Friday, April 30, 2010

News That Matters - April 30, 2010 - Things To Do Edition

News That Matters

News That Matters
Brought to you (Almost Daily) by PlanPutnam.Org


Good Friday Morning,

According to the NYSDEC, the managers of Little Buck Pond in Kent are proposing to use strong chemicals on the lake to kill aquatic vegetation. You can read their application here. Comments on this use are requested by May 8th, 2010.
My question about these things is always the same: why not put the effort into cleaning up the stormwater and septic problems that are causing all this vegetation to grow and solve the problem once and for all? Perhaps in the future, before DEC allows application of herbicides, they require that it be part of a larger program that will lead to that application being the final step in an overall process? Otherwise, we find ourselves repeating the same steps over and again and never really solving the problem at the base.
Jury selection begins in the case of Putnam County Sheriff Barbara Dunn who was, at the time, also wearing a hat which had her actively involved with the county Humane Society. The case is about whether she abused her privileges, combining one job with the other. For those who were targeted by her sometimes ruthless ardor and reported ruthless investigation "techniques", especially in regards to discovering evidence of alleged abuse, you know full well how damaging her actions were to the cause. It's taken the Humane Society several years to recover from the scandals. There's a link to a NYJN story about all that here.


Talk about stuffing the ballot box! In our last episode I wrote:
Our informal poll on the County Executive's race is rather interesting. Though only 23 of you had voted as of this writing the current CE only has one vote in his favor. "Someone Else" has 11 and Senator Leibell has 8. Go here to vote. It's on the left near the top of the page.
When I got home yesterday evening I saw that 59 people had voted and Senator Leibell pulled way ahead of the pack! The problem is, if you think it's a problem, is that one third of those 'votes' came within a 2 hour period late Wednesday afternoon, another third came yesterday morning, then there was a two hour lull which ended in a concentrated one hour vote-a-thon! There was a vote from the NYPD, one from the State Senate's offices, one from Fordham University, one from inside Westchester county government and the rest from rather closely related IP addresses. While on Wednesday votes went to others listed in the poll, yesterday the Senator received *every* vote cast.

By this morning votes had come in for the Senator from as far away as the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, France, Austria and from websites designed to hide their originators with all these votes being cast between 10:23 PM last evening and 12:11 AM this morning. Curious? We report. You Decide.

Because of this we have to declare the poll void since even in its casual aspect it's highly unlikely that an actual human in Russia or Vienna is aware of our local affairs... especially 55 of them. And the votes that came from Simon's Rock? I ain't buying them one bit.

Someone either wrote a very intelligent program or the Senator has the wherewithal to have someone sit around all night visiting the website and pulling the lever.

Or, someone who very clearly does not like the Senator has been just as busy.

If we remove the unlikely-voter IP addresses from the data, which amounts to about 55 votes, then the tally this morning is thus:

"Someone Else" 16 votes
Tony Hay  2 votes
Vincent Tamagna 2 votes
Vincent Leibell 32
Bob Bondi 2 votes

And the Senator is still ahead.

While we need to give him credit for his "get out the vote effort" with those who are local enough to actually have a say in the matter, as for the others, well, maybe they'll make a mistake and over the weekend we'll be able to trace their origin.

It's nice to know the Senator - or his fans - are readers of News That Matters and I hope they'll stay active and help the effort along rather than just read for free. And I also want to thank them for jacking up my visitor totals which moves the site higher in the website rankings!

The poll is still up so there's time for Bondi, Hay, Tamagna and "Someone Else" to get their peeps over to the website to vote.
While we're talking about reading for free, word on the street says the FOX Courier may be running at a financial loss as readers leave the rag due to the overt right-wing ass kissing they seem to be doing over there. When Eric Gross ran things there was a good deal of that going on too but it didn't have the nasty FOXNews slant that it has now.
If you're a current reader of the FOX Courier and you are concerned with the harsh right-turn that rag has made since the Ailes' took control, you can do the same: cancel your subscription and send your dollars our way. Here at News That Matters we take social libertarianism seriously and not just as a way to take digs at Democrats we don't like - which is most of them. And you know we take just as many shots at pretty much everyone else out there who thinks they are, or who want to be, in government.

We're equal opportunity kinda folk 'round these here parts.

The weather this weekend looks to be quite summer-like with highs in the 80's on Saturday and a chance of thunderstorms on Sunday. The Ten-Day forecast shows weather and temps appropriate for this time of year so maybe it's finally safe to get those veggies in the garden. Just keep in mind that we had a frost on May 20th of last year...

So, get out. Take a hike. Catch some live theater or music. Do something this weekend!

Things To Do:

Friday, April 30

Trees for Tribs Planting Event

On April 30th the Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs program will pot-up 3,000 bare-root seedlings of native plants and shrubs. Many hands make light work and we need your help! Join us for a day in the dirt on "the berm" at the NYSDEC Region 3 offices in New Paltz (21 S. Putt Corners Road). Refreshments will be provided. For more information contact Jess Kindred at jckindre@gw.dec.state.ny.us or call (845) 256 3827. Event details may change due to weather and/or work load. Please call to confirm dates and times.

PCB's in the Hudson

7PM - Dr. Garvey is an environmental geochemist will briefly cover the history of the remedial investigation that led to the 2002 Record of Decision for the site well as some of the recent accomplishments and observations of the Phase 1 remediation.  Beacon Sloop Club, Free. (845) 476-6674, (845) 542-0721, www.beaconsloopclub.org

“Peers Influence Peers XVI: Through Their Eyes”

7:30PM - The Peers Influence Peers Partnership will have a premiere sneak preview of it’s annual national broadcast, “Peers Influence Peers XVI: Through Their Eyes” on April 30, 2010 to be held at the Putnam Valley High School Performing Arts Center. The public is invited to the event that is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM.

Over 32 million Americans suffer from the health issue of domestic violence annually. This strikes people of all ages particularly teenagers who are developing their first relationships. The Peers Influence Peers Partnership has examined this issue and together with Break The Cycle and My Sister’s Place in Washington DC will bring awareness to this issue to millions of teens across the country.

The "ticket" for admission to this event is wearing a purple domestic violence wristband. They are available now at PVHS for $1.00 or at the door the night of the show for $5.00

Bach B Minor Mass

Presented by the Putnam Chorale at 8PM at the United Methodist Church at 300 Main Street in Mt. Kisco. Tickets are $15. Call 845-279-7265 or visit www.putnamchorale.org for more information. See May 2nd, for a second chance.

