Calverton: Blueberry advice, Baiting Hollow thrift shop and 4th grade farm program

Happy spring! Ah, yes, this Sunday, March 20, marks the first day of spring. Hopefully it will feel springy — full of sunshine and warmth. Speaking of spring, I met a few nice ladies at a store the other day who were buying blueberry bushes, which were full of leaves. This troubles me, as we will all know more spring frosts are yet to come and those leaves could freeze, possibly resulting in no blueberries this year. If you buy any type of fruit bush or tree that comes from inside a store, remember that it was nice and warm in there so keep it inside for a while. Put it outside on nice days so it could acclimate to our seasonal changes, but don’t plant it just yet.

Today is the grand reopening of Baiting Hollow Congregational Church’s thrift shop on Sound Avenue in Baiting Hollow. The thrift shop will be open Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. You will have a fun time shopping there … I promise!

‘Cinderella’ is once again in the history books at Riley Avenue Elementary School. The wonderful play was presented this past weekend and all were in awe of the school’s little stars. Congratulations to director Jim Schaefer for dedicating so many years to this play and to his students. You are indeed the best.

The Long Island Farm Bureau will present a farm program to the fourth-grade students at Riley on Wednesday, March 23. A St. Patrick’s Day parade will be put on by the first-graders today, March 17, and will include floats the children made — a very cute tradition that all the classes will be able to see.

A very happy birthday to Edna Phelps, who will turn 101 on March 29. Last year for her 100th birthday, Edna celebrated with a very big birthday party, but 101 is also pretty darn special in my books. Best wishes from your daughter, Sandi Mulvaney, and all your family and friends. We hope your day is simply perfect. God bless!

I must say, being a grandmother is pretty great. Over 30 years ago I knew it all — bottles, car seats, burping — no problem. Now I am learning it all over again, but as all of us grandparents know, holy cow is it different. But one thing is still the same, they love to be held and cuddled, which I have down pat.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone. May we all have a little bit of the luck of the Irish today.

I discovered something that some of you might want to hear. Radio station 96.1 FM is now Long Island’s very own country/western music station and it is good.

Have a simply great week, be safe, and I shall talk to you next time. Bye.