Professional Fastpitch Softball League: Atlanta Smoke 7, New York Rise 5

 

By Nate Feldman

Bill Edwards Stadium, Hempstead, NY

The Atlanta Smoke held on to defeat the New York Rise 7-5 in the final match of a three-game series on Saturday night.  The Smoke got off to a strong start, scoring seven runs in the first two innings, leading 7-1 at one point.

The Rise didn't go out quietly, however.  In the bottom half of the third, they began a rally, scoring three runs and loading the bases.  The Storm were able to get out of the jam, and from there, both team's pitchers settled down and didn't give up a run for the final four innings.  

The Smoke took two out of three in the series.  The two teams will meet again next weekend for another series, this time in Atlanta.  

New York Rise vs. Atlanta Smoke

Family Trips Presents, A Day at the Seneca Landing Special Park

 By Nate Feldman

Over eight years ago, in March, 2017, I spent an afternoon with Sara and Sofia, my daughters, in Washington, DC and at the Seneca Landing Special Park in Poolesville, Maryland.  I recently found a collection of photos and videos I took that day and made a You Tube video out of it with newly composed music.

This is what I remember about that day.  I remember that it was a Sunday in early March.  As shown by the video, the trees were still bare and everyone was wearing coats, so it was chilly outside.

We didn't go to the park first.  We first went to have lunch at Guapo's, a Mexican restaurant chain in the DC area.  We went to the branch in Tenleytown, close to American University where I graduated from. 

After lunch, we headed out west on River Road, which heads west along the Potomac River.  The Seneca Landing Special Park is located at about mile marker 23 on the C&O towpath, a huge trail that connects downtown Washington, DC to Cumberland, Maryland in the far western part of the state.  I had been familiar with this park since my university days when I used to drive out there for afternoon joyrides.  Although it isn't all that far from the DC metro area, it is quite pristine and bucolic out there.  

The Seneca Landing Special Park has the Seneca Creek Aqueduct, which meets at where Seneca Creek goes into the Potomac River.  The C&O Towpath crosses the Aqueduct, and you can either head towards Washington by turning left or away by turning right.  After the Aqueduct is a picnic area along the banks of the river.  Listening to the videos again, I can hear Sara asking me twice if the water in the Potomac is deep or not.   

After spending time in the picnic area, we went to the Seneca Stone Cutting Mill on the other side of the trail.  This was the old site of the Seneca Quarry, which has unique reddish pink rocks that were used in the construction of many iconic structures in the Washington, DC area, most notably the Smithsonian building.  All that remains now are its walls and an inside area that resembles a courtyard.  In the video, you can see Sofia climbing up a wooden post that was slanted and leaning against something (most likely the wall).  On this day, Sara called this structure the cavern, and as we are leaving at the end of the video, you can hear her shout out, "We need to say goodbye to the cavern!" 

We later hiked along the C&O Towpath.  At the time, the towpath was made of dirt, not the typical gravel that makes up most trails.  The views of the river are splendid along it.  You can see Sofia and Sara found a hollow log and decided to climb into it.  

Before we headed home, we headed back to the picnic area as the sun began to descend over the river.  There is a beautiful shot of Sofia sitting in a tree, basking in the waning sunlight.  

I have very fond memories of both this day and this time period when the girl were younger and used to go on a lot of adventures with me.  A lot has changed in the past couple of years since they entered adolescence and a messy custody case with their mother (which was decided in my favor but at the cost of the relationship we used to have).  Looking back, I wish I had enjoyed moments like these more while they were happening.  It's a great lesson for us all to heed.  

My Trip to Upstate New York, Part 2

By Nate Feldman

It is the end of the school year, so once again I had to drive my daughters Sara and Sofia from our home in Berwyn, PA to Clarence, NY, where their mother, stepdad, and siblings live.  Here is a summary of my trip:

Day 1: Monday, June 16, 2025

I left Berwyn with the girls around 9 AM.  We stopped at a Royal Farms around Kulpsville, PA on the northeast extension of the PA turnpike and then went north.  We got off the turnpike at exit 95 and headed west on I-80.  I-80 eventually meets up with I-15, which takes you into downtown Williamsport, PA.  The weather in Pennsylvania was gloomy and rainy throughout the entire trip.

