Ashland Speaks: A busy week on the Mountain Top
What a busy week on the Mountain Top. The slopes were jam packed with skiers. On Monday, it was hard to go through town as the visitors were actually walking through Windham. Hickory Hill Market was packed with buyers. Heard that Hannaford in Cairo, also, had a wonderfully busy week. Our economy appreciates the business.
A group from Ashland and Jewett had dinner at the Platte Clove Community on Saturday. It’s always a pleasure to join in with them for a meal.
Feb. 27 is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. This is the start of the most solemn season of the Christian Community. It is a time for prayers and forgiveness. Forty days of preparation for Easter and the Resurrection. Many will go to church on Wednesday to be “marked with the sign of faith,” the ashes which are produced from last year’s palms from Palm Sunday. The water of the blessing represents the tears of Jesus.
I ask for prayers for the Ashland Church. A church should be the center of the community. Members should be reminded of their families and the struggle to maintain the church family. This is a season for remembering and to make a fresh, spiritual start. Come home to our church. Help support us. Don’t let our church become an empty building without a cause as are so many churches.
The beginning of Lent is, also, the beginning of the Hensonville Hose Co. Fish Fry. Every Friday until Easter, enjoy a dinner of Haddock, Clams, French Fries, cole slaw. The chefs in Hensonville fry the fish to perfection. For $12, its well worth it to try it.
On March 2, there will be an MCC meeting at the Windham VFW starting at 7 p.m. The guest speaker is the Honorable Charles M. Tailleur from Drug and Treatment Court in Catskill. The committee is trying to find ways to eliminate the drug problem that abounds on the Mountain Top. It is far more prevalent than most seem to think. It’s time to stop burying our heads in the sand and admit that there is a serious problem here. It’s not just a “big city” problem.
Windham Hensonville UMC has announced their spring schedule of events. On March 13, they will be holding their annual, very successful corned beef sandwich lunch from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. or when they run out of food. Don’t wait until the last minute to get yours. On May 8, it’s time for pulled pork sandwiches. The long awaited rummage sale will be on June 12 and 13.
Mountain Top Cares Volunteer Meeting, at 7 p.m. March 19 at Windham Center Church. Recovery Rides is a volunteer service providing rides to mutual support meetings, treatments and other essential services to those in recovery. Our goal is to have 30 drivers committed to making one round trip per month. For more information, contact mountaintopcarescoalition@gmail.com.
On March 21 there will be a chicken barbecue at the Ashland Fire House starting at noon. This is halves only, first come first served. This is a benefit for the family of Deputy Kevin Haverly.
CARES AND PRAYERS
Sincerest sympathy and condolences to the families of Carole Sutton who passed and to Ken Mabey on the passing of his step-father. Healing prayers for Vera Lampeka of Jewett and to Coralee Barlow and Dianne Cross.
COMING EVENTS
Feb. 26 and 28 Fish Fry Hensonville Hose.
March 5 WAJ Drama Club Dinner Theater for Senior Citizens of WAJCS district. Dinner at 5 p.m., play starts at 6 p.m.
March 6 Fish Fry Hensonville Hose.
March 6-8 WAJ production “HONK.”
March 8 Maple Fest breakfast at Christman’s Windham House.
March 13 Corned beef sandwiches Windham UMC starts at 11 a.m.
March 21 All you can eat breakfast Ashland Church at the Ashland Town Hall 7-11 a.m.
March 31 Ecumenical Stations of the Cross Ashland Church 11 a.m. covered dish.
AS I REMEMBER IT
As I finished last week, I was at the Austin House on lower Main Street. Merrill was a horse person and drove at the Flat Tracks in Saratoga every year. My friend, Mildred, who was Peg Sokoll’s mom, worked for me at the telephone office. One summer night, we worked the 5-11 shift. Being it was so close, she walked to and from work, but since I had to pass by her house, I would drop her off after late night shifts. One particular summer night, I offered to drop her off, and while driving, she told me that Merrill had just bought a bushel of tomatoes that day and she was expected to have them canned that night, or else! Two can process faster than one, so I went in with her, and worked until well after midnight getting all the tomatoes in jars. No excuse that Mildred just finished work. The tomatoes were at their peak and had to be done. Her words about Merrill — he was a street angel, but a house devil. Bet you know people like that.
