Skip to main content

Wednesday, July 1



- WEATHER -
- COVID-19 UPDATES & IN THE MAIL -

Click Here for the Latest from Governor Cuomo
Click Here for the Latest from the CDC
Click Here for the NYS Department of Labor
Click Here for the NYS Park Department
Click Here for the Oneida County COVID-19 Dashboard
Click Here for the Madison County COVID-19 Dashboard



The Village Hall will be open to the public starting on July 6th. A mask must be worn to enter the hall. Please be respectful, wear a mask and practice social distancing.



Waterville Historical Society is reopening Wednesday, July 1st
from 10 to 4. Please observe masks and social distancing.
Our first public program of the season will be held Saturday,
July 25 at 2 pm. Terry McMaster will present:
A Nest of Rascally Rebels: Scots-Irish Revolutionaries of Currybush

“In the early 1750s a few Scots-Irish families from central
Massachusetts and south-central New Hampshire began
trickling into an unsettled region about halfway between
Schenectady and Fort Hunter, into what is today the Town of
Princetown, Schenectady County.  Those families greatly
contributed to the cause of American Independence, the Scots-
Irish being particularly critical of British control over the
American colonies.  We will explore seven families who settled
in what was then called "Corry's Brook," their patterns of
intermarriage and frontier lifestyle, and their fierce
participation in fighting the British during the American
Revolution.”
Terry McMaster is an independent researcher examining
ethnicity, settlement patterns, family connections and military
engagement throughout the Mohawk and Upper Susquehanna
Valleys prior to and during the American Revolution.
Terry is primarily researching the citizen soldiers who fought
for and protected the homes and families of colonial Tryon
County, the alliances and conflicts between Loyalists, Indians
and Revolutionaries, and the part played in their lives by
family ties, ethnic variation and religion.  He is especially

interested in the emigration of Ulster Scots to New England
and New York, and their sizable impact on the "War of 1776."    
He is also involved in a large-scale Y-DNA project that traces
Scots-Irish genetic and population patterns in Northern Ireland
and America.  He has presented his research at Fort Plain
Museum’s "American Revolution in the Mohawk Valley" annual
conference, at the Ulster-American Heritage Symposium at the
University of Toronto, at the Oriskany Battlefield
Commemoration and at historical societies throughout upstate
New York.
Terry’s ancestor Capt. David McMaster was a member of the
Tryon Co. Committee of Safety, led the 6th company of the 3rd
Regiment, Tryon Co. Militia, and fought at the battles of
Oriskany and Johnstown.  His ancestors were living in Cherry
Valley at the time of the attack on Nov. 11, 1778.  He is a
photographer, artist and teacher, and works as an addiction
therapist at Capital Counseling, Albany, NY.








Waterville Little League Registration Fee Returns
We will returning cash for all registration fees for tee ball, coach pitch, and minor league for those families who registered and reside in Waterville, Oriskany Falls, and Deansboro. If you wrote checks, then your checks have been deposited. Please bring a pen and drive through the Waterville Library parking lot of July 8th between 6 and 730PM. We will hand you your envelope as you drive up, you will take the cash from your envelope, sign the envelope, and return it to us. Then you can head out of the parking lot again. You will not need to get out of your car, and we will have masks on as we serve you. Thanks so much to our families. Please call or text me if you have questions at 3155425760. Thanks, Courtney
***

***Major League SEASON UPDATE***As a result of a League Meeting on 6/29 our Major League season will not take place this year due to a majority vote - for those Softball players who paid and are in need of a refund we will still meet at Babbott Field Monday 7/6 @ 5pm please attend if you can and be mindful of social distance guidelines!  ***Stay tuned for Major League Baseball updates!






- AROUND TOWN -


If you haven't been out as much as you wish lately, we can all live vicariously through the patient and spectacular photography of Jody Hildreth. Like these Pileated Woodpeckers here in Waterville, NY



Synchronous Fireflies and the Troll Bridge
This was an amazing sight to witness: the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The main event, which draws thousands of visitors and actually requires winning a lottery just to attend, was cancelled due to Covid-19. This didn't mean you couldn't attend, however. It just took a little extra work. The road going up to Elkmont was still open, so we bicyled the two miles up. A few other people made the trek, too, but the numbers were only a drop in the bucket compared to when the official firefly event is held each year.

The synchronous fireflies are unique in that they all flash at the same time. I thought they would blink in unison, but instead it was like someone turning on a set of twinkling Christmas lights that stay illuminated for 10-15 seconds then suddenly shut off. There are thousands of these fireflies throughout the woods creating a very unique light show.

Here are the techincal details of how I came away with this image:

Canon 7D Mark II, Rokinon 8mm f/3.5

This is a multiple image shot. At dusk, I photographed the bridge using a Neewer LED panel to illuminate the bridge with the following settings:
ISO 200, 8mm, f/16, 13 sec.

When it got dark enough and the fireflies started their show, I shot with the following settings:
ISO 5000, 8mm, f/3.5, 30 sec.

In Lightroom, I cleaned up the high noise on the firefly images, then layered several of them in Photoshop on top of the original bridge photo to create this final image.


