tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39477439438825380692024-02-18T18:30:58.686-08:00Mark C. Reynolds BlogAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-73330019227483678402016-12-25T22:44:00.000-08:002016-12-25T22:44:04.160-08:00Actress Seeks to Attract Film Production to Area<br />
By Mark Reynolds<br />
mreynolds@tcnewspapers.com<br /> <br />
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Actress, director, producer Mary Stuart Masterson [Fried Green Tomatoes] is working with Ulster County Executive Mike Hein to bring a production house to the county. <br /> Masterson said she has helped to create Stockade Works, a public-private partnership aimed at creating a new media center in Kingston. <br /> Masterson said it has been noted there is a lack of diversity in all areas of production “as well as technologists jobs so our hope is to grow the workforce and actually give access to people who otherwise have not had access and on the job training.”<br /> Masterson said she came to the area with her four children “and I want to work where I live. I don’t want to have to move to Los Angeles or Georgia. I want to stay here.”<br /> Masterson has wondered why Ulster County does not have more production opportunities and questioned the unfairness of the state tax incentive program offered to film and television companies that leaves the county out of that advantage. She has been working with Hein on this issue and has begun to reach out to various heads of production urging them to work in Ulster County. <br /> “Space is cheap and there are a lot of people out of work who could go to work there is a lot of the creative class who already live there, there’s talent, writers, directors, producers, actors, sound mixers, editors, film composers living here, so why isn’t it working,” she said. “They say the tax incentive package is good but it’s not good enough to compete with Georgia.”<br /> Masterson said those she has asked, such as the head of AMC studios, the Sundance Channel, said they would come if the tax program were more favorable. <br /> While pushing for this change, Masterson said the goal of Stockade Works is “to get a building, build up the infrastructure, [have] a state of the art sound stage facilities, post-production facilities, and push some training in partnership with the SUNY system and the Community College to offer annual boot camp training to try to teach people crew production skills. Even though it’s a union dominated workforce, you have to learn it and get hours and then get union membership.” <br /> Masterson said it is often difficult for a new person to “get in” and she hopes this new venture will make it easier for those simply wishing for the chance to get their foot in the door. <br /> “You do need to create a little eco-system where you’re bringing in jobs and you’re training the workforce,” she said. <br /> Masterson is already working on the curriculum and is hoping to have a space within a year “but within the next six months we have one television production that Locomotive Film and Television is bringing here and we have a Lifestyle Hudson Valley based television reality show that we are going to shoot and edit here.”<br /> Masterson said they are also developing an app “that has to do with Hudson Valley makers; so we’re developing projects that will be here. If this happens I can guarantee you, based on the conversations that I have had with production companies, we will have a big uptick in production within six months, really fast. If it happens people will be here.” She said last year there were more than 400 television shows in production [and] “they all have to shoot somewhere and New York City is full, we’re not taking their jobs away, we’re competing with other distant locations and this is a uniquely special area. It’s kind of like the goldilocks zone for production…and this will make a huge difference.” <br /><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-51197552065355948292016-12-25T18:38:00.000-08:002016-12-25T18:39:34.583-08:00Inside Danskammer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Plant rescued from the scrap heap <br />
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By Mark Reynolds<br />
mreynolds@tcnewspapers.com<br />
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Recently, Larry She, President of Danskammer LLC, invited the Southern Ulster Times for a tour of the inside of the cavernous power plant; a rehabilitation project that is still very much a work in progress. It was originally built in four phases, starting in 1951 and additional sections constructed in 1954, 1959 and 1967, respectively. <br />
She said after the flooding from Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 the two oldest sections of the plant took on 24 inches of water in their lower and basement areas. He said initially there was consideration given to scrapping the plant, however, the most expensive parts, the turbine generators and the control room, were not damaged by the storm. Plant Manager Ed Hall said as they inventoried the plant they were able to identify all of the parts that were damaged in the storm and needed to be fixed, such as electrical motors, valves and fittings. After a final price was established, they decided in May 2014 that the plant was worth saving and began to move forward. <br />
She said the company was not disclosing the exact amount needed to fix the plant “but it is in the low 8 figures.” Reports place that figure at $14 million, a number She acknowledges is in the “ballpark.” <br />
She said more than 70 people [40 full time and 30 contractors] have been working “feverishly” six days a week on the plant. He said this equates to “about 600 years of Danskammer specific experience to help bring this place back and to ultimately operate it.” Ray Hart has 13 years experience, Rich Backofen 23 years, Mike McGuiness 34 years, Robert Mason 9 years and Eric Holbeg at 33 years, to name a few of the crew. Rich Backofen’s own story mirrors what many workers feel about the plan to revitalize Danskammer. <br />
“It brought me back to my town and my family. I worked here for 23 years, moved to Florida [and] found another job but I was away from my family and ultimately when I left here it was on a sour note. I wanted to finish what I started here 23 years ago. I wanted to finish my career here.” Other members of the crew agreed, saying that today “things are upbeat and there is a high morale.” <br />
Presently 2 of the generators have been repaired and the remaining 2 will soon be finished, with the expectation that the plant will be operational by the end of this year. <br />
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She described the fundamental way the plant works. <br />
“The sole purpose of the entire plant is to make clean water into very high pressure steam and that steam turns this engine that makes this generator make electricity; that’s basically it,” he said. “Everything in this plant is to make, control [and] monitor the generation of steam…The temperature and pressures are very high.” She said that if Danskammer’s 4 generating units were running at full capacity the plant could power a total of 450,000 homes.<br />
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She said the main control room is a mix of old and new technology “and everything is still functional.” One panel controls temperature, flow and pressure at the plant while another controls the generation at the plant – “watching the electrons that are being made.” <br />
She pointed out that every power plant in New York is paid to be on standby.<br />
“You can think of it as a payment to be ready to make power at a moment’s notice,” he said. <br />
Danskammer receives $24 million annually from the state but She quickly adds there are “meaningful expenses” the plant incurs throughout the year, such as salaries and the recent expenditure of $11,000 just for panel light bulbs. <br />
With the plant nearly ready, She recalled a time in the recent past when they rescued it “from the jaws of death. Nobody lived this closer than I did.” <br />
During the rebuilding process She worked very closely with the Department of Environmental Conservation.<br />
“The regulators work within the rules that are established and they don’t take their personal opinions into things,” he said. “They work within the framework of the law. They helped us to the extent they could in understanding our permits and our options and ultimately they were very cooperative. I give the DEC a tremendous amount of credit in helping us navigate through this. We [also] had the support of local legislators…and they did not stand in the way of this project’s potential.”<br />
She said at the beginning of the project he questioned if they were going to be able to make it all work <br />
