Everyone (?) is complaining that Spitzer and Suozzi have no more scheduled debates. But Spitzer has not said no to debates for governor -- only no more debating Suozzi. It looks like Suozzi is not being counted any longer and the focus is now towards October.
The League of Women Voters is applauded for their efforts for open government.
From the Ithaca paper
Cornell University will host debates between candidates for governor and United States Senate in the fall, the New York State League of Women Voters said.
Cornell will host the first of the four debates for governor. The event is scheduled for Oct. 18., but no time or place has been announced yet.
The Senate debate will be held on Oct. 3.
The League of Women Voters is sponsoring primary and general election debates for senator, governor and attorney general races. The Cornell debates will be for candidates running in the general election.
Originally published July 31, 2006
Monday, July 31, 2006
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
NY Times article the debate - Spitzer and Suozzi
Link to the real audio debate from NY1
July 26, 2006
Sole Debate for Spitzer and Suozzi Is Fiery
By PATRICK HEALY
Slashing into each other with pointed and personal attacks during their sole televised debate, the two Democratic candidates for governor sparred last night over tax cuts, gay marriage, the death penalty, marijuana, the Queens blackout, and even their own future presidential ambitions.
The leading candidate, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, faced attack after attack for the full hour from his rival, Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, whose own goal of raising his profile may have been helped by a series of memorable disclosures, like his desire to become president and the fact that he does not own an iPod.
Mr. Spitzer, whose political strength has stirred talk of a presidential candidacy in 2012, said that he did not want to be president, but that he did have an iPod.
Following a debate format that was meant to tease out differences, Mr. Spitzer said he believed that private schools were better than public schools and that he could enact universal health coverage as governor. He also pledged to introduce bills to legalize gay marriage and to put convicted terrorists and “cop killers” to death, and said he opposed legalizing marijuana for medical use. Mr. Suozzi disagreed on all of those points.
The debate, which was carried by NY1 and other cable stations statewide, was seen by political analysts as a make-or-break moment for Mr. Suozzi, who has been lagging far behind Mr. Spitzer in public opinion polls and fund-raising. Mr. Spitzer agreed to just this one debate, and it was held seven weeks before the Sept. 12 Democratic primary, at a time when many voters have yet to focus on the race.
Reflecting their tensions, the two men apparently even squared off before the debate. Mr. Suozzi, defying the debate rules, planned to bring a policy briefing book on stage with him. When Mr. Spitzer saw that, he became “very hostile,” Mr. Suozzi told reporters after the debate, “and just started getting angrier and angrier and angrier.”
Mr. Suozzi said that Mr. Spitzer threatened to back out of the debate and accused him of “playing games.”
A spokeswoman for Mr. Spitzer, Christine Anderson, said Mr. Spitzer was “forceful, not angry,” and said he would participate only if Mr. Suozzi followed the rules.
During the debate, the two Democrats did concur on a few matters: They opposed a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq, confirmed that each had smoked marijuana before, and had no problem with allowing children to have cellphones in schools.
As for leadership styles, Mr. Spitzer came across at times like the polysyllabic prosecutor he is and like the charismatic leader he wants to become. There were moments when he spoke in legalisms, like describing the “role of recusal” in some lawsuits, and moments when he wore his heart on his sleeve, using words like “pain and agony” and “tragedy” to describe the suffering of people who had lost electricity in Queens.
Mr. Suozzi, who shares Mr. Spitzer’s alpha male personality and sometimes relies heavily on charm, tweaked Mr. Spitzer for speaking in “a lot of legalese and technicalities.”
Yet Mr. Suozzi did some parsing of his own. He said his opposition to gay marriage had “a lot to do with semantics,” explaining that he supported giving the same rights to gay couples that married couples have — yet, as a Catholic, he saw marriage as a sacrament for a man and a woman.
Mr. Spitzer said that answer was not acceptable. “Semantics is not what this is about — this is about equality,” he said.
While Mr. Suozzi did not run up the score against Mr. Spitzer or deliver any knockouts, he did make some progress toward a goal that has proved elusive: highlighting his differences with Mr. Spitzer and appearing as a credible choice in the Democratic primary.
“New York State government is dysfunctional — both parties are rotten to the core,” Mr. Suozzi said in his opening remarks. He said Mr. Spitzer, as attorney general since 1999, had focused on high-profile lawsuits against Wall Street firms instead of attacking corruption in government.
“He’s never really focused on government reform,” Mr. Suozzi said. “It’s government that’s hurting us.”
Mr. Spitzer, who mostly smiled his way through Mr. Suozzi’s salvos, charged that some of the attacks were “flat-out wrong,” and accused Mr. Suozzi of breaking his pledge to run a clean campaign.
“Every day there’s been another press release which has personal vitriol — 80 percent of them have nothing but venom directed toward me, toward my family,” Mr. Spitzer said. “You called me King George. You said standing up to me was like fighting tyranny. Last time I checked, Tom, we hadn’t taxed any of your tea.”
Mr. Spitzer’s strongest substantive attack on Mr. Suozzi came over taxes. He noted that as county executive, Mr. Suozzi had once raised property taxes sharply, and accused him of having multiple plans for higher levies.
The two men also clashed over Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s supportive words for the chairman of Consolidated Edison, Kevin M. Burke, who has been assailed by Queens residents for not being upfront about the scope of the power losses in the borough. Mr. Spitzer said that when he heard Mr. Bloomberg’s supportive comments, “I was stunned that he said it.”
Mr. Suozzi, meanwhile, said he was “in no position to second-guess Mayor Bloomberg,” and he used an Italian expression to cast doubt on Mr. Spitzer’s view that officials should look into the blackouts and act on recommendations for improvement.
“Watch the hands; don’t listen to the mouth,” Mr. Suozzi said.
Mr. Spitzer also found himself on the defensive over an ongoing lawsuit to increase state funds for New York City public schools.
First, Mr. Suozzi assailed Mr. Spitzer for litigating the case; Mr. Spitzer said he could not pick and choose cases based on his personal preferences. Later, in response to a question, Mr. Spitzer said he had identified $11 billion in government savings to put toward ending the lawsuit and cutting property taxes. At the same time, Mr. Spitzer said that no one — including himself — could provide a “specific” dollar amount that would go toward public schools.
That answer drew a skeptical retort from Mr. Suozzi and the debate panelist who asked the question, Brian Lehrer of WNYC radio. Mr. Spitzer, for the first time, said that he would spend $4 billion to $6 billion on schools, while Mr. Suozzi said he would spend $2.5 billion.
Aside from the political cut-and-thrust, last night also gave New Yorkers a taste of some of the political questions that will confront voters this fall: Would Mr. Spitzer be so beholden to party bosses and health care unions that he would balance their interests with his promises to overhaul Medicaid and expand charter schools?
