WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF THE PARTY…

The Leeds Civic Association created supply lists, decided on voting categories and prizes. Advertising was designed, printed, posted and delivered. Pumpkin entry give-aways were ordered (LED flare copters and glow necklaces), logistical details were reviewed. A call for volunteers for food contributions and other help went out via neighbor to neighbor, the LCA newsletter, website, and email blasts.

ON THE EVE OF THE PARTY…

6 people were busy stringing colorful lights along Chestnut Ave. Thank you: Steve McDonough, Tom Quinn, Penny Geis, David Rondina and his dad.

ON THE MORNING OF THE PARTY…

12 people were prepping the pumpkin roll course and party site.

(Loading up, transporting and setting up tables and grills, numbering 98 pumpkins). Thank you: Marc Freedman, Jason Johnson, Steve McDonough, David Rondina and family, Brenda and Jim Ryan, Justin O’Connor, and Tom and Amy Quinn.

SOMETIME ALONG THE WAY…

47 people in Leeds were busy carving a pumpkin entry to share. Thanks! Without you, it wouldn’t be a pumpkin party.

1 person was carving the Lollipop Raffle Pumpkin.

Thank you Jaiden Marney

5 people were busy baking pies for prizes. Thank you: Nancy Cheevers, Jason Johnson (x3), Ananda Lennox, Tom Quinn and Chad Marney.

15 people were making a big pot of their favorite soup or chili to share. Thanks: Julie Akeret, Joshua Birk, Sarah Casey, Leslie Chalmers, Ruth Ever, Marc Freedman, Jason Johnson, Alisa Klein and Amy Stamm, Susan Torrey, Steve McDonough, Carol Patterson, Alison Wood, Amy and Tom Quinn.

6 people were readying breads to share. Thank you: Leslie Skantz-Hodgson, Kevin Hale, Linda Butler, Kim Wojcik, Rachel Agoglia and Sarah Hines.

2 people baked dozens of potatoes with all the fix-ins to share.

Thank you Brenda and Jim Ryan.

11 people were preparing desserts to share. Thank you: Vin and Beth Perotta, Lynn Shumann-Hobbs, Greg and Tricia Reidy, Penny Geis, K. Chambers, Heather Punska, Pamela Cobb, Melissa Ratcliffe and Deb Jacobs.

1 person was prepping his play-list and equipment. Thank you Shawn Gunderson for being our Emcee.

DURING THE PARTY…

By the time 4:30 rolled around the party site was teeming with people, some eagerly awaiting the start of the pumpkin roll, some checking-in their pumpkins, some dropping off food contributions. Fifty-four kids rolled pumpkins hoping to win one of two prize gift cards to A to Z. The lucky winners were Lucas Tikkala-Cutler and Ryan Wade.

After the Pumpkin Roll, folks checked out the pumpkin entries, enjoyed the food and hot cider. As the warm night darkened and pumpkins lit up, voting began. Folks filled out ballots, choosing their favorite Funny, Gross, Scary, and Classic pumpkin. They also chose a favorite from the Master category, which was a special $5 buy-in category for people who really get into carving. Votes were logged into an Excel spread sheet for faster tallying (Thank you Amy Quinn for setting that up and Amy Stamm and Alisa Klien for logging in the votes of 90 people!) Thank you to Pamela Cobb for taking photos during the party, and thank you to anyone else who brought an item to share.

The winners in each category were called out and their pumpkins were brought up to the winners table to be ahhhhed over and applauded. Each winner chose a home-made pie to take home, the Master winner also won half of the buy-in dollars. The other half went to the Hotel Bridge Fund.

AFTER THE PARTY…

Many folks helped make swift work of breaking down the party. Tablecloths have already been washed and stored with the rest of the party supplies. Grills and tables have been returned to owners. The trash has been sorted and brought to the reclamation center. The lights are neatly coiled for the next LCA event (see article below). As you can see from reading the lists of people who contributed in some way, it takes participation to make a party successful. You also may take away from the lists that more than enough people are helping. That is not the case (note the same names listed multiple times.) We would love to have new volunteers! If you were unable to contribute, maybe next year you can carve out some time (pun intended) and join in!

