Fighting Tigers Overpower Union College, 74-55

COBLESKILL — The SUNY Cobleskill women’s basketball team flexed their muscles on Saturday afternoon, earning a convincing 74-55 win over Union College at Iorio Gymnasium. The Fighting Tigers used a dominant second quarter to seize control and never looked back, improving to 7-1 on the season.

Cobleskill’s offense was powered by Antonia May (Amsterdam, NY), who delivered a double-double with 16 points on 6-for-13 shooting, 10 rebounds, and three assists, hitting on 6 of 13 from the field. Logan Thayne (Hoosick Falls, NY) extends her streak of double-double to eight games as she owned the paint with 14 points and 12 boards, while also adding a block and a steal. Annie Canales (North Adams, Mass/Hoosac Valley) provided a spark off the bench, pouring in a game-high 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including three three-pointers in just 16 minutes. Taylor Meacham (Berne, NY/BKW) filled the stat sheet with 12 points, five assists, three rebounds, and two blocks, while shooting 4-7 from the field, showing leadership on both ends of the floor.

As a team, the Fighting Tigers outclassed Union in key areas. Cobleskill shot 43.5% from the field compared to Union’s 30.9% and drained eight three-pointers. The Tigers turned defense into offense, forcing 15 turnovers and converting them into 25 points. Cobleskill also asserted their presence in the paint, outscoring Union 32-24 and outrebounding them 44-39. Ten offensive rebounds led to nine second-chance points, while 17 assists on 27 made field goals showcased their sharp ball movement.

The turning point came in the second quarter. After trailing 20-19 at the end of the first, Cobleskill locked in on both ends of the court, outscoring Union 20-6 in the period to take a 39-26 lead into halftime. Canales sparked the surge with seven points in the frame, highlighted by a clutch three-pointer at the 2:59 mark to push the lead to 36-22. Moments later, Meacham drilled a fastbreak triple, assisted by Amber MacNeil (Hoosick Falls, NY), to extend the advantage to 39-24. On the defensive end, Thayne and May dominated the glass, limiting Union’s opportunities.

Union made a push in the third quarter but couldn’t overcome Cobleskill’s balanced attack. The Tigers struck first with a steal by Kyra Pence (Randolph, NY) that led to a fastbreak layup by May just six seconds into the quarter. Both teams traded baskets for much of the period, but Cobleskill used a mini 5-0 run, including a Thayne three-pointer and a Canales layup, to stretch the lead to 62-43 in the closing minutes of the quarter.

Cobleskill kept their foot on the gas in the final period. May’s jumper early in the fourth gave the Tigers their largest lead of the game at 64-43 with 9:38 remaining. From there, the home team cruised to a commanding win, closing out Union with steady defense and disciplined play.

The Fighting Tigers return to the court on Tuesday, December 3, when they host SUNY Delhi at 5:30 p.m. in their North Atlantic Conference opener at Iorio Gymnasium.

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Fairgrounds to Get $30,000 in County ARPA Funds for Improvements

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — The Cobleskill Fairgrounds will be getting $30,000 for "general improvements" thanks to action taken at the Nov. 21 Schoharie County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Committee meeting.

County Supervisor and ARPA Committee member Werner Hampel of Cobleskill made the motion approved by himself, Committee Chair Alicia Terry of Gilboa and member Ben Oevering of Schoharie.

Fairgrounds officials had requested $100,000 for grandstand improvements, $100,000 for Hall of Agriculture improvements, $30,000 for EMS Building improvements, and $15,000 for WiFi improvements. However, Hampel and other committee members felt it was better just to grant $30,000 for general improvements and let fairgrounds officials decide the best way to allocate those funds. The county had previously allocated $150,000 for a sewer extension at the fairgrounds, home of the annual Schoharie County Sunshine Fair and other events.

The committee is in the closing stages of allocating all of the $6.1 million in county ARPA funds received from the federal government in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Near the end of the Nov. 21 meeting, committee members voted 3-0 to use the remaining $196,000 in unallocated county ARPA funds toward broadband projects within the county.

