Contents
Everyone Welcome to the Annual Stockade Tree
A
Visit to Nijkerk
Stockade Association Minutes
Highlights from Stockade Association
Board Meeting
Highlights from General Meeting Thursday,
November 8, 2001
At The Mohawk Club
Did you see?
Tidings
Lighting Ceremony & Holiday Reception Sun., Dec. 2
Stockade residents are invited to attend the Annual Tree Lighting
at Lawrence the Indian on Sunday, December 2, 2001 at 5:00 PM. We will have the
Blessing of the Tree by Reverend McSwain, Pastor at St. George’s Church.
Christmas carols by candlelight will be performed by In Good Company a trio of Donna Allard, Sylvie Briber and Vesta
Sager. Newly elected County Legislator and Stockade resident, Karen B.
Johnson, will be guest speaker. Richard Brown will ring the bells as our Town
Crier at 4:30 PM to alert the neighborhood of the event. A reception will
follow in the Great Hall of St. George’s Church on Green Street.
The tree was donated by Bruce Jordan, Ron Chard, and
Jennifer Wells and is in place and decorated thanks to
the efforts of Jim and Emily Klotz, Peter Rumora, Tom
Killeen, many neighborhood volunteers and the men from the City of Schenectady
Department of Parks. Colleen MacAulay will be in charge of the Children’s Table
and activities. Her daughter, Elizabeth MacAulay, 4th grade student at St.
John the Evangelist, will be lighting the tree.
Emily Klotz and Connie Colangelo are co-chairing the Tree
Lighting events for the Stockade Association. The reception at St. George’s
Hall will be held immediately following the ceremony at the tree. Everyone is
encouraged to donate finger foods for the reception and to bring them to St.
George’s Hall anytime after 3:00 PM on Sunday, December 2nd.
-Connie Colangelo
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A Visit to Nijkerk
Schenectady’s Sister City - Malcolm Willison
In
the middle of June, with a bad chest cough, I was to take one of the speedy
Dutch intercity trains to Nijkerk, Schenectady’s sister city, from Utrecht,
where my wife
and I were living this spring. Unfortunately, a distracted train driver
side-swiped another train just north of the station, which stopped all rail
traffic. I finally got to Nijkerk over the flat, green Dutch countryside only
by mid-afternoon. There was my new Nijkerk friend, Rob van Tongeren - we went immediately
to have tea and chocolates with his wife, Marie, on crutches from a recently
broken ankle. Luckily, before that, we had met by chance at a Japanese
restaurant in Utrecht, which had been Rob’s hometown before he married Marie
and moved to Nijkerk.
Rob took us for a drive around the area - over into Flevoland,
the recently dried polder in the former Zuider Zee, over which Arent Van Curler
probably sailed for America. We returned up the canal, past a lock that permits
boats to still come up to Nijkerk’s long quay to its new dockside industries.
The town itself is small and tidy (much cleaner, for example, than Utrecht,
which can be filthy). We drove down some of the downtown streets, mostly now
traffic-restricted, and lined with old houses and mansions. Marie was actually
born in an old corner house, now an electronics shop; we saw other old
buildings changed into contemporary stores. Marie commented that much else from
her childhood has been torn down and replaced altogether. But we stopped at the
handicapped children’s school, originally founded by Nijkerk worthies, who
included a “Van Rensseler.” Indeed, there are at least four ways of spelling
that name, which is very common in Nijkerk, I was told. We circled the little
Catholic enclave in one corner of downtown, its brick church, old persons’
home, hospital, and school all quite recent. We had dinner in the fine
restaurant that looks across the canal to the 18th century City Hall, with its
very modern additions.
