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Brought to you by PlanPutnam.Org "Notice, throughout the debate, so-called, between Obama and McCain, they avoided anything that would challenge corporate power. They didn't talk about a crackdown on corporate crime. They didn't talk about ending corporate welfare. They didn't talk about cutting the huge bloated military budget of the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us about. They didn't talk about shifting this into a major public works program to repair America at the community level."
- Independent Candidate Ralph Nader
Good Friday Morning,
Ralph Nader was in town yesterday afternoon making a stop at the Friend's Meeting House in New Paltz in between a rally on Wall Street and a rally in Albany last evening at which 400 people listened to the Presidential candidate. While Mr. Nader had kind things to say about fellow Green party candidate Cynthia McKinney, he had less nice things to say about Senators McCain and Obama... but there's no surprise there. One of his complaints about the elections in general was about how the debate commission selects candidates eligible to appear in their sponsored, televised debates. A candidate must earn 15% of respondents in 5 major polls. That would be fine, he said, if those major polls actually polled for candidates other than the Democrat and the Republican party choices.
But get this: Nader is on the ballot in 45 states. Isn't that enough to make an impact especially if he were given the same opportunities as Obama and McCain? Of course! But that would upset the status quo and enliven our democracy and that is not what the two major political parties want and I challenge any of my readers to offer evidence otherwise.
Mr. Nader also spent a good amount of time exposing the "blank check" Congress gave to Wall Street last week. If we had enacted a 1/10 of 1 percent tax on Wall Street transactions, we'd be generating $500 billion a year in revenues... that's a lot of money, and Congress knew this and had that option as it was part of a proposal quickly erased by the powers that be. Instead, $700 Billion dollars - that we need to borrow from places like China - was simply handed over to the very same people who created the problem in the first place.
On that issue, on the debates, on Iraq, on health care and prison reform and on so many other issues, the 74 year old Nader is right on target. His message is populist and in poll after poll reflect what Americans want but that the two major political parties refuse to offer and the challenge again: show me where McCain or Obama offer anything approaching what Americans polled need.
I'll leave you with that this morning as I we delve into events you can attend and participate in over the weekend and into next week. But it does give you something to think about.
Oh yeah, one more thing... It seems this "Joe the Plumber" guy isn't exactly what or who Senator McCain would like you to think. No surprise there. Read the SF Chronicle article and then the Politifact article.
And now, Things to do:
- This Weekend
- Today
- Art on the Trail Artist Reception
- Murder In Green Meadows
- Saturday
- FroGS Annual Art Show
- Arts on the Lake's Fall Arts Exhibit
- Collaborative Concepts Third Annual Outdoor Show
- Harvest Festival at Phillies Bridge Farm
- Sheep and Wool Festival
- Third Annual Joey Val Memorial Concert
- Sunday
- Beacon Sloop Club Pumpkin Festival
- FroGS Annual Art Show
- Into the Future
- Tuesday, October 21
- Singer-songwriter Robbie Rigo
- Film Showing: "Hyde Park"
- Friday, October 24
- Spoon River Anthology
- Saturday, October 25, 2008
- Candidates Debate Hosted by the Sedgewood Club at 3 PM
- Boo at the Zoo
- The Michelle LeBlanc Quintet
- Sunday, October 26
- Free movie showing of “What Would Jesus Buy “
- Friday, November 21
- Meeting the Climate Challenge: Taking Action in the Hudson Valley
This Weekend
Today
Art on the Trail Artist Reception At the Highland Falls Library, 298 Main St. Highland Falls, NY from 5pm-7pm
Join us this Friday between 5 and 7 pm for a reception with the artists from Trailside's first "Art on the Trail" event. Meet the artists, enjoy delicious snacks, and check out the art inspired by Trailside Museums and Zoo! For more information or directions, please call 845-786-2701, ext. 265.
Murder In Green Meadows by Douglas Post and directed by Kevin Cannon
Two suburban couples become caught up in a web of deception, murder and mind games in The Brewster Theater Company’s production of Murder in Green Meadows on October 17th, 18th, 24th and 25th at 8 p.m. at The Melrose School, 120 Federal Road, Brewster, NY.
Beneath its serene exterior there is trouble brewing in the picture perfect sub-division of Green Meadows. Newcomers Thomas and Joan Devereauxs’ quickly forged friendship with neighbors Jeff and Carolyn Symons becomes threatened when disturbing events from the Devereauxs’ past begins to surface.
Tickets for this show are $15 for adults and $13 for students and seniors. Go to www.brewstertheatercompany.org or call 845-598-1621 for reservations and additional information.
Saturday FroGS Annual Art Show 11 AM - 5 PM (& Sun., Oct 19, 1-4 PM) Friends of the Great Swamp (FrOGS) Art Show and Great Swamp Celebration, Francis Ryan Memorial Hall, Church St., Pawling; painting, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodcarving, falconary, live animals, children's story teller. Artists interested in exhibiting contact Nancy at leebrook2@AOL.com. Free. 845-855-1917 or www.frogs-ny.org
Arts on the Lake's Fall Arts Exhibit Continuing through Sunday (1-5 pm) will be the last day to see this stellar exhibit and show of local artists and their talents. The event is at the Cultural Center on Lake Carmel (the Old Firehouse) and is free.
Collaborative Concepts Third Annual Outdoor Show
This show is still running and will through the end of October. Find your way to Saunder's Farm on the Old Post Road (at Highland Road), park in the lower lot and wend your way up the hill and through the fields. Dozens of pieces of art are your for the exploration but watch out for the cows...
