"This action by some members
of the Legislature is sadly all about pandering and
personal political gain. It unfortunately reinforces
Putnam's anti-business reputation and philosophy, which
has helped to create the overwhelming tax burden for
residents,"
Good Friday Morning,
So says Paul Camarda. The quote above was pulled from a NYJN
article about an attempt made to give projected sales tax
dollars to Mr. Camarda for a road project he promised he
would pay for himself. Luckily 7 out of 9 legislators voted
the right way.
Thanks to SO for his support for what we do and to BM: I
completely missed your picnic on June 27th. I really thought
it was this weekend for some reason. My apologies.
In other news:
- Judge Joseph L. Tauro of United States
District Court in Boston ruled yesterday that the Federal
ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. The
Obama Administration is having it's cake and eating it
too by declaring that though they disagree with DOMA
('Defense' of Marriage Act) that it is
constitutional and will file an appeal. That's reason
#458,789 why I didn't vote for the guy.
- Thanks to a bill introduced by Congressman John
Hall, HR952, veterans claiming to suffer from Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) will have a much easier
time getting help from the VA than in the past.
- Traveling in and out of the country is about to get
more expensive. The US State Department has raised
the price of a passport from the current $100 to
$135, effe3ctive come next Tuesday, July 13.
- On this day in 1962 the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles
displayed Andy Warhol's first "soup can"
exhibition. The rest, as they say, is history.
- Solar Impulse, a solar powered plane, just completed
a 24 hour flight landing safely in Switzerland.
- National Public Radio is officially changing
it's name to NPR. Sometimes called, National
Propaganda Radio, for their lack of investigative
reporting and once known affectionately as National
Pentagon Radio during the second Gulf War, the
marketing staff at NPR has decided to give everyone what
they want and simply go with initials that anyone will
be free to spell out how they wish.
- Broome County, NY is about to take a $15,000,000
offer to allow hydrofracking on county-owned
lands. I can see Vinnie Tamagna running
around Philipstown with a shovel and a match to see if
there's any gas there and if so, will offer the gas
companies $15,000,000 in deferred sales taxes to drill
in Philipstown.
- Ernest J. Pagels, Jr. isn't exactly a
household name around these here parts but out
in Wisconsin this Republican candidate for the US
Senate has promised that if elected he will outlaw
homosexuality, abortion, all forms of pornography and
kosher Chinese carry outs. Alright. I made one of those
up.
- California GOP US Senate candidate Sharon Angles
has also promised that if elected she too will get on
the ban-abortion bandwagon even in cases
of rape and/or incest. She offers no plan to pay
raped women to raise their children so the jury is still
out on that one.
- A Chinese airport in Hangzhou City was dramatically
shut down after baffled air traffic controllers
spotted an incoming UFO on their radar systems.
- And finally today, if you need a little calming down
and you can't find the scrip for valium you got way back
in the 80's, try
a sniff of jasmine instead.
Tonight:
CIES Interpretive Hike along the Wappinger Creek Trail
5PM - In celebration of Creek Week and Dutchess
County Watershed Awareness Month, this family-friendly
event hosted by the Cary Institute and Cornell Cooperative
Extension will engage children and adults in hands-on
activities. Participants will sample macro-invertebrates
(stream "bugs") and learn about water quality issues.
Hikers are advised to wear sturdy waterproof shoes and
bring your camera and drinking water. Picnic tables are
available for those who choose to pack a dinner to enjoy
after the walk. In the event of heavy rain, the program
will be canceled. Event is free of charge. Reservations
are suggested. For more information or to register, please
call 845-677-7600 ext. 121. Location: Cary East (Gifford
House) parking area, 2917 Sharon Turnpike (Rte. 44) in
Millbrook, N.Y
Saturday:
Battle of the Bands
10AM - 3PM Join us on the Library Green and get
ready to rock at the Kent Public Library's first annual
Battle of the Bands competition! Bring your lawn chairs
and your blankets and listen to some fabulous local high
school and college bands and help us decide the winner.
