No Country For Sane Men: News That Matters

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Good Friday Morning,

It does seem like the weather is about to cooperate and bring us our first rain-free several days. I don't know about you but my gardens are really happy about the lack of rain and the sunshine. It might be too late for the squash and the peppers, which were severely damaged by a hailstorm a few weeks ago, are not showing signs of redemption. Still, it's nice out and this weekend you might focus your efforts on being out there in it.

Last evening (Thursday) the Cultural Center on Lake Carmel was the scene for a tremendous show to kick off their outdoor summer concert series. The north lawn was crowded with blankets and beach chairs while the parking lot was turned into a virtual outdoor eatery as residents and guests gathered to hear the Tim Ouimette Big Band with guest vocalists Kati Mac and Fred Martin. The series continues each Thursday through August and a schedule is at the Arts on the Lake website. Check it out!

In other news, there is politics going on out there. There's the Republican orchestrated coup which took over the local Independence Party back in late 2008 that's been in the news lately and now the Legislature and Bondi are back into fisticuffs over who can cut budgets. We're all being brought into the middle of the latter as a poorly worded "question" will appear on the ballot asking us to take sides, ambiguous language and all. For reasons I don't seem to understand the County just can't seem to use adequate legal language for most things. I mean, we do pay attorneys a lot of money each year for that purpose and yet.... well, it's just one of those things I'll never understand I guess.

Enough of that! Get outside this weekend and enjoy it.

Tonight:

Mike Latini and Act III

7PM - Daniel J's (at the base of Thunder Ridge ski bump in Patterson, Route 22). With Jim Nowak on bass, Gary Cusano and Phil Davidoff on guitars and vocals.

Oliver!

7:30PM - St. Lawrence O'Toole Parish Hall in Brewster. 31 Prospect Street. 845-800-4266. Repeats Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $10.

I Got Sick, Then I Got Better

8PM - Lake Carmel Cultural Center - I Got Sick Then I Got Better is a hilarious and wrenching riff on one woman's adventures after falling down the medical rabbit hole. Performing at Arts on the Lake, 640 Route 52 Kent NY on Friday August 7th at 8pm and Saturday August 8th at 8pm, Comic and writer Jenny Allen (The New Yorker, The New York Times), treated for ovarian cancer in 2005, has been shaping and performing her monologue under the guidance of directors James Lapine and Darren Katz for the past two years. The show, produced by New York Theatre Workshop, has been seen at the Vineyard Playhouse, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, Hudson Opera House, Barrington Stage Company, and Long Wharf Theatre. Admission is $12 per person, $10 for AotL members. Tickets may be purchased via a secure server at www.artsonthelake.org. Reservations may be made at: rsvp@artsonthelake.org. or by calling Arts on the Lake at (845) 228-2685.

Saturday:

Working the Appalachian Trail

9AM - Trail work this Saturday in Fahnestock State Park on the Appalachian Trail. Meet on the West side of Canopus (Rte)301 at 9am or so.Bring safety glasses,hammers for making gravel,and a plastic bucket. See you there. Write Tim for more information.

Hike Alander Mountain and Bash Bish Falls

Hike with Leader David Koehler 917-613-2043, k2dave88@yahoo.com. (Call for time.) This hike will take us the best known and most scenic parts of the area. We will hike to the S Taconic trail to reach the basically treeless peak of Alandar, then over Bash Bish Mountain, and a decent to what is known as the most scenic waterfalls in Massachusetts, Bash Bish Falls, also a local swimming hole at the base - so bring your bathing suit if you wish. Contact leader to confirm attendance. Roughly 7 miles of hiking.

Lake Carmel Summer Festival

9AM - 3PM Beach 3. Rain Date - Sunday, August 9th. Open to residents of the Lake Carmel Park District only. (Guests must be accompanied by Resident - Parking Stickers required) Swimming races for all ages. Registration 9:00AM - 11:00AM - races begin at noon. Prizes for all. Face painting and crafts. Presentation by Kent Police Department.

Constitution Marsh Paddle

11:30 AM- Leader: Don Urmston email: Durmston@hvc.rr.com or phone 845-457-4552 (before 9pm). Cold Spring, NY. This trip is fun for new paddlers and experienced paddlers too. The marsh offers opportunities to see wildlife and views of West Point in a secluded and easy to get to location. We will paddle for about 3- 4 hours at a very easy pace. Bring snacks and water. PFD Required! Meet at Metro North parking lot in Cold Spring at 11:30am. Call to make sure there is room!

Sculptures of Buddy Glassberg

5PM - 7PM - Reception and exhibit opening at Peekskill's newest public art venue, the Garden Gallery at Hudson River HealthCare, 55 Bank Street, Peekskill, NY. Sculpture, Buddy Glassberg, recognizes heroic ideals of industry, invention, and societal achievements. Wilfredo Morel 914-643-4392, www.morel@hrhcare.org

3rd Annual Peekskill Jazz & Blues Festival

5-10pm - N.Division & Park St. Downtown Peekskill. Featuring: John Basile & Fred Smith, Johnny Feds & the Bluez Boyz, David Amram & Friends Duchess Di & the Distractions, Mahavishnu Project

Sunday:

Family hike to California Hill

10:30AM - The Kent CAC is sponsoring an easy family hike to California Hill on August 9, starting at 10:30 AM. Meet at DEC MUA at the end of Gordon Road. From Peekskill Hollow Road take Gordon Road approximately 1/4 mile, and look for the wooden DEC sign reading 'CALIFORNIA HILL MULTIPLE USE AREA (MUA)' on the left side of the road. Follow the driveway to the bridge, stay left and drive into the DEC parking area. Some images of the state forest I took are here.

Into the Future:

Saturday, August 13

The Wassaic Project Summer Festival

The Wassaic Project Summer Festival is a FREE, annual, multi-disciplinary festival held in Wassaic, NY with over 75 national artists, 20 bands, 5 guest curators, poetry readings, film screenings, performances, and much more. This FREE convergence in Wassaic, NY, will inspire you to be a better person. Housed in and around historic buildings in Wassaic, NY, The Wassaic Project's summer festival escapes the white walls of traditional art spaces and focuses on site-sensitive installations and performances. This festival creates a weekend-long opportunity for the public, as well as artists of all mediums, to come together, exchange ideas, learn new things, and engage in a thriving community. Participants are encouraged to come for the day or stay the weekend camping onsite. Programming is cutting-edge yet predominantly family friendly. The beautiful Hamlet of Wassaic is remarkably accessible from NYC and a short walk from the Wassaic MetroNorth train station. http://www.wassaicproject.com/

Tuesday, August 18

Learn about Volunteering with the NY/NJ Trail Conference

6PM - 7:30PM - Hubbard Lodge, Fahnestock State Park. (Just north of Route 301 on Route 9). Orientation sessions are held at least once each month, in various locations within the regions our trail network covers. The sessions run for just over an hour, with additional time at the end to talk in person with Trail Conference staff and volunteers. Each session begins with a 15-minute presentation covering the work of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, who does it and who benefits from our programs. We also explain the ways in which anyone can help us achieve our mission. The introductory presentation is followed by one or more guest speakers - usually Trail Conference volunteers - who will explain their involvement in the Trail Conference, and present some of the aspects of life as a Trail Conference volunteer. A list describing the types of both current and potential volunteer opportunities is provided to each attendee. The floor is opened to questions after each presentation. Go here for more information.

No Country For Sane Men

Friday, August 7, 2009

News That Matters - August 7, 2009