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 Good Wednesday Morning,Just a few announcements today but each one worth reading.
Exchange students—an endangered species?! Two-Week Hosting Opportunities Available Now ![Ed note: World Exchange is based right here in Putnam County] They can been seen on Facebook and talked to on Skype, but whether or not any will actually be seen in the greater Putnam County area this July 12th to 31st is up in the air. It is fascinating that high school students from all over the planet can meet, make friends, and exchange ideas—one avatar to another—in a digital living room in Second Life and yet not have the opportunity to meet each other face-to-face while sharing pizza and soda on the porch.  The opportunity is there, but the hosts are not. Nineteen French students, ten boys and four girls ages 15 to 17, and two leaders, are due to arrive here on July 12th for a 20 day homestay, with their sole objective being getting to know America and Americans. After months of outreach, World Exchange program directors in New Jersey have only been able to find enough families to welcome 10 students, and have turned to national directors Vera and Michael Sklaar in Putnam Valley for help. “It puzzles me,” Vera says, “because hosting is such a unique, enriching, and educational way for families to engage meaningfully with the world. Now more than ever we are all part of the same international community, so why not try to get to know our neighbors? Perhaps because I am from London and Michael has lived abroad for a number of years we understand this a little more clearly.” If you agree with Vera and Michael and want to take part in this wonderful adventure, they may be reached at: 845 526-2505 or 845 526-2299 or msklaar@worldexchange.org They will be able to show you the students’ applications, photos and “Dear Host Family” letters. Signing up to host is quick and easy and soon you, too, can be exchanging emails, Skyping and friending each other on Facebook. The students come with insurance and pocket money. They look forward to being in host families with children of all ages. Their visit is sponsored by World Exchange (www.worldexchange.org), a non-profit organization, which has organized short-term homestays in the Hudson Valley since its founding in 1985. Walking For A CauseDemocratic Party candidate for Governor and Dutchess County Legislator, Joel Tyner, will be passing through Putnam County tonight (Wednesday) as part of his walk from Wall Street to Albany to bring awareness to voters as part of his challenge to Andrew Cuomo's candidacy.Featured in a NYJN article this morning, Tyner wonders why we've given $16 billion in tax cuts to Wall Street and why the super-rich in New York pay state income taxes at about the same rate as you and I. From the article: "I know I'm the underdog. I'm not walking 150 miles for my health," Tyner said Tuesday during a brief streetside stop on Route 9. "The fact of the matter is, I'm not running on a fringe position. I'm running on what most people want.What 'people want' is a tax on stock transfers (by a 4-1 ratio) and If you'd like to meet Joel this evening he'll be staying at a private home in western Kent. Call, 845-554-5119 for more information and directions. Boom! Boom! Boom! For those of us living on the west side of the county we're back into that season where mysterious noises are heard through the early mornings and sometimes the afternoons. Don't fret! It's not the earth splitting apart nor remnants of the earthquake in Ontario nor Indian Point blowing it's top: it's just the cadets over at West Point firing mortars into a hillside. It'll stop soon. |
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Wednesday, June 30, 2010
News That Matters - Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
News That Matters - Friday, June 25, 2010 - Things To Do Edition
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| You'll feel better than you think! For reading free for all these years Brings this writer loads of tears. So join the ever growing crowd Of those who say it right out loud, "We thank you for all you have done to keep the effort chugging on!" Good Friday Morning, I heard there was one heck of a storm early yesterday afternoon and that power was out over the region. I was in Bethel, CT scoping out a job and missed it all but when I got home the dog was soaked to his skin. It's not that he can't get in the house when he wants as there's a pet door he uses, only that he runs under a giant Euonymus bush every time there's thunder preferring to ride it out under there. Often he comes in rather dry but it must have rained pretty hard yesterday! Anyway, winds estimated at over 70mph knocked down trees and power lines putting more than 20,000 people into darkness and up at the Chelsea Yacht Club on the Hudson in Wappingers, two boats (30' and 36') were blown off their jack stands. Here's hoping everything is back to normal for all.It was yet another "quite a week" for politics in Putnam County ending with a proposed resolution from the County legislature burying the Corporate Welfare gig they were planning for Paul Camarda and Patterson Crossing. (See, County Legislature Kills Corporate Welfare Try. Again.) 