Did Someone Say Cows?

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Beck

Are there REALLY more cows than people in Wyoming County??
As one of the privileged members of PCS Class of 1982 that served in the Military I returned to the area in 1986 and that age-old question drove me to FIND THE TRUTH!
So – cows or people???
I checked with the Wyoming County Clerk (had a friendly “in” there since my dear ole’ dad practiced law for 30+ years by that point) and they gave me the OFFICIAL census figure of roughly 40,000 registered people.
On to the cows. Gotta love the cows!!
The Cooperative Extension gave me the figure for Registered Holsteins – any guesses??
That’s Right – roughly 40,000!!!

OK. Now we have a statistical dilemma.
I figured there were more unregistered cows than unregistered people in Wyoming County

LET’S GIVE IT TO THE COWS!!!

Proximity to The Switch – starting at less than a mile you’ll start to see many…..

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It’s The Bishop

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Beck

Perry has a Church Street and many churches.  Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Mennonite and Episcopal.  My mom attended the St Joseph’s Roman Catholic – I tagged along there through my First Communion and around age ten I started attending the Red-Doored Holy Apostles Episcopal (Catholic Lite) with my dad.

At some point I became an Acolyte and weekly donned the red and white robes.  It was during that time I learned self-control. During the “Sermon” time I sat in the very front of the church by the altar with my back to the wall – facing the congregation… and my brother Albert would do his very best to get me laughing while the entire congregation was watching me.  Oh the stories – and memories!

This photo was taken one Sunday when the young folk seen here took part in Confirmation.

Sundays were the day we went to church.  The stores were closed.  You could not buy alcohol.

My dad was the calmest and in the best mood of the entire week… right after church.  I discovered that was the best time to let him know that I got a speeding ticket or was in whatever trouble.

I think that we need our Sundays… and our churches.

Proximity to The Switch – the churches in the Village were within 1/2 mile.

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Lake and Federal Streets-Deja Vu

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Beck

The Switch is located at the northeast corner of Lake and Federal Streets (technically North Federal St) in Perry.

When in St Albans, VT last weekend for Beth Ann’s Funeral, Michelle and I checked out the One Federal Restaurant at this intersection – one block off of Main St.

I didn’t see any Switch or Fire Siren on a telephone pole in the area.  Nice and quiet.

The food was great.

Proximity to The Switch – 360 miles to the northeast.

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A Music Legend

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Beck

Mr Hughes was the best Teacher that the Perry Central School District ever had the privilege of learning from and enjoying.

Perhaps I’m a bit biased, but he taught me many thing including how to enjoy music of various types.

Many of us had the honor and privilege of doing Wind Ensemble, Stage Band, and Marching band under his direction.

We enjoyed his company at the Funeral for his wonderful daughter and our friend Beth Ann – or “Bethy” as the family referred to her.

He recently had a stroke that has restricted him to a wheelchair and increased his frustration level to new heights.  He does not have full use of his left hand and became frustrated when he couldn’t do something as simple as cut his waffle at breakfast this weekend.

He and his wife Sally still live on Buckland Ave in Perry – let’s remember to send him a card sometime soon to say thanks for all he’s done for us over the years.

Proximity to The Switch – Most of it took place at the High School – within one mile.  Some events took place miles away when we traveled for Music Festivals and Competitions.

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Bittersweet Reunion of Friends

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Beck

Michelle, Gibby, Pete, Leslie, Tammy

We are not “old” friends. In fact we are far too young to be considered old – and should not be at the Memorial Service of a friend and classmate.

Norm and Beth Ann have been in St Albans, VT for many years where they and their four boys have made a huge impact on that little community near the Canadian Border.

February 11, 2012 – just months shy of our 30th Reunion – the five of us gathered at the Memorial Service for Beth Ann.  Michelle drove from Rochester, Gibby from Woodstock, VT and Leslie and husband Chris journeyed from Long Island.  Tammy and her husband Paul flew up from FL while I flew in from Philly.

After the Memorial Service we changed out of our Sunday clothes and gathered back at the huge and historic Zawisza Homestead with the Hughes and Zawisza clans, friends of their kids, their wonderful neighbors, and our PCS ’82 entourage. We talked, and drank, and cried, and ate, and drank some more, and enjoyed two of “The Boys” and their friends playing their guitars and singing… and drank some more and cried still.

I think the look on Hank’s face – the handsome family Basset Hound – said it all -

“Why are all these people (especially the ‘strangers’) here – and WHERE IS SHE?”

We know where she is and miss her – in time Hank will figure it out – with the help of Norm and the Boys.

Proximity to The Switch – 360 miles to the northeast.

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Farewell Beth Ann

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Beck

In early January news came that our dear friend Beth Ann Hughes Zawisza was battling cancer – and things were serious.

Saturday January 28th – my cell phone caller ID said “Eric Kelly”.  I knew EXACTLY why he was calling.   When news first broke of Beth’s cancer I called Eric for more info. Eric is a Minister in the Perry United Methodist Church where Beth’s parents attend – he is close to Don & Sally and has up to date and accurate info. He called on that brisk Saturday to let me know that Beth had passed Friday.

