54° F | Schenectady, NY
July 1968 Scrapbook
Carol Barlette was thinking about horses on the run. She settled for a cat on the lam. Barlette changed her plans on Monday, July 8, 1968, and a small kitten was the winner. The young Scotia woman and her friend David Mongillo were traveling to Saratoga Raceway at 7 p.m. when they saw the cat enter a storm sewer opening under the railroad bridge over State Street. After enlisting the help of some city officials, the feline was saved and Carol had a new pet. There were other feel-good stories around during the summer of ‘68, including a visit from Blinko the clown, elementary field days in Niskayuna and a "Nutcracker" performance in the heat of the summer. Posted on July 9, 2012.
Carol Barlette of Scotia — who initiated the rescue of a lost cat on July 8, 1968 — confers with Frank Mareno, foreground, of the Schenectady Bureau of Service. Mareno searched the sewers around State Street for the fugitive feline. Lawrence Van Epps, superintendent of public works and services for the city, was also in on the operation.
Carol Barlette holds the kitten she helped rescue from Schenectady’s sewer system on July 8, 1968. Frank Mareno of the city’s Bureau of Services made the rescue possible.
Michael Golonka, 3, seems a little wary in the clutches of Blinko the Clown, who was drumming up business for James Hetzer’s European Circus during the summer of 1968. Blinko met Michael at Otto’s restaurant in Latham, which was owned by the boy’s grandfather. The circus played the Colonie Summer Theater in early July.
John Gross of Glencliff Elementary School huffs and puffs his way across the finish line of the 60-yard dash, one of the events held during Niskayuna’s elementary school field day. A pal offers congratulations as Bill Erdman of Craig Elementary takes second.
High-flying Risa Jacobs, a student at Craig Elementary School in Niskayuna, tries the broad jump during Niskayuna’s elementary school field day. Athletes competed during the sunny days of 1968.
Lozere Thompson, right, talent and music specialist for Schenectady’s recreation department, directs kids as they belt out a tune during the summer of ’68. From left are Debra Monticollo; Larry Monticollo; and Ronald, Harold and Leonard Bergeron.
Marilyn Ramsey, right, of the Ramsey School of Ballet walks the SPAC grounds with Darlene Myers. The women were “Nutcracker” first-nighters. Myers is founder and artistic director of Northeast Ballet and the Myers Dance Center.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Anderson of Schenectady tour SPAC with daughters Carla, Christina and Karen in July 1968. The family watched the New York City Ballet’s rendition of “The Nutcracker Suite.”
