Waterville Blog 2014: Oh My Goodness!

When I sat own at my computer this morning it was my intention to tell you that the temperature is already a "balmy" 16.7 degrees and to give you a link to a story about the WCS Boy's Basketball Team .......

"Waterville boys basketball welcomes final four challenge"

- from this morning's Utica Observer-Dispatch.

.................... but then I clicked on my Mailbox and found four (4) separate E-letters from Brian Staring all with the Subject Heading "Send Off" and each with several photographs attached!

Here they are, in the order he sent them - between 1:37 and 1:53 early this morning!

*******************************

The first batch was accompanied by this note, in which he wrote:

"Kelly Machold gave me permission last night to send you these pictures. She said 'Mrs. Brown can share them with the People of the Waterville area on the Blog.'

" 'The Boys Varsity Team went to the Waterville Elementary School and had an assembly with the kids from K-5th in the gym. Attached are pictures. The team talked to the children about playing basketball, the support from everyone and where they're going today and tomorrow. I think it was beautiful what the team did.'

"I also found out last night from Kelly that people from all over started calling in and didn't want the team to take a school bus to the final four. They wanted them to go in style. People left and right were calling the school and donated money for the boys to take a charter bus. In the end, they had more than enough money to get one. She told me Michael's made forty some sandwiches for the boys plus two coolers of drinks and donated money to go out and eat.

"This is just amazing how people in the Waterville area pulled together all on their own to support the Basketball Team. Plus Mr. Maxam the coach received calls from other basketball coaches who have been to the final four to offer support and how to handle things to get through it all and to help to offer the boys. One she said was the New York Mills coach and I don't remember the others. Some were retired Hall of Fame coaches. All of this is just awesome."

Yes, it is!

(Thank you so much, Kelly and Brian.)

********

At Memorial Park School.

(Photos by Kelly Machold.)

**********

Photos by Brian Staring and Kelly Machold.

Preceeded by a car from the Oneida County Sheriff's Department, the Team Bus leaves the High School .....

............. followed by Fire Trucks from Waterville and local municipalities as well as Waterville's own "Big Orange."

*********************

In a Facebook post, Patty Louise, Editor of The Waterville Times wrote:

"Nine fire trucks and a garbage truck led a parade through Waterville as the charter bus carrying the Waterville Indians to Glens Falls left the high school. Tipoff in 22.5 hours! Go Indians!"

On the wall at the Post Office parking lot

As they progressed along Barton Avenue, Missy Brouillette took a video which she posted on Facebook and which (I hope!) you'll be able to watch by clicking HERE.

(Thank you, Missy!)

The big green Team Bus and escorts just about to turn from Main Street onto Route 315.

It very cold outdoors, only 7 degrees, so I did not go uptown, but I was listening for them and got to my front door as the entourage came down the Buell Avenue Hill. It was such an impressive display that I really got "goosebumps" and even a lump in my throat experiencing one of those wonderful "small town America" moments that seem to happen so often here in Waterville.

****************

ELSEWHERE AROUND TOWN .....

Back at the High School it was Opening Night!

Rave reviews started showing up on Facebook late last evening, heaping praise on individual performers and applauding the entire production.

Additional performances will take place tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

About pictures? Well ....... because Dress Rehearsal was cancelled due to the very poor weather on Wednesday night and that was to be the ONLY time when any photographs or videos could be taken, we're all waiting to see whether or not ace photographer Jody Hildreth will be able to post a display, as he usually does.
(He might have been able to take at least a few photographs because he is, after all, the President of the Music Boosters as well as father of soprano Tessa Hildreth who appears in the leading role of Christine Daaé!)

*********

HAPPENING TODAY
At the Library