Sunday, November 6, 2011

Stand Behind Your Product

Opinions are the product of our individual selves.  The seeds are sown in youth by our families, nurtured in our teens by our friendships and ripened in our adulthood by our experiences.  They are colored by emotion - by passion - by experience - by life.  In case you hadn't figured it out yet, I'm a bit outspoken.  I have no problem telling it like I see it and letting people know that it’s me saying it.  I began blogging in April 2010 as a means of sharing my Unique Perspective.  From my first blog Sharing is Good  to Lessons Lost to Life's Too Short , I’m proud of every blog I’ve written. Each blog is the product of my opinion on a particular subject and I stand behind my product.


Besides blogging, I’ve written for TRIP’s bi-weekly Troy Treasures column in The Record, which have been well received.  It’s a great opportunity for me to write about my favorite subject – the history of Troy, my beloved hometown.  Whether writing about neighborhood kids getting together for a reunion, Troy's baseball history, or our Bintz pool at Prospect Park  the history I share comes with my personal take on it and I stand behind my product.
It may sound twisted but I actually like standing behind my product.  If I’m still collecting data on a subject, I wouldn’t declare my opinion.  Why?  It hasn’t been formed yet.  That’s one of the reasons I’ve remained generally silent on the voter fraud debacle.  I read the latest blog entry by Tina Urzan and, boy, I couldn't agree more. If I'm speaking out on something or writing about a subject, the data has been collected and my opinion thus formulated.   I, like Tina, always identify myself when commenting on a digital article at The Record.  Who at this point does not know that The Dartlady is Peggy Kownack? 
I do the same when posting comments on fb pages like Troy NY Memories, Restore Troy NY’s Uptown Neighborhoods, Troy Neighborhoods Action Council or North Central Neighborhood Assn.   In my mind, those that comment without putting their name to it don't feel that they can stand behind their product.  Perhaps they shouldn't be trying to sell it.  My grandmother taught me not to say anything if I had nothing nice to say.  Here's a modern day translation: If you can't sign your name to it perhaps you shouldn't write it.  I stand behind my product.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

What a Month....and I'm not just talking the weather

October's been one heck of a month for me.  Turning 50, Central Little League, Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival Refresh Project, Steven Elisha and Mr. Cello Residency, Gear up for November's Refresh Run,   my Godmother passing, Mom, and Aliz.  It's been a rollercoaster emotionally, an endurance race physically and an awakening experience spiritually. 

Turning 50 - If the first half century is any indication, I'm in for a great journey in the next half century.  I'm looking forward to seeing Halley's Comet again in 2061.  'Nough said.

Troy Central Little League - The league of my brothers and friends as we were growing up, the league I learned the game of baseball and how to teach kids to play it couldn't be lost to today's kids. Having operated the league for 31 years, the outgoing board of directors were ready to shutter the doors for good and sell the fields.  Many of you may have even seen the "For Sale" signs hung out.  Their resignation became effective September 30, 2011.  With support from Little League International and local Little League representatives, a dedicated group of volunteers stepped forward to ensure baseball's continuation in Uptown and on October 19, at the general meeting of the membership, I was elected President for 2012.

Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival - The goal was realized fully on Satuday October 29th when the festival kicked off despite wickedly warmthless weather.  Hours of planning, contacting, connecting, organizing and staffing went into making sure the kids of Troy could have a blast that day.  I'm grateful to the volunteers who stuck it out, to the folks that came to enjoy it and to the vendors that helped make it happen.  So many small miracles occurred on Saturday, it's worthy of a blog all its own.

Steven Elisha and Mr. Cello - In conjunction with the Harvest Festival, my Refresh Grant allowed me the opportunity to bring something truly special to students throughout Troy.  Steven performed for students at the Ark Community Charter School, Susan Odell Taylor School, School 2, Knickerbacker Middle School and Troy Prep.  Each group of students was as unique as the buildings they are being educated in.  Kudos to the administrators of these schools for recognizing the importance of the arts in education and allowing their students to experience a personal performance by a Cello Virtuoso.  This too deserves a blog of its own.

