Tag Archives: Ilion NY

We Reporters Have to Eat, Too

Posted on May 28, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I decided this morning I would treat myself to breakfast out so I could definitely make a real blog post and plug a local business.  For one reason, I knew I would be out and about, searching for a picture to go with my story about the Ilion Village Board meeting for Sentinel Media (regular readers may recall I have a side hustle covering a few meetings and such in the Valley).  For another reason, an Everything Bagel at Saturday Spreads sounded really, really good.

Great place to stop!

Since I knew I was going to be enjoying a cup of Utica Coffee later (“Wake the Hell Up!”), I sipped a cup of tea while I wrestled with my journalistic endeavors (“Wake the Hell Up” is Utica Coffee’s tag-line; I’m not cussing at you).  Soon I was headed to Ilion in search of illustration.  I failed to get a shot of some soon-to-be-demolished properties, because they were quite overgrown by now.  Also, the neighbor’s dogs started barking at me, and I felt unwelcome.  Finally I got a shot of some re-paving that was also talked about at the meeting.

Central Paving seems to be doing a fine job.

I explained to one of the fellows working that I was not taking pictures for any nefarious purpose.  He told me he thought the mayor was doing a good job, and I agreed.  Of course, it is impossible to please everybody.  Even for Mohawk Valley Girl, if you can believe such a thing.

Finally I was at Saturday Spreads and enjoying my repast.  I got the Utica Grind this time, which I remembered to write down:  Cream Cheese, Heirloom Tomatoes, Lemon Zest, Utica Grind, Flaky Sea Salt.

My writer’s breakfast.

I said to the waitress, “Some people make fun of people for taking pictures of their food, but I’m going to use it in my blog post.”  I really enjoyed it.  I found it quite salty and spice; it make my lips tingle, but they tend to get a little chapped this time of year due to allergies.  I looked longingly at the pastries in the case as I left but resolutely headed out the door.  I need to take off a few pounds for the sake of my knees and back if for no other reason.

Saturday Spreads is located at 264 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY.  You can follow them on Facebook.

 

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Murals and Selfies, It’s Waste Not Want Not Wednesday

Posted on May 20, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I planned last week to make a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post when I came out of New 2 You Consignments in Ilion, NY and saw the mural painted on a wall opposite.

So artistic!

I believe they have had community events in that space.  I will have to watch when they will have more.  It will make for a good blog post.  Having taken one good picture, I had to look out for more.  That was where I didn’t get so lucky.  Then I had an opportunity to wear one of the new earrings I got at The Mustard Seed in Little Falls. Perhaps you read my blog post about them.  As regular readers may recall, I like to wear three different earrings.  It is a thing with me.

I can’t pretend I take a good selfie, but I do my best with what nature gave me.

Yesterday was the vote for the school board budget.  It is one’s civic duty to vote.  We do not hear much about duty these days, but it used to be a big deal. In the Agatha Christie books I delight in reading, the characters can usually get each other to do things by telling them it is their duty.  So I told myself it was my duty and went to the Junior/Senior High School, where voting took place.  A nice police officer opened the door for me.  I laughed, because there was a Visitor’s Door and a Student’s Door both opening into the same hallway.

“The teachers want us to vote yes, right?”  I asked a teacher-looking person as I walked into a library.  He assured me they did, and I said I would do what the teachers wanted.

“Unlike what you did in elementary school,” he speculated.

On the other side, I was wearing the butterfly earring again.

I took a selfie with my I Voted sticker.  Steve and I used to take an ussie with our stickers, so I thought I would continue the tradition.  I also continued the tradition of putting the sticker in the TV Journal.  Of course the selfie isn’t as fun as the ussie, but one does what one can.

See? Much more fun with two!

This is from November 2018.  Steven and I did have fun.

 

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I Find it at New2You!