The general nature of the motion came at the suggestion of Oevering after a point brought up by county Supervisor Donald Airey of Blenheim, who is not a member of the ARPA Committee but frequently attends its meetings. The original motion was to use the unallocated funds toward a specific county broadband buildout project aimed at providing the ability to access the internet by all county residents.

It's been announced that the county has received a $30 million Municipal Infrastructure Program grant from the state's ConnectAll program for the $33.6 million broadband project, and county officials are working to secure the remaining funds.

Airey raised a concern that if the unallocated ARPA funds are earmarked for that specific broadband buildout project and it somehow falls through, then the allocation would be lost. The county must have solid allocations for all its ARPA funds by the end of this year for projects and initiatives that must be completed by the end of 2026.

"We have an announcement but no contract, no paperwork yet," said Airey of the $30 million grant. "What if we commit the money (unallocated ARPA funds) and something goes wrong? I don't anticipate that, but what if it does? I'm confident of it (grant coming through). I just don't want to get trapped."

Allocating the money in a general way to "broadband projects within the county" seems to have satisfied that concern.

County Director of Planning and Community Development Services Shane Nickle reported at the Nov. 21 ARPA Committee meeting that County Administrator Korsah Akumfi and other officials are meeting weekly with ConnectAll representatives and a contract could be finalized "toward the end of January into February."

Also approved at the Nov. 21 meeting was $10,000 in county ARPA funds for needed shelving at a county storage facility in Cobleskill. That request came from Schoharie County Clerk Lawrence Caza.

All approved motions of the ARPA Committee must also be approved by the full County Board of Supervisors.

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Festive Activities in our area for December

By Elizabeth Barr

There is so many activities happening to entertain and create a festive holiday atmosphere in December.

December 6th – 21st Lights in the Park, Timothy Murphy Park, Middleburgh

December 6th - 3 pm till gone Chicken BBQ at ACE Hardware, Cobleskill - sponsored by December to Remember  

December 6th – 5:30 pm – Middleburgh’s 26th Annual Miracle on Main Street

December 6th – 6:30 pm Holiday Tree Lighting, Richmondville Firehouse, caroling, crafts and a visit from Santa

December 7th – 5 pm Christmas Parade, Main Street, Cobleskill – followed by the tree lighting at Veteran’s Park, then Santa and Mrs Claus will be at the Cobleskill Firehouse for fun, games and refreshments

December 7th – 10 am – 4 pm Western Christmas at the Fort, Old Stone Fort, Schoharie

December 7th, from 3 – 8 pm, Richmondville Volunteer Emergency at 388 Main Street, is sponsoring a Christmas Market and Movie with Santa.  This will be a magical day to find unique gifts and enjoy the festivities to get into the holiday spirit.  Local vendors will be offering handcrafted items, treats and holiday décor and Santa!  Bring your kids for a Santa meet and greet, take photos and enjoy the movie.  All are welcome and invited to join in on the Fun

December 7th – 1 pm Christmas in Schoharie Bed Races at Schoharie Fire Department, 114 Fort Road, Schoharie – All are welcome to join them 

December 7th - Middleburgh Library - Take and Make Snow Flake Teddy Bear – Registration is required

December 7th Polar’s Express – 11 am – 1 pm Dog Sled Ride with Santa, Run by Dogs, LLC, 227 Stage Coach Road, Sharon Springs

December 7- 10 am – 2 pm Christmas in Schoharie Library

December 8th – 1 pm – 4 pm, Attic Treasures and Holiday Crafts at the Elks Club, Cobleskill

December 10th 4 pm – 5 pm, Lego Club at The Community Library in Cobleskill

December 12th 6 pm – 8 pm, Dot Mandela Plate to benefit the Joshua Project of Schoharie County, Serious Brewing, 116 Caverns Road, Howes Cave – Registration Required