Gear up for November's Refresh Grant run - My dear friend Xenia Allen's project Transform North Central Troy: Restore our American Neighborhood has been selected to compete in this month's campaign.  Given her committments, I've agreed to take "lead".  In otherwords, be prepared to be bombarded on facebook.  We'll be supported in this effort by our friends in North Carolina, We've entered into a formal partnership with SWOOP and National Inclusion Project.  Power caps are no longer in play, so it's up to us to muster as many online and text votes as possible.  Watch for a voting hotlink.

My Godmother - On October 22nd, during the Uptown Clean and Sweep Make A Difference Day project at Central's fields, we received a call letting us know that my dad's sister Joanne Mace had passed away.  She was now at peace, back home.  Aunt Joanne was my Godmother.  We said our farewells on October 26th.

My Mom - Friday, October 28th was a busy day.  It was Steven's first day in residency and the final day of preparation for the Harvest Fest.  My fellow Commando Cleaner Nina Glandz and I shopped our little hearts out at Sam's Club on the 24th and picked up all the burgers and hotdogs.  We dropped all that off with Pastor Willie at Missing Link Street Ministry and told him we'd get the rolls on Friday.  Friday came and while Nina was picking up those, I was meeting the delivery guys with the port-a-potties between Steven's performances.  That's when I got the call.  Mom, who had been suffering from a severe cold for over a week, was headed to the ER.  She was admitted that afternoon and is still at Samaritan as I write.  The cold turned into pneumonia. We're hoping she comes home on Wednesday.

Aliz - Aliz Koletis, a bright-spirited piece of sunshine I call friend, was involved in a terrible car wreck on Saturday after having been at our Harvest Festival.  She was at the festival as a neighbor, a supportive friend and a reporter.  As a reporter for the Parentology Show (airing on Channel 10 Sundays at 10 am)  Aliz was covering the festival for a segment.  She's one tough cookie and I have faith that she'll come through this even tougher.  My heart goes out to her parents who are sitting in a very tough place.  I know.  Been there, done that.  Fortunately, she's progressing well and her test results have been bringing back good news.  Please send out good thoughts for her continued recovery.



Monday, September 19, 2011

I couldn't have done it without you

It's official and I couldn't have done it without you.  In August, I successfully competed in the Refresh Everything Pepsi Program for a $10,000 grant to hold the Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival this year.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me to bring this event back to Troy.  Please join in the FREE family fun on Saturday, October 29.

The festival will be held at the Ross Technology Park from Noon till 5:00 pm.  This year's festival promises to be one not to miss.  The wonderful folks at the ARC of Rensselaer County have offered to coordinate our volunteers and Pastor Willie Bacote of the Missing Link Street Ministry will be manning the grill, serving up our fair fare.

Bring the kids and grandkids down to play some carnival games.  They'll earn tickets which they can use at the Prize Booth, the Bouncy-Bounces, the Obstacle Course and the Sticky Wall. If they'd like, they can get some popcorn or cotton candy with them too.  We'll have arts & crafts and a pumpkin decorating contest.  They could even get an airbrushed tattoo!  There'll be plenty to entertain the adults too with live performances by Tom Techman, Dr. Steven Elisha with Mr. Cello, Museum Guards and Silversyde. 

We'll have raffles this year too, so bring a couple of bucks to take a chance on winning some of the awesome prizes.  All proceeds from the raffles will go to replenishing the stock at Troy's food pantries, assisting families adversely affected by Irene and our local family farms who suffered significant losses.

If you'd like to volunteer your time, a service or a raffle prize, please send me an email.  It took a small city of votes to get the funding.  It'll take a platoon of volunteers to make it a wonderful event. I hope you'll join us.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Now is Not the Time to be Complacent

Irene - who as I write continues to wring out the towel overhead - can't dampen the joy my heart feels because of the incredible steadfast, die-hard, invaluable DAILY votes folks have cast to help me bring the Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival to life this year.  After months of supporting other organizations through the Refresh Everything program, I'm within reach of bringing something to my neighborhood so sorely needed - a full day of FREE family fun.  I'm preparing for the best possible outcome.  There's tons of planning that goes into an event like this and that planning has begun. Vendors have been selected and contacted for estimates and groups are gathering volunteers to man the booths.
 