Posted on May 16, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Tonight is the night!  We present A Revolutionary Murder with a new ending and a new Evelyn Ganache, the put-upon assistant to Reuben Maneuse, organizer of the evening’s festivities.  I play Evelyn, whereas when we presented the murder before I played the evil and short-lived Amaretta VonSchnapps.  Of course I needed a new costume.  I thought I had found a good dress at a rummage sale, but when I got it home and tried it on, YUCK!  It showed up all my figure flaws (and believe me, I have a seriously flawed figure!).

After a few failed thrift store visits, I remembered I had a pair of generic black pants.  A plain blue top, paired with a patriotic scarf I had worn with the more flamboyant Amaretta costume would do.  I made my way to New 2 You Consignments in Ilion, NY, where I had previously found many excellent additions to my wardrobe.

Lots of good stuff here.

“I need a costume, but NOT something fabulous,” I told Robbi, the owner, as I walked in.  It was not long before I found just the right thing.  Phew!

I’m the one sitting down.

Just to show you an example of one of my more fabulous finds.  I actually found this the day of the murder mystery, and I have worn it for at least one other murder mystery since.  I think I look rather fabulous in it, but perhaps I flatter myself.

I’m second from the right.

And here is another fabulous find.  This one I wear as part of my regular wardrobe, not just for murder mysteries.  I do like to dress to impress, even if the only one I impress is myself.

New 2 You Consignments is located at 10 Central Plaza, Ilion, NY.

 

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Old Mystery, New Mystery

Posted on May 13, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am going to have a Way Back Wednesday post but cannot decide if I want to go back to murder mysteries or gardening glories.  OK, my previous gardening endeavors have not been particularly glorious; I was merely going for the alliteration, since one is built in for murder mysteries.  Since I shared flowers yesterday and am concerned with Saturday’s performance of A Revolutionary Murder, I think I will go with the first one.

They are more suspicious than they look.

These are two of the suspects from A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, which we presented in October 2017 to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I was thinking about it last night, because my friend, Chuck, who is in A Revolutionary Murder, said that was one of his favorite characters, an endearingly gung ho ghost hunter (why in the world is my computer underlining “gung”?  I even looked it up!).  Saturday he plays a wheeler-dealer in charge of the evening.

Here’s the whole murderous crew!

Here is the entire cast of A G.R.A.V.E. Murder.  The second from the right is in A Revolutionary Murder as well.  He played a snotty, snobby fellow in the first but plays a gung ho musical theatre aficionado in the second.

Look at the crowd!

One more shot of G.R.A.V.E.  It was one of our best attended performances, which led to some problems being heard.  I hope we will get good attendance on Saturday and help Morning Star make some money.

A Revolutionary Murder will be presented at Morning Star United Methodist Church, 36 Second St., Ilion, NY, on Saturday, May 16, doors open at 5 p.m., roast pork dinner at 5:30.  It is a good idea to get there at 5 p.m. For tickets or more information call Barb at 315-894-4520.

 

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No Pictures, But a Great Cinco de Mayo

Posted on May 7, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

When I made my silly blog post yesterday I neglected to mention that I did so have a Mohawk Valley Adventure on Tuesday:  I attended the Cinco de Mayo festivities at the Ilion Elks Lodge.  Unfortunately, I took no pictures, so it won’t be such a great blog post.  It’s a funny thing.  I went five years without putting a picture in a blog post.  Now, if I don’t have a picture to add, I feel paralyzed.  What’s that all about, me?

I do not often find ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but I have identified with the holiday ever since I made the possibly Freudian typo Cindy de Mayo.  But I love Mexican food and occasionally a good Margarita, and I had to be in Ilion on Tuesday anyways, so…

The Elks offered $2 mini Margaritas and $3 tacos.  You got to build your own taco, which was pretty sweet.  I chose soft shell.  I also opted for a full size margarita, because I loved the glass.  I got Patron tequila.  For one reason, another person at the bar told me it was delicious.  For another, my maiden name is Vetrone, and it rhymes. I find that unassailable logic.  It was, in fact, a delicious margarita. There were some good desserts too. I enjoyed a Margarita Bar, which was kind of like a lemon square, only lime.

