August 30, 2011 (Aftermath of Hurricane Irene)

It is a very sad and difficult time for this region and especially those that are still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and the devastation left behind in her wake. 

While Irene certainly left behind a reminder about how fragile our lives are, she couldn’t take away from us the true meaning of friendship and support.  It is at these times, that you are able to witness how people gather together to help and support each other and the residents of Schenectady are no different.  While our Stockade and downtown areas received substantial flood waters, you witnessed neighbors helping neighbors, and complete strangers helping one another to get to safety. 

Even though many lost power and phone lines during the storm, through the use of social media (mainly my facebook page), I was able to keep abreast of what was occurring and the needs of my friends that were suffering losses.  I witnessed the messaging going back/forth between friends and family with offers of support.  So one more thing that I love about where I live, is the kindness and generousity of friends as they reach out to help others.

What looks like chocolate pudding in this photo is really the flood waters in the area surrounding Schenectady County Community College.



August 28, 2011 (Hurricane Irene)

Today, Hurricane Irene decided to visit.  As I write this, the winds are still whipping and the rain is still coming down but not nearly as hard.  We were cautioned to stay indoors and be prepared in the event of flooding, power outages and tree/wind damage.  So making the best of a day at home, I baked brownies, some delicious cranberry orange bread, and a turkey marsala for dinner.  I am so grateful that I didn't lose power.  

I just put on my raincoat and went outside to check on the fish in the pond because of all this rain I was worried the pond would flood and my fish (some of whom are over 10 years old) would be swept away.  But other than a few small branches I pulled off the pond, they too have stayed safe. 

My son checked in on my parents (leaving them I'm told with hot fudge sundaes), so they are definitely doing well and I am extremely thankful that although I have heard that many of my friends are dealing with power outages and flooding, they are all safe. Material things can always be replaced as long as we have our health and safety. 

Please stay safe my friends.   

August 27, 2011 (142nd Running of the Travers)

Schenectady is so wonderfully located, it is just a short drive to many exciting venues. 

Saratoga Race Course is less than 30 miles from my home, so today I went to the running of the 142nd Travers Race with my friend Mary Catherine. Although we didn't have reservations and were just going to play the day by ear, we were lucky enough to get a table in the clubhouse right next to where the horses enter the Track. It was honestly the best table and I will certainly make reservations next year to reserve it. We had such a great time watching people and enjoying the day.    

Now I have never seen the show Entourage on HBO but Mary Catherine had and was excited that seated right next to us was Kevin Connolly who plays Eric Murphy.  My friends Lindsey and Palmer were also at the race with their daughter Paige.  So Mary Catherine and Paige had their photo taken taken with Kevin. I must say that he was extremely friendly and gracious when I approached with the photo request.  

Paige's first photo with a celebrity below.  



If you are ever in the area, I suggest spending the day at the Saratoga Race Course. 
   

August 26, 2011 (Farewell Helen George)

My post today is a bit long and a bit sad because our community has suffered a great loss. 

     On Wednesday evening, Helen George, a fellow Junior League member and more importantly a community advocate, a friend, and a mentor passed away and she will be deeply missed by many of us that knew her.

     I first met Helen at a Junior League event about 8 years ago and at that time she would have been in her 90's.  What immediately comes to mind when I think of Helen, is her graciousness.  During visits we had at the Glen Eddy and more recently at Kingsway Manor, Helen told me such wonderful stories and gave such insightful advice. I remember after an event, I stopped over to drop off one of the centerpieces because she was so helpful to me and she invited me in (even though I hadn't phoned first) and proceeded to tell me about her time with the League and how much she enjoyed it. 

     Often, it seemed that when I visited, I was asking for her support for something I was involved in and she was always welcoming and also so very humble.  When I stopped over to visit and asked her to be the honorary chairperson for the Junior League of Schenectady's 75th Anniversary celebration, her response was "of course dear, but don't you think there is someone more important you want to ask?"  When I asked Helen to be the Honorary Co-Chair for Family & Child Service of Schenectady's 80th Anniversary celebration with Congressman Paul D. Tonko, she said "of course dear but are you sure Paul doesn't want someone more important?"  And earlier this year when I asked her to become the Honorary Chairperson for the Junior League of Schenectady and Saratoga Counties 80th Anniversary (to be held on May 4, 2012), her response was "of course dear but are you sure there isn't someone more important."  There was never anyone more important than Helen! 