This photo was taken at the Perry Vets Club – Memorial Day 1980 – at the end of the Memorial Day Parade where a ceremony took place to honor our fallen Vets.

This photo IS Beth…  while the rest of us are taking part in a serious ceremony – she’s looking back to one of her girlfriends and cracking up…  and WHO was the Band Director??  None other than her Dad!

The mystery question is – who was the BFF she was looking back at?

And yes – that is me holding up the Sousaphone.

How ironic that my prior post was about the Memorial Day Parade!  This photo was the next in a series taken on that day.  (Classmate Marcy Munger Nieman pointed out the rainbow in this photo.)

Proximity to The Switch – close enough to hit it by tossing my mouthpiece!

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Memorial Day Parade

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Beck

Every Memorial Day the Perry High School Marching Band would don those heavy and hot uniforms and march from Olin Avenue – down from the High School football field/track – and move out onto Main Street… up to Gasoline Alley to Center Street and up Lake Street ending at the Vets Club where either Mr Hughes or Mr Bichalaney (had to consult with Yearbook for spelling!) would play Taps as part of the Ceremony honoring our fallen war heroes.  Being the tall Sousaphone player I was often used to set one of the corners of the band – it was easy for the others to “mark off” on me since I couldn’t be missed!  My mom made the cover for the bell of my instrument in our Yellowjackets colors of Blue and Gold.

Who remembers the year that Merle Cowie – father of our dear friend and Clarinet player Michelle Cowie – buzzed the band from the back while we were marching down Main Street and playing??  Merle was a Cropduster and kept his plane on his farm property adjacent to the Perry-Warsaw Airport – along Route 20A – halfway between Perry and Warsaw (brilliant name for the Airport).  He must have been just above the two- and three-story buildings along Main Street – somewhere along the northern stretch of downtown near the old Robeson Cutlery building.  I just remember how we were all suddenly shocked to the point of not being able to play or march!  We were all over the place and he simply scared the crap out of us!

Proximity to The Switch – at the end of the Parade and during the Ceremony – we were underneath it!

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Jan Brady’s Winter Coat and an Un-Neutured Family Dog

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Beck

Duke is seen here with Glenna sometime on or after 1975.  Judging by the snow on the ground this appears to be Fall or Springtime in Perry (that’s sarcasm).

We DID watch the Brady Bunch everyday… and Glenna is living it out in Jan’s Winter coat.  The phrase that echoes in my hair-free head this time of year is “Dress to walk”.  Our mother taught us well in that regard and I drilled it into my children.  We didn’t have Live Doppler Radar accessible on our SmartPhones to warn us of impending storms.  Often our Early Warning Systems were our gut, the local farmer or the experience of getting snowed in when and where it was least expected.

You have to admit that she looks totally prepared for the weather – head to toe.  The real reason for Bell-Bottoms was for them to fit around our snow boots – it was NOT a California thing but instead a Buffalo Snowbelt functional fashion requirement (sorry, Greg).  A wardrobe malfunction is not a welcome occurrence in this type of weather (sorry, Janet).  The furry sleeves, hood, and matching  trim were strictly for functionality (sorry, Jan).

What’s with the “Neuter” reference in the Title?  Duke was not neutered and seemed to do quite well as a roaming dog.  Unlike a town drunk, Duke knew exactly where he was – with the exception of the Police Patrolman’s back seat – a car was a car.  He behaved himself entirely that we know of (perhaps a litter here and there).  Well, speaking of a Police Patrolman, there was one who lived one block over.  There was the occasion when his female dog (also not “fixed”- that’s another subject – I tend to think of it as broken) was in heat and Duke disappeared for some time without so much as a text, email, or voicemail to let us know where he was.  Patrolman Terry informed us that our Yeller dog was scratching on the side of his house.

Yet another way we did things differently in the 70′s.

Proximity to The Switch – 400 yards to the West.

Posted in Pets, Winter Activities | 2 Comments

Little People

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Beck

This is in the backyard of one of the our neighborhood family houses.  I’m fairly certain that this was Sam’s HS grad party in 1981.  Cheri is holding Glenna in the palm of her hand.  We did fun and creative things since we didn’t have cell phones to text with and FB to let everyone know when we were going to the bathroom.

Proximity to The Switch – 400 yards to the North/Northwest.

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Wayne’s World – July 2011

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Beck

What a great time we had reconnecting.  Wayne came up from VA and me from PA.  We both caught up with our “bucket list of people to see – places to go” for the few days we were both there.   It was on this trip that I caught up with Mike Laraby.

We stayed at the Perry B&B – the yellow house in the photo – directly next door to the Beckary Homestead which is on the left of the photo – over Wayne’s truck and the hedgerow that my mom planted and I trimmed many times over the years.

I look forward to the next trip.  Perhaps in the Winter to experience the snow!

Proximity to The Switch – 200 yards to the North.

 

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