Subject: September Clyde SPAN newsletter
Happy September to all you Clydites near and far.
SPAN might have thought this would be a slow month with school opening, but it was far from that. After a September 1st meeting, at which some SOAR awards were given out, Mary Katherine Lauster brought us up to date on the availability of the equipment to make fried dough that was being offered to us by the Firemen's Ladies Auxiliary. It was after that meeting that the "SPAN machine" went into motion.
Thanks to the great kindness of Wayne Rice and the Grange, a dozen of us gathered at the Pierce storage sheds east of the village on Tuesday, September 8, and moved the equipment (trays, fryer, popcorn machine) to the Grange, with visions of us learning how to make fried dough next year. Again, many thanks to Wayne Rice, who also offered his truck and his muscles in the moving process.
The day was not over as that evening SPAN member Ray Merritt offered his van to pick up our first replacement kayak from a man living south of Montezuma. The kayak was noticed by Ray and Ginny as they returned from the church that Ray pastors in Auburn. Treasurer Amber Clingerman got $200 into Hugh's hands and we were able to pay cash to the gentleman, who said he was getting out the kayak activity because he wanted to buy a sailboat. That works for us. This particular kayak is made by SunDolphin, the same company that made the kayaks that came up missing.
As described in the August newsletter, Saturday, September 12 was the day of the Revolutionary War encampment at the Blockhouse. It was sponsored by the Village of Clyde and directed by code enforcement officer Tom Sawtelle. The group, named the 64th Regiment, began setting up their tents on Friday night. Their camp fires were already burning when visitors started arriving a 10 a.m. SPAN was privileged to play a supporting role by selling water and snacks at 50 cents per item. It was meant to be more a service than a money maker. My favorite moment was the firing from the smallest grenade launcher that I ever expected to see. The grenade, by the way, was an orange. Another highlight, while many of us took turns sitting at the SPAN table, was meeting the Mortensen family, who are new in town. And the full sized chicken roasting over an open fire all day sure looked delicious.
Our next activity is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22 at 5:30 at the Lauraville Landing (if it is warm enough) when anyone interested can come for pizza and a discussion of activities that can take place at the “Eerie on the Erie” event on October 24th at Lauraville Landing. That is also the day that I will be conducting a history-based tour of Maple Grove Cemetery. That will not be eerie. More on that in the October newsletter.
All for now,
Hugh Miner
