WINDOW ON WALTON
by Alma Lynch

March 2, 2012

Did you do anything out of the ordinary with your Leap Day on Wednesday?  Leap years give us that extra day and it seems as though as a gift we should be able to put our feet up and read a book or at best treat it as a holiday.

All the weather predictions indicated that  March would enter like the proverbial lion. We’ll add that if  winds have anything to do with April showers, get out the umbrellas and rainwear because at our home, it seems that we are never without it and last month we had some real gusts that prevailed.  The gusts the other day were a bit frightening as a matter of fact.

Dating back a bit and it may be so today that one does not eat meat on a Friday during the Lenten period.  Well, from 4:30 until 7 o’clock  tonight, Friday,  March 2  a Friday Fish Dinner will be served at the First United Methodist Church, 101 North Street with takeouts  available by calling 607 865-5765.

The menu includes New England Clam Chowder, fried or baked fish, coleslaw, choice of baked or French fried potatoes, assorted dessert and beverage.  Also, if requested  chicken  nuggets may be substituted for the fish.

Cost for dinner is $11 for adults; $5 for children ages 5-12 and those under  five are guests.

Additional fish dinners are scheduled for March 9, 16, 23 and 30.

The Walton World Day of Prayer program will be offered beginning at 7 o’clock tonight, Friday, March 2 at the Reformed Presbyterian Church, corner of East and Bruce Streets in the village.  Rob and Bailey LaTourette will present a short account of their trip to Nicaragua.  Babysitting will be provided and refreshments served following the program.  All are invited to attend this community event.

Wilson’s Barbecue Chicken will be available beginning at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, March 3, at the Country Store on Delaware Street to benefit the Riverside Alliance Church Life and Delta Lake Camp Fund.

A pancake breakfast  is on the calendar for 7 until 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, at the Masonville Federated Church.  Also, the sale of baked goods  will be offered.

There will be a free community supper from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March  6 at the New Hope Community Church on Stockton Avenue and another  one from 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 8 at the First United Methodist Church, 101 North Street.

Don’t forget that   Meet the Candidates is scheduled for 7 p.m. on March 7 at O’Neill High School on Stockton Avenue.  Bring along your questions if you have any and learn what the village trustee candidates have in mind for us.

The First Grade Researchers, led by Mrs. Barbara  Geidel, have scheduled an Indoor Lawn Sale from 3 to 6 p.m. on March 9 in the Townsend Elementary School Playroom to benefit  the Walton Food Bank.

In researching how anyone could help with the problem of hunger in the world, the students decided they can donate to their local food bank, and thus the fund raiser.

Random Thoughts:-  We remember when the late James Kent suggested developing fishing as a tourist  attraction  for Walton and the immediate area.  

And then, in jest perhaps, when John Clark made the recommendation  that  we become the Barbecue Chicken  Capital of the World.  

We did the Scarecrow Capital, which drew visitors and probably will again if residents cooperate and display those guardians of the fields.

It is disturbing when the headlines and news coverage indicate huge staff reductions by the United States Mail Service and a possible increase in postal rates.  Maybe lowering them would encourage more use of the service.  And we may be seeing evidence of the funds shortage plight by the deteriorating  entrance  steps at our Walton Post Office.  Looks like an invitation to a fall or sprain.         

The treatment of Indians, animals and the plight of the  honeybee  are concerns of your columnist, who does sometimes address these subjects.  It was heartwarming to have our local library put emphasis on the bees.  Stop and think that  commercial honeybee operations pollinate crops that provide one out of every three bites of food on our tables.  Want to do the job with a small paint  brush?

Back  when we were fighting caterpillars attacking  our trees, people voiced lack of concern when advised that  insecticides could kill our bees.  Now, we learn from Amazon.com "these  honeybees , a  keystone species vital to sustaining our ecosystem are mysteriously disappearing across the planet, literally vanishing from their hives."

Identified as Colony Collapse Disorder, this phenomenon has brought beekeepers to crisis in an industry responsible for producing fruits, nuts and vegetables  

Screening for  Kindergarten  has been scheduled from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on March 7 at the Guidance Office of the Townsend Elementary School.   Children who turn five years of age on or before December 1, 2012 are eligible to  enter Kindergarten.

The child’s birth certificate and immunization records should be presented in addition to a registration form.  If you have not received such a  form, which indicates the school has your child’s name as being eligible, please call  607 865-5220, extension 4076.

Current UPK students are not required to attend  the  registration.

"Indian  Summer: The Cannonsville Story" will be shown beginning at 6 p.m. on March 8 in the Cannon Free Library in Delhi. It is Norm Studer’s film about the construction of the Cannonsville Dam along the  West  Branch of the Delaware River and admission is free.

Pete Seeger and Mike Seeger composed and performed the music for the soundtrack, singing and playing fiddle, five-string banjo, guitar, twelve-string guitar,   bamboo flute, harmonica, pump organ and drum.        