The Mass in B Minor is widely regarded as one of the supreme achievements of classical music. Alberto Basso summarizes the work as follows: "The Mass in B minor is the consecration of a whole life: started in 1733 for 'diplomatic' reasons, it was finished in the very last years of Bach's life, when he had already gone blind. This monumental work is a synthesis of every stylistic and technical contribution the Cantor of Leipzig made to music. But it is also the most astounding spiritual encounter between the worlds of Catholic glorification and the Lutheran cult of the cross."

Scholars have suggested that the Mass in B Minor belongs in the same category as the Art of Fugue, as a summation of Bach's deep lifelong involvement with musical tradition - in this case, with choral settings and theology. Bach scholar Christoph Wolff describes the work as representing "a summary of his writing for voice, not only in its variety of styles, compositional devices, and range of sonorities, but also in its high level of technical polish...Bach's mighty setting preserved the musical and artistic creed of its creator for posterity."

The Mass was described in the 19th century by Hans Georg Nägeli as "The Greatest Artwork of All Times and All People."

Saturday, May 1

Today is Beltane which marks the beginning of the summer season, a time when the flocks were herded from pastures up to the mountains. In ancient Ireland great bonfires signifying purification and blessings were lit on mountains and hills of ritual importance from which embers were brought back to the home to light the hearth fires therein.

May Wildlife Walk

7:30AM - Noon. Esopus Creek Conservancy and John Burroughs Natural History Society are co-sponsoring a guided nature walk in woods and wetlands of Esopus Bend Nature Preserve.  The first week in May is the start of the peak migration period for neotropical birds at this latitude.  Meet at Saugerties Village Beach parking lot on Rte. 9W Contact Steve Chorvas (schorvas@verizon.nethttp://www.esopuscreekconservancy.org/

Hike Castle Rock

9:30AM - Hudson Highlands State Park, NY. Leader: George O'Lear, 914-631-8441. Meet: 9:30am at North White Plains train station for carpool to trailhead ($5 contribution), or call leader for alternate meeting place. Moderate 7 miles at a brisk pace. Climb Sugarloaf Hill for Hudson River views, then hike on the Appalachian Trail and return via carriage roads. Bad weather cancels.

Worker's Rally in Albany

1PM - 4PM - Gather at NYS Capital Bldg, Capitol Park, State St, Albany. Jobs for All; End the Wars; Healthcare for All; Stop Wage,State Budget & Education Cuts; Defend Civil Rights, Women's & Immigrant Rights; End NYS Ban on Gay Marriage; Green Jobs & Clean Energy Now! Speakers, music.  Sponsored by Hudson Mohawk May Day Committee; Solidarity Committee of The Cap Dist; Troy Area Labor Council; Media Alliance; The Eighth Step; IWW; Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace; NY Labor History Assoc-Info hudsonmohawkmayday.org / (518) 273-2759 Art Fleishner

Cinco de Mayo Celebration

1PM - 9PM - Peekskill will be having its 4th annual Cinco de Mayo celebration right in the heart of the historic Downtown business district.  The party begins at 1pm and lasts until 9pm.  There will be lots of free live entertainment including Mariachi bands, Ballet Folklorico dancers, pinantas and face painting for kids, and lots more.  All the restaurants and shops will be open and there's plenty to see while browsing around.  The stage will be set up near the Gazebo, at the intersection of Division St., Central Ave. and Park St.  For more info, log on to www.downtownpeekskill.com

19th Century Circus: Sex, Violence and Politics      

2PM the Southeast Museum will host a lecture entitled: 19th Century Circus: Sex, Violence and Politics. Author David Carlyon will discuss Putnam and Westchester involvement in the creation of the 19th century circus.   The early circus presented performers in skimpy clothes, with a strong hint of sex so they had to fight locals daily; Hudson River towns were especially notorious. Bantering with raucous audiences, talking clowns told dirty jokes and political jokes. One clown, Dan Rice, was nationally famous for his political wit, then ran for president - legitimately - from the ring. The boisterous atmosphere reflected a participatory age, audiences speaking their mind at the circus, in theaters, and during elections. But by the 1880s rowdiness became considered vulgar, and circus turned into innocent family amusement, and a sentimental symbol. Why did circus change? How did politics change? How did America change?

David Carlyon is a writer and independent scholar. He has a Ph.D. in theater history from Northwestern University and was a clown with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. This free lecture is made possible with support form the NY Council for the Humanities. The Southeast Museum is located at 67 Main Street, in the Village of Brewster, NY - For more information please call 845-279-7500 or e-mail semeducation@verizon.net

Michelle Leblanc - "I Remember You"

2:30PM - Warner Library, Tarrytown. The hour long free concert begins at 2:30. Featuring Tom Kohl on piano, legendary bass player Bill Crow, Ed Xiques on horns and drummer Ron Vincent !! At the Warner Library, 121 North Broadway, Tarrytown NY 10591. 914-631-7734 www.warnerlibrary.org

Vesta G. Williams - "In the Key of "V"

7:00PM - Come hear some good old New York, LIVE JAZZ presented by the Southeast Museum and Putnam Arts Council on Saturday May 2, 2009 at 7:00PM. Vesta G. Williams is a vocalist with “In the Key of Vee”, her backup band ranging from trio to sextet.  She presents mainly jazz standards – Ella, Sarah, Carmen and Nancy are her favored vocal influences with a splash of contemporary songs from Joni Mitchell to Stevie Wonder. Tickets are $5.00 call 845-279-7500 for reservations. The Tilly Foster Farm is located at 100 RT. 312 in Brewster, NY. The performance will be in the Lodge, Building #8. This event is a collaboration of the Southeast Museum and Putnam Arts Council.

Sunday, May 2

ADK Hike on Schaghticoke Mountain

9:15AM - Dutchess County, NY. Leader: Ollie Simpson, olliesimpson2005@yahoo.com, 845-298-8379 (no machine). Meet: 9:15am at Starr22 Diner, intersection of NY 22 and DC 21, to caravan to ending point on East Mountain Rd., then carpool to start at Schaghticoke Rd. Moderate 5.5 miles. Call at 7:15am day of hike if questions about weather.