December 13th – 5:30 pm, Middleburgh Library - Dinner and a Movie “White Bird”, pizza and drinks will be provided by the library. Bring a snack or dessert to share. Registration is required

December 13th – 6 pm, Kid’s Night Out 0 Christmas Tic Tac Toe, The Studio of Arts and Craft, 576 Main Street, Cobleskill

December 14th –10 am – 3 pm, Christmas in Esperance Historical Society Museum, 123 Church Street, Esperance

December 14th – 11 am, Beekman 1803 Farm Tours – 2024, 187 Main Street, Sharon Springs

December 14 – 6 pm – 9 pm, Tony Halls Christmas Show, Bull’s Head Inn, 105 Park Place, Cobleskill

Dexember 14th – 5:30 pm – 7 pm, Candlelight Walk, Mine Kill State Park, 161 Mine Kill Road, North Blenheim

December 14th – 11 am, Wreaths Across America Ceremony, Charlotteville Cemetery

December 15th – 4 pm, Glass Blown Ornaments, Serious Brewing, Howes Cave 

December 17th – 1:30 pm, Faith Bible Academy Bell Ringers Performance, The Community Library, Cobleskill

December 18th – 6:30 pm, Visit from Santa, Chieftains Restaurant & Bar, 584 Main Street, Cobleskill

December 21, 9 am – Noon, Santa Claus is Coming to Howe, Howe Caverns, 255 Discovery Lane, Howes Cave

December 22nd – 4 pm, Area Churches Concert, Veterans Park, Cobleskill

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DEC Seeks Volunteers to Participate in Region 4 Winter Raptor Survey - Participants to Assist DEC Wildlife Biologists with Tracking Vulnerable Bird Species

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 4 is seeking volunteers to participate in DEC’s Winter Raptor Survey. The survey is designed to identify habitats used by bird species, especially those that are threatened or endangered. The data will be used to help guide future conservation and protection efforts.

Region 4 Acting Regional Director John Weidman said, “The DEC Winter Raptor Survey is an excellent opportunity for avid birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts, or novices who just want to get involved to participate in conservation. Volunteers will assist regional wildlife biologists in tracking New York’s bird species to ensure these birds are protected and able to thrive in our ever-changing environment.”

Stationary surveys are completed on a weekly schedule from mid-November to late April and survey sites are located across the nine counties that make up DEC Region 4 (Greene, Columbia, Rensselaer, Albany, Schenectady, Schoharie, Montgomery, Delaware, and Otsego). The survey is a 1.5-hour commitment beginning one hour before sunset and ending 30 minutes after sunset. 

While the specific goal of the survey is to identify habitat used by threatened northern harriers (Circus hudsonius) and endangered short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) during their non-breeding winter period, DEC records all raptors seen or heard, including owls, hawks, vultures, falcons, and eagles.

Volunteers are welcome to participate in as many or as few surveys as their schedules allow and DEC will provide training to those in need. DEC does not provide transportation to and from survey sites. Volunteers are also asked to use their own binoculars for surveys.

Please email DEC Region 4 Wildlife Biologists to learn more about the program and how to get involved in the Winter Raptor Survey at wildlife.r4@dec.ny.gov. 

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Christmas Coming to Cherry Valley

CHERRY VALLEY - Join the celebration in Cherry Valley on Friday, December 6 for the start of the Cherry Valley Holiday Weekend with a lighted tractor parade to bring down Father Christmas to the center of the Village for a Tree Lighting. More performances and spectacle to be included as well. And as part of Cherry Valley’s First Friday, there will be an Open House for Holiday Marketplace at 25 Main Collective (21 Main Street) with food by Erich. 

The Collective artists have brought new work and holiday items. Red Shed Ale House (10 Main Street) will have live music and The Telegraph School (82 Alden Street) with have a holiday themed Open Mic. Pink Squirrel (4 Main Street), Plaide Palette (45 Main Street) and the Cherry Valley Bookstore (83 Alden Street) will be open for shopping, and restaurants: Rose & Kettle (4 Lancaster St), Tryon Inn and Backdoor Bar ( 124 Main Street), Triangle Tavern (189 Main Street) will be open as well.