1st District Legislator Vinnie Tamagna took the brunt of it but then he was the point man and refused to let it die, finally using county letterhead to beg a plea as an insert in the Putnam County News and Reporter. We hear that the insert ran around $600 and that Mr. T paid for it himself and while that is generally not believed we have no proof-positive evidence otherwise. If the money trail should lead to other places things could become very interesting. It's possible the county could subpoena the PCNR's records to find out for certain - if they wanted to.Greg Ball has a new campaign advertisement running these days and it's worth the watch. Thanks to MYH for sending that along. Okay, enough with all this nonsense! I may be out of communications for a while starting as early as this weekend but I want to thank Verizon for waiting for the Corporate Welfare scandal to be over before turning off the 'net and the phones. See you when I do. Here's a list of local Farmer's Markets available for this season. If you know of any not listed here, please write and tell me. This list is also available at the website here. What's Going On Around Town Tonight:Putnam Valley Farmers Market3-7PM. Tompkins Corners Methodist Church. 729 Peekskill Hollow Road, Putnam Valley. Tell Eric I sent you. Kid Jerusalem CD Release Party
Kate Power and Steve Einhorn
Saturday, June 26Wine Tasting to Support the Arts1-5PM. Support the Putnam Arts Council at a "wonderful, fabulous, disorganized" wine tasting event at Sterling Cellars, Mahopac Village Center. Music, art, raffles, wine and fun! Bring a friend. $10 suggested donation. 845-803-8622 Meet and Greet with Mike Kaplowitz2PM - 4PM. 30 Firehouse Road, Wassaic, NY (map) Annual Saunder's Farm Barn DanceA barn in the Hudson Valley in June is empty, waiting for the summer hay crop. Perfect time for a dance. This Saturday evening, June 26th the Saunder's family will host their annual community barn dance. Bring a pot luck dish and your square dancing shoes and be prepared for a wonderful time at this HHLT conserved property. This event has been ongoing since 1985. Sunday, June 27Kent CAC Hike to Wonder Lake State Park
Butterfly Adventure10AM- Noon. Join Cary Institute educators for a walk among the butterflies. Visitors will learn about butterflies and skippers as they stroll through our fields and trails. Discover what they eat, where they live, and what attracts them to their habitats. Programs for adults and children (6 and up). Cary East (Gifford House) parking area, 2917 Sharon Turnpike (Rte. 44) Millbrook, N.Y. Wear hiking shoes and bring binoculars, camera, and drinking water. In case of heavy rain, the program will be canceled. RSVP suggested. 677-7600 ext. 121 or freeman@caryinstitute.org. Free. Habitat for Artists at Philipsbrooke4PM - 7 PM. If you've wondered what we're building in the backyard, come see for yourself. Simon Draper and his fellow artists in residence will gladly show you around the four art studios - all created from re-purposed materials - and discuss their work, which is inspired by the concept of sustainable natural environment. Habitat for Artists seeks to inspire community dialog on the interrelatedness of art, sustainability and nature. You may even get to meet a group of young artists from HHLT's River of Words program who are participating in various art and poetry workshops throughout the summer in their very own self-built and designed studio. Simon is hosting an Artist's Reception this Sunday, June 27th from 4-7pm. Meet the artists and view their work on a beautiful Sunday afternoon - all are welcome. Write mj.martin@hhlt.org for more information. |
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| Copyright © 2010 News That Matters | ||
Cascade Farm is in Patterson on Harmony Road just north of Route 292 and just west of the traffic light at Route 311. Their farm stand is open on Saturdays from 9 until noon. Call 845.878.3258 for information.
7:30 A House Concert at High Valley. Kate Power & Steve Einhorn are two musicians who from their start in the NY folk clubs of the 60's to four decades later in the Pacific Northwest, never stopped writing, singing and sharing their songs at home and across the country. Their music resonates with harmony, humor and highlights from the musical theatre of everyday life in the American landscape. Special guests of Garrison Keillor on "A Prairie Home Companion", Kate and Steve hit the strings and tell the story between the notes in a rare elixir of spellbinding harmony, eloquent songwriting and seasoned musicianship. Their music creates an experience that elevates audiences of all stripes. Bring your own chairs. Event may be outside big barn, or inside in inner room, depending on the weather. Donations $10. At 
10:30 AM - Meet at the parking area for Wonder Lake State Park on Ludingtonville Road. From there we'll hike to the south end of Wonder Lake using the hiking trails built last year by the New York New Jersey Trail Conference. From there we'll hike along the eastern shore to the lake's north end and return to the parking area. Don't forget to bring your lunch and water for the hike. Also, you may wish to bring a camera since there should be some great opportunities to photograph the mountain laurel in bloom along the shore of the lake.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
News That Matters - County Legislature Kills Corporate Welfare Try. Again.
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County Legislature Kills Corporate Welfare Try. Again. |
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| Copyright © 2010 News That Matters | ||
News That Matters - Wednesday, June 23, 2010
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| “I don’t want the siege to end! I support a family of 11. How will we manage to live if the siege ends and they closed the tunnels?” - Unnamed Gazan after Israel eased it's boycott of the province. Good Wednesday Morning, We need to watch the county legislature rather closely these days. With a brewing scandal over the use of their official letterhead for personal purposes continuing to rile people, many wonder if Vincent Tamagna has the support of his fellows to continue on with his position as Chair of that body. While no one is perfect and everyone has skeletons in their closet, (including you and me), this incident, following closely on the heels of the disastrous Tilly Foster contract (see here, here, here and here), should be enough to shake them from their complacency, take notice and take action. One of the last remaining pieces in that puzzle remains to find out how the letter got in the paper in the first place and whether it was inserted by the publisher or paid for by either Mr. Tamagna or someone else and if the latter, by whom. People have been digging but the PCNR has not been responding to requests for information about that. For the record, they do have every right to keep their business to themselves. It'd just be nice to know.Can anyone guess who the following quote is from: (It's not from Mr. Tamagna.) "As for Tilly Foster, from the beginning you were opposed to its preservation, derided efforts to do so and for a decade have carried on an unrelenting battle against it."So, when you fight for the rights of the citizenry you obviously hate fuzzy farm animals. As of this morning 30 people have signed on to the informal petition against giving Corporate Welfare to Putnam's defacto County executive and 31 have voiced their opinion in the negative in our also informal poll. Check both out. Sign the Petition and Vote in the Poll. It's kinda fun. Honest. The state of New York has raised the tax on cigarettes another $1.60 per pack (effective July 1st) but still refuses to implement a tax on sugary soft drinks, fatty foods and other - proven - things that are bad for you. An equal number of people die from lung disease as die from heart disease (McDonald's and ice cream, for example) and the latter number is climbing rapidly, yet it's only smokers the state is picking on to close the budget gap. How's that for the cowardly act of the week? Putnam County is home to more than 20,000 acres of publicly accessible open space lands. Adding our state parks, Gateway, Hudson Highlands, Fahnestock and Wonder Lake) to the DEC forests and multiple use areas to the DEP lands that are open for recreation to the Putnam County Land Trust properties, town and county parkland, we've got something here that no one else in the region has: the ability to make a load of money on tourism, hiking, biking and just plain getting outside. A recent study shows that over across the river, Minnewaska State Park, the Sam's Point preserve and the Mohonk preserve together generate some $13 million in sales, 350 annual jobs and $459,000 in sales taxes with almost 400,000 visitors. Ulster County, where these facilities largely reside, spends a good deal of money, time and effort enticing folks from New York City to make the 3 hour drive northwards, by-passing the Hudson Highlands right here under our feet. What with Tea Baggers all but silent these days and with their party falling apart and in ruins, the only thing you hear from right-wingers about Federal spending is Obamacare. Just as Rush Limbaugh cannot get beyond Bill Clinton, they can't get past that health care reform bill. But what they're not telling you is that the bill gave them everything they wanted: a trillion dollar hand out to the health industry to ensure huge campaign donations continue to flow their way, right down to the $60,000 donated to Nan Hayworth in her bid for Congress. In the meantime, they cry foul at Democrats as 'tax and spenders' (forgetting about the massive income tax cut savored by 95% of taxpayers) even though the 'baggers and their friends offer no alternatives to cutting the Federal budget save for shutting the borders. But when it comes down to it, the Pentagon's $600,000,000,000 budget combined with other defense-related activities plus the off-budget spending for the wars in Afghanistan, Colombia and Iraq, brings the total outlay to near ONE TRILLION dollars each year. And yet, that spending is off the table as far as the 'baggers and Republicans are concerned.  