     Helen came to the League in 1934 as a transfer from Youngstown, Ohio.  She told me stories about how back then you were required to volunteer at Family & Child Service of Schenectady (an organization that was founded by the Junior League) and how that volunteer experience led to her commitment to not only the Junior League and Family & Child Service but to the entire community. We talked about how her volunteering at Family & Child Service led to a paid position and then a position on their Board of Directors. A supporter to the end, Helen recently joined the honorary committee for Family & Child Services September 16 Golf Ball Drop. 

     Helen served as President of the Junior League twice, serving in that capacity in 1946-48 and 1951-1952.  During her tenure as president of the League, the League assisted in establishing the Cerebral Palsy School at Pleasant Valley School, in addition to volunteering and organizing at the School, the League donated nearly $30,000 to the School between 1947 and 1956.  In 1948 the Junior League established the Next-to-New Shop which was the source of funding for many Junior League initiatives.  The Junior League is better because of Helen's commitment throughout the years. 

     As I was recently completing my second term as President of the Junior League, my sustainer advisor Barbara Piper and I planned a sustainer cocktail party at Kingsway Manor in honor of Helen.  This event was held on June 23, 2011 and more than 40 Junior League members were in attendance to pay tribute to Helen for her years of service and commitment.  It was a wonderful event and I am so completely honored to have known this amazing woman and feel so grateful to her for spending time with me and for giving me guidance.  The day after event, Helen, gracious as always, called to thank me for arranging the event and then proceeded to dictate a note that she wanted placed in our next newsletter to thank every one that attended. 

Helen (second from the left) with other Junior League sustaining members.

    Helen leaves behind her a legacy of spirit, humor, kindness and commitment.  I am a better person because I knew her.  Thank you Helen. 

Longtime community icon Helen George dies

Friday, August 26, 2011  By Jeff Wilkin (Contact)   Gazette Reporter

SCHENECTADY — Even in her final days, Helen W. George was thinking of others.

      The longtime community volunteer, who died Wednesday night at the Kingsway Community nursing center in Schenectady, met friends earlier in the week.
      “Her daughter Betty Jane knew what was coming and said while Helen certainly wasn’t up for long visits, she thought that perhaps she could do little five-minute visits from people who just wanted to say thank you,” said Denise Murphy McGraw, a past president of the Junior League. “They were people from many walks of her life, Family and Child Services, which she helped found, people like me who knew her from the Junior League. ... Just that gesture alone by Betty Jane, I think, meant the world to many of us.”
       George, who also covered Schenectady’s social scene as “Gretchen Dorp” for the Schenectady Gazette, was 99. Funeral arrangements by the Baxter-Andrew Funeral Home in Schenectady are pending.
Friends remembered a woman who always seemed to be thinking about her community.
       “She kept a scrapbook of everything she’d ever written, and years after she retired, she would call when somebody who had lived in Schenectady, worked at G.E. and had become socially prominent — she knew them all, she had contacts everywhere — she would call me right away when they passed on,” said John E.N. Hume III, editor and publisher of The Daily Gazette. “I can’t tell you how helpful that was, because it gave us time to actually get to work on a nice obit.”
Hume remembered a vibrant personality.  “She just seemed to know everybody, and she was very outgoing,” he said. “She was lovely, very personable. ... She was one of these people who everybody liked.”
        George kept a busy volunteer schedule. She was associated with the Junior League, Ellis Hospital, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Schenectady, the Day Nursery, United Way, First Presbyterian Church and the Garden Club of Schenectady. During World War II, she worked on a communication network and helped rally people for victory gardens and salvage drives.
       George was society editor at the Schenectady Gazette from 1950 until 1976 and also worked in real estate with Veronica Lynch. She was named a Schenectady Patroon in 1991; the Human Services Planning Council gave her the Katherine S. Rozendaal Award in 1987.

