& Albany County Post - The Altamont Enterprise

20 The Altamont Enterprise – Thursday, September 27, 2012
Correspondents
Altamont
By
Rosemary
Caruso
861-6569
We were going through boxes
in the garage trying to decide
what to keep, what to give away
and what to throw away. It surprised
us that there was so much
that we have kept that just takes
up space and should have been
thrown away a long time ago.
However, there was one small
box that held a few items and a
lot of memories.
When I showed the contents
of the box to
my husband
he smiled and
said, “Those
were the days
when you could
play for hours
with just a few
simple toys.” “A
boy could put a small ball and
some jacks in one pocket, some
marbles in another pocket, hold
up his pants with a length of
rope, and have a piece of chalk
in his belt.”
This box held some of the classic
childhood games that do not
require much to keep them going.
These items probably came from
the girls Christmas stockings.
Playing jacks is a lot of fun and
all you need is a little bouncy
ball, a level surface and at least
10 jacks. You can play on any
hard surface like a driveway,
sidewalk, or the floor. You throw
the 10 jacks onto the playing
surface, toss the ball into the
air with your throwing hand and
while the ball is in the air, pick up
one jack using only your throwing
hand, then catch the ball in
your throwing hand before the
ball hits the ground. Repeat this
process until you have picked up
all 10 jacks.
Toss the 10 jacks onto the playing
surface again and toss the
ball into the air and pick up two
jacks each time. Continue tossing
the ball, picking up jacks and
catching the ball, increasing the
number of jacks you pick until
you pick up all 10 at one time.
The other player gets to take
their turn when you don’t pick
up the correct number of jacks
or you miss the ball. Begin
where you left off when it’s your
turn again. The winner is declared
when you or your friend
succeeds at ‘onesies’ through
‘tensies’ (one jack through 10
jacks).
Another way to play is to
bounce the ball on the playing
surface rather than throw it in
the air, then try to pick up as
many jacks as you can before the
ball bounces again.
Although our daughters didn’t
play marbles very much, Jim said
that when he was young they
played all of the time. For one
thing, it was an inexpensive toy.
You could buy a bag of marbles
for 10 cents. If you lived in a
neighborhood near a machining
company you might be able to
find a ball bearing near their
trash. Another thing that makes
marbles such a great game is that
you can make up different rules
and play almost anywhere.
I have gone into great detail
about marbles before so today I
will just briefly review a couple
of the games.
One game involves drawing a
“Those were the days
when you could play for
hours with just a few
simple toys.”
circle in sand, and players take
turns knocking other players’
marbles out of the circle with
their own marble. This game is
called ringer.
Other versions involve shooting
marbles at target marbles or into
holes in the ground. This game
is called rolley hole. While the
game of marbles was once widespread
its popularity has waned
in this computer age.
Of course the rope was used
for jump rope. It has often been
considered a girl’s game but everyone
used to jump rope. Now
the schools encourage it because
it is so good for your health.
Today, they have competitive
teams that use ropes and health
instructors use ropes for their
client’s health.
And chalk was for drawing
games and pictures on the
ground.
So for less than a dollar you
can walk around with a whole
pocket full of games. Add to that
stickball, hide
and seek and
you could be
kept busy with
your friends for
hours.
Today, we often
see people
sitting in the
mall, on a bus, in the restaurant,
or just about anywhere else with
their cell phone, and computer
in front of them. They are playing
games that are far more complicated
and more expensive. I’m
not sure they bring as much fun
to the children playing them.
I know I still remember Chet,
Joan, and Pat sitting on my front
porch talking about going to the
beach for the day. Or perhaps we
went to the harbor and sailed
for a while on Chet’s small sailboat.
But then we were brought
up near the water. Jim was
brought up in the city.
It didn’t really matter what
we did as children as long as
we were with friends, having
a good time and not spending
much money. Our parents knew
who we were with and basically
where we were. They also knew
when we would be home and how
many there would be for dinner
because the group would make
those plans before we went out.
The next time your children
are looking for something to do,
why not suggest marbles, jacks or
jump rope These are games that
really do not go out of style.
Chicken barbecue
The members of the American
Legion on Altamont Blvd. invite
the public to enjoy their chicken
barbecue on Friday, Sept. 28,
from 4 to 7 p.m. The cost for a
dinner is $9. The Legion is located
at 988 Altamont Blvd.
Fall classes
Old Songs has announced
their fall music class registration
for classes in acoustic music.
They will begin on Oct. 1,
at Old Songs located at 37 South
Main Street in Voorheesville. For
additional information, times,
and cost call 765-2815 or by going
on line at www.oldsongs.org.
Water main flushing
The village of Altamont has announced
that water main flushing
will begin on Monday, Oct. 1
through Friday, Oct. 19, between
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30
p.m. Discoloration may occur.
Residents are advised to check
for water discoloration before
starting your laundry.
