Grindstone Island News - August 3, 1994

The first thing all Grindstone Islanders want to do this week is thank the Thousand Islands Sun for the generosity it shows this column. It accepts our wide variations in length. The typesetters type from a pencil copy with almost no typographical errors, and sometimes, even, correct a misspelled name, and they adapt as far as they are able to our island time schedule. Working with Jeanne Snow makes writing this column every week a pleasant task. We also thank Stella Carnegie and her parents, Milton and Clara, who form the pony express that gets the column to the Sun. Clara meets "Toad," our "water-pony," at sunset every Sunday evening in summer at the "big dock" and disappears with the news into the woods. On Thursday, the column appears miraculously!

Two weeks ago, however, we wanted to use Judy Bacci's print of the Grindstone church which shows so clearly that the church is its people, and couldn't get our copy to the Sun in time for even its generosity to accommodate us. So last week that column was printed late, and this week the column will report two weeks of news. Belle, his daughter-in-law, said, when John Marks told her he had gotten the first speeding ticket in his life on his way down to Bethlehem, Pa., "Welcome to the human race!" The late reporters also feel welcomed!

The news from the week of July 24 is chiefly from the notes Mary Beers, the minister of the Grindstone Church this summer. Aminta and John were off the island for five days babysitting for Phoebe (3 years old) and Anna and Eliza (15 months old).

July 24 sprang to life early with a pancake breakfast in the carriage house of the church. I'm not sure how many young people who had danced long the night before at Dodge Memorial Hall to the music of Liquid Courage managed to wake for early breakfast. But Marjorie Garnsey and Aleatha and Lolita and Ray Pfeiffer were there at 7 a.m. to make the pancakes (plain or blue berry — served with orange juice, bacon, and coffee)!

Then church was full for the 10: 30 a-m. service. The Schwartzes' four grandchildren came, and the Davison family was back in full voice! Anne and Bob Binhammer arrived this week, and mother Virginia Davison joined her tribe that filled a couple of pews.

Among the many visitors who attended the service were two other old-timers: Erma Slate introduced her cousin Floyd Thomson and his wife, Nonna, who came all the way from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Floyd had not been to Grindstone Island for 36 years.

Aleatha Garnsey taught Sunday school and Mary Lou Rusho played the organ that could scarcely rise above the lusty singing of all the Davison family! Marilyn Kime's wild flowers echoed the liveliness of the morning.

The sermon struggled with a comparison of the story of David and Bathsheba with the love song of Song of Songs. Mary said her sermon was "informed" by her reading of Marvin Pope's commentary, on Song of Songs. Marvin a former summer resident, has not been to Grindstone in several years, but we hope we can lure him back sometime soon!

Island safety

Yet more happened that Sunday:

After church a good group gathered across the road in the hall to hear Dr. Richard Withington of Round Island talk about safety and first aid. Melissa Patch arranged the meeting and minister Mary said she gained some very useful knowledge:

1. Do not wave as the fireboat passes unless you are at the location of the emergency. When people (even children) wave, the emergency team on the fireboat may turn in to the wrong dock and waste valuable time.

2. If you call the fireboat, drape a white bed sheet over the dock to identify the place it should turn in to.

3. Since there are many tight comers in all of our houses, if you call for help in a medical emergency, spend the time while you wait moving any furniture that may be in the way of stretchers get obstacles off the stairways. Move fancy china, etc. Also tie up house pets. They often get very protective when their master is hurt.

4. Toilet paper is the best thing to use to stop bleeding. It is sterile. Do not use a tourniquet. Apply

pressure at the wound.

5. Do not move an injured person. Often the worst injuries are not visible. They may be only internal. This is especially true in four-wheeler accidents in which the injury is often in the pelvic area. Where there is head injury, there is not much anyone can do. However, if the person needing help, has stopped breathing, as in a heart attack or drowning, close the nose passages, make sure there is nothing in the mouth, and blow into the mouth as though you are blowing up a balloon. Don't be afraid. Blow vigorously. Tilt the head back to make a straight passage. If you don't get a return rush of air after you blow, try to dislodge any obstruction with a sharp thwack between the shoulder blades.

6. When you phone for emergency help, give the dispatcher as much information as possible about the location and the nature of the emergency, so the aides will know what type of equipment to bring with them. Keep the new number of your house by the telephone!

If the emergency team will need transportation from a dock to the emergency location, when you call, tell where to go.

7. When 911 becomes active, a call will come in to the screen of 911 which locates the telephone calling, the area it's coming from, and which ambulance should respond.

8. Until 911 is working, call the Jefferson County Sheriffs office: 1-788-1313 or 1-788-1441 or 686-3131 or "Operator. When you have called, stay on the line, or leave the phone free so the emergency squad can call back to tell you what to do until it arrives, if it is delayed.

Dr. Withington has an airboat, which he keeps at his own dock in winter ready to help. The Sheriffs office will call him directly.

On the island, we are not as remote as one might think!

