suns along the Mohawk

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A cherry tree is down this evening behind 18 – 24 Washington Ave, here in the Stockade.  But, we can’t blame our mythically-honest, hatchet-wielding President.  The culprit was a line of powerful thunderstorms that swept through the region this afternoon, dropping a lot of hailstones, and leaving thousands without electrical power in Schenectady County (see Daily Gazette, “storm brings wind, hail,” June 15, 2009).  Just two weeks ago, we showed the same tree in front of 1 Cucumber Alley, in our posting about colorful houses here and in Takoma Park.  Compare then and now:

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– front view of 2 Cucumber Alley, May 29, 2009 (l) and June 15, 2009 (r) –

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That tree will be missed by many of us who live (or park or stroll) along Cucumber Alley — for its grace, its blossoms and cherries, and its shade.

Tonight, it is lying peacefully in front of several garage stalls, and I bet quite a few of my neighbors got a surprise when they returned home today and had to scramble to find the Elusive Stockade Parking Space.

While gazing at and bemoaning the loss of the cherry tree, early this evening, we failed to notice the demise of a lovely linden tree in the sideyard of 1 Cucumber Alley.  Around sunset, I was viewing the downed cherry tree with Sylvie Briber, when we turned toward her little riverside cottage and she noticed a strangely diagonal tree trunk.  This afternoon’s wind apparently pushed over the linden tree, which can be seen here, leaning against the side of 1 Cucumber Alley:

– Sylvie and Lollipop survey the damage –

No damage was obvious to either of the affected structures on Cucumber Alley.  I’ve lost far too many of my favorite trees in the years that I’ve lived along the Mohawk.  I guess I need to practice Buddha-like detachment, and simply enjoy and appreciate the trees (and the neighbors and neighborhood) a day at a time.

update (June 21, 2009):  Six days later, the remains of both toppled trees have been removed.  The cherry tree at 2 Cucumber Alley disappeared on Saturday, while Tom Killeen’s crew did a quick job with the triple-trunk linden at 1 Cucumber Alley on Wednesday.  Here are the resulting scenes:

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– the large cherry tree is gone from Cucumber alley –

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– the magical spiral staircase at the rear of 1 Cucumber Alley is revealed, with the loss of the linden cluster this week –

p.s. Although distracted by toppled trees, I did remember to spend a little time enjoying tonight’s sunset (Monday, June 15) at the rear of 1 Cucumber Alley, along the Mohawk River.  Actually, it was even lovelier from that same spot, yesterday evening, June 14, 2009:

– more shots from sunset on June 14, 2009 (some rather strange), here –

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– Polachek Square [Google Map]: N. Ferry, Front and Green Streets, at Lawrence the Indian’s Circle, Schenectady Stockade (photos taken June 13, 2009, by D. Giacalone)  –

– as always, you can click on a photo for a larger image –

Shortly past noon today, after a brief ceremony, a sign was unveiled to make “official” what we’ve known for several decades:  Art Polachek was (and still is) the heart of our Stockade neighborhood, and Arthur’s Market anchors a small plaza that in spirit is Art’s Circle as much as it is Lawrence‘s.  Now, the area in the Stockade Historic District marked by the intersection of Front, N. Ferry and Green Streets has been (unofficially but lovingly) designated Polachek Square.

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– well-wishers listen as Peter Polachek expresses his family’s gratitude (sad update: see “a sunset without Peter” posted August 8, 2009 to commemorate Peter’s too-early death)  –

As the Schenectady Gazette noted this morning (“Plaza to be named for store owner,” by Kathleen Moore, June 13, 2009):

“The man who created a community center in a corner store will be immortalized in steel today in the Stockade neighborhood.

“The plaza in front of Arthur’s Market will be renamed ‘Polachek Square’ today to honor Arthur Polachek, who ran his store not as a businessman but as a father confessor. . . .

“Polachek died on May 23, 2007, at the age of 87.  For most of his life, he lived above the market . . . He knew the name and life story of nearly every customer.  Now they won’t forget his.”

