MORE FROM ADRIANA

A word from Adriana and MY MSMERMAID LIFE--some days are tougher than others: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT6M5jkiZqr/?igsh=eHQwd3ZxZ21jcWYy

But then there are days like this: EverythingCroton: LOTS OF NEWS---AND MANATEES TOO---FROM MY MSMERMAID LIFE

and this:  EverythingCroton: A THREE YEAR MILESTONE AT MYMSMERMAIDLIFE

PERFUME MEMORIES, CROTON, VALENTINE'S DAY AND MORE

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

With Valentine's Day around the corner, a reader was reminiscing about her first bottle of perfume.  Indeed, it was a rite of passage when her mother gifted her a bottle of BLUE WALTZ perfume for her twelfth birthday--which coincidentally fell on the 14th of February. (Surely you remember BLUE WALTZ--You know, in the heart-shaped bottle with a blue cap.) 

Whatever you think of that cloyingly sweet scent, the SHAPE of the bottle was a stroke of marketing genius.....it always got visual attention. Click on the photos and links for more.....

BLUE WALTZ was popular for decades (click on the ad from 1946) and was one of those stand-by "five and dime store" items that graced many a vanity table.  In fact, Elliott's, United Cigar, and Robbins sold it.   

The upper classes called it "middle class perfume" but many of us loved it, the price and the bottle.  The sweet and spicy fragrance is being remade today. Blue Waltz is often referred to as the commercial equivalent of "Jean Nate".  It is sometimes available at the VERMONT COUNTRY STORE and on Amazon.  The scent appears to be very much the same as the original, or at least how some of us remember it.

And finally check out this great 1964 ad for MY SIN perfume below...Lanvin My Sin (Mon Peche) was created back in 1924 by a mysterious Russian lady called “Madame Zed”. 

My Sin was not inexpensive--and another great piece of marketing---many of the ads featured a mysterious black cat---adding an exotic element.

A neighbor said it was a perfume reserved only for "married women"--given by husbands for serious events---like anniversaries and Christmas. The less expensive dusting powder, however, was a standard accompaniment to that heart-shaped box of Whitman's chocolates on Valentine's Day. In those years, you rarely found Whitman's (or Fannie Farmer) anywhere but James Drugs and Pop Berger's.   

As for MY SIN, the ads often featured kittens too and employed interesting phrases like "dangerously seductive" and "deeply provocative". You can still find it today HERE.

And did you know that Croton had its own perfume factory on Brook Street back in the day? It was called COMPAGNIE PARENTO. For those who don't know, COMPAGNIE PARENTO is still in existence today.

According to their website, Addington Doolittle, founder of Compagnie Parento, Inc. believed it was time to break the American dependency on imported perfumes and start an American manufacturing operation. Compagnie Parento, Inc. began creating and producing fragrance oils in the United States just after the turn of the 20th century. (For more about COMPAGNIE PARENTO, click here.)

Note: All content on this blog is Copyright (c) by Maria Cudequest and by the posters who have contributed specific content. All material is for your personal use only. No content or photos may be republished or sold, without prior written from your editor and the individual who contributed the content in question. For permissions or questions about this policy, please contact the editor.

THREE ITEMS AT THE MAILBOX

When did Pastor Sohme leave Asbury?

Reponse: Pastor SOHM (correct spelling) left in May 2025 or thereabouts. More about that and the new pastor--Chu--at EverythingCroton: ASBURY UNITED METHODIST WELCOMES NEW PASTOR

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You featured a **peach lilly** a while back and I'd like to find it for my garden. Advise please.

Response; This is an heirloom variety and may be difficult to locate.  We also don't have the proper name---the neighbors call it a CREAMSICLE LILY; good luck and please let us know if you find it!  CLICK HERE

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I'm fascinated by the Cold War and Herman Kahn and have seen him in some articles here. Is there a central index of links for him somewhere?

Not yet---that's a project on the TO DO list---in the meantime, you can find the most recent post about him at EverythingCroton: ICYMI--DECEMBER 1963 PATENT TRADER--HERMAN KAHN TO ADDRESS LWV MEETING

And if you like the Cold War, you may also have an interest in EverythingCroton: ANOTHER ONE FOR THE MOVIE BUCKET LIST - (1962) THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE

IN THE NEWS--STARS AND STRIPES---PENTAGON POLICY CHIEF, TALKS, SOUTH KOREA

Pentagon policy chief discusses nuclear submarines, wartime control with South Korea --YOOJIN LEE -- CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — A Pentagon undersecretary met with South Korea’s defense minister this week to discuss alliance priorities, including the transfer of wartime operational control and Seoul’s plans to pursue nuclear-powered submarines, according to the country’s Ministry of National Defense. Read more at: 

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2026-01-27/south-korea-nuclear-submarines-20538850.html

SOME RECENT POSTS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED...

Because life gets busy;

***EAGLE ABOVE THE DRIVEWAY! CLICK HERE

***SUPERVISOR BECKER THANKS CURRY AUTOMOTIVE FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATION; GO TO EverythingCroton: A MESSAGE FROM SUPERVISOR BECKER---THANKING CURRY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

***CROTON'S A CARING COMMUNITY! GO TO EverythingCroton: CROTON-ON-HUDSON, A CARING COMMUNITY

***MICHAEL KOLLAR HAS DIED; CLICK HERE

***BARBARA BUSKE HAS DIED; CLICK HERE

***THE OUTSTANDING BRIARCLIFF SCHOOL DISTRICT, LEADS NYS IN MATH ACHIEVEMENT; click here 

***SOME MORE RECENT VIDEOS, PHOTOS AND PODCASTS YOU SHOULDN'T MISS; GO TO EverythingCroton: SOME MORE RECENT VIDEOS, PHOTOS AND PODCASTS YOU SHOULDN'T MISS