Always involved
       Karen B. Johnson was the mayor who gave George her “Patroon” honor, which coincided with George’s 80th birthday.
       “Helen had a large group of multi-age friends,” said Johnson, now director of planned giving at Proctors. “She was just a lovely, gracious person, very thoughtful, very committed to the community.”  George was always happy to help. “When I worked on the last Proctors Capital Campaign, she was extremely helpful to me, sitting down and talking about people that were involved in the early days of Proctors,” Johnson said. “She’d write Philip (Morris, Proctors’ chief executive officer) notes about something she read about the theater and how excited she was about it, even in the last year.”
      During her newspaper days, George seemed to know what was happening all over —— in living rooms, country club and hotel ballrooms, college campuses and airports. Luncheon, coffee and bridge parties, visitors to Schenectady, vacation departures, marriage announcements, bridal showers and academic accomplishments were among news items in Gretchen Dorp’s “Social Notes” columns.
     George remembered her work as “Gretchen” in a 1995 interview with The Daily Gazette.
     “An awful lot went on in Schenectady in the way of parties, dances, things that are really curtailed now,” she said. “I used to have the pleasure of writing about those things. They were happy, happy happenings, and I used to write about their bridge clubs and their book clubs and when they went to Europe and when their kids got married and they had rehearsal dinners. Now you don’t see any of that in the paper any more.”
The newspaper retired the column when George retired in 1976. George said the paper had changed, but believed people had changed, too — she thought many wanted to keep their vacations and social exercises private.
      Debby Mullaney of Niskayuna, like George a past president of the Junior League, thinks Schenectady will miss George’s giving spirit.
      “I think that we have lost one of the biggest supporters of the Schenectady not-for-profit community,” she said. “She was always there to help. She was a mentor to women in our community, she was a very special friend of many of us in the not-for-profit sector.
      “She gave tirelessly. Even in her advanced years, if you had any questions about how to run a fundraiser, who to involve in a fundraiser, Helen was the first one you wanted to talk to. She had just a wealth of information.”
       Niskayuna attorney and former Schenectady County Legislator Cristine Cioffi was 16 when she met George.  “She gave me my first job, and it was at the Gazette,” she said. “I was her summer substitute writer, so when she went out of town, I made all those phone calls, found out who was having weddings or baptisms or parties and wrote the column for her.”
      Cioffi described George as a citizen who stepped up to volunteer her time wherever it was needed.
“When she saw the need, she did it,” Cioffi said.  George tried to get others interested in community work.
      “There’s so much to do, and if anybody has the energy and the desire, there are many volunteer jobs they can do in hospitals,” she said in the 1995 Gazette interview.
She also talked about playing the piano.
       “I’m going to do that in the next world,” she said. “That and figure skate and Rollerblade. It looks like such fun.”

---

August 25, 2011 (Erie Boulevard)

Another whirlwind evening in fabulous Schenectady.  I wanted to give my dear friend Mary Catherine a bit ofa tour of places I enjoy heading out to for the evening.

The evening began at Katie O’Brynes Irish Pub and Restaurant and although there is a wee bit of Irish in this lass, I don’t happen to enjoy the darker Irish beers, so Mary Catherine, who may be a bit more Irish, ordered up a Guinness and declared it a perfect pour.  So to all of you out there looking for a perfectly poured Guinness, on Mary Catherine’s recommendation, I suggest heading to Katie’s. 

Our next stop was the Van Dyke Restaurant & Lounge to take part in their Travers 1864 Restaurant week.  The Travers deal is $18.64 for a 3 course meal and if you read my earlier blog from Sunday, you will remember that the first Travers race was held in 1864.  The Van Dyke is a wonderful venue and the meal tonight was delicious. It began with a seafood stuffed portabella, then on to the chicken saltimbocca and topped off with a chocolate mousse all for only $18.64.  Wow!

Our final stop of the evening was Clinton’s Ditch on Erie Boulevard for a night cap.  Now if you are not familiar with NYS history, you might not remember that the 524-mile NYS canal system which started in 1817 and was completed in 1825 which connected hundreds of lakes and rivers throughout the state was dubbed “Clinton’s Ditch” by those opposed to Governor Dewitt Clinton’s idea to connect the far corners of the state.  The Schenectady portion of the Erie Canal is now what we call Schenectady’s Erie Boulevard and thus this aptly named tavern. 

Now all three locations are within one block of each other so you can walk your way through a little bit of history while enjoying your evening.    

August 24, 2011 (home cooked barbecue)

Tonight, I had a wonderful evening at friend and fellow Rotarian Fred’s home in wonderful old Niskayuna.  As part of the Schenectady Rotary’s karaoke night which I co-chaired with my dear friend Carmel, we held a silent auction and one of the items being auctioned off was a barbecue dinner for 8 at Fred’s home.  Now, I had already been to Fred’s for a barbecue before so I knew that this evening would be filled with fabulous food, good friends and a great atmosphere.   So, together with some fellow Rotarian women, Betty, Pat and Carmel, we bid up a storm and it was so worth it!!! 

The weather was cooperative, the pork perfect and Fred’s wife Chris topped the evening off with her fabulous red velvet cupcakes.         

So make plans to attend the 3^rd Annual Schenectady Rotary karaoke night (coming March 2012), and bid on this fabulous evening.  It is so worth it!  

