Cambridge Life: 4/27/09 Cambridge Life: 4/27/09

Even cats' fancies turn to love when spring finally arrives.

Finish Line Finish Line

(Photo copyright John Carlson 2009)

This weekend Cambridge was a buzz with activity as thousands of people showed up from across the country, and yes, from around the world, to participate in, and watch, the Tour of the Battenkill-- two days of outstanding bike racing! From the perspectives of my front porch on Main Street, The Rice Mansion Inn and the sky above, I witnessed a lot of people coming together and having an amazing time.

Hugh kudos to the organizers, Dieter Drake, Christine Hoffer, Alan Atwood, Amy Drake and Dawn Case. And here’s to all the volunteers, our Police, Rescue Squad, and everyone else who came out to support the effort. It was a huge undertaking, and a great success!


Winners Podium in front of the Rice Mansion Inn- 1st place (center) Scott Nydam (BMC) 2nd Place (left) Karl Menzies (OUCH) 3rd Place (right). Francois Parisien (Planet Energy) (Photo copyright John Carlson 2009)


I’m already looking forward to next years festivities! Hope to see you all here!


(Photo copyright John Carlson 2009)

Blueberry Girl - from Neil Gaimon Blueberry Girl - from Neil Gaimon

Can You Guess The Song? Can You Guess The Song?

Watch this little video all the way through and see if you can figure out what the song is before it is revealed.



Amazing what some people do with too much time on their hands.

2009 Tour of the Battenkill is Here! 2009 Tour of the Battenkill is Here!

Photos courtesy Tour of the Battenkill

America's Queen of the Classics has really grown. The Tour of the Battenkill is now the largest cycling race in the United States. This year, a new Pro Invitational has been added, making this a truly international event.

Teams from across the USA, Canada and Europe are coming to our Village on Friday, April 17, 2009 to prepare for the race. With a variety of hills, flats, paved and dirt roads to contend with, The Tour of the Battenkill challenges each rider to perform at the top of their game.

For the Pro Invitation, teams like MetLife, Pro-Am Cycling, Planet Energy and GS Mengoni USA will be competing. For a complete list of the Pro Teams click here.

Saturday, starts at 8:45 when the Juniors take to the streets - The Farm Team Cycling members and other juniors from across the US compete for the coveted bottle of Battenkill Valley Creamery Chocolate milk.

The PRO/AM race starts at 10:00 am and then every 5 minutes until 12:30 pm.

Greenwich will host a Bike Rodeo and Safety program at Gree Pea Market from 9-11:00 am.

Sunday, the PRO's take to the streets at 11:00 am, starting in Cambridge. Staging will begin at 10:30 on St. Lukes Street. You do not want to miss this INAUGURAL PRO Invitatational.

For a full listing of events and activities please go to :
www.tourofthebattenkill.com/Spectator.html

Jackie Robinson joined the Dodgers on April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson joined the Dodgers on April 15, 1947

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson put on his first Brooklyn Dodgers uniform (number 42) and broke the Major League Baseball "color line". He's one of the all-time greats!

in time of daffodils in time of daffodils

in time of daffodils
e. e. cummings

in time of daffodils (who know
the goal of living is to grow)
forgetting why, remember how

in time of lilacs who proclaim
the aim of waking is to dream,
remember so (forgetting seem)

in time of roses (who amaze
our now and here with paradise)
forgetting if, remember yes

in time of all sweet things beyond
whatever mind may comprehend,
remember seek (forgetting find)

and in a mystery to be
(when time from time shall set us free)
forgetting me, remember me

Easter and the Renewal of Spring Easter and the Renewal of Spring

Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. Our gardens are coming alive, and we can rejoice at the end of an exceptionally cold and difficult winter.
Photo Credit: Roger Wyatt

WPA Anniversary WPA Anniversary

In this time of economic challenge, there is much talk of the Great Depression of the 1930s. I heard a lot about the Depression era from my parents who were growing up at the time, in downstate New York. Today is the anniversary of a major Depression era program: on April 8, 1935, Congress approved the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, the work relief bill that funded the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was created by President Franklin Roosevelt to relieve the economic hardship of the Great Depression, this national works program employed more than 8.5 million people on 1.4 million public projects before it was disbanded in 1943. The WPA employed skilled and unskilled workers in a great variety of work projects—many of which were public works projects such as creating parks, and building roads and bridges, and schools and other public structures.