Book sale
A collectible book sale will take
place at the Guilderland Public
Library on Saturday, Sept. 29,
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and again
on Sunday, Sept. 30, from 1 until
4 p.m. The sale will be held in the
Helderberg Room in the library
located at 2228 Western Ave.
Early Bird Entry will be held
on Friday, Sept. 28, from 5 to
8 p.m. The entry fee is $10 on
Friday evening.
Toddler time
The Guilderland Public Library
has announced that registration
is required for story
times that began this week. The
Toddler Time is held on Wednesdays
at 10:30 a.m.
The library can be reached at
456-2400 to learn more about
other preschool story times.
Food pantry
Peanut butter, jelly, jams and
canned vegetables are needed by
the Altamont Food Pantry. Also
needed are laundry detergent
and dish detergent. All donations
can be left in the gathering
space at St. Lucy/St. Bernadette’s
Church on Grand Street. All
donations are appreciated.
Birthdays
Happy-birthday wishes are
extended to:
— Mike Bresney, Danielle
Doherty, and Linda Gaige on
Sept. 28;
— Sue Blackman, Michelle
Blackman, Ryan Dzingle, Ron
Gifford, and Mandi Percoski
Tooker on Sept. 29;
— April Bastiani and Zachary
Connolly on Sept. 30;
— Kenichi Chiba on Oct. 1;
— Willie Burnham and Heather
Holly on Oct. 2;
— Linda Devenpeck, Laurie
Fay, Eric Long, and Jean Perl on
Oct. 3; and
— Gayle Addyman and Isabella
Louise Attanasio on Oct. 4.
Flu shots available
NEW SCOTLAND — A clinic
for flu shots will be held on Oct.
12, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the
Wyman Osterhout Community
Center in New Salem.
To sign up for a flu shot, call
Diane Deschenes or Carol Cootware
at 439-4865.
Thompsons Lake
By
Lora
Ricketts
872-1691
We knew this would be a wonderful
weekend because Brandon
was picking up his children,
Samson and Nichole. First, they
wanted to run the track behind
the BKW school and then we had
a quiet evening.
Saturday was an exciting day;
we went to the hot air balloon
festival in Queensbury. Eight of
us, Brandon, Samson, Nichole,
my daughter Marcia Pangburn,
my granddaughter Kyra, Brandon’s
friend, Jenn Smith, her
son, Iain, and me piled into my
Expedition and headed up the
Northway. We got as far as Exit
7 of the Northway and cars were
backed up for miles.
We went onto Route 9 and that
was slow also; so we cancelled
that destination and headed for
Hoffman’s Playland.
The weather was warm and
sunny and the carnival atmosphere
was exciting. The children
had a blast. We took lots of pictures
and we all rode the train.
Next we went to the Crossing
in Colonie and that was very
peaceful. The children enjoyed
the maze and the playground.
Our last stop was Friendly’s
in East Greenbush, where we all
enjoyed a delicious meal.
Sunday arrived sunny and
cool. We went to church and then
the Nature Center where we had
A Step Up
a picnic lunch. Nichole found an
American robin bird nest on the
ground. She tried to give it to
the attendant but was told she
could have it.
Nichole made an exhibit with
the nest when she got home. She
even had a signup sheet for anyone
viewing her robin’s nest.
Brandon, Samson, Nichole
and Iain enjoyed an afternoon
of fishing in our pond and Jenn
took pictures.
It was a rewarding weekend for
me; being around children always
brings out the best to be thankful
for in life. Everyone caught a
fish and Jenn promised them all
pictures to keep as memories.
Concert success
I received a call from Sonia
Lasher who was helping Wally
Jones do the organizing for
the concert Sunday, Sept. 16 at
the First Reformed Church of
Bethlehem. The generous people
who attended donated $2,375 in
response to Wally’s wonderful
music. This money will keep the
Venture Churches food pantry
working on its mission of feeding
the hungry.
90th birthday
Earl Wagoner had a wonderful
day last Saturday, for his 90th
birthday at the church hall. Family
and friends came from near
and far to spend the afternoon
with him
Turkey supper
It’s time to mark you calendar
for the Thompson’s Lake Reformed
Church annual turkey
supper. The supper will take
place on Saturday, Oct. 20, from
4 to 6:30 p.m. The menu includes
turkey, stuffing, mashed
potatoes, gravy, squash, coleslaw,
rolls, beverages, and homemade
pies. The cost for adults is $10;
children 12 and under is $5; and
free for children under 5..
Call 872-0432 for more information
or tickets.
Volunteer Trail Day: Join Huyck Preserve staff in Rensselaerville and the British Conservation
Volunteers for a morning of trail work on Saturday, Sept. 29, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The volunteers will
be repairing Lincoln Pond Trail, including a rebuild of the bridge the beaver’s damaged. A barbecue
will follow at noon in appreciation of everyone’s efforts.