Alas, I could not linger.  I had to move on to a rehearsal for A Revolutionary Murder. (preview of coming attractions)  We are giving another performance on May 16 at Morning Star Methodist Church in Ilion, at a Roast Pork dinner.  I have written a different ending, so anybody who attended the first performance will still be surprised.

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I Didn’t Waste My Walks

Posted on March 25, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had a kind of a Terrible Tuesday, which is not one of my features, but now I am all set for a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post.  For anybody who didn’t know, this is when I share previously unused pictures from my cell phone.

Spring IS coming!

I saw these snowdrops on my cool-down walk after my run on (going to the calendar to check) Yikes! Friday!  How have I not been running since Friday?  Why the hell am I thinking?  Obviously I am not thinking (that is pretty much always the answer to “What were you thinking?”).  But I digress.

The picture did not turn out as well as I had hoped.

I paused to take a picture of a birds nest in a tree on Mohawk Street in Herkimer, NY (where I live) during a longish walk I took on Saturday.  So I have been getting some exercise if not running.  Incidentally, I took two longish walks in the pouring rain on Sunday (it was not raining when I left the house), which quite wore me out.  Apparently I am less resilient in my old age than I was in my younger days.  Alas!

Apparently not the road less traveled.

I add this picture purely for the sake of having three illustrations.  It is a battered street in Ilion, which I photographed as a possible accompaniment to my article for Sentinel Media about the Ilion Village Board of Trustees Meeting on Monday.  This and several other roads will soon have work done on them, as was discussed in the meeting.

One might say that the road picture is symbolic of my life:  not a smooth path, but it just might take me somewhere.  Also, a bare road will be an encouragement for me to get back to running.  I believe I mentioned that I am registered for the Boilermaker 15K in Utica in July.

 

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It Is Neither Spring Nor Wednesday

Posted on March 17, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last week I was making each of my posts for the day before.  Today I will do the opposite and make my Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post on Tuesday (which is today for me, although my WordPress timestamp may disagree).  For one reason, I took two pictures last night that I can use.

Come on, daffodils!

This is outside the Ilion Municipal Building, where I went last night to cover the Village Board of Trustees meeting.  I was so happy to see some flowers!  I fear my own lawn is not similarly blessed.  For one reason, a bunch of snow fell overnight, and I am covered again.

Since I was early for the meeting I took a walk around the building.  I can always use a little more exercise (although I did run over 2 miles that morning).  I remembered there was something there I would also like a picture of.

I like when things are painted on buildings.

This is the back of a building on Otsego Street which houses at least a couple of businesses.  Alas, Moose River Coffee is no longer there.  Beer Belly Bob’s is under new management and goes by the name Beer Bliss.  I am not sure what else is in the building, but perhaps I could go there and check it out.  My local blog readers may want to know.

However, I will not be going there today.  As I said, snow fell, and I am not inclined to shovel.  I wonder if I could wait it out, like I did with the last snowfall.  I think it is worth a try.

 

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Monday Night Flights

Posted on February 24, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

So there I was at the Ilion Elks Lodge when I remembered I did not make a blog post today.  That was OK, though, because I was about to partake in an excellent subject for a blog post: Monday Night Flights.  I have attended Monday Night Flights before but thought I would not make tonight’s, because I had to cover the Ilion Village Board Meeting.  Imagine my delight when the meeting did not last very long.

I was happy to walk in and see some friends.  They were happy to see me, too.  I ordered a glass of wine, because there were no flights in sight.  Jackie, the bartender, gave me a beautiful glass.

Alas, I did not get the best picture!

You can’t really tell, but there are flamingos on it, and the base has polka dots.  Eventually Jackie poured the flights.  We sampled three cocktails: Cherry Rose Mudslide, Very Sexy Martini, and Tiffany Mimosa.

