Alexandria Bay, NY

Alexandria Bay, NY February 2013 to August 2013

I drove to Alexandria Bay, NY for an engagement with BE Smith at River Hospital as the Associate CFO for Revenue Cycle.  This was a new position the Board required them to bring in interim as well as recruit a permanent.  The perception was the billing process was out of control.  My perception was there was work to do but for the most part the billing process was under control of non-billing departments who were driving efforts in the wrong ways.  And they were grossly understaffed for the results they expected.  I identified the people in the office that knew what they were doing and let them run.  They got the office back on track quickly.  Thanks Melanie and Patty and Tangela.

Alexandria Bay is a historic area along the St. Lawrence River.  Millionaires made the Thousand Island region their summer playground beginning in the late 1800's.  Tour boats can still take you on the river among the homes and homesites.  Interestingly, a number of homes burned down right around the time of the 1929 stock market crash.  Stories of the homes are interesting.  Alexandria Bay, NY.  Boldt Castle, Singer Island, Wellesley Island, and the crossing into Canada.

The first 4 months were barren.  Very few people were in the streets.  Snow covered the roads.  Ice covered bay and extended out into the river.  It was difficult to even walk anywhere.  There was only a couple of places to get anything to eat.  A local supermarket was rather expensive.  Watertown was 25 miles away and was where I could get Walmart prices.  It was also the airport I flew out of.

I made several trips to Washington DC to be with Angela while she struggled with hospital stays.  I got to know the road south - Syracuse, Binghamton, Scranton, York, Baltimore, and finally Laurel.

Then slowly the town woke up.  Merchants from the south started stocking their businesses and opening them.  More and more of the ice melted.  A few boats made their way to the pier.  People started arriving at their island homes.

The first abode was Bonnie Castle Inn (like an old Best Western.)  Then came Captain's Inn and Suites.  (Like an old Best Western.)  Then they got me a much cheaper apartment right on the bay and the main street.  Noisy during concerts, but a very peaceful view most of the time, including a great view of the bay, river, and sunsets.  Lois helped me furnish it - curtains and ties and all.

As summer came there were more people walking around the town.  Tour busses came with loads of people to ride the riverboats.  I was there for the Riverfest with some powerful boats on display in June, Pirate Days in early August, and Blues Fest late August.  This was when the streets were jammed with temporary residents.

I adopted a flower bed and landscaped it, planting marigolds surrounding a pepper plant and two tomato plants.  I finally did get a pepper and two tomatoes before I left.  Who knows what it looks like now.

I will probably not see Alexandria Bay again.  It is quite out of the way.  But we did think about accepting a permanent job and moving there.  I will hold great memories of the bay, the people, and the work that took place there.

UPDATE:  I was asked to return the spring of 2014 and was there for 2 1/2 months.  I enjoyed taking the tours again, visiting Angela and Daniel over Memorial Day weekend, and watching the special events in the streets, again from my perch on the third floor of the St. James Street apartment.