“I characterized this as a one in ten thousand shot,” he said of their initial odds for success. He said many companies had “written this place off” and believed the plant would never again operate. <br />
“If more folks thought this place had a chance to return to service there would have been people clamoring at the opportunity to buy it; there were no takers,” he recalled.<br />
With Danskammer poised to return to service at a modest level of operation, it appears that once again power will be produced on the shores of the Hudson River in the Town of Newburgh. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-13044778112666291472016-12-25T17:19:00.000-08:002016-12-25T17:19:30.469-08:00Infighting Plagues Plattekill Library Board <br />By Mark Reynolds<br /><a href="mailto:mreynolds@tcnewspapers.com" target="_blank">mreynolds@tcnewspapers.com</a><br />
<br /> In the past few months it has become apparent there are sharp divisions among trustees of the Plattekill Library on where to locate a home for a new library and how to go about it. <br /> Most recently the board voted to stop consideration on a parcel, known as the Cider Mill property, that is just down from their present location on Route 32. The board has already spent $17,000 on structural and environmental studies on this parcel and sent the owner a deposit check of $9,250 in April 2014, which he cashed. In November 2014, the owner sent a check of his own back to the Library board’s attorney with all indications that the deal was off. Library Board President Lynn Ridgeway is on record stating that the library’s attorney decided on his own to place the seller's check in “escrow” and at this point, due to the passage of time, the check is no longer valid. Ridgeway also stated that no one on the Library Board instructed their attorney to take this action. The actual record, however, does not back Ridgeway's claims. A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, pointed out that in a phone conversation the library board had with their attorney, he insisted that it was the board who instructed him to hold the check. The attorney did not mention a particular person but additional records reveal that Ridgeway is the sole individual on the board who has spoken with their attorney throughout the entire process. <br /> Recently, in a December 6, 2016 email, Ridgeway asked the library attorneys, Robert Scofield and John Allen of Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna, if they have any record of who decided the fate of the seller's returned deposit check.<br /> Ridgeway wrote "I was under the impression that the check was put in escrow. You made it clear to me last week that it was not. It was simply put into a paper file. Whose responsibility was it to notify the Board that the check was about to become stale dated in order for us to make a decision on what action to take, if any?" <br /> The response from both attorneys indicates that Ridgeway's questioning is at odds with the recollections of both attorneys. Schoffield wrote that he and Allen "are quite frustrated that there has been any insinuation that our firm did anything improper, with regard to the deposit check." Attorney Allen elaborated, pointing out that Ridgeway knew about the seller's returned deposit check in November 2014. He stated that during 2015 and 2016 his firm tried to "get the transaction to the closing table" and continued to negotiate the deal for the Cider Mill property, noting that the library board did not tell him to cease trying to make the sale happen. He stated to Ridgeway that she was the "conduit between me, as the attorney representing the board on the real estate transaction, and the board itself. I have never spoken directly to the other board members, so I am dismayed that members think that I misled the board or took any action with the purported deposit refund, other than the action which was discussed with you before being taken, and of which you were aware for the entire period since my November 17, 2014 letter."<br /> Allen's reference to a November 2014 letter was a response he sent to the seller's attorney after receiving a check for $9,250 from the seller with the implication that from his perspective the deal was terminated. In the letter Allen stated that the library was willing to buy the property "as is" along with a few remedial but not "mandated" conditions that were listed in the contract. He informed the seller's attorney, however, that "in the interim" he was holding onto the check that was sent to him. <br /> After the library board's recent decision to end consideration of the Cider Mill property, Allen sent a new letter to the seller's attorney requesting that the deposit money be returned since the November 2014 check was no longer legitimate. Allen pointed out to the library board that the Cider Mill owner may oppose returning the $9,250 and advised the board that if they were to file a lawsuit they could end up spending more trying to recover it. <br />Since 2014 Ridgeway and board Vice President Valerie Smith have insisted to the rest of the board that the library has a contract for the Cider Mill property, despite the returned deposit and the owner failing to show up for two scheduled closings. Only after board member William Farrell pressed Ridgeway to provide proof of a contract did she seek an opinion from their attorney who stated in writing that a contract did not exist. Ridgeway chalked the entire matter up to a “misunderstanding,” however, the email record from Allen to Ridgeway clearly shows that while he tried to bring about a closing, he told her "we have never said in words or substance that the library is still under contract."<br /> Board member Joseph Egan recently laid bare the disarray that has troubled the inner workings of the library board for years. In two emails he sent to Ridgeway, dated December 2 and 10, 2016, he noted that a recent appraisal the library board had done of their present property, which they are considering purchasing from the town, has not been shared with the Town Board for their review. Egan characterized this as “unfortunate...we should share this information, this would show good will toward the town and prove we don’t have anything to hide…being secretive at this time is not good or needed. We cannot expect the town to show good will if we are not. Have we not learned anything from our discussions with Rebekkah [Smith Aldrich of the Mid Hudson Library Association], the Town of Highland [library director] and ourselves about openness and inclusion of all parties? The only reasons not to do this in the open is that we have something to hide or people do not want to move forward with purchasing the current property or at least see if it is a viable option.” <br /> Board member Farrell agreed with Egan's comments. In a series of emails, Ridgeway stated that she wanted to keep the appraisal issue confidential, with Farrell questioning the reason for the Library Board to keep it from the Town Board. <br /> "It gives us a starting point in regards to an actual price so we can discuss [it] with the town. Furthermore, since we used taxpayer money to pay for this, anyone can FOIL it [under the Freedom Of Information Law]." Ridgeway's one sentence reply was "They can FOIL it once they know it exists." In a direct response to Ridgeway, and copied to the entire library board and to the Mid Hudson Library Association, Farrell criticized Ridgeway's actions.<br /> "I would think that after your boondoggle of misleading the Library Board for two years, claiming we had a contract when we didn't and now the fiasco of who's responsible for not cashing the check from Nemeth [Cider Mill owner], which will cost the taxpayers $9,250, you would wake up to the fact that this [library] board is not some 'secret society' that is supposed to keep everything from the public." <br /> At their December 8 meeting, the library board unanimously approved $2,500 to pay for the town's attorney and consultants to review a possible sale of the present property to the library but voted not to share the actual appraisal of the library with the town by a vote of 3 yes, 2 no and 1 abstention. Bill Farrell, Joe Egan and David Padilla voted to share the appraisal while Ridgeway and Valerie Smith voted against the measure and Luz Ledesma abstained. Member Karen Adamson was absent. It did not pass because a majority of four votes was needed for approval, according to the NYS Education Law [sec. 266 (1)] which governs the Plattekill Library.