Backyard blankets

Down it came. Mid-March is prime winter material around my part of the world was the statement when I opened my back door two mornings ago. Soon it will officially be spring. Today I will watch the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Rites of changing seasons march on …

March can be maddening

Our tree wears a March winter coat. The bells of a Winter Storm Alert in our part of the world had been ringing for more than a day. Our research into weather sites led my dear wife Karen and I to agree that the best course would be for her to make her Monday early…

Marina sits still

Can be calm. A February walk to the Onondaga Lake Marina can find it quite quiet. The bird’s eye view shows still waters for sure. Floating orders. And here’s why the Marina lies empty in the winter.

Come and go

Snow and not. A February walk down by the lake can find remains of snow and grass trying to green up. Choose your bank. No matter the road to or from the park, piles can line your entrance or exit this month.

Tell me about it

Here’s what’s going on. Jason Smorol knows how to introduce a season. Dick Scott will manage the Syracuse Mets in 2023. Fans could see a handful of blooming stars before they’re called to produce for the big league New York Mets. Dollar Thursday brings a bit of a bump in prices for hot dogs and…

The hats of our hometown squads

Through the years. A display that caught my eye at the annual Syracuse Mets open house Saturday at NBT Bank Stadium was the display of baseball hats worn by the home team throughout the seasons here in the Salt City. Many and varied they are, honoring the days of the Chiefs and now the Mets.

Looking fresh, Scooch

Happy new season, Scooch! Toward the end of the 2022 season, our usual baseball gang noticed that Syracuse Mets mascot Scooch was looking a bit, well, peaked. That costume sure did get a lot of wear and tear keeping the kids (and us) happy running up and down the aisles of NBT Bank Stadium. Striding…

Thanks for your drive, Todd Zeile

I grabbed a schedule to have something to sign. Todd Zeile had a travel story. When he got to the airport down in New York City on Friday night to fly here for his Saturday morning Syracuse Mets open house appearance, he checked his baggage, went to the gate and … heard that the flight…

OK, we’ll hang out in the Metropolitan Club awhile

A new wrinkle. We knew we wanted to hear the annual open house greeting from Syracuse Mets general manager Jason Smorol in the Metropolitan Club Saturday morning. He’s always as entertaining as he is informative about what we can expect for the season to come. The organization scheduled an added treat this year. A visit…