Sunday, October 7, 2007

Obituaries for Sunday September,7 2007

Five Points Grocery R.I.P
Five Points was a fixture on the South Side of Saratoga for as long as anyone can remember. It survived the Vietnam War, the invasion of Grenada, and out lasted the Cold War. Dick Pugliese was it's most famous owner. Complete with his comb over, cigar, and .38 tucked in his waist band. Dick always had a kind word and a kind heart. Five Points was a place to get city news, fresh coffee, daily newspaper, and a helping hand if needed. The store was a pioneer in the arcade game industry. The store employed dozens of neighborhood citizens over the years. On Christmas Day 1992 the store was open for a few hours so people could buy items for breakfast and any other last minute items.
Five Points quietly passed away when it was sold to some carpet begger asshole and his wife. Rich people who do not need to bust their ass to provide adequate service because they are not in need of the income. It was stricken with the illness of a 20 seat cafe, new product line, and shitty snotty service.
Five Points is survived by a community that may never get over it's loss......

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Thomas J. Knowlton lovingly known as Bingo

Thomas J. Knowlton, 73, of Knowlton Rd., Fonda, NY, Montgomery County, passed away Thursday morning, September 20, 2007 at the VA Medical Center Hospital in Albany.Born in Amsterdam, NY on August 12, 1934, a son of Francis and Margaret Healey Knowlton. Mr. Knowlton grew up in the Fonda area and was a 1951 graduate of Fonda High School. He left the area for a time and lived in Florida and Arizona.He was a U.S. Army veteran serving from 1956 to 1958, serving overseas in Germany. Thomas returned to the Fonda area in the 1970s where he has resided since. He was employed as an Iron worker by the Iron Workers Union Local No. 12 of Albany, NY and also worked as a Bartender, most recently working this summer at the Saratoga Race course. He was a member of the Hotel, Motel, Restaurant Workers Union Local No. 471 AFL-CIO. Mr. Knowlton was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, the American Legion Post No. 0337 of Broadalbin, NY and the Johnstown Moose Lodge. He was an avid horse racing fan (Barkley Tagg). He is survived by two brothers, Francis Knowlton (Evelyn) of Fonda, NY and David Knowlton (Cathy) of Tribes Hill, NY; one sister, Margaret Flint (Harold) of Fonda, NY. Several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. Thomas was predeceased by his brother, Martin “Marty” Knowlton on September 10, 2006.Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 9 a.m. at the Jackson & Betz Funeral Home, 15 Main St., Fultonville, NY followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Cecilia’s Roman Catholic Church, Broadway, Fonda, NY with Father Patrick Gallagher as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Cecilia’s Cemetery in Fonda, NY with full military honors. The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, September 24, 2007 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. at the funeral home. The Fraternal Order of the Eagles will meet on Monday at the funeral home at 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Rd., Loudonville, NY 12211 or to Community Hospice of Amsterdam, 246 Manny Corners Rd., Amsterdam, NY 12010. Please sign the family’s online guestbook at www.brbs.funeral.com.

p.s. was a one time person of interest in the Star Of India heist in 1964

Friday, September 14, 2007

Did I Ever Tell You About...

