The Walworthians: Heald Family Emus
The Walworthians
A collection of telephone interviews published in the Wayne County STAR Newspaper and Wayne County MAIL Newspaper, 1994-209
by Kate Chamberlin
The Heald Family’s Emus
June 04, 1997
Tweetie and Sylvester are two emus in our neighborhood. They live with the Heald family on the Walworth-Marion Road.
Shortly after Kevin and Barb (the former Barbara Denniston) were married on July 20, 1985, they bought the old Bulterman homestead.
“It had been abandoned for many years when we bought it,” Barb said. “We knew we wanted to live in a country environment and, eventually, be like a Dr. Doolittle with lots of kids and animals around.”
Two years ago, they visited friends who raised Emus (say: ee-meuuz) on their large farm on Eddy Ridge Road. They bought Tweetie and Sylvester, who began laying eggs this winter.
“Tweetie’s eggs are really very beautiful,” Barb said.
They are dark emerald green with speckled etches on the outer surface. They are layered with different colors of green.
Each egg is three and a half inches wide and four to five inches long.
One egg feeds a family of four quite nicely,” Barb laughed. “We began to wonder what to do with all the eggs we were getting.” Some of them were eaten and some of them were incubated. Four chicks have joined the flock, but, they have to be kept separate from the adults.
In their natural Australia, the males sit and incubate the eggs, but our winters here are much too cold for them. The healds put a pen up in their living room to protect the chicks.
No, I don’t think Barb meant that Kevin slept with the eggs!
The meat of the emu is considered red meat. It is 97% fat free. Oils from the emu are penetrating oils and used in cosmetics. Their feathers are used in jewelry.
Barb is a pal-mac high school and cobleskil graduate and employed by the Wayne Central School District as a computer technology assistant in the Freewill Elementary building. In 1995, she was hired to work one-on-one with a student who used a computer. Barb had to learn it in order to help the student. It kindled a love of computers she didn’t know she had.
Eventually in every classroom,” Barb said enthusiastically, “there will be four computers for the students to use plus one for the teacher.
“I’ll go into the classrooms to train the students how to use the computers.”
Her husband, Kevin is the owner and operator of Reds Lanscaping. I know Barb’s brother John introduced them and, if I can ever catch Kevin near a phone, I’ll tell you his side of the story.
Her son, Timothy, 11, enjoys chorus, playing his trumpet in the band and all sorts of sports.
Jessica is a Girl Scout and reads: Gertrude Chandler Warner’s The Boxcar children.
“I love living where we live,” Barb said. “It is so park-like. It is a great place to raise kids, emus and in a few weeks, piglets.”
The next time you see Barb, ask her to show you her imitation of an emu’s awkward run (and hope she doesn’t trip herself up!)
Thanks, Barb, you are a Walworthian, with the accent on worth.
2018 Up-Date: The Heald’s now own and operate an RV park in Macedon, NY, along the Erie Canal.
The Walworthians: Ed Parkhurst
The Walworthians
A collection of telephone interviews published in the Wayne County STAR Newspaper and Wayne County MAIL Newspaper, 1994-209
by Kate Chamberlin
Ed Parkhurst, Fireman
April 02, 1997
Ed Parkhurst is one of the people in our neighborhood. He has recently been elected the Walworth Fire Department’s Fireman of the Year.
For more than half his life, Ed has been involved with one aspect or another dealing with fighting fires. When he and about 8 of his buddies were 15 years old, they joined the Jr. Firematics in Norwich, Connecticut. They learned how to handle the hoses, operate the breathing apparatus and other intricacies of what firemen do.
There were also several training courses by the State Forestry Department that taught them how to handle brush fires.
Ed joined the East Great Plain Fire Department when he was 16, through the Explorer Scout program. Right after high school, Ed joined the United States Air Force. He became part of the Military Police. He was also a volunteer fireman in the Rome Light Delta Fire Department. He was stationed in Rome for two years and then transferred to Europe for four years.
He attended Alfred College after his stint in the service. He lived in a mobile home and was involved in the Willings Volunteer Fire Department.
He relocated to Williamson and, of course, joined the Fire Department there until moving to Walworth in January, 1986.
He lives with his wife, Linda, and their 17 year old cat Betty Boo.
“Not Betty Boop, but Betty Boo!” Ed corrected me.
A mutual friend introduced Ed to Linda when he was stationed in Rome. They dated and, well, one thing led to another. They were married on November 12, 1977.
Ed is part of the New York State National Guard based in Niagara Falls, as well as an EMT-D, ambulance driver and Treasurer of the Walworth Fire Department.
