The Historical Society Museum Is Now Open Every Saturday & It is Awesome!

Judy Jacobs and her colleagues at the Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society have done a heroic job of cataloging the collection and creating displays that are esthetic and educational. Everyone who has made this little gem of a museum possible deserves congratulations. Please visit any Saturday from 10 AM - 1 PM. You will be awed and delighted.


Wouldn't you like to see this sign reproduced and posted at the borders on Routes 7, 63 and 44?


You get a real sense in the museum of the hard-working and dignified people who helped build this town


This is what a "cannonball" looks like that was made in Amesville when it was an industrial center



The Historical Society has lots of railroad memorabilia. After all, it was the railroad that determined Falls Village's destiny.


This hand-made mouse trap is a fine example of old-time ingenuity and craftsmanship.


The old switchboard that operators used to connect Falls Villagers to one another

Bingo for Education, Friday May 1

Time Out

I believe in free speech but I fear that the exchanges on this blog about the proposed cell phone tower have played themselves out for now. I hope those parties who want to resolve this situation will work together face to face for the good of all.

Loving Up the Library

Some two dozen volunteers showed up at the DM Hunt Library on Saturday morning ready to get down and dirty to make the library clean. They climbed on ladders to wash the windows inside and out, and they got on their knees to weed the perennial borders. They pruned bushes, raked the sod, dug up and divided hostas and left our library, the pride of Falls Village, looking tidy and terrific. Erica Joncyk sent in these photos.

Your Library Wants YOU!

SPRING CLEANING DISCARDS NEEDED FOR TAG SALE FUNDRAISER

Friends of Lee Kellogg School (FOLKS) and the Falls Village Day Care Center ask that when people do their spring cleaning and uncluttering, they help both local organizations by donating their usable items for a colossal cooperative tag sale to be held on the weekend of June 6th and 7th at Lee H. Kellogg School in Falls Village. Donated items, large and small, clean and in good working order, can be dropped off at Kellogg School (on Rt. 126/Main Street) June 2nd through June 5th from 3:30 to 630 p.m.

“This joint-effort tag sale has been a wonderful way for people to contribute to two worthy institutions, without having to purchase a fundraising item or give money,” says Laurie Wadsworth, member of the Day Care board and a FOLKS member.

Items such as furniture, clothing, books, videos, CDs, sports equipment, kitchen and house wares, lawn and garden gear, electronics, hardware, lamps, pottery, artwork, toys and games, etc. are welcome (no large exercise equipment, obsolete electronics, or damaged bulky furniture please). Spring cleaners are asked to set aside a corner of their basement, attic, or garage for tag sale items, adding good condition items that they no longer want or need to the corner pile as they clean. During the first week of June, these prepared items can then be brought to Kellogg School for the Tag Sale.

FOLKS is the volunteer parent and teacher group for Lee H. Kellogg School. The proceeds from the giant tag sale will be used to help support sports and arts programs, field trips, and special equipment purchases for student activities.

Funds raised will also support the Falls Village Day Care Center’s needs such as art supplies, science materials, playground equipment, books, music, toys and games, as well as capital improvements.

Bravo! Brava!

Director Lanny Mitchell and FVCT president Denise Cohn with the cast at the closing curtain call of "Alice in Wonderland." (Click on the photo to see it at full size.)

"Alice in Wonderland" Is A Hit!

If you want to see how theater helps foster joyful confidence in children of all ages, make sure you see the Falls Village Children's Theater production of "Alice in Wonderland," which opened tonight. There are two more performances on Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 2 PM. The show is free and lasts one hour without an intermission. It is guaranteed to make you smile and feel proud of our community. (Click on photos to see larger images.)

FVCT Presents "Alice" This Weekend

This production is going to be as amazing as the previous FVCT shows--"The Wizard of Oz," "Cinderella," and "Annie." The kids sing and dance better than ever and the hard-working parents who volunteer have outdone themselves with fantastical sets and costumes! Bravo to all!

Meet My Friend Margaret

Margaret Roach has been gardening in Copake Falls (near Bash Bish) for more than twenty years and she writes about it on her wonderful website, A Way To Garden. She's not only opinionated about plants, she is opinionated about everything in our region. Check out how she answered Twenty Questions posed to her by Rural Intelligence.

The Saint Valentine's Day Mystery

Mary Elling of Point of Rocks Road was enchanted and mystified by the hearts that were left dangling around town by an anonymous good samaritan on Valentine's Day. And she is dying of curiosity to find out who was behind this charming gesture....

Are You Free Friday Night?

Stairway to Heaven: The FVCT Father & Daughter Dance

Changing of the Guard at Isabella Freedman

After a four month search, the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center has hired a new executive director, Ellen Carton, who brings a lot of high-powered experience to her post. She replaces the well-liked Adam Berman who expanded Camp Freedman's offerings. Welcome to FV, Ellen!

Dry Times

Update Tuesday morning: Last night at 9 PM, Denny Jacobs called and left a message letting me know that I would have water at my house soon (I do!) but they were still trying to figure out this major break.

It seems that all of us who are fortunate enough to have town water are not so fortunate today. There is an unsolved water main break, according to Town Clerk Mary Palmer, which is leaving many townspeople high and dry (though Palmer said that the Town Hall for some mysterious reason does have water.)

The Very Clever Mr. Brien

Joe Brien is one of those quietly creative souls who make Falls Village so special. Two years ago, a television crew from Home and Garden Television (HGTV) in Hollywood, CA, came to his studio on Point-of-Rocks Road to film him as he created a five-foot-tall polyfoam crocodile mask for the “That’s Clever!” craft program. (The producers discovered him on the internet.) For some mysterious reason, it took over two years for the episode to air, but you can see a six-minute clip here which features some sweet shots of downtown Falls Village.

How Sweet It Was!

Maybe it was because everyone was having a simultaneous sugar high, but all the guests seemed giddy at tonight's second annual Chocolate in the Village fundraiser for the David M. Hunt Library. There were all types of chocolate treats to taste and plenty of good things to drink, but the best part was seeing how many smart, funny, generous and interesting people come out on a cold night to support our beloved library.

Dads & Daughters Dancing Together