*Following in the footsteps of his late father, who donated $1 million in honor of his late wife to help construct the shelter at the Ulster County SPCA, Ed Wiederspiel III wants to give away to a charitable organization the property on which sits his old furniture store on Route 28 in the town of Ulster. "I wanted to give something back to the community," he told our reporter Ariel Zangla. Wonderful gesture. Contact Realtor Tom Collins of Commercial Associates at 845-339-9100 if your organization has interest.

*Do you suppose clubhouse reporters Kim Jones on YES TV and Suzyn Waldman on CBS radio can conduct any post-game interview without asking a question that begins: "How frustrating is it ...?" Also, if so many of WFAN radio's Mike Francesa pronouncements warrant the qualifier "obviously," why does he need to say them in the first place?

*I see where Boston Red Sox ace Dice-K (if you know baseball, you're familiar with who I'm talking about) is on the disable list with arm problems. Couldn't have anything to do with him going all out in the waste-of-time pre-season World Baseball Classic, could it?

*My recent blog about the Freeman's fate struck a chord in our building. (Scroll down a couple of entries to read what I said.) I'm hearing more stories from our employees about customers, friends and relatives telling them (not asking them) the specific date on which we're supposedly closing. To borrow a phrase, no, it ain't so. We're here for the long run. But here's an aside for those who are genuinely worried about our future (not those who are spreading inaccurate rumors): Talk us up. Buy the Freeman at a newsstand. Order a home delivery subscription. Remind your business contacts to advertise - not as charity, but because their ads will produce more customers for them.

*Remember, 9:30 p.m., Sunday, Fox, "American Dad", written by Matt Fusfeld and Alex Cuthbertson.