I've reached out to Jim Blessing and the wonderful staff at The ARC of Rensselaer County to let them know it's looking like a "GO".  Pastor Willie Bacote at Missing Link Street Ministry is putting together his shopping list to ensure a festive menu for the days activities. Tom Techman is warming up his vocal cords and songlist so that he can thouroughly entertain us. Joe over at Jumping Bean Party Rental is sharpening his pencil to allow for the maximum amount of fun and games.  And wait till the kids get a load of the prizes they can get with their stash of tickets won at the games.  The cherry on top? Well that is a special four-day residency by reknowned cello virtuoso and my dear friend Dr. Steven Elisha when he brings his Mr. Cello program to the area.

We're close yet we're NOT there.  This is NO time to become complacent. It is vital to continue voting EVERY day and it will take a small city of daily votes for funding to be realized.  In addition to your online daily vote (logging in with your FB account or direct with Pepsi or BOTH), those of you with texting capabilities get to cast a third daily vote by sending 107824 to Pepsi (73774). Your daily votes coupled with our collective POWER VOTES are the reason we're so close.  Those little yellow Pepsi caps contain the codes we need to solidify funding.  Find them where you can & drop them off at Smoker's Choice in either Troy Plaza or Latham or at Troy Discount Beverage in South Troy.  Tell them The Dartlady sent ya.

Beyond a doubt, the hope of funding would not be possible without the strong support by my partner projects and their supporters. Please continue to cast a daily vote for Angels4Epilepy (107962), Nicholson (107973), Cohoes Music Hall/C-R Productions (100081) and most importantly National Inclusion Project (108169) with your daily votes over the next three days.  That's right.  Only three more days till we know whether our projects will be considered for grant funding. A special shout out goes to Uptown Initiative's Youth Supporting Youth partners from January Project Hope/Ft Edward, who have re-activated their voting machines to help make this festival happen.
Tonight as I've been writing this entry, a section of my old neighborhood was permanently altered. I lived both on top of that hill on Highland Avenue and at the bottom of that hill on Congress Street.  My thoughts and prayers are with my neighbors up there especially those directly affected by the mudslide. For those neighbors not living in Mt. Ida, please send your good thoughts to them as well. With the rain continuing to fall, the risk of further slides and the flooding of the Poestenkill on the southside of the road increases.  Ida Hillers & South Trojans are being evacuated. Stay safe my friends.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Into the Final Stretch

This week is Traver's Week in Saratoga Springs which marks the entrance into the final stretch of the local horse racing season.  Well, the same can be said for my campaign to bring the Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival back this year through the Refresh Everything program. Only 11 voting days remain and the winners are determined by the placement in the ranks as of 11:59 PM on Wednesday, August 31st.

$10,000 is a good sum of money and will allow me to expand on last year's event.  In addition to the Bounce House and carnival games, prizes, food & fun, I'm hoping to bring something to these families that they've never seen before - Mr. Cello.  Most kids in these neighborhoods have never seen a cello let alone heard someone play one.  So happens that Mr. Elisha's mother was an educator in the Lansingburgh School District, teaching string instruments.  His roots are here in Troy and he is happy to offer his program as part of the festival. 

Please support my efforts today by clicking here and casting a vote of support today? Please continue to support my partners at Angels4Epilepsy, Nicholson and National Inclusion Project with your daily votes as well. Most importantly, save or salvage as many of those yellow pepsi caps that you can and drop off at any of our Cap Collection Centers: Smokers Choice in Troy Plaza, Troy Discount Beverage Center in South Troy or High Maintenance, Low Budget Consignment Shop in Lansingburgh.  Remember, together we can.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

We're All in This Together

Today, over 100 people will gather at Troy's Prospect Park to share photos, stories and memories of growing up on Ida Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods.  Many of those neighborhoods have been lost, like Herb Hyde's neighborhood at College and Eighth. Today's picnic is a way for those who lived in these lost neighborhoods to share this part of Troy's history with younger generations who haven't been able to experience them personally.