August 23, 2011 (Schenectady ROCKS!)

I have often said, Schenectady Rocks, and today it actually did!    
As a single woman, I have to tell you it has been years since I felt the earth move under my feet…so imagine my surprise when I felt it today and more surprising that I was alone in my cubicle at GE when it happened! 

So today at approximately 2:00 pm, an earthquake hit the east coast near Richmond, Virginia and the tremors were felt in more than 20 states including my little area in Schenectady.  The funny thing was that I am sure my family on the west coast is use to such things but here I just thought I was having a bit of vertigo until several people came around asking if that was just them or if I felt it as well. 

As a disaster preparedness instructor for the Red Cross, you would think I would have known what to do but honestly, as I sat there we all discussed whether we should leave the building, stand in a doorway, hide under desks, etc.  I truly had no idea but one gentleman that I work with came out and with this simple little statement “folks, I am from California, this is nothing”, we all went back to work. 

Do you know what to do in an earthquake?  Check out what FEMA recommends here. 

Where were you when the earth moved under your feet? 

August 21, 2011 (Saratoga Race Course)

Another great thing about Schenectady is its proximity to Saratoga Springs.  A couple of weeks ago I mentioned heading to the Saratoga Polo Association and that it was one of the four oldest Polo Associations in the United States and today I am headed to the Saratoga Race Track to watch the thoroughbred’s race.  As for its history, Saratoga Race Course first opened in August of 1863 and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States.  Wow, such history in our own backyard!  

Today, I attended the Track with other Junior League members and friends and it was a wonderful day filled with friendship, fun and excitement.  The Carousel restaurant is a great place to have lunch.  They have a wonderful buffet, their own betting windows and it is just a very short walk to the top of the grandstands where you get a great view of the track, are able to cheer on your horses and watch the finish of the race.  Although I have to admit that my biggest win of the day was $.60 on a 2/5 exacta.  Definitely not going to have to worry about the IRS asking for my ID number.  My advice in the future to my friends, is to bet on the horses that I don't.    

A photo of the JLSS members in attendance.

Next week is the Travers Stakes, the oldest (1864) major thoroughbred horse race in the United States and named for one of the Saratoga Race Course founders, William R. Travers.   

If you have never attended the running of the Travers, I suggest you do so this weekend.  It will be one of the highlights of your visit to Saratoga Springs. 

August 20, 2011 (People Magazine)

Woosh, today while getting a much needed manicure and pedicure I participated in one of my guilty pleasures of thumbing through magazines featuring the entertainment industry.  So, while flipping through recent issues of People, I noticed that Schenectady was featured in two of the most recent issues in photo's of Ryan Gossling and Bradley Cooper. 

First we have a Presidential visit and now we are in People.  Go Schenectady!

August 19, 2011 (SCCC)

Wow, another great day.  Today I took part in the celebration ceremony for the Smart Scholars at Schenectady County Community College.  Today the 9th graders who completed their first college course as part of the program received their certificates.  Of course, the Junior League of Schenectady and Saratoga Counties continues to support this program through their Operation Back to School project which provides students with their necessary school supplies to begin the year prepared to succeed and this year we supplied both the 9th graders and the 10th graders with their supplies.  It is so wonderful to see the collaboration between Schenectady High School, Schenectady County Community College and the Junior League as the program continues to grow.

August 18, 2011 (SICM)

Something else I enjoy about  living in Schenectady are the members of the Rotary Club of Schenectady.  Not only are they community leaders, they are community advocates and volunteers.  Each year our Rotary membership volunteers to help pack lunches for the Schenectady Inner City Ministry’s  children’s summer lunch program which provides children with free and nutritious lunches.  Today was my volunteer day and together with friends Leesa, Carmel, and Tom (aka T3+1) we helped serve the lunches to the children at Quackenbush Park.  Not only do we get to feed children nutritious lunches, we get to have some fun while helping others.  A great day!

August 17, 2011 (Salt Potatoes)

As you read my blog you will notice that I am often out and about but I really do enjoy cooking so tonight I decided to stay in and make dinner.  Now of course, this was prompted by a craving I was having for salt potatoes ever since I mentioned that I love them to some friends and they had never heard of them.  Salt potatoes are actually native to central New York, more specifically the Syracuse region but luckily for us, we can get them right here in town (I pick them up at Price Chopper).  If you haven’t tried them, feel free to use my recipe below. 

