Local History by Dede Terns-Thorpe - Leah Showers Wiltse

I was honored to take part in the Mountain Top Historical Society’s Justine Hommel Day at Twilight Park. The MTHS paid tribute to three accomplished historians: Leah Wiltse, Shirley Wiltse Dunn, and Doris West Brooks. I was honored to share a little of the life of a special lady and a true historian, Leah Showers Wiltse.

Here is a part of Leah’s story.

Leah was born 120 years ago in Tannersville. Her grandmother, Abigail Parker, grew up with her grandparents, Daniel and Eliza Parker. The Parker name is significantly connected to Onteora Park.

Since we all know that everyone on the Mt. Top is related, 2 of Leah’s grandsons are my sister Barbara’s (Bobby's) boys, Jim and Kevin Wiltse.

Leah Showers Wiltse, like her relatives, was a talker but also a private person. She was a savior of much of our local history, and she did it the hard way; back before googling, texting, email or such.

Leah’s grandfather, George Showers died at nearly 100 years, making history in his own way. He was the last Civil War Veteran to die in Greene County.

Leah, like many women, was a busy mom and an amazing grandmother, frequently babysitting for her two grandsons.  Leah didn’t drive, walking daily to the local A & P, and the post office. She always grew her own vegetables and was a gifted cook. Because she was a voracious reader she spent hours researching local history.

Leah lived the history she wrote about. Her father and other relatives worked on many of the historical places talked about today. Her relatives walked the walk and shared that information with Leah. Leah’s father, Oscar Showers, was an excellent carpenter and electrician who worked on construction on many of the Mountaintop’s old hotels. He knew firsthand.

In the 1970s Leah wrote 27 articles for the Hunter Windham Scene, an amazing small-town publication owned by a local woman, Pamela Meigs. (I wish we still had those stories!)

Thankfully, Leah jotted down what she lived and heard. Her daughter compiled those memories in her 1999 book, Pioneer Days in the Catskill High Peaks. These stories are the real life of Leah Showers Wiltse.

Leah asked her daughter to include certain stories; here is one of them.

REMEDIES – Summarized.

Shirley said Leah’s father, Oscar Showers, taught her many of these folk remedies which Leah continued to use.   

He said, even the best of housewives kept a few spider webs, dust included, in a handy corner, to use when kids had a nosebleed.

In spring after the wild rose bush worms left, the kids were sent to gather the nests, and their moms made a tea for use in case of dysentery (infection of the intestines).

Heated onions was another remedy used for extreme cases of dysentery as was the application of fresh dung!

The last remedy, and ladies, please remember this one: every self-respecting woman should have both a rhubarb and a horseradish bed, to dig up, washed and ground for use on the dinner table.

Thank you for reading.

Stay safe and be well.

Dede Terns-Thorpe/Hunterhistorian@gmail.com

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD

The Greene County Murders - PROCEDURAL

By Esther Cohen

Beulah, a factual person, (she was not intuitive or impulsive either) went to her library, in Cairo, New York, to research how mysteries were solved. Although there were no non-fiction books on the subject (How to Solve a Murder Mystery seemed like an obvious self-help title that didn’t exist. She knew she wouldn’t write it either.)

The library was a Greene County miracle. For years it had been a small room housed in the Town Hall on Main Street but the gifted librarian, a local woman named Jill with many talents, read that the state’s secretary of agriculture, grew up on a small farm in upstate New York. He said in a press interview that his local library changed his life. Jill wrote to him explaining that her town needed life-changing too. Many people had problems with money and resources, and laptops were in short supply. He drove down from Albany to meet with Jill and moved by what he saw, he found money in the state budget to build a good-sized library, complete with computers for the community, and a large children’s room full of books. Beulah had actually gone to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, with a local band, and a moving speech by the Labor Secretary himself. The whole town showed up.

She went to the library to see if she could learn more about murders. Of course there wasn’t a how to detective book, but she took out many classic mysteries: Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, Louise Penny, Sherlock Holmes – and she began the process of deduction.

