Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Hello, friends. Stan Houde, business editor with the Daily Gazette family of newspapers. Each week, I travel across upstate's New York capital region and meet interesting people talking about exciting things happening in their lives.
I also have the pleasure of working with a host of talented writers who cover a variety of topics on a weekly basis.
Some of those interactions begin as assignments, some as random meetings. But through these fortunate opportunities, I like to think that in some small way, each time they become friends.
[00:00:33] Speaker B: The 56th annual Schenectady County Holiday Parade is right around the corner. I had the opportunity to talk to two of the movers and shakers who helped create this great event. Right before the big guy, Santa himself, rides down State Street Saturday night, MVP Senior Relationship manager Jackie Marciniak stopped by the podcast studio to talk about her company's role in the annual event, along with her own history of watching the largest nighttime parade in the Northeast.
She was followed by Schenectady County Legislature's Vice chair, Kathy Gada, who is no stranger to the podcast studio and shared some of the work that goes on behind the scenes, along with more than a few laughs. Enjoy my not so fireside chat with these two great women.
[00:01:28] Speaker A: All right, well, welcome to the podcast studio, Jackie Marciniak.
[00:01:32] Speaker C: Well, thank you for having me.
[00:01:35] Speaker A: So, first time in the Gazette building, right?
No, you've been.
[00:01:40] Speaker C: I've been here a few times.
[00:01:42] Speaker A: All right, that's okay. It's. It's. Well, you're always welcome.
[00:01:45] Speaker C: Thank you.
[00:01:48] Speaker A: So thanks for coming in. And it's a crazy week because it started with Monday, and we have this big, huge thing coming up on Saturday, the MVP Schenectady County Holiday Parade. So great.
And you're here on behalf of MVP as the Senior Relationship manager and the titles kind of cool, but when you kind of gave me the elevator pitch, like, this is what I do, I'm like, oh, that's a good gig.
[00:02:18] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:02:19] Speaker A: So just a little bit about yourself and what you do at MVP.
[00:02:23] Speaker C: So I've been with MVP about 15 years, and I am part of the community engagement team, so it's my job to collaborate with nonprofit organizations across our footprint. So we are pretty much statewide, with the exception of the five boroughs.
And so I'm on the road a lot, but enjoying it, meeting a lot of great people, listening to a lot of the wonderful things that they're doing in their communities to help the underserved.
[00:02:52] Speaker A: Gotcha.
And you're out. MVP is out. So as a part of, you know, besides the business editor, I'm also on tap still As a weekend photographer. So I go to a lot of events, a lot of festivals, food, fun, everything. Awareness, things like that. MVPs out there.
[00:03:10] Speaker C: They are. Our sponsorship, our brand team does a phenomenal job. Annie Finn and Kim Mazone have to give them a great big shout out.
The work that they do for such a small team is absolutely amazing.
[00:03:25] Speaker A: And how many you may know this, you may not. So I apologize. The title sponsor mvp. How many years have you had the top.
The top top billing because it goes envy and it works out great. Yeah, you know, you get the MVP and then we get the big long secondary county bubba. You know, holiday parade. We get. We have 72 letters. So I mean really, you center right there. But it's been a couple years, right?
[00:03:47] Speaker C: It's been about five years I can.
[00:03:49] Speaker A: Recall probably since like Schenectady county took over. It's probably right. They've had it four, I think. So you probably just.
They're like, hey, I think they did a good job. So let's ask them again.
[00:03:59] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:04:02] Speaker C: We love being part of the parade. It is one of those time honored traditions that's just got a ton of history and great memories for many, many people.
[00:04:14] Speaker A: And that's. And we were talking about briefly before I pushed the button here was we talked about Mrs. Claus who's coming up for an interview and her description of.
She had one elf on the parade last year. This year she has both elves on. They're both sisters.
And she was explaining to people what the parade means to her and the family because pretty much the family's all involved in this, the extended family from the Gazette. On my side, she called it a core memory, the experience of being Mrs. Claus and being an elf and being part of the parade and being on the parade route and seeing everyone at night at Christmas time.
She called it a core memory for her girls. That's why she's so looking forward to it again this year. And I was talking to Kathy Godda about that and it's. This is like a thing. I mean, the place is packed, State Street's packed and everybody's happy and smiling and things like that. Is this.
There's a commitment, financially manpowered, things like that for mep.
Is it an easy sell, do you think?
[00:05:27] Speaker C: Absolutely. It's one of those events where everyone comes out. It's a happy, fun event.
People are kicking off the holiday season. Everyone's in a great mood. There's just so much electricity.
[00:05:44] Speaker A: Literally.
[00:05:45] Speaker C: Literally.
And just so many people that are so happy that are bringing their families Their kids, their grandkids, kids. It's just a great event. It's a, it's one of those events that you've done it. Once you've done it, you always want to keep doing it.
[00:05:59] Speaker A: I, I, I think that's where, you know, Mrs. Claus was, and then myself and Shen, who'll be at, as Shen calls it, the first stage, only because we're the first one to see the floats. We're not at the proctor stage, which is the main stage. But yeah, after last year, like, as soon as we got done, we couldn't wait to go back. We're like, what, do we have a date for next year?
[00:06:18] Speaker C: Yeah, I know. It is. It's a lot of fun. I can remember as a, as a child coming with my family and then bringing my kids years later, and now my grandkids. So it's just one of those things that, you know, you just want to do.