Kent CAC Hike to Hawk Rock and Mead Farm

10:30AM - meet at the DEP parking area at the end of Whangtown road in Kent. If you haven't been to Hawk Rock, you're in for a treat. When the glaciers retreated northward at the end of the last ice age, they were carrying some really big rocks that sometimes ended up in odd positions when the ice melted. One of these so called "erratics" is Hawk Rock. Local lore has it that long ago the Native Americans named it and used the site as a meeting place. It is certainly a believable story; the setting is beautiful and it's one impressive rock. You can see a picture of it here http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4059095

The Mead Farm, like the rest of this hike, is on land that was originally part of the hunting grounds for the Nochpeem tribe of Native Americans, a part of the Wappinger Confederacy. After passing through various people's hands, sometime in the 1860s Moses F. Mead purchased the eastern part of the farm where the ruins are today. The site includes a number of interesting features, including the foundations of the house, the stone portions of a cow barn and a beautiful corbelled stone chamber.

This is a moderate hike that takes about three hours round trip including stops for lunch and a look around the farm site. If weather forces us to cancel the hike, we'll post it on our website and let subscribers to this list know by e-mail. For further information contact Dave Ehnebuske.

Bach B Minor Mass

Presented by the Putnam Chorale at 3PM at Temple Beth-Elohim at 31 Mt. Ebo Road, Brewster. Tickets are $15. Call 845-279-7265 or visit www.putnamchorale.org for more information. See May 2nd, for a second chance.

The Mass in B Minor is widely regarded as one of the supreme achievements of classical music. Alberto Basso summarizes the work as follows: "The Mass in B minor is the consecration of a whole life: started in 1733 for 'diplomatic' reasons, it was finished in the very last years of Bach's life, when he had already gone blind. This monumental work is a synthesis of every stylistic and technical contribution the Cantor of Leipzig made to music. But it is also the most astounding spiritual encounter between the worlds of Catholic glorification and the Lutheran cult of the cross."

Scholars have suggested that the Mass in B Minor belongs in the same category as the Art of Fugue, as a summation of Bach's deep lifelong involvement with musical tradition - in this case, with choral settings and theology. Bach scholar Christoph Wolff describes the work as representing "a summary of his writing for voice, not only in its variety of styles, compositional devices, and range of sonorities, but also in its high level of technical polish...Bach's mighty setting preserved the musical and artistic creed of its creator for posterity."

The Mass was described in the 19th century by Hans Georg Nägeli as "The Greatest Artwork of All Times and All People."

"Seed"

3PM - After a decade of famine and food riots, the Mendelian Corporation feeds (and controls) the world through its genetically modified seeds. Twelve-year old Juan is a member of the Sprouts –the Mendelian corporate youth program in which young boys are trained to be the eyes and ears of local authorities. When Juan inadvertently discovers that his father Mateo is involved in a local seed-running ring, he is forced to decide just how far his commitment goes to the Sprouts motto ‘Duty First’.

SEED was produced as part of the FutureStates series launched in March 2010. Rosendale Theater, 408 Main St, Rosendale, NY 12472. Reception follows. For details, see  www.hvpg.org

Into The Future:

Saturday, May 8

Maggie Seligman

11AM - Noon. With Martin Aronchick at the North Salem Library Fair. Ruth Keeler Memorial Library 276 Titicus Road, North Salem, NY. Maggie will be singing jazz standards and a few other songs with the accompaniment of the excellent jazz guitarist Martin Aronchick, who asked me to join him for this gig.  I'm flattered--it will be a lot of fun!

Westchester Symphonic Winds

8PM - The Westchester Symphonic Winds continues its 22st season with its new conductor Mr. Curt Ebersole in its Spring Concert at the Tarrytown Music Hall. Curt Ebersole, conductor/music director. This volunteer adult community wind ensemble, now in its 22nd year, provides opportunities for players and audiences alike to enjoy the finest music for winds/percussion by award-winning composers, along with the area's finest soloists. All season long we are celebrating the most popular works of John Barnes Chance, with two works by this award-winning composer on each program. Featured works for this concert include "Overture to Candide" by Leonard Bernstein, Elegy and Symphony No. 2 by John Barnes Chance, and Casy at the Bat by Randol Alan Bass, with narration by Tom Morehouse. Ticket prices: $13 for seniors & students, $18 for adults, children under 10 are free. Tickets.


Saturday, May 15

Spring Canoe Trips in the Great Swamp

Departures scheduled for: 8:15 AM, 10:15 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM - Repeated tomorrow, Sunday, May 16th.

Frogs-ny.orgEach year Friends of the Great Swamp leads canoe trips on the East Branch Croton River into one of the largest wetlands in New York State. Join us on one of these enjoyable adventures into the Great swamp and experience this beautiful and valuable resource for yourself. As we enter this magical wilderness we will explore the biodiversity and learn more about the values of this nationally significant wetland. The Swamp provides critical habitat for aquatic species as well as for migrating and breeding birds. We have seen Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Prothonotary Warblers and Common yellowthroats as well as Wood Duck, Mallards and many, many more. There are Turtles, Dragonflies, some fantastic plants and possibly catch a glimpse of a mink or a muskrat.

Explore the Swamp with FrOGS. Meet us at the Green Chimney's Beach on Doansburg Road (formerly Putnam Lake Road) of Rte 22. FrOGS members will guide each trip and point out the birds and plants as we canoe.

All levels of paddlers are welcome. We will provide canoes, paddles, Life jackets (bring your won if you wish) and a licensed Lifeguard. We suggest you bring bottled water, sunglasses and layered clothing to accommodate temperature changes. We will canoe rain or shine. In extreme conditions, we ask that you call for cancellation and rescheduling information.

Reservations are a must and space is limited so get your reservations early! For information and reservations contact:

Laurie Wallace at (845-279-8858) or Laurwally@aol.com subject: Canoe Trip

$22.00 Adult Member, $11.00 Child (6 to 14 years)
$26.00 Adult Non-member, $16.00 Child (6 to 14 years)

Master Gardeners' 2010 Plant Sale

8:30 am to 12:30 pm at Tilly Foster Farm on Route 312, Brewster.The sale starts at 8:30 and those of you who have been there before know that getting there early is a must! We’ll have tomatoes by the hundred, perennials from the Master Gardeners’ own gardens, herbs and annuals grown locally just for us, and a new gift and tool tent. It’s time to get out there and grow something!