Would New York’s political culture, after 12 years of Gov. George E. Pataki, benefit from a shake-up that a bomb-thrower like Mr. Suozzi might provide?
For now, Mr. Spitzer has plenty of reason to feel confident: A Siena College poll on Monday gave Mr. Spitzer a 69-point lead over Mr. Suozzi, and he has $16.3 million on hand compared to Mr. Suozzi’s $2.8 million. Mr. Faso has $1.4 million in the bank.
July 26, 2006
Sole Debate for Spitzer and Suozzi Is Fiery
By PATRICK HEALY
Slashing into each other with pointed and personal attacks during their sole televised debate, the two Democratic candidates for governor sparred last night over tax cuts, gay marriage, the death penalty, marijuana, the Queens blackout, and even their own future presidential ambitions.
The leading candidate, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, faced attack after attack for the full hour from his rival, Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, whose own goal of raising his profile may have been helped by a series of memorable disclosures, like his desire to become president and the fact that he does not own an iPod.
Mr. Spitzer, whose political strength has stirred talk of a presidential candidacy in 2012, said that he did not want to be president, but that he did have an iPod.
Following a debate format that was meant to tease out differences, Mr. Spitzer said he believed that private schools were better than public schools and that he could enact universal health coverage as governor. He also pledged to introduce bills to legalize gay marriage and to put convicted terrorists and “cop killers” to death, and said he opposed legalizing marijuana for medical use. Mr. Suozzi disagreed on all of those points.
The debate, which was carried by NY1 and other cable stations statewide, was seen by political analysts as a make-or-break moment for Mr. Suozzi, who has been lagging far behind Mr. Spitzer in public opinion polls and fund-raising. Mr. Spitzer agreed to just this one debate, and it was held seven weeks before the Sept. 12 Democratic primary, at a time when many voters have yet to focus on the race.
Reflecting their tensions, the two men apparently even squared off before the debate. Mr. Suozzi, defying the debate rules, planned to bring a policy briefing book on stage with him. When Mr. Spitzer saw that, he became “very hostile,” Mr. Suozzi told reporters after the debate, “and just started getting angrier and angrier and angrier.”
Mr. Suozzi said that Mr. Spitzer threatened to back out of the debate and accused him of “playing games.”
A spokeswoman for Mr. Spitzer, Christine Anderson, said Mr. Spitzer was “forceful, not angry,” and said he would participate only if Mr. Suozzi followed the rules.
During the debate, the two Democrats did concur on a few matters: They opposed a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq, confirmed that each had smoked marijuana before, and had no problem with allowing children to have cellphones in schools.
As for leadership styles, Mr. Spitzer came across at times like the polysyllabic prosecutor he is and like the charismatic leader he wants to become. There were moments when he spoke in legalisms, like describing the “role of recusal” in some lawsuits, and moments when he wore his heart on his sleeve, using words like “pain and agony” and “tragedy” to describe the suffering of people who had lost electricity in Queens.
Mr. Suozzi, who shares Mr. Spitzer’s alpha male personality and sometimes relies heavily on charm, tweaked Mr. Spitzer for speaking in “a lot of legalese and technicalities.”
Yet Mr. Suozzi did some parsing of his own. He said his opposition to gay marriage had “a lot to do with semantics,” explaining that he supported giving the same rights to gay couples that married couples have — yet, as a Catholic, he saw marriage as a sacrament for a man and a woman.
Mr. Spitzer said that answer was not acceptable. “Semantics is not what this is about — this is about equality,” he said.
While Mr. Suozzi did not run up the score against Mr. Spitzer or deliver any knockouts, he did make some progress toward a goal that has proved elusive: highlighting his differences with Mr. Spitzer and appearing as a credible choice in the Democratic primary.
“New York State government is dysfunctional — both parties are rotten to the core,” Mr. Suozzi said in his opening remarks. He said Mr. Spitzer, as attorney general since 1999, had focused on high-profile lawsuits against Wall Street firms instead of attacking corruption in government.
“He’s never really focused on government reform,” Mr. Suozzi said. “It’s government that’s hurting us.”
Mr. Spitzer, who mostly smiled his way through Mr. Suozzi’s salvos, charged that some of the attacks were “flat-out wrong,” and accused Mr. Suozzi of breaking his pledge to run a clean campaign.
“Every day there’s been another press release which has personal vitriol — 80 percent of them have nothing but venom directed toward me, toward my family,” Mr. Spitzer said. “You called me King George. You said standing up to me was like fighting tyranny. Last time I checked, Tom, we hadn’t taxed any of your tea.”
Mr. Spitzer’s strongest substantive attack on Mr. Suozzi came over taxes. He noted that as county executive, Mr. Suozzi had once raised property taxes sharply, and accused him of having multiple plans for higher levies.
The two men also clashed over Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s supportive words for the chairman of Consolidated Edison, Kevin M. Burke, who has been assailed by Queens residents for not being upfront about the scope of the power losses in the borough. Mr. Spitzer said that when he heard Mr. Bloomberg’s supportive comments, “I was stunned that he said it.”
Mr. Suozzi, meanwhile, said he was “in no position to second-guess Mayor Bloomberg,” and he used an Italian expression to cast doubt on Mr. Spitzer’s view that officials should look into the blackouts and act on recommendations for improvement.
“Watch the hands; don’t listen to the mouth,” Mr. Suozzi said.
Mr. Spitzer also found himself on the defensive over an ongoing lawsuit to increase state funds for New York City public schools.
First, Mr. Suozzi assailed Mr. Spitzer for litigating the case; Mr. Spitzer said he could not pick and choose cases based on his personal preferences. Later, in response to a question, Mr. Spitzer said he had identified $11 billion in government savings to put toward ending the lawsuit and cutting property taxes. At the same time, Mr. Spitzer said that no one — including himself — could provide a “specific” dollar amount that would go toward public schools.
That answer drew a skeptical retort from Mr. Suozzi and the debate panelist who asked the question, Brian Lehrer of WNYC radio. Mr. Spitzer, for the first time, said that he would spend $4 billion to $6 billion on schools, while Mr. Suozzi said he would spend $2.5 billion.
Aside from the political cut-and-thrust, last night also gave New Yorkers a taste of some of the political questions that will confront voters this fall: Would Mr. Spitzer be so beholden to party bosses and health care unions that he would balance their interests with his promises to overhaul Medicaid and expand charter schools?
Would New York’s political culture, after 12 years of Gov. George E. Pataki, benefit from a shake-up that a bomb-thrower like Mr. Suozzi might provide?
