A few thoughts as winter rapidly approaches

I went to the Oklahoma Training track last week, just after it closed, and there was a sad and almost eerie feeling there.  The place was so empty, indicating that winter was not far off. The good news is that Christmas is coming and spring really isn't that far off, and winters here can be fun as well.  I just had a few minutes of sadness seeing the track so empty.  Meanwhile, here are a few more of my thoughts I've had recently:

• Speaking of eerie experiences, have you ever read the blog White Street Times?  It's just so freakin' wierd and off the wall.  Perhaps I just don't get it  -  kind of like Monty Python when I was 8 years old.  The blogger doesn't post too often, but I have this mysterious appreciation with him/her.  Who is it?  What the hell is he talking about?  There is clearly a Saratoga angle to it, with posts like "Across 73 Webster Street" and "Travers Week Rap". 
• I have a suggestion for a slight addition to the signs leading into the Spa City.  How's this for an accurate welcome:  "Welcome to Saratoga Springs - Health, History, Horses, and Squirrels".  OK, not exactly what the Chamber of Commerce wants to tout, and it lacks the repetitive 'H', but it would be accurate nonetheless.
• Did you know that Peppers Market on Lake Avenue is for sale?  Well now you do.  Here's the listing. 
• Holy diversification Batman!  Plum Dandy will soon be serving sushi!  Thank God for that - we all know about the dearth of Asian restaurants in town.

      

• I've noticed on two separate occasions in the past year evidence of the recent cutting and removal of large trees in front of Siro's Restaurant on Lincoln Avenue.  I wrote about one of them and posted pictures here.  Then yesterday I noticed workers cleaning up after the cutting and removal of a large tree between Empire State College and the Skidmore Apartments (photo below).  I understand the need for removal if these trees are dying and/or rotted, but I wonder if that's the reason.  These trees are irreplaceable and add to the beauty of our city.  Does the city have a regulation on removal of these wonderful trees, or can anyone cut down a towering 100 year old tree just because they feel like it?  I can't help but wonder.  Matt Veitch - here's your cue to comment.

 

• I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, but Fasig-Tipton has already announced the dates for next summer's Saratoga thoroughbred sales.  The select yearlings sales will be August 8 and 9, and the NY bred sales will be August 13 and 14.  There, now you can sleep at night.
• It appears that back in September that the Saratogian quietly promoted Kyle Leach to sports editor to replace the departed Andrew Bernstein.  When Bernstein was promoted to sports editor around the first of this year, the Saratogian published an article on it.   There is no similar article for Leach, at least that I caught.  I don't know the details surrounding Bernstein's departure, but it seemed sudden and rather quiet.  He wrote on his blog Good Bye Blue Mondays  that he has recently taken a new job in Pennsylvania for Bicycling Magazine.  I wish him luck in his new endeavor.
• Note to Spa City Pizzerias - if my pizza is going to be cooked and ready in less than 20 minutes, please don't tell me "30 minutes" and stick me with a lukewarm pie.  It has happened so often that from now on if they tell me "three hours" I'm still going to show up in 15 minutes, knowing it will be just about ready. 
• When I was on my honeymoon, the Saratogian wrote an article about the graffiti on "The Pink Palace" near my home on Union Avenue.  I wrote about that subject last year, but other than a limited cleanup of the overgrown weeds, not much has been done there.  The article was based on a complaint that I made on the SeeClickFix web site that the Saratogian has partnered up with, and I appreciate our hometown paper for doing their part to address this problem.  I still don't like how Skidmore College more or less dumped it off on an absentee landlord and forgot about it.  I hope they at least offered it to Empire State College, which has maintenance staff next door and would have perhaps even removed the unsightly building by now.
• I enjoy reading Marcia White's blog on the T-U web site.  She wrote a post earlier this month entitled "Why the Arts Matter" and I am linking it here.  
• Did you catch Andy Rooney's commentary a few weeks back about his experiences at Saratoga Race Course?  It was an enjoyable piece from America's favorite curmudgeon.  I'll embed it below.

That's about it for now folks.  Have a great and safe Thanksgiving!

Comments

[ljk]

I was amused that Rooney says he saw Man O War. If he did he was cradled in his father's arms. In fact it's amazing that visiting only one day a year, he saw all the great horses run.

[Dan]

Well good call on both counts, but heck, the guy is 91 years old, so if he embellishes a little or is a little fuzzy on the details, I'll let him slide. Take care.

[Matthew]

Hi Dan-

I have no Idea who removed those old trees, were they located in City Right-of Way? Sometimes line-of-sight issues with traffic will facilitate removal of an old tree that is an obstruction.

I would call Skip Scirocco to see what might be the reason. I agree trees should only be cut if there is a true public safety issue or if the tree is dead or about to die. Cutting an old healthy tree takes decades to replace.

Congrats to you!

[Dan]

Well thanks Matt for the congratulations and the assistance. That tree was well off the road, somewhere along the property line of Empire State College and Skidmore Apartments, so sight lines weren't an issue. I will give Skip Scirocco a call or perhaps an email and see what he says. Thanks!

[andrew bernstein]

Dan, I've never read your blog before, and don't really know how my career is fair game for a blog that appears to be mostly about entertainment. Still, I do appreciate your well wishes, even though you should have emailed me if you really want to express any sentiments. As it happened, a friend alerted me to this post. Otherwise, i would not have seen it.

For your information, leach was a new hire, not a promotion. He has given notice and will leave in a few weeks.... being sports editor at the saratogian is not something I would wish on anyone.

[Dan De Federicis]

Andrew:

I always appreciate people commenting and sharing information, even if they may disagree with what I choose to post. The clarification and added information on Kyle Leach is appreciated.

Saratoga Springs is a city that has a significant portion of its history, present, and future based on sports, namely of course both thoroughbred and harness horse racing. Because of that, The Saratogian's sports editor is arguably a high-profile position, at least at the local level. The comings and goings in that position is of significance to this blog, which has as its subtitle "One resident's views on living in and visiting Saratoga Springs, NY". A person could visit Saratoga Springs for 5 hours in August, and the one publication they would most likely encounter would be The Pink Sheet. Your departure, in my opinion, was newsworthy.

You asked if information on your career was "fair game", but that information was already posted by you on your blog, which is accessible to anyone on the planet with internet access. On September 13th you wrote "Yes, for almost as long as I've written this blog I've worked at The Saratogian. No longer. Labor Day was my last day at work there (ironic, I know.)" Then you posted your resume in the entry, and had subsequent entries including information on your job search, personal thoughts along the way, and ultimately a link to the press release that your current employer sent out upon your hiring. Those disclosures by you, along with the fact that the Saratogian position you left has a certain importance here in Saratoga Springs, certainly makes it fair game, at least at the level of a local blog.

I meant it when I wished you well. We did meet once and discussed my blog briefly - but obviously you met a lot of people in your position so I understand if you don't remember me or the blog. I mostly wish to thank you for sharing the insight on what apparently are the frustrations of working at The Saratogian, especially in the position of Sports editor.