Published: May 08, 2008 11:09 am         

South Valley

By CAROL BRODIE

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers!

The past week has been rather cool, hasn’t it, but at least we’ve received some much-needed rain. Actually, it was downright cold on Thursday morning, May 1, as we had 28 degrees up here on the hill while Cliff Snyder reports he had 22 at his house down in town. He said they also had a quite heavy frost that morning, while we had a light frost.

I had a nice phone call last week from Cora Wikoff, who lives just outside of Cherry Valley. She and Walt have been enjoying a variety of birds at their feeders lately. They’ve had male and female goldfinches, a redpoll, chipping sparrow, song sparrow, and a beautiful pair of cardinals, among other birds.

Our pair of cardinals, which we hadn’t seen in a few weeks, are back again and have been visiting our feeder. I have to keep check of the feeder, as something, other than birds, seem to have been eating the food. I’m assuming it is a pair of raccoons that have been here for most of the winter. Pat Mabie mentioned not being able to put suet out for her birds now, as she had two raccoons there that devoured it.

While Frank and I were at the Schoharie County Maple Festival on Saturday, April 26, and Dad went down for part of the day as well, Sharon Thompson and her granddaughter, Elizabeth, of Morris stopped in at our house to visit Mom for a while.

Last Friday, as Dad, Mom and I were in the Cobleskill Wal-Mart shopping, we ran into Mary Kersman, of Decatur, and her mom, Mary Cameron, of Worcester. Mom and I enjoyed a nice visit with them, as we hadn’t seen them in a long time. It’s nice to occasionally see some of our former neighbors who’ve moved away from South Valley. Expression of Sympathy We were very sorry to hear of the death of Orval Huntington, 89, of Unadilla and Zephyrhills, Fla., who passed away at his daughter Barbara “Bobbie” Burdick’s New Mexico home on Wednesday, April 16. Our thoughts and many prayers are with Bobbie and her sister, Yvonne “Vonnie” Ackley, of Sidney, and their families, as well as the rest of Orval’s relatives.

Birthdays & Anniversaries Birthday wishes go out to Haylee Gray who will be five years old, Corey James Jerome, Samantha Coon who turns 23, Mary Lou Bach, Michele Becker, Amber Lundgren who will be 10, Ashley Rivas, Laurie Laymon, John Moore, Michael Drake, Charley Brodie, and Alton Jones. Oops! Once again, I missed an important birthday! Happy (belated) birthday to little Ezra Wilber who turned four years old on May 1.

Anniversary wishes go to Walter and Debbie Stretch and Sam and Marge Dubben. Congratulations once again to Leland “Zeke” and Pat Mabie who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, April 27, with an Open House at the South Valley Community Hall. Pat says approximately 75 guests, both family and friends, attended, and she and Leland send each of you a warm thank you for helping to make their day even more special. Their daughter, Debbie Anderson, said it was neat that they were able to hold the party on the actual day of their anniversary.

All three of their children, Debra, Leland, and Tom, were there, as were all six of their grandchildren. Leland’s sister, Marjorie French, and her three daughters, Janet, Cindy, and Karen, were there, as were Pat’s brother and sister, Bob Norton and Sandy Sutton.

A buffet-style meal was held, with a cake made by their daughter, Debbie. Two of the ladies from the South Valley Women’s Club also helped out in the kitchen with the meal.

Several people who couldn’t make it to the party have either sent cards or stopped by the Mabies’ home to visit.

Leland Mabie and Patricia Norton were married at the South Valley First Christian Church on April 27, 1958, with Rev. Myron Tripp officiating over the ceremony. Their attendants, now both deceased, were Pat’s aunt, Helen Bissell, and Leland’s brother, Gerald “Joker” Mabie.

Coming Events

Spring has arrived, and along with it, the first dinner of the South Valley Women’s Club. After the long winter, come on out and join with your neighbors and friends to enjoy the ladies’ delicious chicken and biscuit dinner at the Community Hall on Saturday, May 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. Donations will be taken at the door.

Remember, it’s your generous donations that make it possible for the ladies to continue having the dinners and keep up with the repairs at the hall. Their holiday gift boxes and giving to the community is also a great encouragement to many.

The Cooperstown Area Christian Women’s Club will be hosting a brunch, “Opportunity Knocks,” at the Tally Ho in Richfield Springs on Monday, May 19. The meal will be served at 10:30 a.m. with the program to follow at 11 a.m. (Please note the earlier time, as this is a brunch, not a luncheon.)

This month’s speaker will be Darlene Clark, from Delmar, who tells how she got involved in sign language. The special feature will be “Darlene will sing and sign.” For questions, or to make reservations, please call Nancy at (607) 264-3402, Dotty at (315) 822-6391 or Peg at (315) 858-0525. The ladies’ Prayer Connection will be meeting at Mabel’s [(315) 858-0538] on Monday, May 12, at 10 a.m. Bits and Pieces Sharon Thompson, her daughters-in-law, Traci Thompson, of Cherry Valley, and Daphne Thompson, of Morris, along with Daphne’s daughter, Elizabeth, attended a bridal shower for Sharon’s niece, Carrie Kniskern, at the Lutheran Church in Seward, on Saturday, April 26.

Carrie will be married to Robert “Bob” Eastman on June 28 at the Methodist Church in Cobleskill. Elizabeth had spent Friday night, prior to the bridal shower, as an overnight guest of her grandparents, David and Sharon Thompson, and her Uncle Aaron Thompson.

Ten ladies, Margaret Mabie, Renee Brant, Joanne Thompson, Marilyn Mollen, Thelma Coleman, Marie Becker, Londa Webster, Janice Pahls, Sharlene Sheldon, and Marge Gould, piled into two vehicles and headed to Binghamton on Saturday, April 26, where they spent the day shopping and enjoyed lunch.

David and Sharon Thompson and Robert and Maureen Joy, of Morris, were Sunday evening dinner guests of Keith and Daphne Thompson and daughter, Elizabeth Rose, of Morris, on April 27. Clifford Snyder enjoyed lunch and spent the day visiting his brother and sisterin- law, Art and Frieda Snyder, of Fly Creek, on Monday, April 28.

Hope you all enjoy a lovely Mother’s Day weekend! Be sure to phone me at (607) 264-3225 with all of your news for this area.