Catskill's Shelter Caretaking Workshop

10am - Come and join Douglas Senterman, the Catskill Lean-to Supervisor, for a shelter caretaking workshop.  No previous experience is necessary and beginners are welcome.  This one-day training session will cover the skills necessary to maintain a shelter (lean-to) so that it is ready for use by campers and is harmonious to its surroundings.  Students will learn how to do an assessment of the overall shelter condition, cleaning and clearing the area, the proper use of tools and how to report the shelters condition.  The workshop will take place at actual lean-tos so you will get hands-on experience. 
 
Beaver Meadow Leanto - Photo by Jeff GreenWear your hiking boots; pack plenty of water and a lunch. 

The workshop will take place at Elm Ridge Lean-to off of the escarpment trail.  We will be walking up the Elm Ridge Trail (yellow) approximately 1 mile to the lean-to on an easy hike.  The parking area is located about 1.8 miles north of Maplecrest.  We will be meeting there at 10am and will walk into the lean-to as a group.  
Directions to parking area: From Rt. 23 in Windham turn onto State Rt. 296 towards Hunter, when Rt. 296 makes a hard right in Hensonville continue straight on to Maplecrest Road (County Rt. 40). At stop sign turn Right to stay on Maplecrest Road (County Rt.40).  At stop sign (in Hamlet of Maplecrest) turn Left onto Big Hollow Road (County Rt. 56).  Turn Left onto Peck Road and follow until the end where the parking area is located.  (For those with GPS or who would like to use MapQuest, an address you can enter is 197 Peck Road, Maplecrest, NY 12454-5023 – that will get you near the end of Peck Road, just continue up to the end)

For those who are interested we will continue our workshop at Batavia Kill Lean-to.  After completing instruction at Elm Ridge Lean-to we will return to our vehicles and take short drive up Big Hollow Road (County Rt. 56) to the next parking area.  We will walk into the Batavia Kill Lean-to on the Black Dome Range Trail (red) and then the Batavia Kill Trail (yellow).  This trip is also approximately 1 mile and is an easy to moderate hike.  This second lean-to is optional; however it will be an opportunity to see another shelter in a different condition and will allow you to put your newly learned skills to the test with more hands-on experience. 

Directions to parking area: From the Elm Ridge Trail parking, go out to the end of Peck Road and make a Left onto Big Hollow Road (County Rt. 56) and follow until the end where the parking lot is located.  

Please contact Laurie Rankin to sign up for one of these dates: laurierankin@hvc.rr.com (preferred) or by phone at 845-926-2182.

Saturday, May 22

Putnam County Land Trust Volunteer Work Party

9:30AM - 12:30PM - Work parties are now being organized for trail maintenance and clean up on preserves of the Putnam County Land Trust. Groups will be formed and work each month on a designated preserve.  No prior experience is necessary. A good attitude and a willingness to pitch in are essential. The first work party will be held at the Field Farmstead Preserve on Fields Lane in Brewster on Saturday, May 22nd from 9:30 to 12:30. Work detail will include removal of debris, posting of border signs, creating about 200 feet of new trail and removal of invasive plants such as multi-flora rose and barberry. Water, work gloves, jeans and work or hiking boots are suggested. Tools such as shovels, clippers, rakes and loppers if available would be helpful.  If not tools will be provided. Come have fun with a like minded group of individuals in the out-of-doors while helping maintain trails for the public. To learn more or to sign up, please contact Judy Terlizzi at 845 228 4520, Bob Lund at 845 279 3122 or visit the website at www.pclt.net

Wednesday, June 2

Smart Management for Small Communities:  Practical Resources for Local Governance

8:30 am – 6:00 pm - Hosted by:  Environmental Finance Center-Syracuse University, serving Region 2 of the Environmental Protection Agency, and co-sponsored with the NYS Water Resources Institute.   As a part of the Environmental Finance Center’s Public Management Finance Program (PMFP) series, this event will focus on the needs of municipal leaders and provide technical assistance, funding updates, and practical skill-building sessions. Who should attend?  Elected officials, wastewater, drinking water and solid waste systems operators, and all interested parties.  Every attendee will hear from state and federal agency representatives on funding updates and opportunities, and concurrent break-out sessions including asset management, alternative strategies in drinking water management, wastewater management, and solid waste management.  Keynote presentation by Ed Clerico, Principal of Alliance Environmental.   The event promises to be educational, functional, practical, and thought-provoking.  For more details, see attached workshop announcement PDF. Fee is $75.  Register online at:  www.efc.syracusecoe.org. Registration deadline:  May 10, 2010. Location:  Bear Mountain Conference Center 

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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

News That Matters - April 28, 2010

News That Matters

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My own apolitical view is that any variation of “Let’s take back our country” is a venal, vindictive expression no matter whose mouth spews its venom (as if the U.S. of A. ever belongs to only one group at a given time, a disingenuous, gross generality worthy of B-movie melodrama rather than meaningful dialogue). - Bruce Apar

Hailstorm PotatoesGood Wednesday Morning,

 It's cold out, eh? Don't forget that we had a frost in the middle of May last year. But I really wish the weather would settle out as the garden is having a hard time getting itself going.
Last year was a washout for gardeners. It rained until the beginning of July and then never got really warm. And then, at least here at the Asylum, we had a terrific localized hailstorm that destroyed everything else. The picture to the right shows what was left of my potatoes after that storm. Wait! It gets better... then the tomato blight swept through killing off my Roma's and slicing tomatoes and the next thing you know the trees were turning and winter kicked in. The only thing that did well was the broccoli. Even the weeds wouldn't grow.

I suppose the best we can do is to keep our fingers crossed and hope for more seasonable weather. The 10 day forecast says that we'll have temps in the 80's come Saturday and the 70's next week so maybe we can finally put winter behind us?

The New York/New Jersey Trail Conference (NY/NJTC) is looking for volunteer monitors for local sections of the Appalachian Trail
as it crosses New York from Dover through Harriman and out into New Jersey. Their press release says that the only skills and qualifications be that you are, a member of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, be physically able to bushwhack through woods, have some acumen at map reading (surveyor and segment), have basic understanding of orienteering skills and the ability to read a compass or use a GPS device. You can read the full release here or here.



Action Alert Update:

We have another letter into District Attorney Adam Levy's Office
concerning Lori Kemp. This one from Peach Lake resident and activist Suzannah Glidden in which she writes;
"The Town of Carmel has allowed blasting to continue for more than three years without all the requisite permits in place even though town code requires them. Yet, town officials seem quite oblivious to these activities even though many have tried to bring it to their attention."


