The Prattsville Scoop by Abby and Gabby - 28 September 2025

PRATTSVILLE - With the first day of autumn being this past Monday the 22nd, Mother Nature decided it was time for some scattered frost Saturday night. The frost was mostly in the open spaces away from buildings and shrubbery and enclosed areas. Weather has been pleasant so other than lack of rain, enjoy fall.

In a conversation with Maurice Mudge, he told me that his family had started a slaughter house in front of what would become Greendell Packing. He said it was mostly for calves and his father had taken him to work one. Maurice had always told his mother that he wanted to be cowboy. After the trip with his father, his mother told him that that is what cowboys did. Maurice promptly changed his selected career choice to becoming a fireman. He also said as a young lad he put together a multitude of model planes and was heartbroken when he lost them all in the flood.

Some words of warning from a professional advisor about receiving phone calls re: “E-Z Pass tickets not being paid” and you know the rest. Please send money to such and such a place. That along with Medicare/Medicad calls seeking information. Do not respond in any manner. Just hang up.

Follow-up to the Zadock Pratt Museum Victorian Tea, thanks to co-Chair Lisa Birnbaum. “3rd Annual Tea was a smash hit with guests. The Museum Board and Events team want to thank our very generous donors for their support of this event including Jim’s Great American, Diane Apostolacus, Deer Mountain Inn, Byebrook Farms, Lindsay Renz Pottery, Matt and Melissa of What the Soap, Ted Huggins Wood Craftsman, Taconic Distillery.  We want to thank every guest that came to have a good time support our museum! Thanks everyone who volunteered their day to pour tea, serve sandwiches and pastries and clean up afterwards.  People came from Prattsville, Acra, Windham, Gilboa, Conesvillle, Lexington, Stamford, Hunter and Hicksville, NY. The winners of the raffle were Diane Bunce of Lexington who won the VERY generous gift certificate from Deer Mountain Inn and Pat Savella of Conesville that won the Local Products Gift Basket filled with local goodies.  Also Gina Przywara who won the Best Hat for her beautiful fascinator hat.  Gina is from Hicksville, NY and she won a bottle of award winning white wine from the Finger Lakes region of NY.  Ginny Gurley also won a bottle of red wine for her traditional straw boater hat.  Ginny, as we all know, is from Prattsville!

From our Chatfield girls out in Oregon: “The Zadock Pratt Museum Victorian Tea sounds like fun.  Our Mom, Virginia Chatfield, and my Great Aunt Ada as well as myself [Judy] donated many hours at the Museum.  I am very thankful that it came back from "The Flood".  Prattsville is very fortunate to have such an interesting Museum to help preserve the town's history.  It's nice to know there are many people who are donating their time and expertise so that the Museum can continue to flourish.  Janet and I often share about our "growing up" days in Prattsville.  I also spoke with my old friend, Marie Cross this past week.   We all agreed it was a great town to grow up in.  We are getting anxious to come back home to visit our friends and family. We're finally having  some cooler weather.  A couple of days it was over 100 degrees, and one week it stayed in the 90's. Janet has watering her 7 raised veggie gardens, plus our flowers and lawn.  Janet can hardly wait to get the next water bill!  I am making plans to go to Long Beach in Washington to celebrate my October birthday.  Janet's son-in-law, Jim's family has a cabin that has been in their family for many years.  They are a couple of blocks from the beach, plus you can drive your vehicle right out on the beach.  I'm geting excited about having "fresh" seafood and spreading my "kindness hearts" wherever I go.  I've been making the little hearts and give them out to strangers for about three years now.  To date, I've made over 6,000 hearts and have met some very interesting people, as well as some great stories.  I've been thinking about Halloween and dressing up again.  Only time will tell.  Love and Best Wishes from the Oregon Gals    Judy & Janet”

Get well wishes to Doris Pasternak. Also to those on their way to a return to good health, speedy recovery.

Claudia Bracaliello is having some good health days as well as loving family and friends’ good wishes for her birthday and health. Her cousin Fred Lutz called to sing happy birthday to her and his sister Fran sent her a text and his other sister Mame sent an e-card. Her college roomie sent a text, as did best buds Arnold and Diana first thing in the morning, plus numerous emails from others!  Flowers and a musical card from her better half Ray. Claudia is feeling better and is feeling “almost normal”. Claudia had plans for Sunday the 21st, Monday the 22nd and Tuesday the 23rd. Will give you the follow-up news when Claudia sends in her report to me next week. Enjoy all these fun things Claudia.

The American Legion Virgil E. Deyo Post 1327 played host to the Greene County American Legion meeting on Friday, the 19th, at the Prattsville Fire House. Thank you Prattsville Volunteer Firemen for the use of the building. The main course was catered but the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1327 membership supplied the desserts – brownies, cookies, cakes, cheesecake and other goodies. Thank you veterans for your honorable service.

Connie and Donnie Lane, one time residents of Prattsville now living in Oneonta, attend St. Mary’s RC Church in Oneonta. One a recent vacation of their usual Priest, Father Joseph Cebula was their Priest for two weeks. He asked about Sacred Heart and St. Philip Neri parishioners that he had served for twenty-five years. He also gave an up date of Father David Berberian who had served as our visiting priest during Father Cebula’s time with us. Father Dave has some health issues but continues to be his jovial self.

Happy Birthday to Danny Dymond on September 27. Happy Birthday to Rickie Brainerd on September 29. He is the son of Valerie and Rich Brainerd. Happy Birthday on October 3 to Eddie Voorhees. Happy Anniversary to Becky and West Benson on September 27.

GO BILLS! GO BILLS! GO BILLS!

News: Send to gurleyrv@gmail.com or call 518 299 3219. Thanks.