In Williamsport, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant called Vinnie's Eatery.  The girls ordered a hoagie with a drink and chips, and I had stuffed shells with a salad and breadsticks.  Afterwards, we picked up some desserts from Le Chocolat, right around the corner.  

After lunch, we continued on I-15 north through a heavily mountainous part of Lycoming county into Tioga county in PA.  This area is quite pristine and unpopulated, and it's really fascinating to see a part of Pennsylvania which is so different from the heavily suburbanized area I come from.  I-15 takes you into New York state.  

Eventually, we caught up with I-86 west around the town of Corning and connected with 390 north towards Rochester.  Afterwards, I used other routes, including route 63 and 33.  We reached Clarence around 6 PM.  At some point in New York, we got away from the clouds and rain and got into bright, sunny weather.

From Clarence, I went to my motel in Lockport, NY, about 12-13 miles away.  The motel's rooms are very impressive and quite affordable.  

My room at the Lockport Inn and Suites 

In the evening, I went to the Erie Canal Trail and ran for about an hour.  Being further north and west than my home in PA, I noticed that the sun stays out longer here.  At about a quarter to ten at night, there were still shades of light in the sky.

The Erie Canal Trail near Lockport, NY

I got some food at the Tops surpermarket in Lockport for dinner and ate at my hotel while watching the NBA finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.  

Day 2: Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Downtown Lockport, NY

I had breakfast at the Steamworks cafe in downtown Lockport.  I had an amazing cinnamon roll and cold brew coffee.  Afterwards, I walked briefly on a portion of  the Erie Canal Trail going through the middle of the town.

Breakfast at Steamworks Cafe in Lockport, NY

Afterwards, I went to Niagara Falls and spent the afternoon there.  I was on the American side of the iconic falls and got spectacular views.  I also walked besides the rapids that head towards the falls and took a trolley tour of the entire park.  

 

A view of Niagara Falls 

For lunch, I went to a Nepalese restaurant and ordered steam veggie Momos, a famous dish from Nepal.  I had it with naan bread and mango lassi.  

After my day at Niagara Falls, I returned to my motel, and I ran again on the Erie Canal Trail before watching the Stanley Cup finals between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers in my room.

Niagara Falls upclose 

Day 3: Wednesday, June 18, 2025

I jogged in the streets of Lockport in the morning before checking out of my motel.  For breakfast, I had a bagel sandwich and coffee at B&D bagels in the downtown area.  

Afterwards, I took 63-S and drove through towns, such as Batavia.   Eventually, around the town of Mt. Morris, 63-S connects with 408-S, which in turns connects with 390-S.  This took me to 86-E, and from there I took 15-S into Pennsylvania.

In Tioga county, I stopped for lunch in the town of Mansfield, which has a university.  There, I visited the Bearly Enough Quilt and Gift Shop on Main Street, where I got a get well card with golden retrievers on it.  At this shop, the owner talked about notable things about the town of Mansfield. 

Afterwards, I continued on 15-S through Williamsport and eventually returned to my home in Berwyn.  

Highlights of the Trip:

*Visiting Niagara Falls for the first time in 31 years 

*The cinnamon roll and cold brew coffee at Steamworks 

*Being given free naan bread at the Nepali restaurant 

*Jogging on the Erie Canal Trail 

*The gift shop in Mansfield, PA  

Crabby Creek Park in Berwyn, PA

 By Nate Feldman

I quite often visit Crabby Creek Park in Berwyn, PA.  What amazes me most about it is that it is a piece of untouched nature in the middle of a heavily suburbanized area.  I like to take Kipper, my golden retriever, there for walks.  

Here are some videos I have done throughout the years in which Crabby Creek Park has appeared: