The Generations Project Comes To My Hometown

Wow!  I sat down on the computer tonite to get my weekly dose of The Generations Project and guess what?  This week's episode with Lumina Gershfield was partially filmed in the small town in upstate New York where I grew up!  Not only couldn't I believe it (my town - Liberty - has maybe 4,000 people) but I also knew all the landmarks such as Kaplan's Restaurant in Monticello, the people and more. It was like "old home week" watching the episode.

But Lumina and I seem to have another connection - Alzheimer's Disease.  As part of her journey to learn more of her family, she travels to see her grandmother Ann Kaplan (former mayor of Monticello NY and owner of Kaplan's Restaurant) who is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's.  It was difficult even for me to watch this portion - her visit was much like my last visit to see my own mother last month.  You could sense the desire to connect and while outwardly there was no response, you just hope that the person hears you and feels your presence.

You can learn more about The Generations Project at their website and follow them on their Facebook fan page.  Here is this week's episode:



© 2010, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Woodstock Memories

footnote.com is highlighting the Woodstock Music Festival this month as part of its This Month in History series and while I'd like to say it brought back memories, sadly it doesn't. The festival took place 40 years ago this weekend, August 15 - 17, 1969.

Understand that I grew up in Liberty, New York which was probably 10 miles away from Bethel, New York and Max Yasgur's farm where the festival took place. I was not even seven years old yet but for some reason - memories of Woodstock? Nope, ain't got 'em.

Liberty and the county seat Monticello were the biggest towns nearby where people could get food and provisions. I do remember my family in later years talking about all the "hippies" who were camped in the median of the Quickway (NY Rt. 17 which went from the New Jersey border up to Binghamton and beyond). I also remember talk of there being no milk or basics in the stores for days after the festival. How exactly do you prepare for 500,000 people arriving for the weekend? Woodstock for three days became the second largest city in New York state after New York City.

You can see more Woodstock images here at the Woodstock Memories Project. And check out footnote.com's copies of the Poughkeepsie Journal - if you have ancestors from the Hudson Valley like me, you will probably find a great deal of genealogy info such as obituaries and news items at footnote.com.

© 2009, copyright Thomas MacEntee

High School Survey - The Latest Meme

How appropriate - right now I am writing an article about memes over at gene@pedia and this is a good example of one.  I think it started as part of Randy Seaver's Saturday Night Fun over at Genea-Musings.

1. What was your school's full name, where was it, and what year did you graduate?

Liberty Central High School, Liberty, New York, 1984.

2. What was the school team nickname, and what are/were your school's colors?

Indians, red and white.

3. What was the name of your school song, and can you still sing it?

I have no idea - I believe they would only sing it at graduation and the lyrics were printed on the back of the graduation program.

4. Did you have a car? How did you get to and from school?

No car.  Never have and never will.  I don't drive, I am driven.

5. Did you date someone from your high school? Or marry someone from your high school? Were you considered a flirt?

I was more of a nerdy clown.

6. What social group were you in?

I transcended most groups but I hung out with the smart kids.

7. Who was/were your favorite teachers?

Miss Mauer - Spanish; Mr. Talkington - English

8. What did you do on Friday nights?

Watched Don Kirchner's show, didn't everyone?

9. Did you go to and have fun at the Senior Prom?

I went.  It was at Bernie's Holiday Inn at Rock Hill.  And the next day we all got up and drove down to the Great Adventure Amusement Park in Vernon, New Jersey.

10. Have you been to reunions, and are you planning on going to the next reunion?

My high school years were really not happy ones for me so I've opted out of the reunions.