template

If there’s anything I’ve learned in my years as a reporter, it’s that you should never expect a politician to show up to an event on time.

An event scheduled at 2:30? Don’t expect to see hide nor hair until at least 3:15. During an election, it’s worse: candidates just can’t seem to tear themselves away from an opportunity to win over another voter.

So it came as little surprise to me when I saw U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy’s itinerary for Friday.

The Freshman congressman was scheduled to show up at the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council’s soup kitchen at 11:45 a.m., where he and his staff were to volunteer “in light of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.”

His next appearance was set for 1:30 p.m. in Cambridge, where he was holding a Congress-on-your-corner event. That’s a commute of about 45 minutes, which means, theoretically, he went into the soup kitchen knowing he only had about an hour to spare.

From Cambridge, he was supposed to venture on to Hebron for another Congress-on-your-corner event. That event was set for 2:30 p.m. and he had about a half hour to get there. Folks in Cambridge, then, were allotted about a 30 minutes to get all their questions in — about the same time it takes to watch an episode of the Office.

I didn’t cart around with Murphy today, so I’m not sure how exactly it all played out. But I’ve been to events before when politicians show up late or leave early, and voters are never that pleased.

Readers, what do you think when you see how politicians trying to cram as many events as they can into a single day: Is this a knock on those who come out to these events or a practical matter necessitated by limited time and an overwhelming number of constituents?

– Drew Kerr

There was a time when Jackie Donnelly’s journals and photos were seen by no one other than her, trapped in a file on her computer only she had access to.

Fortunately for Saratoga County residents, that’s no longer the case.

In January, Donnelly began sharing those journals and photos on her blog — Saratoga woods and waterways, which essentially serves as an online account of the natural wonders she encounters through her outdoor excursions.

I stumbled across the site earlier this month, was amazed by the photos on display, and e-mailed Donnelly to get some of the back story.

A Saratoga Springs resident since 1970, Donnelly said she started the blog to “demonstrate the wonderful wilderness we have right here in Saratoga County.”

“The more people know about our natural treasures,” she said, “the more they will fight to protect them in the face of development pressures.”

Donnelly’s blog has focused heavily on the Hudson River along Spier Falls Road, an area she explores with a Hornbeck canoe she picked up in 1992 (at just 12 pounds, the easily transportable boat has opened all kinds of new opportunities to her over the years, she said).

Other areas that have been highlighted include Moreau Lake State Park, the Bog Meadow Nature Trail on Route 29, the Orra Phelps Nature Preserve, the Woods Hollow Nature Preserve in Ballston Spa and the Skidmore Woods.

Donnelly, a former nursing assistant and writer, said she’s hoping to chronicle an entire year’s worth of outdoor adventures — encouraging others to begin spending some time exploring in the process.

“I believe that experiencing nature can create a great sense of contentment, gratitude, and inner peace…and we don’t have to travel to exotic and faraway places to do so,” she said. “It’s all right here in Saratoga County.”

Read more on Donnelly’s blog here; I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Photo: Shelf fungi at Moreau Lake State Park, courtesy Donnelly.

– Drew Kerr

Some Saratoga Springs High School French students are looking to sell their hometown to the French.

The students, enrolled in the school’s college-level French class, are creating a DVD that will promote the area’s assets, which will later be made available to tour agencies in France and Canada. This kind of goes without saying, but the film will be narrated in French.

As part of the project, the students will be offering a glimpse of the grounds and interior of the Riggi mansion on North Broadway, complete with an interview with the estate’s puppy-loving matriarch.

– Drew Kerr

Skidmania — Skidmore College’s annual ode to the Beatles — comes back to campus on Sunday.

The event, now in its ninth year, begins at 3 p.m. at the Filene Recital Hall. There’s a pretty comprehensive catalog of songs that will be performed — here’s the playlist. The theme is “Abbey Road,” one of the groups last efforts before dissolving in 1970. A re-mastered version of the album was released in September to rave reviews.

The event is free and open to the public. Skidmore’s Web site has the details here.

– Drew Kerr

Regular readers will already know that the Saratoga Winery on Route 29 has been open for more than a month and a half.

But for those of you just tuning in, don’t worry. You haven’t missed their “grand opening.”

That event is scheduled for Saturday, according to the proprietors, Tara and Rich Nimmo. Actvities are planned all afternoon, and there is a “social” from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $30.

All the info you need is on the winery’s Web site here.

