Posted by: David Giacalone | October 26, 2014

the good kind of Stockade cover-up

GreenStTrestlePainting25Oct2014

Many thanks to all the volunteers,* led by Pete Pasternak with Colleen Macaulay and Tom Killeen, who made yesterday’s painting party at the Green Street trestle “Fun for all, benefiting all.”  For now, the tagging/graffiti, rust, etc., that have made the trestle an eyesore for so long has been covered over with a tasteful, piney green shade of paint.

You can see a few photos from the painting party at Colleen’s Facebook page.

– and click here for a Before & After Collage

This Slideshow has a few more scenes from the end of the afternoon. I understand Stacey Lauren-Kennedy from the Gazette came by with her camera earlier in the afternoon, when the sky was blue.  I hope the Gazette puts a shot online and in the newspaper. [update (October 28, 2014): They did a whole story, see “Schenectady ‘somebodies’ repaint eyesore“, Daily Gazette, by Mark McQuire]

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Mr. Google snapped this shot in 2011: GreenStTrestle2011-byGoogleMaps

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* I do not have all the names of the volunteers from throughout the day, but I understand (in addition to Bob, Mike and Jamie) they included: Dale and Owen Miller, Tom Hodgkins and his three hardworking charmers, Matt from Arthur’s Market with his guitar, Keith Dyer, Gloria Kishton, Bill Ackerman and more.  City Councilwoman Leeza Perrazzo came with two young people who were part of her anti-grafitti initiative; they painted the walls.

If I get more names, I will add them to this footnote.

Go here, to read about the Bad Kind of Schenectady Cover-up.

Posted by: David Giacalone | October 20, 2014

a quick look at uncovered trolley tracks

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  Tracks from the old Washington Avenue horse-drawn trolley were uncovered during the long-overdue repaving of Washington Avenue, which began Friday, October 17, 2014.  When I went out this morning to snap a few photos for posterity, I found only one side of the pair of tracks visible, and more than half of it already covered with the new tar.

Nonetheless, the first collage below shows the remaining visible track at the “foot” of Washington Avenue, in front of #5 and #7 Washington Avenue, near the River.  A few minutes after I snapped the photos on that block, all of that uncovered track and cobblestone were again hidden under pavement.

– click on the collages for a larger version, that lets you see the trolley track close-up –

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The second collage shows the visible trolley track on the block between State Street and Union Street on Washington Avenue, a few hours before it, too, was once again hidden.

collage showing uncovered trolley track on the south end of Washington Ave. in the Schenectady Stockdade on 10Oct2014

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You can see a photo of the horse-drawn trolley on Washington Avenue, and learn a bit of its history, in the posting  “Schenectady’s horse-drawn trolleys, 1887 – 1891“, on the weblog of the Grems-Doolittle Library Collections (the Schenectady County Historical Society).

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paving crew tractor on Washington Ave. 17Oct2014

– tractor at Union St. and Washington Ave., seen from the corner of Cucumber Alley –

We had lovely October weather for the repaving, and I hope to be back soon to post a few nice images from what may be the last paving event on this block this century.

 

Posted by: David Giacalone | October 18, 2014

more cemetery reveries

  .  .  .  IMG_6321-002 – northside cemetery lot at St. George’s –

I didn’t have blue skies or major autumn foliage this week, when I revisited the Stockade’s two cemeteries, but I nonetheless found a lot of beauty and quiet serenity by peeking into sections I had not lingered on much in my 25 years enjoying reveries in our neighborhood’s graveyards.  You can see the results in the Slideshow below.  I also decided to incorporate some of the new photos in a second edition of my photobook “Grave Beauty: Cemeteries in the Schenectady Stockade”, substituting for a few of the prior images and making room by removing two “bonus” pages that had featured the Vale Cemetery.

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– facing No. Ferry St. from St. George’s –

– click on a photo for a larger version –

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– [L] St. George’s north; [R] rear of First Presbyterian –

Posted by: David Giacalone | September 29, 2014

Walkabout 2014: once more ’round the ‘hood

Monday morning, no regrets, just a slideshow with a few more memories of the colors and shapes of Walkabout 2014.