Saturday and Sunday of the Cherry Valley Holiday Weekend will be filled with activity and will include an Open House at the Cherry Valley Museum (49 Main Street), and Santa will be there from 1-3 hoping to host kids of all ages. There will be an Open House at Plaide Palette (45 Main Street) both Saturday and Sunday, 10-5 with a raffle and holiday sales. The Girl Scouts will be selling donuts and holiday drinks on Saturday 10-5, and 25 Main Collective will have a Take & Make class with Maria DeAngelis on Sunday Dec 8, 11-3. All shops will be open Sat 10-5 & Sunday 10-3, and there will be the Historic Cherry Valley Business Fundraising Raffle all weekend long. Donations from local shops, artists and restaurants and community members can be yours for as little as $1 ticket! Proceeds from the raffle will be split between the group and “HQ” at Cherry Valley-Springfield School, an organization that provides personal care items, school supplies and basic necessities free to students within the school. For a special treat, there will be a closing party for the Weekend at The Limestone Mansion (33 Main Street) starting at 3 PM. Join us for music from a duet of Musicians of Ma’alwyck and the live drawing of our fundraising raffle, food & drink on the ground floor of the Mansion.

And there will be more! More information can be had at www.cherryvalley.com or by visiting the Historic Cherry Valley Businesses page on Facebook.

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Christian Brown DAR Chapter Honors Johannsen Hanks

COBLESKILL — Dr. Christina Johannsen Hanks, President of the Iroquois Museum Board of Trustees, was presented the DAR Excellence in Historic Preservation Award at a recent meeting by the Captain Christian Brown Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

"This award recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that promote historic preservation in a myriad of ways.  The recognition honors individuals and groups that have saved or preserved local history, including the restoration of buildings, monuments, cemeteries, collections, significant objects and other important artifacts."

In observance of National American Indian Heritage Month in November, Dr. Johannsen presented a program to the Cobleskill chapter on the Iroquois Museum.  One of the missions of the National Society is historic preservation. Christina, along with former SUNY Professor Dr. John Ferguson, established the Iroquois Museum in 1981.  This museum holds numerous outstanding collections of local Iroquois artifacts and other significant Iroquois objects found in Schoharie County and other nearby areas.

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Barbara VanValkenburg Honored for Years of Service

By Karen Cuccinello

SUMMIT — The Town of Summit’s November monthly meeting opened promptly with the full board and Attorney Mike West.

Highway Superintendent Jim Dibble reported that the dump truck they ordered in October 2022 is finally in Syracuse awaiting the installation of equipment which could take another six months. The trucks all have the plows on ready snow.

Board member Georgia Shafer thanked Clerk Allison Wilson for submitting a clerk report.

Historian Karen Cuccinello reported that three more veterans were pointed out to her in the Summit Cemetery following a posting of all the Summit veterans on the Town of Summit History & Events Facebook page.

Building Code Officer Jesse Wilcox reported he handed out two building permits, is looking into a complaint about a house on Arabia Rd. and will be completing two more hours of necessary training.

John Foote of the Board of Appeals reported they recently received a variance request that they will be researching and is looking into needed training programs.

Supervisor Harold Vroman reported that the comprehensive plan has been sent to the Schoharie County planning board for review.

On December 14 a Wreaths Across America ceremony will take place at 11am for the 76 veterans in the Charlotteville Cemetery.

Board member Georgia Shafer reported that the next revitalization committee meeting is January 8th. John Foote reported that the sub-committee pertaining to building has been meeting monthly.

Clerk Wilson mentioned that NYS authorized towns the ability to charge an additional $1 printing fee for sports licenses. It was mentioned that NYS receives most of the license fee. The Board decided to not add the additional charge.