Indian Flats Falls
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

It takes an 8.3 mile round trip hike to reach these falls, but it was so worth it. The scenery along the way is fantastic as you walk up a slowly graded abandoned railroad bed next to a gently cascading stream. There are three main drops at this falls and it does take some scrambling to get to the middle and lower falls. I liked the large moss covered rock that jutted up from the pool of the middle falls.

Canon 7D Mark II, Sigma 10-20mm f.3.5 
ISO 100, 11mm, f/14 
Haida .9 ND Filter and Circular Polarizer 
HDR image 3 shots at +/- 2 stops

Spring Creek Lavender and Flower Farm, near Remsen, NY



With the pop up thunderstorms and rain showers clearing the air, and bringing a bit of drought relief, temperatures and humidity levels have been seasonable and pleasant. It's also brought some pleasant views from rainbows to this morning's fog nestled between the hills.



Happy first day of July!

Popular posts from this blog

Wednesday, May 24

- WEATHER - ***** Happy Birthday (yesterday) to Dottie Ruane! ***** - IN THE MAIL - Today: WCS High School Spring Concert Wed. May 24 7 pm *** Memorial Day Weekend: May 29, 2017 Parades:  Waterville:  9 am   Line up 8:30 am.   Service following at Monument Park  with Guest Speaker Assemblyman William Magee Call Tom McNamara for more information or to participate @315-841-8018 Parade Canceled in the event of rain. Deansboro:  10:30 am Service Prior @ 10:15 am at Veterans Memorial Kiddie Bike Parade Oriskany Falls:  Noon Service Following at Douglas Park Guest Speaker Dean Kimball From Village Clerk Amber Bell, also note that  " instead of the Legion offering hotdogs and hamburgers at the Legion, the Pride in the Community Committee/Fireworks over Oriskany Falls will be providing free hotdogs and refreshment right at the park for the kids that march in...

Monday, May 4

- WEATHER - From the US National Weather Station Binghamton After a warm spring day today, temperatures fall back below normal beginning Monday. In fact, low temperatures Monday night/early Tuesday morning will likely fall to around or below freezing.   Ever wonder when the growing season begins where you live (when we start issuing frost/freeze products for the season)? Here is a regional map that shows the median date of the last spring freeze. -COVID-19 UPDATES & IN THE MAIL - Click Here  for the  Latest from Governor Cuomo - Including Additional Guidelines for Regions of NYS to Re-Open Click Here  for the  Latest from the CDC Click Here  for the  NYS Department of Labor Click Here  for the  Oneida County COVID-19 Dashboard Click Here  for the  Madison County COVID-19 Dashboard Click Here  for the  NYS Park Department Trash day is Tuesday, May 5th. Please remember to have trash in a neat pile, no longer than 6'...

Wednesday, February 10

-IN THE NEWS- Although the groundhog did just predict an early spring and it certainly felt that way for a few days, it seems we are going to be getting a little more winter. With predictions of lake effect snow up to 10 inches by Friday morning and frigid weather coming this weekend it's probably best if we all enjoy this time doing something indoors with friends and family. For the latest on this winter weather visit cnycentral.com . ****** -IN THE MAIL- -The Farmers Market has been cancelled for today- From the Waterville Farmers Market: "Because of the weather showing more snow and gusty winds into Thursday, we are canceling today's market at Morgan's Hardware. We hope you will come out to see us at the next one in 2 weeks." Some wonderful country photos were sent in by Colin Kelsey from his drive through Oriskany Falls.  Last weekend Jeff Reynolds family came up from South America to visit. They enjoyed the spring like wea...

Thursday, October 7

 -IN MEMORIAM- Linda S. Jaquays Bono April 26, 1951 - October 4, 2021 Click HERE for the complete obituary. -WEATHER- WEEK OF OCTOBER 6 -12, 2021 -LOCAL CALENDARS- -Village of Waterville- -Waterville Central School- -Waterville Public Library- -IN THE MAIL- Register HERE  for Halloween Science Experiments! Hello Friends! Here's the Class of 1991 Official Reunion Invite. We apologize for the short-notice. We have been closely watching COVID numbers and have been given the green light to move forward. Please share with all classmates and school staff. Masks required for unvaccinated at the Football game, per school policy. Personal choice, with no judging at the Lodge! Hope to see you there! Significant others included! Register HERE  for Pound Fitness Class! Community members, organizations, and businesses are encouraged to join in the fun by creating a Trick-Or-Treat Station along the tail. Register Here: https://forms.gle/1FSiZagsbNst4YMC9 -AROUND TOWN- The start of Hall...

Wednesday, April 15th

- IN MEMORIAM - Francis J. Lallier December 10, 1934 - April 14, 2020 Click Here for Full Obituary   - WEATHER - - COVID-19 UPDATES & IN THE MAIL- Click Here for the Latest from Governor Cuomo Click Here for Info on the Tax Day Extension -The Federal Income Tax Filing Due Date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020. Click Here for the Latest from The CDC Click Here for NYS Department of Labor File a new Unemployment Insurance claim here.  Our online filing system has been improved to better serve New Yorkers. You may file your claim any day of the week (Monday-Sunday) from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM (Eastern Time). New Yorkers who have already filed partial claims under the old UI system and were told to call the call center to finish their application should NOT - instead, the DOL call center will call these New Yorkers directly. Click Here for the Oneida County COVID-19 Dashboard Click Here for the M...

Friday, May 22

- WEATHER -