...Ann Gorman. Ann was born Stephanie St. Claire in County Cork, Ireland, known as "Bandit Country" by the locals. She immigrated to New York in 1922. After taking her cut from a bank robbery with Alvin "Creepy" Karpis, in which she drove the getaway car, Ann opened a numbers bank in the Hell's Kitchen section of Manhattan. During this time she would become affiliated with the 40 Thieves street gang, but it was not long before she branched off on her own and operated the leading numbers racket in the city. Ann's departure from the gang was due greatly to the fact she wanted to control the gang. Ann challenged leader Edward Brennan for leadership. They would settle the dispute in bare knuckle fight. Owen Madden, boxing promoter and Cotton Club proprietor, heard of the challenge and decided to promote and stage fight at the Cotton Club itself. Ann would beat Brennan into submission, but the gang could not bear the embarrassment and ousted Ann anyway After the Great Depression and with the end of Prohibition gangsters all over the city saw a decrease in profits. This led to Dutch Shultz muscling in on her numbers game. Ann and her main enforcer Hap "Cement Head" Haswell refused to give into Schultz. This led to one of the biggest waves of violence the city had ever seen. With the wave of violence wearing her and her men down Ann began to complain to the local authorities who just brushed her off, Ann then went to the newspapers and told of the corruption amongst it's senior officers. Shortly thereafter Ann was arrested on trumped up charges. While Ann was in custody Haswell approached Lucky Luciano to aid in ending this turf war. Ann and "Cement Head" Haswell realizing the war couldn't go on agreed to a truce with Schultz that was mediated by Luciano. Ann was allowed to live and operate as long as she payed tax to Luciano and the Commission. Schultz was assassinated on the orders of Luciano in 1935, it has long been rumored "Cement Head" himself did the deed. Ann had nothing to do with his murder, but is remembered for sending a telegram to his hospital bed. It read, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." This incident made headlines across the country. After the death of Arnold Rothstein and Luciano taking firm control and creating the Commission, Ann was asked to move upstate to Saratoga Springs and operate The Brook Gambling House. Ann would operate this establishment up until 1944 when it mysteriously burned down. Ann would then open up the Race View Motel located on Nelson Avenue across from the Back Stretch. The motel became a hot spot in the late 40's and 50's. It became famous for a often imitated but never duplicated duet sang there by Saratoga's own Eddie Sabitini and Frank Sinatra. Their duet of "Paris In the Spring Time" became world famous. Ann has retired to a private life now but her mark has been left on Saratoga forever. Celtic great Bob Cousy said in his autobiography, "Mrs. Gorman was the greatest host when me and the boys played those summer league games at The Brook".

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Saratoga

Day 1- Dodie is mad because the U.S. government denied her request for the 365 and some change calender. All-Pro watched the Fresh Prince of Bell Air dance championships. Market slapped all her kids just for living........

Day 2- Just a blur, too many Budweisersssssssssssssss at The Shack. Shack by day and "$2 you call it" at the Bull Pen at night, not a good decision......

Day 3- Market and All-Pro have launched a $1 exacta box offensive on all races at the track. There is talk that they may pool their dollar then chip in and split a coffee.......

Day 4- 74 Beers was the gaunlet that was thrown down. Doc said it couldn't be done All-Pro disageered, hence the beer fest of 2007 has begun, god save us all.......All-Pro was quoted as saying "Bonds hit 73?" what a pussy....."

Day 5- Took the blame for All-Pro's faux paus, Market was thoughougly pissed. Took a beating for my brother....Market acted on some disinformation......

Day 6- It is Travers Day, and yes I am still alive. The Talapia at the Harness Track was awesome. At 2:30 p.m. All-Pro's beer count is 12, more to follow.....

Day 7- Travers Day +1...All-Pro's beer count was 34, impressive being that it was one of the hottest Travers Days on record. The night was spent on Caroline Street playing the waiting game. Waiting to get into a bar, waiting for a drink, waiting to use the bathroom. All-Pro's beer count may have been 34 but Doc's chimichanga count was 8.......My Uncle O'Rourke has moe stories than the Highway Patrol.........

Day 8- Summer's gone and all the flowers are dying tis you must go and I must bide....come ye back next Travers Day Week....for we'll be here on the porch in sunshine and in shadow......summer time on White Street I love you so..............see you in '08

Sunday, August 12, 2007

How much do you love your siblings?