Clerk Wilson discussed options for Dog Control Officer Jillian Smith to access up-to-date dog licenses. In order for Jillian to have access to the Cloudy through the Williamson computer program it would cost over $1,000 or Clerk Wilson can add licenses to the Schoharie County licensed dog list. The Board asked the Clerk to give the latter a try and let them know how it works out.

Bills were paid; then before the Board headed into executive session for advice of council a presentation was made.

Supervisor Harold Vroman presented Barbara VanValkenburg with a plaque of appreciation for her 20 years and 9 months as Summit Town clerk and a plaque for her departed husband Fred who worked in the highway department from 1989-2023.

The 2025 Town of Summit budget is available at town hall.

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Local Business Focus - Grapevine Wines, a New York State of Mind

By Diane Dobry

COBLESKILL — I was invited to a New York State food and wine pairing event recently at the Corning Glass Museum in Corning, where I had a chance to try some amazing foods and New York State wines from regions as far north as Niagara Falls, and as far east as the north fork of Long Island. So, I was thrilled to learn that Grapevine Farms has a wine shop around the back of the building that sells only New York State wines. On the way back there, if you catch sight of a chipmunk that hangs out in the trellis above the door, you’ll know you’re in the right place. 

Inside, welcoming warm, dark wood beams and display shelves, and a tin ceiling the color of an old penny are flanked by wine-themed décor – including framed wine posters, 3-D countryside landscapes behind glass, and small touches like a collection of old bottles and an old-style popcorn cart to add charm.  An extensive choice of reds, whites, sparkling wines, mead, and even fruit wines lay in wait for the chance to go home with someone who will appreciate their unique qualities. Labels of times past were made up merely of legally required words, designed simply to inform about the bottle’s content. Not so today. With so many competing to be chosen, each is specially created to appeal to the right person who will resonate with the theme, the varietal, and the brand. From family crests to wineries artistically sketched, colorful characters and some of the most beautiful paintings of birds flying overhead or landscapes that draw in aficionados scanning the shelves, the labels are meant to catch the eye and entice you to buy.   

As I searched for wines I enjoyed at the Corning event, several Finger Lakes wines grabbed my attention, including Dr. Konstantin Frank’s Old Vines Pinot Noir, Cab Franc and Semi-Dry Riesling; Rieslings from Bully Hill and Buttonwood Grove; and a number of Fox Run wines including Lemberger and Traminette.  “Jackpot!” I said to myself. “They’ve got the good stuff.”

Northern New York was represented by one of my favorites—Coyote Moon, including their Fire Engine Red and Casa Papa Red—both of which are great with pizza and pasta. Thousand Islands offered a broad spectrum of varietals, notably Honey and Frontenac XXX among them. The Hudson Valley wines included several reds from Brotherhood, the oldest winery in America. Another favorite from my own home region—Long Island—featured selections from the popular east end wineries, Duckwalk on the South Fork, and Pindar, whose owner is a former SUNY Cobleskill student, on the North Fork.

Don’t see a NYS wine you’re looking for?  The shop will do their best to get it for you. Owner Tim Purcell highlighted his strong relationships with wineries around the state, and he was confident that he could get wines that people request. “I’m all about supporting New York State businesses,” he said. And that goes a long way.

A small area in the back corner, behind some wine shelves, has cozy seating overlooking a wall filled with brightly colored, shiny metallic cans of ciders, offering flavors such as: Meyer Lemon, Honey, Awestruck, and Cherry Pie, with alcohol contents ranging from 5.5% to 6.9% . If you have plans to eat in the restaurant upstairs, and a can of cider or bottle of wine calls your name down in the wine shop, you can buy it and bring it upstairs to the restaurant to drink.  

Slushies are a big hit, Tim says, and they’re easy to make with just wine, a container, and a fridge. Mix the package’s powdered contents with the wine of your choice (or vodka, rum or other spirit), chill it for about 4-5 hours, and you come away with a soft, icy drink that tastes like a Slurpee, but with a kick. There is even a slushie machine in the shop that serves a few flavors to buy and taste in the store and to help decide which might be a good gift for family, friends, or yourself.

