Remembering Mom-Helen Marie Roth Connolly

We did not expect we would be posting so soon after Cheryll’s Dad’s death that her Mother, Helen, had also passed away. On Thursday, June 30, Cheryll’s Mom, Helen, left this life to join her husband, Anthony. Following Anthony’s funeral in June, Cheryll’s Mom, Helen, came home from the hospital to the local hospice program. She was able to be home surrounded by her family and favorite canine companions, Jack and Jill.

We celebrate Helen’s life and are blessed that they both were able to spend their final years with us in our home. We are missing them but know they are at peace and together.

For our atlatlist and flintknapper friends, Cheryll’s Mom, as was her Dad, was a member of the Secret Ear of Corn Ooga Booga Society! Oooga Booga! Anthony and Helen learned the Oooga Booga secret at The Atlatl Rattle at Green Flats, Casa De Fumo, Hancock, New York (Ray Turner’s) several years ago.

Helen’s obituary can be viewed here A memorial service for Helen will be held later this month at the Hancock Baptist Church in Hancock, NY.

Upcoming Summer Schedule includes Shows in Germany! Check out the Mongol Rally!

Thunderbird Atlatl is busy getting ready for our upcoming summer schedule which will include a few weeks in Germany and other parts of Europe this summer. We will be arriving in Germany June 28 and will be attending two shows the first two weekends of July. We will be listing those in a few days and will be updating our event calendar!
We had a wonderful time at two new venues in New Jersey and upstate (way upstate!) New York! We were at the Salem County, NJ Arts in Bloom program May 21 and 22. This was the first Primitive Arts and Flintknapping Gathering in Alloway, NJ. The program set the groundwork for primitive art shows in upcoming years.
Memorial Day Weekend we were at Marty Simon’s Wilderness Learning Center in Chateaugay, NY. This is a great place for anyone wanting to learn primitive skills. Along with Marty’s wealth of knowledge, he assembles a great group of instructors and you are within a stone’s throw of the Canadian border! The Center offers another free weekend for all on Labor Day. Wilderness Learning Center’s address is 435 Sandy Knoll Road, Chateaugay, NY 12920.
Check out their web page http://www.weteachu.com/ or give them a call at 518-497-3179 between 6 a.m. & 9 p.m.

Thunderbird Atlatl visits Wilderness Learning Center Memorial Day Weekend

We are taking a trip north this weekend to the Wilderness Learning Center, operated by Marty Simon, in Chateaugay, NY. We will be arriving at the center sometime on Friday, May 27.
The free rendezvous is open to all. Known as the PEACE Rendezvous (People Enjoying Another “Campraderie” Experience), the program takes place from May 27 to 30. The events are open to the public and are family friendly events. Wilderness Learning Center’s address is 435 Sandy Knoll Road, Chateaugay, NY 12920. Check out their web page http://www.weteachu.com or give them a call at 518-497-3179 between 6 a.m. & 9 p.m.
The center is located in upstate New York, right on the Canadian border. It is approximately 55 miles southwest of Montreal, Canada, and 350 miles north of New York City. Nearby cities are Montreal, Canada; Burlington, Vt. or Plattsburgh, NY.
Thunderbird Atlatl will be offering workshops and will have atlatls and equipment available for anyone interested. For more details about the weekend contact the center.
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Thunderbird Atlatl Participates in Arts In Bloom in Salem County, NJ May 21 & 22

The Thunderbird Atlatl staff will be participating in the Salem County, NJ Arts In Bloom program Saturday, May 21 & Sunday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
We will be at the Primitive Arts and Flintknapping Gathering at Camp Edge in Alloway, NJ. Flintknapping, fire making, pottery making and, of course, atlatl demonstrations will take place throughout the day.
The program also features a free tour of artist studios throughout Salem County, NJ. For further information and a brochure click here If you want to try and reach us over the weekend, please try our cell phone at 607-743-4379.
Memorial Day weekend, we will be participating in the PEACE 2011 program at Marty Simon’s Wilderness Learning Center, 435 Sandy Knoll Road, Chateaugay, N.Y. 12920 PEACE, is a free event, open to all. It’s about camping, survival, knives, the outdoors and meeting like minded folks for a really good time. For further information, weteachu@dishmail.net or 518-497-3179

Remembering Dad- Anthony W. Connolly

It’s with sadness and also the joy of celebrating his life that we say good bye to Cheryll’s Dad, Anthony Connolly. Anthony passed away Saturday, May 14, at our home in Candor, New York. Cheryll’s parents have lived in our home for nearly seven years. They moved here from the Catskills in Hancock, NY after living on their own became too difficult despite the support of many wonderful neighbors.

We are blessed that Thunderbird Atlatl operates out of a shop in our home, making it possible for us to provide eldercare for our parents here. Obviously, this has not been without its challenges and frustrations over the years; but there have been moments of humor, love and joy. Cheryll’s Dad was a determined soul who could drive us crazy all the while we were proud of that same determination in the face of Parkinson’s Disease.

He was an amazingly creative person who has left us a legacy of memories in his writings, wood carvings, photography, paintings and many collections of cameras, rifles, car parts and other assorted interests. We thank all of your for your thoughts and condolences over the past few days. For our atlatlist and flintknapper friends, Cheryll’s Dad was a member of the Secret Ear of Corn Ooga Booga Society! Oooga Booga! Anthony and Cheryll’s Mom, Helen, learned the Oooga Booga secret at The Atlatl Rattle at Green Flats, Casa De Fumo, Hancock, New York (Ray Turner’s) several years ago.

Anthony’s obituary can be viewed here A memorial service for Anthony will be held June 4 at noon at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Hancock, NY.

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