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Brought to you by PlanPutnam.Org Good Friday Morning,
It's probably gonna snow. If the weather service report from this morning holds true, we're looking at somewhere between 9 and 13 inches of snow by later tonight. This could cancel the Physical Services Committee meeting schedule for 1:30 this afternoon at Tilly Foster Farm. Check the County Leg Calendar for updates. If I get an email from the County saying the meeting is canceled I'll post it right away otherwise I'll see you there.
As of 8:30 this morning, Governor Paterson has not yet called to offer me the Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton. He may not want to upset Ms. Kennedy or Mr. Cuomo right before Christmas and I can understand his sensitivity to the issue, or he may be running a background check to make sure I'm kosher before he calls. I'm patient, but I am packing and thinking about buying a suit. I suppose I should start looking for an apartment in Georgetown, too. Just a small one-bedroom in a quiet building where I can keep a garden would be nice.
Congress is getting a pay raise this year and a bill to kill that went nowhere. In fact, only 34 Congressmen signed on to that bill with two of those being Kristen Gillibrand and John Hall. Good for them! When I'm in the Senate, I promise to vote against any pay raises through my tenure there.
Don't forget our $20/Nothing From China holiday shopping pledge. To help you along there's a page at the blog listing local businesses with gifts that qualify.
 While we're talking about Hanukkah, I went to the Hannaford's to do some grocery shopping and purchase Hanukkah candles. There is a tiny kosher section but there were no Hanukkah candles. None. In fact, several staff people didn't even know what I was talking about. One woman brought me Sabbath candles. But Rich, a guy who works grocery, came to the rescue and brought me to the spot in the store where they would be.... had they bothered to have them. Rich was a good guy and did his best and so we must focus on poor central management. I don't expect more from a store that can't stock decent deli mustard like Hebrew National or Batampte.
How can you have a deli without deli mustard? How can you have Hanukkah without candles? Luckily the A&P across the street not only had them, but had them on a table as soon as you entered the store. Kudos to those guys and bad luck at dreidel to Hannaford's purchasing managers.
For those of you keeping track, Hanukkah starts at sundown on Sunday this year. My 51st birthday is the next day, the 22nd, and Christmas is a few days later. Its important to keep your gifts for me distinct and separate so I don’t get the three confused. When wrapping, use blue for my Hanukkah presents, green for my birthday presents and red for my Christmas presents. I’d hate to open the wrong gift on the wrong day and spoil the appropriate surprise. Anyway, there's a lot going on these next few days but most are private parties or other events like that which will not be posted here.
Today:
1:30PM Meeting on the Tilly Foster Contract
 The Physical Services Committee of the Putnam County Legislature is set to meet at Tilly Foster Farm today to take testimony from the public on the proposed contract between Putnam County and George Whipple for management of that facility for the next 40 years. You know my position on that contract - it sucks for the county - but you are encouraged to read it and come to your own conclusion. The latest contract is here. My comments are here. Keep the Avil handy.
7 pm. Ferngully: The Last Rainforest
Cary Institute Auditorium. 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook. NY. The animated film tells the story of how magical inhabitants of a rainforest called FernGully fight to save their home when it is threatened by logging and pollution. Rated G and suitable for families. 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY. (845) 677-7600x121. www.ecostudies.org
Into the Light
Dec.19 - 21 A winter solstice dance/theater spectacle featuring the Vanaver Caravan and Arm-of-the-Sea Theater. Dancers, mask characters, giant puppet figures and live music combine to tell the story of a girl rescued from her dark times by a magic bear. The two then set off on a journey toward the light. Performances Dec. 19 at 8 pm, Dec. 20 at 2 pm & 8 pm, Dec 21 at 2 pm. Quimby Theater, SUNY Ulster, Stone Ridge. Tix $15/$10 845-256-9300
Saturday:
"Bethlehem: Behind the Wall" 5 p.m.
At the Woodstock Library at 5 Library Lane just off Tinker St. The speaker is local resident and peace activist Jane Toby, who has visited the region, living with a host family in Bethlehem and volunteering with Bethlehem¹s Arab Educational Institute (affiliated with Pax Christi). The speaker writes that she is "a Jewish American woman concerned about our lack of knowledge of the Palestinian people in Israel and in the Occupied Territories. To learn more about them and to contribute towards working for peace, I traveled to Israel and the West Bank" (summer 2005; winter 2007-8). Information, JaneToby@aol.com.
Sunday:
Hanukkah begins at sundown.
Winter Solstice Multimedia Show
 Landscapes in Music, Paintings, and Photographs, Story Telling by Chuck Stead. Images of Hudson River School paintings with music and nature photographs by Geoff Welch, sponsored by The Town of Ramapo and The Friends of Harmony Hall~Jacob Sloat House. Location: Harmony Hall~Jacob Sloat House, 15 Liberty Rock Road, Sloatsburg, N.Y., Contact: Geoff Welch (845) 712-5220 or geoffwelch@gmail.com. A Free Event.
Into The Future: Saturday, December 20 Annual Putnam Humane Society Cookie Sale. Drew Methodist Church, Route 52 in Carmel. Imagine a room full of tables covered with delicious cookies, and you get to walk around the room, scooping up your favorite home-made cookies for just $5 per pound. Tuesday, Dec. 30, 6:30 - 9:30 PM.
Holiday Open House at Van Wyck Homestead Museum, 504 Route 9 (by I 84) Fishkill . Celebrating the holidays in December and January; Christmas - reading of the "Night Before Christmas" by Henry Livingston and ornament making; Dreidle and Hannukah songs; Dia de los Tres Reyes etc. Music and refreshments in a festive atmosphere. Free. 845-569-3943
Saturday, January 10; Sunday, February 8th, 9:30am to 12:30pm
"Free-A-Tree" Invasive Vine/Shrub Cutting & Saw Mill River Clean-up.
Join the Saw Mill River Coalition/Groundwork Hudson Valley. Invasive vines are killing the trees that protect the river's banks. Garbage is crowding out wildlife and polluting the river. We'll have garbage bags, gloves, and vine-cutting tools, but we'd appreciate it if you brought your own vine-cutting tools and gloves. We ALWAYS have someone on hand who can teach you how to identify invasive vines in our area and how to cut them. The primary vines we cut are porcelain berry and oriental bittersweet, and the invasive shrub is multiflora rose. Wear long sleeve shirts and sturdy shoes (no flip flops). Children under age 16 require adult supervision. Community Service credits available for high school students. Contact: free-a-tree@hotmail.com, 914-375-2151, and cell on event day@ 914-815-5872. Check our website at www.SawMillRiverCoalition.org for up-to-date and event day weather cancellation information. Location: Site: Farragut Avenue (Exit 13 going NORTH on the Saw Mill River Parkway), Hastings-on-Hudson. Meet in parking lot just off the exit (by the South County Trailway).
Saturday, February 7, 2009: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Fifth Annual Hudson River EagleFest: Teatown Lake Reservation will host the Fifth Annual Hudson River EagleFest on Saturday, February 7, 2009 from 9 am to 4 pm. The event will be headquartered at Westchester County's Croton Point Park, with additional eagle viewing sites hosted by collaborating organizations located along the Hudson River.
EagleFest activities include educational displays, collaborator's exhibits, and children's activities about bald eagles and other birds of prey, under heated tents at the park. Three eagle-spotting sites along the Hudson River will be staffed by eagle experts with spotting scopes, warming tents and hot chocolate. Advance tickets are on sale beginning December 15. See www.teatown.org for the listing of additional open education centers, viewing locations and a full list of EagleFest activities. Snow Date: Sunday, Feb. 8. | |