Harvest Festival at Phillies Bridge Farm Join us at Phillies Bridge Farm for our annual Harvest Festival. Food, music, children's activities, tours of the farm, demonstrations, an apple pie contest and pizza straight from our new cob oven! Guaranteed to be a fun day, rain or shine. Phillies Bridge Farm Project is located at 45 Phillies Bridge Road, just off of Rt. 208. (845) 256-9108 info@philliesbridge.org. www.philliesbridge.org This is a FREE EVENT!
Sheep and Wool Festival The Sheep and Wool Festival is held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York. Admission $10.00 (2 Day Pass $15.00) Children under 12 Free. Free Parking. Continues on Sunday.
Third Annual Joey Val Memorial Concert The Third Annual Joey Val Memorial Concert to benefit the Run Against Hunger will take place at 7PM at the Asbury Methodist Church at 15-17 Old Post Road South, Croton On Hudson, NY. Mike Latini, Jim Nowak, Joe Girardi and others will perform. Donations are $20. Call Aimee at (845) 494-1041 for more information.
Sunday
Beacon Sloop Club Pumpkin Festival From Noon-5:00 p.m. Celebrate the fall season with, music, free sails on the sloop Woody Guthrie, river life exhibits, the Clearwater, and of course pumpkin pie. Beacon waterfront (behind the train station). Contact: rmthomas99@yahoo.com, www.beaconsloopclub.org. FroGS Annual Art Show From 1-4 PM. Friends of the Great Swamp (FrOGS) Art Show and Great Swamp Celebration, Francis Ryan Memorial Hall, Church St., Pawling; painting, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodcarving, falconary, live animals, children's story teller. Artists interested in exhibiting contact Nancy at leebrook2@AOL.com. Free. 845-855-1917 or www.frogs-ny.org
Into the Future Tuesday, October 21 Singer-songwriter Robbie Rigo Lake Carmel residnet Robbie Rigo will premiere his just-released CD in a quadraphonic multi-instrumental solo performance of “Different Sides” at 8:30 PM at the Cultural Center on lake Carmel. The admission is $10 ($9 AotL members).
Film Showing: "Hyde Park" At 6 PM. See the award winning film “Hyde Park†about struggles against urban sprawl in the Hudson Valley, then learn about the negative impacts of the massive Crossroads proposal in New Paltz. Free. Sponsoredby Save Our Community. Elting Library in New Paltz. www.stopcrossroads.org Friday, October 24
Spoon River Anthology The Blue Horse Repertory will present a modern update of Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology with music by the (Peekskill Hollow) Kitchen Table Band. The admission donation is $10 ($9 AotL members). Saturday, October 25, 2008 Candidates Debate Hosted by the Sedgewood Club at 3 PM Residents invited to a "Meet the Candidates" event at The Sedgewood Club Boathouse (1026 Barrett Circle West) on October 25th at 3 pm. We have invited all of the candidates for the US House of Representatives, New York State Assembly, Putnam County Legislature and Kent Town Council. Each candidate will be given a chance to present their case and then after each candidate has spoken, we will have a question and answer session. Coffee and cake will be served. Candidates who have been invited are;
US Congress - John Hall, Kiernan Lalor
Putnam County Legislator - Richard Othmer, Joseph D'Ambrosio
NY State Assembly - Sandy Galef, William Gouldman, Richard Quagliata
Kent Councilman - Lou Tartaro, Gerald Furey
Kent Town Clerk - Lana Cappelli
For more information contact Mike Blumenfeld at the Sedgewood Club or call 845-225-3304
Boo at the Zoo Help Trailside Museums and Zoo celebrate the spookiest of seasons with some family- friendly fun during the Boo at the Zoo on Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We'll make spider cookie snacks for the black bears at 10:30 a.m., and then we'll watch as the zookeepers let them loose on the tasty Halloween decorations at 11:00 a.m. Throughout the day you'll touch real animal skulls, see stuffed specimens in the Nature Study museum, and learn about our not-so-scary owls and vultures.
Are you looking for a less frightening alternative this Halloween season? Then we'll see you at Boo at the Zoo!!!
Parking at Bear Mountain State Park is $6.00. Admission to Trailside Museums and Zoo is $1.00 for ages 13 and up, $0.50 for ages 6-12, and ages 5 and under are free.
The Michelle LeBlanc Quintet
Michelle's Quintet returns to Arts on the Lake with Jazz Me Blues, an evening of jazz tunes rooted in American blues. Dancing in the aisles will be permitted. Admission: $6 ($5 AotL members).
Sunday, October 26 Free movie showing of “What Would Jesus Buy “ Entertainment for the entire family! Featuring Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping, "What Would Jesus Buy" is a farcical polemic against consumerism and big box stores. See www.reverendbilly.com. At the Lake Carmel Community Center. Directions: From Route 311, turn west on Terry Hill road, right onto Lake Shore Drive, then turn left onto Huguenot Road. The Center is to the immediate right. Sponsored by the Kent Conservation Advisory Committee. A brief discussion will follow the film.
Friday, November 21 Meeting the Climate Challenge: Taking Action in the Hudson Valley A conference for municipal officials, Businesses and Community Leaders
At the Mohonk Mountain House Conference House in New Paltz, New York
The conference will explore the state-of-the-art regional and local climate change science, the social implications of climate change in the Hudson Valley, and current federal, state and regional climate change policy. Experts on our afternoon Panel Discussion will demonstrate effective responses to climate change and provide tools for local communities to adapt to climate change.
Sponsored by the Hudson River Watershed Alliance, Mohonk Consultations, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Hudson River Estuary Program, First Federal Savings of Middletown, Lifebridge Sanctuary, Mohonk Preserve, Victorian Builders & Remodeling, Inc., Rock & Snow and Central Hudson Gas & Electric, Inc.
For more information contact: Katy Dunlap, Coordinator, Hudson River Watershed Alliance 845-454-7673x116
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