I became an Ida Hiller later in life, moving onto Congress Street in 1997 just before the dam burst on the Poestenkill. When that dam burst, Miles Blakeborough rallied the neighborhood to take action and the Mount Ida Preservation Association was born. Along with MIPA, Troy's Earth Day activites were also born. Something that started as a neighborhood project has grown into an annual city-wide event. Miles understood that we're all in this together and that if it's good for ANY part of Troy, it's good for ALL of Troy. I have no doubt that he will be with us today in spirit.

Miles continues to inspire me especially as I seek funding to hold the Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival through the Refresh Everything program. It's this inspiration that drew me into partnering with Nicholson Heritage Association, Angels4Epilepy, and the National Inclusion Project. It's this inspiration that drives my support of other groups like The Scott Delforte Foundation & Harrisville Free Library. We're all in this together and it's by working together that our goals can be achieved.  Your continued support of these efforts will help each of us to do just that.

Please save ALL your yellow pepsi caps as they contain codes worth extra votes.  Cap Collection Centers are located at Smokers Choice in the Troy Plaza, High Maintenance, Low Budget Consignment Shop, CAC Woodside and all ARC of Rensselaer County offices.  Codes must be used by September 30, 2011 so get those in asap.  There will also be a collection box for them at today's picnic.  Sure hope you can stop by for a little bit. After all, we're all in this together.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Everyone is Included

At a planning meeting for Uptown/North Central's National Night Out event, I got a bit bent out of shape at what I percieved to be an exclusion of a group interested in participating as volunteers.  As can sometimes happen with me, my passion for the underdog blinded me.  In other words, I jumped when I should have just sat still. In the end, that group was welcomed with open arms and written acknowledgement.

Maybe I'm so passionate about inclusion 'cause so many people I knew were picked on by "the popular" kids in school. Maybe I'm so passionate about inclusion 'cause kids I knew were excluded from activities due to circumstances beyond their control.  Maybe I'm so passionate about inclusion 'cause I'm a Libra.  What ever the reason, it is certainly something I am passionate about. That's why I am so excited to have partnered with the National Inclusion Project while we vie for Refresh Everything grant funding to hold the Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival again this year.

The National Inclusion Project serves to bridge the gap that exists between young people with disabilities and the world around them. They partner with communities and inclusive programs creating awareness about the possibilities that inclusion can bring.  For me, this is a perfect partnership given that The ARC of Rensselaer was instrumental in getting last year's festival up and running.

Please continue to support my efforts to bring the Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival back this year with your daily votes along with my partner projects National Inclusion Project,  Nicholson Heritage Association and Angels4Epilepsy. Please remember them when voting too. Cap Collection Centers are established at CAC Woodside (a previous grant recepient), High Maintenance, Low Budget Consignment Shop, Smokers Choice in the Troy Plaza and all ARC of Rensselaer County offices. Save those yellow caps and drop off to any location when ya can. Voting continues until August 31st.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Being an Active Member in your Community

For those who know me, they know my passions run deep and I can get fired up when they become inspired. If I sense an injustice or feel someone being attacked that can't defend themselves, I'm right there looking out for them. I could blame it on being the oldest of six siblings. Truthfully, I was just born that way. I look out for the underdog. I stand up for what I believe is the right thing to do. I speak up, speak out and take action. That's why I'm seeking this Refresh Everything grant. The families in my neighborhood NEED access to family fun activities. 

Way back in 1982, there was a massive flood in Ft. Wayne, Indiana - my son's father's hometown.  John Mellencamp did a benefit concert that summer to help raise funds for his neighbors and their communities.  He saw a need and knew a way he could help. For me, he's one of the greats.  His music is insprirational.  His Cutting Heads album is one of my favorites.  There's a line in his song Peaceful World that inspires my work in my community - "It's what you do not what you say. If you're not part of the future, then get out of the way."  Yeah, I say plenty, that's for sure and I do plenty too.

