Cambridge, NY Life Cambridge, NY Life

Cambridge, NY...sophisticated village life

Greetings Cambridgebuzz readers. I know that it's been a few weeks since my last posting. Life in Cambridge, NY has been a roller coaster of late (at least for me). You all met my virtual self when I appeared in a Treasures of Cambridge posting. At that time, I was taking care of my Mom. I wanted to let you all know that Mom passed quietly and peacefully on Nov. 3rd.

Bea and Debra Pearlman in July 2006 (Photos: R. Dolmatch - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
I want to thank you all for the kind thoughts and support you gave me.

When you live in a small, rural community you have an extended family. I've lived all over the world and nothing comes close to the support I've received from my fellow Cambridge residents. So Mary and Dale, thanks for the chicken dinner that came at a time when I really did not feel like cooking; John and KT, thanks for the wonderful eggplant parmesan that fed all my visiting relatives; Bill, thanks for the phone calls from the road that let me know you were thinking of me; Sean, Gabi, and James thanks for the cakes; Debbie, Diane, Carole, Rhonda, and Nancy I can't say enough about your love and attention to me and mom - better caregivers do not exist. To Mike, Linda, Roger, Hilary, Tom, Roy, Suzanne, Brooke, John O., Gordon...good friends make all things easier - thank you all.

Life in Cambridge, NY is returning to normal for me. "A Question of Justice" is moving forward, paperwork is getting done. The days are shorter as fall makes one last stand before winter's wonders arrive. My garden is put to bed and the house is prepared for the coming months. A calm surrounds us as we all look forward to our Thanksgiving days with family, friends, and good neighbors.

Thanks you Cambridge for just being you....

Photographer's Log Photographer's Log

MORE GOLDEN GLORY ON WHITE CREEK ROAD
Driving near sunset along White Creek Road (in the Town of White Creek) is always a delicious treat. This photograph is of the beautiful larches growing on the hill near the "T" crossing on White Creek Road. Every year these larches adorn that hillside wearing all shades of tan, yellow or gold (depending upon the light). But, then, once in a while the sunset goes golden and the larches come into their own, blazing upon that hill like awesome autumn torches lighted for all to see for miles around. Oh, what a delight to see them from afar and watch them become more and more alive with a nearly unearthly firelight as you draw closer and closer, just before that warmly caressing sun sets behind the mountains of Eagle Bridge. -June Mohan
Photo: (Copyright Mohan 2006) To contact the artist, please send email to: junemohan@hotmail.com

Treasures of Cambridge #32 Treasures of Cambridge #32

Caroline S. Hooke pictured in front of the vault in the former Bean Head’s Coffee House, has lived in the Village of Cambridge for ten years.

Caroline explains that she has lived many places in her life: born in California, partially raised in Missouri, went to art school is NYC., where she met her husband, "my best friend in art school was his cousin."

"Then the war came along…it was a terrible thing." Her husband, Walter, a Marine, was getting ready to deploy. "We got married just before he went overseas." Thankfully, he came back in "terrific shape," but not after experiencing, "many problems over there," most notably the aftermath of the atomic bomb.

After the war the Hooke’s lived in various places out west and back east, mostly following her husband’s work. After a long stint in California, Walter wanted to move with their four children to the east coast to be closer to his childhood home and family.

They went to Shaftsbury, Vermont because their youngest daughter, who is deaf, got enrolled in the school for the deaf in Brattleboro, which was, "terrific for her. It was the best move we ever made!" After ten years in Vermont, they moved across the border to a wonderful log home in Shushan, and then as they aged they wanted to live in a town, so then moved into the Village of Cambridge.

For all but one year since it opened it’s doors, Caroline has been involved with the Valley Artisans Market on Main Street. Lately, she has had to cut back on her involvement in all the things she loves to do, so she decided to focus her energy on a gallery in Salem, "Arts 220" which just moved into a "great, big wonderful place right across the street from Steininger's Restaurant."

