The Prattsville Scoop by Abby and Gabby - 21 December 2023

PRATTSVILLE – MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year. A most happy week of family and friends gatherings. Love this time of year filled with love and good will. Let’s practice this all through the year.

Will start off with thankfulness to all – Veterans and their organizations, family, friends, neighbors, Church congregations, community organizations, etc. etc. When you get telephone calls from family members of veterans who are at the residential units at the Stratton VAMC expressing their gratitude and awe of the amount of gifts given to each veteran, wrapped in holiday joy, you know you are doing a good thing that is truly appreciated. A veteran’s spouse from Saratoga Springs called and talked for 15 minutes she was so thankful for the presents given her husband. And she was in awe of the cloth Christmas bag given to each veteran filled with their own gifts. These bags are made by local members of the American Legion Auxiliary thanks to the ongoing generosity of the Betty and Tom Dignam family, aka Betty’s Bags. She also commented on the fact that each and every gift was wrapped. Gifts are still coming in and a last minute delivery will be made before Christmas in case there are last minute veterans admitted. Nothing like unexpected Christmas gifts to ease the pain of having to be in the hospital at Christmas time. Again, a heartfelt thank you to all.

GO BILLS. For two Sundays in a row! It was my turn to call good buddy and fellow columnist Dottie Pickett to cheer in tandem over the Bills second win in a row. This one was extra sweet because they romped all over the Cowboys and a number of the grandchildren are Cowboy fans.

Got a request for a friend’s Happy Birthday Wishes. Jim Hull of Johnson Hollow will be reaching the milestone of 80 years of age and it will be wonderful if he gets an avalanche of birthday cards for that day – January 2. You have some days to get that special birthday card, have it addressed, and sent out to Jim for him to receive it on or before January 2. So for Jim’s birthday card shower, send them to 985 Johnson Hollow Road, Prattsville, NY 12468. Jim is the loving husband of Roberta, and proud father of Jimmy, Bev, and Shelly. Of course, there are the grandchildren and nieces and nephews and Jim continues to be their guiding light. An early Happy Birthday Jim.

Now would be a good time to remind you that there will be no Mountain Eagle published Friday, December 29. Do take notice of the birthdays and anniversaries if you wish to your cards out on time.

Debbie Baker and good friend Jackie Hammerle made the trip to New York City the weekend of the 9th to visit the Baker girls, Stephanie and Samantha. It was a relaxing and fun filled weekend with just the four ladies taking in the holiday scenes. Plus they avoided that weekend’s storm but they were here for this weekend of rain and the high water reaching into Monday.

Get well wishes go out to Arnold Jaeger, this winter’s bug is paying him a visit. Brave bug. Also send feel better wishes to Mary O’Hara.

Peter and Marcia Gurley Tocci spent the weekend with her parents Bob and Ginny.  Marcia brings the best homemade cookies and probably the most fattening also.  Well it is only on the holidays.  Marcia helped with indoor tree decorations and Peter put up the outside lights.  You have to pay for your dinner.  Thanks.  

Marianne and Johannes Krauss, Cathy Martino, Bob and Ginny Gurley delivered the Christmas presents to 32 veterans on Tuesday, December 12. These gifts are from the heart but the joy is still being tempered by the ever present respiratory illnesses. We are still prohibited from paying the residential veterans an in-person visit, right now visits are limited to family only. We did get a sneak peak at their new facilities on the 4th Floor but were cautioned not to make any noises or we would be escorted out. Many of the entertainment sections were shown to us and we can’t wait to pay them a visit and listen to their karaoke music and play games with them. Since that delivery, we already have three more large boxes filled with gifts to give to them. All of you have amazing generosity. Thank you. See picture of one of the very happy veterans enjoying his Christmas “toy”. Some times it is the smallest of gifts that bring the most enjoyment. Even the nurses got to join in the fun.

Happy Birthday to Marcia Dougherty on December 23. It is Happy Birthday to Chris Tompkins on December 25. Happy Birthday to Jane Lane, Joann Haskin and Janice Cross on December 28 – they are quite the triplicate. On December 29 it is Happy Birthday to Eileen Rossiter and Jerry Raeder.

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