[00:06:35] Speaker A: All right, full disclosure. You have grandchildren? I do.
[00:06:39] Speaker C: Five grandsons.
[00:06:40] Speaker A: Five grandsons.
You know, a bail bondsman.
[00:06:44] Speaker D: I know.
[00:06:44] Speaker C: That's what I say.
[00:06:46] Speaker A: Oh, my goodness.
[00:06:47] Speaker C: The three, Three of them are wild children.
[00:06:52] Speaker A: They may be leading the sleigh next year. We may be pulling it as that.
So what's the, I mean, what's, I don't want to say. What do you get out. What's like, kind of like mvp? Like, why is it important for MVP to be that title sponsor and be involved in this event?
[00:07:09] Speaker C: Well, you know, for mvp, it's, it's right in our backyard. It's one of those events that we just need to be part of.
It brings everyone out, everyone together.
And really supporting these events in the community is important to us. And being a good community partner, making sure we're supporting the things that our community really cares about.
[00:07:36] Speaker A: And we gotta turn at your place. We don't go past you, but we turn. We go right up to your place and turn. Like, how fitting. Humorous. Funny. Ha ha. Is it that, like, we're going to mvp? Just. What's the parade route? Just go up to MVP and take a left.
[00:07:53] Speaker C: Yes, true. Very true.
It is.
[00:07:56] Speaker A: What's the, what's the vibe, you know, in the building? And as you said, did you travel across the state? So you're, you see everybody and all the different divisions and things like that. What's the vibe like? You know, probably, you know, on State street, about Saturday with the crew and everything, Everybody was there at mvp, you.
[00:08:17] Speaker C: Know, everyone is excited. You know, we have a group of community ambassadors that we call, we call them Community ambassadors. But they're employees who come out in their own free time to help at these events and. And to represent mvp.
And it's not a hard sell to get folks to come out and help us at the warming station. Giving away the free hot chocolate, the gloves, the hand warmers, and, you know, really just being part of such a great event.
[00:08:46] Speaker A: And I know you guys had a huge.
You might have had the best booth. I think it's Summer Night. I can't remember if you were giving away the fans or there was something at Summer Night. I can't remember what it was. But you were. There was some event. MVP was like the place. They're like, where did I get this? I don't know, was it a bag or what? But everyone's like, where's the MVP then? Where's the mvp?
[00:09:04] Speaker C: Then I was at Summer Nights.
[00:09:07] Speaker A: I can't remember.
[00:09:08] Speaker C: But I don't remember what our giveaway was.
[00:09:10] Speaker A: It might have been Wing. Wing Walk. I think you had one of the hottest ones. That camera was a hand warmer or something. There was something for Wing Walk that. Oh, the towelettes. Believe it or not, it was the towelettes.
[00:09:22] Speaker C: That makes sense.
[00:09:23] Speaker A: It was insanely appropriate. My wife's like, that's ingenious.
That was ingenious. So that was so great. And I've. I've absconded with one of the MVP apple stress relievers that I gave to Shen. She collected stress balls while she was here at the Gazette. Paris doesn't need them now at dsic, but the cool one she still has. So I know the apple is still there on her desk.
What.
What goes into it? What?
You know, what goes into this sponsorship and what's can people expect from Saturday? You know, your support of the parade?
[00:10:02] Speaker C: Well, I think, you know, just being part of the parade and being the presenting sponsor because it's such an event that, you know, really, really talks about overall kind of health and wellness, really. If you think about it, it's, you know, what is better than getting everyone together, out and about, enjoying each other's company, socializing?
I mean, that's a huge part of everyone's wellness. So we love being part of that.
We also know it's really cold generally at the parade.
Although I will say I remember, I think it was 2018.
It was either 2017 or 2018. And we had this unusually warm night for the parade.
[00:10:49] Speaker A: It had to be mobbed.
[00:10:50] Speaker C: It was. And then the next day it was freezing cold.
It's the northeast, but generally it's pretty cold. So our warming station is pretty fitting with the free hot chocolate, the gloves, the hand warmers. We're carrying out that theme of let's stay warm but enjoy the parade.
And that's kind of what we're doing.
[00:11:09] Speaker A: So where's the warming station gonna be at?
[00:11:11] Speaker C: Right in front of Johnny's.
[00:11:13] Speaker A: Okay, so that's very similar. Yep, very similar station. So we need to stop there before we go down.
[00:11:19] Speaker D: Well, yes.
[00:11:20] Speaker C: So it'll be the pre Parade.
[00:11:22] Speaker A: Yep. Kicks off at 3.
[00:11:23] Speaker D: At 3.
[00:11:24] Speaker C: So. So we will be there right up until the start of the parade. And they kick it off on that stage right there.
[00:11:30] Speaker A: Oh, fantastic. So you're in a great spot because you have. The proctor's stage is right there. Block party kicks off at three.
[00:11:36] Speaker C: Right.
[00:11:36] Speaker A: You're keeping everybody warm and toasty, literally.
[00:11:40] Speaker C: Absolutely.
[00:11:41] Speaker A: For the first half and then by the time 5 o' clock rolls around, there should be enough body heat.
[00:11:45] Speaker C: Body.
[00:11:46] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:11:47] Speaker A: Just moving, jumping and clapping and all that stuff. Right. What for somebody who hasn't been to the parade? Like you're, you're a veteran.
