Yay!!

According to the Utica Observer Dispatch no churches in Herkimer County will be closed under the diocese's new reorganization plan.

There is a troubling "Details on the status of a ninth Herkimer County church, St. Joseph’s in West Winfield, were not available," in the story, but I think that has more to do with Fr. Healey's health. We are already linked with the Richfield Springs church, and there was talk of linking to a third, so I suspect we're safe-ish.

The most important part is that it looks like they aren't closing St. Joseph's.

I wanted to go to Mass this morning, in large part to find out what the decision was, but the snowfall overnight put that out of reach.

Still, I am optimistic.

Hoolie

So, the Halfway Hoolie was today (Great American Irish Festival party that marks the midpoint between last year's festival and the upcoming one). They announced the major lineup for the festival and the Grand Marshall for the St. Patrick's Day parade.

Volunteers got in for $10--all the food you can eat, all the beer (Smithwick's and Saranac Irish Red), wine, soda, coffee, and tea you can drink, The Blarney Rebel Band to warm-up, then one of the headliners for the main act. All in a room the size of your average Utica wedding reception hall. Got the image? Nice and small venue, very intimate, very personal. Last year it was The Prodigals. This year...

THE ELDERS!

It was wonderful. (And there was a television in the corner so those of us who cared about the game could keep track, if we were a little motivated to get over there. Nice.)

Morguhn loved the hoolie, and was really looking forward to this year's since we'd know more people this time around.

( An indication of the kind of people running the show )

BTW--The Elders and Enter the Haggis are two of the headliners this year, along with Tannahill Weavers, The Fenians, Dublin City Ramblers, and Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfetones.

Now we're watching the Steelers and the Ravens try to smash each other into submission. Yummy.

Eco Comfort level follow up

Anyone who shares my concerns about the ecologically (un)friendly nature of K-cups should go back and read the comments on the original post--Green Mountain coffee apparently reads my LJ. Who knew.

(A very nice post--really, go read it.)