Caroline started her art career being a landscape painter, and still goes back to that, "every once in a while. But now I get more people involved now, being partly Native American, that influence shows up more and more in my art." An example of which can be seen in Caroline’s prop, which is a photograph of one of her more recent pieces.

"I painted a lot of landscapes out in California and the West, but when I came East, I found I just could not get the colors right, so I started developing other things." This change opened up in Caroline new avenues in her art as she brought in sculptural and collage elements to her work. Her native, Black Foot tribal roots is a part of her that she says, "I love to make pictures about."

Unfortunately, Caroline is recovering from a fall she took over a month ago. Everyone who knows and loves this remarkable woman, sends her much love and good wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.

Photographer's Log Photographer's Log

LUCENT SOLITARY SUNSET-For the two years or so before my brother's death from Alzheimer’s, Frank, would occasionally accompany me on my photo treks. We laughed, prayed and meditated our way all around the Cambridge Valley environs. These were some of the best times of my life, times of love.
One late summer evening we were coming home via Route 74 from Schaghticoke to South Cambridge during an awesome sunset. We passed this greenhouse on the highway. Looking over our shoulders we were awed to see this building absolutely glowing in pinks, oranges, yellows, lavenders, all the colors of that sunset, while the “bones” of it’s frame stood starkly in silhouette beneath the taut plastic sheeting walls! It was peaceful and exciting at the same time. I tried to pull over to go take the shot but was dismayed to see a line of cars behind me preventing my stopping. So I threw a few ineffectual shots over my shoulder and drove on. Frank and I mourned the lost photographs all the way home and I’ve never forgotten "the one that got away".

Since Frank’s death I’ve driven past this greenhouse often but invariably at the wrong time of day. I have always thought my "magic shot" was behind me forever, but last week, near sunset, I happened to glance over my shoulder as I passed by the greenhouse (as is my habit at that location now) and I saw this glowing visage in the cloudy sunset. This time there were no cars on my bumper and I paused to compose my shot, thinking of how much Frank would have appreciated this new sunset at the greenhouse. It was different from the one we shared that evening, but beautiful in it’s own right. As I snapped three shots off I keenly felt his absence in the car, in my life. They were such good times discovering an older brother I had barely known all my life.
-June Mohan
Photo: (Copyright Mohan 2006) To contact the artist, please send email to: junemohan@hotmail.com

Windows on our Worlds Windows on our Worlds

I know there are many people out there who have great and interesting views of their worlds, please share one with the rest of us! Email your jpg to jdcarlson2001@yahoo.com with date, time and place you took the picture and I will post it ASAP.

Cambridge, NY 11-08-06 4:20pm

Photographer's Log Photographer's Log

HIGH NOON HARVEST

The sun was at high noon as I watched this farmer on South Cambridge Road bringing in his crop. I have been photographing these ripening fields for months, golden in sunsets, wondering when it would be that the harvest would take place. How blessed I felt to be witness to the harvest taking place after so many afternoons and evenings admiring the beauty of those fields. But, watching the farmers toiling under the white glare of the Autumn sun with the dust flying all around them, I was reminded of how much labor, hope and prayer went into that crop.

It made me think, "how much thought do I ever really give to those endless fields stretching along our roadsides and over the hills going off beyond our sight?" I realize now looking at this harvest that I am looking at the livelihood, the bread and butter, the dollars and cents, which will support men, women and children; my very own neighbors. I recognize in these fields those products that will fill my own pantry and refrigerator keeping me from the misery of hunger that plagues so many others on our planet.

I thank God for the farmers, these men and women who work long and hard to help keep food on all of our plates, and who courageously hold out against permitting our beautiful Cambridge Valley landscapes from fast becoming just another housing development, parking lot or strip mall.

Now, when I see and photograph row upon row of golden corn stalks, or dozens of cows grazing in a lush pasture, I will consider the humble, hard-working human beings behind all this beauty, and perhaps offer up a prayer for their prosperity, health and well-being. -June Mohan
Photo: (Copyright Mohan 2006) To contact the artist, please send email to: junemohan@hotmail.com