Tag Archives: Sentinel Media

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.

A Pause for a Post!

Posted on May 23, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I pause in my gyrations to make a Lame Post Friday blog post. I have been running around all day trying to be an Intrepid Girl Reporter (you know, like from a 1940’s Screwball Comedy or Cheesy Horror Movie). I wrote my article about the Frankfort Town Board meeting. I drove all around Frankfort looking for something to take a picture of that was talked about in the meeting. Then I had a dedication to go to, which I also had to write a story about. I found where I had to go. Being me, this was not easy (that is some sort of dangling participle, I think).

I pause in the midst of that rather foolish paragraph to mention that I have one of my light-headed whatever it is I occasionally suffer from. It does not feel fun. Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up.

Could Gatorade solve my problems?

I wonder if I could just be dehydrated? I do sometimes forget to drink water. In the meantime, my article about the dedication is hanging over my head. I mean, it is written. These articles are not especially difficult: I take notes, I write up my notes. But I also have to look over them and second-guess myself. Regular readers know that overthinking is kind of a hobby of mine. Additionally, I took a picture of all the speakers and I have to remember which name goes with which dignitary.

On the brighter side, I am over 200 words. A dithery post is better than no post at all, I say. Back to work with my newspaper duties! The rest of you can go back to whatever you were doing when you paused to read this!

My Java Reward

Posted on May 19, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

When you get your biggest chore done by eight o’clock in the morning, it is a beautiful thing. That is the observation I made to the staff at the Java Shop in Herkimer, NY this morning after I made my order.

In fact I had more than just coffee.

I had written my article on the Herkimer Town Board meeting for the Daily Sentinel, taken a picture to go with it, and got them both emailed out. I drank a cup of tea while I wrote, just in case I decided to treat myself to breakfast out (must watch my coffee intake). Of course I decided to treat myself. I ordered a breakfast sandwich with ham and provolone on a toasted roll, because I enjoyed the last one so much. I got a regular hot coffee.

A writer’s breakfast.

As I breakfasted (broke fast?), I worked on a letter to my friend Kim in Colorado. I SO miss going on Mohawk Valley Adventures with her! Dylan, the young man who brought my sandwich to me, asked if I was writing another murder mystery. I remember Dylan from when he worked at the End Zone. He remembered me coming in with my friend who had since moved away. I was pleased to tell him I was talking to that very friend.

That does remind me I need to start working on the next murder mystery. At least a good breakfast should help!

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Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged blog post, blogging, breakfast, breakfast out, breakfast sandwich, coffee, Daily Sentinel, friend Kim, herkimer ny, Java Shop, Mohawk Valley adventures, Sentinel Media, writing. Bookmark the permalink.

It All Started with the Spider

Posted on April 15, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am having a Tired Tuesday Post. It may even be construed as a Terrible Tuesday Post, but let us not become too dramatic. Then again, drama is my life! (Said with a dramatic gesture).

This morning there was a spider in my coffee. Ew! This is what happens when you do not examine your mug before adding coffee. I have only myself to blame. Full disclosure: I drank the rest of the coffee, spider germs be damned. I had to finish my story about the Ilion Village Board Meeting for Sentinel Media. Caffeine helped.

As my day progressed, I needed to go to Ilion again to drop off a flier of my latest murder mystery, A Revolutionary Murder, at Morning Star Methodist Church. While there I shopped at their Pay It Forward Thrift Store. Alas, I did not take any pictures.

Later in the day, I walked to the post office to mail a note and post card, then on to the Herkimer Elks Lodge to reserve two tickets to the previously mentioned murder mystery. Then I walked on to The End Zone Pub. Just to say hello.

You can’t really see the new light.

While I was there, Brock, the owner, was placing a new light in the front display. I took a picture, but as you see, not a very successful one. What can one expect on a day which began with a spider in one’s coffee?

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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Posted in humor, personal, Waste Not Want Not Wednesday and tagged blog post, blogging, Boilermaker 15K, herkimer ny, Ilion NY, running, Sentinel Media, spring, Utica NY, walking. Bookmark the permalink.

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