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– click here for fifty more photos from Walkabout 2014SCHA26Sep2014b

Posted by: David Giacalone | September 27, 2014

walking the 2014 Walkabout

IMG_6201-001 Yet another Stockade neighborhood event was blessed with beautiful weather today (Saturday, September 27), as the 54th Annual Stockade Walkabout opened 10 homes and many of our finest institutional buildings to to a large group of guests, who purchased tickets for a major fundraiser of the Stockade Association and Schenectady County Historical Society. The following Slideshow offers about 50 photos in the order taken as I walked from the Historical Society on Washington Avenue around the lengthy circuit of stops.

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– entry door at 58 Washington Ave. –

– share this posting with this short URL: http://tinyurl.com/WalkaboutPhotos

– and find more photos in our Monday morning posting and in our subsequent coverage of the 2015 Walkabout.-

You’ll find thumbnail images of the same photos in the Gallery at the bottom of this posting.  Click on those images for larger versions of the photos.

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Many thanks to the Walkabout Committee: Carol DeLaMarter, Sylvie Briber, Diane DeMeo, Collleen Macaulay, Susannah Hand, Karen Malia and Joe Fava.  Learn more details about the Walkabout in the September 2014 Stockade Spy.

Walkabout2014sponsors . . If you have a magnifying glass and a Walkabout 2014 Ticket-Booklet, you might have discovered that perennial Walkabout Sponsor Price Chopper was joined this year by first-time sponsor The Galesi Group.  Enough said here, but see Stop the Schenectady Casino.

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Click on an image in the Gallery below for a larger version of any photo.

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Posted by: David Giacalone | September 13, 2014

9th Golf Ball Drop a Winner

North Country Heli-flite helicopter over the Stadium olf Club for the Famit & Child Service of Schenectady's 9th Golf Ball Drop - 12Sept2114

– scenes from the 2014 Family & Child Service of Schenectady Golf Ball Drop –

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– click to enlarge the photo and see the balls dropping –

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Zach [L] brought a friend

 Family and Child Service of Schenectady, a Stockade fixture since the 1940s, held its biggest annual fundraiser last night (Friday, September 12, 2014) at Stadium Golf Club. I do not know what the financial bottom line will be for the event, but in every aspect I could see, hear and feel as a dinner guest, raffle participant, and photographer, it was a hole-in-one success. Retired Channel 6 anchorman Jack Aernecke was amiable and entertaining as emcee for the evening. The Honorary Media sponsor was Pop Crush 105.7.

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emcee Jack Aernecke

 Nearly a thousand numbered golf balls that had been “purchased” for $10 each were dropped from a helicopter, which was flown by Bruce Mowery of North Country Heli-flite.

As usual, the three balls closest to the pin won this year’s grand prizes.

The results of the 2014 Golf Ball Drop:

  • 1st Prize: Ball #302, Michael Mero – A custom designed blue topaz and diamond pendant courtesy of Sondra’s Fine Jewelry
  • 2nd Prize: Ball #353, Cliff Annis – 50” Flat Screen Television
  • 3rd Prize: Ball #405, Tom Hosey – A “Night on the Town” package featuring dinner and overnight accommodations at the Glen Sanders Mansion, two tickets to a Proctors’ show and other surprises

Later this weekend or early next week, I will fill in details of names and prizes.  At this time, however, I hope you enjoy the 60-photo Slideshow above and thumbnail Gallery at the bottom of this posting (under the fold), which has the same photos for you to click on to see larger versions.

. share this post with this short URL: http://tinyurl.com/GBD2014 .

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. above: Executive Director Bob VanZetta [L]; golf balls dropping.

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Angelo was everywhere . . .

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. . . so were the Shellard Women –

Click on any image in the Gallery below for a larger version:

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Posted by: David Giacalone | September 8, 2014

strolling the 2014 Outdoor Art Show

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Linda Biggers’ exhibit

. . Five hours of strolling, schmoozing and snapping photos at the 63rd Stockade Villagers’ Outdoor Art Show left me with a feeling of satisfaction, and a few hundred photographs to sort through, edit, cull, and select. The sunlight, shadows and blue skies turned the show into a playground for photographers (even the amateurs, like me).  The first result was the posting that went up last night, called “2014: an outstanding art show,” which has a couple dozen photos of the winning artists and their work.  This morning-after submission has over 80 additional images of the art, artists, architecture, assemblage, audience, and ambiance of the 2014 Outdoor Art Show.