[00:11:56] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:11:57] Speaker A: As a spectator and, and as an organizer and things like that. If there's an elevator pitch for somebody who hasn't gone, like when you go, what do you mean you haven't gone? What's, what's your elevator pitch?
[00:12:08] Speaker C: I, you know, I, I haven't found anyone that hasn't been to the holiday parade, but if I did, I would have to say just the floats and the participation of not just Schenectady, it's all around Capitol region. The people that participate, the spectators are from all over.
Just the vendors that are out, all the restaurants that are open and things to do. Right. In Schenectady, in downtown. And watching the parade, it's just an amazing experience. So if you haven't done it, this is your year, this is your.
[00:12:43] Speaker A: And it'll be streamed, I believe wtn. And then also it'll be on our Daily Gazette website streaming for the duration. 110, I think was the last number I got for floats. Really?
[00:12:56] Speaker C: 110 floats.
[00:12:57] Speaker A: And that's. And that's capped. Cathy Otta said. Yeah, well, we cap it because gosh only knows what.
[00:13:02] Speaker D: Right.
[00:13:02] Speaker A: You know, because we got to get out of there. You know, we got to kick off at 5 and by 7ish, we're starting to get antsy. Like, where's the big guy? Yeah, where's the big guy for that?
So what. Anything else we need to touch on, we want to credit or thank MVP I know. I want to thank mvp. I know there was a time period where I was, I was without.
I was, I was, I was new to the area and hadn't started a full time job. So I was a 1099 guy. I was a full commission guy, no benefits and at the time part time at the Saratogian. And so I had no health benefits. Oh wow. And had been promoted to customer.
I was at Service merchandise in Fishgill, New York and I was the first of 416 to close.
So that's how I spent that summer or excuse me, that winter. We closed Christmas Eve 31 years ago. Shout out to the staff of 88.
And yeah, it was one of those things like my wife's like, yeah, you really need this. Like you really. I mean you need this, you need this and we need this, but I need you covered. And it was through the Gildan Chamber of Commerce.
[00:14:10] Speaker D: Right.
[00:14:11] Speaker A: My first was, was through that partnership and I had MVP for a long period of time before eventually jobs changed, I was elevated. Then my wife got a job full time and then it kind of became, I became part of her package.
[00:14:26] Speaker D: Right, right.
[00:14:27] Speaker A: So now it's all on her. So.
But thank you for that and allowing.
[00:14:32] Speaker C: That love to have happy customer stories.
[00:14:35] Speaker A: It's very happy, very happy. So things, things, knock on wood. Things worked out for when I was with MVP and then with the new and then things change and things like that.
So are you going to be at. I know, I think you're out of town or you're going to miss it.
[00:14:52] Speaker C: No, no, I'm definitely at the. Okay, I'll be out of town Thursday and Friday, but.
[00:14:56] Speaker A: Okay, you're gonna make it back and Saturday. What are you most looking forward to?
[00:15:00] Speaker C: Oh, just, just seeing all the floats. Hearing there's 110 floats, that's kind of amazing.
[00:15:05] Speaker A: It's one hundred and ten floats participants. You know what I mean? We get some groups and you know, civilians and, and not civilians shout out.
[00:15:12] Speaker C: To the Amsterdam Marching Rams because I know they'll be in the parade because they're back.
[00:15:17] Speaker A: Yeah, they were in Plymouth last year and covering, you know, the Amsterdam recorder we talked about there. I was. So I'm like, I'm gonna be on the main stage. I wanted to ramp you guys up so much like, oh no, we're at Plymouth. We're going to. It's a big parade. It's an invite. It's like right after that I'm like, so you're going to be here this year? Yeah. And they're like, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. The next two years were like, guaranteed. I'm like, all right. I said, I want to see my Rams. I'm like, I'm taking that one. When they come heading up, I go, shannon can do the next one after that if we have to break up the bands like she do Mahonasen. But I'm doing Amsterdam. I want to get the Ram shout. And just the entire program out there is just. And again, it's another organization that works really hard to raise money throughout the year.
[00:15:57] Speaker C: Oh, absolutely.
[00:15:58] Speaker A: And they do such a great job. And it's sorely missed that type of involvement and talent.
I think every school's got talent, but I don't know if they have the numbers that the Rams bring.
And wherever they're at, they make an event sort of very excited. And usually they kind of lead in to us and the big guy. So I'm really hoping that happens this year. I haven't seen the. The lineup of where they are, but I'll be sure to give them a special shout out on that. So where do you station yourself on? Where's your spot?
[00:16:35] Speaker C: My spot is generally right near Johnny's.
[00:16:38] Speaker A: Okay, so you're just near the gang.
[00:16:41] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah.
[00:16:42] Speaker A: Helping out.
[00:16:42] Speaker C: Well, the gang kind of after the pre parade, the tables kind of come down and everybody's out and enjoying the parade. But yeah, that's usually my spot because then I can kind of duck in when I start to get a little.
[00:16:54] Speaker A: Cold, go into Johnny's and then. And then, you know, being. Being a veteran, you know, where to park and things like that. So you know that you've got your own escape route planned. Oh, yeah. Which is, you know, part of. Part of being here. Yeah. And that's why there's a shout out to being at the. The Stan and Shen stage, because we're generally further south on State street, where last year we were at Fair State and Ferry.
So it was nice. We were right near Frog Alley, and it worked out great, is that, you know, you get to see everything first, too. So you're dispersing before everybody goes up past the Proctor stage and makes the turn past your place. So a lot of people got out a little bit quicker. They like that there's parking there.
