No Country For Sane Men: News That Matters - Friday, October 15, 2010

News That Matters

News That Matters
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Good Friday Morning,

A hearty welcome to new readers who signed up this past week. I hope you'll find something of value here and help spread the word. The website is seeing an increasing number of visitors with one day last week having almost 800 stopping in for the day and weekly numbers continue to climb. If there's someone you know who is not reading News That Matters, please pass your copy on to them.

I have decided to vote Republican this year and you may want to check out this video to see why. Though it's from 2008 it has opened my eyes and changed my view of the world.

The weather this weekend is as variable and as explosive as the political season that swirls around us. Our area is under a high wind warning through tomorrow, not unusual when you've got so many candidates vying for so few positions with so little to say and even less to offer. The question is which end is all that wind coming from?

So bring in those Halloween decorations, batten down the hatches and enjoy the ride!

Saturday, October 16
- Volunteer Trail-Building Day -- Illinois Mountain
- A Full and Funny Musical Evening with Ray Jessel
Sunday, October 17
Into the Future:

Saturday, October 16

Volunteer Trail-Building Day -- Illinois Mountain

10AM - 2PM. Scenic Hudson. Warm up on a cool autumn day by helping us build an exciting trail system across some of Scenic Hudson's newest parkland. Wear clothes you won’t mind getting dirty, including long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy closed-toe shoes and a hat (along with an evening “tick check,” they’ll help prevent tick bites and Lyme disease). Also bring gloves if you have them and sunscreen, water and bug spray. Participants under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. See this for more information.

A Full and Funny Musical Evening with Ray Jessel

8:00 pm. At the Lake Carmel Cultural Center in the old firehouse on Route 52 in Lake Carmel.

"In the royal court of cabaret . . . Ray Jessel is the jester. The septuagenarian Welsh-Jewish songwriter's prankishly literate ditties, recall the smart novelty songs of Tom Lehrer, Allan Sherman and other masters of high silliness." Adam Feldman...TIME OUT New York. "Ray Jessel is living and beaming proof that, even if you no longer break-dance on the corner, you can even be more effective than ever as an Einstein look-alike." Finkle....VILLAGE VOICE

Jessel was writer/producer for the hit television series Head of the Class. Other credits include The Carol Burnett Show, The Dean Martin Show and The Love Boat. Jessel's songs have been recorded by Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Durante, Peggy Lee & Sammy Davis Jr., and, with his current partner (in writing and life) Cynthia Thompson, is represented on recent CD's by Michael Feinstein, John Pizzarelli & Karen Akers.

Tickets: $10.00 – $15.00

Sunday, October 17

Elizabeth Gabrielle Butler Anger Foundation Walk

8:30 AM at the The Titicus Reservoir Walkathon to raise funds for the foundation named for a woman killed in an incident of domestic violence. To help all young adults understand and implement the concepts of open communication, self-discipline and self-respect in relationships. The fund will help young women & men understand their innate value as people and teach the warning signs of domestic violence, which will ultimately benefit all young adults.

Contact Michele Talerico-Renaud <michelerenee217@gmail.com> for more information.

Elizabeth was a typical 16 year old girl growing up in the suburbs and just beginning to date. She was sweet, trusting and always saw the best in people. No one could ever imagine the senseless brutality she would face less than 12 months later.

Elizabeth started dating a person who not only lied about his age but his name as well. In the beginning he was kind and thoughtful, but immediately became too serious about the relationship, professing his love and calling daily. The phone calls began to become excessive and his behavior controlling. Elizabeth started focusing on time with her friends before graduation and going away to college. She tried to pull away and end the relationship many times but he was relentless, pleading to get back together and then threatening. He knew her schedule and habits so he would show up places uninvited and then began stalking her. Elizabeth began to realize there was something terribly wrong but felt guilty about getting him into trouble, especially since he had already made her feel guilty about the break-up. She had also started seeing a boy her own age and hoped that he would move on and grow tired of pursuing her.

June 5th 2005 was a beautiful Sunday morning and Elizabeth left home at 6:45am to go to work at a local deli, never to return home again. That morning after parking her car, Elizabeth was confronted by her ex- boyfriend who raped, strangled and stabbed her to death.

Hike Minnewaska State Park

9:30 AM - 7 miles. We will hike a carriage road to Lake Awosting and then do a side trail and carriage roads back to the parking lot. No extensive altitude gain. We should see some nice fall colors and vista's. Call leader: Arlene 845-246-2069 for meeting place. www.MidHudsonADK.org

Beacon Sloop Club's Annual Pumpkin Festival

Noon- 5PM - Free Sails on the Woody Sloop. Pumpkins of all sizes & shapes fall treats including delicious, fresh-baked pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie & soup chili & more. Sharleen Leahey, Terence Martin, Pete Seeger & more will perform. Environmental displays, craft & food vendors, and the Beacon farmers Market. Beacon Waterfront, (845) 463-4660, (845) 542-0721, www.beaconsloopclub.org, Free Admission & parking.