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– great weather made for good appetites at St. George’s cookout –

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The photos in the following Slideshow are arrayed in chronological order, from my arrival on Front Street around 11 A.M. until my walk back to my Stockade home a little after 4 PM.  Each of the photos in the Slideshow can also be found in the Gallery at the end of this posting, with thumbnails that you can click on for larger versions of each image.

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Stacey Lauren-Kennedy was assigned to the Show by the Gazette

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 – Jackie Danek in her customary location –

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– Ashley Laper helps out at her Dad, Robert Laper, at his exhibit –

 . . . right next to Steve Kowalski’s display:

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Sharing: Artists may use images of their work for any purpose. All others may use photographs for noncommercial purposes.  Please attribute any photo you use to David Giacalone and suns along the Mohawk.

The Gallery below contains each of the photos found in the Slideshow.  Click on a thumbnail for a large version.

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Posted by: David Giacalone | September 7, 2014

2014: winners from an outstanding art show

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– above: Lawrence with 1st Place Winner by Val Robert; below: Sandra Garlick’s 1st Time Exhibitor winner –

painting by Sandra Garlick, Best First-Time Exhibitor - 2014 Stockade Outdoor Artshow

– click  on a  photo for a larger version –

1oas2014winnerslist  A gorgeous Sunday afternoon in the Stockade was the scene of an outstanding Outdoor Art Show, the 63rd presented around Lawrence Circle. Even our neighborhood curmudgeons kept praising the sunlight and temperature and crowd.

There was a lot more talent and enjoyable art than can fit around Lawrence’s winner Circle.  This might have been the first year when I heard no discouraging words, just appreciation, from the crowd as the awards were presented and displayed. Here is the list of impressive winning art, with examples mixed in:

. . NOTE: go to “strolling the 2014 Outdoor Art Show“, for a posting with 80 more photos from the Art Show –

IMG_5790update: note: Inna Zalucki’s piece was disqualified and is no longer the 2nd Place Winner –

GRAND PRIZES

  •  Val Robert being given the 1st Place Ribbon at the 2014 Stockade Outdoor Art Show by Bill Buell on behalf of the Gazette . 1st Place: Val Robert
  • 2nd Place: Inna Zalucki [disqualified for failure to meet the originality requirements of the Show]
  • 2nd Place: Richard Sacchetti . IMG_5822

–  below: Hon.  Mention selection by Mary Occhiogrosso –

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Mary Occhiogrosso’s Honorably Mentioned piece

HONORABLE MENTION  

  • Mary Occhiogrosso
  • OAS2014-WilliamsBonsai  Vanessa Williams
  • Bonnie White . . IMG_5771-001
  • George Searing
  • Michael Chernoff . .
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    Michael Chernoff’s honorably mentioned piece

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– [L] Oakroom Artists Award winner  by Kevin Kuhne; [R] Best Stockade Depiction by Kenneth  Hawkey –

SPECIAL AWARDS

  • Colangelo Award for First Time Exhibitor: Sandra Garlick
  • Cohen Award: Best Depiction of the Stockade: Kenneth Hawkey
  • Gilliland Award: Oakroom Artists: Kevin Kuhne
  • People’s Choice Award: Alec Acevedo

STUDENT AWARDS

IMG_5865-001 . pair of sculptures by 2nd-place Student winners Ariella Kuhn & Frances Marino

  • Matthew Helms
  • Ariella Kuhn & Frances Marino
  • Jackie Danek

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–  [R] Jackie Danek’s 3rd Place Student winner; [L] 1st Place Student award by Matthew Helms –

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– This slideshow features images around the Lawrence-Winners Circle; they are all included in the Gallery at the foot of thus posting –

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honorably mentioned painting by George Searing

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JamMohCover –

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If you’ve enjoyed these photos of a special day in the Stockade, you might want to take an online look at My Photobooks. The topics are: Our Valentine Pink Flamingos; Ice Jams along the Mohawk; the Stockade’s two cemeteries, and the interesting month of September 2011 –

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Sharing: Artists may use images of their work for any purpose. All others may use photographs for noncommercial purposes.  Please attribute any photo you use to David Giacalone and suns along the Mohawk.

The Gallery below contains thumbnails of all the photos above in this posting. Click on the imagine for a larger version. Artists may use any image of their art for any purpose.  All others may use photographs for noncommercial purposes.  Please attribute any photo you use to David Giacalone and suns along the Mohawk.

Read More…

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