On The Sly

On Saturday I attended the Plattsburgh High School commencement exercises at the Field House on the campus of Plattsburgh State. I arrived 90 minutes early so that I could visit with some of the graduates and their families. Many of the grads had been in my eighth grade English class at Stafford Middle School four years ago. It always amazes me how much they have changed since those days. Some remembered me and it was nice to share handshakes and hugs.

With PHS graduating 178 seniors it would be expected that the ceremony would be longer than the one-hour graduation on Friday night at Beekmantown Central, where 127 accepted diplomas. And it was, lasting slightly more than two hours. A major difference between the two ceremonies was that PHS showed a slide show of the senior class. As always, it was well-done and it has become one of the highlights of a graduation ceremony.

The National Anthem was nicely sung by senior members of the chorus. Later, members of the Select Chorus sang a song, which sandwiched speeches by salutatorian Nadine Channaoui and valedictorian Alexandra "You can call her Alex" Mihalek. Each young lady themed her speech with references to either Walt Disney or Spiderman and we were advised about "living happily ever after."

A special tribute at the PHS graduation was in honor of Clinton County veterans. 39 war heroes, most of them in attendance, were recognized, amidst the applause of all in attendance. Each veteran was named, along with the military branch and war. This is at least the second year PHS has given such recognition to veterans and thanks were expressed from the podium by Steven Bowman, Director of the Clinton County Veterans Service Agency.

The presentation of the diplomas was well-organized with high school principal John Fairchild calling the graduate's name and listing any awards that senior may have won and the grad's future plans. He also read a personal message from the graduate, if they so desired.

The ceremony was not without its lowlights, however. During the ceremony two beach balls suddenly appeared in the graduates section. They were bounced from here to there, until retrieved by Mr. Fairchild. He has more patience and a better sense of humor than I. I would have stopped the ceremony and waited until the beach balls disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. Sadly, one graduate accepted his diploma on stage and went over and picked up the beach ball that Mr. Fairchild had set aside. The graduate batted the ball back into the audience. Not a pretty move by this guy, who happens to be one of my favorite seniors.

Point is, when you do something like that you are showing disrepect for the ceremony, for the faculty and administration and for your fellow graduates. Score one for the Beekmantown graduates, who did nothing disrespectful during their graduation ceremony the night before.

Finally, I guess shouting out from the audience at the announcement of a graduate's name has been the 2000-thing to do. It didn't happen during my graduation in 1966. In fact, had that taken place, the shouting person would probably had been removed from the building. But on Saturday I heard several shouts of, "You rock, Kristie." I don't know Kristie, but I have no doubt that she rocks!

The ceremony ended on a high note! The faculty led the graduates in the recessional, but they stopped at the back, turned and applauded the graduates as the grads passed by them and out of the Field House. It took several minutes, but the faculty never stopped applauding. It was a nice tribute to the deserving graduates from their teachers.

By now the graduates of both schools have moved on to their summer jobs and summer fun. I hope the world of work, the world of college or the world of the military meets their expectations. No doubt there will be some great challenges ahead, but with grads like Tori, Kiernan, Elliott, David, Amanda and Cameron, how can anything go wrong?

Posted by Foxy Gagnon at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I had the pleasure of attending two graduation ceremonies this past weekend and both left me with plenty to blog about. On Friday night I was in the Beekmantown Central School state-of-the-art gymnasium as the school graduated 127 seniors. On Saturday afternoon I was at the Field House on the campus of Plattsburgh State as Plattsburgh High School honored 178 graduates.

The administrators at Beekmantown Central know how to make a crowd happy. The entire Commencement Exercises took a neat sixty minutes! The processional was led by faculty members, officiously attired in graduation robes. It was impressive! Then, amidst "Pomp and Circumstance" and a standing ovation from the audience, the graduates entered. Class president and honor graduate Katy Levon sang the National Anthem, displaying that she is not just a scholar, but a talented singer as well.

In the past several years Beekmantown Central has not listed the traditional valedictorian and salutatorian, instead offering "honor graduates" the opportunity to speak. I was a proud parent at the school's 1996 graduation ceremony when my son Erik, an honor graduate, spoke. The 2006 speakers were Danielle Dupell, Sara Fredette, Michael Jock and Katy Levon. Each referred to personal moments from their high school years and reflected upon what lies ahead.

