LITTLE ITALY NEWS JULY 2007

troylittleitaly@gmail.com
HISTORIC SIGNS DEDICATION
CEREMONY
The combined efforts of Hudson Mohawk
Gateway and Troys Little Italy brought
together almost eighty people on Saturday,
June 16th to St. Marys Parish Center for
the start of our historic marker event. At
any point in time there were between fty
and sixty people touring the neighborhood
as well. The bright blue and yellow historic
markers are a welcome attraction along
the streets of the neighborhood.
Many thanks to Mayor Harry Tutunjian
and Viestarts Zubkovs and Tim Mattice,
City Planning Ofce for encouraging
Troys Little Italy to apply for Community
Development Block Grant funds last year
which paid for the historic signs and to
Jim Rivers and the workers from Trafc
Engineering. City and county crews did an
extra clean-up around the site areas. Fourth
Street business owner Jean Krueger wrote
the successful grant. Little Italy Historic
Marker Committee Members were Sam
Chiappone, Andrea Daley, Mike Esposito
(Chair), and Dan Lennon.
Thanks to the speakers at the dedication
sites. James Conroy, St. Marys Parish
Council member emphasized several
institutions founded by Reverend Peter
Havermans including St. Marys Hospital,
LaSalle Institute and Troy churches (St.
Marys, St. Josephs and St. Francis de
Sales) still provide important services to
area residents. Troy artist John Connors
reminded us that many of the paintings of
American artist Norman Rockwell were
all about community and the spirit of the
people who lived in them. Tom Carroll
and Michael Barrett, Executive Director
and Deputy Directory of the Gateway,
provided historical background on the
importance of the Gasholder House and
the Poestenkill to Troy. Gateway also
announced our event in the brochure they
send to several thousand individuals on
their mailing list in early May. We look
forward to partnering with the Gateway in
future events.

Bill Sage, owner of the Gasholder House, with Bills grandson and son, Kevin
Our thanks to Sam Marro (Administrator,
St. Marys Church) and St. Marys Parish
for hosting the pre-tour coffee hour. Nancy
Russomanno, Barbara McMahon and
Carmella Casale organized this part of the
event and served the refreshments. Bill
and Mary Sage and members of the Sage
family, owners of the Gasholder House
provided refreshments at the conclusion of
the tour. John Freer (resident/owner of 296
Fourth Street) and Mike Esposito added
their copies of Rockwell memorabilia to
the Gasholder exhibit on the artist.
Catskill Casting was the sign manufacturer.
The Poestenkill inscription was from
a brochure written by Jack Crowl and
Kathryn A. Youngs on the Poestenkill
Gorge. Diana S. Waite suggested the
wording on the Gasholder House
inscription. The neighborhood committee
wrote the inscription for the Father
Havermans and the Norman Rockwell

signs. An article referred to in the program

brochure called Slice of Rockwells
Troy for Sale was by Tim OBrien and
Jonathan Fickies, Times Union reporter
and photographer. Joe Connors graciously
provided complimentary postcards of
the Gasholder House. William Gill,
Steve Muller, Dorcas and Ken Rose
and Stephanie Stoyle assisted at the
Gasholder House and Nicholas Casale,
Sam Chiappone, Jerry Favata and Marion
Field assisted with the tour.
Kathy Sheehan of the Rensselaer County
Historical Society provided valuable
assistance in preparing an exhibit on Father
Havermans based on information available
at St. Marys Parish, St. Marys Hospital,
LaSalle Institute, RCHS and Troy Public
Library. Kathy, Chris Cusack (St. Marys
Parish), and Sister Mary Madeleine and
Sister Martha Ann (St. Marys Hospital)
assisted Mike Esposito with research

on the exhibit. St. Marys parishioner

Clement Campana photographed the
dedication events
.
Finally, all who attended had the pleasure
of meeting Andy and Mona Van Den
Corput and Nellie and Joseph Van Den
Ouewland, four of Father Havermans
relatives from the Province of Ontario,
Canada who came to Troy for the event.
Again, many thanks to all who made our
celebration of history a great success and
special thanks to the many people from
near and far who attended the event.

incidents are: Community Police 2704689; Anonymous Tip Line, 270-5004;

Downtown Police Station, 270-4421; Nonemergencies, 270-4411, Emergencies,
911.