We recently had a family member go through a rough time with cancer, prognosis was not good. We began to talk about what would you do if it were your sister, brother, or other family member suffering from illness. I came up with many viable and tangible solutions, for example:

If my Brother was gravely ill- Given he knows how to knock down brews, trying to drink him into a beer induced coma would most definatley kill me. I would secretly feed him that Strict-9 laced turkey he got from that Bodega in Ben Salem, Pa. He wouldn't stand a chance. And just to show how much I care for him I would use that action photo of him jumping into the pool in back yard on White St. at his wake. If by some miracle he lived through the turkey I would have MacGuyver and Kevin Allen take him off his death bed and head to 5 Points for some Nibbles&Gibbles hot chips.

If my Mother was ill- I would employ my favorite aunt Grace to come and be her live-in nurse. I would build them bunk beds with auntie Grace on top bunk. I would have Grace read to her and have daily slde-shows of her and Uncle Richards vacations. Aunt Grace would also take my Mother shopping for cotton slacks that were only inspected by Inspector 12. After about a week of this my Mother would be begging me to unplug her machines and let her slip away.

If my Sister was ill- I would slip into her hospital room and smother her with a pillow. Just to show I'm not heartless I would use a clean pillow and I would construct a memorial calendar of her using the 365 days and some change year.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

August CliffsNotes

Just spent a week in the "August Place To Be"? Standing at Albany Airport ready to catch a flight back to where ever it is you came from, so hungry but you can't eat because you just blew 2 weeks pay? Nervous about going to visit family the day after a night out, wondering maybe that you made a total ass out of yourself the night before....but you can't be sure? It's all a blur during August in Saratoga. Every where there are barbecues, parties, and the ever present bar. It's an escape from reality for a brief moment. You are not that swing shift supervisor, the office tech, teacher, doctor, or whoever. You have no responsibilities or appointments to meet. You're biggest worry is what time is last call. The day is spent at the track piecing yourself back together from last night's activities, not for your physical well being but only to feel good enough to go back out. You dare not go out in fear that you might miss one more classic moment. I wouldn't have it any other way................

Saturday, July 7, 2007








Ain't got no money ain't got no job how do you do it doo doo Dom

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

4th. Of July

As america celebrates it's independance I remeber the 4th. July celebrations that took place over the years on White St. Bill Green used to put on a firework display that would make Coney Island jealous. Bill Green first began as a oil field firefighter in Texas. He became world famous as an innovator in the highly specialized and extremely hazardous profession of extinguishing and capping blazing, erupting oil wells, both land-based and offshore. Green was born in Houston, Texas, and attended Reagan High School. He began fighting oil well fires after returning from serving in a bomb disposal unit during Vietnam. Green started his career working for the MM Kinley Company, the "original" blowout/oil firefighting pioneer. Bill gained global fame in 1982, when he tackled a fire at a gas field in the Sahara nicknamed the Devil's Cigarette Lighter, a 450-foot (137m) pillar of flame. In 1988, he helped put out the Piper Alpha oil rig fire. At age 45, Green took part in extinguishing the oil well fires in Kuwait set by retreating Iraqi troops after the Gulf War in 1991. In 1978, Green's top lieutenants Asger "Boots" Hansen and Ed "Coots" Matthews left to found competitor Boots & Coots International Well Control, Inc. Green was the basis for the Kurt Russell character Bull McCaffrey in the film Backdraft. He even appeared as an extra in the film. Green sadi after fighting the oil well fires in Kuwait, "I've done made a deal with the devil. He said he's going to give me an air-conditioned place when I go down there, if I go there, so I won't put all the fires out." Here's to you Bill Green.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

When I die bury me under Louie's cherry tree.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