The commencement program lists all the Beekmantown scholarship and awards winners, so at commencement the group stood en masse to receive applause from the audience. The presentation of diplomas was well-organized and moved quickly. A brief statement was made to introduce each graduate. For example, "Foxy Gagnon, Regents diploma, Plattsburgh State."

This part of the program, however, provided one of the few gliches in the ceremony. Of course, most parents want a photo of their child accepting the diploma. Nowadays most cellphones have camera capabilities so it just adds to the number of people who come forward to capture the "magic moment." Perhaps they didn't realize that the school district hires a professional photographer to photograph each graduate accepting a diploma from Garth Frechette, high school principal. The school provides a free 8x10 color photo for each graduate. Unfortunately, several would-be photographers passed in front of the school's professional photographer, and, I'm sure, ruined some of the pictures.

This was my second consecutive year attending the Beekmantown Central commencement. The administration is to be commended for its organization and the graduates are to be commended for their respectful behavior. At the end of ceremony, as many graduates brushed aside tears, there were hundreds of proud parents and relatives with smiles on their faces. This impartial observer gives Beekmantown an A+ for its commencement exercises 2006 and he wishes all the grads success with the challenges that lie ahead.

NEXT BLOG: Pomp and Circumstance in Plattsburgh

Posted by Foxy Gagnon at 1:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm having a problem with this World Cup Soccer competition and somebody's going to have to explain it to me. I was going to just shut my mouth and let the competition go away, but the more I watch it, the more confused I get.

These are the best soccer players the world has to offer. It seems like they would be highly skilled, quick of foot, accurate of foot, and they would understand the strategy of the game. They play this sport on the biggest field of competition I have ever seen. Why don't they just play it on a golf course? They could kick forever and forever and run from the first hole to the second hole to the third hole, chasing each other and the soccer ball around. Hey, they could spice it up by letting golfers play their sport during the competition.

My problem is -- if these are the greatest soccer players in the world, why can't they score? I assume the United States team was comprised of the greatest soccer players our country has to offer. I assume they started playing at an early age, just like our North Country kids have done since the age of three, kicking the ball over at the Crete Center or on soccer fields around the county. I assume most of them played high school soccer, went to the finest soccer camps to hone their skills at finding the back of that soccer net. I assume most of the U.S. players participated in college soccer, dedicating themselves to the sport.
Then why can't they score? Twenty years or more of competing on the field of soccer and they can muster just 2 goals in three games! Do you notice how large that goal is? Much higher and much wider than the keeper in front. Unlike hockey, where the goalie in his massive equipment about covers the entire net.

I just don't understand it and it will take some soccer afficianados to explain it to me. I would think with these great soccer players that most of the games would have scores like 6-4 or even 8-6. But 2 scores in 3 games? Can't we find U.S. hockey talent who can score an actual goal?

And the more I watched the more the sport was resembling rugby. I saw bodies flying, players tripping (even looking like an attempt to break someone's leg), elbows flying (blood flowing), and players being wrestled to the ground. Is that what we have been teaching our kids about soccer over at the Crete Center?

There must be someone who can explain to us football-basketball-baseball nuts why our country's greatest soccer players can't score a few goals a game. I kept expecting the U.S. to win one 3-1, but, oops, we need more than three games to score three goals.

Will world class soccer ever get better? The good news is I have to wait till 2010 to find out!

Posted by Foxy Gagnon at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This weekend seniors from high schools around the county will graduate. It will be a big weekend with many celebration parties. I hope everyone will be careful. Times sure have changed from 1966, the year I graduated from high school.

Our high school graduation was held in the tiny Our Lady of Victory Academy gymnasium. 28 graduates sat on the stage and parents, relatives and guests sat on folding chairs or the bleachers, filling the gym. Linda Torrance was valedictorian and gave a speech. I was the salutatorian and also gave a brief speech, using several cliches, I'm sure, such as "looking to the future" and "always remember our years at O.L.V.A." I hadn't invented my signature closing "Good night, North Country" yet, so I probably ended with a simple "thank you."

The guest speaker that night was Don Garrant, an O.L.V.A. graduate from sometime in the Fifties, who had used his high school graduation and college degree to move his way up into an important position at Plattsburgh State. The good sisters at our school often mentioned Mr. Garrant as a shining example of the success that can be achieved if you graduate from O.L.V.A.

