Canajoharie

Twenty Years Ago

The Canajoharie Central School Board of Education plans to find out for itself just what a school breakfast is all about. The board will be attending a breakfast meeting at the Fonda-Fultonville Central School, upon the invitation by F-FCS District Superintendent William Higgins. The purpose of the meeting is to view first hand Fonda-Fultonville’s new student breakfast program. Canajoharie’s District Superintendent Richard Rose said at the last meeting of the local school board.

Canajoharie’s sixth-grade students really know how to take a bite out of their studies. Recently, some 90 members of the class, for the culmination of a unit of study on the medieval period, enjoyed an elaborate feast of authentic fare as period music played and realistically costumed servers kept everyone’s trencher piled with food and goblets filled with beverage. The students and their teachers watched jugglers, the court jester and the undisputed King of the North Wing, also known as sixth grade teacher David Everleth, participated in the program.

The Canajoharie Town Board agreed to recommend to the Montgomery County Department of Public Works that guardrails be installed on the approaches to the bridges on McPhail and McEwan roads, noting that the lack of protection creates a hazard to all vehicles using these two roadways.

Thirty Years Ago

Jeffrey H. Mickle, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mickle, Maple Avenue, has been named Montgomery County American Legion Boy Scout of the Year, according to Edward Walker, commander of James T. Bergen American Legion Post 39, Amsterdam, County Boy Scout Chairman.

William Parker has been named chairman of the 1983 March of Dimes campaign.

The Palatine Town Board combined its annual organization meeting and regular business session with Supervisor Miles Frasier expressing shock at the 24 percent hike in the cost of Blue Cross-Blue Shield coverage for town employees.

The heaviest snowfall since Dec., 1969, blanketed the area over the weekend with more than 20 inches of snow. Town of Canajoharie Highway Superintendent Robert Hodge noted that there was some drifting, but “nothing of a serious nature.”

A basic cake decorating experience will be the subject of a special program presented by Mrs. Laurette Herting and her daughter, Christa, at the Canajoharie Library and Art Gallery. Pictures of creations from Laurette’s Kitchen, a hobby and private cake decorating business carried on by Mrs. Herting at her home on Sonhofen Farms, will be on display.

Forty Years Ago

Beech-Nut, Inc., announced that it is continuing to seek a purchaser for its baby food operation, according to Louis Savarese, general manager of Beech-Nut’s Canajoharie and Fort Plain plants. The proposed sale of the baby food operations in the two area villages, as well as the plant in San Jose, Calif., by Squibb Corporation was terminated earlier this year.

Canajoharie Central School will be hosting the 18th annual Montgomery County Music Festival at the East Hill School.

Fort Plain

Twenty Years Ago

Dan Lieber, a student in Fort Plain Central School, was top award winner in the annual Voice of Democracy contest for high school students of Canajoharie, Fort Plain and St. Johnsville Central schools conducted by the Mohawk Valley Post 3275, Veterans of Foreign Wars at Fort Plain. Lieber and the other winners from the three schools, were honored with a brunch held at the post. The local program is part of a nation-wide youth program conducted by the VFW, with local winning tapes sent to the state and national contests. Hosting the program for the VFW was former Post Commander Arnold Fredericksen, who has been in charge of this local youth program for the past 22 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Elmer J. Bollen recently observed their 50th wedding anniversary. A dinner at the Le Chambord was given by their children, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bollen of Fort Plain, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Bollen of Amsterdam, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bollen of California and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bollen of Utica. The couple received a money tree, flowers, gifts and cards and cut a decorated anniversary cake. The former Margaret Shults of Fort Plain, and Cpl. Elmer Bollen of Palatine Bridge, stationed with the U.S. Army at Seattle, Wash., were married Sept. 25, 1942, in the rectory of Sts. Peter and Paul’s Church, Canajoharie. The Rev. James R. Gazeley officiated.

Thirty Years Ago

“The most incredible kids on the face of the earth,” was only one of the superlatives lavished on the student body of the Fort Plain Central School by WGY personalities during the Christmas Wish trophy presentation aired live recently over the Schenectady radio station before an estimated 1,500 cheering students, faculty members and townspeople in the Harry Hoag gymnasium. The joyous noise peaked when FPCS representatives for the second consecutive year received the huge trophy given the school raising the largest amount for this charitable endeavor instituted by the radio station. This year, the FPCS total was $18,169.38, an amazing figure and a new record.

Fort Plain Boy Scout Troop 61 went camping at Hines Pond, near Woodworth Lake Scout Reservation, Gloversville, in cabins that were heated by woodstoves, which they also cooked upon.

Donald W. Klemme, Fort Plain RD 1, was appointed town justice to serve until the next general election of the Minden Town Board following an executive session.

Fort Plain Central School’s mat team (3-1) moved up into sole possession of second place in the Tri-Valley Wrestling league with a 38-29 win over Galway in preparation for its showdown at Draper.

Forty Years Ago

The Minden Town Board voted not to apply for a permit to the state Department of Transportation for use of state lands to establish a bicycle-walking path along the old Erie Canal between the villages of Fort Plain and south St. Johnsville.

St. Johnsville

Twenty Years Ago

Ready? Set — Go. The pre-school children of two area school districts are getting a Head Start on their coming years. Head Start is a federally funded pre-school child development program for children whose families meet income guidelines. The program operates under the Fulmont Facility, Inc., of Amsterdam. Head Start provides many important services to pre-school age children and their families, including education, health (medical, dental and mental), nutrition, and parental and community involvement. This program is now in its second year in the St. Johnsville Central School District, where it is currently housed, and includes families from the Fort Plain Central School District.

Take three high school clubs, add a pinch of student-generated enthusiasm, a strong mixture of family-oriented activities like auctions, carnival games, arts and crafts, food, and a pinch of outdoor sports, and you have the makings of Winter Weekend ‘93. Three of St. Johnsville High School’s clubs — specifically the Travel Club, Future Business Leaders of America, and the Ski Club — together have cooked up what they hope to be a sure fire fund-raising recipe. It’s a dish fit for the community, and just needs a garnish of family participation to make it cook.

Thirty Years Ago

According to the annual report filed by Fire Chief Gary Swartz, the Flying Saints responded to 85 calls and estimated property loss was $368,150. A total of 1,594.87 man-hours were expended with the average number of men per call 23. The average time spent at each fire was 46 minutes and average man-hours per call was 19.21. Firefighters were sent to 36 fires in the village; 31 in the town of Oppenheim; six in the town of Danube; three in the town of Minden and two in the town of Ephratah.

David Jarosienski, St. Johnsville RD 3, recently returned from Dallas after completing a training course for the American Air Lines computer reservations system. He is employed by Van Curler Travel, Inc., Schenectady, as a travel agent.

Army National Guard Pvt. Edison K. Luck, son of Genny and Emory Luck, St. Johnsville RD 2, has completed one station unit training at the U.S. Army Infantry School.

Miss Sandra Mosenthin, a ninth grader at Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School has won the first round in the nationwide American Legion Oratorical Contest.

Forty Years Ago

Max Lein has completed 25 years of service as a justice to the town of Oppenheim.