Please continue to support my efforts to bring the Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival  back this year with your daily votes. I've partnered with two incredible projects Nicholson Heritage Association and Angels4Epilepsy.  Please remember them when voting too. Cap Collection Centers are established at CAC Woodside (a previous grant recepient), High Maintenance, Low Budget Consignment Shop, Smokers Choice in the Troy Plaza and all ARC of Rensselaer County offices.  Save those yellow caps and drop off to any location when ya can.  Voting continues until August 31st. 







Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The Sacred Disease

When I was about 14 I witnessed an epileptic seizure while waiting for a bus. One of the men suddenly convulsed, fell to the ground and began to foam at the mouth. Fortunately someone there knew what to do, sticking something in his mouth to prevent him from swallowing his tongue. Within moments, his shaking stopped and all that remained of the episode itself was the nasty bump on his head where it had hit the concrete sidewalk. It was a frightening experience.

The ancients referred to Epilepsy as the Sacred Disease believing that seizures were either attempts by demons to possess humans or a means of punishment inflicted by the gods.  Given the limited knowledge of the human body at the time, it is understandable why they held such beliefs.  Hippocrates, the father of western medicine, believed otherwise.  He held that there was nothing sacred about the seizures and that there manifestations were purely psychiological in nature. He worked to remove the stigma just as the Epilepsy Foundation works today to do the same.

Approximately 125,000 people here in the US are diagnosed annually with Epilepsy. It is not a single disorder but rather a syndrome with vastly different degrees of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Although most common in children and the elderly, it can occur to anyone at anytime. Some people with Epilepsy will simply stare blankly for a few seconds while others will suffer grand mal seizures. In most cases, Epilepsy is controlled with medications. Although a diagnosis of Epilepsy may prevent a person from driving or operating heavy machinery, it shouldn't prevent them from participating in life.

Bud Abbott, Danny Glover & Ward Bond each suffered from recurring seizures yet had fulfilling acting careers. Neil Young, Lindsey Buckingham and Prince too are epileptics. I recently met a 10 year old boy who said he couldn't play baseball because of his Epilepsy.  Well, it didn't stop Grover Cleveland Alexander, Buddy Bell or Tony Lazzeri from playing so I don't see why it should stop him.

Along with the Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival, please continue to support my partners at Angels4Epilepsy and Nicholson Heritage Association as together we vie for Refresh Everything grant funding. Voting is open till August 31. Cap Collection Centers have been opened at Smokers Choice in the Troy Plaza, High Maintenance, Low Budget Consignment Shop and all The ARC of Rensselaer County locations.



Monday, August 8, 2011

NY-PENN Connection

Troy is rich in history, we all know that, but did you know that Troy was home to one of the first rail lines in the country? Incorporated in May of 1836, the Schenectady & Troy Railroad began operation in the fall of 1841. The road itself was constructed by the City of Troy.  All that remains in Troy is a section of the roundhouse once used to turn the engines around and lots of old photos. It's this rail history that drew me into partnering with Nicholson Heritage Association this month as we both vie for funding through the Refresh Everything program.

Nicholson, PA is fortunate enough to still have their 1849 railroad station.  I sure wish Troy still had her Union Station.  She was a beauty.  Each of my parents grew up on Eighth Street near Rensselaer Street just south of the roundhouse and have clear memories of the trains traveling through their childhood neighborhood. And although they stopped running years before I was born, the tracks remained.  I spent many an hour playing with my friends along those old tracks up by the coal shoots.  In the early 80's the tracks were covered and the Uncle Sam Bikeway was born.

Please continue to support my efforts to bring the Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival back to Troy this fall with your daily votes as well as supporting my partners at Nicholson Heritage Association & Angels4Epilepsy.  Another way to help is to collect yellow pepsi caps and dropping them off at one of our Cap Collection Centers such as CAC Woodside or High Maintenance, Low Budget Consignement Shop.