For now, Mr. Spitzer has plenty of reason to feel confident: A Siena College poll on Monday gave Mr. Spitzer a 69-point lead over Mr. Suozzi, and he has $16.3 million on hand compared to Mr. Suozzi’s $2.8 million. Mr. Faso has $1.4 million in the bank.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
tupper lake,NY in the adirondacks loves otters but hates dogs
The new Tupper Lake Wild Museum is very cool. It is time for the volunteers to look at how animals are treated in the village and town of Tupper Lake.
What is it about a town that says they love wildlife but hates pets? Maybe they only like to hunt the wildlife and assassinate the pets. Oh, I am not being fair. Let's collect "lost" dogs and kill them after five days.
Maybe part of that is that they keep the discarded pets at an old building at the closed dump (the dump has been closed for years so the storage buildings can be used for something!!!)
Owners of all pets that climb and use the trails anywhere near Tupper Lake. Be aware if your pet is lost it has five days to live.
And during that five days, if you are lucky enough to claim your dog -- it has been drinking gray water and living in conditions only a dump would love.
here are some quotes from the Tupper Lake Free Press ($.60 and you get the news) -- not on the web yet so you will have to go to Tupper Lake and get an old copy to verify my quotes. I can't copy and paste -- so excuse my typing:
Supervisor: Dog Pound Need Work ! (my comment : UNDERSTATEMENT!!!)
" The dog pound needs work!".
That was the report from the Town of Tupper Lake Supervisor Roger Amell last week during the monthly meeting . And no could agree with him more than Cliff Ave. resident Bev LaMere who as in attendance that evening.
Supervisor Amell told the board members that the building located at the town dump is in dire need of a new roof and other repairs that have been long neglected. He suggested, since the building is small, that the best course of action might be to tear it down and purchase a pre-fab building to replace it. (my comment: out of hot metal and not insulated for the winter!)
Newly appointed dog control office Denis Dechene was not in attendace that evening, but Mrs. Lamere praised him for the work he has accomplished at the town owned facility in the short time he's been there. (Comment: If it is so important to him why was he not at the meeting -- who will believe he cares?)
"He's water pressured the cement and spray painted it, cleaned the entire building and surrounding area and has done wonders there," she told the board. "He's done more than anyone I've ever seen there with your cooperation, it can be a beautiful building to house stray dogs."
Mrs. LaMere also advise the board the water at the dog pound, which the dogs drink, is gray, which is unacceptable.
Supervisor Amell said he was aware of the water situation and samples had been taken to be tested.
"He needs two little kennels, to to isolate the small dogs from the larger ones" Mrs. LaMere added.
"He's certainly done alot of work down there" Councilman John Button acknowledged, making a motion to purchase two kennels for the facility. (My comment: Go JOHN!!!! A motion that is not passed as there is no more mention of it in the article)
We're just not going to plant flowers!" Supervisor Amell joked. (My comment: THIS IS FUNNY?")
This week, Mr. Duchene expained that anyone who has lost a dog should check at the dog pound.
"I can only keep them for five days" he advise. "Then they're put to sleep. If a person wants to claim an animal, all they have to do is go to the town hall, pay a $10 fine and a $3 a day for their pet's room and board. (Comment: And why are we flying flood dogs from New Orleans to NY? Why are we not paying to save these dogs??????)
If they can show proof of an up to date license and a record of rabies shot, they can take their pet home."
(Comment: This is classic -- how many poor people that own dogs can do this "little" thing or want to?? So let's put their dogs to sleep!)
If anyone would like to adopt a dog, they can do so if it's not claimed withing the five day period. (Comment: I am going to make sure you extend this five day period if I have to lobby for a change in your law and involve every animal rights group that is in NY!)
According to Mr. Dechene, when he called for the results of the water test this week, he was informed that the sample was too old to be tested. (Comment: maybe he took the water sample from puddle they were really drinking from?)
"It makes no sense to clean and disinfect the place and then spray it down with contaminated water," he said. "The test should be done. There's just so much I can do." (Comment": yes I would say you can do nothing with this situation if there is no outrage in your town. And my puddle theory is likely the truth)
Mrs. LaMere also told the board members last week that the large heater in the facility blows steady during the winter months but there's a large space at the bottom of the door frame where the heat escapes.
"It"s really defeating the purpose," she said. (My comment: No it is not -- it is done on purpose)
The board members agreed that the building should be looked at (Comment: yes let's drive by some Sunday when we are really bored) and repairs made and again ackowledged the outstanding work Mr. Dechene has accomplished.
Monday, July 24, 2006
pee wee herman is coming back and telling jokes a 2 year old will love
He has a new show and he is making a comeback (or something like that) Pee Wee (aka Paul Reubens) appeared on Conan's show and told a joke:
Conan: A lot of people ask about your childhood, what was it like?
Paul Reubens: It was great, this one time my sister got a tea set, but she didn't
want it, so I thought great! I'll have it!
Then my dad asked me if I wanted to have a tea party and I raced upstairs and got
a small table and chair and my dad sat at it.
My dad asked where the tea was so I went and filled up the pot and he drank it (mimes blowing on the tea)
'This is the best tea I have tasted, any more?' so I went and got filled up the pot again.
(his dad tastes the tea again and complements him on it.)
This happened about three times and finally the forth time my dad asked me if there was any more tea and I said no.
'Why not?'
'The toilet is empty.'
The joke may be on us. Let's all ignore him -- but I suspect he will have an audience.
Somewhere I heard he was resident or lived in Oneonta, NY. Maybe he learned his jokes at the Old Royal, the Sour Grape, Copper Fox or one of the joints that used to exist for the college crowd.
Con Ed Sucks
My daughter just moved out of her apartment in Astoria, NY. My brother moved from Astoria to another section of Queens last month. Both are glad not to have to deal with the Con Edison power fiasco.
Astoria has a power plant, too. Proximity to a power plant is no guarantee that you will be provided for!
(photo is from newsday.com)
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Hillary is visiting the south to build support. NY is just a launch pad, as we have known. But Arkansas is going to demand a lot less of a moderate image.
from this link: http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2006/07/16/news/01azhillary.txt
ROGERS -- Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., was guest of honor in her first Arkansas home on Saturday.
Clinton addressed a 700-member audience at the Arkansas Federation of Democratic Women's state convention at 1 p.m. Then the former U.S. first lady toured the Fayetteville public library, which is dedicated to the memory of one of her dearest friends. Then she stopped for a visit of her and husband Bill Clinton's first home together in Fayetteville, which is now a museum.
Throughout speech and the trip, to all sizes of audiences, the possible 2008 presidential contender expressed "amazement" at the growth and progress Northwest Arkansas has made "since I moved to Fayetteville 32 years and one month ago" when she became a professor at the University of Arkansas Law School and married Bill Clinton in the home at 930 California Blvd. in Fayetteville.