All-Pro Sean

Was the son of Market and brother to Dodie and Doc. He was a little league legend and even has a row of bleachers named after him at the Mechanicville little league park. His post baseball career led All-Pro to many career avenues. He was a paper boy, lemonade salesman, and even had a short stint as Sanitation Manager at the flat track. Working at the track led him to take a job as a hot-walker, then groom, and eventually landed him at Someday Farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania. All-Pro worked as a farm hand for Pat Chapman. All-Pro's path to the job at the farm was a checkered one, there were allegations leveled against him at Aqueduct Race Course. The allegations consisted of All-Pro physically assaulting jockeys who lost races he bet on. In 1998 famed jockey Kent Desormeaux was injured after losing the Belmont on Real Quiet to Victory Gallop by a nose. He had a fractured skull and lost hearing in one ear. This, of course, was a cover up. The jockey was beaten in the paddock by All-Pro, who had bet his brother's t-shirt money on the race. Forced to leave the track All-Pro took the job at Someday Farm under the alias S. Marty Jones. This was a tribute to uncle who was known as "Slick Marty". Pat Chapman upon reading his work badge began to call All-Pro "Smarty Jones". In Febuary of 2001 a horse was born on the farm, during birth the horse's skull and left eye were completely fractured. Chapman was leaning toward having the young horse put down but All-Pro convinced her to let him nurse the horse to health. Chapman went against her gut feeling and agreed with All-Pro. All-Pro nursed the hosre back completely, Chapman would go on to name the horse "Smarty Jones", in honor of All-Pro. Smarty Jones would go on to win The Preakness and The Kentucky Derby. After regaining his track status All-Pro went on to open up Funky Dodie Dina Stables, this is in honor of his sister who suffers from tourets syndrome. Today All-Pro splits time between Philadelphia Park and The Philadelphia Amplitheatre, All-Pro is a professional break dancer in the off-broadway play Beat Street. A great man and an even greater White Streeter.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Fruitless Protest Over

Cindy Sheehan has given up her anti-war protest. She claims her son died for nothing. Any thoughts?

Monday, May 28, 2007

Remember those who served

White Street residents who served:

Joe Verbanic, Army Air Corp, WWII Flying Ace

Sgt. Dan Daly, USMC(ret), Operation Frequent Wind(Vietnam), Operation USS Mayaguez(Cambodia)

Market's Son Doc, USMC

PFC. Denton Winslow Crocker, U.S. Army, Vietnam

Jonas' Dad, U.S.Navy

Please feel free to add any other veteran you wish....

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Shame On YOu

Well the selfish idiots were out in force this weekend. Protesters petitioned the government to let them protest the Iraq War at the West Point graduation and they broke into the Virginia University graduation ceremony and booed the guest speaker. I hope you idiots are proud of yourselves! You are so blinded by your adherence to self that you tarnish something these kids have worked years for and have earned. I hope you are proud of yourselves, if it were my son's graduation I would have belted one of you a-holes with my purse.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Is Wanda out of her mind. I for one wanted affordable housing at Moore Hall not condos. I sure she is some carpet bagger.

Also I have metered water at my home and pay plenty for it. Whats the story on non metered homes, Braveheart?

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

I know the candidates, do they know me?

Seriously do these candidates even relate to the populous for who's vote they are asking? I for one have never even seen the current mayor except for her pictures in the paper. I remember Mayor Ellsworth Jones visiting a policeman who lived on White Street when that officer received minor injuries in a high-speed car chase in 1984. I also remember Mayor Jones visiting the kids at Camp Saradac over at the East Side Rec. Sarto Smaldone, owner of the Malta Drive-In, was a mayor who not only lived in the actual city but also was very accessible and friendly. His wife was one of the nicest people I've ever met. What is with these politicians? As soon as they get elected they start to look down their nose at you. Have these candidates ever toured the West Side of the city? Have they ever been to the Jefferson or Vanderbilt Terrace? Yeah they all have huge smiles when photographed in front of new condos being built, but why not in front of the city's little dirty secret the Brentwood Motel? These people have a long to way to go sway my vote. They are more interested in self preservation than actually executing the duties of the office for which they have been elected.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Change

