Ramblin' with Roger

Down Memory Lane – the Zionites

Trinity A.M.E. Zion church, 1956

A good friend of mine from my hometown of Binghamton, NY, Cee, wrote that on Friday, May 22, they “attended a wonderful presentation by Brenda Cave James on local Black churches, Susquehanna Street prior to urban renewal, and more.

“One of her display boards caught my eye…” A display showed two different musical revues by the folks at Trinity A.M.E. Zion church in 1948 and 1956. The latter event, with the performers dubbed the Zionites, is of particular interest to me.

Before that, a little history from WBMG-TV (2024). According to Broome County Historian Roger Luther, “AME Bethel closed its doors around 1930, and the congregation merged with AME Zion Church, formerly located where Columbus Park now stands.” I was baptized in the AME Zion church at that previous location. “In 1957, AME Zion was moved to its present-day location at the corner of Oak and Lydia streets.”

Musical triptych

There were three segments of the 1956 program, Down Memory Lane, which was directed by two women I knew from church: Beccye Fawcett, who was my boss when I worked at the Binghamton Public Library for several months in the late 1960s, and Dorothy Owens, a stalwart in the choir.

Part 1 represented the Gay Nineties. For one song, the Floradora Girls danced. Among the women: Geneivive Taylor, another librarian, and Gertrude Green, my mother! A couple of songs were performed by Luvenia McElroy, my sister Leslie’s godmother. Mack Green, presumably my grandfather McKinley Green, performed a Buck and Wing Dance.

The Roaring Twenties included Leslie Green (misspelled as Lesli) performing “Sonny Boy” with his son. Wait, what? I would have been three at the time. For the Rocking Fifties segment, my dad performed folk songs.

The December 3, 1948, performance at Binghamton Central High School also featured my mother, who was then Gertrude Williams, and my father. It was directed by Beccye Fawcett. The repertoire was limited to the Gay Nineties.

I believe Brenda Cave James is the daughter of the late Allen Cave, who was the vice-principal of Binghamton Central High School.

NYS Health Department records take forever

cf, New York Genealogical & Biographical Society

There was a story on the front page of the Albany Times Union for May 9, 2026. “Health department backlog leaves families in limbo. Frankly, it surprised me because anyone who has attempted to work on genealogy would likely already know that Health Department records take forever.

“The department’s vital records office, where requests for birth certificates, death records, and marriage documents have languished for years. Last year, the state stopped accepting new requests for some of these public records altogether…

Moreover, “genealogists said they are further troubled by a proposed increase in the embargo on certain records. Currently, birth certificates at least 75 years old are eligible for review; the new proposal would increase that requirement to 125 years. Death certificates would similarly have to be 75 years old instead of 50, while marriage records could only be accessed if they were 100 years old instead of 50.”

“The proposed changes have roiled both professional and amateur genealogists. And they come as some genealogists have pointed to ongoing court battles over the full disclosure of all death records the state has access to as one reason behind the attempted reshaping of the Bureau of Vital Statistics’ work. “

NYG&B

Alternatively, I’m quite fond of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society. The NYG&B’s online records and collections contain thousands of pages ranging from county histories, immigration records, vital record substitutes, and much more from all over New York State and New York City.

“We’re continuously adding records to both new and existing collections, many of which aren’t available online anywhere else. So even if you’ve searched our databases in the past, there’s always something new to discover.”

“Anyone can go to our website and search our collections, free of charge. But you do need to be a member to open and access most of the records. To help you better understand the kind of information we have available, we have unlocked the following collections for you to explore:

26 May 2026 sunset

upper Madison Ave in ALB

sunset

This is the 26 May 2026 sunset at 8:31 PM. I had just left the Madison Open Mic Night in Albany, NY, which remains a lovely monthly event. I headed west on Madison Avenue and immediately saw the image above. Though I’m a lousy photographer using my cellphone, I didn’t have to do much. The streetlights added to the allure.

Sunset that evening, BTW, was 8:21 PM, so the picture was captured ten minutes after that. Had I left the building five minutes later, I likely would have missed the image.

I like the shot in part because it was in my Upper Madison neighborhood. My supermarket, local theater, and local police station. Those benches are recent additions.