First I boiled the bag of salt potatoes (I believe it is a 4lb bag) with the salt that is included in the bag and after they were drained, I melted some butter and added some chopped garlic, after another a minute I then added those lovely little potatoes and covered them with the butter and garlic sauce.  I also cooked some fresh shrimp and then after they were peeled, set them in a roasted honey garlic marinade from Dinosaur Barbecue (which now has a location in Troy, NY), then I skewered them and placed them on the grill for that wonderful just grilled flavor, added some fresh peas and dinner was complete and so delicious.    

Have you tried salt potatoes?     

August 16, 2011 (West Side Story at Proctors)

So last night was another great night in Schenectady.  Friends (Margaret, Dick and Colleen) stopped over for cocktails in the yard and wonderful conversation before we set off to see the Broadway musical, West Side Story at Proctors.  The show was filled with powerful dancers, amazing voices and very creative stage scenes.  I especially enjoyed the bridge scene that was used for the rumble and the voice of Maria was so impressive.  Even if you don’t love musicals, this one is such a wonderful love story and certainly reminds us that it is important to embrace diversity and not use it to create barriers and judgments. 

I should also mention that it was wonderful to see my favorite congressman sitting just a few rows behind me. 

Having the ability to see a Broadway show within a short distance of my home is just one more reason that I love living in Schenectady.  What is yours?       

August 15, 2011 (Gazette Article)

A nice article in the Gazette today written by Kathleen Moore, which highlights the revitalization happening around us.  Check it out here:

SCHENECTADY — Perhaps the greatest measure of how much Schenectady’s downtown has changed in the past decade is that it is no longer compared to the crumbling ghost towns of rust-belt cities.

Instead, residents who have lived in Milan, London and New York City compare it favorably to their last neighborhoods.

“It’s a mini Times Square, but it’s smaller, safer,” said Giulio Veglio, who moved in two years ago and opened the Paul Mitchell Beauty School downtown.

By the time he arrived, the decade of empty buildings downtown was over. Proctors had expanded from one venue to three, with a much larger main stage in its theater. Restaurants and bars had filled in a commercial stretch that had previously been served by two pizza parlors and a sub shop. Developers had not just remodeled, but knocked down swaths of deteriorated buildings and put up new offices, a movie theater and a new YMCA.

To the city’s newest residents, it’s as if the economic doldrums of the 1990s never happened.

Joana Carvalho, lately from Brazil and Ann Arbor, Mich., said she found the small city “amazing.”

She is living downtown with her husband while he works a three-month stint at General Electric. For them, it was the Greenmarket that elevated the downtown to that of a vibrant urban core. The Sunday farmers market offers organic, fresh food that Carvalho said she would expect to find available only in a big city.

“The Greenmarket is amazing for us,” she said, adding that she and her husband were also impressed by the many restaurants — so many that she doesn’t think she’ll have time to develop a favorite before they head home.

“We are having a lot of fun,” she said.

The haves and have-nots

Census figures show little change in population downtown — there are still roughly 4,400 residents, a handful of children and few residential units. But the people living there have changed significantly.

Ten years ago, there were no luxury apartments downtown, only the apartment complexes that still exist. But now some units above bustling businesses are being rented for up to $2,500 a month — quadruple the rent of an apartment in the surrounding neighborhoods. And people are paying. The lofts above Aperitivo Bistro have been occupied for two years, CFO Matthew Mazzone of Mazzone Management Group, said.

The residents in the downtown’s cheapest housing also have changed.

A decade ago, the homeless who stayed at the City Mission downtown were all unemployed men.

Now, more than half of them are women and children. High school students live there, too. And in the last three years, the mission has begun to get more and more residents who have jobs.
“Now it’s the working poor,” said Michael Saccocio, executive director of the City Mission. “Still have a job, still working, still going to school — just crossed over from barely able to make it, to I can’t put a roof over my head.”

There are about 113 homeless people living at the mission’s shelters or in its transitional apartments now, compared with an average of 44 men a night living at the shelter a decade ago.

There are also 21 women and children in the Salvation Army’s shelter downtown, 185 men renting single-occupancy rooms at the old YMCA, and many others who attend day programs downtown for addictions and mental illnesses.

Ten years ago, it was those residents who seemed to be most noticed downtown after the office workers went home for the night.

Although there are even more of them now, they are not seen in quite the same way today.
Through a collaboration between the City Mission and Metroplex Development Authority, homeless residents now work as ambassadors during downtown events. They hold umbrellas for Proctors patrons as they hurry to a show, open doors, give directions and even stop traffic to let crowds cross the street.