A big shout out to all my. Everybody who will be imbibing at Frog Alley on the patio. We got good weather, so they're my go to.
Okay, so if there's a lull in the parade and I'm standing up on the stage with Shannon there's gonna be a let me hear from my Frog Alley people. And they are great to cheer us on and participate. So we like the audience participation.
So hopefully we'll be near that spot again, as we will see. So again, it's Monday.
They're crazy. So thank you for taking the time to come in and we'll. We may not see you. We'll see the gang. We will. We will. We'll be. But we'll be by the table because I, I know Shen is going to be like, I forgot hand warmers or something like that. So we will make sure that we will. Maybe we'll put some of the hand warmers in the hands of the elves to make sure they're set on the, on the parade float.
[00:18:28] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:18:29] Speaker A: I think Santa's fully equipped.
[00:18:30] Speaker C: Oh, good.
[00:18:31] Speaker A: He has full hot chocolate bar cookies up top for him. But I think we'll make sure the elves are taken care of through mvp.
[00:18:37] Speaker C: I think that's a great idea.
[00:18:39] Speaker A: So, Jackie Marciniak, so glad I got your name right. Senior relationship Manager, mvp.
And thank you for everything you do. Thank you for everything MVP does for everyone who's out there, whether they're a card carrying member or not. Like I said, MVP is out and about at so many things I go to and it's great to see a company of your size still be out there taking care of others. So thanks for stopping in.
[00:19:08] Speaker C: Absolutely. Thanks for having me. And I will make a point to stop over near Frog Alley and say hello.
[00:19:16] Speaker A: I like that title.
[00:19:18] Speaker D: Thanks.
[00:19:20] Speaker A: Well, Kathy Garnett, thank you for coming back to the podcast studio. It's always a fear that someone will not come back and they'll be one and done. So we're thrilled to have you back again.
[00:19:29] Speaker D: Thanks for having me back. I'm really just here to see Newsy.
[00:19:32] Speaker A: Yeah, that's, you know, they said they want, they were worried about like getting security.
So. Yeah, we'll just throw Newsy in there. So nudie Newsies traveled a lot. News he's been vacationing at the Boston Spa headquarters and has a lot of miles. And then we're like, you know, Newsy needs a rest and some warmth before Saturday.
It's.
[00:19:52] Speaker D: Yes, it's going to be a beautiful day.
[00:19:55] Speaker A: Every time I look at the weather report, it does get better.
[00:19:58] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:19:59] Speaker A: The big thing is wind is coming down a lot.
[00:20:02] Speaker D: Right.
[00:20:03] Speaker A: Compared to last year.
But how many?
And you're a young person and the parade's been around for 56 years. If I'm not mistaken. How many is this for you.
[00:20:14] Speaker D: 2000.
Oh, gosh. Come on.
[00:20:17] Speaker A: A while.
[00:20:18] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:20:19] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:20:19] Speaker D: I think three years.
Four. Four years.
You mean for the count that the county started.
[00:20:26] Speaker A: The county is going through different iterations.
[00:20:28] Speaker D: And things like that. Yes. And the county started coordinating, I believe, four years ago.
[00:20:32] Speaker A: Four years ago. Okay. I mean, there's a long and distinguished history of who's run this parade, including, you know, the Mothership, the Daily Gazette.
But before that, I mean, you knew it, right?
[00:20:44] Speaker D: Oh, yeah, of course. Oh, yeah. I grew up in Scotia, so we just came right over the bridge and put our chairs down.
[00:20:52] Speaker A: What's it as a kid.
And this came from Mrs. Claus when she talked to Newsy during a promotional video.
Because Newsy can't talk. Newsy nodded and agreed. But Mrs. Claus talked about, we have a returning elf and we have a new elf.
And so now this year, we'll have sisters as elves with Mrs. Claus. And Mrs. Claus said that this parade, participating in it is so important.
And I also. And I extend out to seeing it and being adjacent to it. And Mrs. Claus used the term core memory.
[00:21:33] Speaker D: Oh, yeah.
[00:21:34] Speaker A: That's what this parade means to Mrs. Claus to elf one. And it'll be exposed to elf two.
We have the head elf arriving this year, Mrs. Claus mother, but takes over the role as head elf. I will be there.
And we're also. We may have another character in the family coming to lead Santa there. But, like, as a kid, like, this is a thing.
[00:21:58] Speaker D: It is a thing. Yeah.
[00:22:00] Speaker A: Is there anything else we kind of do that's like this big in Schenectady county that you remember? I mean, jumping jack. I mean, the only thing I can equate it to is, like, the fourth and the third, which I finally got right.
[00:22:14] Speaker D: Yeah, we stopped doing third on the fourth.
[00:22:20] Speaker A: You have to go back to the Stan and Chen show to get that reference there because Stanley was obviously, you know, date challenged.
But is there anything else, like.
[00:22:30] Speaker D: No. This is a big core memory, I think, for a lot of people.
[00:22:33] Speaker A: And I think it's different as big as summer night is, which is a blast.
[00:22:38] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:22:40] Speaker A: I mean, this. Like, the family's gotta come.
[00:22:42] Speaker D: Yes, yes.
When I was growing up, my mom was in human resources at the Carl Company on State street, right where Proctors is. And so that is what it made. That's how it made a core memory for me, because we would go to the Proctor's area, Carl Co. Area, and sit outside there. And it was like the 50 yard line. So it was very nice.
