NINEVEH – The first birth of the twenty-first century at Chenango Memorial Hospital took place at 5:55 a.m. nearly ten years ago. Dubbed Chenango County’s “Millennium Baby 2000,” Mario Ruttkiewicz Jr. will turn a decade old this coming Friday.
“I can remember being so worried about all the hype surrounding the whole Y2K thing,” said Donna Ruttkiewicz, Mario’s mother. “Obviously we were relieved when midnight came and went without any problems.”
As the “millennium baby,” Mario and his parents were given a gift basket celebrating the occasion, collected by the Chenango Memorial Hospital.
“There were some gift certificates and savings bonds included,” said Ruttkiewicz. “There was also a cell phone, as they were gaining in popularity at that time.”
Donna and husband Mario Sr. also have a special keepsake box, where they store items pertaining to the birth of their son and its correlation with the change of the century.
Currently enrolled in the fourth grade at Afton Central School, Mario is “a very good student,” according to his mother.
In his spare time, Mario said he likes to ride his dirt-bike, collect coins and play his Nintendo Wii. His favorite television show is “Mythbusters,” and for Christmas he got a Nintendo DSI. Mario is also very active in his local Cub Scout Troop, and has been a member for five years.
“The nice thing about his birthday is how easy it is to remember,” said Ruttkiewicz. “People are always coming up to say happy birthday to Mario.”