They have become so recognizable that some visitors were surprised recently to go downtown and find no one working the crosswalks.

There were no special events that day, so the ambassadors weren’t on duty.

A feeling of success

Many of Saccocio’s residents have also gotten jobs downtown, at local restaurants and new stores.

“They’re beginning to sense this success, that they can fuel it. If that restaurant is successful, it creates jobs. They’re beginning to sense there are pathways and ways for them to contribute in this economic development,” Saccocio said.

Although there are more homeless now, they are less visible because there are simply far more people downtown.

About 10,000 workers flood into the downtown during the day, nearly tripling the neighborhood’s population. At night, thousands of visitors fill the downtown bars and restaurants, as well as its four performance venues.

“Before, there were just not that many people,” said Proctors CEO Philip Morris. “If we were not doing something, there was nobody here.”

Now there are so many events, festivals, shows and other attractions that businesses have begun to stay open later and reopen on weekends.

But still there is little retail downtown — which every resident interviewed cited as the only problem left to solve.

Many said they want a grocery store.

They said that even though there are few residents downtown, a grocery would draw many from the surrounding neighborhoods that are also without stores. They recalled the crowds that used to come downtown to shop decades ago, and said that would happen again if a few stores would take a chance on Schenectady.

For now, the only retail stores opening downtown are niche specialties, some of which fail quickly.

A shop offering Irish goods has flourished, but a video game store closed down within months of opening. Two attempts to sell handmade pottery and beads have recently failed, while a store selling a wider variety of handmade crafts just celebrated its fifth anniversary.

Ready for retail

But more retail is coming, said Metroplex Development Authority Chairman Ray Gillen.
Gillen is largely credited with turning the rust-belt downtown into the bustling neighborhood it is today, with offices and luxury apartments filling the upper floors over stores, restaurants and other ground-level businesses.

Metroplex was created to persuade businesses to come downtown by offering grants and loans, financed by a slight increase in the county’s sales tax. The agency had few successes before Gillen took the helm, but he has been criticized for bringing in bars and restaurants rather than jumping directly to retail.

He has insisted that he had to build the downtown brick by brick — and now he says the area is ready to support larger retailers. Two large spaces, next to Bombers Burrito Bar and the new YMCA, are being shown to retailers now.

“Our strategy is the waves of development: coffee and clubs, arts and entertainment, office and tech, housing, retail,” he said. “We’re following that model.”
And it’s working, he argues.

“This is, in a small way, the same thing that has blossomed in Hudson [in Columbia County] where a clustering of shops has developed,” he said. “Gone are the days where four buildings in a row sat empty for 10 years.”

---

Let's continue to build a great community. 

August 14, 2011 (Schenectady Greenmarket)

If part of your Sunday ritual does not include a stop at Schenectady's Greenmarket then I suggest you find time to take in this little treasure between 10-2.  The market is located, during the summer months, in the heart of downtown Schenectady on Jay Street in front of City Hall.  In addition to the freshesh produce, there is always a little entertainment, today's was a 4 piece band, playing a bit of country music, while I strolled through.  In addition to purchasing my regular produce items, today I tried the Painted Goat's rosemary fig chevre, delicious.  I would say this trip is worth the drive, however, since it is within walking distance for me, I will just say, it is worth the walk!!!

You should stop by. 

August 13, 2011 (Spending the day at home)

The work week is over so who doesn’t love a Saturday?  Although I often enjoy being out and about, today was a great day to relax and it included a cookout at the house with friends Scott & Sue.  When I talk about loving Schenectady, it is also about loving right where I live.  While listening to the crackle of the fire and the trickle of the waterfall on the pond, I realize there is nothing more relaxing than spending a quiet afternoon at home.  Thanks Scott for mowing the lawn!

Want to stop over for a barbecue?

August 12, 2011 (View from Water's Edge)

So it’s Friday night and it is also my friend Megan’s birthday, so together with a group of friends, we decided to head over to the Waters Edge Lighthouse for dinner on the patio.  Waters Edge is just across the bridge from Schenectady to Glenville and has a wonderful venue right on the Mohawk River.  Waters Edge doesn’t take reservations for their patio so we began the evening with drinks at the outside bar and because we were a larger group, it was a bit of a wait but the view while having dinner on the patio was worth it. 

What do you think?