[00:23:06] Speaker A: And this is never.
Everything is never easy.
We had to move, pedal, paddle, run.
[00:23:15] Speaker D: We did. Yeah.
[00:23:16] Speaker A: Everything Skectade county does is an undertaking.
And it includes plowing the streets.
[00:23:23] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:23:24] Speaker A: You know, picking up the trash, Everything like that.
Everything Escape county does is an undertaking. How is this, like, manpower wise, like, one of the biggest things? Because when I think about it being exposed to it last year, really, for the first time, and the mechanics of it and, you know, the partnerships with the city and everybody, you bring a lot of big parties together to pull this off. So, I mean, you've been doing it for four years.
Are you still at the learn and grow stage? Are you kind of mastering?
[00:23:54] Speaker B: Maybe.
[00:23:55] Speaker A: I don't.
[00:23:55] Speaker D: I think summer night is probably a bigger lift than the parade. The parade has a lot of other people doing the entertaining. Right. It's the floats that are coming down.
And for summer night, it's. It's. We gotta do everything. We have to figure out all the entertainment.
[00:24:16] Speaker A: Gotcha.
[00:24:16] Speaker D: So. But it, you know, it is a lot of partnerships. It's a lot of relying on our public safety members that are really, really help us out to make sure all of our events are safe.
[00:24:32] Speaker A: It's awesome.
[00:24:33] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:24:34] Speaker A: Like, I. I, like, I'm on my fifth year now, so. Last year was my first holiday parade because I was always up north and I had something going on.
[00:24:41] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:24:42] Speaker A: That day, whatever it may have been, there's always something going on.
It's immense. It's awesome. It's bright. And it's being the city of light, being the electric city. I mean, we kind of like, really sell it. That night, I asked this of Todd Shimkus. When we talked about love, our locals up in Saratoga county and that program. I'm like, why doesn't everybody else do this? Because this is, like, so great. And he's like, I don't know.
If they really wanted to, they could.
But, like, this is like, this is like the parade and the other communities. You know, Gloversville has theirs and will be there, and Johnstown will have theirs and the small ones have theirs.
[00:25:24] Speaker D: Right.
[00:25:24] Speaker A: But this is just. The nighttime thing is unique. And it's a long run from Schenectady County Community College up and then down.
[00:25:34] Speaker D: We turn just past proctors, past proctors.
[00:25:36] Speaker A: We turn at the nest.
Why do you think other people can't be as awesome as Skanketty?
[00:25:44] Speaker D: I mean, they can try. They can try.
It is. It's a heavy lift. We have such a great spot. Special events team. Jason Laqui runs our special events for the county and he just does a great job. He's a logistics guy, so he can look at an empty field and go, oh, I know what we've got to do. We got to do that over there and this over here and this over there. And then as the event is happening, he's like, you know what we got to do next year? We got to do this, and this is how we can make this better, and that's how we can make that better. And then the next year, he's thinking, oh, yeah, that really worked. But what if we did this? And, you know, and you just need somebody that has that vision and the desire to always want to improve and.
[00:26:32] Speaker A: Two peas in a pod, because we're both maniacs when it comes to that. Like, literally, like, in the middle of the parade, I'm like, in my. I'm, like, making notes on my phone. We had a dull moment. Same on the way home. I like doing voice memo. I'm like, this, this, this. And it's. It was more us complaining, you know, me complaining to Shen about the weather, which we have no control. But there's so many things. And it was so great. And being exposed to it. It was our first. Like, Shannon had been involved as part of the Gazette family and her role there, but last year, being on that stage and that was like, one of, like, the things from Jason was that second stage. Shannon will always call it the first stage because we're the first ones to see the float. So therefore, I'll give it to her this year. I said, okay, we're the first stage, but, you know, adding that down there. And I think the thing that sold us on it was just the amount of energy because we we pulled people down where we were last year. And also having us mic not only for the live stream broadcast on Facebook and things like that, but to communicate to the crowd who was coming down versus just standing there like so many July 4th parades. Unless you're at the main stage with that PA.
[00:27:39] Speaker D: Yes. And some of these are so.
[00:27:42] Speaker A: Yeah, this is, like, this was exciting, right?
[00:27:46] Speaker D: The.
[00:27:48] Speaker A: How are we? Are we bigger? Are we bigger than last year? Are we the same solid numbers? How's it been?
[00:27:53] Speaker D: We're at this. We cap it at a certain point just to keep it under time. You know, nobody wants to be out in the cold for two and a half hours.
I mean, there's an. It's enough already, right?
But I think we're at 110 floats somewhere around there.
[00:28:13] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:28:13] Speaker D: Floats slash fire trucks. You know, participants.
[00:28:18] Speaker A: Participants and things like that. And we just, again, we seem to get better every year. You know, last year they introduced the GE Theaters. The Sensory Room.
[00:28:24] Speaker D: Yes. We're having that again this year.
[00:28:26] Speaker A: And that's. I'm gonna have a conversation with Mrs. Claus this afternoon.
Cause Mrs. Claus youngest elf is our Gino, and he's on the spectrum. And so this is very, very, very near and dear to her. How the importance of that.
And we have a whole around.
You know, I've had talked to Joseph Modiano with autism, Racing for autism.
[00:28:54] Speaker D: Right.