I recall that there was a small party at our house on Johnson Avenue that evening. My parents had invited all the relatives and many family friends to come to the house and pat me on the back. On that particular evening I had no idea whether I would be attending Plattsburgh State or Wadhams Hall Seminary. Yes, indeed, I once considered becoming a priest. After all, I think I was priest material. Bobby Rougeau and I were the official "servers to the bishop" whenever Bishop Navagh attended an event at Our Lady of Victory Church.

If you doubt me on this one, there's a book called A HISTORY OF CATHOLICISM IN THE NORTH COUNTRY, published in 1972, with my picture on page 171, walking right next to Bishop Navagh as he blessed the new Notre Dame School in 1961.

Anyway, my parents' graduation gift to me was an electric typewriter and some cash. They figured whether my calling was to the priesthood or to the classroom, I would be able to use a typewriter of my own. That's a far cry from the gifts that grads will receive this weekend like a car, a computer, a well-padded savings account, or a cellphone, all expenses paid for life.

None of my friends had a party with a DJ, none of my friends' parents rented the VFW or the church hall for a big shindig. Times were different. Each of us 28 grads went our own way that night in 1966, and some, I never saw again. Like David Lefebvre, Gary Hebert, Henry Yerger, Alex Bedard and Howard Ormsbee. Others would die much too soon. Like Don Wells, who died in a car accident while serving in the Navy, and Rod Dame, who built a thriving enterprise in Plattsburgh after high school and military duty, but would succumb to cancer, and Marlean Lareau, also a cancer victim. Others have passed away more recently. Like Donald Kelley, Gilles Maille and Ginny Macey.

Some of my classmates have stayed in the area, raised families, and are growing old along with me. It's always nice to see Sue Rennell, Mary Stone, Betty Yopp, Doug Durocher, Gary Leavine, John DesRocher, Joe Giroux, Angela Liberty and my fantasy baseball adversary Ed Rostak. And, sadly, other classmates I just seldom see, even though they are still in the North Country.

The point is - I hope the graduates treasure the friendships they have made in high school and try their best to maintain contact with those they are closest to. Time has a way of intervening between old friends. And, most of all, please have a safe graduation evening!

Posted by Foxy Gagnon at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

This is the final official week of school. I remember those days! A few days of tests, a few days of paperwork, and the "end-of-the-year" ceremony or graduation. It was always the time of year when I would look at my summer calendar and plan a few summer trips.

I've never been known as a traveler. My friends have been to Mexico, Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Las Vegas several times, even Europe. Not me. I have traveled twice to California, to visit Uncle Ralphe and Aunt Peggy and my cousins, and to worship at the Mecca of Baseball, Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have won 4 and lost none with Fox in the building. When Laura the Travel Agent won a free airplane trip for two to anyplace in the United States, she chose Nashville and I tagged along. It was fun. I have the videotapes to prove it.

But, overall, I like to travel by car, journey a day here, a day there, and I have no interest in faraway places. That's why when I made my list of places to visit this summer they are all within reach in one day by car. But I can guarantee that I will have fun this summer! I'll share my list with you, and perhaps our paths will cross at one of the spots this summer. These are listed in random order, of course, because they are all equally fun to visit.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAMES - If you are a baseball fan, you know that nothing beats minor league baseball. The field, the players, the game - all just a few feet away. For just a few bucks per ticket, you can hear a fastball pop in the catcher's mitt and hear the argument between the manager and the umpire over a call at first base. And you can buy a couple of hot dogs and a couple of sodas and still get change from a ten-dollar bill. The closest minor league baseball is played in Burlington at Centennial Field. Formerly known as the Vermont Reds and the Vermont Mariners, they were the Vermont Expos from 1994 through the end of last season. This year they are the Vermont Lake Monsters, the Class A short-season affiliate of the Washington Nationals. A few hours away are the Tri-City Valley Cats, who, like the Lake Monsters, compete in the New York-Penn League. They are affiliated with the Houston Astros and play at Joseph Bruno Stadium in Troy, New York, just a few hours south of Plattsburgh. My first minor league game this season will be with my son Erik on June 29 as the Valley Cats sponsor "Blues Brothers Night." Maybe I'll be Elwood and Erik will be Jake.

THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME - Yes, baseball has always been a big part of my summers. As Erik was growing up it would be a day trip to Cooperstown every other summer. We'd spend hours in the Hall of Fame Museum, going floor-by-floor, room-by-room, reliving so many moments of baseball history. Then it would be time for a walk down Main Street, stopping at each memorabilia store, searching for special Dodgers or Mets items, until we'd get to Doubleday Field. Sometimes there would be a game being played and sometimes the field would be empty. Didn't matter. We always took time to look at the green field and soak in the history of the old stadium.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH, MAINE - Ah, the ocean. The salt water and the fresh lobsters. The gigantic waves and hot sun. I always liked Old Orchard Beach because it isn't a big city. It's just a small town on the ocean. We'd always stay at the same place with a room less than a minute's walk from the ocean. You can enjoy a four-day stay and never have to get in the car until the day you leave. In just minutes you can walk to great restaurants or the amusement park. Old Orchard Beach is versatile. It's a great family place or, as night falls, there's nothing like walking the ocean hand-in-hand with someone you love. Or dining on the pier with the ocean below you and "Lady in Red" playing on the jukebox. Leave Plattsburgh at 7 in the morning and you can be sitting oceanside before noontime.

A RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL - I've never been to one, but Erik and his wife Sarah have. I'm planning on attending my first one this summer. Participants and visitors dressed in costume, entertainment of all kinds, and plenty of food. I figure that my beard and new ponytail will be just the thing to be a man of Renaissance times. Somebody might even think I'm a relic from the past. You can bet there will be a blog about this event upon my return.

PICKLE FESTIVAL - This is cheating a bit, because it doesn't take place until November. But it's on my calendar. On Sunday, November 19th, in Rosendale, New York, not far from Kingston, I'll be at the 9th Annual International Pickle Festival. Maybe I'll even enter one of the contests, such as the Pickle Toss Contest, or the Pickle Eating Contest or the Pickle Juice Drinking Contest. Now that I think about it, I better reserve a room at Erik's house for that night. I may need a day to recover from this event!

CLINTON COUNTY FAIR - Now don't laugh at this choice. I love the Clinton County Fair. And the Essex County Fair, as well. What would the summer be without walking the fairgrounds and soaking in the atmosphere? There's a wide variety of people and you can bet that you will see someone there that you haven't seen in years. There's also a wide variety of smells, whether you're strolling by the cotton candy vendor or strolling by the building where they sell those sausages with peppers and onions or strolling by the cow barn. People, entertainment, rides for kids of all ages, and, of course, food!! See you at the Clinton County Fair from July 18-23.

Alright, I admit I've omitted a few summer trips that I enjoy, but these are much shorter ones, such as to Harrigan's in West Plattsburgh or the Beekmantown Road ice cream place for a butterscotch sundae. Or sitting on the back deck of the Naked Turtle with a good friend late at night. Or taking a ride around Cumberland Head on a muggy summer night -- although now with that new connector road it's like a maze out there. I'd probably get lost and end up in South Hero, Vermont. Scratch that trip off my list!

Posted by Foxy Gagnon at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I've got something to do on Saturday night. Even though the Los Angeles Dodgers' Chad Billingsley will make his major league debut on Saturday night on cable TV, even though there's a great band playing at the Flood Zone in Champlain, and even though there's an AAU Girls' Basketball Tournament in town this weekend, I've got something more important.

I'll be out at the Clinton County Fairgrounds for the 9th Annual American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. It all begins at 7pm and will end twelve hours later at 7 o'clock Sunday morning. Following the opening ceremony there will be a group of paratroopers entering the fairgrounds for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, kicking off the "Survivors Lap" -- an emotional event where close to one hundred cancer survivors will walk the first lap around the track. During that trek someone will sing Melissa Ethredge's song "I Walk for Life."

From 8pm until the early morning hours local bands will entertain the groups of volunteer walkers who will take part in the Relay for Life. At 11pm the Luminaria Candle Ceremony will take place. Special guest Brian Rose will address the crowd. Rose, a member of the Vermont Air National Guard, was assigned to Iraq last year, only to discover that he had a rare form of cancer. Rose has lost a leg because of that, but he has not lost his determination and fighting spirit. His goal is to walk in the Relay for Life with several of his National Guard comrades who recently returned from Iraq.

If you have never seen the Luminaria Ceremony, that alone is worth a trip to the fairgrounds on Saturday night. Following Rose's 11pm address the Luminaria Lap will take place. It's a somber walk around the track with thousands of candles glowing in honor of those lives who have been touched by cancer.