<br /> Egan voiced dismay in how the library board has been operating, stating that "misinformation, resistance to opposing views, and bullying, both verbal and visual, i.e. threats to walk out, slamming of [the] desk to get a point across and disdainful looks when questions are asked that differ from some people’s views, just to mention a few things.” <br /> Lynn Ridgeway did not return a call for comment for this article by deadline. <br /> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-71735423908888412952016-12-25T17:05:00.001-08:002016-12-25T17:05:38.929-08:00Anchorage Advocate Speaks to Area Yacht Clubs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By Mark Reynolds<br /><a href="mailto:mreynolds@tcnewspapers.com">mreynolds@tcnewspapers.com</a><br /><br /> Last week Edward J. Kelly, Executive Director of the Maritime Association of the Port of NY & NJ, addressed a large gathering of yacht club members from all along the Hudson River about a recent proposal that has been made by the U. S. Coast Guard to increase the number of anchorages for oil barges on the river. Presently there are two anchorage locations at Hyde Park and Yonkers and the proposal is calling for 10 new additional sites with 43 berths at the Yonkers Extension, Montrose Point, Tompkins Cove, Newburgh, Marlboro, Roseton, Milton, Big Rock Point, Port Ewen and Kingston Flats South. <br /> The proposal has generated significant bipartisan opposition from local, state and federal officials as well as from environmental organizations, citizen groups and residents from across the region. <br /> Kelly brought a different perspective to the conversation. He said the Maritime Association was founded in New York City in 1873 and is concerned with commercial navigation and shipping issues from the Long Island Sound, north to Albany and along the New Jersey shore. The association has about 550 paid corporate and individual members that consists of international shipping lines, marine terminals, tug and barge operators, admiralty attorneys, long shore laborers, marine underwriters, divers, fuel organizations and vessel staff facilities. The industry brings imports and exports to the greater Mid-Atlantic region, which is considered a gateway to the United States. <br /> “When you stop to think about the ramifications about how the world has gotten so small and the maritime industry transports so many of those goods in and out, it has really made the world a better place,” he said. <br /> Kelly said the Hudson River Pilots Association and the American Waterway Operators are supporting his association’s internal tug and barge committee recommendations that have been submitted to the Coast Guard for the additional federally designated anchorage areas. Kelly said due to the high level of interest this proposal has generated, with more than 6,000 letters submitted, he expects a series of public hearings would be scheduled for the spring and a final decision by late 2017. <br /> Kelly said the reason his association favors the increase in anchorages is based on facts.<br /> "We’ve seen a tremendous amount of disinformation and misinformation on the subject that has been put out there by various organizations," he said. "There are things on websites that are not true. There are things that are being spoken about that are not true. It is my opinion that you should first establish the facts and then try to distort them, not the other way around.” <br /> Kelly said the safety record of water transport of oil products is well documented, with vessels now required to be double-hulled. <br /> "It is the cleanest and most environmentally friendly way to move freight. It is the most fuel-efficient [and] requires the minimal amount of infrastructure. It reduces roadway congestion and wear and tear, so therefore it reduces the need for public taxes to replace infrastructure, roads and bridges. It does reduce emissions both in the air and in the water as compared to any other mode of transportation," he said. <br /> Kelly estimated that one barge on a waterway saves 60 truck trailer trips on roadways.<br /> Kelly said the additional anchorages would help barge operators when facing difficult weather conditions such as fog, ice and sudden thunderstorms. The proposed locations have been chosen because they are in wide areas of the river, have deep water so ships would not run aground, provide shelter from strong currents out of navigable channels and are spaced in closer proximity so stopping points are not a far distance apart. <br /> Kelly said these anchorages would not be used by oil companies to park oil while waiting for their product to rise in value because the cost in equipment, man-hours and each with an attendant tugboat is simply cost prohibitive. He said critics who claim this is the real reason have "never looked into the actual economics or cost of trying to do that or else its an inconvenient fact they don't want to talk about." <br /> Kelly said the anchorages would be used for limited amounts of time, sometimes as little as 4 hours but typically to a maximum of 48 hours before the Coast Guard "says you must move." <br /> Kelly said the anchorage sites "do not require any construction or the placement of any infrastructure in or around the river. These are not proposed moorings and nothing will be placed on the bottom of the river…and no yellow lines painted on the water." <br /> Kelly said there has been speculation that additional barges would increase the chances of a terrorist attack, a correlation he discounts. He said the shipping industry is subject to U. S. Coast Guard approved vessel and facility security plans and all professional mariners are required to be U. S. citizens who must possess digital transportation worker identification credentials and have undergone extensive drug and criminal background checks. Crews must also have proper U. S. Coast Guard licenses, ratings and training certificates "for any type of operation they are engaged in, whether its the type of the vessel, the type of waterway or the type of products they are involved with." <br /> Kelly highlighted the importance of the shipping industry to the economy of the Hudson Valley region; by moving not only oil but commodities such as salt, sand, cement, crushed rock and oversized cargoes that cannot be moved on the roadways, to name a few. <br /> Kelly predicted that oil being brought through the Hudson Valley from the heartland and then refined for export would not happen because "it's too damn expensive" and selling it here make more economic sense." <br /> Kelly said extremely large vessels would not be able to travel up the Hudson. <br /> "You can't get big ships up here [and] we couldn't do that if we tried," he said. "If we put roller skates on the bottom of these ships we couldn't get them up here; there is just not enough water and that will never, ever happen." <br /> Kelly said having federally designated anchorage areas would prevent companies from placing cables in the river at will and if snagged when barge operators do not know where they are located could cause serious injury or death to a barge crew and cut off power to a sizable area. Having the anchorage areas be cable-free is a significant safety measure. <br /> Kelly concluded by saying "that's my story. We believe its based on facts…we realize that commercial operators are not the only people on the river [and] we also realize there are environmental and recreational concerns. There is a lot of mixed use of this wonderful river. Commercial activity is part of it and we want to find ways to work with other people in and on the river so that we can serve the needs of this community for the products they consume in as safe and economically and environmentally friendly manner as possible." <br /> Kelly was peppered with questions from yacht club members, which gave him the opportunity for further clarification. He reiterated his central point, saying he believed that additional anchorage areas would make the river's commercial activity "even safer, more secure [and] more efficient…we are looking to mitigate risk. It has been proven over time that designating areas, marking them on proper [maritime] charts has been the safest solution."<br /> Kelly said the mid Hudson region is being considered for the additional anchorages because it is between the ports of New York City and Albany but they will be "fairly evenly spaced." Marlborough resident John Scott disagreed, pointing out that 16 anchorages are proposed for a 32-mile stretch of the river in this area. <br /> Kelly was asked if the industry would agree to limit the number of barges on the river at any given time if the additional anchorages were granted; Kelly responded with a question. <br /> "Is there any place in the United States where you are going to tell people what they can do? That's against the Constitution. We would never get that enacted,” he said. <br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-34565297809479215062015-09-05T17:13:00.001-07:002016-12-25T18:28:07.035-08:00Dylan Doyle: The Evolution of an Artist<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 20px;"><b>BY MARK REYNOLDS</b> | <b> </b> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Once Dylan
