12/03/2024
Ellen Emery, who has been a neighbor, friend and was a reporter for the Massena Observer for years, now writes a Blog. Most of us remember "Over Coffee With Ellen" from her Observer days.
This week Ellen has done a story about our light display. It might answer some questions that some people have.
Our thanks to Ellen for not only talking about us in her Blog, but for her commitment to our community.
Here is Ellen's Blog for this week:
Over Coffee With Ellen
Read on blog or Reader
bombay light show
By Gregg Vance Emery on December 3, 2024
A few months ago I told you about a wonderful animated light display for Halloween in our town of Bombay. The display was at the home of Nancy and Curt Smith. This terrific couple has now created a tremendous Christmas light display - compete with musical accompaniment.
I love the musical accompaniment and am totally amazed by the technology that provides sound for this wonderful light display. Curt explained that they have a “Light-O-Rama system that flashes the lights to music. It has an FM transmitter, so people can turn their car radio to 88.9 FM and listen to the Christmas music the system is flashing the lights to,” he said. The pixel tree near the sleigh (on the south side – on the left side of the Smith home) goes to music and a figure Curt calls "Mouthy" lip synchs to the music. There are also six other pixel trees.
The roofline of the Smith home and garage are decorated with Govee Permanent Lights. Curt installed them last year using a manlift. The lights are controlled by an app, which allows them to change colors or light patterns. The lights were turned green for St. Patrick's Day, and red, white and blue for Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day, Curt told me. “The lights stay up permanently and hopefully will last as long as we will be decorating,” he said.
There are a few areas where photos can be taken. Curt said people are welcome to take pictures, adding “We have an oversize Adirondack chair that people can share with the Grinch and a sleigh, behind the nine reindeer, which includes Rudolph.” Curt built both the sleigh and oversized chair.” Amazing!
Nancy and Curt also decorate the corner park that is owned by the Town of Bombay. Curt explained they had been asked to decorate that area a few years ago. The blue spruce in the Bombay Park on the corner has 1200 lights, Curt told me. When you stop to look at this amazing display spend a few moments near the park to watch the 1200 lights blinking! It is beautiful.
This is the second year the Smith Family is doing letters to Santa. Curt explained, “people can leave letters in the red mailbox in our little red barn or in the special box at the Bombay Post Office.” Santa's elves collect the letters and send a reply letter. Those participating in this activity are asked that the Smith Family receive all letters by December 16th, with a legible name and return address. No stamp is necessary. Letters can be addressed to Santa Claus, North Pole. How kind and thoughtful of the Smith Family to include Letters to Santa in their Christmas Display. The light display and letters to Santa demonstrates the true meaning of Christmas. With heartfelt thanks to Curt and Nancy and the entire Smith Family.
The Smiths have a page, “Smith Family Holiday Display” for both Christmas and Halloween.
I hope you will take time during the next few weeks and drive to Bombay - after dark is preferable! The Smith Family Light Display is directly across from the Bombay Post Office on the corner adjacent to the Bombay Town Park. The Proofreader and I drove by earlier this week. It is a spectacular sight – such fun!
COFFEE BENEFITS – What a joy it is each week to “hear” from so many of you. Your responses always mean a great deal and your notes through an email note or a text are wonderful. If we aren’t able to sit across from one another enjoying a cup of coffee, receiving a note or phone call from a friend – perhaps a new friend met through this blog – is the next best thing!
This week I loved learning what you were grateful for, but a shared link about coffee research was fascinating and made me smile. The link shared by a blog reader told me, “Researchers from the University of Coimbra, Portugal said: `Coffee should be enjoyed as a treasure trove of benefits tailored for the golden years.’” I was overjoyed to read of benefits to coffee drinking, so read further.
The researchers analyzed all the available data on coffee and its effects on people, and produced the first analysis of the impact coffee and its compounds have made on aging.
“Results show that regular coffee drinking is associated with an extra 1.84 years of life, as well as a lower risk of most diseases associated with advancing age,” the article that was sent on Sunday told me. “Coffee may have multiple healthy effects,” the online article told me, adding, “including building up a better resilience to stress.” What fun to think coffee will reduce stress and add years to my life! I wonder if I should ask my physician about this study and wonder what his response might be.
My heartfelt thanks to each of you who sent a note this week and a response to my blog and a “like,” too – each one means a great deal. And to my friend who sent me coffee research – a huge thank you! What fun to think that that morning pot of coffee would actually have health benefits! It is fun to think on those things – while realizing this is an online article and not my doctor’s words of wisdom.
WINTER’S ARRIVAL – Did you realize winter arrived on Sunday? Astronomical Winter doesn’t arrive until December 21, but Meteorological Winter arrived on December 1. In my reading this week I learned Meteorological Winter will last until the end of February and is dictated by the temperatures. I would agree the temperatures have gotten a bit colder the past week. Winter coats and gloves have been taken out for wearing. On Sunday I even wore a pair of warm boots - mainly to provide a non-slippable surface for walking.
Our gas attendant at Twin Leaf Akwesasne last week was so kind. He stood in the chilly temperature to fill our gas tank, but told us to “Stay warm!”
On Sunday, the day that our Meteorological Winter began, I was driving to St. Regis Road from Massena. As I passed by the Twin Leaf Plaza that morning, I saw a young man walking from the restaurant. He was not wearing a coat or hat and his attire was a pair of shorts! Last week when temperatures had dropped as we walked into Walmart, we met a man wearing shorts and flip flops!
BOMBAY PHOTOS – What a joy it is to stop at the Bombay Community Center and enjoy visiting over coffee with friends and neighbors. A few weeks ago the most amazing photographs of Bombay during an earlier time appeared.
Don Dabiew told me the photographs had been a gift from Gordyne Latulipe for the Bombay Community Center. “We are grateful for all the community support we have been given,” he told me.
This week I visited with Gordyne and asked her about the canvas photographs. She explained there is a website online that transfers your photographs into canvas prints. Gordyne said she has collected a number of photographs. She first did canvas prints to donate to the Fort Covington Senior Center.
Gordyne said she thought of Bombay and then wanted to do prints for “our community center.” She asked Bombay Town Supervisor Chris Jock if she could donate the canvas prints and he approved her idea for the donation.
The photographs have been placed around the Community Center so everyone can see them. They are wonderful. I hope you will be able to stop for coffee on a Wednesday morning – enjoy the conversation and look around. The photographs on the wall tell the wonderful story of a part of Bombay’s history. With thanks to Gordyne for her marvelous donation and to Chris Jock and Don Dabiew for hanging the canvas prints so beautifully.
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Holiday display for Halloween and Christmas You're welcome to stop and take photos with the display. Please do not climb on any of the features.
