Canajoharie

Twenty Years Ago

Canajoharie High School Junior Ron Walker has been selected to participate in a national year-long USA Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS). He was selected for this honor because of his outstanding performance on the 1992 American High School Mathematics Examination. He is the son of Harold and Diane Walker of Canajoharie.

In the East Hill Elementary School cafeteria, residents will have the opportunity to hear the facts surrounding the proposed merger between Canajoharie and Sharon Springs schools. The consultant for the study, Jack Nagle, will present the findings of the committee that was formed of residents from both districts to investigate the proposed reorganization.

The 20th reunion for the Canajoharie Class of 1973 will be held at the Canajoharie Country Club.

The Canajoharie Volunteer Fire Department reported a “highly successful” door-to-door canvass recently conducted for the annual Tri-Village Association for the Handicapped fund raiser in the Canajoharie-Palatine Bridge area. Chairman Frederick Traudt, Jr., reported a total collection of $2,540.

Putting together their best offensive effort since Joe Shannon became coach three years ago, the Canajoharie Lady Redskins overwhelmed visiting Duanesburg, 69-24, in non-league girls basketball action. The win upped the locals’ 1992-93 non-loop log to 4-1, while improving their overall mark to 5-8.

Todd Jones’ Canajoharie wrestling team used a 46-12 win over neighboring rival, Fort Plain, to record its first Tri-Valley League win of this season, while both local squads suffered non-league defeats in their other outings of recent mat action.

Thirty Years Ago

Palatine Bridge Mayor Anthony Malagisi announced that preliminary site work has begun on the 52 unit senior citizen housing complex to be erected just north of the Dutchtown Shopping Plaza. The entrance will be from the area of Carmen Court. The housing, according to the mayor, is specifically designed for this age bracket, and includes any person on social security.

The village of Canajoharie is the recipient of its first Department of Housing and Urban Development Small Cities grant in the amount of $316,257. The funds will be used to make public improvements to the water distribution and transmission system and renovation of the water treatment facility.

James Shangraw was appointed president of the Canajoharie Senior Citizens at the weekly meeting.

Coach Todd Jones’ Canajoharie Central School mat team finished fifth in the Saratoga Springs Wrestling Tournament as Harold Ingalls and Rick Lippman earned second place finishes.

Forty Years Ago

The Plenik Wrecking Company, Yorkville, was awarded a contract for $4,800 by the Village Board to raze the former Fotenikes and Palm buildings on West Main Street.

Arthur Wall, chief of the Palatine Bridge Volunteer Police for 25 years, was honored by the Palatine Bridge Village Board and the police unit at the annual dinner meeting of the Palatine Police at the Stone Lodge.

Members of the Canajoharie Fire Department collected $1,658.25 for the 1973 March of Dimes.

Fort Plain

Twenty Years Ago

Fort Plain has every reason and opportunity to regain the prominence in the mercantile arena that it once enjoyed. That was the consensus of Fort Plain merchants recently as Colon McKnight, of Avalon Associates, described some ways village business people could increase the flow of traffic through their doors. Some 50 area merchants and residents were present in the Minden town barn for the informational session. One point McKnight suggested for increasing retail traffic was to investigate the possibility of handicapped accessibility to the local stores. “This is a large section of the population of any area,” McKnight said. “Just because someone is handicapped, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are poor. Handicapped compliance could open a large market.” McKnight stressed that all of Fort Plain’s merchants should get together and unify their promotional efforts. Stores grouped closely together could utilize similar colors and architecture, for example.

The Fort Plain Democratic Committee found a candidate for mayor, and made the March 16 village election a three-way mayoral race. Republican incumbent Mayor Albert Nalli will be facing Independent candidate Andrew Nanaa and Democrat William Fuelleman in his re-election bid for the two-year, $2,250 a year post.

The 38th annual Montgomery County Music Festival will be held at the Harry Hoag School gym.

Thirty Years Ago

Mayor Harvey Gramps and Trustee Donald Gros were unanimously nominated to succeed themselves in their respective offices at the citizen’s caucus held recently in the Municipal Building. About 30 residents attended. Homer Alkinburg conducted the caucus during which the two incumbents were named.

Robert Brearey, chief school officer of the Fort Plain Central School, has announced a superintendent’s conference day Feb. 4. During the conference, the faculty of the local school will attend a full-day workshop on Drug and Alcohol Prevention.

Mrs. Raymond F. (Marian) Shults, Fort Plain, was reelected president of the Fort Plain Free Library at its annual meeting.

Forty Years Ago

Officials of various local municipalities and organizational leaders toured the shoreline of the Mohawk River and discussed the possible development of a multipurpose park and recreational facilities at Lock 15 above Fort Plain.

Dr. William S. Muehleck, of Clinton Avenue, was elected as a director of the Central National Bank, Canajoharie. The announcement was made by Bank President William Lathers, Jr.

St. Johnsville

Twenty Years Ago

The St. Johnsville Central School District Board of Education will hold a special meeting to award bids for the school’s $1.9 million capital repair program.

For St. Johnsville resident Josephine LaCoppola, creating masterful delicacies in the fine art of food preparation has come easily. For a number of years, Josie has conducted a catering business in the area, providing complete meals, desserts and other specialties for weddings, local service organizations and the St. Johnsville Volunteer Fire Department. When the LaCoppolas found out late last year that the 103-year-old Walrath Pharmacy was going to close its doors for good, “we thought we could put a nice semi-formal restaurant there,” Josie said. Along with daughters Angels and Kim, who help out occasionally with the catering business, husband Anthony and his brothers of LaCoppola Building Supply, and local general contractor Bernard and Angela Smith, of Smith Contracting, Josie said the group has been spending “a quite a few hours about six days a week getting the new eatery ready to open.”

Pam Macek’s St. Johnsville Lady Saints used a pair of non-league wins to keep their claws sharpened for the final portion of their run toward a fifth straight unbeaten Tri-Valley League season. At the same time, they also lived up to their second-place New York State Class D ranking by improving their overall log to 15-0 with seasonal series-sweeping wins over Poland, 84-41, and West Canada Valley, 66-32.

Thirty Years Ago

The steady erosion of the tax base in the village and town has raised the concern of Town Supervisor W. Revere Dockey, prompting a proposal to adopt local laws to slow the process. According to Dockey, funds are being lost through the purchasing of local property by groups such as the federal government that qualify as tax exempt. He suggested that the village and town adopt an ordinance requiring the approval of both governing bodies before any property is removed from the tax roles.

Mayor Wilfred Kraft has announced that the village Department of Public Works has been instructed not to pick up wood-stove ashes in combustible containers. The announcement came following a pair of recent garbage truck fires.

St. Johnsville Central School’s two Modern Living classes staged a mock wedding in the gymnasium, the main purpose being to illustrate to the students the costs and procedures of “taking the big step.” Under the supervision of Home Economics teacher Kathleen Nasypany, Debbie Handel and Karl Shuster, along with Nell Thompson and Daren Hoffman were “united” in high school matrimony by Officiant Mindy Schuyler. The gowns, tuxedos and flower arrangements were provided courtesy of the Red Palette Bridal Shop.