21 Comments

Mr. Donnelly was my management teacher at Paul Smith's College in the early '90s and I remember he took me aside one day and told me the secret to making great ice cream. I wish I could remember what he told me, but I know it wasn't the age of the ice cream-making machine.

Expand full comment

I thoroughly enjoyed the Curmudgeon's column and a 2 hour drive through the Adirondacks for an exceptional soft ice cream or custard cone makes perfect sense.

Expand full comment

Ringo "doesn't like ice cream???" Are you sure he's a dog?

Expand full comment

My grand-dog would be highly insulted if she didn’t get her “pup cup” when we take the grand kids for ice cream!!

Expand full comment

I remember Mark Freeman’s column fondly and enjoyed his obituary recently. He was a most interesting person. He would’ve loved the Democratic convention. He should’ve held on just a bit longer. Still, 96 is well done.

Expand full comment

Met Mark and Anne when they were long time volunteers at a local non profit health care agency. Very dedicated people.

Expand full comment

I love this column and it is nice to read a personal note like today. We too have driven two hours for an ice cream in our younger years.

Expand full comment

Mark Freeman and Forrest Hartley made a Post Star subscription a good value back in the day when sometimes we would pass that page across the table to a waiting partner so we could finish the section in peace.

Now and again I have proposed that some overseeing authority publish a regional map of public bathrooms available to use, and whether they are seasonal or year round. In our work we travel throughout the area and are aware of a good number of them, but certainly can’t put together a comprehensive list. If Representative Stefanik could get such a thing done it would be one useful accomplishment.

The fact that there is no public bathroom in the new public building on South Street in GF is an embarrassment.

Expand full comment

It’s like they forgot to notice people are living beings!

Expand full comment

Also Bob Henke.. sure miss him!!

Expand full comment

I imagine they get around that because in addition to no bathrooms I believe the building has no plumbing at all and no heat. For events such as wine tastings, you know, where people might get dressed up a bit, they will likely provide portapotties. It’s the city’s project, the city’s building department, the city’s building inspector. Nobody’s going to insist they provide amenities for human beings.

Expand full comment

I loved Mark’s columns as well. Pithy and trenchant are two words that come to mind to describe them, but never mean or derogatory. He and his wife attended a class I took once for people dealing with a loved one with mental illness. They certainly were very nice people, kind and compassionate under all the crustiness!

Expand full comment

Mark Freeman was part of a team taught humanities course in the early 1960s at Glens Falls High School. I took the course in 1962-63. He seemed so old to this teenager of 17, but he was only 34! Ones perspective of age certainly changes as one gets older.

Expand full comment

Thank God for the “curmudgeons” of the world!

Expand full comment

Will,

You described Mark Freeman perfectly. I knew him from back in the 70’s. He was an original.

You also hit the nail on the head about Donnelly’s. I would always stop there after a golf outing at the Saranac Golf course. Great ice cream!

Expand full comment

Mark Freeman was one of my high school English teachers, and a great one at that! How much he (and Hilda Ennis Hayes!) contributes to my 34-year career in the same field, I don’t know, but for years, following my leaving Glens Falls for eastern Pennsylvania, my mother would cut out and mail me his columns. So many great ones!!! Thank you, Ken, for igniting the memories!

Expand full comment

I am absolutely with him on the cell phone thing!

Expand full comment

Ringo doesn't like ice cream?

Expand full comment

Thanks for sharing those interesting outings.

Expand full comment

How nice to see a fellow graduate of the Post Star albeit we were in different departments. You were a columnist and I, a lowly carrier, a job I loved. I miss having the road all to myself all night, I miss the utter beauty of Washington County. When the dawn came in that rural area, I'd find a spot for a few minutes to look around and take some photos. Good to see you on Substack. My Substack is From the Left. Stop in sometime. Take good care.

Expand full comment