Food and soft drinks will be available for purchase
throughout the day from the Friends of the Kent Public
Library. Battle of the Bands is brought to you by the Kent
Public Library with help and support from the Town of
Kent, Friends of the Kent Public Library and Cartwright
& Daughters Tent & Party Rentals.
Bands Appearing:
Adrenaline Rush, 10:15am
The Parthenon, 10:45am
Megazord Theory, 11:15am
Pray for Dawn, 11:45am
Ascendancy, 12:15pm
Event Horizon, 12:45pm
Kid Jerusalem, 1:15pm
To Know Avail, 1:45pm
The Kent Public Library is on Route 52 just north of
Route 311.
Wappinger Watershed Rain Barrel Building Workshop
10 AM - Location: Wappinger Town Hall, 20
Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls, NY. A rain barrel is
used to capture runoff from rooftops during a storm. Once
the water is collected in a barrel, it can be used later
to water your lawn or garden. At the end of this rain
barrel building workshop you’ll walk away with your own
functional and ready-to-install rain barrel! Due to the
costs associated with this event, there is a small $15 fee
and a sign-up. Spaces are limited – please RSVP by
emailing Vicky Buono at vc...@cornell.edu or
calling (845) 677-8223 x153.
ADK Hike: Buttercup Preserve & Thompson Pond
10 AM - Location: Buttercup Farm. We will head
north along the Buttercup Farm Audubon Sanctuary trail,
parallel to the Wappinger Creek (admission $3). Later, we
will drive to Thompson Pond, where the Wappinger Creek
originates, and hike around it (about 3 miles).Please call
or email trip leader Beth Willis at (845) 373-8202, bethw...@optonline.com
to RSVP.
A Celestial Evening with Skyman Bob
9PM - At the Mountain Top Arboretum in
Tannersville, NY. Celebrate the wonders of the summer sky
with renowned astronomer Bob Berman, aka "SkymanBob".
Bring your binoculars, a blanket and a flashlight and meet
at the Arboretum parking lot. www.mtarboretum.org
or 518-589-3903
Into the Future:
Tuesday, July 13
Storm Drain Marking
10:00 am. As part of Dutchess County's Watershed Awareness
Month, help mark our storm drains. Water that flows into
the gutters often contains many pollutants, road salt,
cigarette butts, and candy wrappers to name a few. Small
disc-shaped markers are permanently attached to the storm
drain and help remind people that the water entering that
drain flows to our river and streams. Help mark storm
drains along the Main Street Corridor and help raise
awareness about a common source of pollution to our rivers
and streams. During this event, participants will also
learn about stormwater runoff, what it is, where it comes
from and how to reduce it as you stroll along the Fall
Kill Creek in the City of Poughkeepsie with the Assistant
City Engineer, Joe Chenier, and the Fall Kill Watershed
Coordinator, Jen Rubbo. For more information, contact Jen
Rubbo, j...@clearwater.org.
Location: Meet at the corner of Rt. 44/Columbus Drive
& Main Street, City of Poughkeepsie, NY
Sunday, July 18
Hike Around White Pond
11AM - the Kent CAC will lead a Hike around White Pond.
We'll meet at the NY State Multiple Use parking area on
White Pond Road off of Farmer's Mills Road. The hike will
traverse the historic dam, skirt through the hemlocks,
chestnuts, and tupelos in the deep woods, tiptoe across a
stone wall above a swamp, and finally follow along the
road with the open water and big sky. Don't forget to
bring your lunch and water for the hike. Also, you may
wish to bring a bathing suit for a dip in the clean, cool
waters of White Pond after the hike.
This is a moderate hike that takes about three hours
including a lunch break and stops to learn local and
natural history. Expect to see day lilies and Indian
pipes, enjoy the sweet fragrance of the swamp azalea, and
lunch overlooking the lake. If bad weather forces us to
cancel the hike, we'll send an e-mail like this one and
post the news on the Kent CAC programs page about an hour
before the scheduled start. For further information
contact hike leader Beth Herr <mailto:herr...@comcast.net>
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