Reading a while, she figured out that in mystery books, and probably in real life too, detectives typically solve cases by meticulously gathering and analyzing clues. Clues were what she needed most. At the same time, questioning suspects was equally important. What she had to do was gather information, then piece it together to identify the culprit (what a word!!!) and to determine their motive.

Who killed Delores? She’d have to return to the crime scene first, and just look around.

The Crime Scene

Delores was murdered in her own house, a house she loved. Not everyone was as happy about the place where they lived as Delores. She loved her home, and worked hard to make it a warm and welcoming place. She had always had food and drinks for everyone who walked in her door and many people always did. Delores was beloved, not just by her own big family, but by her legions of friends. Hard to imagine that anyone would ever want to kill her, especially in a place where there were so many others who’d be more appropriate victims.

In a funny way, Beulah believed that Delores, if she had to be murdered at all, would prefer to have been murdered right there in her light yellow fifties ranch along 145, hidden from the road by a big row of maple trees. In back of her house was a gorgeous field of wild flowers, and Delores’s pride and joy, a wonderful vegetable garden. All her vegetables – cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, garlic, looked like memorable paintings.

Every day for a week, Beulah drove over to the crime scene hoping something there would provide her with clues. She called each of the four children, two daughters and two sons, and asked them all to meet her there. Every single day, she wrote down what they said in the red Delores notebook. Mostly what they said is how much they loved and missed her. None of them seemed like a viable suspect but maybe that was always true.

Esther Cohen is at esthercohen.com

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD

Ashland Speaks

By Lula Anderson

August is here and with it the feeling that summer is half over.  When I was working in the boarding houses, we waited for August and the end to the big rush of July.  The  majority of people took their two week vacation in July, or those  who waited, the last two weeks of August, leaving the first two weeks as a time to deep clean the messes we left when scurrying trying to accommodate all of our patrons.  We got to have an extra day off so we could spend our hard earned tip money on new clothes and supplies for school.  Napkins were folded in advance of the next big rush and set on the shelf along with the many  tablecloths mangled (ironed by machine) to perfection.  We had extra time at the pool as there were fewer guests using it.  We had more time in the evening to socialize with our friends—---until the last two weeks preceding Labor Day and the Last Hurrah!  Now, August is the time to appreciate the summer weather, and put winter problems on the back burner until September.

East Jewett UMC will be holding a pancake super on Tuesday, August 5 from 3 - 6:30 PM.  It is a free will offering, with all proceeds going to the Albany City Rescue Mission.  The Kaaterskill UMC will be holding their annual Peach Shortcake and Roast Beef Dinner on Tuesday, August 19th at the Tannersville Rescue Squad Building.  Takeout only  from 5 0 6:30 PM.   On August 31 there will be a Joint service of the Mountain Top UMC Parishes at C D Lane Park in Maplecrest at 10 AM followed by pot luck picnic.  Come join us!

The Jewett Fire Department will be holding their annual Brooks Chicken BBQ on August 16  with serving starting at 4:30.  The menu included half chicken, baked potato, homemade cole slaw, an ear of Story's corn, dinner roll from Jim's in Prattsville and a Cosmic Brownie.  The price hasn't gone up since last year.  It's still $15 for a full dinner.  If you want just the chicken half, that'll be $10.  The Ashland Community Church will be hosting a bake sale  with proceeds going to the repair of their belfry.  

The annual service at the Mitchell Hollow Church will be on August 17 at 2 PM.  

Deacon Peter is still in touch and is inviting all to attend the 16th annual Interfaith Panel discussion on Sunday Aug 24 at 4 PM at the Greenville Public Library.  The topic is "How can gratitude change your life".  This discussion is sponsored by the Greenville Area Interfaith Council and faith traditions are represented by Buddhist, Catholic, Jewish, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Light refreshments will be provided.  

Lazy retirement wishes go to Ruth Forte from the Department of Aging.

Prayers for healing to Opal DeLong, Barbara Cooke and Greg Beckmann.  