The convention was the first event held at the John Q. Hammonds Convention Center at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Rogers, organizers said. The facility was still unfinished in places and on the grounds. Every Democratic candidate for statewide office was there except for governor's nominee Mike Beebe. Beebe's wife, Ginger, did attend.
"It was shocking, and I was just overwhelmed" at the growth in the region, Clinton said. "I was amazed, not only at the growth I saw but at all the construction going on."
In her speech to the Democratic Women, Clinton's strongest emphasis was on energy. "The best thing we can do for the economy, for our security and for our environment is to have a real energy policy that began to move us away from our dependence on foreign oil," the senator said.
The oil companies do not need a subsidy to explore for more oil at today's prices, Clinton said. She has introduced a bill to take money paid in subsidies to a "strategic energy fund" for research. She compared the need for a national effort on fuels to the Manhattan Project with produced the atomic bomb and the space race with the Soviet Union. The government should also tax excess oil company profits and use it to fund fuel research.
"I hope you see Vice President Al Gore's movie, because it really does show the story everybody needs to see," Clinton said. "We've got to protect the earth. That's a value. People go around talking about values. What about the primary responsibility of being good stewards of God's gift to us of this earth?"
Betty Allred of Mountain View and other members of the Stone County delegation to the convention said they enjoyed all aspects of the senator's speech but they agreed most with a portion in which the senator said the middle class had suffered under President Bush's administration policies.
The Omni Center for Peace hosted a demonstration outside, but organizers said it was not a protest against Clinton but a peaceful demonstration asking for her help to end the war in Iraq.
Clinton went from the speech to a tour of the Diane D. Blair Library in Fayetteville. The city's public library is named after Blair, a professor in the University of Arkansas' political science department and a "dear, dear friend" of the senator, Clinton said. Blair died in 2000 and the library was named in her honor after a contribution in Blair's memory by attorney James B. Blair. The library is an architectural showcase that won the library of the year award in 2005 from Library Journal Magazine.
"I loved the library, and she (Blair) would have loved it too," Clinton said after the tour. "It was very emotional for me, because she would have lived in it. She would have been reading to kids and helping out." Clinton was guided in her tour by retired university professor Ann Henry, a longtime friend, and members of the library board and staff.
The day's tour ended with her return to the house on California Boulevard, across the street from the former location of Fayetteville's Boys & Girls Club. There she met with friends such as Woody Bassett and Rudy Moore. She took more than 20 minutes to watch recordings of campaign ads from Clinton's political career, which she said she enjoyed thoroughly.
Surrounded by an entourage of Secret Service agents, staff, admirers and reporters, Clinton took a few minutes in the house and in a meeting room at the library with friends. This was her first trip to Fayetteville since a book-signing appearance in 2003, according to the senator's staff.
Clinton said after the tour she was trying and would continue to try to be bipartisan in her dealings with fellow members of the Senate and House members, but there were "matters of principle, such as the attempt to privatize Social Security, that I can't give ground on."
In her speech, Clinton told Democrats there were gains to be made among Republicans. The message she has heard from former opponents among voters, she said, is they "didn't sign up for all this. For some, it's the deficit. Five years ago Bill Clinton has a balanced budget. Now the administration's bragging about what is in fact the fourth largest deficit in U.S. history."
"For others, it was wanting to privatize Social Security. For some it's Iraq. No matter what one thinks of the beginnings of it, there's no doubt it's been mishandled. For nearly everybody, it was Hurricane Katrina. How could we do this? Even in foreign countries, people asked, how could that happen in America?"
Clint Reed, director of the Republican Party of Arkansas, said Clinton was using the "Howard Dean method of attacking without putting ideas or proposals forward. The president has signed tax cuts that have made our economy strong where our state has almost a $500 million surplus. The president is prosecuting the war on terror, and it's my recollection that Senator Clinton voted for sending troops to Iraq. She's trying to have it both ways. As for Katrina, that was a natural disaster. Everyone understands and agrees, Democrat or Republican, that there are bureaucratic issues the administration has dealt with and are dealing with."
Related links
from this link: http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2006/07/16/news/01azhillary.txt
ROGERS -- Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., was guest of honor in her first Arkansas home on Saturday.
Clinton addressed a 700-member audience at the Arkansas Federation of Democratic Women's state convention at 1 p.m. Then the former U.S. first lady toured the Fayetteville public library, which is dedicated to the memory of one of her dearest friends. Then she stopped for a visit of her and husband Bill Clinton's first home together in Fayetteville, which is now a museum.
Throughout speech and the trip, to all sizes of audiences, the possible 2008 presidential contender expressed "amazement" at the growth and progress Northwest Arkansas has made "since I moved to Fayetteville 32 years and one month ago" when she became a professor at the University of Arkansas Law School and married Bill Clinton in the home at 930 California Blvd. in Fayetteville.
The convention was the first event held at the John Q. Hammonds Convention Center at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Rogers, organizers said. The facility was still unfinished in places and on the grounds. Every Democratic candidate for statewide office was there except for governor's nominee Mike Beebe. Beebe's wife, Ginger, did attend.
"It was shocking, and I was just overwhelmed" at the growth in the region, Clinton said. "I was amazed, not only at the growth I saw but at all the construction going on."
In her speech to the Democratic Women, Clinton's strongest emphasis was on energy. "The best thing we can do for the economy, for our security and for our environment is to have a real energy policy that began to move us away from our dependence on foreign oil," the senator said.
The oil companies do not need a subsidy to explore for more oil at today's prices, Clinton said. She has introduced a bill to take money paid in subsidies to a "strategic energy fund" for research. She compared the need for a national effort on fuels to the Manhattan Project with produced the atomic bomb and the space race with the Soviet Union. The government should also tax excess oil company profits and use it to fund fuel research.
"I hope you see Vice President Al Gore's movie, because it really does show the story everybody needs to see," Clinton said. "We've got to protect the earth. That's a value. People go around talking about values. What about the primary responsibility of being good stewards of God's gift to us of this earth?"
Betty Allred of Mountain View and other members of the Stone County delegation to the convention said they enjoyed all aspects of the senator's speech but they agreed most with a portion in which the senator said the middle class had suffered under President Bush's administration policies.
The Omni Center for Peace hosted a demonstration outside, but organizers said it was not a protest against Clinton but a peaceful demonstration asking for her help to end the war in Iraq.
Clinton went from the speech to a tour of the Diane D. Blair Library in Fayetteville. The city's public library is named after Blair, a professor in the University of Arkansas' political science department and a "dear, dear friend" of the senator, Clinton said. Blair died in 2000 and the library was named in her honor after a contribution in Blair's memory by attorney James B. Blair. The library is an architectural showcase that won the library of the year award in 2005 from Library Journal Magazine.
"I loved the library, and she (Blair) would have loved it too," Clinton said after the tour. "It was very emotional for me, because she would have lived in it. She would have been reading to kids and helping out." Clinton was guided in her tour by retired university professor Ann Henry, a longtime friend, and members of the library board and staff.
The day's tour ended with her return to the house on California Boulevard, across the street from the former location of Fayetteville's Boys & Girls Club. There she met with friends such as Woody Bassett and Rudy Moore. She took more than 20 minutes to watch recordings of campaign ads from Clinton's political career, which she said she enjoyed thoroughly.
Surrounded by an entourage of Secret Service agents, staff, admirers and reporters, Clinton took a few minutes in the house and in a meeting room at the library with friends. This was her first trip to Fayetteville since a book-signing appearance in 2003, according to the senator's staff.
Clinton said after the tour she was trying and would continue to try to be bipartisan in her dealings with fellow members of the Senate and House members, but there were "matters of principle, such as the attempt to privatize Social Security, that I can't give ground on."
In her speech, Clinton told Democrats there were gains to be made among Republicans. The message she has heard from former opponents among voters, she said, is they "didn't sign up for all this. For some, it's the deficit. Five years ago Bill Clinton has a balanced budget. Now the administration's bragging about what is in fact the fourth largest deficit in U.S. history."
"For others, it was wanting to privatize Social Security. For some it's Iraq. No matter what one thinks of the beginnings of it, there's no doubt it's been mishandled. For nearly everybody, it was Hurricane Katrina. How could we do this? Even in foreign countries, people asked, how could that happen in America?"
Clint Reed, director of the Republican Party of Arkansas, said Clinton was using the "Howard Dean method of attacking without putting ideas or proposals forward. The president has signed tax cuts that have made our economy strong where our state has almost a $500 million surplus. The president is prosecuting the war on terror, and it's my recollection that Senator Clinton voted for sending troops to Iraq. She's trying to have it both ways. As for Katrina, that was a natural disaster. Everyone understands and agrees, Democrat or Republican, that there are bureaucratic issues the administration has dealt with and are dealing with."
Related links
Sunday, July 16, 2006
pipelines and powerlines
The NYRI powerline is drawing people together and awareness is extending into other areas. One of the results is that the counties along the path of the powerlines has set up an organization to meet and strategize. This approach is a very powerful tool in dealing with the applications by NYRI to the NY Public Service Commission, and down the road - the DOE.
Lessons learned from the experience of the Millenium Pipeline. The Broome County government actually voted for a tax break for the Millenium Pipeline! The Pipeline is similar to the NYRI proposal in that the benefits of the delivery were downstate and not local to Broome County. We were giving the owners a tax break when there was absolutely no benefit to us as citizens of Broome County.
I am glad the editors of the Binghamton Press are keeping abreast of the developments with the Pipeline - -and also pointing out the overall effects on the region.
Because the Tioga County Legislators voted against the Tax abatement, it nullifies the vote by the Broome County legislators. We in Broome County no longer have to subsidize the company building the Pipeline. Thank you Tioga County!!!!
It means about 1.99 million a year in taxes (projected) according to the article. Not a little sum.
So, please Broome County -- starting talking to the other county governments on a regular basis. It benefits us all.
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060715/NEWS01/607150314/1001/ARCHIVE
Lessons learned from the experience of the Millenium Pipeline. The Broome County government actually voted for a tax break for the Millenium Pipeline! The Pipeline is similar to the NYRI proposal in that the benefits of the delivery were downstate and not local to Broome County. We were giving the owners a tax break when there was absolutely no benefit to us as citizens of Broome County.
I am glad the editors of the Binghamton Press are keeping abreast of the developments with the Pipeline - -and also pointing out the overall effects on the region.
Because the Tioga County Legislators voted against the Tax abatement, it nullifies the vote by the Broome County legislators. We in Broome County no longer have to subsidize the company building the Pipeline. Thank you Tioga County!!!!
It means about 1.99 million a year in taxes (projected) according to the article. Not a little sum.
So, please Broome County -- starting talking to the other county governments on a regular basis. It benefits us all.
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060715/NEWS01/607150314/1001/ARCHIVE
Friday, July 14, 2006
Senators Clinton and Schumer speaks out against NYRI
News from http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/Clinton_NYRI-13Jul06.htm
New York senators call on Energy Department to reject NYRI application for “national interest” transmission line
Senator Hillary Clinton Thursday urged the U.S. Department of Energy to reject the application of New York Regional Interconnection, Inc. to be designated as a "National Interest Electric Corridor." Designation of the proposed NYRI route would trigger federal siting authorities granted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
The power line would run from Oneida County to Orange County.
"I am extremely concerned about the potential environmental and economic impacts in communities along the proposed NYRI route," said Clinton.
“The DOE should slam the door shut on NYRI's efforts to avoid the public and thorough state process,” said Senator Charles Schumer.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires DOE to issue a national transmission congestion study for comment by August 2006 and every three years thereafter. Based on the study and public comments, DOE may designate selected geographic areas as "National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors." Upon the Secretary of Energy’s designation of national interest electric transmission corridors experiencing electric transmission capacity constraints or congestion that adversely affects consumers, the Commission may issue permits to construct or modify electric transmission facilities under certain circumstances.
New York senators call on Energy Department to reject NYRI application for “national interest” transmission line
Senator Hillary Clinton Thursday urged the U.S. Department of Energy to reject the application of New York Regional Interconnection, Inc. to be designated as a "National Interest Electric Corridor." Designation of the proposed NYRI route would trigger federal siting authorities granted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
The power line would run from Oneida County to Orange County.
"I am extremely concerned about the potential environmental and economic impacts in communities along the proposed NYRI route," said Clinton.
“The DOE should slam the door shut on NYRI's efforts to avoid the public and thorough state process,” said Senator Charles Schumer.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires DOE to issue a national transmission congestion study for comment by August 2006 and every three years thereafter. Based on the study and public comments, DOE may designate selected geographic areas as "National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors." Upon the Secretary of Energy’s designation of national interest electric transmission corridors experiencing electric transmission capacity constraints or congestion that adversely affects consumers, the Commission may issue permits to construct or modify electric transmission facilities under certain circumstances.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
issues of unimportance
I just feel like being as dumb as the rest of the news.
But the headlines make my whining and most of my stuff as relevant as the post below.
Snippet from a girl site http://www.allthingsgirl.com/pp/as/000405.shtm,
If you’re a female with hair, chances are that you’ve been through this. You were sick to death of having that head of long hair, tired of constantly having to brush and detangle it, being dissatisfied with the limp look, and weary of the time it took to dry it. Besides that, it was the same style you’d had since the eighth grade! Week after week, you bought hairstyle magazines and gazed longingly at all the cute short styles. Your “perky” envy doubled with every page turned. You fretted. You wanted to be that pert chick with the sassy short style, but Doubt paralyzed your hand every time you’d reach for the phone to call the salon and Excuses invaded your brain. What if I don’t like it? What if I don’t look good in short hair? My husband/boyfriend/partner will just stroke if I cut it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Definitely been there and way done that.
But the headlines make my whining and most of my stuff as relevant as the post below.
Snippet from a girl site http://www.allthingsgirl.com/pp/as/000405.shtm,
If you’re a female with hair, chances are that you’ve been through this. You were sick to death of having that head of long hair, tired of constantly having to brush and detangle it, being dissatisfied with the limp look, and weary of the time it took to dry it. Besides that, it was the same style you’d had since the eighth grade! Week after week, you bought hairstyle magazines and gazed longingly at all the cute short styles. Your “perky” envy doubled with every page turned. You fretted. You wanted to be that pert chick with the sassy short style, but Doubt paralyzed your hand every time you’d reach for the phone to call the salon and Excuses invaded your brain. What if I don’t like it? What if I don’t look good in short hair? My husband/boyfriend/partner will just stroke if I cut it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Definitely been there and way done that.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
1.2 billion gallons -- but whose pouring?
The Daily news is making me sick. Here is the news -- abundant water and why should they pay when rain is free? Sorry, I can't rationalize my emotions about the attitude expressed about upstate here. I am just sick.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Reservoirs full, rates up
BY FRANK LOMBARDI
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU
Water, water everywhere, but the water bills never shrink.
The city's sprawling upstate reservoirs are filled to 100.1% of capacity these days - counting some spillover flow. The system's average normal capacity is 95.4%.
But the water oversupply caused by recent downpours hasn't kept the city from imposing its planned 9.4% increase in water rates.
The jacked up rates imposed by the New York City Water Board for the 2007 fiscal year kicked in July 1. Homeowners and other affected water-bill payers will begin paying the higher rate with their next bills.
The city's 860,000 ratepayers are billed every three months, based on the month they became customers. The 9.4% increase in combined water and sewer rates - the highest in 13 years - will cost the average single family homeowner another $61 a year, bringing the total annual bill to $705.
Unlike gasoline and oil prices, which decrease when there's an oversupply, the rates for city water aren't based on supply and demand. So last month's huge rainfall over the city's upstate watershed - 10.84 inches, compared with the historical average of 3.93 inches - won't cut a penny off ratepayers' bills.
Water rates are based on the humongous long-term costs of building, maintaining and modernizing a water collection system that sprawls over 1,972 square miles and includes 13,000 miles of water mains and sewers within the city.
"We're happy that the reservoirs are full," said Charles Sturcken, the spokesman for the city's Department of Environmental Protection. "But the city uses about 1.2 billion gallons of water a day, and to run that system requires ratepayers to bear the costs of major capital projects and other expenses."
Those expenses for the next 12 months include $2 billion for operating expenses and another $2.7 billion for capital projects.
Critics have complained that the water board hasn't done enough to crack down on deadbeat ratepayers and noted that the board currently maintains a surplus of more than $100 million as a contingency cushion to pacify bondholders.
But Sturcken said that "72% of the costs" of the city's water supply system are incurred for federally mandated programs to upgrade the city's reservoirs and sewage treatment facilities.
And if it's any consolation, while the city doesn't charge less for water when it has too much of it at least it doesn't charge more when there's a drought.
"We don't do drought pricing in New York, unlike California," noted Sturcken.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Reservoirs full, rates up
BY FRANK LOMBARDI
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU
Water, water everywhere, but the water bills never shrink.
The city's sprawling upstate reservoirs are filled to 100.1% of capacity these days - counting some spillover flow. The system's average normal capacity is 95.4%.
But the water oversupply caused by recent downpours hasn't kept the city from imposing its planned 9.4% increase in water rates.
The jacked up rates imposed by the New York City Water Board for the 2007 fiscal year kicked in July 1. Homeowners and other affected water-bill payers will begin paying the higher rate with their next bills.
The city's 860,000 ratepayers are billed every three months, based on the month they became customers. The 9.4% increase in combined water and sewer rates - the highest in 13 years - will cost the average single family homeowner another $61 a year, bringing the total annual bill to $705.
Unlike gasoline and oil prices, which decrease when there's an oversupply, the rates for city water aren't based on supply and demand. So last month's huge rainfall over the city's upstate watershed - 10.84 inches, compared with the historical average of 3.93 inches - won't cut a penny off ratepayers' bills.
Water rates are based on the humongous long-term costs of building, maintaining and modernizing a water collection system that sprawls over 1,972 square miles and includes 13,000 miles of water mains and sewers within the city.
"We're happy that the reservoirs are full," said Charles Sturcken, the spokesman for the city's Department of Environmental Protection. "But the city uses about 1.2 billion gallons of water a day, and to run that system requires ratepayers to bear the costs of major capital projects and other expenses."
Those expenses for the next 12 months include $2 billion for operating expenses and another $2.7 billion for capital projects.
Critics have complained that the water board hasn't done enough to crack down on deadbeat ratepayers and noted that the board currently maintains a surplus of more than $100 million as a contingency cushion to pacify bondholders.
But Sturcken said that "72% of the costs" of the city's water supply system are incurred for federally mandated programs to upgrade the city's reservoirs and sewage treatment facilities.
And if it's any consolation, while the city doesn't charge less for water when it has too much of it at least it doesn't charge more when there's a drought.
"We don't do drought pricing in New York, unlike California," noted Sturcken.
Friday, July 07, 2006
subsitute upstate NY and your hometown for Maine and Wicasset
Is Maine another part of upstate NY?
From the commondreams web site:
Box stores--particularly Wal-Mart--are bad for northern New England. They replace forest and farmland, they decentralize towns and destroy communities, and they create a ripple effect by spreading copycat strip-malls. One only has to look to Brunswick, where a Wal-Mart Supercenter has sucked the life out of the heart of a pretty college town. (Bowdoin College is there.)
Despite the state's slogan "The Way Life Should Be" and the outdoorsy prepster image perpetuated by L.L. Bean, Maine is a poor state. Go inland from Wiscasset or Brunswick and the mansions and summer cottages give way to house trailers and far more modest dwellings. Maine desperately needs new jobs, but erecting another Wal-Mart is a naïve approach to employment. Abundant goods, lots of parking, and a few dead-end jobs are a poor investment. How many tourists will drive all the way to Maine to shop at a Big Box just like the one they have at home?