Hopefully, the weather will cooperate this weekend, especially on Saturday evening. The weather's been so uncooperative lately that I figure for such a worthy cause a beautiful evening is due. North Country Cable Network plans on videotaping several of the activities. The local chapter of the American Cancer Society is to be praised for organizing such a tribute to cancer survivors. In my preparations for videotaping I've been in touch with Joan Brown, Angela Jennette and Faye Fitzgerald. As I have learned from my video work with the Fitzpatrick Cancer Center at CVPH, cancer survivorship begins with the day of diagnosis.

We all know someone whose life has been changed or challenged by cancer. Here's a great opportunity to pay tribute to that person, by walking a lap or two on Saturday night, or by just being there, remembering that special person. Hope to see you there. I don't plan on sleeping until about 8 o'clock Sunday morning. Think the ol' Fox can make it?

Posted by Foxy Gagnon at 7:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

it's a shame about the Hotel Holland. Fire in the early morning hours last Tuesday destroyed the Rouses Point landmark. In recent years it had been unoccupied, and, prior to that, it had been used by a television company.

If you had never been in the Hotel Holland in its heyday you really missed something. I was just seven years old when I first stood in the lobby of the hotel, but I have never forgotten it. You see, the owner, Bertha Jillson, was a best friend of my grandmother, Alvina Gagnon. On a particular evening during a visit to Rouses Point, my grandmother insisted that we go see Bertha at the Hotel Holland. There was something special that she wanted to show us.

So, my Mom, Dad, little brother and I got into the family Pontiac Star Chief and drove the two blocks to Lake Street. I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked into the Hotel Holland. Standing in the lobby, I had never seen a room so big. Large overstuffed chairs, the smell of cigar smoke, a crystal chandalier. It was almost like it didn't belong there. It was like a New York City hotel in tiny Rouses Point.

Bertha greeted us in the lobby and brought us into another room, the lounge. A few men were at the bar with brown bottles of Genesee in front of them. Bertha pointed upwards and there it was -- the first color television I had ever seen. Even my father was amazed at this new item! It held us spellbound, so different from the black and white televisions we were used to.

I'll never forget that the Arthur Godfrey Show was on. And there he was with orange hair! It looked so bright. It almost glowed off the screen. We all watched in awe, as Bertha and my grandmother chit-chatted about whatever older ladies chit-chat about. We stayed about half an hour and then Bertha brought us into the kitchen and offered my brother and me homemade cookies.

It was a routine that through the years I would repeat often. Visiting the Hotel Holland with my grandmother and sitting in the lobby, in those overstuffed chairs while my grandmother and Bertha traded stories about people and events. I remember seeing Hank Jillson behind the registration desk, usually with a cigar in hand. And usually there would be men in the lobby, all dressed up in ties and such, reading the newspaper. Any minute now, you almost expected a movie star, maybe Bette Davis or - - dare I say it? -- Marilyn Monroe to walk down the stairway.

Then, before we'd leave, a trip to the kitchen was mandatory. There was always some kind of great dessert. Maybe strawberry shortcake this time. Or chocolate cake. And always homemade cookies.

The Hotel Holland was a one-of-a-kind place for the North Country. To my knowledge even the big city of Plattsburgh didn't have such a beautiful hotel. It's too bad that with the passing of time things have to change. The Hotel Holland, with its beautiful lobby, spacious dining room, mahogany bar with the color television and, of course, kitchen with all the goodies, should have lived forever. Rouses Point will never see such a sight again.

Posted by Foxy Gagnon at 6:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

It's been fun reminiscing about people I have known over the 58-plus years I've been a North Country resident. There are many memorable characters, indeed, and I have appreciated the additions from fellow bloggers. My list of "Foxy's Ten Most Unforgettable Characters" was completed before I began the series with Part One. The first eight choices, in random order, have been: Joe Bornstein, Michael Finnegan, Gary Finney, Bobby Hall, Gordie Little, Dave Mayette, Billy McNeil and Mayor Roland St. Pierre. That leaves just two! One has been mentioned by fellow bloggers. The other, however, has not been mentioned, but I have a feeling that most readers will agree with my choice.

Hence, the final two choices of people I have known who are "memorable characters," people who often brought a smile to my face, for one reason or another.