***LOTS OF NEWS FROM MY MSMERMAID LIFE--AND MANATEES TOO! CLICK HERE

AND EverythingCroton: A REMINDER FROM ADRIANA -- PROTECT OUR OCEANS, PLEASE RECYCLE

***ST. AUGUSTINE'S OPEN HOUSE; PLEASE NOTE--RESCHEDULED TO 2/8 DUE TO STORM; GO TO EverythingCroton: ST. AUGUSTINE SCHOOL'S OPEN HOUSE 1/25 HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO 2/8

***THE FRIGID BEAUTY OF CROTON POINT IN WINTER; CLICK HERE

***JOHN SARCONE IN THE NEWS--WATERTOWN MAN GETS 25 YEARS IN PRISON; click here

AND MORE NEWS FROM THE FINGER LAKES TIMES; CLICK HERE

FINGER LAKES DOT COM--JUSTICE DEPT. FIGHTS SARCONE RULING

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--------in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

1/27--A legal fight over who runs Albany’s top federal prosecutor’s office just escalated, according to the Times Union. MORE AT Justice Department fights Sarcone ruling

A REMINDER--NO PARKING UPPER VILLAGE AREA TODAY! SNOW REMOVAL!

Upper Village Parking Restrictions for Snow Removal

Please note that the DPW will be undertaking snow removal operations in the Upper Village on Wednesday, January 28, from 4 to 9 AM.  No parking will be permitted on Old Post Road South from Maple Street to Grand Street, and on Grand Street from Old Post Road South to Old Post Road North. Read more

Upper Village Parking Restrictions for Snow Removal | Croton-on-Hudson NY

IN THE NEWS AND GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT--THOSE SILLY NATIVE AMERICAN MASCOT BANS

When actual Native Americans call out the state’s silly mascot bans, you know progressives have lost their way. The Native American Guardian Association last week called barring indigenous school mascots “the dumbest law of all time” and vowed to take its case against the state Board of Regents all the way to the US Supreme Court--READ MORE HERE

OBITUARY AND SERVICE INFO FOR MICHAEL JOHN KOLLAR

Michael attended Croton-Harmon Schools and was a graduate of Croton-Harmon High School. He later attended Niagara University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, January 29th from 3-7pm at Edward F Carter Funeral Home, 41 Grand Street, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Friday, January 30th at 10: 30am at Holy Name of Mary Church, 141 Grand Street, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520. Interment will be private. MORE AT Michael Kollar Obituary - Croton-On-Hudson, NY

STATE OF EMERGENCY LIFTED

State of emergency lifted--Winter Storm Update--click on the image from the village website.

CAA WOMEN'S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK---BRITTANY CORBETT, So., DREXEL (CROTON ON HUDSON)

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--------in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

EXCERPTED CAA Women’s Swimmer of the Week

Brittany Corbett, So., Drexel (Croton on Hudson, N.Y.)
Corbett delivered three individual wins to help Drexel battle past Towson, 153-147, last Saturday. The sophomore set a school record in the 1,000 free with a time of 10:01.13, which is the second-fastest in the CAA this season. SEE THE WHOLE ARTICLE AT CAA Swimming & Diving Weekly Awards - Jan. 27 - Coastal Athletic Association (CAA Sports)

ABOUT THAT HANDICAPPED PARKING...

Just a reminder from Adriana and My MSMERMAID Life....Please don’t pull into handicapped parking even for a minute. It’s so important to remember this. See more at

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT0NCjHkb5s/?igsh=b3p6eHhpdHcweHox

You may also have an interest in EverythingCroton: A REMINDER FROM ADRIANA -- PROTECT OUR OCEANS, PLEASE RECYCLE

A MESSAGE FROM SUPERVISOR BECKER---THANKING CURRY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Today we were thrilled to honor and thank The Curry Automotive Group, for providing two fully equipped Chevy Tahoe's to the Cortlandt Peekskill Regional Paramedics Service. When someone dials 911 for an ambulance, a paramedic is dispatched in a “fly car”. A paramedic is the highest level of service, and an ambulance is only sent if requested by the paramedic on site. In 2025, rather than hiring a private for-profit paramedics company, the Town of Cortlandt-- in partnership with the City of Peekskill, formed the County's first standalone, not-for-profit, paramedics program. All of our paramedics work for this new entity, and are therefore deeply involved and committed to our community. Over the last year, the Cortlandt Peekskill Regional Paramedics has successfully responded to all calls for emergency services, with all shifts covered, and by maintaining a six minute or less response time-- the gold standard. We began our operation with antiquated vehicles. Through the generosity of Bernard Curry and the Curry Automotive Group, our paramedics now has two brand-new Chevy Tahoe vehicles to serve our community. These vehicles successfully responded to several emergencies during this recent snowstorm, something that would've been difficult with her older fly cars. On behalf of the entire Cortlandt and Peekskill communities, we are grateful for the generosity of the Curry automotive group.

PHOTO AT Facebook

OBITUARY FOR BARBARA ELLEN BUSKE

When Barbara lived in Croton, she was very engaged in local history and archaeology......as well as the fight against the waste transfer station.  She left the village some time ago.....

Barbara Ellen Buske passed away Jan. 24, 2026.

Barbara was born in Oswego, grew up in Scriba, and graduated from Oswego High School in 1958. With a love of sewing and art, she then earned a two-year degree in art and design from Cazenovia College, and shortly after graduation, followed her dream by moving to New York City to attend art school in Manhattan. For almost 20 years she worked first in the Garment District, and then as a graphic designer---read more at Barbara Ellen Buske | Obituaries | oswegocountynewsnow.com