I thought they were all pretty good, but my favorite was the Cherry Rose Mudslide.  A regular Mudslide is kind of like a chocolate shake with a kick.  This one had hints of cherry.  I later found out they use Tequila Rose in it.  I seem to remember sampling Tequila Rose some years ago but do not remember it very well.  I liked the Tiffany Mimosa better than the regular kind.  I found out I have been making Mimosas wrong to begin with.  Apparently you are only supposed to  add enough orange juice to change the color.  A fellow flight sampler told me that.  I guess I don’t know if it is true.

The Very Sexy Martini was interesting, but I prefer a regular martini, perhaps a dirty martini.  However, this martini had champagne in it, which I found interesting.  I guess I like to drink straight champagne, but to each their own, as the old lady said when she kissed the cow.

They were selling turkey wrap sandwiches, so I ate one of those, which helped me not get tipsy.  The flights were not large: enough to let you taste the cocktail but not enough to get you drunk.  I meant to take a picture of the three little glasses but foolishly forgot.

I highly recommend Flight Nights as Ilion Elks Lodge.  You can follow their Facebook page to see when the next one will be.

 

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The Evil Pork Loin

Posted on January 25, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title when I purchased a pork loin at the local grocery store for $6.66.  I mentioned to a worker who was stocking the meat case that I did not know how to cook a pork loin.  Then I saw instructions on the package.

“I am hooked up,” I declared.

I could not resist the price.

When Saturday was predicted to be one of the coldest days, I thought it would be an excellent day to run the oven.  That would be my Saturday blog post!

Of course it wasn’t.  I cooked with wine and went to bed early, having enjoyed a couple delicious slices of pork loin. It is now Sunday, and I am thinking that my cooking a pork loin, even an evil one, is hardly a blogworthy activity.  So now I am having a Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  It seems everyplace is closed in anticipation of the terrible storm we are supposed to be getting.  What can I do but sit home, watch Columbo, and eat leftover pork loin?

Not the Columbo I am watching, but a good one!

While searching my Media Library for a picture of Columbo, I came across some pictures of Prescription: Murder, the play I was in last year at Ilion Little Theatre. It was a great experience.  I need to audition for another play.  And organize another murder mystery.

A great group of people!

I close with a shot of the cast with the director and assistant director.  I would love to work with any or all of these people again.  So I end my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post on a positive note, perhaps a Preview of Coming Attractions.

Have you eaten any pork loin lately?

 

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I Have No Defense

Posted on December 17, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, I did it again.  I went three whole days without posting. In my defense…

The three words that best describe me are as follows, and I quote…

I guess it isn’t really a defense, but I have been running around like I have health, energy, and ambition (I bet you thought I was going to say, “like  a chicken with its head cut off”) (you know who you are).  Saturday I ran the Reindeer Run 5K on unreliable streets in Little Falls.  After returning home to shower, I went to Ilion to take a picture of the Frosty Forest at their Municipal Hall, a fundraiser for Hoffman Wellness Center.  I wrote a quick blurb for Sentinel Media (must also do a blog post), which I emailed out.  Next I went to the cookie sale at Herkimer County Historical Society, because, well, cookies.  I had a very nice visit there with a couple of my favorite volunteers.

Finally I went to the Elks Lodge where I donated a few canned goods to Feed Our Vets and watched part of the Army/Navy football game. I wore my Army shirt, just to harass a couple of Navy vets I’m friends with.  Once of them did an end run around me, though, and wore Army stuff.  He served in both branches.

Sunday I was up early and off to Herkimer High School to volunteer for the Elks Hoop Shoot, a nation-wide foul shot contest.  That was a little nerve-wracking, because I had to pay close attention as one of the score-keepers.  I am not so good with numbers.

So it has been a weekend of lots to blog about but no time to blog.  You may be tempted to point out that today is Tuesday, and I had all day Monday to write numerous blog posts.  You are, of course, at liberty to point out whatever you would like.  I did a few things Monday, as it happens, but I feel I have blathered on for long enough.  I am going to bill this as a Tired Tuesday post and feel justified in doing so.

Bunny looks interested in hearing whatever I have to say.

I close with a picture of the bunny from Herkimer County Humane Society, because I like that bunny.

 

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