Celebrating Cream Cheese

 Over the weekend we went up to our former hometown of Lowville New York for one of those events that had been a well-kept secret for many years. For 13 years now this small town has been the location for what is basically a street fair.  I remember when I was volunteering at the Chamber of Commerce and we were discussing fundraisers. It was mentioned that the local Kraft plant had expressed an interest in sponsoring an activity that might showcase Philadelphia Cream Cheese. The Lowville plant happens to be the largest Cream Cheese Plant.  Contrary to what people think about Wisconsin, New York State also happens to be a dairy state. In fact, Northern New York, where Lowville is, happens to be predominantly dairy farms. 

The first year of the event we shut down the street for almost a block to allow foot traffic for the various booths and stands.  On a side street we closed the area to the park in order for children to safely attend activities there. About 500 people attended.  Each year the event grew to what is now a block and a half closed, plus the entire side street. There are two stages for performers and two areas for various cream cheese related games. I'm guessing that the turn-out in this county of almost 30,000 now seems to be closer to 5000 or more, with many coming from the nearby Fort Drum. We try to drive up for it every year.

The feature of the Cream Cheese Festival is, of course, cheesecake. Not just any cheesecake but the World's Largest Cheesecake lovingly made and served by Kraft employees. 

You know you have reached Lewis County when you pass the vast Marks' Farms.  This dairy farm currently has about 9000 head of Holstein cattle and produces about 340,000 pounds of milk daily (I got this from their website). 

Crystal Pond is located in New Bremen, just east of Lowville. It's a man-made lake that is a local swimming hole in the summer and provides fundraising for the local fire department in the winter, through the harvesting of its ice.

My alma mater, Lowville Academy and Central school, is a Preschool - 12th grade school that in 2016 had 1306 students. We used to have a grass turf surrounded by a gently sloping hill, where people sat to watch the games.  Above the hill was grass and a playground. Now it is turf, several tennis courts and two gravel playgrounds. Gone are the hill and grassy areas.  I'm not sure this is progress.

Up until a few years ago this entrance to a lobby between the high school, middle school and elementary wings was an awesome wind tunnel. You stepped into an area tucked into the buildings and the wind would whip your hair in a cyclone and the swirling leaves tried to be woven in.  So, I guess this is progress. 

Looking from the wind tunnel toward the elementary wing. This brings back so many memories.

I'm sharing this because this is the same saying that I showed a few posts ago from the entrance of my son's high school.

The front of the school, looking at the high school. Aside from the new windows, it looks the same as when I graduated so long ago.

From in front of the school, looking down the street at the Cream Cheese Festival. 

After half an hour they were slowly making their way through handing out the cheesecake. 

The slices weren't pretty, but they were so delicious!

Looking toward the crowd gathered to watch one of the bands.

Freemen's Taffy is the best taffy ever!  They are only available at the Lewis County Fair and at special events. Maybe that what makes them so good.

One of the many odd cream cheese-related games. This one is called Cream Cheese Shuffle Board. The goal is to get the cream cheese tubs through the legs of the goalie.

My son is a huge fan of the local meteorologist. She is a hometown girl and was emceeing the festival.

The son of my neighbour from here in the capital region is the drummer for the band Under Cover. The lead singer is from Lowville.  They drove up to play. If you are ever in the Capital District look them up.  They play classic rock and are really good!

Several songs later and they are still talking. 

A friend of ours caught on camera. 

In Case You Were Wondering...

The latest way to get to know something about those we follow on Facebook is the ABC list.  I thought it might be  fun way to catch up a little here in the blogosphere.

My ABC's

A- Age: 51
B- Biggest Fear: My kids getting hurt
C- Current Time: 9:39pm
D- Drink you last had: Sweet tea
E- Easiest Person To Talk to: My Sweetheart, Ken
F- Favorite Song: Right now it's "Waiting Here For You" by Christy Nockels, or "Touch the Sky" by Hillsong. Next week? Who knows?
G- Grossest memory: When my oldest daughter threw up in her father's face at the age of 21 months. "Daddy I feel (blech)"
H- Hometown: Lowville, NY
I- In love with: Ken Morak
J- Jealous Of: Nothing and No one. I'm happy with my life. Jealousy is a sign of unhappiness.
K- Killed Anything? I ran over a squirrel once. Then spent the next 20 minutes crying on the shoulder of my son's teacher. (Not a productive Parent Teacher Conference)
L- Last person you talked to: India
M- Middle Name: Sharon
N- Number of Siblings: 3 living, 1 dead (I miss Harold so much!)
O- One Wish: That we find a nice home to grow old in
P- Person who you last called: Ken
Q- Question you're always asked: Mom, where is my ..... ?
R- Reason to smile: I finally feel loved
S- Song last sang: I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.
T- Time you woke up: 8:30am
U- Underwear Color: Blue
V- Vacation Destination: Where we are going? Road trip to North Carolina for my son's graduation from Basic Training. Camping already booked for next year. Where I want to go? Exploring the US by car, or meeting relatives in Ireland or Germany.
W- Worst Habit: Procrastination
X- X-rays you've had: My back, long ago, dental, years ago
Y- Your favorite food: Anything involving seafood
Z- Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Vietnam Remembered

We spent Father's Day not far from our hometown.  I have been telling Ken about the Craft Fair and Car Show at the historic home of the first owners of the area, where our hometown now stands.  I've been going  there for years with my kids.  Ken was really interested in checking it out.  

But first we HAD to stop by Boonville.  I had seen on the Lewis County Facebook page where the Traveling Vietnam War memorial was coming to town.  This was an opportunity that none of us wanted to miss. 

                                                 

When my friend posted this video on the Facebook group I was awestruck. The original request was for "some" bikes to escort The Wall from Lowville's VFW  (Veterans of Foreign Wars) to Boonville's VFW, 27 miles south.  The amazing turnout of 253 motorcycles had to be relocated to the hospital parking lot next door to the VFW in Lowville. Various photos posted look like they completely emptied the hospital parking lot of cars, to accommodate the bikes.  Lowville's fire department had raised their ladders, and draped flags from them, so that the procession passed underneath them as they came through town.  I have to admit that I became choked up when I saw the trailer containing The Wall pass through.  I had the same feeling that I get when I see a hearse.  Sadness.

This is a video of the 253 motorcycles that escorted the Vietnam War Living Wall Memorial through Lowville, New York.
It was posted by Eric Townsend on Wednesday, June 17, 2015

When we arrived at the VFW in Boonville, we were greeted by members of the local VFW who had served in Vietnam.  These men were directing the traffic into the parking area at the end of the dead-end street, where the memorial was set up.  Walking up to the memorial changed all of our moods into silent reverence.  I would ask Amanda to take certain shots, but otherwise we rarely spoke.  

Despite this being a miniature version, the number of names on this wall was heart-wrenching. I don't know anyone personally who died in this war, but I knew of a local dentist's son, who lost his life there. 

Such emotions.  This memorial was placed by a man who lost his brother. The photo of the two men was the last taken of his brother before his death. 

Beautiful words...

These statistics are staggering. 

After this solemn stop, we headed off to Constable Hall. I'll be posting that in my next blog in a couple of days.

I will end this blog with photos of the timeline of the Vietnam War. You may need to download them to read them properly, but I wanted to share the information with you all.