by Sue Carbin

It’s a bit hard to describe Robert Lyman. He was a wanderer during the 1600’s, spotted everywhere. Many people thought he was a bit strange. And in truth he was a member of a prominent Northampton family and he was not poor. He had extensive land holdings in New Jersey and rode down to check them every so often. He also sold land and bought land. Robert is not mentioned much in the Lyman family history, most likely because he was thought to be “odd,” men of his station with a lineage back to England were not expected to be wanderers in the woods! However, Robert loved being outside in the woods and meadows. His favorite place was the “Long Division,” what most of Leeds was called way back then. After trips to check on his holdings he would return to his house lot on, what today is, Pomeroy Terrace, and soon head out with his dog and gun or fishing rod to the Long Division. He’d come up over his favorite hill (Robert’s Hill) and hunt or go down into the meadow and fish in the many little streams. He often wandered over into the Mineral Hills. On one of his adventures in the Mineral Hills he stumbled onto the Lead Mines, most likely his only claim to fame in Westhampton history.

In 1691 Robert sold his holdings in New Jersey and other places. When he returned he transfered all of his local property to his wife and eldest son. Court records indicate that Robert could no longer manage his affairs, but that didn’t stop him from wandering up into the Long Division. Its fascinating that these beautiful places in Leeds, Robert’s Hill, Robert’s Meadow, Robert’s Meadow Brook carry not the Lyman family name, but simply the wanderer’s first name, Robert. Robert Lyman died somewhere between 1691 and 1693. Still, after more than 320 years his name still graces some of the most beautiful areas in Leeds. Robert’s life ended while hunting in the place he loved best, Robert’s Hill.

The talented chef and entrepreneur, Seth Mias, will be moving his successful catering business to the Look Restaurant building on Route 9. Seth purchased the building in April and will be making major renovations throughout the summer to get the space in order for some serious cooking! He is hoping to have the business moved in by September. Seth’s catering business has won the Advocate Best of the Valley Readers Choice Award for seven consecutive years, 2009-2015! Many of us were sorry to see Look Restaurant close, but to have a thriving business operating rather than a vacant building is a big plus for the community. A bonus is to have a business owned by someone who was raised in Leeds and cares about the village. Soon the chocolate dipped strawberry logo of Seth Mias Catering will be hanging in front of his place. We wish him the best of luck in his new location.

by Heidi Stevens

LCA board members Earl Meuniur, myself, Leeds-Mill River Greenway Chair Jason Johnson and Ward 7 City Councilor Alisa Klein met with Mayor Narkewicz on October 13th. Northampton Fire Chief Duane Nichols, Wayne Feiden of the Planning Department, and Ned Huntley of the DPW were also at the meeting. Below are the issues we have been hearing the most about from Leeds folks and were presented at the meeting:

Water Street evacuation 

The first concern presented was an alternate evacuation route for Water Street residents if a situation arose where Water Street was cut off due to a storm event or other emergency. The City’s current emergency route is through Roberts Hill Conservation area. Earl Munier and Red Greene have long thought that Old Newco Road (the first driveway on the west side of Water Street after the brook) to be a good alternative and this option was presented at the meeting. Since the meeting, Fire Chief Nichols has looked at and walked the proposed route and agrees it is a viable option if needed. Chief Nichols is having the DPW check and see if the city has any utility rights of way in this area. They are aware that a tree would need to be cleaned up for access. If the city has a right of way the DPW could cut up the tree to clear the path. If not they will need to work with the landowner to make it passable. Fire Chief Nichols also said in his email response to Councilor Klein “that the residents who we met with were great. I always appreciate when someone offers solutions and not just problems.”

Mill River Conservation area 

The second concern brought up was the abusive use, excessive garbage dumping and day camping that occurs along the Mill River on and upstream from Chartpak Dam.The Northampton Police have made extra efforts regarding this activity since early in the summer of 2015. Now, the Planning Department is onboard to try and help address the problem. Next week Wayne Feiden from the Planning Department will walk the site with LCA board members and Mill River Greenway chair, Jason Johnson to determine what can be done in advance of summer 2016 to help the situation. Our goal is to encourage respectful use of the river front and maintenace along the new bike path extension.

Hotel Bridge

The third concern addressed at the Mayor’s meeeting was the status of the Hotel Bridge. In the short term the LCA requested help from the DPW to keep the entrances looking better, even if they are closed to pedestrians. The bridge is a stop on the Mill River Greenway’s historical walking tour. Guard rails and invasives need attention. In the long term, the LCA offered our continued support to find a way to open the bridge to pedestrain traffic. The Mayor will be discussing options with DPW, and the planning department will be helping to locate grant funding for restoration. Restoration will be expensive and the process will take time.