August 11, 2011 (Midtown Tap & Tea Room)

Tonight was my first visit to the Midtown Tap and Tea Room at 289 New Scotland Avenue in Albany and if you haven’t yet visited, you are missing out a great coffeehouse which also has a full bar and serves a full menu.  Now this diet coke girl doesn’t drink coffee but the atmosphere was so charming and relaxing, I am definitely suggesting this as a spot for a relaxing cup. There were several people sitting at the tables with their fingers flying along the keys of their laptops but they still seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere at the same time. 

I was meeting with my friends Peter and Norman to discuss our Wishaphant project which begins with a children’s book, “The Mysterious Lunch at Hope Street Elementary” written by Dr. Peter DeWitt.  The book focuses on healthy choices for children and we would love for you to check out our project at www.wishaphants.com to learn more.  If you have children, we have added a few activity pages to our site that we encourage parents to print and use to create a dialogue with their children to discuss healthy eating and choices.  With childhood obesity being a leading concern, it is the goal of our group to bring these books to children at no cost in order to increase awareness about healthy living and choices.   

August 10, 2011 (Schenectady Chamber business after hours mixer)

Tonight I headed to The Van Dyke Restaurant & Lounge on Union Street for the Schenectady Chamber of Commerce business after hours mixer where I ran into many friends, fellow Rotarians and local business contacts including my new friends from ShopRite -- Ken, Tom, Teresa and Shannon.  ShopRite is opening its first market in this region in nearby Niskayuna and I happy that they are investing in this area and bringing jobs with them. 

I attended this evenings event as a representative of the Schenectady Rotary Club and together with my fellow Rotary Happy Hour Cabinet members, Betty and Carmel, tonight was all about building friendships and camaraderie in the community.  First of all, The Van Dyke is a great location complete with their new Mad Jack Brewery where you can enjoy an array of fresh brewed beers.  Although I am not a beer enthusiast, I have many friends who say they enjoy the taste of locally brewed beers and it is nice to have a brewery right here in our backyard.

Additionally, if you are a local business owner, the Schenectady Chamber of Commerce is an organization you definitely want to become a part of.  The Chamber continues to create a better business environment by promoting this region and continuing to attract local business and encourage their owners to invest in the community. 

Finally and just as important is joining your local Rotary Association.  Although there are several local rotary clubs in this area, I joined the Rotary Club of Schenectady since I live and work in downtown Schenectady.  This Rotary Club was established in 1918 and today continues in their mission to provide humanitarian service and build goodwill and peace.  I joined last year and became a member of their Board of Directors last month and I certainly encourage you to come check out this organization and decide for yourself.    

August 9, 2011 (Jumping Jack's)

Although the sky was cloudy and it was certain to rain in the future, my friend Margaret and I decided to take a chance and run out for some lunch to Jumpin Jack's in Scotia, near Collins Park.  I am sure that if you are from this area or have visited, you have made a stop at this iconic drive in.  It is definitely a place that I remember coming as a child when on field trips from my school days in Gloversville.  During today's visit, I had a fish fry while my friend had the famous "jack burger", complete with coleslaw on top. 

What is exciting about this adventure to Jumpin Jacks is that those behind the counter are extremely efficient while at the same time entertaining.  When it is busy, you seem to shout your order to the person behind the counter by yelling from 3 rows back what you would like.  That person in turn yells to the cooks behind them some variation that they all seem to comprehend.  I believe that a fish fry and onion rings is interpreted to be a "whale" because that is all they shouted after my order and I am hopeful that they were not commenting on my attire or anatomy (yikes).  

If you check out their website for a schedule of events, while having a bite to eat, you can also check out a US Water Ski Show Team practice.  I did that last year and it is a great show.  

To top off my night, I had dinner at friend and fellow rotarian Fred's home featuring his famous pulled pork which I am told takes several days to prepare and smoke. Although his wife Chris did happen to mention after dinner that although the pork is smoked with cherry wood, Fred has been known to take a shortcut and use propane when necessary to get the smoker started, his secret is out. Dinner was topped off with a fabulous blueberry pie that Fred picked up from Lakeside Farms in Ballston Lake, their pies are fantastic.  Fred is so gracious and every year invites the new rotarians and their sponsors to dinner to celebrate their joining of the Schenectady Rotary. A great night with fellow rotarian's! 

August 8, 2011 (SCCC, JLSS and Smart Scholar's program)

As a member and past president of the Junior League of Schenectady and Saratoga Counties (JLSS), today is one of my favorite days because today is the day that JLSS, as part of its Operation Back to School program hands out backpacks and supplies to the 9th grade children who are part of the Smart Scholar's Program at Schenectady County Community College.  We will supply those that completed their first year and are entering their second on August 19th.