The John Arrucci Quintet

2PM - Free. At the Mahopac Library. New music composed by John Arrucci will be performed for the first time at the Mahopac Public Library on Sunday, October 17. Arrucci has assembled a group of world-class musicians who will join him as part of The John Arrucci Quintet to bring this premier event to Putnam County. The group features Dave Anderson on bass, Rob Aries on keyboard, Bill Harris on saxes, clarinet and flute, and Don Harris on trumpet and flugelhorn. Enjoy this world premier event at the Library. See the Library Calendar for more information. Attendees are invited to bring one non-perishable food item to this concert to donate to the local food pantry.

Into the Future:

Tuesday, October 19

Green Jobs Forum
7PM - at Rhinebeck Town Hall, 80 E. Market St. Forum co-hosted by Assembly Energy Chair Kevin Cahill and Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner on the Green Jobs/Green New York legislation signed into law last year-- and green-jobs possibilities for PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) for the Hudson Valley!...( http://www.PACEnow.org ).

Fact: Poughkeepsie's own David Dell, Chair of Sustainable Hudson Valley, has crunched the numbers and found literally one billion dollars in savings on electric bills possible over the next decade for Dutchess County homeowners and businesses alone if we got a PACE-like program up and running and got energy-efficiency retrofits into hands of all who need them-- not to mention tons of jobs as well. Contact Joel Tyner at (845) 444-0599/876-2488 for more information.

Friday, October 22

Rediscovering Sustainable Development Law
8:30AM - 1:30PM - At the Pace Law School, White Plains, New York. This half day conference explores the emergence of sustainable development practice in law firms, government programs, and in law schools, particularly Pace University School of Law, which offers an advanced degree in land use and sustainable development law. This area of law draws on environmental, land use, real estate, energy, climate change, insurance, and other areas of legal engagement. In government programs, it integrates programs for transportation facilities, environmental protection, energy production, workforce housing, and the sustainable development of buildings, neighborhoods, and regions. The 40 year old history of sustainable development law will serve as the backdrop for presentations on its modern and practical applications.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey has been invited to give remarks on federal initiatives and regional needs. She will be joined by professors from other law schoools and Pace and by practitioners who will dicuss this emerging field and explore its practical applications

Lunch will be provided with an address by Andrew C. Revkin, Senior Fellow for Environmental Understanding at the Pace Academy for Applied Environmental Studies.

Registration is complimentary. Details to follow.

Featured Event:

Crossroads at Mike's
Friday October 22nd at 8PM
Saturday, October 23rd at 8PM
Sunday, October 24th at 4PM

8 PM at the Roy Arias Theater, 300 W43rd, 4th floor. Broadway Briefs presents. One Bartender, One Bar...if those walls could talk....this is what they would say... On Night. One Bar. Nine Plays. A concept play written in parts by Fidel Fonteboa, Gabby Fox, Tony Howarth, Carol Mark and Pat O'Connor.

Starring: Jon Barb, Joseph Colantino, John Crandell, Jessica Danahy, Fidel Fonteboa, Jeremy Frutkin, Linda Gervargiz, Adam Glatzl, Mark Gorham*, Karen Hanley, Shelley Lerea, Laurel Lettieri, Marisa Lowe, Zulie Lozada, Matt McKenna, Richard Manichello, Carol Mark, Barbara H. Marks, Sophia Shkreli, Leslie Smithey, Howard Weintraub, Jason Xay, Maria Zadrima, Gus Zucco... and one stage manager (yours truly!).

Tickets $16 in advance $18 at the door. Also runs Saturday at 8PM and Sunday at 4PM. Room for only 75 attendees each performance so head over to Smarttix.com and reserve your place now... before it's too late. Would you like that shaken or stirred?

Saturday, October 23

Volunteer Trail-Building Day -- Mount Beacon

10AM - 2PM Scenic Hudson Savor the joys of being outside on a crisp, colorful autumn day by working with Scenic Hudson staff and fellow volunteers. We’ll be creating an exciting new sustainable, multi-use trail system on a rugged, 2,000-acre parcel of Fishkill Ridge. Wear clothes you won’t mind getting dirty, including long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, sturdy closed-toe shoes and a hat (along with an evening “tick check,” all will help prevent tick bites and Lyme disease). Also bring gloves if you have them and sunscreen, water, a lunch and bug spray. Participants under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. See this for more information.