[00:28:54] Speaker A: And his daughter's Rachel, and he refers to her as his superhero. And from that conversation, I've kind of adapted it. And I consider every parent of every special needs child is the superhero.
[00:29:08] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:29:09] Speaker A: And they're just. Their partner in crime is the child in need.
[00:29:13] Speaker D: Yeah. Well, that area in the GE Theater, I don't see it as just for people, autistic children or on the spectrum.
My children.
My one daughter's just a complete introvert. And just crowds and all the noise. And my son is the same way. Like, just has to kind of step back for a little while because it just gets overwhelming.
And I feel like that's just a great area where you can still see everything that's happening. You can watch the parade just in a much calmer, you know, atmosphere.
[00:29:50] Speaker A: That's. Yeah, it's. In a sense, it's almost like the luxury box, if you think about it, you know?
[00:29:55] Speaker D: Exactly. I mean, it's not so overwhelming.
[00:29:58] Speaker A: I don't want Gary to get any ideas. We may have to sell tickets. You know, 100 bucks. Get you in. We can do a lot with that.
[00:30:03] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:30:04] Speaker A: But. Yeah, no, I think you're absolutely right, because it does get overwhelming. And I've got that. You know, with Rita, it's like some events she's okay with, and then sometimes it's like, oh, this is a lot for me, and I've got to get away. And I'm, like, in the middle of it. Like, oh, yeah. You know, can't get enough of.
[00:30:18] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:30:19] Speaker A: You know, eating it right up. Because, like, we have that conversation about Rockefeller Center. It's like, I really want to go. I want to want it on the bucket list, you know, because I hate to fly. So I don't know if Italy's gonna have me. Sorry, Ray.
But, like, I want to be there. I want to be the thing I want to do Times Square, you know, and everyone's like, you're out of your mind. Like, people like, you're crazy. I got it. I've got to say I did it. And then tell My story of like, why it's great, why everybody should do it or not. The.
This is how. How soon advanced this? I mean, it's like obviously Jason has his way. So we go. We. We step off on the 22nd. So the 24th. Jason's already looking to host a meeting for next year.
Where are you on this? Like, how soon do you think the real heart of heart planning goes into this?
[00:31:06] Speaker D: Oh, he's like, you said he's planning. Yeah, yeah, he'll be thinking about next year for sure. During the event, I just sit back and eat my bonbons and don't worry about it until you're just like.
[00:31:24] Speaker A: So where are you gonna be at? I think you're on the main. Right. Where are you gonna be at?
[00:31:28] Speaker D: I'm on the second stage. You guys are on the first stage.
[00:31:30] Speaker A: That's right. That's right. Thank you, Kathy Gaga, first stage, Stan and Shensho.
[00:31:37] Speaker D: No, I'll be on the stage next to Proctor's with Lydia Kolbita and Chad o'. Hara.
[00:31:44] Speaker A: And the heat and the walls we do have. And the tent.
[00:31:48] Speaker D: I'll tell you a funny story is I actually complained that it was too warm in our tent last year.
[00:31:54] Speaker A: Take note, Shen. Kathy said it was too hot.
[00:31:58] Speaker D: All of our volunteers were like, what?
Their fingers and toes are numb down at SEC parking lot.
[00:32:09] Speaker A: So I think now I'm gonna call it the Proctor Stage. That way we don't have to get into semantics of who's first and who's second. We'll call it the Proctor Stage. But things kick off at 3 o'.
[00:32:17] Speaker D: Clock with our mutual friend, oh, Sydney Wordsley. I just love her.
[00:32:21] Speaker A: I mean, we're going to spend like, we could probably spend the whole podcast just talking about how great Sydney is.
[00:32:24] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah.
[00:32:26] Speaker A: So how easy was it to get her again? Was it just like, Sydney, you want to do Christmas?
[00:32:31] Speaker D: That was a no brainer. Right?
And then just that activity, giving people something to do because a lot of people show up early to get a good seat and then what? Just sit there and not have anything to do? So now they can shop. The shops on J Street will be open actually starting at 2:00'. Clock.
And then on the Proctor stage, Sydney will be playing and she's just really, really great.
[00:32:59] Speaker A: So we're Taylor Swift adjacent fans, you and I. Yes, we know of the artists. I know of the artists. I don't know if you're.
[00:33:08] Speaker D: I'm probably more of a fan than.
[00:33:10] Speaker A: Okay, all right, what are you hoping for? Cause I know Sydney's Gonna mix it up. I'm trying to get. I wanna get her this week to talk about some of her lineup. Cause Mrs. Claus has a request.
Because Mrs. Claus and the elves know the Ophelia Dance, which is on the new album. So I've got to get that in. I've already prepped, so I got to fight out the timing of that. So I'm trying to get the. I'm trying to get the 3 to 5 schedule for Mrs. Claus, make sure she's available with the Littles.
But what are you hoping? Like she. Because I know for my first experience was Freedom park, which is such a great venue. And thank you for everything you do there. I love every show you bring and I apologize for not getting to everyone, but I'm there in heart going, I can't.
[00:33:49] Speaker D: And we have our 50th coming up next year.
[00:33:52] Speaker A: Well, you look great.
[00:33:52] Speaker D: 50 years.
[00:33:56] Speaker A: You look great. So, I mean, I knew her from her Taylor Swift Sing along and I was sold.
Didn't know a single Taylor Swift song. I knew Let It Go or whatever the other one was. Shake It Off.
Yeah.