Skiff races

Up-river, just off Grindstone, July 23, the annual Harold Herrick skiff race was a windy event, to the great joy of the sailors. The usual three races did the rounds off Wild Goose Island. Everyone expected Tim Purcell and his daughter. Julia — a pretty light crew in such wind -- to capsize. But it was the veterans, "Uncle Clea" Dodge and "Uncle Bill" Rueckert otherwise known as "South-side Bill" who went over. Morgan Rueckert and his niece, another light crew, went around without upset! Midriver Bill Rueckert and Fleur won the first two races, and then were bested by Tim Purcell who asked Alex MacLain to crew in the third race. The wind was so strong that "grandmummy" Joan stopped watching as "Midriver Bill" towed his skiff over to Wild Goose with son Cleve providing the ballast for the light craft corking over the waves. It was later, during the race, that Papa, Midriver Bill, fell out of the skiff. In the shallows off Midriver, though, he quickly climbed back in.

Milton Carnegie must be pleased to hear, each year, how dependably the skiffs he restored sail. This was the sixth annual Harold Herrick St. Lawrence Skiff Race. How the high wind would have delighted Harold! We missed Mary Herrick at the race this year. She was at home, during the race because the river was so rough, but came later to the party where Teddy Overton presented the cup to Bill and Fleur Rueckert.

Now, to this week's news:

In Watertown's Samaritan Medical Center July 27, Mary Margaret was born to Bubby (Francis) and Caroline Bazinet. She weighed 7 Ibs. 8 oz., and will make brother Robert's rabbit seem pale entertainment for the rest of the summer. Bubby says, "She's the tiniest thing I've ever hung onto, and she looks a lot like Robert did when he was born. She'll develop her own personality, though." Caroline's happy the baby's not bruised...She's all smooth and pretty." (She was delivered by Caesarian section.) Shout "Hallelujah!" for Mary Margaret!! Caroline is resting in her new private room and recovering from an infection. We look forward to the whole family's return to the island!

Kristen Frazier (granddaughter of August and Nonna Frazier, daughter of Steve Frazier) and Brittany Robinson (daughter of Tom and Debbie Slate, granddaughter of Buck and Brenda Slate) celebrated their birthdays with a party at Buck and Brenda's. Helping them celebrate were their grandparents, Chris and Dick Matthews, Anna Couch (Kristen's great-grandmother), Robin, Shane II, Brandon and Anna Simpson of Redwood, and Chris, a friend of Brandon's, Bill, Linda and Robert Carlisle, and friend Trevor of Plessis. Tom Slate, Jay Slate, Jimmy Matthews and Jamie Brown also joined in the fun, and Amie Cerio stopped by.

On Saturday night, Ex-caliber played for the dance. The lead singer Tom Booth used to come to Grindstone with The High Riders. Mike Deline suggested that the sophisticated sound system he was using was, perhaps, a bit of overkill for the small Dodge Hall, but everyone had a good time. Some left early, however, because Brandon Thomas Slate was to be baptized in Church on Sunday morning. John Marks performed the rite. He baptized Brittany, Brandon's sister, last year, and was minister when Tom and Debby Slate, Brandon's parents, were married two years ago. Baptisms are blessed occasions!

A few people, Buck Slate and Erma, among them, left the service when the children went out to Sunday school with teacher, Marjorie Garnsey, in order to help down on the beach with Old Home Day. But, Frank Slate, Brandon's godfather, and Shawn DePrinzio, his godmother stayed with a good congregation, to hear Mary Beers continue thinking with us about King David.

So, we left, and many, many of us met at the beach for the Old Home Day picnic. There Ernest ("Junie") Brown presided over the handsome stove he had manufactured for the occasion from a stainless steel tank he had salvaged from a paper mill's discard. It gave class to the whole affair, and, better yet, it boiled a manly cup of coffee, steamed the ham and grilled the hot dogs to perfection. The fresh vegetables and salads on the near table, and the array of desserts on the far table kept a crowd of "Grindstone-Islanders-come-home" until late in the afternoon. Buck Slate helped at the stove, Dick Matthews and Chris and Brenda Slate kept the table laden down, Erma Slate, Yuvonne Marra, Debbie Donaldson and Mary

Lou Rusho served desserts, Phil Marra collected the money, and Maggie Matthews took care of the dignitaries at the Brown's table: Sis Matthews, Annie Couch, Madgel Brown, and Stan Matthews.

A few more notes:

Bill Taylor announced in Church Sunday morning that his mother Sis Taylor, a part of the Grindstone congregation with Peck, her husband, for 40 years, died July 29 at the age of 89 in Tiburon, Calif., their winter home. Sis grew up in Clayton, and, until she and Peck moved to Grindstone's north side, was a member of Christ Church in Clayton where her mother, and her grandmother were baptized! She died on the 65th anniversary of her marriage to Peck.

Ken and Caroline Larsen celebrated their wedding anniversary this week.

Aug. 1-5 is vacation church school! All children are welcome every morning at the carriage house to take part in the lessons, the games, the crafts (going to dig for island clay, and creating a pot to be fired - that's just for instance!) and snack time.

Mary would appreciate it if some people sent along some. homemade goodies for snack time. Call the parsonage if you will do it.

Next week is the 10: 30 a.m. outdoor service at Aunt Jane's Bay. Mary Lou Rusho will teach Sunday school.

Immediately after the service, at the Brooks residence on Aunt Jane's Bay, there will be a meeting of the church board at about 11: 30 a.m.

At 1 p.m., there will be a general meeting of all islanders at the Dodge Memorial Hall. Doc Schwartz will report on the consensus of the church board about Dodge Memorial Hall's relationship to the church.

The Shadows will play for next Saturday's party.

So it is.