I’m excited to start a new series on Dispatches called Faces and Voices. Here’s the concept: Dispatches will profile NYS canal enthusiasts. We stand up and be counted. We’ll include one photo showing yourself and some canal infrastructure and brief answers to the following questions: 1. when did you become interested in this canal, 2. what’s a favorite time/place along the canal, and 3. what do you wish more folks knew about the canal system.

Since I’ve edited this blog for almost two years, let me step forward, introduce myself, and provide my answers.

I’ve been interested in the canal since I was 5 and needed to cross a bridge over Ganargua Creek while walking to school in East Palmyra. My favorite place/time on the canal was 2014; I was nearing the end of my season as deckhand on Urger and took this selfie with the rest of the crew at lock 14. I wish more folks knew how friendly and varied the Erie Canal townsfolk are

By the way, crew behind me in the selfie are (l to r) engineer Mike Pelletier bosun Mike Byrnes, and captain Jeff Kimes, all fantastic crewmates.

If you want to volunteer to appear here, talk to me this weekend on the study tour, or send a photo and your brief answers to this address: canalsocietyofnysphotos@gmail.com. This weekend I can even take your photo.

PS: I think I was talking to the crew while taking the photo.