HAPPY NEW YEAR to each and everyone. I pray 2026 brings you nothing but the best of health, safety and love. We are so blessed to live in these United States compared to what we see going on in other countries. May our United States always remain safe and secure no matter what comes before us.
Christmas Eve service was held for several people at Flat Creek Church last Wednesday evening. The music and Pastor Paul’s sermon was ever so touching. Following the candlelight and communion service everyone met in the fellowship hall for delicious desserts.
Likewise, Pastor Dawn delivered a blessed Christmas Eve service at Gilboa Methodist Church to those in attendance.
Condolences to Jim and Jeanine Eisel with the passing of Jim’s dad. Jim and Jeannine are owners of the Prattsville Great American and Middleburgh grocery stores.
I hope your Christmas was spent with lots of happiness. While we know it was a sad time for some, I know our prayers helped families who are going through a hard time during the holidays. Our Christmas was spent at my home with daughters Diane and Debbie and Chuck. When everyone arrived, we opened our gifts with lots of laughter and thankfulness. By 1:30 it was time to sit down to a rib roast dinner. For the third year thankfully the fire company did not have to be called out for smoke detected on my alarm. I told the girls I guess I roasted the meat the way a friend had told me to which sure made the difference. All in all, our Christmas was a blessed one. One gift I gave to Diane was a Snow Joe Battery operated snow blower. When we got the 9” of snow Saturday morning at 5am Diane went out and did her driveway. She was so excited at how great it worked that she even did her two neighbors’ driveways as well. She \told me it was a pleasure to use with such little effort. I have an electric one and believe me it works great too! Reasonable priced and much better than those heavy gas-powered ones for sure. Her neighbor could not get over just how far the snow was flying out of the shoot on such a small snow blower, as he came up Rte. 23. I thought well, that was a good present along with so many more everyone received. They all left around 6:30pm arriving home safely.
Neighbors Alison and Tony spent their Christmas at her daughter Hananh’s home downstate. Their son Mark and his family joined them as well. Alison tells me it was so much fun to be with all of them including the grandchildren. They sure lit up the whole day. Now they are back in Gilboa for the beginning of the new year and are waiting for Hannah and family to arrive. Alison said she is enjoying cozying up to the warm wood fire.
Max and Carolyn Stryker held their Christmas with family at their home on Thursday. Everyone enjoyed Carolyn’s wonderful dinner along with enjoying their gifts all around.
Polly Webster tells me her Christmas was spent at her sister Alicia and Bill Terry’s on Sunday. With Polly’s other sister Heidi, her hubby David, Sons Thomas and Jonathan, they gathered around the dining room table where they enjoyed a delicious Prime Rib dinner. Gifts were exchanged following the dinner. Polly says we are so blessed and grateful to be able to all gather for the holidays.
Friends Barbara and her hubby Manfred, who is recuperating nicely after a stay in the hospital a while back, stayed home for the holidays. Barbara also cooked a delicious meal for Christmas day. They too enjoyed opening their gifts. I do hope the new year brings them nothing but good health.
Monday morning the Gilboa Town Board met for their last meeting of 2025. The next scheduled meeting will be in January when the organizational meeting will be held. Everything that came before the board went well. Supervisor Terry, Councilperson Lester Parker and myself were given our oath of office by Town Clerk Linda Wyckoff. Although Supervisor Alicia was in attendance she was nursing a bad cold. We do hope she and Bill recover without a hitch. Lots of colds and flu are going around. A suggestion: wear a mask if you have to be out and about in crowded places.
I have a little story to tell about my daughter Debbie in Binghamton. Debbie does amazing volunteer work for Project Paw, a cat adoption center. She is very dedicated as she goes there each morning since retiring from NYSEG. Now I call her the bird rescuer. One day last week as she looked out her window at her bird feeder, she spotted a Red-Tailed hawk attacking a Pidgeon who was on the feeder. She quickly ran out screaming at the hawk. It quickly took off. She thought oh my I bet the Pidgeon is dead. When she got closer, she noticed one of the Pidgeon’s claws was caught in the bottom of the mesh netting base of the feeder. Finally, after trying several times to loosen the claw, she tipped the feeder over and the pigeon fell to the ground in the snow. It had lost one claw. Debbie was thankful it was not a toe. It landed on his legs. She noticed that the hawk had left some marks on it as he attacked it. Well, there that Pidgeon was. She bent over and of course talked to it feeling ever so bad. Suddenly, the Pidgeon looked at her and within seconds as if to say thank you, took off for the woods in back! Debbie breathed a sigh of relief. Now not only is she a volunteer/rescuer for cats but birds as well. Debbie said lately she and her neighbors have been seeing more of those pesky Red-Tailed Hawks in their neighborhood.
Birthdays: January 6, Linda Dewello, January 7 Jackie Roland. Enjoy your special day, Blessed in the Lord.
Prayer Concerns: Cindy Cestare, Tom Moner’s son-in-law Harold, Patti Haight, Alicia and Bill Terry, Edith Butler’s two month old granddaughter with covid and extremely high protein, the Cooper family and all who may be ill at this writing.
Gilboa/Conesville Central School:
Holiday break January 1-3, January 12 Early release day 11:30am.
Upcoming Events:
Sunken City Cidery: Wednesday, December 31, is their Annual New Year’s Eve Party. The Cidery opens at 2pm with The Blues Maneuver Band from 3-5pm. The Lonely Birds 6-9pm with The Reservoir Sunken City Eats available. Tickets are available as well. They will be closed on New Year’s Day. On Friday, January 2, Cidery opens 3-6pm Saturday, January 3 Yoga 11am-12 noon then Live Music 3-6pm and the Reservoir sunken city eats. On Sunday, January 4, Cidery open 12pm-4pm with once a gain the Reservoir Sunken City Eats for some great food. If you plan on attending, you can always go on their website for any changes.
If you have a decorated tree on display at Lansing Manor, you need to be sure and take down your decorations on or before January 6. There are about twenty-one trees on display. All of them are beautiful.
Sunday Worship Services:
Gilboa Methodist: 9:00am located on 990V Gilboa
Flat Creek Baptist: Flat Creek Road, 9:30am Sunday School, 10:30am worship service with coffee and fellowship following the service. Ladies Bible study every Monday 10:00am.
Conesville United Methodist Chapel: First and Third Sunday of the month 4:00pm Route 990V.
Got News? E-mail pickee@midtel.net
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