AS I REMEMBER IT

The gathering last week for storytelling at the Westkill Church made me think how the local churches used to be a social gathering place for friends and families.  Each family had its own pew (or pews) .  Mother would go in first, followed by the kids, then father would sit on the other end.  If there were more kids, the older children would sit in the pew behind and make sure all behaved during services.  There would be Sunday School classes, and Vacation Bible School during the summer where the little ones would learn Bible passages, make appropriate crafts and have a grand old time with friends.  The women would meet up over coffee and cake and plan what they would do to make money to support the church.  The men would gather and check out what repairs would be needed and who could help.  Everyone worked as a team, and the churches were always in good repair.  

Now we have consolidation.  WestKill is part of Lexington church, North Settlement is part of Ashland which is combined with Windham and Mitchell Hollow.  There are no work bees, no lawn mowing schedule.  Everything is contracted out.  Many of our churches are falling in disrepair because they are empty.  

We think back to the Strawberry Social where families got together to pick the strawberries, then the women sat all day and hulled and sliced the berries, along with gossip.  We caught up on family then.  we were friends.  In the fall we had chicken or clam dinners.  Again, all worked together.  We had bake sales, and craft sales.  

Summer time came and the churches had picnics.  Clam bakes on the Tompkin's farm, corn roasts and picnics.  Every activity had a party atmosphere as parents were relaxed and the children all played together.  If you needed transportation to an event, someone would be willing to pick you up.  My grandfather Holdridge had a seven passenger Packard which he used to transport guests for his boarding house, The Maples.  My father, Leslie would use it to transport those who couldn't drive to activities.  

Weddings were held in these churches, and many memories come.  

St Theresa's in Windham had so many parishioners that they needed a police officer to direct traffic.  Many a Sunday my brother Franklyn stood at the intersection.  

Now we have our once yearly service to keep the church active.  St Joseph's in Ashland is the oldest Catholic Church in the area, but it is only opened on June 1.  We have our yearly services at North Settlement and Mitchell Hollow to keep them viable.  How long until all of the churches will be opened only once a year?  How long will they be standing without the money for repairs?  Are we seeing another part of our history and culture disappear? 

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD

Planning Board Member Poelker Will Be Leaving

Windham planning board chairmanThomas Poelker (left) has announced his approaching retirement, being thanked for his quarter-century of public service by Windham town supervisor Thomas Hoyt.

 

“You can’t make this stuff up,” says Thomas Poelker of multiple events in his life including his days on a Florida-based bobsled racing team.

By Michael Ryan

WINDHAM - The next time the leaves are falling in Windham, perennial planning board member Thomas Poelker, too, will be leaving.

No specific date has been set and his retirement could be coming sooner, since he is currently going bi-coastal to attend meetings.

Local planners hold twice-monthly sessions. They were easy-breezy when Poelker was living in the Gem of the Catskills, tucked on a back road.

It was a do-it-with-his-eyes-closed drive from there to the municipal hall in the hamlet of Hensonville, and he’s done it for twenty-five years until listening to something his heart has always whispered.

“Relationships are the most important thing in life,” Poelker believes, and serendipity has stepped in when least expected - as it does.

Over the past few months, he has made 16 trips from the West Coast and Maui to be at planning meetings in the mountains, having met a certain someone of the feminine persuasion.

Loyalty matters to the once-a-Marine-always-a-Marine, but let’s not forget the travel wear-and-tear on his almost octogenarian human beingness.

So a decision had to come and it is “bittersweet,” says Poelker, who made his announcement at a town council gathering, last week.

“I’ve done the best I can. I’m proud of how I’ve been able to help this town,” said Poelker in who-knew-a-Marine-could-get-teary-eyed fashion.

He has helped by sitting on the planning board for that quarter century, most recently as its chairman with a reputation for getting feisty.

Poelker was also chairman of the town of Windham and Greene County Democratic Party and vice-chair of the State Democratic committee.

He has most definitely been in the middle of a political wrangling or two in his day. Through it all, what he also most definitely is, is thankful.

“I’ve been here since I was two years old,” Poelker told council members, on and off in the beginning with his visiting parents, of course.

He grew up as a self-described “water rat” on Long Island and recalls the old Point Lookout hotel, on the eastern outskirts of Windham.

