I mean no disrespect for the current Mayor of the Village of Falconer, Mayor Rensel, and past mayors, Mayor Krieg and Mayor Schrader (the ones I remember before Mr. Rensel), but for many, many years, I have been honored to have known the REAL Mayor of Falconer, NY during the time of all three mayors mentioned above.

Looking back at elections of the past, you’d see candidates and politicians genuinely shaking hands with people of communities, sometimes giving ladies a kiss on the hand, or a peck on the cheek, or a hug, or patting a child on the head and talking about the people and their lives and concerns instead of reading them their resume of narcissistic accomplishments, while trashing and slinging mud at their opponent like we see many do in today’s political arenas.

Not saying the aforementioned mayors of Falconer haven’t been in that first group of described politicians, but the real Mayor of Falconer I’ve known for so many years was/is everything described as the old-time politicians described above.  I have never been in his company when he didn’t want to talk your ear off about any subject, and usually you’d end up with tears in your eyes and a pain in your side from laughing so much at his conversations with you.  I have seen him shake the hands of everyone he meets anywhere.  I have seen him hug, kiss hands, peck cheeks, and compliment any woman, of any age, with whom he came in contact with a “beautiful,” “cutie,” or “sweetheart.”  He’d pat the heads of children, and always be willing to give the shirt off his back to help someone who needed it.

The real Mayor of Falconer was/is a local businessman in the village and then moved up the street into Jamestown.  His business reminds me of Floyd’s Barber Shop in Mayberry, North Carolina, the fictitious hometown of Andy, Opie, Aunt Bea, Barney, Gomer, Floyd, Goober, Thelma Lou, Helen, and so many others we grew up watching on the Andy Griffith Show.  You see, Floyd’s Barber Shop was kind of a town hub, so to speak.  It was more than a place where haircuts were the main purpose of the business.  It was a meeting place, a place where the men gossiped, and discussed business, government, town affairs, and they even played checkers to pass some time.  The real mayor of Falconer’s business reminds me, so much of that place.  Though not to many checker games took/take place there, the conversations were/are very gossipy at times, and the context of the discussions were/are politics, sports, golf games, hunting, etc.  And as mentioned, you often left/leave his business with tears in your eyes and a pain in your side from the laughter of being with “Mr. Mayor.”

I’ve had the pleasure and honor of serving with the real Mayor of Falconer on local baseball fields, in the capacity of baseball umpires for many years.  We’d travel to meetings together, sometimes to games together, and during the games, he’d be just as described throughout this narrative.  He’d be talking to people in the stands, he’d be complimenting the ladies he’d see in the stands or in their lawn chairs, he’d be talking to anyone, and everyone, laughing and joking, as was the only way he knew how to be around people.  He’d joke with players, coaches, and other umpires.  He could take away any problems you may have had that day, just by being with him for a few minutes to a couple of hours.  Games would usually take just a little longer than usual when “Mr. Mayor” was umpiring because between innings, he’d be talking to someone in the dugout, or in the bleachers, or behind the backstop.  He was an outstanding umpire, beloved by most of the coaches, players, fans, and all of his fellow umpires with whom he came in contact.  He also definitely was, and is, a people person in the true definition of the word.

He was the impromptu entertainment at our end of the season banquets and had those of us in attendance holding our sides and wiping the tears of laughter from our eyes with stories and anecdotes of some of his experiences umpiring, but there was/is so much more to the real Mayor of Falconer.  This man was, and is, a devoted husband and never loses sight of the importance of, and especially the love for, his wife in his life.  He is an amazing father, always proud of, and always concerned for, his children and what is happening in their lives.  He is a very proud grandpa, or nanu (as is the term of endearment in Italian families) to his grandkids, and has been a part of their activities, and has watched them grow up exhibiting the values and morals that he, himself, established for his family.

The real Mayor of Falconer is a community minded man.  He is a participant in the Falconer Business Association, he brings the community together through his sponsoring of weekend golf outings every spring, and hunting contests every fall.  He is a camper, he loves playing Bingo (and has even won a couple of cars doing that), and he will serve on any committee, if asked, where he can be around people and help his community.

The real Mayor of Falconer is a hardworking man.  He’s a business owner who spends many hours (before and after the normal work day hours) working, practicing his trade, in his shop of which there are only two in all of Chautauqua County, and ironically the other is owned and operated by his son.  If you call him and are in need of something done, repaired, cleaned, etc. and it is in his power, (and most often it is, or he will find a way) he will tell you to bring it in and he’ll take care of it.

And of all the compliments anyone can give to, or about the real Mayor of Falconer, the greatest accolade that we can say about him is that he is a TRUE friend in every sense of the word.  He never misses a funeral of a friend (and he has literally thousands of them), fellow businessperson acquaintances, and fellow villagers whom he knows (and it’s my guess he knows them all).  He calls people constantly when he’s heard they may be sick or recovering from some malady, and he is a frequent visitor at hospitals to spend a few moments with a friend who is laid up.

Often times in this column, I have given readers a chance to answer questions, or test their memories, and answer questions on various topics.  Throughout this article today, I purposely have not given you the name of my perceived real Mayor of Falconer.  That was by design, because I wanted readers to try and guess his identity from the context.  My guess is that most people who have read through this piece, probably knew the name of my real Mayor of Falconer paragraphs ago, and I’m sure some knew it even after reading the title.  He runs a shoe repair shop on Second St. in Jamestown.  His son operates the only other shoe repair shop in Chautauqua County up in Westfield.  He is affectionately known as “The Shoeman,” and he is my friend, Tony Franchina, the true and real, Mayor of Falconer, NY.  Love ya, Tony.  Thanks for being my friend, “Mr. Mayor!!”