window where Irene Hunt was sitting. Luckily no one was hurt, just scared.
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