At
7:30 in the evening, the van Tongerens delivered me to the city historical
society, Oude (Old) Nijkerk, where I was to meet its president, Timo Ridder,
and Dr. Jan van de Kuinder, of the Stichting Nijkerk-Schenectady. As its
president, his name had been given me by Anneke Bull of the Schenectady sister organization,
and on very short notice he had kindly invited me to meet him in Nijkerk. The
two men took me across the Street into the 16th century Grote Kerk (Great
Church) where, they said, Arent van Corlaer, as he was then known, had gone to
Reformed Church Services as a child. In 1909 the Historical Society in
Schenectady had put up a large bronze plaque to commemorate the link to
Nijkerk. (The newest suburb is named for him.) Incidentally, the church tower
has a very large carrillon of bells that are played for an hour every Saturday;
it is also rung at 10 AM on Mondays in a traditional farmers’ tune to show
appreciation for their help in rebuilding the tower after a fire had destroyed
it many years ago. Afterwards we went through the museum of Oude Nijkerk, and
also looked at Susan Staffa’s manuscript. We walked to City Hall, where there
are two glass cases filled with Schenectady-Nijkerk memorabilia and mementos;
we also peered through a window at the painting presented to Nijkerk of the
present Gateway Bridge and the Community College in the former Van Curler
Hotel. When I left Nijkerk at 10 PM it was still light (Midsummer’s Night was
almost upon us; the Netherlands is much farther north than Schenectady), and I
could see the tower of the church as the train rolled away.
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Tuesday, November 6, 2001
Joe
Fava called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm in the offices of Feibes and
Schmitt. It was announced, with much disappointment, that Jennifer Wells had resigned
from the Board.
Sylvia
Briber and Lyn Gordon reported that since Anne and Joe Bernat were leaving,
we had to revamp Walkabout organization. Sylvia and Lyn will co-chair the 2002
Walkabout with help from Helen Giulietti. The theme next year will be “Famous
People of Old Schenectady.”
John
Samatulski described the work of the Downtown Schenectady Improvement District.
He suggested that DSIC become a partner with the current sponsors of the
Walkabout and undertake to make more money by enlarging it to include other
events in downtown Schenectady.
The
Board expressed great interest and discussions are underway.
The
Board passed the motion that one third of the first $8,000 of Walkabout proceeds
after expenses would go to the Historical Society, and two-thirds to the
Association.
The
group discussed the development of a 5- or 10-year plan for improvements to
the Stockade, which a subcommittee of the Board had met twice to discuss. The Board
chose to talk about the plan at the next Board meeting, and then publicize the
plan in the Spy.
Meredith
Anker gave the treasurer’s report. We have $16,841.91 in CDs and $842.82 in a
cash account with Smith-Barney, and $7067.50 in our checking account.
Connie
Colangelo described the 5 pm December 2 tree lighting and reported that details
had been worked out, for a very nice event.
The
Board discussed the idea of hiring a $25/hour policeman to patrol the Stockade
when the regular city force was not available. Susanna recommended that such an
alternative be pursued when specific drug house or other problems exist.
Joe
described a problem with traffic in the Stockade. Drivers coming off of Route
890 speed down Washington, turn on Front and then Green Street
rushing out to Erie Blvd., missing five stop lights with this shortcut. He is
working with appropriate officials to suggest changes in the pattern.
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President
Joe Fava called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm, Nov. 8 in the meeting room of
the Historical Society.
Connie
Colangelo reported on the tree lighting on Dec. 2 at 5:00 pm and thanked Ron
Chard, Bruce Jordan and Jennifer Wells for buying the tree. Peter Rumora and
Tom Killeen will help install and decorate it.
Sylvia
Briber reported on the 01 Walkabout: About 700 people attended, and the event
cleared over $8,000, split between the Stockade Association and the Historical
Society.
Peter
Rumora described the Sunday brunch idea he had brought to the Board: Some cold winter morning, Stockade neighbors
would gather and socialize, free of charge, to enjoy the cooking of other
Stockaders. Details later.
Emily
Klotz said the volleyball group is looking for new players; the group plays
Wednesday evenings at 6:30 at the Oneida Middle School.
Greg
Solomon described the work he and his colleague had done in renovating two
storefronts on Jay Street. Several people commented on how attractive Jay
Street looks.
The
idea of homeowners flying flags appropriate to the age of their houses was
raised again. Six flags have flown over Schenectady, and new, period flags are
available from Henry’s Cleaners and Olson Sign Co.