Since its inception in 2003 (by then Junior League President Denise McGraw), JLSS's Operation Back to School Program has donated more than 8,000 backpacks and supplies to children in the Schenectady City School District. 

The Junior League ladies packing the backpacks.

What is there to love about Schenectady?  This program and the collaboration between organizations which work together to create a better community.  JLSS would not be able to continue supporting each of these students without our sponsors.  A special thank you to this year's sponsors Huntington Learning Center, Mary Catherine and David White, Stewart's, WGY and Fenimore Asset Management.  I am so very proud to be a part of this collaboration.

August 7, 2011 (Saratoga Polo Association)

Today I am off to watch the Whitney Cup Polo Challenge at the Saratoga Polo Association.  Here I am with friends Mary Catherine, Julie, Denise, and Paula in front of the Lilly Pulitzer jeep. 

This was my very first visit to the Saratoga Polo Association (which was founded in 1898 and is one of the four oldest Polo clubs in the United States), but I can assure you, it will not be my last.  It was very exciting to watch.  I can barely hit a golf ball and watching the polo team hit the ball while riding a horse and swinging a very long club, so very fun!    

This is a great way to spend the afternoon and although club house admission is $25 per person, you can take a more casual approach and enter through the general admission area and pay $25 a carload and tailgate your way through the event.  What fun and right in our back yard! 

August 6, 2011 (Taking a walk)

Saturday morning, woke up early to meet my friend Carmel for a 4 mile walk along the bike trail that begins at Schenectady County Community College.  It is a well-kept blacktopped trail that has mile markers at 1/4 mile intervals and some great views of the Mohawk River.  Generally we walk 2 miles in (there is a cute little yellow building that when I see it, I know means I have made it the 2 miles without checking for the mile markers) and then a 2 mile walk back.  We did this in 61 minutes, yeah!  This is a great way to get your heart rate up while enjoying beautiful views and of course, doing it with a friend, makes it that much more enjoyable. 

Later that morning, after a visit to Latham with friend Julie to pick up a hat for a Saratoga event.  I met some fellow members of Junior League of Schenectady and Saratoga Counties at Schenectady County Community College for some packing of backpacks to distribute early in the week to the Schenectady Smart Scholars Students.  More details to follow on Monday when we distribute the backpacks to the children.

Those activities were followed up with a fabulous lunch with friends Julie and Carmel at Gershon's Deli on Upper Union Street. Gershon's Deli has been in business since 1954 and wow their seafood salad sandwich was amazing.  It is a New York Style Deli right here in town, stop by for lunch and also browse their unique cooking supplies, including sauces from our local Casa Visco company.  Julie surprised us both with a KeyLime bar to take home for dessert, WOW, delicious. 

Do you have a favorite place you like to walk? 

August 5, 2011 (Best Burger?)

Some people wait for the weekends to rest, relax and catch their breath before the beginning of a new week and although I do that occasionally, more often than not, I love to visit with friends and enjoy what is going on around me. 

My weekend began by having a burger with my friend York at one of my favorite burger establishments, The Grog Shoppe on Erie Boulevard.  If you haven't yet stopped over there for a burger, let me suggest the Grog burger, complete with pineapple and special sauce, yummy!  After dinner, I had a movie date with a friend at the Bow-Tie Cinema on State Street.  While the movie "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" was mildly entertaining, it is such a treat to be able to walk to see a first run movie, while sitting in a comfortable seat and if you are interested, you could even enjoy a glass of wine in their movieland cafe prior to the movie.

I am always on the lookout for a good burger, where is your favorite burger place in town? 

Welcome to living in and loving Schenectady!

Hi Everyone! 

So I was speaking with some friends a few weeks ago and one thing that many of us have in common is our love of the area that we live in.  With that in mind, I decided to write about why I love where I live (in the heart of downtown Schenectady) and the surrounding area.  I moved to Schenectady in 2000 and I absolutely enjoy being in this region and would like to share that experience with you. Hopefully along the way you will find some great places to explore, dine, unwind, dance, sing, volunteer, visit and expand your horizon while staying right here in the region.    

Since I believe life is meant to be enjoyed, let’s focus on the positive because as with all things in life, if it’s negative, let’s change it and if it’s positive, let’s celebrate it!  

So welcome to this celebratory blog and please contribute your stories about what is great about where we live, work, volunteer, entertain or just a plain what you love about your life right here at home. 

This photo is one I took last year while hiking through the Plotter Kill Nature Preserve in Rotterdam.