Autumn leaves, snow on the trees

The morning after the October Snow of 2011.

Seriously, October?

It's October. It's not even Halloween yet. We're still on Daylight Savings Time. Yet many of us in the Northeast are getting hit with a snow storm. Really? Really.



Outside Birch Street Headquarters in New Jersey, the wet, heavy snow is weighing down the still-leafy trees.

Julie chimes in: "I'm dreaming of a white Halloween..."

Or as Kathy put it when she posted this photo on Facebook: "Merry Halloween!"

By 6 p.m., weather.com was estimating 3.3 inches had fallen at Fanwood, 2.8 inches in Yonkers, 1 inch in Towson - and nothing at all in Rochester!

Remember, you can always check our Weather Station for the latest data from our extended family's home towns.

Let us know if you get frosted, and pass along pictures if you capture some flakes!

A quick visit from Mom

Julie paid a visit to Christine during "Parents Weekend" at Rochester Institute of Technology Oct. 15-16. Christine has been very busy with the work of a first-year art student, but found time to show Mom around the campus. They also went shopping together, preparing Christine for the Rochester winter ahead.

Lizzie selected for National Honor Society

Lizzie has been accepted into the National Honor Society. A junior at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, she will be inducted at a ceremony on Oct. 27.

The National Honor Society was established in 1921. Students do not apply; they are nominated, complete an application process, and then have their files reviewed by the principal and a committee at their school.

The letter from her principal notifying Lizzie said, "You were selected for induction this fall because you met the criteria of Character, Leadership, Service, and Scholarship."

Walk to End Alzheimer's 2011

Four the fourth year in a row, our family team won the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's in Manhattan's Riverside Park on Sunday.

Okay, that's a joke, but the team led by Shanna did raise more than $1,000 for the Alzheimer's Association, and its four-year fund-raising total now stands at $2,990.

Shanna, her parents Kevin and Kathy, brother Kevin, cousin Vivien and Uncle Dan were this year's walkers, joining a crowd of a few thousand who turned out on a cool but pleasant fall morning.



Thanks to all who donated, joining the walkers in spirit. For a limited time, donations to the Alzheimer's Association can still be credited to our team, via its web page.

Autumn Glory in windy Garrett County

It was Autumn Glory time in Garrett County, Maryland last weekend, and Hugh and Dolores went out to their place on Deep Creek Lake to see the festivities and the colorful leaves.

Rain and fog made for a dreary Friday, but the sun was out for Saturday's parade in downtown Oakland.



Hugh writes: "We saw dancers with hula hoops. We saw Shriners in little yellow cars. We saw floats. And, of course, we saw bands."

Just one problem, adds Dolores: "The wind blew away all the color on the trees. So winter has arrived at Deep Creek Lake now."

Lisa and Doug achieve curling feat

Lisa and Doug were on a curling team that achieved a remarkable feat on Saturday: an "eight-ender." It's been referred to as the curling equivalent of a hole-in-one.

In each round, or "end," of a curling match, the two teams take turns sliding eight rocks apiece toward the "house," the target-like area seen above. The object is to get the rocks to lie closer to the "button" in the center than the opponent's. This involves careful placement and, often, knocking aside the other team's stones.

When finished, the team with a rock closest to the button scores one point for that and any other stones that are closer than any of the opponent's. An "eight-ender" means one team manages to have all eight of its rocks in scoring position.

In the photo above, Lisa and Doug flank teammates Laura and Dan after their accomplishment in the seventh end of a game during the Southern Comfort Inaugural Bonspiel at the Potomac Curling Club in Laurel, Md., their home club. Doug was actually substituting for Laura's husband Todd, who was unable to make the game. Their team went on to win the second event in the bonspiel. The club's web site currently has a write-up about the eight-ender.

As rare as an eight-ender is, this is actually Lisa's second. The other came in league play in March 2009.

Paintings on exhibit, prints offered online

"Waiting," acrylic on canvas

An exhibit of some of Tish's artwork, "Paintings of Cape Cod and Beyond," is in place for the month of October at the South Yarmouth Library. An artist's reception is planned Friday, Oct. 21, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Tish writes, "After many requests I have decided to have prints of my paintings available. There are many printing and framing options available through a link on my website and I plan to have more images available soon."

The painting below (a detail of which appeared as the Birch Street Web banner to welcome Fall) is called "A Peek of the Hudson." Tish painted it from photos she took while in the Tarrytown area for Genevieve and John's wedding in November 2009.

SPFHS band in competition at Giants/Jets Stadium

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Marching Band took part in the Yamaha Cup competition at MetLife Stadium (home of the football Giants and Jets) on Saturday evening. The photo above shows Andy playing his tenor drums at midfield.