Our informal poll on the County Executive's race is rather interesting.
Though only 23 of you have voted as of this writing the current CE only has one vote in his favor. "Someone Else" has 11 and Senator Leibell has 8. Go here to vote. It's on the left near the top of the page.



Central Hudson, a utility provider that covers a rather large swath of NY State
is seeking a rate increase this year and then just the other day, announced a 24% jump in earnings over last year from $2.22 to $2.76 a share. This is what we call creative accounting. You get the state to give you permission to raise your rates then use that unnecessary income to entice new investors to buy stock in your company. This is having your cake and eating it, too. But then, this is what happens when corporations and the government are one and the same.
General Motors has been running TV ads claiming that they've paid off their TARP debt 4 years ahead of schedule which sounds rather impressive. But here too we have a little creative accounting going on. What GM did was dip into one TARP fund to pay the other. My question is, why does it have to be the independent media that reports this and not the corporate media? Oh, I guess I answered my own question...


I came across a blogsite the other day entitled, Political Science Degree, which had an entry supporting Greg Ball for the State Senate. Here's a clip from that:
In 2006, after knocking on at least 10000 doors, Ball delivered a surprising and historic upset against 12 year incumbent Willis Stephens Jr., the scion of a political family who held the seat almost continuously for eighty years, with a resounding 71% of the vote. After spending a first term marked by legislative achievements including a landmark bill that provided free college tuition to New Yorks [sic] veterans, closing loopholes in the human trafficking law and enacting across-the-board spending cuts to the boated [sic] state budget while restoring vital funding to healthcare and education, Ball trounced challenger John Degnan with 75% of the vote, and record turnout.
I thought the numbers posted here were a little off the mark and so I did my homework. In 2006, the Ballster pulled 55% of the vote, not 71% as the PSD poster claims. And for the 2008 race against John Degnan he scored 61% of the vote not 75% as was quoted. I would have left a comment on the blog correcting the poster but, as you could guess, the comments section was closed and there's no contact information available. Now, isn't that just like him and his peeps?

The Congressional race has just gotten a little racier. The Tea Party in northern Westchester, the group that helped organize Greg Ball's State Senate campaign rally in Carmel on April 15th, have officially endorsed Kristia Cavere. TPonW's chairman, Bill Bongiorno, calls her a "fantastic" candidate. Do we forget who Ms. Cavere is? She's the one who said,
"The Republicans were the ones who defeated slavery," she said. "Republicans were the ones in favor of women's suffrage. The Republicans are the ones who liberated Europe in World War II and the Republicans are the ones who brought freedom to millions of people in the Middle East now."

and

"My health care plan is one page," she said. "I am an environmentalist. Think of all the trees I'm saving."
I think we're going to have some fun come the Republican primary...

pants on fireBill O'Reilly is making news again this time for lying. No, misrepresenting the facts. Well, not exactly, maybe a combination of both. Thanks to the excellent investigative journalism of the St. Petersburg Times' Politifact, a fact checking department, we have the story. It seems Mr. O'Reilly said,
"We researched to find out if anybody on Fox News had ever said you're going to jail if you don't buy health insurance. Nobody's ever said it."
As it turns out - and is not unexpected - is that Politifact labled the claim as "pants on fire". Read the story here.



And now, The News:
  1. A gyre situation for our oceans
  2. Texaco buildings to be demolished
  3. NYSERDA's Renewable Fuels Roadmap
  4. Seismic testing stirs waves of concerns
  5. They're walking 700 miles for end to nukes
  6. Battle Royale for ‘The 40th’
  7. Habitat Dedicates Five Homes

A gyre situation for our oceans

By Peter Grannis

That plastic bag you saw blowing down the street the other day may headed for Hawaii.

The fact is, when we litter, a lot of that trash gets washed or blown out to sea, where it becomes concentrated by ocean currents into massive floating islands. Nearly 90% of this marine debris is plastic, the majority of which comes from – you got it – our communities. Not only does it affect our coasts and beaches, it has terrible consequences for wildlife. Untold numbers of seabirds, turtles, fish and whales have been hurt or died from eating or getting caught in the trash. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – these plastics are responsible for as many as 100,000 marine mammal deaths every year.

While these debris fields are far away and invisible to you and me, actions to address them are not out of our reach. Beach and shoreline clean-ups, while absolutely worthwhile, fail to stop the problem at its root. We need to shift from addressing the symptoms to preventing them. We need to find ways to eliminate, reduce, and recycle so much more of our single-use packaging. Last year’s expansion of the Bottle Bill was a positive step. As a result of the new law, millions more water bottles – a major contributor to plastic ocean debris – will be recycled each year.

Read More

Texaco buildings to be demolished

poughkeepsiejournal.com

FISHKILL — Work will soon begin at the former Texaco Beacon Research Center to demolish buildings so contamination at the site can be assessed and removed.

Mark Hendrickson, project manager for Chevron Environmental Management Co., said 43 of the site's 64 buildings will be taken down to their foundations after asbestos remediation is completed.

"The site is inactive, and we would like to put it back to productive use," he said.

The former research center is in the Fishkill hamlet of Glenham.

A textile mill was built on the site in 1811. It closed in 1875 due to financial hardship, but reopened under new owners. That business closed its doors in 1929.

Texaco purchased the property in 1931, renovating the former mill to become a crude oil refining research facility.

Expansion, including above-ground storage tanks, took place until 1980. Texaco and Chevron merged in 2001.

At its peak, the center employed about 1,200 people.

Read More

NYSERDA's Renewable Fuels Roadmap

Pace Law School’s Energy and Climate Center has produced the Renewable Fuels Roadmap and Sustainable Biomass Feedstock Supply for New York State (Roadmap) for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Intended to help guide state policy on renewable fuels, the Roadmap was a recommendation from Governor David A Paterson’s Renewable Energy Task Force report issued in February 2008. The Roadmap evaluates the future of liquid biofuel production and feedstock supplies for transportation purposes in New York State in order to address increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as independence from petroleum usage.

To conduct the study, the Pace Energy and Climate Center assembled a team of the leading authorities on biofuels throughout the Northeast, including researchers from Cornell University and the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and from consulting firms on energy and environmental issues such as Energetics, Energy and Environmental Research Associates, and Antares Group. The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management as well as Cornell Cooperative Extension branches throughout New York State are also members of the Pace-led team.

