The Prattsville Scoop by Abby and Gabby - 11 January 2024

PRATTSVILLE – HAPPY NEW YEAR. You can never get enough wishes for a Happy New Year and thanks for all your good works that go unrecognized. Our greetings go out to our medical professionals, firemen, EMTs, essential workers and we cannot overlook our volunteers – thank you.

From Jim Hull on his 80th birthday, ‘THANK YOU’, along with appreciation from his wife Roberta, children Jim Jr., Shelly and Bev and their families. So far he has received 52 birthday cards and multiple scratch off lottery tickets – garnering him $17. When asked if he wanted to reinvest his winnings in more lotto tickets, he answered, “no, I want the money.” Good decision Jim and more happy birthday wishes are sent your way.

From David Rikard, “News from Prattsville Hose:  Annual elections were conducted on Tuesday, January 2nd, at the Firehouse.  By a very close vote, Tom Olson was elected as Chief, a position he has held before.  In other close voting, Jim Dymond was elected as 1st Assistant, with Ted Weingates voted as 2nd and Cole Weingates voted to serve as 3rd.  Dave Rikard will remain as President, Eric Dymond as VP, Ray Bracaliello as Secretary, Deb Dymond as Treasurer, and Randy Brainerd as Safety Officer. Reverends Elliot and Mary Jo Oaks remain as our Chaplains.  Thank you all for your continued good spirit, comraderie and commitment to Prattsville Hose and the communities we serve!” Thanks David and our Prattsville Firemen.

We received a special thank you letter from Michele Ferrauilo, CTRS, Recreation/Creative Arts Supervisor at Stratton VAMC and want to share a paragraph from her letter, she wrote, “On behalf of the Veterans who received your thoughtful Christmas presents, I extend our deepest gratitude. Your generosity and kindness have touched our hearts and made this holiday season truly special. You and your community’s support serves as a reminder of the true spirit of the Holidays, and we are grateful to be part of such a caring and compassionate community.” Go Bills. Win or lose – gotta love those Bills. The Bills win will make Dottie Pickett feel better.

Heard from Nancy and that ever comic husband of hers Louie. They are doing fine and dog setting for their granddaughters. Louie loves those 11 PM last dog walks of the day/night. The dog is an aged Black Lab so everything takes extra time. He, the dog, can’t go upstairs so Nancy and Louie can escape any time by going upstairs.

Sympathy to Linda Jaeger on the loss of her Aunt Golda of Leeds. Golda was the last of the Nickerson sister of Prattsville, Franklin’s sister. So many family names from long ago no longer listed as residents of Prattsville.

It was mentioned last week that Kathy Sherman has retired as Town Clerk, and that is still true, but she will continue to serve Prattsville on a part-time basis to share her expertise with those following in her footsteps. And if that does not keep her busy, she is now in the crafting business of making flannel teddy bears. True to Kathy’s generous and sharing heart, she has already donated a blue teddy bear with a red, white and blue vest to the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1327 to be raffled off as a fundraiser for one of their many veterans’ causes. Thank you Kathy. And we like your son’s choice of Professional Football Team. You know what is coming – Go Bills. His man cave has a Buffalo Bills motif. Good man.

Heard from friends near and far. Got to play catch up with Janet Brainerd, even though I did not have the information she was seeking. Also talked with Helen Hack in Catskill on Sunday. She lives in the village of Catskill and they got about 7 inches of snow. Her main complaint was the constant noise of snowplows all night. Barbara Cooke called to check on used puzzles possibly being donated to the VA. Barbara is feeling better from her back pain and we are glad to hear that. At this time, no puzzles are being accepted for use in the VA on the residential floor – our special veterans because their condition is such that their dexterity does not permit them to fit the pieces together. Thank you for thinking of our veterans. Donations of any sort are always worth checking into for acceptance. Thank you for your thoughts.

So many not feeling well – Skeet Constable of West Kill, Nancy Orr of Beech Ridge. Marie Cross of Lexington, Joanne Dunphy of Prattsville and Dottie Pickett of Gilboa. Feeling better and getting out and about are Tom Briggs and Hank Oliver of Prattsville. Mary and Ronnie Cline of Lexington and Prattsville continue to be the others nurse, they take turns being the sick one. On their visit to the family down state, Ronnie ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. Mary went to see him and fell and bumped her head and bruised some other body parts. Awaiting diagnosis is Schuyler Minew of Beech Ridge for a bum knee. Must be his latest birthday (70+) that makes the bones start to resist. Our get well wishes go out to all.

Happy Birthday to Derek Briggs on January 18. Phyllis Raeder and Benny Benjamin are wished Happy Birthday on January 19.

Please send your news to gurleyrv@gmail.com or call 518-299-3219.