– Drew Kerr

Oh snow. Winter is almost here.

Don’t let the prospect of scraping windshields and shoveling drives get you down, though. This weekend, some outdoor enthusiast will try to whet your appetite for powder by rolling out all the gear you’ll need to have an enjoyable season.

The second annual Adirondack Sports & Fitness Winter Expo arrives at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; admission is free. Organizers say there will be more than 80 exhibitors from ski resorts, retail outlets and clubs at the event. Demos, seminars and clinics will also be offered.

More info on the event can be found here.

– Drew Kerr

The building at 425 Broadway has been receiving some much-needed attention of late.

Recently listed on the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation’s “ten to save” list, crews with Jelenik Construction have spent the last several weeks rebuilding the space from the inside out.

Dave Jelenik said today the overhaul, expected to be finished within the next three months, could ultimately top $500,000.

When finished, the top three floors will be used for apartments, while the base floor will remain commercial (the folks from 38 High Rock have a sales area in there now, but the space is capable of accommodating almost any kind of business, including restaurant).

“This has been a complete structural re-build,” Jelenik said of the work that began a few weeks ago. “When it’s finished, virtually everything will be brand new.”

The Preservation Foundation doesn’t have a lot of history on the building but suggests that it dates back to the 1830s.

When listing it on their “ten to save” list, they wrote: “While architecturally this building is not unique or particularly distinguished, it makes an important contribution to the streetscape on Broadway…The unique sense of place that attracts visitors to Saratoga Springs is maintained in large part because so many of the original buildings on Broadway still exist.“

– Drew Kerr

No socks, no shoes, no story.

That, in concise terms, is perhaps the best way to describe the way my work week began when, on Monday morning, I ventured down the street to Hot Yoga Saratoga to get an indoctrination in all things sweaty and uncomfortable.

The studio, located in an unassuming brick building on Woodlawn Avenue, opened in late September, and I wanted to know exactly what transpired within the confines of the sweltering space.

Ninety-minutes into the experience, I had my answer — and one disgusting, stick-to-your-skin cotton t-shirt.

This, I quickly discovered, was one hellacious mix of arm-bending, toe-touching, groin to the floor contortions. My body moved in ways it never had. And it hurt. A lot.

Adding to the discomfort: all of the twisting, extending and reaching was done in a a room heated to resemble a stiffing August day (standard thermostat setting: 105-degrees and 40 percent humidity).

Combined, the elements had me sweating more profusely than I have in years of trips to the YMCA. My heart was pounding, my muscles ached and my head was light.

Simply put, this was much more than I had bargained for. I did, however, have my answer.

Update: Read today’s story about Hot Yoga Saratoga here.

– Drew Kerr

Bobby Frankel is dead.

The Hall of Fame trainer, whose horse Empire Maker dashed Funny Cide’s bid at the Triple Crown, has died after a long bout with cancer, according to the Associated Press. He was 68.

Of Frankel’s 17,000-plus races, he had more than 3,600 first-place finishes that resulted in nearly a quarter of a billion — yes, billion — dollars in earnings.

Claire Novak has penned a touching piece, “Missing Bobby,” at espn.com.

– Thomas Dimopoulos

Yesterday’s article about a dog found bound in duct tape and left to roam the rural Saratoga County woods was one of those stories that really seemed to trouble folks.

How, they wondered, could someone do something like that to an animal?

It’s something the folks over at the U.S. Humane Society are also asking.

The group said today that they’re willing to pay for answers, too, offering a reward of up to $2,500 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for leaving the dog, Daisy, in such a precarious position.

In a statement, the group said they felt solving the case was important because animal cruelty is often an indicator of a perpetrator’s predilections for crimes against not just the four-legged friends amongst us, but community members themselves.

“We hope our reward helps identify those responsible for this barbaric act so they can pay a price for their crime,”  Patrick Kwan, New York state director for the Humane Society said. “Animals deserve our protection and those who commit such egregious acts of animal abuse are at significant risk of becoming violent to people.”

After posting the story online yesterday, I also received offers from a New Jersey man, who wants to chip in $500 for information leading to an arrest, and a curious bid from an Essex County resident who said he’ll give any officer who cracks the case $10,000 (police said they couldn’t accept such an award for doing their job, however).

By the way, that number for the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, it’s 885-6761.

Update: In case you were wondering how Daisy is doing these days, WNYT’s Mark Mulholland has your answer.

– Drew Kerr