#9 - STAN "THE MAN" WOODWARD - I have to admit I never even spoke to Stan. But, as I was a youngster growing up in Plattsburgh, I probably saw Stan "The Man" everytime I was on City Hall Place. He just always seemed to be around, standing in front of the Hotel Deliri, or crossing the street towards the diner or turning the corner and heading down Bridge Street. If you never knew him, you should know he was a "little person." My friend Sal Righi recalls that Stan would be in the Fourth of July parade, usually on the Genesee Beer float. He'd do flips and cartwheels to entertain the crowd. I like to think that had I been older, maybe Stan and I would have been drinking buddies, although I'm not sure I could keep up with him! He was a well-loved Plattsburgh guy who had many friends. I wish I had known him better.

#10 - AL ZAFERAKIS - Without a doubt, "Z" was quite a character. Fun-loving and caring, he was the kind of guy who knew everyone. And everyone loved him. A teacher at Plattsburgh Middle School, he was known as "Mr. Z." Sometimes his booming deep voice would resound through the halls. Z's classrooom was full of plants, and my friend John Haubner recalled a few days ago how Z used to give out tomato plants to anyone and everyone around town. In front of Stafford Middle School today is the Al Zaferakis Memorial Garden. When Z would leave school for lunch, he would light up a big cigar and head to Nick's Restaurant on Brinkerhoff Street. No matter what he ate for lunch, he'd top it off with a bowl of rice pudding before he left. In winter he'd wear that big fur coat, and, on the way there and on the way back to school, there was always a chorus of honking cars, because everybody knew Z. In the summertime he was Clare & Carl's most popular carhop, a job he loved, because he would see so many friends. Several years ago I had a party of "old-timers" from my early days of teaching. Guys like Mal, John, Ray, Paul, Rod, Rich, Sal, Skip, Arnie and Mike. There were many legendary stories told and most them involved Z in one fashion or another, whether it was sailing over the Smith-Weed Bridge or playing golf in Canada. Z died at a young age. We all knew it was unfair, but figured God needed a "head honcho" in heaven. If you knew Z, you still miss him. He was one of a kind!

HONORABLE MENTION - Several bloggers mentioned several names that would be on their own list of memorable characters. Some are people I knew, some I didn't. Had my list been longer I would probably have included the following: Barry Branon, Happy LaMare, The Plattsburgh North Star Wild Man, the Giroux Boys in their younger years (especially Joe, George and Marcel), my own brother Goose, Max Larios, my high school buddy John Des Rocher and my fraternity brother Ernie Witkowski.

What all this points out, I guess, is that the North Country is probably one of the most colorful and fun places to live because of the memorable people who are here!

Posted by Foxy Gagnon at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

In previous blogs I have listed some of the most memorable characters that I've known while growing up in Plattsburgh. These are not necessarily the most important people in my life. These are people who, for one reason or another, have made me shake my head and smile and think, "What a character!" In many cases, it would be someone who was fun or daring or outspoken or outlandish. So far I have listed the following characters: Joe Bornstein, Michael Finnegan, Gary Finney, Bobby Hall, Gordie Little and Dave Mayette. That leaves four more to complete my list of "Foxy's Ten Most Unforgettable Characters."

#7 - BILLY McNEIL - If you know Billy, then you know that Billy has hundreds of ways to make you laugh. I grew up with Billy from fifth grade at Our Lady of Victory Academy all the way through high school graduation. He played football with reckless abandon, he played basketball with reckless abandon, knees and elbows flying as he went for a rebound, and he had a strong right arm in baseball, the type of pitcher who was tough to hit when he wasn't hitting you with his fastball. Away from sports no one was better at taking a dare than Billy McNeil. His bus trip around the OLVA playground is a legendary story. No one tells that story better than Mike Flynn, who was on the bus with me. But that's a story for another blog. In our Class of 1966 yearbook, under "Class Clown" is the name "Billy McNeil." I haven't seen Billy in years. I don't know if he still lives in the North Country or not. I'd like to see him! I'm sure we'd have a good time and plenty to talk about. He was quite a character!

#8 - MAYOR REV. ROLAND ST. PIERRE - Whether he was speaking from the pulpit or speaking from his mayoral seat in the Common Council chambers, Fr. St. Pierre was colorful and interesting. Fr. St. Pierre was mayor of our city from 1972-1977. In public he was often accompanied by a big cigar and when he spoke he waved his arms in demonstrative fashion. One former city alderman recalls that "when he'd get mad that cigar would wiggle ... and it would wiggle a lot!" I didn't always agree with his political viewpoints, but I did enjoy his gift of gab and his eloquence. A favorite quote of his, referring to his lofty ambitions, and perhaps said tongue-in-cheek, was "Plattsburgh, Albany, Washington and Rome!" Fr. St. Pierre is now a retired priest and no longer lives in the North Country. But he will always be one of Plattsburgh's most colorful public officials.