Sunday, August 7, 2011

Help Bring Back the Troy Community Harvest Festival

Last year The Uptown Initiative along with The ARC of Rensselaer County, Missing Link Street Ministry, TRIP, Ross Valve & SEFCU sponsored the first Troy Community Harvest Festival.  It was a ton of work and took many volunteers to make it the extraordinary success that it was. So when I heard that The ARC would not be spearheading an effort to hold the event again, I decided to see if I could get some funding through Pepsi's Refresh Everything program. Here we go again!

Millions of dollars of funding has been provided to thousands of worthy projects in the last 18 months that the program has been running including grants to CAC Woodside, Cohoes Music Hall & Hannah's HopeTroy BID made an excellent run at funding too in January 2011, falling just short.  Well, I'm happy to report that the UptownTroyFestival is within range of getting that funding.  It's early and August is a long month.  As Ken Zalewski, D-District 5 said Thursday night at the City Council meeting, it will take a small city worth of daily votes to get this project funded.  I believe that Troy NY is just that small city.

There are some changes to the program this year, mainly those little yellow caps containing Power Vote Codes.  It is those Power Vote codes that have gotten many a small project funded this year.  To help in collecting those codes, Cap Collection Centers have been set up throughout our fair city. You can drop off your caps at Smoker's Choice in the Troy Plaza, High Maintenance, Low Budget in North Lansingburgh, any The ARC of Rensselaer County office, Missing Link Street Ministry on 101st & Sixth Avenue or Conway Court off of Hoosick.  I'll be adding more CCC's as the month progresses, so keep a watchful eye out for the new additions. If you'd like to set up a CCC at your location, let me know.

I've also been fortunate enough to partner with two incredible projects: Nicholson Heritage Association is seeking to preserve their 1849 Railroad Station and Angels4Epilepsy who provides care packages to children afflicted with Epilepsy from low-income families.  Please support these groups with your daily votes too. 

Thursday, July 14, 2011

It's a Damn Shame

As a registered Democrat, I was heartily disappointed when the Democratic committee selected Clem Campana to run for mayor over Lynn Kopka.  Don't get me wrong, I like Clem, I really do.  He's a great guy but he never had a chance of beating Carmela, NEVER.  Not with voter fraud hanging over his head.  Kopka, clear in the voter fraud issue, was the PERFECT candidate to take on Carmela. It's a shame that the committe members were too blind to see that.  A damn shame.

As for the debacle of Jerry Campana's placement into Conway Court, I've already made my opinion of that clear.  THA is currently Republican run.  The Campana family didn't "pull in a favor" to get Jerry placed.  I have said and continue to believe that some republican operative or operatives saw it as an opportunity to put the  proverbial "nail in the coffin" of his mayorial campaign and that's just what happened.  How shameful. Damn shameful.  Do I think Carmela had anything to do with it? NO.  I think some low level Republican flunky saw it as an opportunity to earn brownie points and pulled this stunt without her knowledge.  If I were Carmela, I'd be pissed because it makes her look bad. That's a shame too.

Now the Dems have to figure out who they can run that has a shot at winning.  Maybe Bill Dunne.  He's clear of voter fraud and term limited off the council.  Then again if I were Bill I'd run for the hills before I'd run for mayor.  Hey, here's an idea.  Why don't they endorse Jack Cox, Jr's candidacy?  He's planning an independant campaign anyway and it would save the Democratic Committee the trouble of trying to talk someone else into a losing proposition.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Somethings Just Not Right

When talking senior housing, there’s only two ways apartments open up: someone dies or someone is moved into a skilled care facility.  It is not standard for seniors to only wait a few weeks for an apartment.  My aunt waited over 7 months for her placement into Kennedy Towers , considering herself lucky at that.  She’d been told that the wait could be as long as 18 months.  Troy politics has always been a little on the nasty side.  Personal attacks are nothing new is this arena.  Targeting a candidate’s family, however, isn’t usually part of the play book.  Until now. 

