The Prattsville Scoop by Abby and Gabby - 18 December 2023

PRATTSVILLE - MERRY CHRISTMAS and enjoy the season with loved ones.

Got to have conversations with so many during the Holiday Season and will share with you.

Janice Cammer, who else but Janice to start off the column, will be starting her second season at Bear Pen Snow Park. Of course she has to wait until we have the winter weather. Notice her picking up a leaf on neighbors’ lawn and for what? “Just to look at” she said. It was a huge Sycamore (Plane tree) leaf that still had a bit of burgundy fall color left and would really work well with Christmas decorations. Enjoy Janice. She stopped by to drop off more donated items for the Veterans Christmas Celebration.

Well, we got a taste of winter Monday but we can handle the amount we got. Want that snowstorm that keeps you at home for a few days and gives you an excuse to veg out with all the things that are not good for you or just your hedonistic side.

David Rikard also made a visit with sweets for his fellow veterans at the VA, Albany. David was feeling a little lonesome for son Jamison, now on active military duty in Germany. He is not quite sure how Jamison will feel spending Christmas without his family for the first time. Last Christmas David had the joy of spending Christmas in Hawaii with his sons Andrew and Jamison. Thank you for your service.

Went to Ashland UMC Cookie Walk and had some fun conversations with Pat and Bob Ferris and ever young Lula Anderson. Lots of laughs reliving happenings and conversations from years ago. Everyone in our area is so generous to a multitude of causes. Pat and Bob continue to support Capital District Rescue Mission, gladly delivering donated needed items to the homeless and needy. Thank you. Lula is the Energizer Bunny supporting her Ashland UMC, Golden Agers and Greene County Department of the Aging, and that is to name just a few. Thank you Lula.

Saw Samantha Rion and she also was doing her part for the veterans as a member of the Windham Rotary Club. The Club puts together a large number of Christmas stockings, filled with fun and needed items, for the veterans at Stratton VAMC, to be delivered by Windham VFW. Thanks.

Diana and Arnold Jaeger, Elliott and Shelly Brainard, Pat Minew, Marianne Krauss, Bob and Ginny Gurley gathered for a pre-wrapping session, organizing and do inventory of the Christmas gifts bought and readied for wrapping on Sunday, the 10th. The men were relegated to the kitchen to wrap the small gifts to be included in the larger gift bags for the veterans. The ladies did their wrapping part in the dining room After the wrapping was finished, just in time for lunch, they enjoyed beef stew made by Diana, tossed salad made by Ginny, and dessert supplied by Shelly. As always, a good time was had by all and much work was accomplished. After a few minutes of conversation and laughs, Elliott declared his stomach pains had receded and life was to be enjoyed with friends and family. In fact, his children – Stephanie with Kory and Adam and Kelly – plus grandson Dylan and wife Shelly feted him to a birthday (83) dinner at Stephanie and Kory’s. Old age does have its rewards.

Hey, Dottie, we can at last say “Go Bills” again. Shelly and Dylan are also Bills fans.

It was Ronnie Cline’s turn to go to the doctor’s for a non-scheduled appointment. He is home under wife Mary’s care and it will take him some time to recover from this latest situation. But he can and will recover, just taking some time to do so.

Donna Marsh gave me a rundown of her progress in some updating of her home on Route 23A. Would like to see it when it is completed, Donna. It sounds like it should be beautiful.

The Reformed Church of Prattsville will hold a Christmas Eve Service at 4 PM on December 24. All are welcome. Reformed Church organist/pianist Claudia Bracaliello is brimming with pride and joy regarding the recent gift, a baby grand piano from Pastor Dottie, for her multi faceted ability to play same. Claudia also wants to share Free Noontime Organ Concerts at Proctors, 2023-2024 Season, inclusive of Tuesday, December 19, Saturday, December 23, and Tuesday, January 23. All of these events are at NOON. For more information, please call/text Carl E. Hackert at 518-469-5718.

It was almost a rowdy bunch – Shelly Brainard, Diana and Arnold Jaeger, Pat Minew, Marianne Krauss, Dottie Pickett, Nancy Kizyma, Claudia Bracaliello at the home of Bob and Ginny Gurley on Sunday to wrap gifts to be presented to the 32 veterans at Stratton VAMC. Tuesday the 12th. Some one kept them under control but not sure who it was. In addition to the 32 residential veterans at the VA, boxes of clothing and food items were donated to Voluntary Services, under the care of Dom, to be used by those veterans in need or homeless and possibly both. Dom told us there are 4,200 veterans in need of our help in the Capitol District that includes our area so want to thank all of you for helping them at this time of year. Hey, Dottie, we can at last say “Go Bills” again.

The Kaatersill United Methodist Church Food Pantry located behind the Fire Department building in Tannersville hours as follows: Open on Wednesday December 20 and 27 from 1 PM – 3 PM, weather permitting. On the 3rd Saturday of the month, 10:30 – 11:30 AM, for monthly delivery for those without transportation. Location Tannersville Village Hall, 1 Park Lane, Tannersville, NY 12485. Call 518-589-5787 if you need delivery, contingent on volunteer availability. If you would like to help the Kaatersill UMC Food Pantry, you can drop food off at Brave The Flames Restaurant when open and Tannersville Village Hall during the week. Thank you in advance for your help for those in need.

Sympathy to the families of Danny Pickett, Charlie Schermerhorn and Joey Van Valkenburgh. It is so hard to deal with death at this time of year. Our prayers for all.

Happy Birthday to Merrill Frederick Cline and Cathy Cline on December 16. Reese Chase in wished Happy Birthday on December 18. Kyle Thorington is sent Happy Birthday wishes on December 18. On December 19 it is Happy Birthday to Kyle Thorington. Happy Birthday Nancy Hodge on December 20. To our special neighbor, we wish Steve Haskin a Happy Birthday on December 22. Happy Anniversary to Teddie and Merrill Cline on December 19.

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