Do you have a suggestion? It's not too late for fellow bloggers to throw in their opinions!

Posted by Foxy Gagnon at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

In this series of blogs I am recalling people from my life in Plattsburgh who I will never forget. They are people one might call "quite a character," from my viewpoint on the sidelines. In Part One I selected Joe "The Old Soldier" Bornstein, Michael Finnegan and Gary "The Upstate New Yorker" Finney.

#4 - BOBBY HALL - Some people might be surprised at my selection here. I've known Bobby Hall a long time and there's one thing about Bobby that has never changed: he tells it like it is. Don't expect Bobby to sugarcoat anything. If he likes it, he'll tell you. If he doesn't like it, he'll tell you. But he won't pretend to like it! He was involved in Plattsburgh politics through the years, won some elections and lost some, but I wouldn't call him a politician. He will fight to the last for the "little guy," and with me being just 5 feet, six inches tall, I'd call myself "a little guy." Even though he's a New York Yankees fan, I've always liked Bobby Hall for the way he stands up for what he believes in. He doesn't cave in to "pressures from above," if you know what I mean. He can give and take jokes with the best of them and, these days, he makes a great hot pepper steak (see blog "The Hot Pepper Steak" - February 20). Bobby Hall is "quite a character" in my book.

#5 - GORDIE LITTLE - I think Gordie is "quite a character" because he's one of those guys who everybody knows. From his radio days in Plattsburgh to his television days with Calvin Castine, Gordie has spoken to more people than Santa Claus. And, to a person, they will tell you how much they love Gordie Little. It's ironic that in his radio days he added the nickname "Who's He?" to his name. There is no one who doesn't know who Gordie is. Gordie is well-traveled, well-versed and has an unfailing memory for places he's been and people he's met. He writes a column in the Sunday edition of the Press-Republican, reflecting upon days gone by and imagining days ahead. He's the kind of guy everyone feels they can walk up to and say hello. When pages are written about North Country personalities in this lifetime, Gordie Little will have to be included.

#6 - DAVE MAYETTE - Now here's a guy who even looks the part of a Plattsburgh character. With that long beard nestled on his chest, he has become one of the North Country's most colorful and finest baseball umpires. Years ago, Dave was the home plate umpire at a high school baseball game. Dave had to handle a "disagreement" between the two opposing coaches. It wasn't easy! The confrontation between coaches could have turned ugly, but Dave gave it one of his "Boys, boys, boys, take it easy!" speeches and calm was restored. And they could never have a St. Patrick's Day celebration in "the 'Burgh" without Dave's presence. There is no one in the county who better fits the role of the lucky leprachaun. When it comes to memorable characters in Plattsburgh, Dave Mayette makes my list!

Tomorrow's blog: a continuation of "Foxy's Ten Most Unforgettable Characters"

Posted by Foxy Gagnon at 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

In the introduction to this series of blogs about the North Country's "unforgettable characters," I tried to generally define what I'm writing about. I have been making a list of people who, in my lifetime, I will never forget. People who were in some ways "bigger than life," or did things that might have been "over the edge" or "above and beyond the call of duty." And contributors to the intro suggested some great North Country characters from their lifetimes.

My list of "Foxy's Ten Most Unforgettable Characters" will be presented in random order, because there would be no possible way of ranking them from one to ten. They are all people who, in my lifetime, I'd call "quite a character." Remember, too, that this is from my own lifetime, and readers are encouraged to continue to add, suggest, and remark upon my thoughts recorded here.

#1 - JOE BORNSTEIN - Also known as "The Old Soldier" Joe emceed more dinners, banquets, award ceremonies, breakfasts, luncheons, and political dinners than anyone in the history of the North Country. He always had a few funny stories about life in the North Country. Somehow he usually managed to avoid repeating his jokes from one event to the next. But even if you had already heard the story once, the way Joe told it, it was still funny the second time. He was the kind of guy that everyone knew, and he enjoyed sharing his friendship with many. Towards the end he especially enjoyed his lunches with his buddies at Mr. Wu's Chinese restaurant on Margaret Street. He was admired for his honesty, his sense of humor and his friendliness. A dedicated Democrat, he was friends with everyone, regardless of party affiliation. Had he chosen to run, he probably would have been elected mayor. He was selected by the Chamber of Commerce as the first-ever "Irishman of the Year" in 1959, and loved attending those St. Patrick's Day breakfasts each year. Joe passed away in 2004. Mayor Dan Stewart said at the time that Joe "will be remembered as one of the most important men in the city's history." Joe Bornstein - a true North Country character, no question about it!

