No, Mario Catalano and I have no intention of replacing the co-host of the Me and Mario show on WGHQ with actress Reese Witherspoon. The show was Mario’s idea, in any event and Reese’s people haven’t gotten back to our people.

But it turns out Reese and I have something in common. As originally reported by People, Witherspoon had been invited to speak at a testimonial to fellow diva Kate Winslet. Only the star of “Big Little Lies” thought it was a roast and proceeded to trash the guest of honor. Winslet, who survived “Titanic,” was enraged and swore she’d never talk to Witherspoon again.

My experience had to do with the late Maurice Hinchey on the occasion of one of his landmark dates in office, probably his tenth as an assemblyman. Hinchey himself called and asked me to MC the affair. At the time, the guest of honor and I were in one of our friendlier periods, so of course I accepted.

The hall was decorated with Hinchey posters and political paraphernalia from years back. Featured were the dozens of 8x10 Daily Freeman glossies of the assemblyman I had mailed to him over the years.

It was a nice crowd, composed mostly of Hinchey loyalists, his core, the zealots. I’d heard about the Hinchey cult of personality but had never seen it all in one place. I knew many of them from their yelling at me over some column item I had written about their idol. Most were at least civil during the cocktail hour.

At the time, roasts of prominent figures, usually sponsored by non-profits, were all the rage. I was a regular on that circuit, even though barely funny. So, when I took the mike to open proceedings, I figured it must be a roast.

The first few jokes were not well received. By that, I mean, crickets. People glared at me, as if to say, “How dare you!” I heard groans, saw snarls. There was no place to hide. Down the dais Hinchey had a small smile on his face. I quickly moved to introductions.

Afterward, Hinchey told me he found the whole incident pretty funny. By that he might have meant, “You had that one coming, bud.”

I offer this to give readers some sense of the dynamics between journalists and subjects. Hinchey and I had different jobs. Sometimes there were conflicts. But we could always sit down over coffee or maybe tea at a neutral site, usually the Dietz Stadium Diner in Uptown Kingston, and discuss our differences.

Party of Democracy?

Citing anonymous sources, the New York Post is reporting that majority Democrats in the legislature and possibly Gov. Kathy Hochul are plotting ways to delay filling the congressional seat now held by Rep. Elise Stefanik until she is confirmed by the Senate as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. If so, Stefanik would resign the seat she has held for a decade.

By law, Hochul must declare a special election within 10 days after Stefanik’s official resignation from the House and order an election within 90 days. Stefanik could be confirmed as early as this week, setting the process in motion for an early May election. Democrats, who control both houses of the state legislature by wide margins, seem to be aiming for the latest date possible, the already-scheduled June 24 primary.

There is no doubt Republicans will retain Stefanik’s 21st northern New York deep-red district. The aim is to squeeze Republicans' 218-215 majority (with Stefanik) even tighter as the president attempts to push major reforms during his first 100 days.

Hochul herself gave some hint of the rationale for changing the law to suit their party through a statement in Gothamist, saying through a spokesperson, “It’s critical to increase voter turnout and reduce the cost of election administration and that she would support legislation to achieve that goal.” In other words, the fix is in.

Left unsaid is that delaying the seating of Stefanik’s successor for even a day more than necessary deprives constituents of a representative voice in Washington at a time when every vote will count.

And Democrats call themselves the party of democracy? Hypocrisy would be more like it.

He Said What?

Kingston Alderman Steve Schabot, D-Ward, lit up a chaotic nominating convention of city Democrats last month with this memorable quote after announcing he would not seek a seventh term: “Before I start talking,” he told fellow alderpersons and delegates, “I’d like to say something.”

With that, Schabot was immediately a candidate for the Common Council’s malaprop hall of fame, to wit, former aldermen:

Bob Senor: “Correct me if I’m right.”

Tony Crispino: “The people aren’t as stupid as we think they are.”

“Thinking in my head” and “beating a dead horse to death” also come to mind.

Schabot joins select company,

A Tradition Passes

We received word at last month’s Post 150 American Legion regular meeting that the Kingston Veterans Association would no longer sponsor the city’s Memorial Day Parade. The reasons cited by the KVA were lack of participation and attendance by the public.

I, for one, was surprised. Sure, participation had been down the last few years, but for a town the size of Kingston not to have a Memorial Day Parade seemed unbelievable. We were told it was the end of a 75-year tradition. I thought it longer than that, what with soldiers from the Greatest Generation returning home after the war.

I can remember marching up Broadway with fellow vets before cheering spectators three deep all the way to the finale at Dietz Stadium. People would call out to marchers by name. Many would hold up flag-waving tots. Cries of “thanks for your service” would ring out. Because it affected little ears, we stopped firing rifle salutes years ago. Back at the Post we’d offer free hotdogs and soup to participants.

Now, it’s a piece of Americana soon to be gone.

It wasn’t about money, we were told. The city provides police officers at every intersection on Broadway and contributes to the cost of marching bands. Kingston High School’s award-winning band performed for free as did the Ulster County Hibernians bagpipe band.

To me, it was only slight solace that Memorial Day services would take place inside City Hall going forward. Those services are meaningful and respectful, but it’s not a parade. That there has been virtually no comment on this passing of a once-hallowed tradition speaks to the circumstances of why it will soon be history.

It is also scant comfort that so many other once-proud traditions in our town are no longer being observed. Houses of worship are half empty, service clubs that once had membership in the hundreds now have only a handful. Volunteer firehouses beg for recruits.

It’s the times we live in and it didn’t start with the cancellation of the Memorial Day parade.