The WPA included some programs for artists, including the Federal Writers' Project (FWP), the Federal Art Project (FAP), the Federal Music Project, and the Federal Theater Project. Many observers have highlighted the importance of the arts in maintaining --- and rebuilding --- economic vitality.

Reference: Today in History, Library of Congress.

Cambridge Life: 4/6/09: Beware the Ides? Cambridge Life: 4/6/09: Beware the Ides?

Photos by John Carlson and June Mohan

We just wrapped-up one crazy week in Cambridge, NY. Things started with a bang...the special election for the 20th Congressional Assembly District. Talk about "too close to call!" We still don't know who will be our representative. Last I heard only six (6), that's right...SIX, votes separated the candidates. With over 10,000 absentee ballots still to count, we probably won't know who won until it's time for the next election in 2010. Can you say shades of Minnesota (do we know if they've decided that race yet?).

After the craziness of last Monday, we had a stretch of beautiful weather. The sun came out, the crocus bloomed, the trees began to bud up and then it snowed! Yes, snow. Okay, so it only lasted overnight, but it certainly did turn colder and dreary. Guess that's April in the north, eh!

Now we're headed into the final stretch before the spring holidays of Easter and Passover. Oh, and don't forget tax time on April 15th. Maybe Caesar needed to beware the Ides of March, but I'd say the Ides of April (oh I know that the 15th isn't exactly the Ides of April...). In fact, here' the skinny on the Ides of a Month:

The Ides of March Just one of a dozen Ides that occur every month of the year by Borgna Brunner

The Roman calendar organized its months around three days, each of which served as a reference point for counting the other days:

The term Ides comes from the earliest Roman calendar, which is said to have been devised by Romulus, the mythical founder of Rome. Whether it was Romulus or not, the inventor of this calendar had a penchant for complexity. The Roman calendar organized its months around three days, each of which served as a reference point for counting the other days:

Kalends (1st day of the month) Nones (the 7th day in March, May, July, and October; the 5th in the other months) Ides (the 15th day in March, May, July, and October; the 13th in the other months) The remaining, unnamed days of the month were identified by counting backwards from the Kalends, Nones, or the Ides. For example, March 3 would be V Nones—5 days before the Nones (the Roman method of counting days was inclusive; in other words, the Nones would be counted as one of the 5 days).

So enjoy this week, remember that April showers bring May flowers (or so they say) and don't sweat the Ides.

ADK Sports & Fitness Expo & Tour of the Battenkill ADK Sports & Fitness Expo & Tour of the Battenkill

The fourth annual Adirondack Sports & Fitness Summer Expo on Saturday and Sunday, April 4-5 at the Saratoga Springs City Center, is the region's guide to outdoor recreation and summer fun, celebrating active, healthy lifestyles! The show will feature running, bicycling, paddling, hiking and triathlon, plus health and fitness, attractions and destinations. FREE Admission! [Photo]Photo by Cliff Oliver www.cliffordoliverphotography.com

Photo by Cliff Oliver

The Tour of the Battenkill will be on site to answer questions about the race, sponsorship, spectating, and volunteering. Stop for a sweet treat and sample Battenkill Valley Creamery Chocolate milk. Don't miss out on the opportunity to purchase a commemorative bottle of chocolate milk. Come on Saturday after 1p and "Meet the Farmer" Seth McEachron.

Dieter Drake, race promoter, will be presenting a birdseye view of the race on Saturday at 5p and answering questions about the course, conditions and supporting activities of the weekend.

The Expo will include:
· Paddling demos in the giant 20x30-foot indoor pool
· Electric City Rock Gym's 25-foot climbing wall
· Seminars and clinics from regional experts on triathlon, bicycle fit, running, Pilates, foot care, weather hazards and more
· Sales on gear and clothing
· Kids try-it paddling sessions
· Bouncy-bounce for the young kids
· Prizes and giveaways

Is it really sping? Is it really sping?

I know that the calendar says spring the crocus are up, the lilacs are in bud and the sap is done running but...

I must confess that I love a day like today. The wind is making my chimes ring and the feel in the air is of rain a comin'....a good day to finish my taxes, watch a video, or best of all, read my book. That's one of the benefits of working for yourself, at home!

Big plans this year for the garden...I'm thinking of digging up the lawn. Yes, I'm going to plant fruit trees, berry bushes, and create a pond for water plants. Of course, I'll still have my tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumber patch. I need suggestions on what else to add to the garden.

What are you putting in this year?