As plans for The MarketPlace restoration

continue, its long and colorful history
will most certainly be acknowledged and
celebrated. In the meantime please note
that additional memorial bricks have
been recently added to the memory wall
adjacent to the bocce courts. We will
continue to highlight our neighborhood
history and request your suggestions for
input. Working together as a neighborhood
partnering with local institutions and
organizations we can continue the
celebration!

There were 27 arrests in the South Troy

area from 5/17 to 6/17. Ofcer McDonald
provides a detailed list and a coded map
with the locations of the arrests at each
meeting. Offenses include, but are not
limited to Curfew Violations, Parole
Warrants, Burglary, Disorderly Conduct,
and Harassment.

CRACKDOWN ON FIREWORKS
UNDER WAY
With this headline in The Record
(Saturday, June 23, 2007) an ofcial from
the Consumer Protection Board stated
clearly Fireworks are illegal and a threat
to public safety! During this holiday
season the State Police will be targeting
those individuals transporting reworks
in an effort to curtail the illegal ow of
reworks into the state. Now its up to
parents and children to do the rest: to
avoid reworks not only because they are
dangerous and unpredictable, but because
they are illegal and a threat to public
safety.
New York States Fireworks Law Section
270 of the state Penal Law governs
the possession, sale and use of illegal
reworks. Dangerous reworks include
recrackers containing more than 50
milligrams of any explosive substance,
torpedoes, skyrockets and rockets such as
Roman candles, bombs, sparklers more
then ten inches in length or one-fourth of
an inch in diameter, or chasers including
all devices which dart or travel about the
surface of the ground during discharge.
The penalties range from violations to
Class A & B misdemeanors and in some
cases can be considered a Class E felony.
Among the several places to report

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
UPDATE
The last Neighborhood Watch Meeting
was held on Wednesday, June 20th at the
Freihofers Race Headquarters. Ofcer
McDonald provided crime statistics for
the South Central Troy Area. Here are the
highlights from the meeting:

chris.mcdonald@troyny.gov or by calling
the SOS condential hotline number at
270-5004. As always for emergencies,
call 911. The residents of South Troy are
truly on watch and at every meeting,
we see more and more progress that is
directly related to information from the
community.
If you want to receive regular updates
through email and get crime alerts, please
send an email to sctroywatch@gmail.com
Feel free to let your friends know about
this address. The next Neighborhood
Watch Meeting will be on July 18th at
6:00 at the Freihofers Race Headquarters
at the corner of 4th and Washington.

TRASH RECEPTACLES ARRIVE

ON FOURTH

Another item on our list of CDBG

funded projects has arrived. Residents
Over 15 properties in our area have been have noticed by now the dark green
addressed for code issues in the last trash receptacles placed recently
month.
along Fourth Street beginning at Ida
and working north. The receptacles
The NICE Program has started in our were a high priority among the list of
area. This encompasses the South Troy items requested by residents attending
area excluding Historic Districts. If you neighborhood meetings.
are unfamiliar with the details a summary
can be sent to you, please just request at
sctroywatch@gmail.com.
A request for a City Engineering review of
the intersection of Second and Washington
Streets has resulted in approval for stop
signs at that location. This should greatly
reduce the high number of auto accidents
at that intersection.
Captain Cooney gave a great presentation
on internet safety relating specically to
sexual predators. He shared a lot of great
tips for keeping your kids safe online. Do
you know what POS means? Parent over
shoulderThank you Captain Cooney
for sharing great information on computer
safety.
The whole SC Troy area was mapped out
and several residents have volunteered to
scan their areas for grafti that needs to
be removed and broken street lights that
need repair. Thanks to all the residents
who have agreed to donate their time to
make our neighborhood safer. We really
appreciate it.
lease report any incidents that are of
concern to you to either Chris McDonald at

Fourth is a busy commercial/

residential street (the Main Street
of Troys South Central). The
combination of pedestrians, cars,
buses, trucks, business establishments
and hundreds of residences along
Fourth creates the potential for a lot
of trash and litter on the sidewalks
and in the gutters. Try as we may
to keep the busy street clean (often
neighbors and business owners are
seen picking up several times a
day) the trash and litter accumulates
blowing down the street from one
sidewalk to another. Hopefully, the
addition of conveniently placed trash
receptacles (two to each intersection)
will make cleanups easier. Please
pitch in and pick
up! The whole of
Fourth Street is a
gateway to many
parts of Troy.
A clean street
leaves a positive
impression.
Twelve new trash cans on Fourth St.

