SCHROON LAKER

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The Schroon-Sochi Connection

Photo shows TV producer Sheila Conolly making new friends in Sochi.

We have recently learned that Sheila Conolly, daughter of long time three season Schroon Lake residents Paul and Ann Marie -- who have had a home at Sky Lark since the 1980s --  is in Sochi covering the games for NBC as a features and field producer.

Some of our readers may remember Sheila as a waitress in the early 90's at the Schroon Lake Inn.                      

She and her group in Sochi are responsible for producing those memorable short features for "The Olympic Zone”, a half hour show which airs nightly before the Peacock Network’s prime time coverage. 

We hear from proud dad Paul that Sochi is Sheila’s 5th Olympics “and by far the most unique.” "Russia is annoying, amazing, weird and wonderful, all at the same time,” Sheila tells her folks, now in Queensbury.

According to Paul, during previous Olympics, Sheila was able to reach out to the locals and experience the culture, getting ideas for her stories. This is not the case in Sochi.  "I cannot venture into public parts of town that are outside the confines of Olympic security,” says Sheila.

Does she feel safe? Yes, reports Paul. "There are uniformed, armed government officials everywhere."

When not at an Olympics, Sheila resides in the Philadelphia area and is a field producer for one of our favorite shows, Food Channel's "Restaurant Impossible."

We wish Shelia a memorable and safe experience. Got a story you'd like to share? Email us!

Shelia Conolly at one of the most photographed sites in Sochi