The Roadmap presents a snapshot of New York’s current biomass production, including agricultural products and forest products. It addresses: biomass feedstock inventory; land uses; transportation and distribution infrastructure; competing uses for biomass; and biofuel conversion technologies.

Read More

Seismic testing stirs waves of concerns

By SANDY LONG

WAYNE COUNTY, PA — The trigger was the appearance of small flags along Wayne County roadways, followed by the presence of crews and trucks on Saturday, April 17. Seismic data collection took place next, as specialized vehicles from Dawson Geophysical Company lumbered along rural roads. Each new stage of the process has sent ripples through a community already on alert to the advance of natural gas exploration activities in the region.

In response, some flags have been removed along River Road in Damascus Township and disturbing rumors of threats have begun circulating.

A group of alarmed citizens met on April 17 to discuss the evolving situation and to share information, according to Beverly Sterner, a resident of Milanville. Sterner, whose home rests only a few yards from the roadway, is concerned about the potential impacts of seismic vibrations on the foundation of her home, its stone structures and a vigorous stream that courses next to the house. Many of those in attendance shared Sterner’s concerns.

Read More

They're walking 700 miles for end to nukes

Statewide protest passes through on way to UN
By Terra Thompson
For the Times Herald-Record

HIGHLAND FALLS — Peace walkers are leaving their footprints across the state to raise nuclear awareness.

The 700-mile journey started on March 7 at a nuclear waste site in Steamburg, near Buffalo, and will end at the United Nations in New York on Sunday to correspond with the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. The contingent has been following Route 9W through the Hudson Valley. Monday, walkers were in the area of Highland Falls.

The journey, organized by the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist order, is more an interfaith pursuit against nuclear power and nuclear weapons than a pious one.

"It's more an educational journey about the nuclear issue," said Jules Orkin, a walker and New Jersey native. "It's a learning and teaching experience that happens as we interact with the people."

Read More

Battle Royale for ‘The 40th’

Last week both Democratic Westchester County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz and Republican New York State Assemblyman Greg Ball threw their hats in the ring for the 40th District New York State Senate seat held since the Clinton presidency was still young by Republican Vincent “Uncle Vinny” Leibell.

Very much starting with the latter, all three gentleman are formidable in their own right (or left, or center, as the case may be).

The iconic Senator Leibell’s longevity and efficacy also must be credited to his extremely effective, prototypical chief of staff Ray McGuire, a virtual magician whose sleight-of-hand style favors sangfroid to spare and never calling one iota of attention to himself.

The erstwhile legislator’s high-profile propensity for dispensing member items liberally throughout his district has its fans and its foes (Full disclosure: The Harrison Apar Field of Dreams Foundation community not-for-profit charity my family runs in memory of our son received a $7500 N.Y. State grant in 2004 sponsored by Senator Leibell on a recommendation from the Yorktown PBA and Yorktown Councilman Nick Bianco). The Senator — whose populist appeal also can be traced to his  earthy ease connecting with folks whether one-to-one or one-to-many –likes to say about his aide’s funds-finding acumen that if there’s a stray penny by an Albany curb, Ray will locate it.

Read More

Habitat Dedicates Five Homes

Pedro Cruz equated it with family. Annie Luna spoke of her infinite gratitude. Meanwhile, Stephanie Faucher was unable to even conjure up words to describe it.

Each person was referring to how they felt about their Habitat for Humanity journey. Sunday, the Cruz, Luna, Faucher families, along with Rose and Rosales clans, took part in a "Quintuple Dedication," celebrating their two year experiences both building and purchasing their homes. The five house dedication ceremony marked the biggest Habitat for Humanity dedication ever to take place in the City of Newburgh over an eleven year period. It further made the grand tally of houses worked on by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh to stand at an impressive 43. The feats resulted in much to celebrate.

"The five houses we are dedicating today represented 12% of all the houses built by Habitat for Greater Newburgh since we first started in 1999, which will be adding almost one million dollars to assessed property value in the City of Newburgh in a single day," pointed out Marci Gurton, Director of Development for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh. "We never could have dreamed of this; it was all made possible because of local volunteers and vendors."

Read More


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Monday, April 26, 2010

News That Matters - April 26, 2010

News That Matters

News That Matters
Brought to you (Almost Daily) by PlanPutnam.Org


Good Monday Morning,

This past Saturday evening The Bard came to the shores of Lake Carmel in a Shakespeare Slam that has fortuitously become an annual event. Curated by NYC acting coach Roger Hendricks Simon and produced by Blue Horse Repertory, the cast of 30 actors, professional and students alike, worked effortlessly through more than a dozen of the Bard's plays. Scenes from Hamlet, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, The Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet and more, were woven into a neat, seamless fabric highlighting the best of the Bard and the best talents of the cast. Incredible performances by Ralph Cashen, Daniel Simon and Lora Lee Ecobelli were just a few of the standouts that evening. With just a brief ten-minute intermission the 90 minute performance just flew by. You should have been there!
A poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,
Sing all the green willow,
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,
Sing willow, willow, willow.

Action Alert:

Saving Stony Kill Farm

Common Ground FarmIn an effort to save $35,000 the State of New York has proposed closing their Stony Kill Farm facility in the Town of Fishkill. The property has been farmed since well, since forever, and the deed requires that the land be used as a farm or it reverts back to its original owners. There's even a 9 acre lot leased to the organic CSA enterprise known as "Common Ground Farm" which if lost would leave an enormous hole in the CSA and natural foods industry in the Hudson Valley.
On August 4, 1942, a deed was issued by James De Lancey, Evelina Verplanck, John Bayard Rodgers and Susan Van Wyck Verplanck to the NYS Department of Education, stating that Stony Kill "shall be forever dedicated to and used exclusively for agricultural purposes."

The land is worth millions to the Verplank's who would be only too happy to sell it off for housing or big box stores at the location on Route 9D.

You can join the hundreds that have signed a petition to the state requesting they change their minds and the link to that is here. More information can also be found here, here and here. Regardless, do something.

Update: Free Lori Kemp

So many of you have written to District Attorney Adam Levy's office about Lori Kemp that my faith in humanity has been tacitly restored. Lake Carmel resident Joan Castiner was the latest to write and her letter was fantastic. But if you haven't written, Ms. Kemp's trial date is fast approaching and there's still time! Point your browser here for more information.


Telling Trivia:
Do you remember what this phone number was for: 212-279-3400? Jog your memories and write.