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Today was a great day for the dedication.  It’s the sort of lovely, breezy, blue-sky day, when sitting at a table outside Arthur’s Market with a few neighborhood friends, while watching and greeting others, is especially enjoyable.  It’s hard not to think about sharing a table or a few words with Art, and petting his good old doggie.  I’m glad Joyce and Artur Wachala are working to continue the Arthur’s Market tradition; now, we Stockade neighbors need to keep the spirit alive at Polachek Square.

afterwords (9 PM): It appears there is some controversy over whether the naming of “Polachek Square” is good or appropriate for the Stockade Historic District.  I do not believe that this informal designation in any way detracts from the Stockade as a living neighborhood that is also a Historic District.  Yes, I love the architecture and history, but I want to live in a neighborhood with people who feel like a community, not in a museum filled with memories of its prior illustrious inhabitants.

Bob Gavel wrote earlier today that Polachek Square was his idea several years ago, when a member of the Association’s Board.  He reminds us that “This is an honorary sign.  No existing street names were changed.”  Although it “reflects the space around the circle,” it does not rename Lawrence’s Circle.

. . .  Note: On July 4, 2007, the family and friends of Art Polachek came together in a joyous celebration of his life.  That day, as is the custom in the haiku-poet community to memorialize a beloved friend, I posted at my weblog  f/k/a the Arthur Polachek Celebration — a collection of haiku in his honor by a number of well-known haiku poets. ( It is formatted so that it can be printed on two sides of a letter-size sheet and folded into a tri-fold brochure.)

  Our tagline promises Stockade sundries, and a stroll around today’s neighborhood Sidewalk Sale with Stockade Spy editor (and village sophisticate) Sylvie Briber, and her color-coordinated canine companion Lollipop (a/k/a “Lolli” or “Pops”), produced a few images that cried out for posting here at SAM. [Disclaimer: Our curmudgeonly editor insists you be advised that Cute Pet Posts, as well as Cute Human Shots, will be a rarity at this weblog.]

Stockade Sidewalk Sale Snapshots, June 6, 2009 (as always, click on the photo to enlarge):

Lollipop Shops and Sniffs

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canine cuties on Front Street – David Hawkey’s dog Casey and Lollipop

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– Sylvie models headwear on Washington Ave.-

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the real Sylvie?

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– more doggies and piggies –

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– Sylvie causes shock and awe for Daniel on Washington Ave. –

Blame today’s subject matter on excessive exposure to the sun on this gorgeous late-Spring Saturday in the Stockade.

p.s. Since we’re doing sundries and eschewing sunsets today, can anyone explain this sign, seen near State Street and the Grog Shoppe on Erie Boulevard?  Is this another Schenectady example of “if you put up a sign it will happen?”

update (June 12, 2009):  No one responded to our request for more information about the Scenic Byway, so we dug a little deeper and posted “Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway?” this morning.

. . . in case you’re wondering what the “scenic byway” leading up to this sign looks like, here’s the view.

afterthought (9 PM):  Did I say no sunset shots today?  Forget it.  Here’s a perfect nightcap for a lovely Saturday:

. . . and (Sunday update), the view from the rear of 16 Washington Ave., Sunday, June 7, 2009:

rivermoon
we run
out of words

…. poem by Roberta Beary -orig. pub. in M. H. Siddiqui’s “Season’s Greetings 2009 Letter: Stream – River”, 2008; pub. pending in ‘nothing left to say‘, King’s Road Press, Hexagram Series, Marco Fraticelli, Ed.); photo: David Giacalone

A highlight of my recent trip to the DC area was finally meeting my internet and telephonic friend, Roberta Beary in person.  Because Roberta is a much-honored haiku poet who appreciates moons and rivers (and combinations thereof), I brought her a tee-shirt from the Stockade’s Moon & River Cafe.

In response, Roberta reminded me of the above poem, which will be included in her book being published this summer titled ‘nothing left to say‘, in the prestigious Hexagram Series from King’s Road Press.  Because I don’t have any photos of the moon shining on the Mohawk, I decided to snap one outside the cafe, at 115 S. Ferry St., and turn it into a haiga (image with linked haiku).  Although Owner-Manager-Chef Richard Genest doesn’t use the internet, I hope he’ll see and enjoy this posting.

. . . click for another version of the rivermoon haiga: