Friday, June 24, 2011

Stop by The Record for Troy Night Out

The Record is taking part in Troy Night Out today, and we invite you to stop by between 5 and 9 p.m.
For the first time, a combination of art and music will be featured in our Community Media Lab, which is located on the first floor of our building at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway.
On tap tonight in the CML will a photography exhibit by ASlyerImage Photography and a performance by area musician Greg Guba.
The photo exhibit is a family affair, featuring the work of Charlie and Gina Slyer and their daughters Toni and Amanda. I enjoyed talking with the family Tuesday night when they were here setting up their exhibit and was impressed with their work.
Guba, a professional musician for more than 30 years, will be performing a variety of musical styles from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. including rock, blues and the music of today. In the interest of full disclosure, Greg is family, my sister-in-law Lisa's brother. He's a good guy and a talented one, too!
I'm looking forward to the event and hope you'll join us. Check out the photos, listen to some music and enjoy the refreshments.
Hope to see you here!

P.S. Thanks to Elizabeth Young, executive director of the Troy Business Improvement District, for helping The Record become a part of Troy Night Out.

Labels: , , , , ,

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Vandenburgh to broadcast from Community Media Lab


Paul Vandenburgh, radio host on WGDJ 1300 AM, will be broadcasting his morning show from The Record's Community Media Lab on June 30 from 5 to 10 a.m.

The popular morning show personality, who is also president and general manager of the radio station based at the Times Union Center in Albany, plans to invite various Troy officials to drop by the Community Media Lab to address Collar City-related issues.

Vandenburgh has strong ties to our coverage area, and we are looking forward to Thursday's broadcast as well as several more in the future.

This won't be the first time the broadcaster has taken his show on the road.

He frequently broadcasts his show from the Rensselaer train station and YNN in Albany as well as periodic appearances at the Saratoga Race Course and The College of Saint Rose in Albany.

Labels: , , ,

Bruno goes to court


Record reporter Dave Canfield will be heading to New York City early Friday to cover former state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno's 10 a.m. hearing before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Bruno's attorneys and federal prosecutors will appeal to a panel of judges in a Manhattan courtroom in connection with the former senator's conviction on two felony charges surrounding $280,000 in payments from a Loudonville businessman.

It is expected that the court will toss Bruno's conviction in the wake of last year's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that restructured the theft of honest services statute under which the former lawmaker was convicted.

However, according to Dave, it remains to be seen if federal officials can bring new charges under the amended law.

Dave will be filing updates for Record readers throughout the day and will be sending back video from outside the proceedings.

In the words of former Senator Bruno, stay tuned to The Record's website for the latest information on this proceeding.

Labels: , ,

Friday, June 3, 2011

Rest in peace

On Thursday, the "long road to justice" came to an end for two local families when a Rensselaer County jury found Michael Mosley guilty of first-degree murder in the 2002 murders of Arica Lynn Schneider and Samuel "Frost" Holley.
Many times during the month-long trial, I found my thoughts turning to the Schneider family as I wondered how they were holding up through their ordeal.
At one time, Arica Schneider worked at The Record for a few months in our advertising department. I did not know her well, but I still remember how she was always in motion, whether it was moving from department to department around the building or quickly heading out the door to pick up an ad.
Over the years I have spoken several times with her mother, Robin Nold, and other members of the Schneider family as they called about promoting various fundraisers in Arica's memory or asked to have a letter placed in "Pulse of the People" in honor of their daughter's birthday.
You could always hear the sense of loss in their voices during those conversations.
After the verdict, Arica's father, Paul Schneider, told Record reporter Dave Canfield that his family will now begin to "pick up the pieces" after more than nine years of living with an unsolved crime.
While he said there will never be a full recovery for his family, he felt Arica can now rest in peace.
I, too, hope that Arica can rest in peace and that her family can find some comfort in the fact that this long saga is finally over.

Labels: , ,

Thursday, June 2, 2011

When does she sleep?


