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.net) http://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.
 Each 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.
 Wear 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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