Ed also has a “day job” as General Manager of the Taylor Rentals where you can rent just about any party item you might need from dance floors, tents and tables to wine glasses, napkins and flatware. Linda is employed by the U. S. Postal Service in the Ontario Post Office.
“The toughest fire I fought was in Connecticut,” Ed said. “It was arson. The owner of a factory hired people to burn it. They had disabled the main water line, so we had no pressure. It was an old building probably 200 by 90 feet wide and four stories high with oil soaked wooden floors. The factory made plastic coated cables, so, there were toxic fumes to deal with. It was winter, too!”
“We called in suburban departments who had tankers and pumps. We pulled up river water to fight the blaze, he continued. “It took over 13 hours to get it under control.”
(Hm-m-m-m. Do Firemen tell fire tales the way fishermen tell fish tales?
Ed said that while there are no “good” fires, the easiest fires are chimney fires. They are relatively small and easy to put out.
I can personally say, though, that when I was home with my two toddlers in 1978 and had a chimney fire, I was never so happy as to welcome those men I didn’t know into my home.
They responded quickly to the fire call and were efficient and courteous. Someone even came back later when my husband was home, just to be sure everything was Okay.
Ed said he likes the Walworth community because the people are friendly and easy to get to know.
“I really hope the community will support the Volunteer Firemen’s Retirement Plan,” Ed said. “It is a way of rewarding the volunteers who keep up their training and provide a quality service to our community.”
Congratulations to Ed Parkhurst, the Walworth Fireman of the Year. You are a Walworthian with the accent on WORTH.
2018 Up-Date: If you have an up-date on Ed, give me a call. Let’s chat.
The Walworthians: The Cross Stitch Corner
The Walworthians
A collection of telephone interviews published in the Wayne County STAR Newspaper and Wayne County MAIL Newspaper, 1994-209
by Kate Chamberlin
The Cross Stitch Corner
January 22, 1997
The Cross Stitch Corner is the newest Walworth-Seely Connection. Pat Salisbury is the proprietress of this new venture. She is locating in the same building as Potpourri of Gifts, 2256 Walworth-Marion Road.
Cross stitching is done with a sharp needle threaded with DMC floss, Whisper thread (angora) or yarn. These come in a wide variety of colors for shading, detailing and textures. The design is worked on 14 or 20 count fabric or Hucks cloth.
“I had the designer Alma Lynn sign a graph of one of her designs for my daughter,” Pat said. “I have several Alma Lynn’s folksy designs in my shop for people to use.”
You’ll be able to choose such projects as Wall hangings, a tea cozy, pillows, banners and whatever your imagination comes up with.
Pat has worked 30 years in retailing and for Sears in their Credit Adjustment Department
“I know the customer comes first,” Pat stated emphatically. I’ll be offering everything a person needs to create, start, implement and finish a project.”
Pat will be offering classes, but said she’d be willing to stitch an item to your specifications if you really can’t do it yourself.
(Keep in mind, Dear Readers, that I am going to do one, so what is YOUR excuse for not trying to do one?)
Pat will be offering flexible class times for adults, so they can come in the evening or during the day, depending on their schedule. Sign-ups and requests may be made at the shop or by phone.
The cost for a three-week adult class is tentatively, $7.50 plus $10 for a kit.
Classes for children 8-years and up will be scheduled for Sunday afternoon, tentatively, from 1 – 2 P.M. The cost of the children’s three week class is, tentatively, $6.00 plus $5 for the kit.
Pat had a co-worker at Sears who said: You have to meet my brother!
Obviously, Bob’s sister was an excellent match-maker!
Pat and Bob were married and have lived in Marion for more than 28 years. As their two daughters, Michelle (Stonehem) and Kimberly were growing up in Marion, Pat was a Girl Scout leader, Band Mom and involved in numerous other community activities.
The Cross Stitch Corner’s grand opening is January 23 – 26, 1997.Thursday and Friday, January 23-24: 11 Am – 8 PM Saturday, January 25: 10 AM – 5 PM; Sunday, January 26: Noon – 4 PM
“During the Cross Stitch Corner grand opening,” Pat said,” I’ll be offering a 10% discount. I hope to sell 5 skeins of floss for $1 all year around.
The Walworth Seely Connections: Potpourri of Gifts and The Cross Stitch Corner are located at 2256 Walworth-Marion Road; just east of Main Street. You can phone Edie Pasquini and Pat Salisbury at (315)986-7999, or, better yet, stop in and say “Good luck, Pat. Welcome to our neighborhood.”
2018 Up-Date: The Walworth-Seely building is now Roxy’s Beauty salon.