“My mother’s aunt and uncle helped operate the place. I was a snot-nosed little kid. I collected the dimes people paid to climb up the tower to look through the telescope at the famous five state view.

“They’d see Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and on a clear day, New Hampshire, and they’d ask, ‘Where’s the fifth one?’ and I’d say, ‘You’re standing on it,’” Poelker says, laughing. 

He helped train reserve officers at the Marine education center in Quantico, Virginia, between 1966-68, in the Vietnam era.

Returning to civilian existence, Poelker surfed and lifeguarded in hot, sunny, sandy Florida where he John Sieglinger, a grammar school classmate and Navy fighter pilot, tried out for the Olympics.

“You can’t make this up,” Poelker says. We called ourselves the Key West Bobsled Club. I used to push the sled on wheels. We had a few crashes but we did pretty well. We didn’t miss by much.”

Ultimately he got into the building trade, initially putting up A-frames for the Slutzky family in Hunter before branching out as a successful developer.

Somewhere along the way, somebody suggested the planning board in Windham could use a guy like him and, “now, here we are, twenty-five years later,” Poelker said.

“I thank this town board for allowing me to stay a part of this process,” said Poelker, lately present on computer Zoom when not in person.

“We’ve been involved in a lot of serious issues the past year or so. I want to see that through as much as I can, and with zoning coming in, that will hopefully help make many issues easier.

“I truly care about this town,” Poelker said. “Three of my brothers and my parents and grandparents are buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

“I’m not here tonight to hand in my resignation, but the end of my term is coming so sometime this fall it will happen.”

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD

LEGISLATURE STUFF- Where It’s At and Not At

By Michael Ryan

CATSKILL - So where is it at?

The next special meeting of the Greene County Legislature is scheduled for August 4 at 6 p.m. in the Emergency Operations Center in Cairo.

Lawmakers, with town officials and emergency services professionals, will be continuing discussions on the possible formation of a countywide ambulance system. 

Those talks have been ongoing monthly since last October, taking a hiatus in July to give everyone involved an opportunity to take a breather.

It is a hot button issue and, if put in place, is fully expected to be expensive, in the neighborhood of $12-15 million, county officials says.

On the surface, that is a staggering leap from the current figure of between $7 to 8 million, spread over the Greene County flycars and various municipally-owned squads.

Officials say there are valid, and more importantly, inevitable reasons for the sharp rise such as the need to greatly increase worker benefits and wages, form an administrative team and provide equipment, rigs, etc.

While there are uncertainties about the major change, town supervisors, in an unprecedented display of solidarity, have told lawmakers the unified network is the direction they want to go.

That decision has been years in the making as ambulance service went through financial and operational ups and downs.

Nearly a decade ago, the same exact conversations unfolded, reaching the point of shifting to the county system before the plan died amid a split in proponents and opponents of the concept.

While there have been intense and potentially deal-killing debates over how  the change would happen, it appears there is no turning back, this time.

But it also appears the changeover will not occur until 2027, a year later than initially thought and with sundry details still to be ironed out.

So, entering next Monday night’s session, the multi-million dollar question is, where is it at in terms of getting this thing off the ground and running?

Legislature chairman Patrick Linger heads the monthly gatherings along with county administrator Shaun Groden, each saying the time for a countywide system has come and not because they say so.

“We’re hearing from some towns, ‘Hey, let’s slow this down a little bit,’ but we’re also hearing from a couple of towns that, ‘Hey, we need out of the ambulance business now. It’s killing our budgets,’” Linger says.

Nothing formal has emerged, as yet, that would show the change is underway, although two ideas have been bandied about.

First would be securing a county Certificate of Need (CON) from the State Department of Health, replacing individual, municipal CON’s.

Second would be hiring an administrator, probably an emergency medical services veteran, to begin laying the groundwork for the transition.

To do either, “we need one-hundred percent commitment from the towns,” Linger says. “I think we have an agreement but we want to hear it.”

Securing the county CON could be a painfully bureaucratic process. “From what I understand, the DOH would not allow us to have an open-ended, county CON with all the individual CON’s,” Linger says.