#2 - MICHAEL FINNEGAN - As I was growing up in Plattsburgh, it seemed that no matter where my parents took me, I would see this little white-haired fellow, bouncing around the festivities, talking with everyone and enjoying the event. As I got older, I found out that his name was Michael Finnegan, and I soon saw that he loved the city of Plattsburgh. If WIRY Radio had a special event, like the "Miles of Dimes," Michael would be there, passing his hat around to collect contributions and helping Gordie Little or Chet Bosworth or Ben Everest. On the Fourth of July, you could count on Mike being decked out in bright red pants and a red, white and blue shirt to celebrate the day. He was funny and he was fun. In 1988 the Chamber of Commerce recognized his community involvement by selecting him as the "Irishman of the Year." I only talked to Mike a few times in my lifetime, but I saw him at hundreds of community events. When I was getting married in 1969, I put an ad in the newspaper, selling my collection of 45rpm records. Mike called me and we quickly agreed on a fair price. Mike became the happy owner of my Ricky Nelsons and Chuck Berrys and Elvis Presleys. I knew they were going to a good home! Micheal Finnegan died several years ago, but he left a lasting impression on many Plattsburgh residents.

#3 - GARY FINNEY - I guess you could say that Gary Finney is the epitome of the "Upstate New Yorker." That's not just the title of a song that Gary wrote, but I think it's the way he has lived his life. He has made so many friends in his lifetime, with his businesses, his coaching and his music. Just by being himself. Now here's a guy who is willing to laugh at himself and entertain a crowd. Even when he was coaching basketball at Ausable Valley Central, he was entertaining to watch. All of sudden you might see that big body catapult off his chair and stomp the sidelines, yelling encouragement at his players or reprimands for the officials. He'd rip off his suitcoat and twirl it around before sending it to a crash landing on the bleachers. All to the delight of the crowd, and, I suspect, as a ploy to rev up his players. Gary is kind and would give you the shirt off his back. In fact, I've seen Gary in public several times with no shirt on -- singing to his audiences and making them laugh. It's one of those scenes that is memorable, but you try to forget! He's been to Nashville to record, but we know his heart is as big as the North Country. He's a true "Upstate New Yorker" and quite a character!

Next blog: a continuation of "Foxy''s Ten Most Unforgettable Characters."

Posted by Foxy Gagnon at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After I write a blog I always go directly to the Press Repubican website and read what I've just posted, to double-check for writing errors; it's an old habit from writing essays in high school and college. That's where I have to look at my picture and read that I'm a "pundit, raconteur and general character." It's the "general character" part that I've been thinking about. Oh, I've heard people say sometimes, "Foxy, you are quite a character" after I've said something stupid or made somebody laugh. And Paul Dingman used to refer to me with the comment, "There's not enough mustard to put on that hot dog!"

But I'm just wondering what is a "general character"? I've come across several people in my lifetime who are certainly memorable for one reason or another. People who are memorable characters because of the way they acted, the way they talked, the way they looked. I don't mean people like my Dad or Mr. John Flynn, my high school coach, or Monsignor Brisson, who was probably a saint living on Earth over at the Our Lady of Victory rectory. These three and others are memorable and had a profound effect upon me as I grew up.

I guess what I'm talking about are people around Plattsburgh who were a little "over the edge," who were willing to go "above and beyond" in their ways of life. People who in some ways were "bigger than life." As you can see, what I'm trying to put my finger on is someone who is hard to define. I'm making a list of my "Ten Most Unforgettable Characters" -- people I've known in my lifetime, who, for whatever reasons, made me shake my head and say, "What a character!" In a good way!

Do you know what I'm talking about? Do you have someone in mind? Before I list my "Top Ten Most Unforgettable Plattsburgh characters" I invite my fellow bloggers to toss in their ideas. Maybe you and I will match up. Anyone in mind?

Tomorrow: the first five of my "Ten Unforgettable Characters."

Posted by Foxy Gagnon at 7:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)