[00:34:10] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:34:10] Speaker A: And then her new album came out. We talked. And then Summer Night, she was doing some original stuff and then she was doing some of the standards. What are you kind of hoping for, you know, from that 3 to 5 slot with the Masses at the Proctor stage?
[00:34:24] Speaker D: I hope, selfishly, I hope we hear a lot of her originals.
When she played at Summer Night, she. The songs were so good. And I said I had never heard this Taylor Swift song before.
And it wasn't. It was one of her own.
And I thought, oh, my gosh, she is really talented. But I'm hoping she also does some holiday songs as well.
[00:34:49] Speaker A: It's wife being Taylor Swift adjacent. Yeah, yeah. She wants Christmas Tree Farm. She's like. So I think. I think that. I think Shelby closes. I got a feeling she closes with that. I think we'll see. I don't know if I'm gonna get. I don't know if I'm gonna get the breaking news on it or it's going to be a, you know, day of special and things like that. See how it goes. And we do the tree lighting and then Santa's here and the Santa's floats in great shape. Went down there. This is. Claus inspected it over the weekend. So we have promos going up with Newsy and Mrs. Claus tomorrow.
Shannon and I did our promo down there because, of course, you know, we had to talk about the Proctor stage.
What do you hope everybody gets out of it.
[00:35:33] Speaker D: There's so much to look forward to. I love the things that we're highlighting, like our grand marshal at Schenectady Shares and I know you had them on the program.
It's just such a great thing to focus on and just to bring awareness to what they do and how much they help our community is just so wonderful. Right after them is our veterans division. And again, it's just such a heartwarming thing to see our veterans walking the route and on the trolley that CDTA provides to us.
There's just a lot of really feel good moments in the parade.
[00:36:14] Speaker A: The grand marshals. Here's a question from the Stan and Chen show is how is the grand marshal selected? Because there was a.
We were kidding around, like Stan and Shen being. I didn't know if there was a monetary donation involved that moves us up the rankings because I know a guy who owns like a couple newspapers that like, maybe, but. No, just kidding. It's gotta be hard because I think there's a huge want of. You wanna recognize so many organizations and if not individual people and their contributions to the community and the world as a whole. I mean, is that, is that like the heart the longest part of the meetings?
[00:36:56] Speaker D: No. Okay. So when we.
[00:36:58] Speaker A: You decide, you just say, Kathy said.
[00:37:01] Speaker D: When we first started, when the first year the county did it, Madeline Thorn was our grand marshal and she's awesome and she does so much for the community. And then the next year we thought instead of picking just one individual, maybe we should focus on.
We had the 109th Air Wing as our grand marshals the next year. And we thought, wow, that was so awesome. Like, how are we ever going to top that? And then we chose the Schenectady Ambassadors and the Ambassadors program.
And then that was so great. How are we ever going to top. You know, and this year it is Schenectady shares. And I really like the thought of choosing an organization instead of an individual because an individual is great. And it's. It's really wonderful to highlight especially volunteers because volunteerism is waning and it would be great to have more volunteers and maybe to have that person inspire people.
But it takes more than just one person to make an organization run. So I just feel like I really like that we're doing whole organizations.
[00:38:18] Speaker A: Okay.
So the Daily Gazette family newspaper organization could put their hat in the ring.
[00:38:24] Speaker D: You know, maybe they'd like volunteers.
[00:38:27] Speaker B: John.
Wow.
[00:38:31] Speaker A: Kidding. John. Kidding.
So just having, having fun.
I thrilled last year with the ambassadors.
[00:38:40] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:38:40] Speaker A: I again heading in, you know, different roles and things like that. I wasn't as involved in Downtown Skeptic as I have been in the past two years, but seeing them and they're so helpful and just. And again, for me, being a fly on the wall and all on the candids and things like that, and doing those photo. Those photo arrays and things like that, you see these people in action, they don't know you.
[00:39:00] Speaker D: Right.
[00:39:01] Speaker A: I'm nobody. I'm a guy with a camera. So they see me, they'll say hi. But I've probably seen them for the last five minutes interact and like just feel joy.
[00:39:10] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:39:11] Speaker A: So to see them and then obviously Schenectady shares with everything that they do continuously. This isn't a, oh, we need to do this thing.
There was a point in time, it was, but now it just continues to grow and expand and things like that.
[00:39:24] Speaker D: For all three of them, the organizations that we've done over the past three years, it's such an awareness campaign.
And does everyone really know what the Schenectady ambassadors do or Schenectady shares do or the 109th, even everything that they do for their community and it's such a great way to honor them.
[00:39:46] Speaker A: Yeah. And I. And Speaking of the 109th, I had Jackie Bennian or, excuse me, Joni Bennian from Operation At Ease. And her husband is with the 109th. And we think of Scotia, you know, we think, well, they're right there. And she's like, no, he's never home.
[00:40:00] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:40:01] Speaker A: He goes, they are always. They're always in our. They're always on maneuvers, they're always on missions. He goes, this Scotia's the. The big stopover of life for them.
[00:40:10] Speaker D: Right.
[00:40:11] Speaker A: And so there's an appreciation there that she brought besides everything she does at Operation At Ease, but also the recognition that the 109th, it's active. This is not just kind of there. Changing the oil on a C130, that's what we do. No, they're mission based with things like that.
What do you want for Christmas?
Put the word out.
[00:40:33] Speaker D: I reach a couple people on December 12th, my second grandchild will be born.