“We would need a specific timeframe to drop the individual CON’s, so we need to have a bigger discussion on that with the group,” Linger says.

And as for bringing in an administrator now, setting up all the protocols and personnel matters, “there is some disagreement about this,” Linger says.

“Disagreement is too strong a word. There are different ways being offered for how this would be done. Maybe through the sheriff’s department which has a whole hierarchy in place already,” Linger says.

“Or possibly it could be run through the existing Emergency Operations Center or under a whole new county department,” Linger says.

Questions also exist about precisely when and how the countywide system will be put in place, at a precise moment in time or piece by piece.

Groden has voiced support for essentially having everything ready to go, and at the stroke of midnight on some predetermined day, pulling the switch, rather than attempting to go piecemeal.

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD

Cairo Democrats Nominate Slate

CAIRO — The Cairo Democratic Committee has announced its slate of candidates for the upcoming town elections.

Former Town Supervisor, realtor, Democrat, and long-time Cairo resident Ted Banta is throwing his hat in the ring once again for Town Supervisor. “I'm dedicated to forging a strong future for our town,” Banta said. He believes that “Cairo needs fiscal scrutiny, improved infrastructure (especially water), and business development. We must foster transparent government, enhance our parks, and support local organizations.”

David Fisher, a Cairo native and Democrat, is running for a seat on the Town Board. “I am running for Cairo Town Board to preserve what we all love about Cairo: our sense of community, our history of natural beauty drawing visitors from around the world, and encouraging small businesses to grow with our growing population.”

The remaining Democratic candidates include long-time Tax Collector Susan Hilgendorff, who is seeking re-election, and Jason Watts, current town supervisor who is running for a Town Council seat.

Ms. Hilgendorff has worked in the Tax Office since 2010, first as Deputy Collector, then as Tax Collector since 2013. She describes herself as “dedicated, caring, helpful, and organized.”

Mr. Watts’s deep commitment to the town and his willingness to work with all constituents have compelled him to seek a position on the board.

The Cairo Democratic Committee will work hard with all its candidates to get out the vote.

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD

East Jewett Church to Host Pancake Dinner Benefiting Rescue Mission

EAST JEWETT – The East Jewett United Methodist Church will host a free-will offering pancake dinner on Tuesday, Aug. 5, to benefit the Capital City Rescue Mission in Albany.

The event is scheduled to run from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. In addition to pancakes, the dinner will feature ice cream sundaes for dessert and whole pies available for sale.

Parking will be located in the field across from 1415 Route 23c. Attendees can take a short ride to the church aboard the Kaaterskill Trolley. Limited handicap parking will be available directly at the church.

All donations from the event will be given to the Capital City Rescue Mission. Those unable to attend can send donations to EJUMC, P.O. Box 53, East Jewett, NY 12424.

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD

Local Homeowner’s Property Elevated Above Floodplain with Support from CWC Flood Hazard Mitigation Program

ARKVILLE — The Catskill Watershed Corporation’s (CWC) Flood Hazard Mitigation Implementation Program (FHMIP) has helped protect another local property from flood risk in the Town of Ashland, Greene County. Jeff Beatty, owner of a residence on State Route 23, received three grants totaling over $185,000 to elevate his home two feet above the 100-year base flood elevation.

The project began in February 2022 with a $5,000 feasibility study to explore flood mitigation options for the residential property. The study was completed by the engineering firm LaBella Associates and concluded that elevating the house was the best solution. 

In August 2022, CWC awarded a $18,177 grant for design costs, which included plans to build a new crawlspace at least two feet high with an overall foundation height of over six feet tall. The foundation will also incorporate flood vents to allow water to safely pass through in the event of a flood. 

A grant for the construction work in the amount of $161,947.50 was approved by CWC following the completed design. Wolfe House Movers began construction in December 2024 and involved lifting the home off its old foundation, removing and replacing it with a new flood-resistant poured foundation, and moving all utilities into a mechanical room above the base flood elevation.