I wouldn’t expect the Campana family to be familiar with the standard processes and procedures for placement into one of THA’s senior complexes.  I fully expect the staff at THA to be familiar with the federal requirements and to properly apply them.  Something’s just not right at THA and its been just not right for far too long.  There’s house cleaning that needs to be done there.  I sincerely hope that HUD performs an in-depth investigation into THA’s operations.  At the very least, all applications approved by the woman who approved Jerry Campana’s application should be reviewed to see how many others she may have erroneously placed. 
Whether the Campana Family was misled by Troy Housing Authority staff or that staff chose to ignore the federal requirements, is yet to be seen.  The anonymous tipper should not have singled out Jerry Campana in the complaint.  The complaint should have been broader.  Personally, I think someone saw this as an opportunity to create political havoc for Clem Campana’s mayoral campaign. It sickens me to think that a dedicated, hard-working, inspirational 80 year old veteran may have been used as a pawn in a political game and that’s just not right.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The Basis of a Civilized Society

The basis of a civilized society is respect.  Thinking back to raising my son, I wonder which of us taught the other more.  With Boy, it was a constant struggle.  He brought me consistency and cultivated my patience while I taught him the value of respect through the game of baseball.  “Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself.” Became “If you wouldn’t like it, don’t do it to someone else.”  Pretty basic.  Pretty simple.  Pretty necessary for a civil society.  Pretty missing these days.  It’s ALL about respect and teaching respect is every one’s responsibility.
 
I take the time to talk to kids as I make my daily rounds.  I ask them questions and sometimes question their behavior.  Such happened the other day.  I was heading out to pick up Hubby and what do I see but a couple of young boys throwing pieces of broken asphalt at the stop sign at Eighth and Middleburgh.  Two were tossing and two were on bikes.  Me being me, I had to say something so I pulled over, and called to them through the open passenger window.  Those boys knew they were snagged.
“What are ya doing?”  In unison, the two boys on the bikes said, “I didn’t throw nothing.”  The other two boys, eyes fixed to the ground just shrugged.  “Can you see if there are cars coming down the hill from where you’re throwing?”  “No ma’am.” said the younger of the two tossers.  “What do you think would happen if you hit a car with one of those things?” “We’d get in trouble.” said the older boy.  “Yes you would.  Now what if someone hit your mom’s car like that.  How would you feel?”  All four boys responded, like a quartet, that they’d be really mad. “So, do ya think ya should be throwing rocks at the sign?”  “No ma’am.” “Then don’t do it, okay?  Go have some fun down at the park.”
As I pulled away, those boys were smiling not because they got away with something but because they didn’t.  They saw their actions in a different way.  All I could think about was how accurate that one kid was and that he’d make a great pitcher, which made me think of the now defunct Central Little League.  I grew up at that ball field.  It was the center of my summer world.  I am very displeased with the stewardship it has been shown and continue to work towards a positive resolution. 
My Uptown Kids NEED what baseball can give them.  It once was and can be again a central gathering spot for our community.  All four of those boys were under 12.  All four of those boys should have something more constructive to do with their time.  All four boys need some guidance in their lives.  All four boys are valuable assets in the community and must be given every opportunity to show their stuff. 

Thursday, March 3, 2011

It's a Respect Thing

A year ago, as I stood in front of my neighbors during the March 2010 NC/SL Neighborhood Associations meeting, I vowed to actively work towards the resurrection of our neighborhood through education and preservation. Shortly thereafter, I joined with Xenia Allen, Kevin McCashion and Billie-Jean Greene to form The Uptown Initiative. Each of us brought passion, dedication, emotion and action along with our personal beliefs and vision too. To say that we are diverse in our convictions would be accurate, yet we find common ground where the revitalization of North Central and South Lansingburgh are concerned.


As the native of the bunch, I bring the history. Not only my own but my ancestral history too. It’s this history that fuels my passions. The Bloody 13th has plenty of history to share. As I continue to research my ancestral history in Troy, I’m continually brought back to the old 13th Ward and intertwined with that history is the industrial history that abounds throughout North Central and South Lansingburgh. I firmly believe that It is the preservation of that history that will restart Uptown’s economic engines.