A BIG THANK YOU

Special thanks to Mayor Harry Tutunjian
and his staff for allowing us to utilize
the Marketplace for our Cinema Under
the Stars events, to Rocco DeFazio for
planning the event and to Clem Campana
for his assistance in procuring Bob Racette,
the coordinator of Institutional Technical
Services at HVCC. Kudos to Bob and his
staff for a well planned event. We enjoyed
the cartoons, Bob. Thanks!
Thank you to George Regan for his
generosity and hard work on our estate
sale. Georges donation was made in
memory of his dear friend Dorothy Howe
Paddock who passed away recently. Thank
you, Peter Kehoe, for the contribution of
space for the sale. Thank you to all the
volunteers, Harriet and David Graham,
Andrea Daley, Marion Field, Gail and Erin
Hutton, Jean Krueger, Heather Hamlin,
and, again, to George Regan who made
the sale a success. .

The Eagle Floats on Friday...and Mon.,

Tues., Wed. and Thurs. at City Hall.
RED, WHITE, BLUE & EAGLE, TOO
The
Troy
Little
Italy
Flag
Day Float will be on display on the rst
oor lobby of Troy City Hall at One
Monument Square, Downtown Troy. The
ve foot sculpture is made of recycled
cardboard, wood, chicken wire and spray
paint. Based upon the concept of Joe
Mancino of Fourth St. Flavour Cafe fame,
a dedicated crew of Little Italy residents
worked for 2 weeks to build it in a former
produce market by the MarketPlace on
Hill St. Were proud to have been a part of
this years Flag Day celebration
CINEMA UNDER THE STARS
Our rst endeavor for movie night was a
success. A crowd of 50 people (with their
chairs in tow) enjoyed watching a young
Anthony Quinn and Richard Basehart
in Fellinis award winning movie La
Strada. Join us for the next movie,
on Friday July 27th, 8:45PM, at the
MarketPlace, Hill St. btwn. Liberty and
Washington, for Vittorio De Sicas The
Bicycle Thief In case of rain we will
be moving into the Gasholder House on
Jefferson and Fifth.

Thanks to Joe Mancino for his idea for our

Flag Day Parade oat, Jean Krueger for her
incredible talent and design, Mary Armao,
Gina Corina, Dan Lennon and Erin Hutton
who followed Jean and Joes direction and
created a work of art. Thanks to all the
Little Italy businesses who participated
by purchasing and displaying signs on the
oat. And thanks to Peter La Rocca and
Karen Messick for pulling the oat in the
Flag Day Parade.
Thank you to Clare Davis and Troy in
Bloom for our new shrubbery and thank
you to Bernice Bornt Ledeboer for
regularly maintaining Liberty Park at 4th
and Liberty by sweeping and trimming.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
A meeting of the citywide neighborhood
groups was held on June 26th at the
Lansingburgh Police sub station. The
Mayor, Councilman and representatives of
area groups were in attendance. A decision
was made to join in the nationwide
celebration of National Night Out on
August 7, 2007. A vote was taken, and the
outcome was that each neighborhood will
decide how and what works best for their
area. For those who do not have a large
group, they are encouraged to join their
adjoining neighbors.
National Night Out was established to
heighten crime and drug prevention
awareness, strengthen neighborhood
spirit, and send a message to criminals
that we are watching.

Our focus on August 7th will be to come

out and Meet and Greet Your Neighbor.
A block party will be planned for that
night to be held at the Marketplace from
5:30 to 9pm. The menu for the evening
will be a covered dish supper, along with
music, entertainment for the children,
good conversation and perhaps a few
surprises. Troy Little Italy will be having
a planning meeting for anyone who wants
to attend. Call Marion Field 266-1406 or
email mvf1406@aol.com.

