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.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
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.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Turning Keys to Education
You’ve heard the struggles facing the Enlarged City School District of Troy. Enrollment is down, expenses are up and there’s a budget shortfall. An old problem has come back again: Declining population leading to declining enrollment. Our efforts to Revitalize Uptown Troy include saving the only public school serving children living north of Hoosick Street. We’ve seen this before in both the Troy and Lansingburgh School Districts. I attended 4 different elementary schools as a child: 2 in Troy, 2 in Lansingburgh. Not one of those school buildings is operating as a public school today.
PS#14 (the original building) was sold to RPI in exchange for our new PS#14. School #1 now serves as the offices for Troy’s Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools. Lansingburgh Elementary is now office space as well. And then, there’s Haskell School. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this wonderful old school building is sitting vacant and unused. Hopes were to convert the old school into apartments, similar to what TAP achieved with the former School 10 in South Troy. Unfortunately, financing couldn’t be secured and the building has languished ever since. Hoodlums and graffiti artists have assaulted its structure.
Haskell sits on Sixth Avenue between 102nd and 103rd in South Lansingburgh on the boulevards. It is sometimes confusing for out-of-towners given Troy has two Sixth Avenues. Sometimes I wish they had just kept the name Vail for the Sixth Avenue in North Central.
Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope. We are also pleased to welcome new CDC partner project Hope Heals.
Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.
PS#14 (the original building) was sold to RPI in exchange for our new PS#14. School #1 now serves as the offices for Troy’s Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools. Lansingburgh Elementary is now office space as well. And then, there’s Haskell School. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this wonderful old school building is sitting vacant and unused. Hopes were to convert the old school into apartments, similar to what TAP achieved with the former School 10 in South Troy. Unfortunately, financing couldn’t be secured and the building has languished ever since. Hoodlums and graffiti artists have assaulted its structure.
Haskell sits on Sixth Avenue between 102nd and 103rd in South Lansingburgh on the boulevards. It is sometimes confusing for out-of-towners given Troy has two Sixth Avenues. Sometimes I wish they had just kept the name Vail for the Sixth Avenue in North Central.
Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope. We are also pleased to welcome new CDC partner project Hope Heals.
Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
An Old Treasured Friend
One of the things I most enjoy is history and it’s one the reasons why I love Uptown so much; It’s full of it. Here, we have an opportunity to be a living record of Troy’s contribution to the Industrial Revolution. The greatest concentration of late 19th century and early 20th century industrial structures still stand in Uptown, sadly most empty and unused. Many of our businesses are gone and we miss old treasured friends like Collins Lumbar, Wheeler Bros Brass Foundry and the Railroad. Our efforts to Revitalize Uptown Troy include seeing these industrial glories restored, renewed and re-purposed.
One of these great structures is at 669 River Street. Former home to John B. Garrett, Inc., it was originally built as the American Seal Paint Factory. I worked in this building for almost a decade and she’s a beaut. John B. Garrett, Jr. appreciated history as well. Going up to the second floor was like entering a medical museum, with a collection of antique medical equipment and instruments. The third floor was even better. One of the big vats used to make paint was still there. The elevator, sprinkler system and fire alarm all original to the building. She now sits vacant a victim of an alleged Ponzi schemer.
Mr. Garrett said that during Prohibition, Canadian booze would be smuggled in from the river through the sub-basement, carried up the elevator to the third floor and hidden in one of these vats. There would always be someone on duty next to the pull that dropped the batch into the Hudson should a raid occur. He never did say they were raided. Troy was quite the distribution center in the bootleg trade.
Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope.
Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.
One of these great structures is at 669 River Street. Former home to John B. Garrett, Inc., it was originally built as the American Seal Paint Factory. I worked in this building for almost a decade and she’s a beaut. John B. Garrett, Jr. appreciated history as well. Going up to the second floor was like entering a medical museum, with a collection of antique medical equipment and instruments. The third floor was even better. One of the big vats used to make paint was still there. The elevator, sprinkler system and fire alarm all original to the building. She now sits vacant a victim of an alleged Ponzi schemer.
Mr. Garrett said that during Prohibition, Canadian booze would be smuggled in from the river through the sub-basement, carried up the elevator to the third floor and hidden in one of these vats. There would always be someone on duty next to the pull that dropped the batch into the Hudson should a raid occur. He never did say they were raided. Troy was quite the distribution center in the bootleg trade.
Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope.
Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Keeping Faith in the Mission
On November 21st, Oakwood Avenue Presbyterian Church held its final worship service. An aged and dwindling congregation recognized its inability to continue supporting the little white church on the corner on its own. These dedicated and spirited members also understood how vital their services and missions were to the community. They vowed to keep the building operating as a community center and reached out to the community for support.
This isn’t the first time the congregants of OAPC have fought to save their church. When the Oakwood and Liberty congregations merged in 1963, they formed the first inter-racial congregation in the country. Then again when their steadfast refusal to concede their church building for construction of the Collar City Bridge. A glowing example of active historic preservation! Thanks to them that bridge doesn’t go all the way up to 15th.