They often say "everything changes", I agree. You get a little older, new replaces the old etc...but one thing that never changes is endless supply of summer stories that result from a summer of general buffoonery spent in Saratoga Springs. Mark Twain once said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco", well the most inebriated summer I ever spent was an August in Saratoga. It's not so much a drunk fest, as it is more of a reunion. A time to catch up with friends, family, and people many thought dead. The phrase "look what the cat dragged in" is used on a daily basis. The track is open and Caroline Street is the premiere night time destination. The porch people begin to make appearances about mid-June in preparation, and anticipation, for the tourist season. Porch People for the most part are veterans of the summers and prefer to engage in their fun in the comfort of their own domiciles. I, for one, come from a long line of porch people. Their are different types of porch people, there is the family oriented types. These types like to congregate as a family and take in the evening. Secondly, you have the younger crowd. This crowd tends to play the music loud and carry on through out the night. Lastly you have the heckling type of porch people. These types heckle family, friends, and strangers alike. You should consider it a privilege to have an insult hurled at you by these people. Bull-horns and tacky decorations have been known to be used in the fun of the summer. I remember a calender once titled the Porches of Saratoga, sadly not one porch person's stoop was featured in that calender. You see readers Saratoga has long denied it's proletariat roots. Wannabe blue-bloods have tried for years to turn Saratoga into some snooty suburb. But spring will always turn into summer and July always to August. And the porch people will always be present.....so stick that in your Volvo you Montessori School, non children disciplining, unfriendly, false sense of entitlement, soy milk loving idiots

Sunday, May 20, 2007

The White Street Times is seriously considering backing Jane. We are very much against the water plan. We also are wondering why so many are against Stewarts selling the property on the corner of Union Ave & East Ave. There was a petition against it at 5 Points Store. We believe it is an eye sore with the gas station and pumps.

White's Own...

...Jane Weihe is a Saratoga Springs Democrat who was recently endorsed for finance commissioner. Weihe, 49, will run for the seat on the City Council presently occupied by independent Matthew McCabe, who chose not to run again. In November, she’ll face Republican Ken Ivins for the two-year position, which pays about $14,500 a year.
Weihe has numerous affiliations and is a long-time member and former leader of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee. She was the party’s unsuccessful mayoral candidate 20 years ago. “I have always been concerned about protecting the beauty of our city,” the White Street resident said. She’s running to protect the charm of the city, she said.
Weihe called the estimated $67 million Saratoga County water plan “poorly thought out” and “a massive waste of taxpayer money.” She graduated from Skidmore College and the state University at Albany. She retired in 2005 as a Social Studies teacher from the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School System.

Also running for this seat is long time Saratoga resident Greg Ballard. Greg "Big Daddy Fatty" Ballard is a dark horse in the race being solely endorsed by me Carl Baxter.

Also running for Recycling Commisioner will be long time Presidential Arms resident Mi Ngyuen. She will be running on the "Where's my wood-carbow" platform.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

My staff will now be checking out Jane and her platform. Thanks Ben

Friday, May 18, 2007

The White St. Times was not aware anyone on the Street was running for public office. Who are they