Last Sunday was Father's Day and in a Proclamation the President said, “Nurturing families come in many forms, and children may be raised by a father and mother, a single father, two fathers, a step father, a grandfather, or caring guardian.”Well, the Christian 'Right' lost their cookies on that as the idea of 'two father's' was just too much for them to stomach. And Richard Sprigg, from the Family Research Council said that the government should outlaw homosexual behavior and send gay men and women to jail - where apparently there is no homosexual activity. Or something. The San Francisco Chronicle reports: "BP has spent more than $54.8 million lobbying federal officials in Washington since 2000; that's about 43 cents for every gallon of oil it has spilled. Since 2000, the oil and gas industry - along with their employees - has contributed $154.2 million to candidates for federal office. That's $1.22 for each gallon of oil spilled. Of that money, 78 percent went to Republicans and the rest to Democrats." In other news:
And now, The News:
Scenic Hudson buys over 100 acres along Shaupeneak RidgeESOPUS – Environmental group Scenic Hudson has purchased 119 acres of land adjoining its Shaupeneak Ridge Cooperative Recreation area in Esopus.The land purchase just north of Louisa Pond expands the size of the preserve to almost 700 acres, said organization Land Conservation Director Seth McKee. “It’s a critical buffer for both the ecology of the pond and the recreational experience,” he said. “This is a very popular spot for hikers, hunters, fishermen, mountain bikers, and there is also environmental education that goes on there.” The purchase was accomplished at “a generously discounted price from its appraised value,” although the agency declined to reveal what it paid for the land. Read More Gubernatorial candidate set to walk for waterBy Tom Grace Cooperstown News BureauJoel Tyner, a Democrat running for governor, is walking to Delhi from Monticello, starting today. His mission on this 60-mile journey is to convince New York state officials to enact a moratorium on natural gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing that lasts until the Environmental Protection Agency completes its fracking study. This study, slated to cost $1.9 million, will take until 2012 to complete, according to the Huffington Post. Tyner, 46, a member of the Dutchess County Legislature, told The Daily Star Monday that he believes the state Department of Environmental Conservation should not issue its guidelines on horizontal drilling and fracking without incorporating the EPA's findings. "We need to protect our water," he said. Read More Welcome Summer with an Edible Garden CourseThis article was first posted at Plant Talk by Plant Talk.Adult Ed Classes Teach You How to Grow, Prepare Good Food When I took on a year-long challenge to eat, almost exclusively, foods produced within 250-miles of New York City, many people thought I was crazy. That was in 2007–2008, and it’s amazing how much has changed in just these past few years. Now “local,” “organic,” and “seasonal” have become buzzwords—and for good reason. Just bite into a perfectly ripe, locally grown strawberry and your taste buds will never again be satisfied with its out-of-season, chemically grown cousin that spent weeks in transit before you ate it. Superb taste is just one of the reasons to celebrate local, organic food. While you’re relishing that strawberry, you’re also helping the environment and supporting small farms and the local economy. It’s a lovely win-win partnership between consumers, producers, and the planet. Many people would love to grow some of their own food or take greater advantage of the abundant offerings at farmers markets, but they are concerned that they don’t have the time, budget, or gardening and cooking skills to do so. Here at The New York Garden we’re committed to showing you just how easy and pleasurable it can be! Read More Is a Community Supported Agriculture Share right for you? I was in BookPeople’s coffee shop this weekend perusing the interwebs, when I found this ongoing article on Grist. Jennifer Prediger has joined a CSA in Brooklyn, New York, and is documenting her journey. She just received her second box, and in addition to a list of its contents, Prediger is sharing her bemusements, her satisfaction, her surprises, and her questions with Grist’s readers. I loved this article immediately because Prediger is giving an honest and unpretentious look at her attempt to connect with food. In trying to figure out what exactly those sticks and leaves in her box are and how to cook them, Prediger is hitting what’s at the center of the food movement–people trying to fit real food back into their lives. |
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| Copyright © 2010 News That Matters | ||
The contents of Prediger’s second box, as she describes them, are strawberries, burdock root, oregano, lettuce, 8 stalks of asparagus, beans, and “mystery leaves.”
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