It was through Linda O’Malley’s outreach to TRIP that The Uptown Initiative learned of their need. That little white church is at the gateway of Uptown and serves as our southeast anchoring landmark. Several of our members have volunteered and are serving on the committee that organized this evening’s concert. Tickets are $10 for adults and will be available at the door. Oh, and bring the kids ‘cause children under 12 are FREE. Won’t you join us for Songs of the Season?
Please take a few moments and vote to Revitalize Uptown Troy and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope.
Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.
This isn’t the first time the congregants of OAPC have fought to save their church. When the Oakwood and Liberty congregations merged in 1963, they formed the first inter-racial congregation in the country. Then again when their steadfast refusal to concede their church building for construction of the Collar City Bridge. A glowing example of active historic preservation! Thanks to them that bridge doesn’t go all the way up to 15th.
It was through Linda O’Malley’s outreach to TRIP that The Uptown Initiative learned of their need. That little white church is at the gateway of Uptown and serves as our southeast anchoring landmark. Several of our members have volunteered and are serving on the committee that organized this evening’s concert. Tickets are $10 for adults and will be available at the door. Oh, and bring the kids ‘cause children under 12 are FREE. Won’t you join us for Songs of the Season?
Please take a few moments and vote to Revitalize Uptown Troy and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope.
Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Public Spirit Shines Brightly
Industry remains the spine in Troy’s economic body with public spirit being her soul. As a driving force in the Industrial Revolution, Troy became the fourth wealthiest city in the country at its peak. “Trojans are proverbial for their enterprise and public spirit. Everything which they take hold of "goes ahead". I found this quote from 1897 while researching and believe it holds true today. That public spirit shines brightly through the support we are receiving for our efforts to Revitalize Uptown Troy.
For decades, Geier & Bluhm has resided in one of our majestic and historic industrial structures. Whalen Tent, when given the opportunity to move their business, remained faithful to its roots and chose another historic set of buildings within the same neighborhood. Mcbain Electric seized an opportunity to expand their business also by acquiring and restoring yet another historic warehouse in Uptown. High tech company IEM chose Uptown also, showing their commitment to historic preservation in the way they handled the restoration and re-purposing of long-vacant commercial buildings in the heart of Uptown. For businesses, Uptown is a viable place to be.
Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope.
Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.
For decades, Geier & Bluhm has resided in one of our majestic and historic industrial structures. Whalen Tent, when given the opportunity to move their business, remained faithful to its roots and chose another historic set of buildings within the same neighborhood. Mcbain Electric seized an opportunity to expand their business also by acquiring and restoring yet another historic warehouse in Uptown. High tech company IEM chose Uptown also, showing their commitment to historic preservation in the way they handled the restoration and re-purposing of long-vacant commercial buildings in the heart of Uptown. For businesses, Uptown is a viable place to be.
Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope.
Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Industrious Indeed
It was hard work, determination and guts that made Uptown Troy NY productive industrially. Those great Trojan industrialists recognized the advantages of being located in “middle-ground”. Even more so, they recognized the resource that is the Hudson River. She not only provided them a cost effective shipping, she provided them with hydropower. Magnificent factory structures still line our riverfront today.
Remnants of Troy’s original north/south roadway, North First Street, which was constructed of native cobblestones can still be walked today. You’ll find it just east of The Ale House off of North Street. What is now River Street was once a canal that fed the Hudson’s water through hydro-systems in the sub-floors of the factories. Today easy access to the Hudson River Fishery can be gained two blocks north at the Ingalls Avenue Boat Launch.
The possibility of developing city owned land adjacent to the boat launch into a service area for boaters or a park for residents and visitors alike is an appealing one. I spent my teen years playing in that very area. Needs a bit of cleaning up but is ideally located close to the Federal Dam. My friends and I understand that while we continue working to Revitalize Uptown Troy, so too are we working for the betterment of the whole community of Troy.
Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope.
Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.
Remnants of Troy’s original north/south roadway, North First Street, which was constructed of native cobblestones can still be walked today. You’ll find it just east of The Ale House off of North Street. What is now River Street was once a canal that fed the Hudson’s water through hydro-systems in the sub-floors of the factories. Today easy access to the Hudson River Fishery can be gained two blocks north at the Ingalls Avenue Boat Launch.
The possibility of developing city owned land adjacent to the boat launch into a service area for boaters or a park for residents and visitors alike is an appealing one. I spent my teen years playing in that very area. Needs a bit of cleaning up but is ideally located close to the Federal Dam. My friends and I understand that while we continue working to Revitalize Uptown Troy, so too are we working for the betterment of the whole community of Troy.
Please continue supporting The Uptown Initiative’s efforts and those of our CDC Partners: Albany Jewish Community Center, Project Hope/Fort Edward, WSW Art Farm, Encore Theater, Palace Performing Arts Center and Hannah’s Hope.
Click here to sign up for The Uptown Initiative’s email list and to receive my daily “Uptown Tidbits” email.
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