In the next block, there are several restaurants I frequent. Across the street from them is my library branch. From the street pattern, that has to be the CDTA #114 bus, which I take home from the Amtrak station.

Spontaneity

What’s more interesting is that I saw a LOT of photos from around the region online that evening. It was a spontaneous communal activity. Speaking of community, the next Open Mic event on June 23 will be posted on the Upper Madison Facebook and Instagram accounts. No, I’m not expecting another extraordinary sunset, but a guy can dream.

Groundhog says: ICE OUT

one does not need to be “illegal” to protest injustice

Here are two probably unrelated events, which I have decided to link together. On Sunday morning, around 8 a.m., there was a very large groundhog deep in our backyard, near our shed, gnawing on the grass.

About an hour later, the Capital Region Sanctuary Coalition noted online that there were “confirmed ICE vehicles in the neighborhood of Pine Hills. Jay Street & North Allen; also seen at Myrtle & South Allen, and circling the area.

There was a gray Subaru Ascent, a black Ford Expedition (maybe two of them), a gray Ford Explorer, and a black Dodge Durango.

How did I know this? Because there was a chorus of very loud whistles out on the street, with people scurrying to one of those intersections. At least some of the whistles looked like the one pictured above. (That’s actually TWO whistles, shown at different angles.) Did I mention that they are piercingly loud? I don’t know who made them.

Unfortunately, my wife and I were heading to church. But we were heartened to see about two dozen folks converge at the intersection nearest my house.

I later read, “All hands call ended at 10:50 am.”

This follows federal agents detaining a man and a young child near Western Avenue and North Lake Avenue in Albany on Friday morning.

The too-usual response

More than one person on the Facebook chain wrote, “ICE OUT OF ALBANY, NOW!” One person replied, “Why…… are you ILLEGAL?”

That latter person obviously had not listened to the sermon I heard that day. It specifically mentioned white people needing to call out racism against black people and other targets of racial bigotry. Likewise, when LGBTQ+ folks are vilified, it is incumbent on the broader community to push back.

Note how the Department of Justice has muddled the notion of legal. So, to the inquirer, one does not need to be “illegal” to protest injustice. In fact, it is necessary for people who are not targeted by various dubious policies to rise up against them.

So my groundhog – it was a BIG one – showed up to say, ICE OUT.

New York State primary in 2026

Tuesday, June 23, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m, but there’s early voting.

I practically forgot that there was a New York State primary in 2026. More correctly, it had slipped my mind that I had candidates to consider. I knew there was a Republican primary for the House seat that Elise Stefanik is leaving.

It is almost impossible in my area to miss the Republican race in the 21st Congressional District between the FOTUS supporter Robert Smullen and the super MAGA self-funded Anthony Constantino. It’s in the district adjacent to my 20th CD, but in the same media market.

There is no crossover voting allowed in New York State.

On the Democratic side, there is only one statewide race, for comptroller. There are three candidates: in ballot order, the incumbent Thomas P. DiNapoli, Drew Warshaw, and attorney Raj Doyle.

In Albany County, John M. Czajka, Joseph J. Meany, and Tina K. Sodhi are the Democratic candidates for one County Court Judge seat.

I’d love some opinions from y’all on these races. All I really know is how many mailers I have or have not received from each candidate. As I say often, too few people vote in these races, which, of course, makes MY vote more powerful. I’d be glad to cede the power for more participation.

Primary voting day is Tuesday, June 23, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. However, Early Voting runs Saturday, June 13 – Sunday, June 21, 2026. In Albany County

Saturday & Sunday: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Monday & Wednesday: Noon – 8:00PM
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 9:00AM – 5:00PM

Early Voting Locations for the 2026 Primary Election

Albany County Board of Elections [map]
260 South Pearl St., Albany, NY 12202
Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Parish Hall) [map]
85 Elm Ave., Delmar, NY 12054
Boght Community Fire Department [map]
8 Preston Dr., Cohoes, NY 12047
East Berne Volunteer Fire Company [map]
792 Helderberg Trail, East Berne, NY 12059
Guilderland Public Library [map]
2228 Western Ave. Guilderland, NY 12084
Pine Grove United Methodist Church [map]
1580 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205
St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church [map]
440 Whitehall Rd., Albany, NY 12208

New Yorkers, contact your county boards of elections.