Situated within the Batavia Kill floodplain, this elevation project offers a range of significant benefits. Beyond advantages for the immediate property owner, the initiative will enhance the property's long-term viability, support ongoing occupancy, and reinforce its contribution to the tax base. Furthermore, these benefits extend to the region's vital water resources, safeguarding the overall quality and reliability of water not only locally but also for millions of residents in New York City and neighboring communities.

“This elevation is just one of many successful flood hazard mitigation projects funded throughout the Watershed,” said Flood Hazard Mitigation Program Manager, Joseph Bacci. “Our program supports a variety of projects, including anchoring fuel tanks, property elevations or flood proofing, public infrastructure improvements such as bridge and culvert replacements or upsizing, stream bank restorations, and other flood protection measures.” 

Many CWC flood mitigation initiatives require that the host community must have conducted and adopted a Local Flood Analysis (LFA) which provide formal project recommendations. Ashland completed their LFA in November 2018, recommending property protection measures for structures located in the 100-year flood plain. In addition to Ashland, 25 other communities throughout the Watershed have completed LFA’s, recommending countless eligible projects for community resiliency and water quality protection. CWC encourages all those living in historically flood-affected areas within the watershed to check if their municipality has had a Local Flood Analysis (LFA) conducted at  https://catskillstreams.org/lfa/, and to scan through it to see if any flood mitigation strategies are recommended for their home or property. If it is, there is a good chance that the CWC can help fund it. 

Property owners and municipal leaders in the West-of-Hudson Watershed are encouraged to contact CWC for more information about grant opportunities to help protect their communities against future flood damage.

The Catskill Watershed Corporation is a locally based and locally staffed non-profit Local Development Corporation responsible for environmental protection, economic development, and education programs whose members are the towns in the New York City Watershed West of the Hudson River. www.cwconline.org

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD

The Prattsville Scoop

By Abby and Gabby

PRATTSVILLE – Remember our veterans and tell them “Thank you for your service.” August 4 is U.S.Coast Guard Day and August 7 is Purple Heart Day.

Welcome to August and hopefully we will have not be having those 90+ days and muggy nights.

From Dolores Aplin Decker via Connie Lane: “What a wonderful turnout today 7/8/2025 for our family get together. Donnie and Connie Lane and Sandy Martin, all from Oneonta, and friends Paul and Joan Mead of South Carolina, George and Lois Melin from South Kortright, John and Jane Lane and Peggy Robinson of Prattsville, Shannon Garraghan and Dolores Decker from Ashland. Thank you all for a great afternoon. The food and ice cream were awesome, Love you guys” by Dolores Decker. This family group gets together about once a month for a luncheon at Sundees. Good news is to be shared by all.

More fireworks Sunday evening on Route 23A. Thank you. They were worth standing outside in the mist. Taking in the evening air and fog alone were worth the effort.

Had the chance to welcome home Diana and Arnold Jaeger and Darcy Jaeger-Brand from their two week trip to Ireland. Also included in the trip was Tim Brand of Prattsville and Tyrone, Julee and Ursula Jaeger of Arkansas. Tyrone was the impetus for this trip – he had a collegiate trip planned for his students and Prattsville family took the opportunity to spend some time together in Ireland. Diana can trace her lineage to areas of Ireland and this provided a chance to try to find some blood ties. All said it was a wonderful, worthwhile trip. They were treated with nothing but friendliness and courtesy. Welcome home to the Jaeger family.

The Pratt Rock Park is being worked on to make it more inviting to us and the visitors to our town. The parking area there and at the pull-offs for the Barrier Dam for swimming and fishing are never empty. And so far there have been no problems. Councilman Mason Reese got the ball rolling for the work at the Park and we thank him for that.

Cousins Tony Marsh and Bobby Gurley had breakfast together at Tracy’s Creekside in Grand Gorge on Thursday morning. The family gatherings continued with Rick and Nancy Gurley Hodge visiting from Rochester for the weekend. Nancy spent Friday afternoon with classmates, Gilboa Conesville CS Class of ‘77, Laurel Mattice Truesdell, Ronnie (Veronica) MacAvoy Gonseth, Julie Masonich Capobianco, and Robin Welsh Fleischmens. The four local classmates are able to meet on a regular basis periodically and this is the first time Nancy was able to join them for an afternoon of remembrances. Rob Gurley and Bobby Gurley joined Rick and Nancy at the Gurley homestead to do some errands and chores for Ginny. They all enjoyed lunch together with laughter and plans for the future. Thanks everyone.