SOUTH CENTRAL/LITTLE ITALY

IN THE NEWS
The Record, July 1, 2007, pp22, 35
Memorial Wall honors Italian Americans
who served in WWII by Kathryn
Caggianelli. Former Little Italy residents
Nicholas Grinaldo (Fourth Street) and
Samuel Dinova (Havermans Avenue),
seventeen year old when they enlisted in
the 105th Infantry Division who eventually
fought in the Battle of Saipan are featured
in an article commemorating the 63rd
anniversary of the erce battle which
lasted from June 15 to July 9, 1944. Three
bricks were added to the Memorial Wall
at The MarketPlace to remind residents of
the sacrices of the many who served.
The Record, June 28, 2007, p6
Little Italy offers free lms under the stars
by Danielle Sanzone. Italian language lms
will be shown the last Friday of the month
following Troy Night Out at 8:45 pm at
The MarketPlace. In the event of rain,
the lms will be shown at The Gasholder
House. LaStrada was the feature for June;
The Bicycle Thief, Umberto D and The
Flowers of St. Francis follow in July,
August and September.
The Evangelist, June 21, 2007, p9
Nun opened Mediterranean heart to
the sick by Kate Blain. Sister Carmelite
Germinaro born and raised on Little Italys
Hill Street was featured in an article. Sister
spent many years in the Troy community
serving as principal of St. Marys School
on Third Street and twenty ve years at
the pastoral care department of St. Marys
Hospital in Troy. Sister Carmelite now
resides at St. Louise House in Menands.
Area print media provided good coverage
of the combined effort of the Gateway
and Little Italy tour of historic sites and
historic marker dedications held June 16.
The Record, June 19, Thanks offered to
all (who participated) by Mike Esposito
The Evangelist, June 7, 2007
Troy plaque honors a legendary pastor by
Pat Pasternak

The Record, June 3, 2007, p11, History

abounds in South Central
by Mike Esposito
The Advertiser, four recent issues
Celebrating neighborhood history
The Record, May 23, 2007, p16
Community Roundup tour of historic sites
and historic marker dedications.
Daily Historian photos, June 12, 2007,
p16, 1945 Wood carved tribute to WWII
by Phillip Campana and Michael Bazicki
located at residences between 256 and 258
Fourth Street submitted by C. A. Bieg.
OSGOOD NEIGHBORHOODS
CHURCH, HOUSE & GARDEN TOUR
July 14, 2007 10 am 2 pm Osgood
Neighborhoods Church, House & Garden
Tour. Registration is at the former Police
Substation building next to the Osgood Fire
House, corner of Canal Avenue & Third
Street. This is a self-guided tour. Cost is
$10 per person. Programs will be available
containing general information and a map
of the neighborhood with locations of sites
open for the tour including two churches,
St. Nicholas Ukrainian and St. Josephs.

PROSPECT PARK CONCERT

SERIES
July 31, Aug. 7, 14, 21 Prospect Park
Concert Series in the park to celebrate
the parks 100th Anniversary, Also,
continuing until Sept. 15, Prospect Park
100th Anniversary Exhibit at Rensselaer
County Historic Society. For information,
www.rchsonline.org or call 272-7232x15.
ART OPENING DOWNTOWN
The Martinez Gallery will have an opening
reception for its new show Landscapes
or Else on Saturday, July 7, from 6 to 8
pm at the gallery, 3 Broadway, Troy. The
show includes 10 artists, painters and
sculptors.
ART CENTER SEEKS TEACHERS
The Arts Center of the Capital Region
is seeking instructors, lecturers and
workshop artists in all media, drawing,
painting, jewelry, stained glass, pottery,
woodworking, printmaking, sculpture,
photography, writing, and performing.
Please send your resume and a brief
description of classes you would like to
teach to The Arts Center of the Capital
Region, c/o Sandy Lipman, Associate
Director of Education, 265 River
Street, Troy, N.Y. 12180 or email to
sandy@artscenteronline.org.
The Arts Center
265 River Street, Troy, NY 12180