Mary
Guzek volunteered to help the Stockade Board with code enforcement, and will be
invited to the next Board meeting.
Susanna
Sherwood thanked Brad and Lisa Fisher, Jennifer Wells and Peter Rumora for
their help in planting the 14 new trees on North College.
Respectfully
submitted,
Bob
Briber
Board
members can be reached by:
www.historicstockade.com/board.htm
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“Christmas On Tour 2001”
This is the tenth in a series of monthly dinner theater
shows at the Mohawk Club, 1 North Church Street. “Christmas On Tour 2001” is a
fun-filled music and comedy show featuring all the wonderful music of the
Holiday Season. The Riverview Entertainment production, staged by Martin Kelly,
follows a troupe of actors as they finish their touring season and return home
for the holidays. Show times are Sunday, Dec. 2, at 4 PM, and Monday, Dec. 3
and Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 6:30 PM.
Stockade Association members qualify for a 25% discount
price of $16.50 For reservations, call 393-8024. Indicate Stockade membership
to obtain discount.
Christmas Party
Sun., Dec. 16, 3 -5 PM
Stockade Association members are invited to a Christmas
Party as a fundraiser for the English Speaking Union with raffles to benefit their Shakespeare
competition in the high schools. Substantial hors d’oeuvre and spiked and
unspiked punch will be served. The $10 contribution is tax deductible. Deadline for reservations is Friday.
Dec. 14. Call 374-8476.
Dine at The Mohawk Club
Before The Civic Players’
Performances of
“The Musical Comedy
Murders of 1940”
Dec.7,.8,9 & 12-16.
Call 374-8476 for more information.
Ann Perry of Green Street tells us that Irma the Cat died on
November 1. She was found under a porch in Cottage Row. She was 17 years old. A
journey’s end for a much-loved cat.
If you know of any items for “Tidings” (neighborhood
arrivals, departures, births, deaths, anniversaries) please call The Spy
Editor, Sylvia Briber, 377-0469.
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Have You Seen... Diane Buckley
Skinny & Sweet Candy & Gift Shop on
the Jay Street Promenade? Responding to owner and Stockade resident Greg
Solomon’s invitation to all his neighbors here I found amusing cards, art hung
on the walls, museum reproductions, a soothing CD (Music to drink tea by), a
jar of raspberry cordials wrapped in dark chocolate - delicious at 10 cents
each - and sitting atop a display case of decorative chocolates from 4th
generation Ashers of Pennsylvania. Retail Manager David Pomazal says, “It’s not
your average store.” He’s right - It’s a lot of fun!
Did You Know...
North College St. was originally and appropriately
named Elbow Street? From Green Street to Front Street some of the 14 new tree
plantings 25 to 50 feet tall at maturity will cluster at that beautiful bend.
New road, sidewalks and curbing are now finished and the street will be a
graceful continuance of the Gateway style.
About the spacious parking area of Experience
and Design, Ltd? At 510 Union St. it’s also an easy walk for parking conscious
Stockaders. Do, please do, stop in to see the professional imagination that
displays their holiday collection. It’s not accurate to call it a store; it’s
more like uh, urn-rn-rn, well, an experience that’s for sale. I’m not going to
tell you more. Go see for yourself.
Have You Heard...
Any interesting election day stories at
Arthur’s? Kevin Weaire has a saga of his painfully funny election day that
happened years ago in another town. It might take a little persuasion but well
worth the time. He teaches at Union and I found him outside Arthur’s drinking
coffee as he worked on research data with his PC. That store is so versatile!
Any of Riverview Productions musical evenings
with dinner at the Mohawk Club? The November show focused on German Light
Opera, Cabaret and Beer Hall Polkas - with the audience occasionally involved.
The informal and casual cast obviously enjoys working together. Janet Stasio
had a show stopper reprising Marlene Dietrich’s sultry voice and style with
“Falling in Love Again” from the German movie sensation of 1930 - ‘The Blue
Angel.”
The Stockade Spy is published monthly, September through
May, and distributed to Stockade residents at the beginning of each month. Deadline for entries is the 15th
of the previous month.
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Last revised: 11/1/2005