Thanks in part to Congressman John Hall, who secured $250,000 in grant monies, Russel Wright's home, Manitoga, which is just off Route 9D in Garrison, now sports a new "green roof", a prototype for developers and re-developers everywhere. Also assisting with the project were State Senator Vincent Leibell and Assemblywoman Sandy Galef.


Did you know that Republicans were the ones who "liberated Europe" during World War II? This is according to 19th CD Republican/Conservative/Tea Party candidate Kristia Cavere. She also claims to have raised more money than any first-time congressional candidate in history though that cannot be proven as her campaign has not filed expenditure reports. She also brags about her highly regarded security clearance and notable position at the Pentagon but fails to mention that she was an unpaid intern there during her final semester at graduate school. Being that Ms. Cavere has been unanimously endorsed by the Town of New Windsor Republican committee there will be more nifty tidbits of historical revisionism coming from that quarter this election season.
So, FDR, Harry Truman and every soldier in the European theater were Republicans. I didn't know that.

But don't fret over Ms. Cavere's simplistic misunderstandings of of living history for it's Nan Hayworth, the wealthy Westchester clone of Sue Kelly, who is the darling of Republican committee chairs and will most certainly receive their endorsements in May. She's got the money. She's got the corporate connections to get more and she's got 'that' political look down pat. And though she blathers cooky-cutter NRCC campaign nonsense with the best of them I'm pretty sure, unlike Ms. Cavere, she can find Canada on a map. Whether she can see Russia from her front window or not is another story.

But teabaggers and other fans of Ms. Cavare call Ms. Hayworth a RINO (Republican In Name Only) and have sworn not to back her candidacy. On the other hand, the same people think Congressman Hall is a progressive/socialist/communist love-child from an illegitimate union between Stalin, Mao, Castro and a syphilitic prostitute so I really don't see them jumping the Republican ship anytime soon. But they will come along - grudgingly - to the Hayworth table to feast on her offerings of the possibility for liberating the 19th CD from the red-handed clutches of a Congressman who is so middle-of-the-road that I'm not sure it's the same body inside the man I worked so hard to elect in 2006.

While we're talking about delusional candidates for public office, I'm sure everyone is already aware of Greg Ball's latest gaff? If not, in brief: One of his robocalls insisted that if he raised $30,000 by May 1, "the party" would match it. The problem is that "the party" has no effing idea what he's talking about and was rather forceful in saying so. How many bridges can this guy burn and still survive politically? And, whatever happened to that damned goat?

Oh, but we're not done with the Ballster this morning for he does keep finding ways to amuse and inspire! Take his views on public housing for example. The Albany Project reports that the Assemblyman had this to say about a recent desegregation settlement down in Westchester:
[Kaplowitz] has also voted to use tax-payer money to build "affordable housing" in Northern Westchester, with 200 units alone slated for Somers, that will recruit the Nation's poorest and weakest to this quiet small-town.
I love the smell of race-baiting in the morning! The settlement produces available housing for those in Westchester earning up to $53,000 which is rather close to the median income for that downstate county. If I were making $53,000 I'd be happy to be called poor and weak.

AZArizona officials passed a law last week that may prove to be the toughest immigration law in the nation. It allows, no, it encourages police to racially profile anyone they suspect might be an 'illegal' immigrant and fiscally penalizes local police forces and communities who are not 'tough enough' on snaring the illegals among us. With one of the largest Hispanic populations in the nation, and with Hispanics stereotypically profiled as illegal, Arizona cops are going to be pretty busy. National boycotts are brewing, businesses who were seeking to build new enterprises are pulling out and tourist bookings have dropped like a rock thrown by some impetuous child into the Grand Canyon.
And it didn't take long for AZ authorities to start nabbing suspects. One such was a trucker arrested at a  weighstation (video) and his social security card, commercial drivers license and other documents weren't enough to prove his loyalty citizenship. But the cops didn't care, he was handcuffed and arrested all the same. ICE officials insisted the stop and arrest were part of "standard procedures" but his wife had to leave her work, drive home and then bring his birth certificate to the prison.

Jeezus effing Christmas. I feel like I'm writing from the heart of Soviet Russia in the 1950's!

One question I have is this: people from Ireland and eastern Europe constitute some of the largest illegal immigrant populations in the US (find a legal Irish bartender in NYC or fair-haired au pair from Mahopac, will ya?) so I'm wondering if AZ's law is intended just for dark skinned people or will the cops be stopping anyone with an accent? Or have blond hair. Or are walking three children in the middle of the day. I doubt it, since they're white like us we leave them alone.

If you want to be a cop in Indonesia's Papua province you had better not have had your penis enlarged. According to a report from Reuters, new applicants are asked this question during the hiring process and if you answer "yes", well, that ends the interview. Police officials say that enlarged penises "cause a hindrance during training." Yeah, your guess is as good as mine.



And now, The News:

EPA Marks Earth Day by Recognizing Environmental Achievers in New York

Contact Information: Caroline Newton (212) 637-3937, newton.caroline@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y.) For twenty-two people and organizations from New York State, the spirit of Earth Day has not diminished in the 40 years since it was first celebrated. In keeping with that spirit, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today awarded them each the Agency’s Environmental Quality Award. These awards, given to those who demonstrate outstanding achievements in protecting the environment, were presented by EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck at an awards ceremony today in New York City. EPA also recognized a New York high school student who received the prestigious President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA).

“Today we honor those who advocate for a better environment, and give their time and energy to make the world a healthier and cleaner place,” said Judith Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “The people and organizations we honor today are truly making a difference and we thank them for their part in helping us shape a more sustainable environmental future.”

Environmental Quality Award recipients are chosen from the following categories: individual citizen, environmental education, press and media, business and industry, non-profit organization, environmental or community group, and federal, state, local or tribal agency. The recipients come from within Region 2, which includes New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, The U.S. Virgin Islands and 7 federally-recognized Indian Nations. The award winners span a wide range of environmental achievements, but each proves exemplary determination and success. The EPA’s regional office receives nominations for the awards from both inside and outside the Agency. For more information about the Environmental Quality Awards in EPA Region 2, go to http://www.epa.gov/region02/eqa/.

EPA’s annual President’s Environmental Youth Award recognizes young environmental stewards who surpass their classmates in understanding the importance of the environment. This national competition is open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade who actively participate in noteworthy environmental projects. Out of the hundreds of competitors, one winner is chosen from each of EPA’s 10 regions and several others are chosen to receive honorable mentions. For more information on the PEYA program, visit http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/peya/index.html.

