Published: August 07, 2008 09:55 am         

South Valley

By CAROL BRODIE

Our garden this year is doing well, but last week was surely hard to do much in it with all the rain we received and the constant thunderstorms off and on throughout the week. With the flash flood warnings on Wednesday and Thursday, I was afraid we were in for major flooding like we had a couple of years ago. Fortunately, it wasn’t as bad as they thought it would be.

Sharon Thompson phoned on Tuesday, July 22, to say she’d seen close to 60 baby turkeys right near their house that morning. We had some turkeys here earlier this year, but I haven’t seen any in awhile now, so I guess they all moved to the Thompson area to have their families. (smile!) We, at the Brodies’, are still keeping busy this summer. Late Friday afternoon, July 18, Dad went to Mick and Barb’s Mohawk home and the three of them went to Ilion, where they had the chicken barbecue to benefit the Boy Scouts, and then they enjoyed watching the annual DooDah Parade. Dad spent the rest of the weekend with Mick and Barb. Actually, he kept the dogs and cats company on Saturday while Mick and Barb attended the Kineke Family Reunion in Queensbury. Then he attended Sunday morning worship services with them at the Little Falls First Baptist Church, followed by the annual church picnic at the Salisbury Center Firemen’s Pavilion. The evening worship service was held there at the Pavilion at 3 p.m., and following that, Dad attended a graduation party for Courtney Etherton at her Herkimer home before he returned home in the early evening.

Frank left early Sunday morning, July 20, to set up his tent and booth to sell his maple syrup, pancake flour, and honey products at the Schoharie Valley Auto Show and Flea Market at the New York State Power Authority Visitors’ Center, in Blenheim. Meanwhile, neighbor Sharon Thompson, and her granddaughter, Elizabeth Thompson, of Morris, came to visit Mom and me on Sunday afternoon, and Elizabeth had fun playing with the kitty cats.

Birthdays & Anniversaries Birthday wishes go out to Kerri-Anne Itgen who will be 20, Megan Gleason who turns 13, Jonathan Bach who will be four years old, Carol Stannard, Larry Utter, Laura Webster, Sharon Rathbun, Merrilyn Duesler, and Lucy Ann Card.

Anniversary wishes go to Leland and Fran Mabie, Warren and Mary Stannard, Everett and Delores Yerdon, and Harold and Nancy Erway. Sharon Thompson hosted a surprise 70th birthday party, with a barbecue picnic, for her husband, David, on Sunday, July 13. In attendance were Aaron Thompson; Tom and Traci Thompson of Cherry Valley; Keith, Daphne and Elizabeth Thompson of Morris; Bob Guernsey and Doug and Donna Somers, all of Seward; Eric, Dawn, Brendan and Dylan Cousineau of Leesville; Robert and Maureen Joy of Morris; Jason, Kelly, Kyle, Cody, and Caleb Thompson of Flat Creek-Gilboa; Dan, Melissa, Peter, and Paul Thompson of Jefferson; Larry, Nancy, and Amberly Prill, Dick and Sonja Allen, and Floyd “Whitey” Squires, all of South Valley; Eddie and Peggy Hayward of Roseboom and Fort Myers, Fla.; Stephen Tompkins of Cherry Valley; and Marty Fields, Jr., of Cherry Valley, along with his friend, Vickie. It was a perfect day for the party, though a heavy rain storm, with strong winds, did hit after the party was over, and Sharon reports that everyone had a great time eating and visiting. Sharon also offers a special thanks to Tom Thompson and Marty Fields, Jr., for barbecuing the chicken, and to Eric Cousineau who cooked the pork loin, all of which were delicious. She also thanks everyone for coming to help David celebrate his special day.

Mabie Family Reunion The 84th Annual Mabie Family Reunion was held again, for the second year in a row, at Bob Mabie’s home in Gloversville on Sunday, July 13, with 26 people attending. The day was slightly overcast, but still nice and plenty warm. Once again, Bob was a gracious host, and we thank him and his family for entertaining. Everyone enjoyed the delicious covered dish meal, which was served buffet style under the big tent, and once again, there was a variety of absolutely delicious dishes to try out. Prior to the meal, Elliot Brodie offered the blessing. The four youngsters who attended also enjoyed and took advantage of the backyard pool.

Even first-time reunion goer Mia, at 11 months old, enjoyed the pool as cousin Bobette held her and dipped her feet into the water. Mia was there with her grandma, Shannon Vedder-Richards, whom we were delighted to see, as she hadn’t attended a reunion in many, many years.

Attendees at this year’s reunion were from South Valley, Cherry Valley, Fort Plain, McGraw, Mohawk, Ballston Lake, Port Crane, Fultonville, Fonda, Amsterdam, Gloversville, Meadville, Pa., and Douglas, Mass. Luella Mabie-Brodie, 88, of South Valley, was the oldest family member present, and Mia Richards, 11-monthold daughter of Justin and Joei Richards, and granddaughter of Shannon Vedder- Richards, all of Amsterdam, was the youngest. The largest generation present was tied once again this year between Elliot and Luella Mabie-Brodie, of South Valley, and Bob, and the late Loretta, Mabie, of Gloversville, each of whom had three generations present. Elliot and Luella Mabie- Brodie had the largest representation of one family present, with 10 family members attending. Elliot and Luella also had the most children, with five out of their seven children attending this year. Mary Lou Brodie-Bach, of Meadville, Pa., traveled the farthest distance to the reunion. Following the meal, President Bob Mabie presided over the brief meeting, at which Mary Lou Brodie-Bach gave the secretary-treasurer report and Barb Brodie- Kineke gave the historian report. Barb also read regrets from Mary Maybee, Marietta Mabie, and Steve Mabie, all of whom would have liked to attend this year’s reunion, but were unable to do so. It was also mentioned that David and Sharon Thompson were unable to attend as he was enjoying a surprise 70th birthday party-picnic that same afternoon.

The historian report for this past year included two births, four deaths, three marriages, three high school graduations, one college graduation, and one military (Army) basic training camp graduation.

There were also six special anniversaries, 5th, 10th, 30th, 35th, 50th and 65th, noted over the past year. Of special notice was the fact that Rachel Brodie, who is in the United States Navy, was promoted to third class petty officer in March 2008. It was also mentioned that the Washington Mabie/ Emmett Mabie/ Doris Mabie- Mott /Liz Mott farm, in South Valley, has been in the Mabie family for 100 years as of last year, 2007.

A grateful thank you to Bill Mabie for bringing his large albums of pictures and history for everyone to enjoy viewing. Thanks also to Barb Brodie-Kineke for being our photographer this year and for taking group photo shots as her husband, Mick, was unable to be there to do so. Thanks, too, to Steve Hatch for taking some of the group shots so that Barb could be included in them. A special thanks also goes to Barb and Mick for printing out group shot photos from last year, which Barb passed out to everyone at this year’s reunion.

Officers for next year remain the same. It was voted to have next year’s 2009 reunion once again the second Sunday in July, which will be the 12th, at the home of Roy and Janine Mabie-Dykeman at their Fultonville home on Ingersoll Road.

Have a great week and hope you are all enjoying the summer. Doesn’t seem possible August is right around the corner! Be sure to phone me at (607) 264-3225 with any news items you wish to share for this area.