Doyle got hold of a guitar there was no turning back; his becoming a musician
was all but assured. At 17, this young artist from Clintondale continues to
hone his skills and develop a style that has deep roots in the blues but is one
that is all his own. He started playing the guitar just 4 years ago and made
his public debut a year later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Doyle
will soon complete his high school education through homeschooling, which has
allowed him time to practice and go on the road to perform in concert. He is
beginning to work with two seasoned musicians, bassist Vince Lagieri and
drummer Papa John Mole; both members in the New York Blues Hall of Fame. Doyle
said the first time the three played together was at a club in June; “it was on
the fly and we clicked.” Playing as a trio has long been Doyle’s favorite
format.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Doyle
paraphrased Albert Einstein, saying that when he started out in music “I
thought I knew it all and now as I learn more I know even less, especially
getting into music that is allot deeper like jazz or ragtime or things like
that where it takes allot of focus and understanding the roots of music
theory.” He said he has dabbled in the technical aspects of reading music but
added that it is always important for a musician to be able to improvise
without having paper in front of them. “I think a true musician is someone who
knows what they’re doing without being told how to do it,” adhering to the
belief that the ear comes first and written notes on a page comes second. Doyle
said in the future, however, he plans to devote more time to the theoretical
side of his craft. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Right now I’m a
bit too naïve and bouncy to put too much focus into reading but [with] theory
its been a slow and steady progress but I’m digging into it now and its very rewarding,”
he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Doyle has
made regular appearances at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena,
Arkansas, 70 miles southwest of Memphis and will be performing there again in
October. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“Its real
cool and you get to meet all of Levon Helm’s childhood friends; its like
walking around in his old stomping grounds,” Doyle said of the late drummer for
The Band, who grew up in nearby Turkey Scratch. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Doyle also
tours in the Midwest and will be returning for a second time to the Grateful
Garcia Gathering in Mauston, Wisconsin on July 31. He said he is also looking
forward to playing with the band Corner Boy in Ireland in a series of concerts
scheduled for next March. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Doyle said
some tours are quick short hops, 4 to 5 shows in 6 days but he recalled one
that was “cram packed” with traveling and performing 10 shows in 19 days. He
said “it was day after day” and the miles logged were “not enough and too
many.” He said they throw all of the equipment in a van and drive from show to
show, gypsy style – “all three of us and all the snacks.” Doyle said he used to
bring a “ridiculous” number of guitars on tour, a past practice he is reticent
to acknowledge, but has scaled that back to a more manageable two electrics and
a steel-string acoustic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Right
now my main guitar is a Fender 1956 Stratocaster reissue and recently a 1951
Telecaster reissue and a Taylor acoustic,” he said. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“If I want
a really gritty show I’ll play the Tele more but if I want a smoother, jazzier
show I’ll probably be more on the Strat,” he said. “I tend to play the Strat a
little bit more because I’m more familiar with it.” Doyle said he has slowly
been incorporating a few acoustic selections “and now I think we’re going to be
doing it in just about every show.” </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Doyle’s amp
is a configuration of four</span>,<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> 10 inch speakers that has been modified to give it a coveted “tweed
sound” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Its
down and dirty and much grittier but yet shines like a bell and has enough
bottom,” he said. “I only use tubes</span>,<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> I can’t stand solid state. It works for some people but not for me.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Doyle said
he finds that people in the Midwest come out to the clubs “to really hear
music” and pay close attention to what his band is performing. He recalled one
couple who saw all three of their shows over the course of a weekend “after
stumbling upon us. There are some hard-core fans out there.” He said as they
move deeper into the South, people are measuring how well a northern boy can
live up to the legacy of their blues music “but when you can pull it off, its
rewarding.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Doyle
to date has recorded three albums of material, with a fourth expected next
spring. He said his repertoire has broadened to include not only his staple of
original and traditional blues but also R&B roots and folk styles “stuff
like The Band to Bob Dylan and Hendrix. I have been trying to incorporate jazz
concepts over folk progressions and lyrics. Wes Montgomery is my main guy and
Django Reinhardt and Terez Montcalm. I like her voice a lot and I’ve been
taking some artistic liberties on her.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Doyle said
he has received emails from people overseas from as far away as Australia and
Germany who have heard his music there on radio.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Doyle said
he is in the music game “for the long haul. I think it was [poet/novelist]
Charles Bukowski who said ‘Find what you love and let it kill you, so I’m in it
till it kills me.”</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-62283396647736746112015-09-03T19:56:00.002-07:002016-12-25T22:35:21.874-08:00Creating a Royal Mess Along 9W<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 20px;"><b>BY MARK REYNOLDS</b> | <b> </b> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">mreynolds</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> @tcnewspapers.com</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">The
Town Boards of Marlborough and Lloyd recently voted to ignore sound advice from
the Ulster County Planning Board [UCPB] on how they could sensibly plan future
development along Route 9W, which passes through both municipalities.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">After
the present members of these boards are no longer in office, the impacts from
their imprudent planning will be felt by residents for decades to come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Both
boards barreled right ahead and approved forms of zoning that will all but
ensure subpar and crass forms of development, while irresponsibly promising the
public that they will be able to control what is built, where it is built and
how it will look at the end of the day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">County
Planning warned Lloyd that “the doggedness which the town continues to pursue
the commercial zoning of the [Route 9W] corridor is not backed by any needs
analysis or facts that are available to the UCPB.” In the eyes of the county,
Marlborough fared no better; stating that they are rezoning their corridor “to
an entirely commercial or industrial district,” which increases the likelihood
for “strip commercial development and its negative impacts on community
character, traffic safety and the environment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">We
rarely see the County come out so strongly against what a town is proposing but
they are rightfully warning Lloyd and Marlborough about the pitfalls they will
face. Both towns have now set the stage that will allow a train wreck to happen
– not all at once, but bit by bit, drop by drop; but it will take place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Little
comfort should be taken from the boards promises that after these zoning
changes they will be especially careful stewards of the land because by the
time they realize their folly it will be too late; the damage will be
irreversible and irrevocable. If it is not fixed now everyone in Lloyd and
Marlborough will be living with mediocre and bottom line development; not
tomorrow but most likely sooner rather than later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">We
urge both towns to scrap their recent zoning changes and show the public that
they will reconsider the county’s objections and incorporate their suggestions.
If the boards choose to dig their heels in and stand by such indefensible
zoning, we would remind the public that another form of change is possible at
the ballot box. The actions of these Town Boards should not be tolerated; it is
simply that important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-36438739437713205732015-09-03T15:15:00.001-07:002016-12-25T18:29:05.800-08:00Coast Guard Icebreaker Clears Hudson River<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 20px;"><b>BY MARK REYNOLDS</b> | <b> </b> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As everyone knows this has been an
extremely cold and snowy winter all across the region, with people anxiously
awaiting the warmth of spring. The brutally cold temperatures in February have
dipped to as low as -20 degrees with the wind chill in certain areas, resulting
in the Hudson River completely freezing over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker the
Sturgeon Bay has been clearing a shipping lane on the river from New York City
to Albany to ensure that barges can deliver jet fuel, gasoline and home heating
oil as well as road salt, cement and scrap metals to customers and
businesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflkmt6A7xwmBv1OZ007WihWvEd8DDUzCwLdmAd7fQPE5FwnI2_iMDtRR8zI-2gO1uTx_Zby1w5HKYGDiJtZqSD7PV8JBhp-C7f8XKMVRlq3fp1hu0210Mb1dt3cbIyFShZpX_ndS3lt9z/s1600/Icebreaker+pix+1smallCR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflkmt6A7xwmBv1OZ007WihWvEd8DDUzCwLdmAd7fQPE5FwnI2_iMDtRR8zI-2gO1uTx_Zby1w5HKYGDiJtZqSD7PV8JBhp-C7f8XKMVRlq3fp1hu0210Mb1dt3cbIyFShZpX_ndS3lt9z/s640/Icebreaker+pix+1smallCR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In a phone interview, Commander Lt.
Kenneth R. Sauerbrunn USCG said the Coast Guard designates ice season from
December 15 through April 1. He said the Sturgeon Bay has broken through ice up
to 8 inches thick, with some snow capped ice areas reaching 18 inches, but the
ship is capable of handling ice 30 inches thick, a scenario Sauerbrunn said he
has not had the opportunity to witness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Sturgeon Bay is 140 feet in
length with a beam height of 37.5, is powered by two diesel engines and
displaces 662 tons. To break up the ice the ship uses a low pressure air hull
lubrication system, called the bubbler method, which forces air and water
between the hull and the ice to break up the ice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Sauerbrunn
described how the system works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“Throughout
the hull there are little ports that air shoots out of and it actually looks
like the ship is sitting in a bubble bath; there’s just bubbles coming out from
underneath the water all around the ship. That helps us in very thick ice by
forcing water up between the hull and the thick ice on the side of the hull and
it creates that little bit of lubrication [and] actually makes us much more
efficient,” he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Sauerbrunn
said his ship is the most advanced domestic type in today’s Coast Guard fleet.
In addition, sister ship ‘Thunder Bay’ and the 65 foot Coast Guard cutter
‘Wire’ are presently operating on the Hudson River. He said the Sturgeon Bay
operates on the river for up to 3 weeks before returning to their home port of
Bayonne, NJ where routine maintenance and preventative engineering work is
performed “just to make sure that we’re always fully operational.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sauerbrunn has a year round crew of
17 on board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“We each
stand 4 hour watches…and a new watch comes on every 4 hours,” he said, adding
that it is too dangerous to operate the ship cutting through ice at night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Sauerbrunn
said the Sturgeon Bay has a special ‘football’ shaped hull design.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“That
allows us to ride up onto the ice…and the weight of the ship crushes the ice,”
he said, adding that the design produces a “very big wake and the wake helps
break up ice on either side of us; not only are we crushing directly beneath
the hull but if we are moving fast enough it crushes ice on either side.” He
said his ship can reach a maximum speed of 12 knots, or approximately 15 mph.
The ship initially cuts a path that is nearly 40 feet wide when the ice is very
think but after several passes, they are able to expand that to “a nice wide
track” of nearly 150 feet. In the narrow parts of the river they keep their
widths to 100 feet but in other sections, from Poughkeepsie south, they have
the room to create paths that are up to 250 feet across because of the river’s
width and depth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Sauerbrunn
said sections of the river are not wide enough for two ships to pass each
other, especially north of Kingston. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“There
are certain designated spots throughout the river that the Coast Guard carves
out extra wide and we call those passing zones,” he said. “[When] we have
southbound and northbound traffic meeting they try and time it so they meet in
these wide passing zones.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Sauerbrunn
said there are five areas between Kingston and Albany where they form these
passing lanes. He said there is a particularly narrow area of the river by West
Point known as ‘World’s End.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“That’s
actually one of several designated choke points; areas in the river where there
is a tight bend or ice has been known to accumulate very easily,” he said,
adding that Crum Elbow above Poughkeepsie is another “major choke point and
others as you go north.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Sauerbrunn
said there is an advantage to limiting the width of a track. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“You only
want to break as much [ice] as necessary because the more of that really thick
stuff in the swirl that breaks off, the more that can flow into the track and
clog up [for] vessels making their way,” he said. “The risk is the more ice you
break, the more ice you make, so we only try to break as much as we need.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Sauerbrunn
called this winter the “worst one since 2004; the most ice as far as thickness
and as far as percent coverage.” He said this has resulted in a record number
of requests for ice breaking assistance on the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sauerbrunn recalled that recently his ship was
able to free up 8 barges near Germantown that were “stacked up and all stuck
and no one could get around each other. To know that we got all 8 vessels
moving south and unstuck [is] very satisfying, knowing that we’re out there
making a difference.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Sauerbrunn,
a graduate of the U. S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Ct., said he and his
job are a “perfect fit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“I didn’t
know what I was getting myself into when I joined, but shortly thereafter I
realized that it’s an incredible organization…I can’t imagine doing anything
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-67240519956501403252015-09-03T13:42:00.000-07:002016-12-25T22:33:42.611-08:00Vineyard Commons Developer Indicted<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 20px;"><b>BY MARK REYNOLDS</b> | <b> </b> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span><br />
<br />
Developer Michael Barnett, 43, of Hopewell Junction has been indicted
for his involvement in the Vineyard Commons senior housing project in Highland.<br />
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From the start, the luxury rental project
became mired in controversy and debt to the point where the federal Housing and
Urban Development agency, who insured the loan, eventually auctioned off the
mortgage in August 2012 to the True North Management Group, resulting in a $27
million loss. They in turn sued to foreclose on Vineyard Commons Holdings LLC
(in wife Denise Barnett’s name) on Nov.16, 2012, resulting in the Barnett’s
filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy two weeks later on Nov. 30, 2012, claiming they
owed creditors more than $24 million. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgRuuu9I_jWjSjvpnCpt_60cFTyKVqoAiNtoYtwhK6WDQqqyLC2l1d61AY1VpHHesmbLdfwNtJF0PnBKHQr_UpEXT9ThZVUVYaszSAPo6JGNzCHQamKtBYKiAh-BoPmJlOityOzCKwcwZ/s1600/developer+indicted%253AVineyard+commons+pix+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgRuuu9I_jWjSjvpnCpt_60cFTyKVqoAiNtoYtwhK6WDQqqyLC2l1d61AY1VpHHesmbLdfwNtJF0PnBKHQr_UpEXT9ThZVUVYaszSAPo6JGNzCHQamKtBYKiAh-BoPmJlOityOzCKwcwZ/s640/developer+indicted%253AVineyard+commons+pix+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> United
States Attorney Preet Bharara signed a 31 count indictment against Michael
Barnett, charging him with Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud, False Statements
on Loan and Credit Application, Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Property
Derived from Specified Unlawful Activity and for False Statements. Barnett also
helped plan and develop two additional projects in the area, named in the
indictment as ‘Future Projects.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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A timeline of the Conspiracy charges is documented
in the indictment. In 2009 Barnett hired a General Contractor (unnamed) for the
project, who in turn sub-contracted a framing company (also unnamed)
responsible for framing and rough carpentry. A private lender [‘Mortgagor’] in
Washington D.C. provided the financing, a $46 million loan, which was insured
by the Federal Housing Administration [FHA] of the department of Housing and
Urban Development [HUD]. The indictment states that Barnett “used his position
as the developer of Vineyard Commons and the Future Projects to enrich himself
by, among other means, persuading contractors and subcontractors to provide him
with kickbacks and to invest money in Vineyard Commons and the Future
Projects.” The indictment states that Barnett provided the Mortgagor with false
and inflated invoices so the company would provide him with HUD-insured funds.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> From
2008 to 2010 the General Contractor and sub-contractors did invest in Vineyard
Commons, in part, because Barnett led them to believe they would be hired for
work at Vineyard Commons and possibly for future projects, according to the
indictment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> The
indictment reveals that in 2009 Barnett solicited sub-contractors at Vineyard
Commons to provide their labor and materials to construct a pool house at his
home residence. Some agreed to do so and would either absorb the cost or
falsely build the costs into those related to Vineyard Commons or on future
projects. Again this was based on the premise that working at Barnett’s home
would mean they would work on his other projects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -4.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -4.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> On
Jan 19, 2009 the Framer furnished the General Contractor with a Final Bid for
labor and materials for the Vineyard Commons project but by April 2009 the two
agreed to provide this at a greater amount than the Final Bid, which was called
the Contract Price. The indictment states that Barnett, the Framer and the
General Contractor “intended that the difference between the Final Bid and the
Contract Price (called Contract Excess) would be returned to Barnett as a
kickback.” The following month the General Contractor agreed to provide Barnett
with a $1 million letter of credit and in return Barnett “informally pledged”
the Contract Excess to the Contractor as collateral. In June 2009 Barnett also
obtained a letter of credit from the Framer in the amount of $650,000 in order
to secure the HUD/FHA insured financing from the Mortgagor; promising the
contract excess to the Framer as collateral.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -4.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> On
July 2, 2009 Barnett and others supplied HUD with the contractor’s and or
Mortgagor cost breakdown. This included the Framer’s estimate, which exceeded
his actual price for labor and materials by approximately the Contract Excess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -4.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
The indictment states that from July 2009 to
January 2012 the General Contractor submitted his requisitions on HUD forms to
the Mortgagor, which eventually were sent to HUD. The General Contractor
certified that the information on the forms was true and accurate, which
resulted in the Mortgagor disbursing HUD-insured funds each month on the basis
of the requisitions. For this, Barnett was charged with making False Statements
in the months of January, February and March of 2010. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -4.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br />
The indictment highlighted the money trail
surrounding Barnett and Vineyard Commons. On January 15, 2010 the Framer sent
Barnett a check for $200,000 from the Contract Excess via Michigan to New York
to a company Barnett controlled. This allowed Barnett to make a partial payment
on his obligation to the General Contractor. This allegedly was done on Jan.
29, 2010 and resulted in the mail fraud charge. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -4.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br />
The indictment also charges Barnett with Wire
Fraud, stating that he obtained “money and property by means of false and
fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises” through wire transmissions
and faxes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -4.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br />
The indictment notes that Barnett “willfully
and knowingly” made false statements on loan and credit applications in order
to influence the action of the Federal Housing Administration. There are 13
instances listed in the indictment, from September 2009 through March 2010,
when Barnett allegedly listed false and inflated dollar amounts in invoices so
the Mortgagor “would disburse funds to which Barnett, the General Contractor
and the Vineyard Commons were not entitled.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -4.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br />
According to the indictment, Barnett will
have to forfeit “all property, real and personal that constitutes or is derived
from proceeds traceable to the commission of the offense charged in Count One
[Conspiracy] of this indictment.” This includes 10 Wintergreen Place in
Hopewell Junction. If any property cannot be located because Barnett failed to
mention it, or it has been substantially dimished in value, been sold or
transferred to a third party, has been comingled with other property which
cannot be subdivided off without difficulty or has been placed beyond the
jurisdiction of the court, then his property at 6 Heather Court in Fishkill
will be forfeited.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -4.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br />
Barnett
could not be reached for comment for this article. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-55590227662262380672015-09-03T13:09:00.001-07:002016-12-25T22:36:08.036-08:00Coalition Calls for GE to Continue Cleanup<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 20px;"><b>BY MARK REYNOLDS</b> | <b> </b> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -.75in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 27.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> Last week a broad coalition of
activists, environmentalists, and town officials, representatives of business,
legislators, fishermen and concerned citizens from Albany to Westchester County
gathered at Long Dock Park in Beacon to call upon General Electric to continue
removing PCBs from the Hudson River and not to shutdown later this year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">A
group calling itself the Campaign for a Cleaner Hudson is pointing out that GE
is slated to finish an Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] ordered cleanup
this summer, two years ahead of schedule, but they are seeking to have GE
continue their cleanup as they have for the past 5 years rather than shutdown
this year. They have pointed out that if GE does not continue they “will leave
behind millions of pounds of health-threatening PCB-contaminated sediments both
north and south of the Federal Dam in Troy. That significant pollution will
block the river’s recovery and waterfront revitalization for generations. If GE
won’t accept responsibility for its toxic legacy, New York State taxpayers will
end up paying the bill for the crucial cleanup work, namely the PCB-laden navigational
channel of the Champlain Canal.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-indent: 0.5in;">To date 58 communities along the
Hudson River have called for a more comprehensive cleanup and have passed
formal resolutions “to pressure GE to not shirk its responsibilities.” GE
released PCBs into the Hudson from 1947-1977.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Fisherman
Gil Hawkins said the river is cleaner “but it is not clean. What will GE be
remembered for; what is their legacy?” He said the river once had a thriving
fishing industry but today is moving more toward recreational activities. He
said he worries the river may not be clean for his grandchildren and even his
great grandchildren. “Let’s keep this cleanup going until the job is done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Environmental
Action Director Manna Jo Greene said GE has been doing a good job “but the
cleanup that they are required under EPA to do is not the complete job. There
is navigational dredging yet to be done and the Federal Natural Resource
Trustees are also asking that additional 136 acre PCB contaminated sediment be
removed from the upper Hudson. Furthermore, we want to be sure the floodplains
and the backwaters that are still highly contaminated are cleaned up thoroughly
and responsibly.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Beacon
Mayor Randy Casale welcomed everyone to his city and began by thanking Scenic
Hudson, Clearwater, the Beacon Sloop Club [and] the Riverkeeper “because they
have been the people who have been pushing to clean the river up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Leo Wiegman, Mayor of the Village of
Croton-on-Hudson, said his town was “delighted” to sign on for a fuller clean
up effort “for the simple reason; a healthy river is good for our protection of
the public health safety and welfare of our community.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Karen
Mejia, Councilwoman of the City of Newburgh, said the health of the river
should be a concern for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“Much,
much more needs to be done and we’re going to do it with the coalition that’s
here today,” she said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Pete
Bardunias, President/CEO of the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County, asked
people to look at the bigger picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“What
we’re very concerned about is the economic future of upstate as well as
downstate; we feel it’s all tied together,” he said. “We believe not only
tourism, but manufacturing still plays an important role in upstate New York.”
He said it is important to “make sure our transportation resources are fully
utilized the best they can be and that definitely includes the upper Hudson
River and certainly we would like to see it fully cleaned for the recreational
aspects as well.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Paul
Gallay, President and Hudson Riverkeeper, said it may appear that GE is being
asked to do something “out of the goodness of their hearts because they are
good corporate citizens or because they think it’s in their enlightened
self-interest. I am here to tell you this is something that General Electric
must do; this is not something that they can walk away from.” He said the
wording of the law does not permit doing the first part of a cleanup “and then
pretend you’ve finished the rest of it.” Gallay said GE has not cleaned up the
floodplains or addressed the damages that the company has done to the fishing
industry and the economic “sphere” and to the communities “who would like to
fish, swim and boat safely. GE owes New York and the Hudson a debt. It has not
paid off that debt simply by completing the first major phase of the
dredging…They owe New York the rest of this cleanup. We are dedicated to
assuring that they pay down their debt 100%.” He pointed out that there are
still hot spots in the river that are
within 200 feet of where the company has been already dredging and it
would be very cost effective for the company to remain to finish the job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“That’s
how easy it would be to have General Electric stay in the water and finish the
job that would allow a quicker recovery of the river from the stand point of
economic opportunity and the dredging of the Canal and having a quicker
recovery from the stand point of having the fish edible more than one meal a
month…Think about it, the damage done is enormous. We are going to get our
fishery back to some degree but if General Electric tries to say we’re going to
take a victory lap, we’re only half way through the race but we’re thrilled
with our results and we think you should be too. That doesn’t cut it; it isn’t
good enough…We care about whether they finish the job and satisfy the law.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">In
a prepared statement, General Electric spokesperson Mark Behan said the company
is meeting their responsibilities, noting that it was the U.S. EPA that made
the determination of the size and scope of the project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“GE
is addressing 100% of the PCBs that EPA targeted in the dredging project that
will be completed this year,” he wrote, stating that this project is one of the
largest cleanups undertaken in the U.S. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Behan
stated before the work began the EPA “evaluated a full range of options and
considered detailed scientific analyses and extensive public input. He added
that the EPA has determined that the current project “is meeting the agency’s
cleanup goals and that no additional dredging is warranted.” Behan highlighted
EPA spokesperson Walter Mugdan, who said in November, that his agency “will
not, in the foreseeable future, be requiring or demanding GE to do any
additional dredging.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Behan
said GE will be dismantling their dewatering, transportation and processing
facilities used for dredging and cleanup, but added that “GE will meet its
obligations in every respect.” He stated that after this GE will continue with
habitat reconstruction in the areas that have been dredged, continue monitoring
the environmental conditions of the river and will evaluate the floodplains on
the shoreline between Ft. Edward and Troy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-14829671422614836322015-09-03T12:39:00.000-07:002015-09-03T13:29:28.981-07:00Comptroller Slams Plattekill Fire Department<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 20px;"><b>BY MARK REYNOLDS</b> | <b> </b> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On January 9 the New York State
Comptroller issued an audit on the Plattekill Fire Department, analyzing the
management of their internal financial operations from Jan. 1, 2013 through
Jan. 14, 2014. Throughout the 21 page audit the Comptroller repeatedly
highlighted the fire department’s lack of proper accounting, recording keeping
and monitoring of their finances and warned that this “increases the risk that
errors and irregularities could occur and remain undetected and
uncorrected.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Plattekill Fire District’s two
firehouses cover 23 sq/miles and serve 16,900 residents in the Town of
Plattekill and a portion of the Town of Newburgh. The audit states that the
Board of Fire Commissioners is responsible for managing the district’s overall
finances and record keeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The audit states that the department
treasurer is responsible for accounting of the district’s funds and for keeping
the board apprised of the district’s financial position. It notes that the
treasurer collected 15 receipts totaling $1,362,710 in 2013 but failed to issue
press numbered duplicate receipts or record the dates in which the cash or
checks were received. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Additionally, the treasurer did not
deposit receipts collected in a timely manner, failed to compile bank
reconciliations for the first 9 months of 2013, however when finally completed
were accurate, and submitted late and inaccurate reports to the board of fire
commissioners. In addition, the treasurer did not provide the board with the
district’s financial activities at their annual organization meeting “because
the board did not require her to do so.” The board informed the Comptroller
that they relied upon their external auditor’s annual audit and the treasurer’s
monthly report. The Comptroller pointed out, however, that besides the
treasurer submitting late monthly reports, they also contained errors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Comptroller stated that the fire
commissioners did not audit of their own vouchers and failed to ensure that all
of the claims were permissible district expenses. The fire commissioners also
did not select many of their professional service providers through a
competitive bidding process; particularly three providers who were paid $15,297
in 2013. The audit broke out these expenses; $12,355 for general legal counsel,
$2,120 for map surveying services and $822 for legal services relating to a
personal injury case. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The district did not obtain the required number of
quotations for 10 purchases totaling $23,921, as required under General
Municipal Law, nor have written contracts with all providers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The audit notes that when questioned, “District officials
were unable to provide an explanation or documentation as to why they did not
use a competitive process to select the other vendors or why they did not enter
into written contractual agreements with the service providers.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The audit states that the department has an established
procurement policy that requires 3 written quotations or written proposals for
purchases up to $500 and for purchases from $501 to $9,999 there must be board
approval, a purchase order and 3 written/faxed quotations. The Comptroller
reviewed 11 purchase orders totaling $42,619 issued in 2013 and found that “all
had one or more deficiencies.” The board failed to formally approve the
purchase contract awards for 10 purchases totaling $40,499; ten purchases totaling
$23,921 did not have the required number of quotations; nine purchases totaling
$41,194 were not pre-approved by the board; two purchases totaling $20,819 had
payments exceeding the amounts the board approved and one purchase of $4,500
had no board approval. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The treasurer stated that she handles quotes for non-fire
equipment and “that the purchase deficiencies occurred because she was not
adequately trained for the treasurer position, including handling district
purchases.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The audit highlights the fact that the fire district’s own
financial report for 2012 found that the district had failed to comply with
their own procurement policy by obtaining the required number of quotations.