Read More

Someone Still Loves You Greg Ball

by: DeWitt

Unfortunately, it is the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association.

NYSRPA, in addition to supporting the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bare arms, apparently believes that the Founders  would have deemed background checks for gun store employees was an unimaginable encroachment upon our liberties.  NYSRPA's hostility towards common sense crime control extends beyond to purely voluntary measures such as gun buyback programs.

Many patriotic and law-abiding New Yorkers own firearms and may even be part of NYSRPA without signing on to the more extreme aspects of that group's agenda.  Indeed, many New York Republicans take a moderate position on this issue.  Republican Governor George Pataki signed the toughest gun control law in the nation (a law supported by Senator Vincent Leibell, the man Assemblyman Ball wants to succeed) and former federal prosecutor and Republican New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani endorsed gun licensing and mandatory written tests for gun owners.

However, Assemblyman Greg Ball is not one of these pragmatic New Yorkers.  In the Assembly, he opposed a ban on guns that are disguised to appear to be toy guns, opposed a ban on cop killer bullets and supports repealing important portions of the gun control law signed by fellow Republican George Pataki.  Assemblyman Greg Ball's voting record makes it clear that, unlike New York's mainstream Republicans, he is an ideologue when it comes to gun policy.  Someone with Assemblyman Ball's extreme positions belongs on the fringes of the Tea Party, not in the New York State Senate.

Read More

Rattlesnakes sound warning on biodiversity and habitat fragmentation

Like the canary in the coal mine, the timber rattlesnake may be telling us something about the environment we share. Cornell University researchers – using cutting-edge tools including fine-scale molecular genetics and microsatellite markers – tracked the rattlesnakes to understand how wildlife habitats are affected by even modest human encroachment.

"We used this species as a model to investigate general processes underlying population-level responses to habitat fragmentation," said the authors, led by Cornell post-doctoral researcher Rulon Clark, in the paper "Roads, Interrupted Dispersal and Genetic Diversity in Timber Rattlesnakes," currently available online and to be published in the journal Conservation Biology (August 2010).

Researchers discovered that fragmentation of natural habitats by roads – even smaller, low-traffic highways – has had a significant effect over the past 80 years on genetic structure of timber rattlesnakes in four separate regions of upstate New York. Less genetic diversity means populations become more susceptible to illness or environmental changes that threaten their survival.

Read More

Sustainable Transport Saves New Yorkers $19 Billion Per Year

New York City residents save at least $19 billion each year by driving less than other Americans, according to a new report from the non-profit CEOs for Cities. "New York City's Green Dividend" [PDF] makes the case that investing in transit, walking, and cycling isn't just better for the environment, it's great for our wallets and essential for the local economy.

As Pete Donohue reported in the Daily News, the report also shows how New York City simply doesn't have the space for car-dependency. To match the car-ownership rates of the average American urban area -- not even the worst of the worst -- New York would require room for 4.5 million more cars. If each car was given only one very small parking space -- and cars demand more than one parking space each -- we would have to construct 25 square miles of new parking. That's the size of Manhattan.

CEOs for Cities is broadcasting the benefits of sustainable transportation to public and private sector executives in order to bring the message to a new audience. "Janette [Sadik-Khan]'s office has made large strides in a quick amount of time, but congestion pricing didn't get through the state and there are other initiatives they're now pushing," said Julia Klaiber, the director of external affairs for CEOs for Cities. "Getting the economic development folks behind these policy arguments" would greatly strengthen the green transportation coalition, she added. That would certainly help in New York City, where the economic development corporation is a leading promoter of car-centric growth and our state representatives block transit improvements that pay for themselves.

Read More

Vermont Legislature Votes to Begin Designing 'Single-Payer' System

MONTPELIER, Vt. - Vermont lawmakers made clear Friday that recently enacted federal health care reform did not go far enough toward a public model, passing legislation that could bring to the state the "public option" health insurance rejected by Washington or even a Canadian-style single-payer system.
[Cover us all: Advocates of a single-payer health care system rally on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington before a 2009 White House-organized forum.]

Cover us all: Advocates of a single-payer health care system rally on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington before a 2009 White House-organized forum.

By a vote of 91-42, the Democratic controlled House passed its own version of legislation passed earlier by the Senate. Both bills call for designing a single-payer system, in which a government agency would administer and make all payments for health care.

The House version calls for that as well as a parallel design of a system with a public option for health insurance, meaning a system in which a health insurance program offered by the government would compete against those offered by private companies. The House's version also would expand previously enacted reform efforts.

Either system would require federal approval.

The Senate focuses on single-payer as the goal, but also calls for two alternative designs. Differences will have to be worked out in a conference committee of three members from each chamber, and it's not clear what Gov. Jim Douglas, a Republican, will do with the bill.

Read More

New immigration law costs Arizona a convention; both sides continue to speak out

PHOENIX -- People on both sides of the issue are continuing to speak out on Senate Bill 1070, the controversial anti-illegal-immigration legislation Gov. Jane brewer signed into law Friday.

Protesters had said the new law -- said to be the toughest immigration law in the country -- would spark an economic backlash.

Earlier in the week Congressman Raul Grijalva called for a boycott of Arizona, asking organizations to not hold conventions here and individuals not to spend their money here. Just a day after Brewer signed 1070, that predicted economic hit seems to be materializing.

Protesters against 1070 gathered at the Capitol all week, urging the governor to veto 1070. Those opposed to the tough new law are still hoping to make a difference, only now instead of songs, chants and signs, they're using their wallets.

Just minutes after Brewer signed 1070 into law on Friday, the American Immigration Lawyers' Association canceled their annual fall convention. They had planned to host the September event in Scottsdale.

Read More

Is progressive Asheville Obama’s vision for America?

The Christian Science Monitor

Okay, maybe the Obamas’ Asheville, N.C., trip is just a romantic getaway and a chance to grab some 12 Bones BBQ, as the White House suggests.

But you know something is going on when even the local “tea party” affiliate welcomes Obama to their “mountain paradise.”

Critics like Hoover Institution fellow Shelby Steele have complained that Obama’s “ultimate vision, he has not been very clear about.”

So given that the Obama’s “kind of fell in love” with the Buncombe County burg during a debate prep visit during the 2008 campaign, could Asheville itself be a clue to what the President is thinking when he talks about “transforming” America?

Read More

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