Well, it's taken me most of the day, but I've put together tentative lists for the Top Ten Posts and Top Ten Stories covered by The Batavian in 2008. Before we go any further, please understand that these lists are not comprehensive, and there are plenty of posts and stories that were not included that could have easily replaced those that were included. The lists that have been compiled are meant to indicate some of the best that's out there, as well as point some folks to some of the better content that they may have missed. Hopefully, you will agree that I've done well in my selections. We had more than 100 pages of content to browse through—not including comments and specialty content not featured on the home page. Our coverage has now spanned eight months.
Originally, I had planned to highlight a few posts at a time, then run the survey for you to select your favorite among the top ten. Instead, we're going to go ahead and list all top ten here, then run a separate post with the survey. So be sure to vote once you've read through these. Tomorrow, we will get up our Top Ten Stories—ongoing coverage.
Here are your Top Ten (individual) Posts. We tried to pick out those individual posts submitted by our staff and our readers that exhibited great writing, those that told a great story or those that got people talking. Remember these are not in any order:
Chainsaw Artist Rick Pratt...
It was a tough choice deciding between this video of Rick Pratt sculpting an eagle out of a tree trunk with a chainsaw and a video put together recently over at Oliver's Candies about how ribbon candy is made. Rick Pratt's chainsaw sculpting took YouTube by a storm. Several months later, and it is still our biggest draw, nearing 10,000 views as I write this.
Waterfowler's Morning...
This one is a gimme for the top ten. This is the first post on our site by Jim Nigro, who has fortunately hung around and has since written a few more, all gems. Jim has a calm hand with his prose, crafting supple phrases and idyllic scenes you can just about walk into. Not to mention his ace photography! We hope he sticks around for a long time to come.
O-A stuns Pembroke in final seconds...
This game came at the peak of the high school football season. We saw it coming for weeks ahead—and it didn't disappoint. Neither did the coverage by Brian Hillabush. His story tells the story, delivers the drama, the hits, the stats and the nail-biting suspense of the game's final seconds. Always worth another read.
Hillary's Seat: If We Were Speaking Locally...
In this post, frequent contributor to The Batavian, Daniel Jones, wrote up a fun scenario about a what if... His question is simple: If the senate seat soon to be vacated by Hillary Clinton were to be granted to a local politico, who should get it? Dan lists a few potential contenders, including Assemblyman Steve Hawley, a few members of the Batavia City Council, even former Le Roy Mayor Jim Delooze. Fun post!
A truck that's got a story to tell...
This was my own favorite of my own writings of the past few months. This one kind of slipped under the radar. Or maybe it just wasn't appreciated as I had appreciated it. It's simple. I saw a retro traveler's truck coated with stickers, took some photos and asked if anyone knew its story. This one was similar to the post on the sidewalk chalk that got a little more buzz going in the comments.
Contemplating Bill Kauffman's Batavia...
This was a post Howard wrote early in the morning after The Batavian had been chugging along for a few weeks, back, I believe, in late May. This was before Howard knew much about Kauffman, and when both of us were still drinking in the local lore by the steinful. This post is somewhat wistful, a tad nostalgic (aptly), yet mostly forward leaning. It's a great read for folks ineterested in peeking behind the curtain.
Telling stories that tell stories: The art of Brian Moore...
This was the post I was most proud of writing, and writing well. I had no choice but to step to the plate on this one: the subject matter demanded it. Brian's paintings grip you with a visceral pinch. You remember them. You dream them. Yet they nevertheless stand aloof, untouchable, enigmatic. They live there at that nexus where art ought to be, eluding the desire they themselves foment. Read this post.
Batavians choose not to live like they do in big cities...
This was the first post on our site from City Council President Charlie Mallow. As you probably know, it wasn't his last, and we've been glad to have him on the site, freely communicating with his fellow city residents, and none too shy about telling it how he sees it. This first post of his gives a great insight into how he thinks and feels about the city of Batavia.
Le Roy remembers Hooks...
This is vintage Hillabush at his best, and easily one of the most well-written posts to appear on the site so far. His writing is brimming with emotion and intensity. Everything here comes from the gut and the heart—no trappings, no ornament, and it shows... Really, this one just needs to be read.
Saturday Day Trip...
This one is from Bea McManis, about her weekend trip down to Brown's Berry Patch. It deserves a spot on the top ten, if for no other reason than it brought a new flavor to The Batavian when it graced the home page—literally. Not long after Bea's post, we created the recipes section. People were talking about food for a good week after it appeared. Bea writes about food the way it ought to be done: with relish.
There you have it. Please feel free to argue the selection. Write in your own favorite posts. Curse me for my poor taste. Praise me for my good taste. Personally, I'm kicking myself for not including any of the dozen or more videos that have come out of our two greatest series: At the Holland Land Office Museum and Cooking with the Dairy Princess. Those are my favorites.
Just be sure to vote. We'll have the survey up within the hour.
Remember! We will get up our Top Ten Stories tomorrow. Those will feature themes and ongoing issues that spanned more than just one individual post.