Could not find a place to have ice cream Saturday evening and had to settle for individual ice cream items from a gas station. Really missed the soft ice cream sundaes and/or cones but who can complain about having to eat Snickers Ice Cream Bars.

Happy Birthday to Stan Sutton Jr. on August 3. Happy Birthday to Miranda Briggs and Bobby Rion on August 4. It is Happy Birthday to Jeffrey Gonzales on August 5. He is your friendly pharmacist at Windham Pharmacy. Have a great day Jeff. We send Happy Birthday wishes to Sandy Case Hill out in Missouri on August 7. Special Happy Birthday wishes to Pete O’Brien of Maple Crest on August 8. Will not give you his age but he was born in 1926. Happy Anniversary to Emily and Richard Morse on August 2.

Could use your news. Send to gurleyrv@gmail.com or call 518 299 3219.

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD

Traditionally Speaking…by Pat Larsen - Cook of the Year award goes to….?

The important fact you need to know is the actual amount of time each of us has spent in the kitchen cooking together…in our case, it’s been the better part of 50 years. NOW, rather than one of us showcasing our very best chicken dish or pasta specialty, we seem to be competing for who did it BEST? And so far…well. Read on, you'll see how this ends.

Ok, before I go any further, I am sure if this were posted on a social media page, the trolls would be jumping on the comment section to bash the audacity of complaining about who cooks what better.

To that I say, run along and go order your door dash and leave me alone.

The history…Brooklyn was the place of our original home.

I was taught to cook by my grandmother. A stay at home all her life, gardener who grew the food we consumed, baked our breads, indulged every sweet dream we ever had for all manner of confections and crushed the grapes to make the vino in the wine press that we drank at the holidays. You name the occasion, she knew how to create the perfect compliment of 4 courses plus dessert to suit. 

NO recipes required. The preparations, the ingredients, the setting on the gas oven, the right size pots, the pans on and on.

All these details lived inside her memory…

It was that style of cooking, back in the day, that came from intuition and recollection and true functionality and need to feed the family. Oh, yes, Grandma lived with us even when Grandpa was alive and then afterwards as well.

Moving on with this story… He admits to only having cooked scrambled eggs as a young boy. He used 2 eggs and butter in the pan. 

His claim to fame was how perfectly he created this delicious breakfast once a week.

Fast forward to later on and  to what we now refer to as

THIS LIFE TIME…and suddenly HE’s recreating Sunday SAUCE on the stove and reading recipes for how to make proper meatballs in Lydia Bastiainch’s cook book.

RECIPES????? No one wrote down the ingredients to make a

Meatball…you just MADE THEM.

I’m not going to lie. HIS were good, great, actually. I was giving him lots of praise, sort of, right up until he said that the reason for the success was because he added a magic ingredient…wait a minute!

Meatballs didn’t need magic ingredients. To that he said,

“I just add whatever I feel I want to at the time!”...

NOPE that was not how Grandma did it.

This debate went on until the last meatball was consumed right out of the fridge a few days later. 

That’s when we decided our competitive natures had to be put to the test…who made the best meatballs…and the contest was ON!

We gathered friends, family, neighbors and the mail man.

We wanted a good sampling of trustworthy  palates  who knew how to distinguish the best of the best flavor components that made up a meatball. 

GAME ON!

I think we made 75 meatballs each…concocting our specialty versions in secret many times…they were baked, fried, cooked in sauces, microwaved (bleek, that wasn’t me folks) etc etc. 

The time had finally come to count the ballots that were placed in the giant CONTADINA containers that had been washed out and decorated with HIS OR HERS labels.

And the winner was….!

Pat Larsen is a syndicated columnist, author and fitness instructor for her favorite people, Boomers and Seniors.

Have a story to share or a meatball recipe you want her to try…contact Pat at 518-275-8686.

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD