News That Matters - December 4, 2009 - Things To Do Edition

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Good Friday Morning, BREAKING NEWS - December 4, 2009: Senator Vincent Leibell has introduced the "Support For Marriage Act" [S.6969] which will, in most cases, outlaw divorce in New York State and prohibit the state from recognizing marriages performed in other states. Senator Leibell said, "In our desire to protect the sanctity of marriage we've taken two important steps. One, we have successfully prohibited gay men and women from gaining legal equality and second, if you have taken the oath, 'till death do us part' then we want to make sure you keep it." The bill would allow divorce only under very specific circumstances. Victims of domestic abuse, if confirmed by hospital and police records, would be able to file for divorce only if the victim can prove the abuse is life threatening and the relationship has not produced any children. But in all cases, married couples with children will be prohibited from divorce in New York State until after the youngest child has turned 25. Divorces granted outside New York will not be considered valid under the new law so long as either one of the couple remains a New York resident. "We want to send the right message to our children," said Dutchess county State Senator Steven Saland, a co-sponsor of the legislation, "We want them to understand that a promise is a promise and that nothing is more important to the health of our communities than the sanctity of marriage." State Assemblyman Greg Ball has introduced companion legislation in that body [A.609] saying, "I  will not pander to an extreme Liberal agenda by supporting "Extra" rights for gays in order to be politically correct, while avoiding larger criminal issues for the protection of all of our citizens.  Furthermore, I do not believe that the homosexual lifestyle should be promoted as an acceptable  alternative of living in our schools and classrooms."* During a press conference outside the Senate chambers, Senator Leibell added, "While the divorce rate in New York is lower than the national average we believe we can do better. Through this bill we can support healthy families by encouraging men and women to come to an understanding that only God can nullify their promise to him and that the state will not be engaged in second guessing the Lord." Dan Specter, a spokesperson from the National Organization for Marriage said, "We fully support New York's efforts to not only maintain marriage but to strengthen the bonds between men and women and their relationship with God. We applaud the Senator's efforts on behalf of heterosexual married couples everywhere." However, Stephen Marker from the National Lawyers Guild questioned the Senate bill. "We don't understand how taking food out of the mouths of the children of professionals such as our members makes marriage any stronger. This bill would result in an almost immediate reduction in the earnings of divorce lawyers across New York forcing them, in these difficult economic times, to find other gainful employment. The disruption this will cause to our society will be profound." News That Matters' Annual Fund Drive is in Progress! Just a Few Days Left! If you’re reading this you should probably help out. Click Here to do so! The staff of a Target store in Michigan called police on a woman who was breastfeeding her 4 week old daughter while shopping. The cops came and the couple was forced from the store even though Target specifically allows breastfeeding in their stores. (How could anyone not allow it?) Remarkably, we have to have laws permitting women to feed their children which is something I've never really understood. Twenty-eight states have laws excluding breastfeeding from indecency laws while forty-three states specifically allow women the right to feed their own babies. There are some more interesting stats on this here. Is there going to be a Costco in Yorktown at the Taconic and Route 202? As if the USDA needs to prove that they don't represent us but instead represents the meat industry against us, (think: A Heart Attack With Every Bite!) they've gone ahead and said that the animal rights organization PETA, (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is now - officially - listed as a domestic terrorist threat to facilities that do animal testing. As if torturing live animals for a living isn't terrorist enough. Now, while it's true that some of PETA's methods make even me cringe, when the government goes around calling groups that oppose this intentional and methodical torture of living creatures "terrorists", it's only a matter of time before some uppity PTA somewhere makes the list. You do have to wonder; just how far will steak houses go to maintain their right to give Americans heart attacks and turn their kids into slobbering schnozberries? If this is any indication, pretty damned far. Time to add another meatless night during the week in your house. Besides, burger fed animal testing lab staff aren't really all that tasty but they sure do make funny noises when you spray chemicals in their eyes! When I was a kid pomegranates, or Chinese Apples as we called them, were a special treat but now they're available in stores virtually year round. Eating them is always a fun mess and the stains just don't come out. But there is a way to eat one of these babies without the muss, without the fuss and without staining the linen. Check out this link to learn the secret. Spring seed catalogs will be arriving in mailboxes starting in the next few weeks and while you're all agog over those new dark blue geraniums and heirloom blight resistant tomatoes, some new products have hit the market. One of the most popular activities for children in southern gardens for the past few years has proven to be the