The World Affairs Council in Washington, D.C., chose one of The Record's bloggers, Diane Conroy-LaCivita, to be a delegate for an upcoming leadership mission to Azerbaijan.
Diane is co-owner of Harmony House Marketplace in Cohoes, community relations director of the International Center of the Capital Region, and she has organized a variety of community events in Cohoes and Watervliet. She's also a wife and mother, a pilot, a teacher, has worked for local and state government, and she's involved in a milllion other things.
OK, that's an exaggeration, but only a slight one. Frankly I don't know when the woman finds time to sleep.
I met Diane years ago when she was doing her student teaching at Shaker High School in Latham. Joe Condon and I took our "show" on the road and spoke to one of her classes about working in the media. Because of his years of experience, Joe would tackle radio and TV, while I would handle print and online.
It's always a pleasure to talk with Diane and I'll be anxious to hear how her trip goes to the other side of the world.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Get your tickets now!


One of the most popular events The Record co-sponsors for the community each year is the military band concert.
This year, the free concert will be held at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 11 at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. Ticket holders are asked to be in their seats by 7:45 p.m. The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band of Cherry Point, N.C., will perform and will march the next day in the 44th annual Flag Day Parade.
Co-sponsors are the Troy Flag Day Parade Committee Inc. and Troy Detachment Marine Corps League. Use of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is courtesy of The Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation.
Tickets are still available, but they are going fast.
To get tickets (maximum of four) for this free performance, complete the coupon running in our print edition (or send us your name, address and the number of tickets you want) and mail it, along with a self-addressed envelope, to: The Record, Marine Band Tickets, 501 Broadway, Troy, N.Y. 12180.
Tickets may also be picked up in person at The Record, 501 Broadway, Troy, main entrance, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
It's an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday night in downtown Troy, and while you're downtown, don't forget to try out one of the city's downtown restaurants for a post-concert snack and beverage.
Kudos to Rebecca Eppelmann for organizing the concert along with our co-sponsors. Rebecca is editor of our weeklies, Latham Life and River Life, and she also runs our night news desk operation two nights a week. She's one busy woman!

Labels: , , , ,

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

The clock is ticking


Parade lovers are counting down the days until the 44th annual Troy Flag Day Parade steps off at 1 p.m. June 12 in the Collar City.
This tribute to Old Glory will proceed north along Fourth Street, from South Troy into downtown, to the delight of thousands of area residents.
I personally can't wait to see Bill Peak make his way along the parade route as grand marshal. Bill was the force behind the 2007 founding of the local Patriot Flight Inc. effort, which raised thousands of dollars to send local World War II veterans to Washington D.C. for free so they can view the impressive World War II memorial that was constructed in their honor.
Now retired from that effort, Bill will be riding along the parade route with Ron Lewis, who succeeded Bill as president of Patriot Flight, and Record financial columnist Ray Osterhout, who served as an advisor to the program.
When Bill passes by, give him a wave and a round of applause for all he has done on behalf of the WWII veterans of the Capital District.
Meanwhile, fund-raising efforts to support the parade continue. The total of the Flag Day Fund Drive, sponsored by The Record, now stands at approximately $7,900, more than $2,000 short of its $10,000 goal.
There is no question that times are tough, but anything you can do to help this effort would be greatly appreciated by the Troy Flag Day Committee. This hard-working group works almost year-round to put on this spectacular tribute to our nation's flag and they are extremely grateful for any size donation toward this cause.

Labels: , , ,

Living up to its mission

A belated tip of the hat to the Century House and Colin DeMers, its managing partner.
The popular Latham restaurant and banquet house, under Colin's direction, recently served its 175,000th meal on May 19 for its "Enjoy One Share One" campaign.
The program, which began in 2009, provides a meal to those in need through the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The Century House provides one meal for every entree it serves.
The generous gesture is just part of the longtime area business' promise to make "the world a better place by providing comfort and care to the body and soul of all guests, staff and the community."
Over the years, I've have many opportunites to dine at the restaurant for business and pleasure. Whether it was a Record Christmas party, a launch party for one of our weeklies, my paternal grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary party or even my own wedding reception, I've always had a terrific time there thanks to the staff and management.
Congratulations to all!

Labels: , , ,