Monthly Archives: December 2012

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Mary Bove Remembered – By Sandy McBride

It was a night to remember one of Mechanicville’s most beloved citizens whose untimely death several months ago was a huge loss to our community. The incredibly beautiful music of a single harp soaring to the heights of the historic Arts Center on the Hudson on Friday evening was a fitting tribute to the late Mary Bove.

Rita Costanzi, internationally renowned harpist, composer, actor and teacher performed an array of music ranging from delicate and lilting to powerful and moving.  Telling the story behind each piece she would play, Ms. Costanzi played masterfully some of the greatest compositions for the harp ever written.

 

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Joseph A. Fisher – 37

MECHANICVILLE – Joseph A. Fisher, 37, of No. Main St., died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012.

Born in Saratoga Springs, August 12, 1975, son of Lawrence and Eden Downs Fisher, Joe attended Mechanicville High school, and received an associate’s degree in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and achieved the deans list for most of his career.

For the last year Joe worked as a machine repairman for the General Electric Co. inSchenectady.  Previously he worked for P & M Construction, and had been a commercial truck driver for Pricechopper Mkts and Garelick Farms for years.

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Christopher A. Cammuso – 24

MECHANICVILLE – Christopher A. Cammuso, 24, of No. Main St., died tragically Sunday morning, Dec. 23rd as a result of a homicide in Hemstreet Park, Town ofSchaghticoke.

Born in Niskayuna, May 19, 1988, he was the son of Carmen and Cynthia Izzo Cammuso, Jr. of Mechanicville.

 

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Mrs. M. Ruth Baker-100

MECHANICVILLE – Mrs. M. Ruth Baker, 100, former resident of Ellsworth Ave., died Wednesday, Dec. 19th at Wesley Health Care Center, Saratoga Springs.

Born in Easton, NY July 3, 1912, daughter of the late Charles and Lilla Crandall Fletcher,  she was a 1930 graduate of Mechanicville High School and Albany BusinessCollege.

Ruth worked as an executive secretary for the NYS Dept. of Labor in Albany for 14 years.

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Sportsmen – By Doug Keenholts

Last week, Sports Illustrated announced its choice of Lebron James for 2012 Sportsman of the Year.  As the end of each year nears, every outlet everywhere compiles “best of” and “top ten” lists, names its “person of the year,” etc.  In the sports world, SI’s Sportsman of the Year still holds some clout.  SI’s aim is to recognize the most significant sports figure from the previous calendar year, and in that regard it is hard to quibble with the choice of Lebron James.

“The Decision” and all of the venomous aftermath was only two and a half years ago.  At that time, Lebron was on the top of everyone’s “most hated” athlete lists.  Looking back, it was all quite silly.  Did he make a huge mistake in how he announced his move to the Miami Heat from the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency?  Of course, and he’s admitted as much since.  When the Heat failed to win a title the following year, the general sports world reveled in the perceived failure.  They did make it to the finals, but the storyline centered around Lebron’s inability to finish when he averaged an anemic three points in the fourth quarter of each game.  Heading into the 2012 playoffs, despite being universally regarded as the best basketball player on the planet, the questions about Lebron continued to swirl.  They were answered emphatically in game six of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics, when with the Heat down three games to two, Lebron delivered an epic 45 point, 15 rebound performance IN BOSTON, where he was completely and utterly unstoppable.  It was the most dominant athletic performance of 2012, and when the Heat went on to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the finals, Lebron James had placed his stamp on the 2012 sports calendar.  Any stain from “the decision” has been permanently removed.

What other performances in 2012 were worthy of consideration?  For me, perhaps the most electric and “goose-bump” inspiring moment was Gabby Douglas winning the woman’s all-around gold medal in gymnastics.  We collectively get a thrill out of rooting for members of the stars and stripes come Olympic time, but nobody on this year’s team captured the hearts of Americans like Gabby.  The stress and pressure of woman’s gymnastics, where one little bobble can cost you a place atop the medal stand, lends itself to heart-pounding drama.  But Gabby’s story and smile added greatly to the theater, and when she stuck the landing on her last tumble in the floor routine to seemingly capture gold, you could almost hear the entire country exhale and applaud simultaneously.

Another option for SI might have been the Brothers Manning.  Eli started the year off in grand form, securing his second Super Bowl victory and Super Bowl MVP trophy in February, highlighted by one of the more beautiful passes ever thrown in a huge moment:  the “dropped in a mailbox” over the shoulder throw to Mario Manningham that kick-started the Giants’ game-winning touchdown drive.  Peyton has since done his part, answering all of the doubters who thought he would never make it back from four neck surgeries, by delivering one of his greatest statistical regular seasons ever.  With a great chance at winning his fifth NFL MVP award, it will be hard to look back at 2012 without thinking of the accomplishments of Archie’s kids.

In the end, as a great calendar year of sports comes to a close, I think SI got it right with Lebron.   The scariest part is he’ll probably be in the conversation each year for the next decade as well.

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Prospect of Church Hall Replacing Town Hall to Be Topic Thursday – By Harold Wessell

TOWN OF STILLWATER, December 17 – Town Board discussion  this Thursday, Dec. 20  will consider the possible lease of the church hall
 of the Community of All Saints on the Hudson, at its North Church location (historically, St. Peter's),  in the Village of Stillwater

Town Supervisor Edward Kinowski said a presentation with slides will help determine whether the Town should take the first step of applying, to see if the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany  will allow the Town to enter a lease agreement, which will allow the Town to move into more than twice the square footage of its current congested and deteriorating headquarters. Kinowski told this newspaper in an earlier interview that there has been good discussion with the parish.

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Margaret F. Dugan – 80

Margaret F. Dugan, 80, passed away at her home with her family and friends by her side.

She was the daughter of the late Millard Fuller and Hellen (Tracy) Fuller of Ketchum Corners, Stillwater, NY. She was predeceased by her husband of 25 years, Lyle F. Gailor, a brother, Joe Fuller, sister, Dorris Fuller Boucher, and her second husband, Leo Dugan.

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DECEMBER, 1862 – The BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG PART 2 – By Sandy McBride

After successfully moving troops and artillery across the Rappahannock River and into Fredericksburg on December 11, General Ambrose Burnside failed to press the attack on December 12, doing nothing more than sending more troops across and pondering what his next move should be.  While the Union command pondered, the Confederate command reinforced.  General Robert E. Lee continued to mass troops in strategic places south of the city and on the heights above to await the battle he knew was coming. He brought in Major General D. H. Hill’s and Brigadier General Jubal Early’s divisions to support General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson on Prospect Hill south of the city, giving Jackson a force of 30,000 men defending a 3, 000 yard wide sector.

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Mrs. Helen Starks Behan – 89

MECHANICVILLE – Mrs. Helen Starks Behan, 89, of Bennington Ave., died Wednesday, Dec. 12th at Samaritan Hospital, Troy, after a brief illness.

Born in Riverside, May 29, 1923, daughter of the late James and Josephine Dymon Starks, she was educated and lived in Mechanicville all her life.

A homemaker who years ago had worked for the Mechanicville Housing Authority and before that for Harold Holt Assoc. of Albany.

A longtime member of the Mechanicville Home Bureau, loved crafts and enjoyed the Racino and Foxwoods trips.  A Member of the Assumption-St. Paul Church, Helen was small in stature but had a large caring heart for everyone, especially her granddaughter.

 

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