July 31 – Greetings faithful readers.  As I write this column, we are awaiting much needed rain. Our farmers have been busy making hay this week, taking advantage of a few dry days, however there is still much hay to be made.  This is the time of the year when thistles are about ready to go to seed. I hate thistles. Other than goldfinches, I can’t think of any good use of a thistle. Farmers hate thistles, cows hate thistles.  Their roots go way down in the ground and their seeds blow far away and seem to easily take root.

I am not a fan of milkweeds, although I know that milkweeds are essential to monarch butterflies. Did you know that you can simply harvest pods of milkweed? That way the monarchs can still savor the milk of the milkweed, and the milkweeds don’t spread. If you drive around the backroads, you will note how many former hayfields have turned to golden rod, milk weeds and thistles. We have fewer dairy farmers and less need for hay.

The hay quality has gone way done. The hay fields don’t seem to get much fertilizer. Have you noticed that tall weeds are growing along the roads?  Not that horrible Japanese Knotweed.  I am referring to Purple loosestrife. I like the colors of Purple loosestrife, bees like them and they are easy to pull.  However, if you are wondering what that tall weed is that seems to be taking over the countryside, google the word Purple loosestrife.

It doesn’t look like this year is going to be a banner apple year.  Not many local apple trees seem to have apples. I don’t know why. We didn’t get a killer frost this spring when the apple trees were in blossom.  Perhaps it rained and the nectar washed away?  Perhaps we didn’t have enough honeybees for pollinating?  The Otto household pear trees are looking good, but we don’t have one single apple.

The Kenoza Lake Fire Company sold out their chicken barbecue last weekend.  They thank everyone who came and supported them.  Save the date – October 11, Kenoza Lake Roast Beef Dinner.   

For those of you who read local Facebook postings, did you see what was posted last weekend about the new building code that goes into effect in 2026?  About having to go all electric as of January 1, 2026?  I encourage you to scout it out. I wonder if the EPA determination of this week regarding climate change impacts the NYS building codes that will go into effect on January 1, 2026. Elections have consequences.

So last week, the Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central School (JYCS) class of 1975 celebrated their 50-year reunion.  Yours truly, graduated from JYCS in 1975. What a fantastic weekend! Former Kenoza Lake resident and classmate Leslie Loeffel gave two lectures last Wednesday and Thursday at the Jeffersonville library.  My mother, Marguerite Brown and I attended the Thursday night lecture on one room schoolhouses, including the Kenoza Lake firehouse. Friday night, we had a cocktail hour at the Cidery at Seminary Hill in Calllicoon. What an awesome venue. The place was hopping! A young man named Wes Kinne was performing guitar and keyboard, excellent! Saturday night we were at the Roscoe Mountain Golf Club (formerly known as the Tennahah Lake Golf Club), Sunday after dedicating a maple tree that was planted next to the flagpole, we toured the original JYCS campus and wrapped up the weekend with brunch at the Catholic church hall.  Former Kenoza Lake residents and classmates Kim Luckey and Steven Schwartz attended the weekend’s festivities. I enjoyed catching up with Cindy (nee Knack) and Alex Smith, Hiram Frank as well as many others.  Washington State resident Jeffrey Qualls and his wife Judy Boyle attended.  Judy told me that her sister is a faithful reader of the Kenoza Lake news.   Hats off to the organizers of the class reunion, fantastic weekend! Special memories.