THE TROY CINEMA

The Troy Cinema and Visual Arts Group,
Inc., will host a screening of a feature
movie entitled The Assassin produced
and directed by a lmmaker from the
Capital District on Wednesday, July18,
at 7 pm at the Arts Center of the Capital
District on River St. This movie, which has
been making the rounds of lm festivals,
is for members of the Cinema Club and
their guests. One may become a member
for the month for $10. More information
is available at www.troycinema.org. The
organization is also sending out a call
for entries of short lms and videos. The
competition will be juried, but there is no
entry fee. The deadline for submission is
July 25, 2007. The rules for the competition
are on Troy Cinemas web site.
TROYS RIVERFRONT PARK
CONCERT S 2007 SCHEDULE
The following is the schedule for Troys
Riverfront Park Concert Series presented
by Collar City Live! There are also
concerts scheduled in Powers Park and
Prospect Park. You can pick up the
complete schedule at one of the shows or
look on line. Please help spread the word.
Sun., July 8, 6PM, Georgie Wonders Big
Band
Sun., July 15, 6PM, Nightingale
Sun., July 22, 6PM Sonny & Perley,
Brazilian Romance
Sun., July 29, 6PM Taineri Latin night
Sun., Aug. 5, 6PM The Lustre Kings
Rockabilly
Sun., Aug. 12, 6PM, Blind Mice
Sun., Aug. 19, 6PM, The Ron Cremisio
Band
Sun., Aug. 26, 2PM, Take Me To The
River Blues Fest Featuring Danny Kalb
FOR THE KIDS
Wed., July 11, noon, Peter, Paul & George
Family Dance
Wed., July 18, noon, Sensemaya for kids
Wed., July 25, noon, Tom Winslow
Wed., Aug. 1, noon, Ivy Vine Players
Wed.,Aug. 8, noon, Cranberry the Clown
Wed., Aug. 15, noon, Tales & Tunes
Wed., Aug. 22, noon, Hamilton Hill Steel
Drum Band.
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE OR RENT
1 Family
160 2nd St., $295,000, Tom, 391-2494.
29 Jefferson, $79,900, Joseph, 286-2903.
2 Family
65 Hill St., $117,900, William, 331-4755.
68 Ida Street, $164,900, Anne, 424-4099.
120 Jefferson St. $47,500, Brian 452-4298.
1032 6th Ave., $89,900, Chester, 577-8562.

Multi Units
144 Hill Street , $72,000, Bill, 577-7798.
319 4th Street, $129,000, Jim, 588-6755.
177 4th Street, $239,900, Barbara
424-5291.
183 3rd Street, $249,000, Patricia,
229-5800.
148 3rd Street, $77,500, Leon, 727-7493.
251 2nd Street, $158,900, Mary,
577-6490.
Commercial
6 Franklin Place, $159,000, Jim,
588-6755.
Rentals
Near Italian Community Center. Ist , 2
bedroom, fenced yard, updated kitchen,
laundry, $695 plus util. Call Kristen 448-5014
More rentals
HUGE 3 bedroom apartment on the second
oor at 275 4th street available soon for
$775.00 per month plus heat and utilities. Call
869-4144, Dave Slattery.There will also be a
2 bedroom available on the 3rd oor of this
same building for $625.00 per month plus heat
& utilitities.
Fourth oor 2,000 square foot apartment in
downtown Troy. Plenty of sun and windows.
Hardwood oors, laundry in building. Washer/
Dryer hook-ups in apt. Looking for mature,
responsible adults. No smoking. Pets okay
if housebroken. Will expect to meet the pets
prior. Security and rst/last months rent up
front. Must supply references. $1,000+ Avai
lable August 1st. 365-4667

Help Resourcess
Emergencies
Trafc Safety
Non-Emergencies
Downtown Station
North Station
South Station
Community Police
Special Operations
Animal Control
Tip Line, Anonys.
Detective Unit

911
270-5157
270-4411
270-4421
237-2398
273-1682
270-4689
270-5854
270-4640
270-5004
270-4426.

Troy Night Out

Friday July 27
5-9PM
DOWNTOWN TROY &
LITTLE ITALY