I don’t know about anyone else but I’m sick and tired of other Trojans snubbing their noses at Uptown. RPI’s “unwritten” rule about students not residing north of Hoosick, Trojans who wouldn’t “commute” to St. Pat’s, and commercial real estate agents steering clients away from Uptown properties. Enough already! Figure it out folks – If it’s good for ANY part of Troy; it’s good for ALL of Troy! You want your property taxes lower? Increase the tax base. A great way to start that is to get ALL of the properties throughout our fine city back on the tax rolls and into the hands of owner occupants. That includes our industrial wonders. I’m one Real Citizen of Troy that is thankful Mr. Christopher has been able to persuade investors towards Uptown properties.

Our neighborhoods have the reputation of being “the worst” Troy has to offer. Streets unsafe and crime rampant, requiring an increased police presence. Ya know, I remember a time when that wasn’t necessary. Why? ‘Cause cops like Bill Foy lived here. Officer Foy and his family lived on Sixth across the street from where the Sub-Station is now. Another officer lived over on River. I dare say if that were the case today, that’s all the increased police presence that would be needed. Hey, here’s a thought…Detroit is offering their police officers homes for $1,000 bucks to live in certain neighborhoods. One thing’s for certain the City of Troy owns plenty of properties that could be made available similarly. Could work in more than one way, couldn’t it?

Which than leads me to perhaps the biggest difference I’ve noticed since I was a kid: the lack of respect. It’s kinda hard to see these days. Did we stop teaching it? Back then, we had respect - Respect for our neighbors; Respect for other people’s property; Respect for our elders; Respect for each other; Respect for ourselves. I’m not seeing a whole lot of respect going around these days and it IS all about respect. I don’t know about anyone else but I clearly remember being taught the importance of respect. We youngest of the Baby Boomer generation are perhaps the last batch of kids that truly were. Is it coincidental that we are also amongst the last group of children “forced” to attend church?

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Someone Needs a Little Grounding

I am a woman of strong passions. Sometimes that's a blessing and other times, well, not so much.  A tad emotional (I'm the family drama queen), I've occassionally managed my emotions inappropriately. Yet haven't we all?  When we humans make a decesion based on a dark emotion, we usually make the wrong one.  Any decision made based on one is bound to create escalating difficulties.  Managing anger is the hardest.  For me to do so I had to learn patience, something I was not gifted with.  Those "wonderful" adolescent years raising my son taught me the necessity of it.  My son gave me the grounding that I needed to have just as I grounded him. 

Being patient with emotionally charged behavior - a signature of adolescence - is something I never learned though, including my own.  I have become increasingly frustrated with the behaviour eminating from the office of the Mayor of the City of Troy.  Personally, I think someone needs a little grounding.  It is no secret in local politics that I am not a fan of Troy's current mayor, the Honorable Harry Tututjian.  Politically a registered Democrat, I'm moderate; liberal in some ways and conservative in others. I don't always agree with Mr. Dunne yet I respect the way he has consistantly conducted himself and has represented his constiuents during his term.

The animosity between the mayor and myself is well established, yet I supported his decision to seek the demolition of One Monument Square.  Since I'm ardently in support of saving Troy's heritage through historic preservation, you might find that support strange.  Do you remember what was torn down to put the Concrete Monster up?
 
As a Real Citizen of Troy, I find our mayor lacking in certain behavorial controls.   He has continually allowed his emotions to inform his decision-making process, evident when he insisted that demolition begin on New Year's Eve while knowing that the law required Asbestos Abatement prior to the onset of any demolition.  He will only listen to what HE wants to hear.   If your opinion of a situation differs from his, he will respond in an adolescent manner.  He becomes defensive. Anyone who has had to oppose his views knows this to be true.

There are consequences to actions.  Unless one is taught that lesson, one is unable to understand the impact made upon others by such actions.  Harry Tutunjian personally should be held financially responsible for any fines his irrational and emotionally charged behaviour has generated. SHAME ON YOU MR. MAYOR. You need to be grounded!  Let's start with you footing the bill for the fines the tax paying residents of Troy will incur due to your immaturity.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Together we can make it happen for Downtown

Want to take an active role in Troy's revitalization?  Then vote daily for the Troy Downtown Collaborative's Refresh Everything project.