[00:40:41] Speaker A: Okay. You have a date?
[00:40:43] Speaker D: Yep. It's a scheduled connection.
[00:40:45] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:40:46] Speaker D: And that's really all I want.
[00:40:48] Speaker A: It's 10 and 10, right? 10 fingers, 10 toes.
[00:40:51] Speaker D: Yep, that's it.
I get to go down there in Texas. I get to go down and hang out with the two year old while my daughter's doing her thing, having a baby.
So that'll be great.
[00:41:03] Speaker A: So what's it like for you in Texas, do they point at you or anything like that? Like not one of us. I had that when we went to the Vegas, when we went to the Albany Veg Fest the day after the wing walk. I'm like, they're gonna smell it on me. I'm gonna walk in the Albany center and they're gonna point at me going, not one of us, not one. Just smell chicken on me and things like that. But what's Texas like for a northerner? I've got soon to be on the podcast. Rory Greth's down in Arkansas now and he's a 35 year old man and a 14 year old boss.
So he struggled being down south. What's it like? Do you like? Is it just a change, Change of pace?
[00:41:42] Speaker D: It's different.
I'm not a fan.
I love it up here, honestly. And my daughter actually wants to move back, so we're hoping to get them.
[00:41:55] Speaker A: We'll bring her on the podcast. Tell her. Yeah, come on, bring the baby. Do we have a name yet?
[00:41:59] Speaker D: Jamie.
[00:42:01] Speaker A: So that's male or female?
[00:42:03] Speaker D: Oh, yes, it's a boy.
[00:42:04] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:42:04] Speaker D: It's a boy, Jamie.
[00:42:05] Speaker A: All right. And the sibling is Cleo. A girl.
[00:42:08] Speaker D: A girl.
[00:42:09] Speaker A: So they're done, right?
[00:42:11] Speaker D: She is so done. Yeah. Yeah.
Well, she gets nauseous from day one to the oh to the end the day she gives birth, she said, this is it.
[00:42:20] Speaker A: That's okay. One on one they can, you know, there's decades of them bickering in one shape or form at every age for their iron. So we block party starts at 3:00'. Clock. 3:00', clock Saturday, November 22nd.
[00:42:35] Speaker D: Yep.
[00:42:36] Speaker A: I got my dates better on this one.
And block party at 3, tree lighting at 4:45ish.
[00:42:45] Speaker D: Somewhere around there before 5 we have the city as our campus kids gonna perform just before the tree lighting.
[00:42:52] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:42:53] Speaker D: And then the city will light their tree.
[00:42:56] Speaker A: Light their tree.
And then five o' clock, we kick off, parade starts. And then we wait.
[00:43:02] Speaker D: And then we wait as they slowly.
[00:43:05] Speaker A: Come up from Schenectady County Community College and Shen and I are filling time.
[00:43:08] Speaker D: Going gets to you before it gets.
[00:43:11] Speaker A: That's right. We are the first stage.
We are the first stage. And eventually you'll see them at the Proctor stage.
So of course now next year Jason's going to put us up at the nest so he'll make sure we're the second stage so we know our role.
But once again, thank. Congratulations on your reelection.
[00:43:29] Speaker D: Thank you.
[00:43:30] Speaker A: They had to pull the lever. That's okay. Everybody voted, everybody exercised Their right, I hope.
And then we will go on. Can you make the Skeptic county and the different cities and villages better than ever?
Which is always the goal of every administration. We're trying and do that. But on Saturday, we're gonna have some fun.
[00:43:51] Speaker D: We are going to have some fun.
[00:43:52] Speaker A: Some fun. So we'll wave to you on the way down.
[00:43:54] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:43:55] Speaker A: Could be my last parade, cuz Shen may have a golf cart.
[00:43:58] Speaker D: Oh.
[00:43:58] Speaker A: So Rita just said make sure the insurance is paid up. So I don't know if she's driving the truck or not, so. But that allows us to tool around. So, yeah, we shall see. I'm more excited. Last year, she was all about it, and I was like, okay, yeah, it's a thing. It's a thing. And we'll have fun. We'll have fun. But then when we're in it and we froze, we froze.
So much fun.
So much fun.
[00:44:21] Speaker D: I'll give you one of my heaters that are up at Prep.
[00:44:24] Speaker A: We had the big propane thing, and all the air was going down Ferry Street. It was going behind us. We had nothing.
We had nothing. So we're fully layered up. I could look like a snowman. By the time I pull up there, I'll probably look like a Michelin man tilting back and forth to get up on stage. I had to have Jason lift me up to put me there. But we're so excited. We can't thank you enough for inviting us back, which is a surprise in itself.
That is our birthday gift for Shannon and I because we share birthdays around the parade, that we get to come back because I thought for sure we're gonna be one and done. But, you know, we are so glad. So thank you for everything you do. Thank you for coming in, thank you for having me, and we'll see you on Saturday.
[00:45:06] Speaker D: Yay.
[00:45:08] Speaker A: Thank you for listening, and thanks to all of my friends, old and new, who have made this possible. Ken Schott, host of the Parting Shots podcast.
[00:45:17] Speaker D: Shenandoah Brayer, the promotions coordinator for the downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. Kathy Gatta, vice chair of the Schenectady County Legislature.
[00:45:27] Speaker A: Rita Garrett, hoodie, aka Mrs. Stan, or Stan's wife.
Until next time, be well.
