Publisher ENCA
Volume Number 2 Issue Number 6
June, 2005

Summer seems to have arrived with a vengeance. Do we, who live where winter lasts for nine months of the year dare complain about heat and lack of precipitation? Indeed yes. After five weeks of relative drought, it is gratifying to hear and read small inklings of concern that we might better be mindful of our water supply. In a larger, more densely populated town they have advised an alternate side of the street lawn watering regime. Oh, can you just hear the howls of protest, "I'm not going to be home on Tuesday, I have to water my lawn on Wednesday, but that's not my allotted day!" First cutting hay, I understand, has been abandoned to grazing as the paucity of output has not warranted the gasoline required to cut it. Living close to the land requires a lot more thought than in a world where everything is neatly provided in Styrofoam packages at the grocery store.

Welcome back snowbirds. I expect that yours is a lifestyle that is undergoing many changes as camping becomes a more expensive endeavor, especially having any dwelling adjacent to water. What an amazing commodity, water, so taken for granted, yet so basic.

Among the issues discussed at this months' TB meeting was that of applying for funds from FEMA to correct some road areas where the rain of April 2 and 3, 2005 caused significant damage. The agency seems to have shifted focus from repair of certain areas to preventative intervention - like paying for larger culverts to be installed in vulnerable areas rather than having to deal with washed out roads. From flooding to drought, welcome to Central N.Y.

About 50 people attended the tour of Nelson Farms with the Heritage Society folks. What a great thing to finally see the resurrection of the downtrodden Nelson Inn. And the products are reputed to be extra special and selling well both locally and in specialty markets in NYC.

Also on the agenda of the Historical Society is the construction of a quilt depicting structures in the Town to be raffled off at the bicentennial celebration. In addition, plans are in the works to revive the game of "Town Ball." A game conceived in Massachusetts, in the early 1800's, Town Ball is a primitive form of our modern baseball. It is played with a specially made softball, manufactured by the Cooperstown Bat Company, and a bat, of the "striker's" choosing whose length is a matter of choice but the diameter of which cannot exceed two and a half inches at its widest part. This is a user friendly activity, more fast-paced than baseball, and can be played by adults and children. All the towns in Madison County are attempting to field teams to compete against each other. Both ball fields (Erieville and Nelson) have recently been upgraded and are being used by local teams. The Indians too appear to be getting involved in activities concerning the bicentennial. A show at the Art Park in Cazenovia is forthcoming. It's so nice to hear that kind of news rather than that of the separate peoples' kind. I've seen a bumper sticker with a flag of the US, crossed with an Oneida Nation that reads, "Allies in war, partners in peace." Well, let's hope so.

The new summer banners should be up soon thanks primarily to the efforts of Carol Booth and her tireless phone campaign both to raise money and plod through the bureaucratic complexities involved in such a project. She is also involved in another local project along with folks from the Tuscarora Lake Association. Details TBA.

Some members of the ENCA Garden Club put some new flowers in the boxes at the Erieville Church. Also, if you ever drive south of Erieville on Rte 67, keep an eye out for an old concrete structure on the right, about a half mile from the four corners, that has recently been revived by Pete Spaulding and Priscilla Onyan for use as a flower bed. It was originally a horse trough and is the last known replica of its type remaining in the area. Of indeterminate age, it seems to be well known that Carl Anderson's parents got engaged at that spot.

Shirley Miller hosted a lovely luncheon at her home in New Woodstock to celebrate Sonia's birthday. Thanks, Shirley.

The Memorial Day Parade, held this year in Erieville was both charmingly reminiscent of old hometown togetherness and a moving tribute to those who fought for our country in various wars. The towns of New Woodstock, Delphi Falls and Erieville, host this parade every third year. There are a couple of pictures on the website in case you missed the real thing.

Meetings this month include:

-6/11, 10 A.M.Tuscarora Lake Association, organizational.

-6/11, 7P.M. Hymn Sing (5 choirs participating)

Both will be at the Erieville Church.

-6/14, 7 P.M. Town Planning Board.

-6/20, 7 P.M. Erieville-Nelson Community Association.

Both are held at the Town Office Building.

We continue to invite additional input for this gazette and the community website. Let us hear from you regarding this area and happenings of interest.

WEBSITE address: http://home.twcny.rr.com/enca

The Gazettes are under the link for Local News.

For ideas, or questions, or whatever, contact:

Denise Earl 662-7621

Sonia Davies 655-2654