It may not be possible to save all the traditional towns—how do we keep Wiscasset from becoming the ugliest village in Maine? But we need to remember and to build upon what made places like Wiscasset wonderful. A sense of community depends upon a lot of factors—employment, security, good infrastructure. But community also includes history and what a place looks like (Chamberlain called the village a "flawless souvenir of the past"). Wiscasset may need jobs and a bypass, but it does not need a Wal-Mart.
Link to read the editorial is at the common dreams web site http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0707-27.htm
From the commondreams web site:
Box stores--particularly Wal-Mart--are bad for northern New England. They replace forest and farmland, they decentralize towns and destroy communities, and they create a ripple effect by spreading copycat strip-malls. One only has to look to Brunswick, where a Wal-Mart Supercenter has sucked the life out of the heart of a pretty college town. (Bowdoin College is there.)
Despite the state's slogan "The Way Life Should Be" and the outdoorsy prepster image perpetuated by L.L. Bean, Maine is a poor state. Go inland from Wiscasset or Brunswick and the mansions and summer cottages give way to house trailers and far more modest dwellings. Maine desperately needs new jobs, but erecting another Wal-Mart is a naïve approach to employment. Abundant goods, lots of parking, and a few dead-end jobs are a poor investment. How many tourists will drive all the way to Maine to shop at a Big Box just like the one they have at home?
It may not be possible to save all the traditional towns—how do we keep Wiscasset from becoming the ugliest village in Maine? But we need to remember and to build upon what made places like Wiscasset wonderful. A sense of community depends upon a lot of factors—employment, security, good infrastructure. But community also includes history and what a place looks like (Chamberlain called the village a "flawless souvenir of the past"). Wiscasset may need jobs and a bypass, but it does not need a Wal-Mart.
Link to read the editorial is at the common dreams web site http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0707-27.htm
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
waterworld
On another blog for central NY, (NYCO http://www.silent-edge.org/wp/) the author states, Why not turn everything into a theme park?
Why not indeed. Why do people love disneyworld -- it is better than the real world.
Why not just create an artificial world where we each have all our desires fufilled. This has been one of the driving factors in the vacation home movement. The same is true for the timeshare vacations. And what about all those hedonistic resorts in the Caribbean?
Cashing in on these is one of the most amazing private developments for the pleasure/sports industry. Check out the worlds biggest artificial white water and climbing wall theme park (usnwc.org http://usnwc.org/) The size of this theme park is pretty amazing. It is located near Charlotte, NC where many of the disillusioned upstaters are moving to work. Many of our young people, educated in our New York state schools and colleges are fleeing to this area.
These types of resorts draw visitors to an area. The quality of life for people living next door will not be improved. The jobs they bring are most likely low paying except for the lucky few. Long term, the place may not last if it is based on a trend or a whim of the public. In Charlotte, the people already live nearby and have decent jobs. The economy is on the relative upswing. They are not looking to work there -- just play there.
Would something like this be good for Binghamton? Is it good for any town? How about in a region without alot of nice swimming lakes, ocean, mountains, as in Binghamton? Frankly, I can't see the upstate region as being a location that could support it. Sigh, I am feeling a bit of relief.
I prefer the small river version that is proposed if it is feasible with the unpredictable weather and flooding we have. The floods of last week may have wiped the idea from the minds of the interested parties.
Why not indeed. Why do people love disneyworld -- it is better than the real world.
Why not just create an artificial world where we each have all our desires fufilled. This has been one of the driving factors in the vacation home movement. The same is true for the timeshare vacations. And what about all those hedonistic resorts in the Caribbean?
Cashing in on these is one of the most amazing private developments for the pleasure/sports industry. Check out the worlds biggest artificial white water and climbing wall theme park (usnwc.org http://usnwc.org/) The size of this theme park is pretty amazing. It is located near Charlotte, NC where many of the disillusioned upstaters are moving to work. Many of our young people, educated in our New York state schools and colleges are fleeing to this area.
These types of resorts draw visitors to an area. The quality of life for people living next door will not be improved. The jobs they bring are most likely low paying except for the lucky few. Long term, the place may not last if it is based on a trend or a whim of the public. In Charlotte, the people already live nearby and have decent jobs. The economy is on the relative upswing. They are not looking to work there -- just play there.
Would something like this be good for Binghamton? Is it good for any town? How about in a region without alot of nice swimming lakes, ocean, mountains, as in Binghamton? Frankly, I can't see the upstate region as being a location that could support it. Sigh, I am feeling a bit of relief.
I prefer the small river version that is proposed if it is feasible with the unpredictable weather and flooding we have. The floods of last week may have wiped the idea from the minds of the interested parties.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
The rivers are the attraction in Broome County
This was the chant of many people before the flood.
Alas, like all rivers they are untameable. Recently I read a book about the Erie Canal , "Wedding of the Waters", by Peter L. Bernstein. (BTW, a book worth reading). The Erie Canal designers looked a the rivers and said they could not be used for transportation as they are unreliable. The canal took advantage of the natural valleys and the water supply of the rivers. The rivers themselves were not used for boat traffic.
If the rivers are an asset, then why are they? They are pretty and we can take pictures of them. I would suppose their economic value is hard to calculate. Right now, they are costing a lot of money.
Recently, a group of kayakers have proposed a whitewater Kayaking Park. I heard from some sources, that the cost for building it would be over a million dollars. The group is asking for support ($$) from the City of Binghamton and possibly, Broome County.
At first hearing, I thought there is no chance for this to be built. After seeing the Museum in Tupper Lake, I am not so sure it could not happen. George Pataki could help the project as he has helped many Adirondack projects. Why not?
I see there are other whitewater Kayaking parks that could modeled. I like the looks of the one in Reno, Nevada and it even shows a small park in the pictures. This park was built with public STATE money. See the pictures and description http://www.cityofreno.com/res/com_service/parks/kayak.php
Alas, like all rivers they are untameable. Recently I read a book about the Erie Canal , "Wedding of the Waters", by Peter L. Bernstein. (BTW, a book worth reading). The Erie Canal designers looked a the rivers and said they could not be used for transportation as they are unreliable. The canal took advantage of the natural valleys and the water supply of the rivers. The rivers themselves were not used for boat traffic.
If the rivers are an asset, then why are they? They are pretty and we can take pictures of them. I would suppose their economic value is hard to calculate. Right now, they are costing a lot of money.
Recently, a group of kayakers have proposed a whitewater Kayaking Park. I heard from some sources, that the cost for building it would be over a million dollars. The group is asking for support ($$) from the City of Binghamton and possibly, Broome County.
At first hearing, I thought there is no chance for this to be built. After seeing the Museum in Tupper Lake, I am not so sure it could not happen. George Pataki could help the project as he has helped many Adirondack projects. Why not?