More than 50 bands took part in the all-day program, an annual event on the U.S. Scholastic Band Association schedule in New Jersey. SPFHS was among five bands competing in the Group 6-A category.

UPDATE: SPFHS placed third in its group, in very close scoring, and won the awards for best music and best overall effect.

Dan has been working with the "pit crew" - the parent volunteers who transport the large instruments to and from shows via rented trucks, and help the students roll out the xylophones and other big percussion instruments.

Below is a slideshow of Dan's photos of the band warming up outside the stadium, the band members heading onto the field, and field-level views of the performance. Click here to go directly to the photo album.

College touring under way for Lizzie

Tish writes: We spent an extended Columbus Day weekend participating in college tours and visiting friends in North Carolina.

The good news is we have one school that is officially on the list: Elon University. The photo is Lizzie with her cousin Phil at Elon. Both Phil and his brother James graduated from Elon and Phil liked North Carolina so much that he still lives there.

A weekend get-together in Virginia

Dan visited Marie, Brian and Xander in Fredericksburg over the weekend, extending the celebration of his grandson's fifth birthday.

On Saturday the group strolled through downtown Fredericksburg, which features a lot of antique and other shops, some in buildings that date to the early 1800s.

On Sunday they took a little hike up Lee's Hill, a small park on the spot where the Confederate general oversaw the Battle of Fredericksburg.

The weather was beautiful and the visit was a good chance for Grandpa to catch up with Xander. "He's getting bigger and smarter all the time, and is now starting to read," Dan said. "And he's an expert on just about every superhero there is!"

ALDS: Tigers 3 Yankees 2

More marching band pictures, video

Cathy sends along this photo of Christopher in full regalia during a recent performance with the Hilliard-Darby High School marching band.

Click here or on the small image below to see an album including videos from a competition and a football-halftime show.

Darby Marching Band 2011

See previous story

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The shot below shows Andy (at center) and the Scotch Plains-Fanwood marching band at a halftime show on Oct. 1. The next big event for his band is the USSBA Yamaha Cup competition at Meadowlands Stadium on Oct. 15.

Xander celebrates his fifth birthday

Happy birthday to Xander, who turned a big five years old on Tuesday.

Looks like mom baked him a big cookie cake. Yum!

Our family team raises $1,000 for Alzheimer's Association

Shanna writes: "I am so proud to say that between online and cash donations, we now have raised $1,000 for this year's Walk to End Alzheimer's.

"We hit our goal and still have 3 1/2 weeks left until the walk. Keep it coming! Just because we hit the goal doesn't mean we have to stop raising money for this cause."

"Thank you again to everyone who has shown support. You guys are awesome!"

Join us at the walk, Sunday, Oct. 23 in Manhattan's Riverside Park. To learn more, go to our family team web page.

Marching band competition season in full swing

Both Andy and Christopher performed in marching band competitions on Saturday night.

Christopher is in his first year as a member of the Hilliard Darby High School Marching Band. The band performed at the Lexington High School Band of Gold Festival along with 14 other bands. Darby won first place in its class (AA) and the competition's "Grand Champion" trophy. It also took top awards for music, visual presentation, percussion and color guard. Darby earned a Superior rating and qualified for State Finals in October.

Andy, a sophomore, is in the drum line of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Marching Band. It took part in its first U.S. Scholastic Band Association competition of the season, at Roxbury High School. Of 22 bands at this particular event, it was the only one in the "Group 6-A" large-band category. So it took the group trophy, but more importantly, it achieved a good score that shows it's on track for a successful season, which culminates in November with State Finals and the USSBA's northeastern championship.

Below is a brief clip of the SPFHS band performing at its Home Show one week earlier. As the clip opens there's a clear view of Andy with his set of five tenor drums. The picture at right shows where to find him.

Art and wine - a fine combination

Art work by Dolores was on display at the Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival earlier this month (Sept. 9-11).

"There was large crowd of art lovers, and a LOT of wine tasters," Dolores writes. "Sold well, too."

DCLA&WF via Facebook

According to the event's web site, "The Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival features beautifully handcrafted works by local and regional artisans, wine tasting from over 200 Maryland and national wineries, live music, children’s activities, wine pairing dinners, lodging packages, and more." It was conceived in 2004 as the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce sought to extend the summer tourism season. The festival is held annually the weekend after Labor Day.

Brennan on leave before next assignment

Pat writes from Saratoga: "Brennan is now home on a two week leave. He will be going to the Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Va.,for 6 months more schooling next Friday. It is great to have him home!"

Brennan spent the past six months at Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 in Pensacola, Fla., training with Aviation Maintenance Squadron 2.