Greetings faithful readers. What a killer frost that we had last week! Wednesday, May 17th. Yikes! Our Dunstan Chestnut trees were in the process of leafing out and now they are all brown. Not sure if they will come back or not. The Japanese Knotweed is all toasted (which is good news). Not sure why the Chestnut trees got frozen but other leaves did not. Although, I have heard reports and seen photos of newborn fawns, so far, I haven’t seen a newborn fawn. However, I have seen several does that seem to look as though they are guarding a fawn in the tall grass. Remember, leave the fawn there  if the mother is not nearby.  BIRD REPORT, I never had a Baltimore Oriole show up this year at my bird feeder.  Really bummed out. I still have oranges out, but no orioles.  The rose breasted grosbeaks and red bellied woodpeckers like my sliced oranges. There are snipes on Pucky Huddle Road and bobolinks on Perry Road. About two weeks ago I heard a wood thrush sing. I haven’t heard a wood thrush since. A bear has been periodically visiting the Otto residence.  Last night he moved the barbeque.  We need rain. Turtle crossing season is kicking in. Please give our turtles a brake and if you can safely do it, help escort them across the road. 

Sunday, May 28th, The Bethel Lions Club will hold their annual pancake breakfast at the Kauneonga Lake Firehouse. The Lions Club Breakfast runs from 8:00 am until noon.

KENOZA LAKE HISTORY CORNER:  Faithful readers of this column may recall that former Kenoza Lake resident Leslie Loeffel periodically submits Kenoza Lake history information for my column. Leslie and I grew up together and graduated from Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central School in 1975. Last night, Leslie sent me the following information: “Hello readers, over the past decade or more, I’ve been gathering information on Kenoza Lake people and events. I hope to soon finish a book on our little hamlet. Do you have Kenoza Lake history to share? I would love to include your family stories and see any pictures or original documents that you have. I am particularly interested in documenting the boarding houses, the church, the drugstore, the schools, the early history. I’ll be visiting the area during the week of June 12-16 and would love to meet with you then, or we can communicate by phone or email any time. To start, please email me at lloeffel@comcast.net to make a plan. I hope to talk with you!”

There are two special ladies celebrating birthdays during the upcoming week.  My mother-in-law Florence Brown will be 99 years old on May 30th and Helen Wachter will be celebrating her birthday on the 27th.  

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Tina Turner. What a singer! I first saw her perform at the Monticello Racetrack when she was with Ike Turner. I subsequently heard her sing in concert in Europe after she made her comeback. If you haven’t seen it yet or it has been awhile, watch What’s Love Got to do With It.  The movie starts out with Tina Turner singing in church, “This Little Light of Mine, I’m Going to let it Shine”. An amazing story. 

Memorial Day 2023 observed, Monday, May 29th. “Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades.” There will be a Memorial Day service in Kauneonga Lake on Monday the 29th at 11:00.