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Frank Matrazzo

Frank Matrazzo was a mountain of man, loud and boisterous. At the same time kind and ready to lend a hand. Frank's past was clouded in much mystery and was subject to outrageous rumors. One rumor was he was a shot putter on the 1972 U.S. Olympic Team and was one of several athletes who, inadvertently, helped the Palestinian terrorists into the Olympic Village. Another rumor was he was a champion Funny Car driver in the Sun Belt Circuit. These rumors were of course not true. However Frank's past is a checkered one. Frank was born in Corinth, Mississippi in 1942. His father Herucle was a brick layer and his mother was a homemaker. Frank was quite the cad when growing up. He stole cars, farm equipment, and committed several after-hours grocery store burglaries. His talents were noticed by local crime boss Jack Hathcock. Hathcock owned and operated the Forty-Five Grill and was the reputed leader of the Dixie Mafia. Frank seamlessly fell into the roll of debt collector and excelled at this role. After Hathcock was murdered and Sheriff Buford Pusser's crackdown on their operations, Frank relocated to Memphis, Tennessee in 1967. It was at this time when Frank was working as a security guard at the Grand Ole Opry he met Red West, famously of Elvis Presley's entourage the Memphis Mafia. Frank fell right in with Presley's crew, he was known throughout the group for his ability to drink tequila by the bottle and eat 5 whole chickens in one sitting. It was one night in Las Vegas when Frank was on one his tequila binges that he donned a cape and began inpersonating Elvis, Presley so liked the performance he himself would wear a cape the rest of his career while performing. Frank was also the inspiration for the group's motto "TCB", which stood for "Taking Care of Business". Originating from when Frank was asked to perform a task or was given an assignment he would respond with "TCB boss". Elvis even had this painted on the tail section of his private plane, and even gave out "TCB" gold necklaces as gifts. Frank would stay with the group until Elvis' death in 1977. It was at this time he and his wife, Julia who he met while she was visiting Graceland from Saratoga, NY, moved to Saratoga. Frank began a landscaping business and began to raise a family. Frank at the time of Elvis' death was a suspect in at least 17 extortion cases involving him and Red West bribing Memphis area DJ's to play songs of bands they were managing, one band was rumored to be a up and coming southern rock band known a Lynrd Skynrd. Today Frank is retired and is often consulted on landscaping related matters. He designs the floral patterns and rose garden configurations at the Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, NY. Frank patrolled White Street as a giant among men and was well liked and respected.......

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Joe Scaderi

Many of you knew Joe as the old drunk guy who used to ride his bike, after a few cocktails, singing and swerving up and down White St. Well the world knew Joe as a famous lounge singer, going by the stage name Eddie Sabitini. His best selling album was "Eddie Sabaitini Live at the Breezy Point Lodge 1958", this was his most famous performance. The Breezy Point Lodge was located outside Kennedy Airport and was a frequently visited place by travelers. During his performance "Eddie" spotted Rosemary Clooney. "Eddie" proceeded to do a flawless drawn-out rendition of Clooney's song "Hey There". It was rumored that they later entered into a love affair, Clooney would divorce her husband, Jose Ferrer, in 1961. "Eddie's" career never reached these heights ever again, he continued singing in dive bars and was a frequent guest act at Siro's in Saratoga Springs, NY. Although he did have a bit part in the movie Tony Rome starring Frank Sinatra in 1967, playing a lounge singer. "Eddie's" career hit cult status when Bill Murray's character on Saturday Night Live "Nick the Lounge Singer" was solely based on "Eddie's" career. Murray even did a parody of the Clooney episode but with Murray singing to Linda Ronstadt. Bobby Darin was quoted as saying, "When I go I want Eddie Sabitini to sing don't Rain On My Parade at my funeral" in 1971. Unfortunately "Eddie" would fulfill this request not 2 years later. "Eddie" was inducted into the Crooners Hall Of Fame, located in Skokie, Illinois, in 1976. Joe was a great performer and a fine member of the White St. fraternity.

Friday, May 4, 2007

Thanks Carl.

I do remember that odd girl, now I know she was Mr. Dominick's sister. Did his father have false teeth?

Did you know that McGyver grew up on the corner of White St. & Stratton? Also there was a family who lived down near Nelson Ave. They had two boys and a girl. Seems to me I remember the police at that house often. Troublesome boys.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

The singing walker was heard again today around 7:30 am. Still trying to determine what song is being sung. Plenty of noise early at house on corner of Clark & White. The least they could do is to uncover windows so one could get a look inside at the renovations. Soon will be new activity with coming and goings of new apt renters. Last Summer there were a bunch of yahoos. Soon also old lady will be on her balcony. She does have some good times there with friends.

Thanks to Carl Baxter for info regarding James Hanna. Does he remember someone named Mr. Dominick? If so enlighten us White St. residents about him.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

How long will the orange cones on the corners be there? On one corner one has been flattened. A resident's car was backed into last week. The front of the car was scratched and dented. Also the license plate is missing. Any info would be helpful.