Wine slushie mixes come in several flavors—Apple Pie, Vodka Lemonade, Mimosa, and more. Just be sure the kids don’t confuse your spiked slushie with their own alcohol-free drinks. 

Ciders have their own slushie flavors, too–Appeloosa and Mulled Spiked Cider.  Cocktail mixes like 12 Days of Cocktails, Espresso Martini, and Midnight Kiss can be used with fruit wines that have a higher percentage of alcohol. Some in the shop include blackberry, blueberry and cranberry wines.  

If you like chocolate, they’ve got you covered--Cocoa da Vine is always on hand—which has a creamy cocoa taste, like a wine-based Irish Crème liquor, or what could be called chocolate milk for moms and dads. Last year, I left a bottle of chocolate cream wine out for Santa with a plate of home-baked scones.  I figured he would want a change from the usual cookies and plain white milk.   

When customers want to bring home a souvenir of their visit, Grapevine Farms makes it easy. Stemmed and stemless wine glasses donning the store’s logo, and black collared golf shirts with the logo embroidered in white, among other wine accessories, are displayed throughout the shop. My favorite was a white canvas wine bag with a screw top and a message announcing: “Life Happens, Wine Helps.” I liked that it can be used where bottles can’t or shouldn’t be—on a soft, sandy beach, on a boat ride, or in and around a pool, for example. 

An extra bonus is free daily tastings featuring seven wines chosen by Tim or Tracy for the month.  Just go to the counter and check out the list. A friendly, knowledgeable salesperson will pour a taste of your choices and answer any questions.

Not only that, customers can try any of Grapevine Farms’ own signature wines displayed in the corner opposite the counter. These include Farmhouse White, Three Dachshunds Riesling, Garden Gazebo Chardonnay, Ghostly White, and reds: Fireside Blush and a fundraiser wine, Rescue Red, which features a photo of Toby the dog and his “signature” on the bottle.  Profits from sales of Rescue Red go to support animal shelters in the area. 

So stop in for a browse between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and enjoy a taste of a wine or two before 5:30. Holidays are quickly approaching, and Grapevine Farms has covered all the bases under one roof.

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THE CATSKILL GEOLOGISTS BY PROFESSORS ROBERT AND JOHANNA TITUS - Just Exactly Where on Earth is “Here?”

Poet and novelist Gertrude Stein is famously quoted as saying “there is no there there.” People have been pondering and debating exactly what she meant for decades. We wonder if the two of us be remembered for the following quote: “There is no here here” That should, on the face of it, be equally ambiguous but, unlike Gertrude Stein, we are scientists, and we are going to explain ourselves clearly . . . we hope.

We would like it if you caught one of our outdoors acts sometime. We do geology walks all over the Catskills and the Hudson Valley. It’s late in the season right now so we have nothing coming up soon. But watch our facebook page “The Catskill Geologist” where we list our upcoming events. It’s almost always the case that Robert dramatically sticks out his right arm and points as he turns a full 360 degrees. He goes on to proclaim how this spot is a tiny dot on the surface of the globe, but it has been here for 4 1/2 billion years. It’s been so different in the past and more so in the far distant past. Then the two of us go on to show the evidence for what that spot was like during the Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian or the Ice Age. We take our participants back to “here” as it was back then.

But there’s a problem” where exactly was “here” back then? You might think we are being silly. After all, how could here have ever been anywhere else? That’s what generations of geographers and philosophers have thought, and anybody can understand why. But, beginning in the 1960’s, those views changed. You see, there are a number of rocks which have small crystalline grains in them that contain iron. At the time of formation, it is possible or even likely that those tiny bits of rock will settle into an orientation aligned with the magnetic north and south poles. One end of the crystal points toward the north pole; the other points south.

Once settled into place those magnetic grains should sit where they are - forever. Right? They should always point north and south - forever. Right? Well, you can imagine how surprised mineralogist and sedimentologist were when they discovered that they don’t do that - at all. And the older the rock was, then the farther off-target those magnetic grains were. They had discovered a pattern and that was something that needed to be explained.

