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A look at work and Labor Day

Here’s another classic column from Margaret.

Labor Day is coming up this Monday. We in the Leone family talked about labor a lot! Did you notice I went from Leone to Valone?

Going back to Labor Day, we were a very political family. That meant everybody had to stay in line! The poor had to be taken care of and the rich couldn’t get too greedy. My sister Rose and I both ran for local office. She ran on the Republican ticket, and I ran on the Democratic ticket, at different times. My father led the first labor strike in his village in Sicily. Our family has always been for the people.

We gave a lot and volunteered for everything. I told my son the definition of a volunteer is somebody who is good for nothing and is priceless! Really, I love to work with volunteers. They often work harder than paid workers and they have good attitudes. They are super. I couldn’t have had a successful festival, whether it was historical such as the bicentennial or sesquicentennial or the Italian Festival without volunteers. I never got paid and neither did they! Volunteers rush in where paid workers fear to tread.

We used to have to listen to the “March of Time” whenever it was on and discuss it. It was special news. It later became a video feature. Every once in awhile they would show it at the theater.

I wonder how many of you know the labor union at the Steel Plant was organized by Mike Sam, my brother Roddy and Joe Grisanti? I don’t know much about Joe Grisanti’s family, but Mike and Roddy came from immigrant families and look how hard they worked to make things better for everyone.

If we look at our family, Louise became a teacher, Tony became a principal, Rose and Josephine worked with the public (selling) and I went with the beauty salon and later sold Merle Norman cosmetics.

My sister Grace had polio and couldn’t go to school. She died at 19. She was self-educated and wrote beautiful poetry about everyone she knew. Every one has opportunity. If you are willing to work hard, it pays off every time.

I love to work! Work is its own reward. I hope there’s work in heaven! I read a book once that said what we did on earth we will do in heaven. Jesus was a teacher. Does that mean I’ll be fixing the angels’ hair? That was a long time ago. Poor angels! I could give great shampoos. But do angels get dirty? Oh well, I won’t worry about that.

One other subject I want to talk about. What is your attitude toward work? Do you feel work is a lowly job? The more you get paid, the more you’re worth. Oh, really? Who has made the greatest influence in your life? Was it your mother? A teacher? Did they get high wages? Not really. Undoubtedly, your mother had the most influence on what you became. She probably didn’t get paid at all except with hugs and kisses. You were the joy of her life! And you tried to pass on all the things she taught you to your kids. So we know money and high positions don’t measure the success in your life.

Teachers play a big role in our lives. Of course, that’s what they get paid for. But a good teacher cares more about the impact he/she will have on the lives of his/her students. My Latin teacher, my history teachers taught me so much! And I loved them! I never cared about money! I loved people! I wanted to make them laugh and look better. That was a labor of love. Now I love to write for you! Have a good life!

P.S. We should take pride in our local traditions. Are you looking to start a new Labor Day tradition for your family? Check out the Cassadaga events this weekend. There is entertainment, a parade and a Ducky Derby on Saturday. The Chautauqua Lakes Association boat parade will be on Sunday, followed by the Marauder Steel Drum Band on the floating stage at 4 p.m. Bob Reuther shared some information about the CLA and its history. He wrote:

“The first Cassadaga Lakes Association Regatta Day/Water Carnival was held on July 5, 1958 under the direction of Robert Truesdale from Lily Dale. A boat parade led things off with more than 40 boats passing by the reviewing stand. Other notable events from the day included a Water Ski Show featuring Bob Klepfer and Tom Burke, both very well known in the Buffalo and Canadian skiing communities. They displayed their prowess in jumping and trick skiing. The Cassadaga Boy Scouts demonstrated canoe tilting under the direction of Robert Taylor from Cassadaga. The evening was concluded with Cliff Cornish leading the CVCS High School band in a concert. It should be noted that, as a fundraiser, the CLA raffled off a transistor radio.

I cannot tell you how many years this event took place but I do remember riding in the “duck” (an amphibious Army vehicle), so it had to have been for at least 5 or 6 years. I do know that the Water Ski Club began to do their shows in September. This was a local club of Cassadaga and Lily Dale youths (myself included), facilitated by Bill Johnson. His daughter, Peggy, was a Canadian national Open Ski champion and later skied at Cypress Gardens. The ski ramp that was in the Upper Lake was built for her. The original CLA disbanded some time in the late 1960s.”

In 1982, Bob and Glenn Thorpe collaborated to re-organize the CLA. Many hands have joined theirs to enhance the community. The column comes full circle. Once again, we note the great impact that volunteers can have!

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