Another  fleet of foot Walton athlete. Kristine Reed placed fourth in the 1,500  at the Section Four Select Indoor Track Meet held in Ithaca.  With a school record time of 5:10.47 as reported in The  Daily Star,  Kristine  broke her previous mark of  5:15.14, which she  set earlier this season.

There are a few more Sundays  to play soccer and basketball  from 1 until 3 p.m. at the O’Neill High School at a cost of $3.00  per person.

The March calendar is boasting things to do and see and ways to assist with monetary donations and volunteer   services.  Good food and good times so often  are found as we support good causes.

The Weezie D’s Walkers, an American Cancer Society Relay for Life team, has planned its fourth annual Bowl-A-Thon for March 10 at the Walton Lanes bowling facility  with registration at 12:30 p.m. and the competition  slated to begin at  1 p.m.  The charge is $2.50 per game  but also at least one sponsor or donation is required to be given to the fundraiser.  There will be three games, 9-pin  no tap with two mulligans allowed per game and there will door prizes for the bowlers.

The children wanted it and Cornell Cooperative Extension of  Delaware County responded with an  After School  Program of Parents and Children Cook Together, "Eating Smart-Being Active" project  scheduled to begin this week and continue through April 2 in the  Andes Central School high school cafeteria.

This eight-week program  with sessions from 5 until 7 p.m. on Mondays, equips families and adults with free kitchen utensils, topical booklets and incentives, recipes and ways to be active physically through stretching, and strengthening.   It followed when the students themselves expressed interest in expanding their cooking and kitchen  safety skills, and parents were looking for strategies and tips on ways their family can be healthy while bonding together through dinner.

Research has shown the value of families eating together  including the children doing well in school and their community.  Families will select and prepare recipes from Eating Smart-Being Active to share each time;  will identify ways to incorporate U.S.    Department of Agriculture’s CHOOSEMYPLATE guidelines into each meal and snacks; and will have fun with stretch bands, giggle balls, and other body moving games that work well for staying active, parties, and family get-togethers.

For additional information or to have this program offered at your  organization  or  club, you may contact  Jeanne M.  Darling, Extension Executive Director at 607 865-6531.

Edith Gawler and Bennett Konesni, who will be appearing in concert on the evening of March 10, will offer a  free  Worksong Workshop at 2:30 p.m. on March 10 at the William B. Ogden Free Library.  Edith and Bennett  are two farmers who are reviving the age-old tradition of singing while working in the fields.  The workshop, sponsored by Music on the Delaware, will focus on simple but beautiful call and response songs that work well in backyard gardens, in farm fields, or even with  other  physical activity  like hiking or jogging. Those wishing to  have a little fun erupting into joyful music are  welcome to the workshop as well as listeners. Interested musicians  should register with the library at 607 865-5929  and for answers to questions, please contact  607 865-6625.

The duo will perform at  7:30 p.m. on March 10  at the Walton Theatre in a concert  with the entire Gawler Family Band, also sponsored by Music on the Delaware.

It is Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. that the Eells House of the Walton Historical Society at 9 Townsend Street is open as well as on Saturday during the same hours of 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.  March 9 is the deadline for submissions to the spring newsletter  of the unit.  

We’ve learned from Anna Sulger, local team captain for the current Alzheimer’s Association drive for funds, that she is putting out  blue collection  cans  in the area for donations of cash and checks.  Also, they may be sent to Anna Sulger,  923 Seely Wood Road, Walton, NY, who thanks all who contribute.

April is National Poetry Month and the  expected  date  for the annual Poetry Marathon  held at the William B. Ogden Free Library is April 28.  Do choose your favorite poems and attend to share them.

The Delaware County Historical Association has reported that Janet Schwengber  of  Clinton Street in Delhi was the winner of the hand-made basket filled with local produce.  Martha Brenner provided the basket, the contents were donated, the drawing was held at the annual meeting and proceeds were approximately $400 to benefit the museum.

With serving time from 5 until 6:45 o’ clock tonight, Friday, March 2, the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary will offer its Friday night dinner at the Walton Vet’s Club.  The menu will include roast pork and dressing with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, apple sauce and a  variety of desserts.  Takeouts are available and proceeds will assist local veterans in need as well as to send packages to our men and women serving in the military.

Following its usual hiatus, sessions of the Walton Senior Citizens Club will resume after the senior meal at 12:15 p.m. on March 8 in St. John the Baptist Church on Benton Avenue.  Wayne Shephard, newly appointed director of the Office of the Aging, will be the speaker.  He will discuss the various agencies connected with this office, which  help seniors in many ways, and answer  pertinent questions.

At a previous meeting, members were requested to bring a guest on Thursday so that other seniors may become more aware of the work of the Office of the Aging.  However, any senior is always welcome to attend any of the club meetings.   The phone number of the senior meal site is 607 865-6739 for those who wish to make a reservation for the meal. Please call before the  day you plan to attend.

Do you agree with Tom Wicker who said, "To know things as they  are is better than to believe things as they seem?"  Enjoy!