FrOGS Great Swamp Art Show
11AM-5PM. Free. Friends of the Great Swamp (FrOGS) has announced the 14th annual Great Swamp Art Show & Celebration for Saturday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24. The event will once again take place at Christ Church’s Frances Ryan Thomas Center on Quaker Hill in Pawling, NY. Saturday hours are 11 AM to 5 PM; and Sunday hours are 12 PM to 4 PM.

This free and highly popular event is very family-friendly, and normally draws about 2,000 visitors over the two days. The location is spectacular, with views of magnificent fall foliage on the distant hills, making for a perfect day with the family.

Included in the event are professional and amateur paintings, photography, and pottery inspired by the Swamp as well as educational programs, children’s activities, birds of prey demonstrations, live music, and refreshments. Sale of the art provides FrOGS, a non-profit organization, with the majority of its annual income. See the website for more information. Or call, (845) 878-9248

Hike the Cold Spring Foundry
4PM With Archaeologist Arron Kotlensky. Join PCHS for a hike of Scenic Hudson's West Point Foundry Preserve with archaeologist Arron Kotlensky, who conducted research there while a graduate student at Michigan Technological University in a project sponsored by Scenic Hudson. The foundry operated in Cold Spring from 1818 through 1911, and was a pacesetter in America's Industrial Revolution. Best known for supplying the United States government with ordnance, including the Parrott gun, the foundry also produced some of the nation's first steam engines, locomotives, and ironclad ships. Kotlensky will discuss the foundry's manufacturing process by analyzing the site's natural resources and extant ruins-the centerpiece of Scenic Hudson's future plans for an exciting "outdoor museum." Free for members. $5 for the rest of us. Call 845-265-4010 for more information.

Monday, October 25

Evening Overview: Beyond Pipe and Pond
A Research-based Approach to Stormwater Management
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Arrive between 5:00 and 6:00 to participate in a tour; arrive by 6:45 for the program)

Speakers: Patrick Kozakiewicz, Architect and Garrett Jobson, Landscape Architect, NY State Parks; Simon Gruber, Hudson Valley Regional Council; Jamie Houle, CPSWQ, University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center.

Participants will tour a local example of innovative practices including pervious pavement, stream restoration, and energy conservation; learn about the Hudson Valley Green Infrastructure Stormwater Planning Project; learn from the experts at the UNH Stormwater Center how innovative stormwater systems work and learn about applications of green stormwater practices in New Hampshire. Hosted by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the NYSDEC Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve in cooperation with the Hudson River Estuary Program.

Cost: $7 Dinner; 2 PDHs for Professional Engineers available ($20). Please contact Emilie Hauser (logistics), 845-889-4745 x 112 or Barbara Kendall (program) 845-471-7383 x 104 or RSVP to this link: http://www.hrnerr.org/public/training/stormwater/workshop.htm. Registration in advance in requested.

Location: NYS OPRHP Taconic Region Headquarters, 9 Old Post Road, Staatsburg, NY 12580

Wednesday, October 27

Stonewall building workshop
Free Workshop limited to 12 participants. Registration by October 25th is required. Individuals interested in learning more about New York’s wonderful dry-laid stone walls and the ancient craft of drystone masonry are invited to participate in a general public workshop scheduled for Wednesday – Friday, October 27-29, 2010, at the Roosevelt Farm Lane Rt. 9 trailhead. Co-hosted by the National Park Service and Scenic Hudson, this three-day introductory workshop will be taught by professional drystone masons from the nationally recognized Dry Stone Conservancy, a Kentucky-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve historic drystone structures nationwide and to revive and promote the ancient craft of dry-laid stone masonry. Potential attendees should be able to commit to all three days to derive the most benefit and sense of accomplishment. See: the FDR Home website for more information and further details.

Saturday, October 30

Aurora: Reading of a new play by Tony Howarth
8 PM at the Cultural Center on Lake Carmel/Arts on the Lake. Locked in a prison in his mind, a Vietnam Veteran is shaken by his encounter with an Illegal Immigrant trying to avoid a prison that is more literal. The cast for this reading: Lester: Sean Hopkins, Eduardo: Angel Morales, Olivia: Zulie Lozada, Poppy: Lora Lee Ecobelli, Hamilton: Paul Dommermuth, Pierce: Jeff Green, Stage Directions: Bart Cook. Tickets: $8.00 – $10.00 Visit Arts on the Lake for more information.

Friday, November 12

The Future of Your Woods

A workshop for landowners in the Eastern Hudson Highlands. At the Clearpool Education Ctr, Carmel, NY. This workshop will provide landowners with info and tools to get the most out of their woodlands, and learn how to take care of it for future generations. For more information, contact Kristi Sullivan at kls20@cornell.edu or Laura Heady at lheady@gw.dec.state.ny.us

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