growing of donuts. Yes, while you can still go to the Krispy Kreme to get your fill, you can grow your own right in your backyard. New varieties have been developed by Monsanto and Burpee's has them. Check 'em out! They're sure to be a smashing success. Saturday: Hike at James Baird State Park 10 AM - LaGrange Easy Hike, about 3 to 4 miles with some ups and downs. Leader Marie Caruso, at mariehv@verizon.net or (845) 452-9086 before 10 pm on Dec. 4  In the unlikely case of snow, we will ski on the golf course instead. Inclement weather cancels. www.MidHudsonADK.org Putnam Arts Council 15th Annual Invitational Craft Show and Sale 2009 Putnam Arts Council presents their 15thAnnual Invitational Craft Show and Sale ~ Their last official event at their digs at Tilly Foster Farm. The show will be featuring the work of 40+ regional artisans including jewelry, wearables, pottery, wood & metal works, original art and more ~ come see these beautiful and affordable treasures (for anyone on your list!) created here, in your own backyard. Admission and parking free, Tuesday – Sunday from noon-5pm, December 5-20, 2009 at The Lodge (Bldg 8), Tilly Foster Farm, 100 Rte 312, Brewster, NY ~ Special member preview, December 4, 6-8pm Info/directions: putnamartscouncil.com or 845-278-0230 Brewster Holiday Tree Lighting 5PM - At the Southeast Museum on Main Street. Free hot chocolate, cider and cookies. Come at 4:30 for a Holiday ornament making workshop ($5 materials fee). Sing along Main Street and experience the lighting of the village's new tree near the Brewster Train Station and the lighting of the tree at the Walter Brewster House. 845 279-7500. Family Holiday Concert 7:30 PM - The Putnam Chorale sings seasonal favorites and special pieces at the First United Mehodist Church on Main Street in Brewster. Free. Putnam Lake Holiday Parade 7:30 PM - Putnam Lake Fire Department's annual Holiday Parade on Sat., Dec. 5th, 7:30 pm, here in Putnam Lake? It's a hoot!  Lots of area fire companies (last year there were at least 30 huge trucks all decorated!), as well as the Highway Dept. and other civic groups decorate the fire and highway trucks with thousands of lights and holiday decorations, and folks make all kinds of floats (again complete with lots of lights) and Santa and Mrs. Claus (Ed O'Connor and his wife, Maryann -- who could be a more perfect pair!!) top it off. The parade route starts at the Shamrock Castle in Putnam Lake and goes towards the Fire House in "downtown" Putnam Lake.  At the end of the parade, folks are welcome to come inside the fire house to meet Santa, and have hot cocoa and donuts, courtesy of the fire dept. CongressmanJohn Hall is coming and is going to emcee the event - announcing over the loudspeakers all the floats and who made them, etc. Best viewing route is anywhere along the parade's path, but the closer you are to town, the larger the crowds are. It's gathering quite the reputation as a local "electric light" parade. News That Matters' Annual Fund Drive is in Progress! Just a Few Days Left! If you’re reading this you should probably help out. Click Here to do so! Sunday: Sonny Rollins in Concert 2PM - A Benefit performance for the Clearwater. Legendary jazz artist and saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins and his band will perform a special benefit concert for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater at the Tarrytown Music Hall. Tickets: www.tarrytownmusichall.com Into the Future: Tuesday, December 8 CWCWC Annual Meeting Free: 6PM Social Hour, 7PM State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer: The dangers of gas drilling in NYS Marcellus Shale, Assemblymember Sandy Galef: Protecting our forests, County Legislator Pete Harckham: Keeping our water fit to drink. Please come, be counted, show strength in numbers to our Representatives, and meet up with other like-minded activists!  Enjoy fresh produce from local farms! Place: Friends Purchase Meeting, 4455 Purchase Street, Purchase Please RSVP by return email or to 914-234-6470. Thursday, December 10 Mid-Hudson Watershed Omelette 8AM - Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System, Featured Speaker:  Alene Onion, HRECOS Coordinator. Alene Onion, Coordinator of the Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System [HRECOS], will describe the new collaborative effort among many agencies, research and educational institutions.  HRECOS reports real-time water quality and meteorological data from seven stations on the tidal Hudson between Hoboken NJ and Schodack Island just south of Albany. Its real-time data stream and historical data are available online. In addition to the data streams and forecasting capabilities, the HRECOS website offers examples of stories that can be told using the data available.   Please note, there is a $4 minimum. Location: Plaza Diner, 27 New Paltz Plaza, New Paltz, NY 12561 (Stop & Shop Plaza) Saturday, December 12 Messiah Sing-Along 8PM - The Putnam Chorale. Sing along to Handel's Messiah with the chorale and live orchestra at the Gilead Presbyterian Church in Carmel. $10. * In a post to B10509 on December 23, 2005 News That Matters' Annual Fund Drive is in Progress! Just a Few Days Left! If you’re reading this you should probably help out. Click Here to do so!	Sign up to have News That Matters Delivered to your email inbox! Email: News That Matters Promote Your Page Too Support Our Sponsors TaconicArts.com Interior/Exterior House Painting by someone you can trust. (845) 225-2104 jeff@taconicarts.com Brown Ink Commercial Printing 600 Horsepound Road, Kent Lakes, NY 10512 (845) 225-0177 Greg Brown Joe Greico's Out On A Limb All types of tree work, all aspects of lawn maintenance, snow plowing, lot clearing, excavation, retaining walls, stump grinding. 82 Hortontown Rd. 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