One hypothesis was that the magnetic poles had been moving. That would be a simple solution, but it’s widely understood that poles can’t and don’t move except for just a little bit of routine wandering. Magnetic and geographic poles are and have always been closely aligned. The moving pole hypotheses had been quickly falsified. That left only one other, an almost disturbing hypothesis: it was the continents that had moved! 

Geologists had commonly speculated that “continental drift” had long been moving them around on the surface of the globe, but most dismissed the idea as being wildly improbable. Suddenly it was not only probable, but it had been demonstrated! Well, that gets us back to where is here. We now understand that here - the Catskills - had long ago been there – somewhere south of the equator. Many geologists think that today’s here was located about 20 degrees south of the equator during the Devonian, back when most of our local rocks were forming. That’s southeastern Laurentia on our map, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. That kind of rearranges your sense of reality, doesn’t it? Science is supposed to do that.

                                              

Contact the authors at randjtitus@prodigy.net. Join their facebook page “The Catskill Geologist.” Read their blogs at “thecatskillgeologist.com.”

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A Conversation about Ben the Oak

By Jean Thomas

It all started on a walk with the dog. This particular morning the world was awash with litter following a storm the night before. I spotted a fallen oak branch alongside the road, lying amidst the undergrowth, and attributed it to a storm fall.

Days later, I noticed it again and wondered why it hadn’t begun to dry out… the leaves were still vividly alive. A week later I began to explore for an explanation. Looking up, I observed no oaks in the area that would account for a fallen branch. I plunged into the greenery around the branch and realized that this wasn’t a broken branch, but a sapling. Some squirrel had hidden an acorn between the roots of a pine. The acorn sprouted and grew in an inhospitable environment. The lack of optimal light resulted in tall, spindly growth as it reached for the sun from its shady birthplace.  When the storm pushed it over by its top growth it hadn’t been able to raise itself back to a vertical position. But it now had access to better light, and chose to thrive from its new position. The side branches began to grow upward.                     

My new friend, now dubbed “Ben” (informal for “Ben Dover”), stooped cheerfully to greet me the rest of the summer. As his leaves colored for the cold, then withered, they remained on their stems, as is the custom of oaks.

Recently I needed to hire some men to help with yard work around the house and my busy brain saw this as an opportunity to fix Ben’s situation. I would have the workers come over to Ben and tie him to the trunk of his host pine tree. This would provide the opportunity for him to resume his upward growth.

Fortunately for Ben (and me), the work date was delayed by a week. This gave my busy brain some more time to cogitate.  I had recently read an article by some botanist about how mankind was overly intrusive in Nature. Humans will plow up a perfectly good meadow to replace it with a “better, native” assortment of plants, AKA, “meadow.” Useful, bio-diverse hedgerows and groves of trees are erased for a better view. People introduce monocultures of plants for pollination, disturbing an already working system. This scientist was no fan of our intruding where we weren’t needed. 

It made me think more profoundly about my friend Ben. His life had started because of the random actions of a wild animal. The storm had randomly shoved him to a better environment to thrive in. He had spent the summer adapting slowly to improved conditions, contorting his direction to a better one. He is perfectly healthy as far as I can tell.                                                                                                               

How did it become my mission to interfere? Standing him back up to a vertical position puts him back into the shade. So then what? Should I cut down the pine foster tree? Does Ben need a protective fence or fertilizer treatment? Pesticide? Where does it end? I think that anonymous scientist planted a seed in my busy brain, ergo: Mind my own business and stay a casual friend.

I will still walk past my neighbor Ben every day, but as a friend, not a colonist. Maybe we should all take a minute to think before we fix something. Especially when it isn’t ours to fix.                                                     To learn more about oaks, listen to “Nature Calls, Conversations from the Hudson Valley,” episodes 85 and 100, at:    https://ccecolumbiagreene.org/gardening/nature-calls-conversations-from-the-hudson-valley                                                       

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