I see there are other whitewater Kayaking parks that could modeled. I like the looks of the one in Reno, Nevada and it even shows a small park in the pictures. This park was built with public STATE money. See the pictures and description http://www.cityofreno.com/res/com_service/parks/kayak.php
Saturday, July 01, 2006
henderson lake
I am feeling bad for the industrial areas of new york state. Years ago, upstate New York looked something like Henderson Lake. Henderson Lake is the reason why I thanked George Pataki for what he has done for the Adirondacks. George did not do it without help from other supporters of the Adirondacks. Thanks to all that helped make Henderson Lake part of the Adirondack wild forest. Let's not let other places slip away -- we don't want just ONE Henderson Lake.I "borrowed" this photo from a New York State Web site (non-commercial) - http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Press/_assets/image008.jpg
money for floods
There is no insurance money or federal money for floods... not yet, anyway. FEMA money -- I mean federal loans. So far, that is not even in the works for Binghamton, New York.
A great folk musician, Richard Shindell, has written about the government's attitude towards people and floods. I think he is wrong in the year of 2006.
Money for Floods
from the album Reunion Hill
My name is Eliza
I live by the river
My daughter Louise
Will be three in July
If July ever comes
It's beginning to feel
Like the water will never
Surrender the field
Everyone knows
Rivers will swell
But they always find money
They always find money
They always find
Money for floods
The President came
In a green helicopter
He and the Governor
Walked all around
My sister broke down
And he gave her a hug
And told her he'd do
Everything that he could
(chorus)
When I was sixteen
I went out with a boy
I'd tell you his name
If I thought it would help
He told me he loved me
And tossed me a girl
The bigger my belly
The faster he ran
(chorus)
A great folk musician, Richard Shindell, has written about the government's attitude towards people and floods. I think he is wrong in the year of 2006.
Money for Floods
from the album Reunion Hill
My name is Eliza
I live by the river
My daughter Louise
Will be three in July
If July ever comes
It's beginning to feel
Like the water will never
Surrender the field
Everyone knows
Rivers will swell
But they always find money
They always find money
They always find
Money for floods
The President came
In a green helicopter
He and the Governor
Walked all around
My sister broke down
And he gave her a hug
And told her he'd do
Everything that he could
(chorus)
When I was sixteen
I went out with a boy
I'd tell you his name
If I thought it would help
He told me he loved me
And tossed me a girl
The bigger my belly
The faster he ran
(chorus)
black and white photo -- vintage look at the wild center
Here is a black and white photo on the new Wild Center -- taken by Ray Cronk. I like this one as it looks like something more out of the early 20th Century - we can pretend it is a historical building in Tupper Lake.
the new wild center in tupper-- ready or not it will be open on Tuesday
I am impressed despite the "not ready" state of the wild center. I walked down to the outdoor dining area and looked up at the pond. I loved the design.
Tupper Lake did very well with this effort. The Tuesday opening will be great. The place is poised for the opening day - and it is all free.
Everyone should come that can drive here.
If you need directions just email me. Parking is at the Municipal Park and there is a shuttle.
See www.wildcenter.org
dorothy, we are not in kansas anymore
I have taken a ride in the car and alas -- I am not in Binghamton any longer. The news around Binghamton is filled with sad tales and July 4th will take place despite the ban on swimming or boating in Broome County. Watch out folks in Broome County -- do not stray into the water in any park this weekend. With the exception of Chenango Valley State Park, the beaches are closed. I would say - pay the entrance fee and try to relax for a day, if you can.
Myself, I am now in the land of Winnie the Pooh. Yes, according to Gary Trudeau, growing up in an Adirondack Town is like being the child Christopher Robin. Gary grew up in Saranac Lake and had a very happy childhood there.
I am having a happy older life in Tupper Lake, New York. And true to all fairytales, the dream will come true on July 4th when the new Adirondack Natural History Museum will open (alias , The Wild Center).
On Tuesday, the day is open to all -- free admission. Richie Havens will be performing. Another great singer will be there, too, Martin Sexton. His hometown is Syracuse, I believe. He has been seen frequenting Hoppy's Ice Cream in Oxford, New York.
Enough of the celebrities to be visiting little Tupper Lake Village on Tuesday.
The rest is all stuff of dreams -- will Hillary and Bill be here? The rumor mill is saying "yes". (Bill does love the Ubu Ale from Lake Placid Brewery). George Pataki will be coming as he is one of the biggest sponsors of the new Museum. George is a big sponsor of the Adirondack Park. Thank you George for your efforts here. And I sincerely mean that.
One of the many favorite Tupper families that will be attending are the Frenettes. Bill and Ginny Frenette are the head of this clan, and brother Jim (whom I have not met *yet*). The local supporters of the Museum are to be congratulated for the tremendous accomplishment of opening this Museum. It was just a dream of a few people and now is a reality after hard work by a community and friends.
I will be writing more about this over the weekend. Bringing my digital camera here will get me to start posting more pictures to make my little blog a bit more interesting.
Binghamton -- we can do some of the things that Tupper is doing. We need the initial ideas, and then we need the perserverance to carry it through. It is not the whole answer for any community (even one as small as Tupper) but it is a great start!!!!
More tomorrow!
Myself, I am now in the land of Winnie the Pooh. Yes, according to Gary Trudeau, growing up in an Adirondack Town is like being the child Christopher Robin. Gary grew up in Saranac Lake and had a very happy childhood there.
I am having a happy older life in Tupper Lake, New York. And true to all fairytales, the dream will come true on July 4th when the new Adirondack Natural History Museum will open (alias , The Wild Center).
On Tuesday, the day is open to all -- free admission. Richie Havens will be performing. Another great singer will be there, too, Martin Sexton. His hometown is Syracuse, I believe. He has been seen frequenting Hoppy's Ice Cream in Oxford, New York.
Enough of the celebrities to be visiting little Tupper Lake Village on Tuesday.
The rest is all stuff of dreams -- will Hillary and Bill be here? The rumor mill is saying "yes". (Bill does love the Ubu Ale from Lake Placid Brewery). George Pataki will be coming as he is one of the biggest sponsors of the new Museum. George is a big sponsor of the Adirondack Park. Thank you George for your efforts here. And I sincerely mean that.
One of the many favorite Tupper families that will be attending are the Frenettes. Bill and Ginny Frenette are the head of this clan, and brother Jim (whom I have not met *yet*). The local supporters of the Museum are to be congratulated for the tremendous accomplishment of opening this Museum. It was just a dream of a few people and now is a reality after hard work by a community and friends.
I will be writing more about this over the weekend. Bringing my digital camera here will get me to start posting more pictures to make my little blog a bit more interesting.
Binghamton -- we can do some of the things that Tupper is doing. We need the initial ideas, and then we need the perserverance to carry it through. It is not the whole answer for any community (even one as small as Tupper) but it is a great start!!!!
More tomorrow!
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