The Prattsville Scoop by Abby and Gabby - 30 May 2025

PRATTSVILLE - To all veterans, deceased or living, everywhere, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. We are in your gratitude and always will be. Hope all of you got a chance to show your appreciation and to spend some quality time with loved ones. Lots of visitors were in our area for Memorial Day and they are always welcome. The Legionnaires of Post 1327 with additional veterans, and Auxiliary members Unit 1327, proudly marched at the head of Prattsville Memorial Day Parade. Post 1327 is the host of this annual parade and the various rites were solemnly and respectfully presented. This parade might have been one of the parades with the most participants, including the newly formed Flag Color Guard and they all were well known. Thank you to all participants and attendees who responded to the solemnity of this day. We thank our veterans now and always. Ten members of the American Legion Virgil E. Deyo Post 1327 and American Legion Auxiliary Virgil E. Deyo Unit 1327, Prattsville, proudly marched with the West Kill/Lexington Fire Company and Auxiliary at their annual Memorial Day Ceremonies and Parade. So many special moments. It was a true community event. Except for the two motorists who insisted on driving around the parade participants putting everyone in danger and actually driving on residents’ lawns. Shame on you. You know in this day and age, cameras are on everyone’s cell phones and take very good pictures.

Weather still not playing nice. Went from winter to spring and then to fall. Will we ever get a summer? The cold, wet and muddy weather could not deter the four-wheelers from taking trips to a barbecue and an over the hill trip to a favorite commercial eating spot. Will mud and more mud with some very chilly temperatures, and the ever present wind, bring joy to the participants?

Some really good news to share with all of you. Lisa and Stephen Birnbaum have become grandparents for the first time thanks to their daughter Darby and her husband Bill Savino.  The baby girl, Elizabeth (Ellie) Linwood Savino, was born on the early morning of May 23 in Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand is one day ahead of us, so that translate to May 22 on the Prattsville side of the world. She was due June 7 and came a few weeks early but was a healthy 7lbs 6oz. Darby, Bill and Ellie are doing well.  Bill is a Major in the Marines and was chosen by the Marines to attend the New Zealand War College. He will graduate in December of 2025. This is a family full of good news and very deserving. Congratulations to all and much joy and happiness to Lisa and Stephen.

Tom and Ursula Gurley Lindley were in Prattsville for five days over the long Memorial Day observance. They assisted Bobby Gurley in getting back to parts of his daily independent life. Any visitors not in medical garb are always welcome when you are recovering. New family memories were made and on the ready to be enjoyed again at future get togethers. Ursula got to see her classmate Terrie Lane Clark and to exchange hugs. Terrie got to tell Ursula she is a new grandmother for the first time. We all do get older and we make new milestones. While here, Ursula also had a visit with long time friend Amy Pindar Thompson of Clifton Park, one time resident of Grand Gorge of the Pindar Car Sales family. Amy and Ursula had a 4 hour chat and was served homemade chicken soup, sandwiches and strawberry rhubarb pie. Amy even threatened to lick the plate. Good memories recalled and now more made.

Lots of memories to recall and enjoy once again at the O’Hara’s yard sale. Mother Nature did not play nice with the yard sales set for the Memorial Day weekend. But many of the old diehards did make it to those in Prattsville at the O’Hara’s and the Huntersfield Christian Training Center’s ribs and tent sale with lots of free items, Tompkins’ in Ashland and Dymonds at Mosquito Point. Yes, purchases were made at all of these venues. What will the warmer days bring? But why wait? You can buy some new wooden items made by Teddy Huggins. He has set up a roadside display on Rte 23, including boxes, lawn items, etc. etc. near the Hardenburgh Manor. Sharon, Teddy’s wife, on Sunday was there making sure everything remained upright. Everything looks like you could put it to use somewhere on your property. Good luck.

Our sympathy to the family of Katherine Place Howard (Mrs. Elwood)who recently passed. Katherine could tell you everyone’s family tree with bits of ephemera to go with each person. Those of a certain age, you really should put all those memories down on paper for future generations.

Happy Birthday to Beverly Hull Gockel and Gene Brainerd on June 1. Happy Birthday to Peggy Young on June 4. On June 5 we wish Jim Hull Jr. a very Happy Birthday.

Send your good news to gurleyrv@gmail.com or call 518 299 3219.