The Fire District was required by law to prepare a written corrective action
plan within 90 days that would address the 2012 findings but failed to do so.
The audit notes that Fire District Board Chairman James Hoppenstedt Sr. said
his board had discussed the 2012 discrepancies but he “was unable to provide a
specific reason for why district officials did not prepare a written corrective
action plan.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Comptroller’s audit took notice
that in 2013 the district purchased $1,716 from Hoppenstedt’s general store.
The audit states that this may not be prohibited if Hoppenstedt had abstained
from voting on vouchers for items purchased at his store. However, “because the
district does not create or certify abstracts for payments made to vendors, we
were unable to determine if he abstained from voting on this payment.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The audit points out that due to a
lack of careful oversight, “district officials have no assurance that goods and
services are procured in the most prudent an economical manner, goods and
services of desired quality are being acquired at the lowest possible prices
and procurement is not influenced by favoritism, extravagance, fraud or
corruption.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The audit contains an attached
letter from Hoppenstedt, dated Dec.12, 2014, acknowledging that his board is in
agreement with the findings. He wrote that the department has started the
process of “implementing measures to improve the internal controls over our
financial operations” as is outlined in the audit. He promised that the
district’s corrective action plan will follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-80762454572530356012015-09-03T12:16:00.001-07:002015-09-03T13:29:48.317-07:00Planning Chairman Criticized at Public Hearing<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 20px;"><b>BY MARK REYNOLDS</b> | <b> </b> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 20px;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Though Lloyd Supervisor Ray Costantino struggled to focus last weeks Public Hearing on Matt Smith’s zoning change request, he was unable to quell significant public condemnation for the actions of Lloyd’s Planning Board Chairman, Dominick Martorana, who commented on Smith’s parcel at the Jan. 6 Ulster County Planning Board [UCPB] meeting, where he is also a member.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Smith has long been seeking a zoning change from residential ¼ acre to General Business [GB] for his Commercial Avenue property. At last weeks Town Board Public Hearing there was no public opposition to the zone change for Smith.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At the county Planning Board meeting Martorana spoke freely about Smith’s parcel, which succeeded in moving the board away from a no impact statement they were about to issue, to a Required Modification recommendation, not of GB but of Central Business [CB], a zoning designation Smith has repeatedly stated is of no use to him.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Paul Hansut, Lloyd’s Republican Party Chairman and Majority Leader of the Ulster County Legislature, pressed the Town Board on the issue.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“I listened to the recording of the meeting and he [Martorana] misled the county Planning Board about this,” he said, adding that he was disheartened to learn about Martorana’s actions.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Many residents stated that Martorana should have recused himself at the county level, especially in light of the fact that he did so when Smith previously appeared before his Lloyd Planning Board.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Donna Deeprose cited NYS General Municipal Law, Article 12-B sec 239-C (2)(c) that back’s the recusal argument.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“A member of a county planning board shall excuse himself or herself from any deliberation or vote relating to a matter or proposal before such county planning board which is or has been the subject of a proposal, application or vote before the municipal board of which he or she is a member.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A subsequent NYS Attorney General’s opinion in 2003 clarified the wording of the law even further: “Under General Municipal Law 239 a county planning board member must recuse himself or herself from voting on any matter that was subject of a vote, proposal or application, before any body in the municipality where the individual serves as an official.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Martorana, at one time, had also been the real estate agent of record for Smith’s parcel and recused himself from his own Planning Board, but only at a second meeting and only after repeated requests from Smith.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Lloyd’s Planning Board and Town Board both voted to proceed with a GB designation for Smith, a key fact Martorana omitted at the Jan. 6 UCPB meeting.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Councilman Mike Horodyski said he had also heard the recording of the county meeting and concurred with the characterization that Martorana had overstepped himself. Horodyski is on record stating that Martorana, by speaking at the UCPB meeting, placed his opinions above the decision of his own Planning Board as that of the Town Board.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“This should be talked about by the Town Board at a later date,” he said with Costantino agreeing, “not here tonight.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Resident Joe Indelicato pressed Costantino on the issue, saying he felt Martorana had “disobeyed the law.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Supervisor asserted that Martorana acts as the town’s area representative who looks at regional issues when he is at the UCPB.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“It is about what is good for Ulster County,” he said. “It is not political but a planning issue.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Costantino further added that Smith has not yet made a formal application to the town and the decision reached by the Lloyd Planning Board favoring GB was of an informal nature. Costantino appeared to be defending Martorana’s actions by asserting that because of the informal nature of the decision and that Smith was not immediately before the Lloyd Planning Board, that Martorana was not breaking the law.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In a subsequent interview, Hansut said that the Supervisor is splitting hairs on the issue and that what Martorana had done is troubling and should not be tolerated.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Dan McLaughlin voiced his concern about Martorana’s actions and urged the Town Board to investigate the matter further.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“I trust you will do the right thing,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As previously reported in the July 16, 2008 edition of the Southern Ulster Times, Martorana did exactly the same thing at the May 7, 2008 UCPB meeting concerning John Indelicato’s request for an Open Development designation for his New Paltz Road property.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Indelicato had been before the Town seeking relief in order to build himself a home on property that has been in his family for nearly a century. Not only did Martorana speak about this application in violation of state statute, he again, as with Smith, failed to convey accurate information to the members of the UCPB, resulting in a final recommendation from the UCPB that did not reflect the facts.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In 2008 attorney Steven Leventhal, of Leventhal and Sliney LLP, an authority on ethical and procedural municipal matters, commented on the Indelicato situation that also pertains to the Smith matter in 2010. Leventhal said then that Martorana, by sitting on the local and county boards, is essentially acting as his own boss.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“If you are a member of a board on the town level that has to refer matters to a county board for its approval, you essentially are in the position of reviewing your own work,” he said. “You cannot participate in the deliberations or the vote.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On the Indelicato and Smith proposals, Martorana not only spoke but voted on both matters at the county level. In 2008 the town and the county were apprised of the violations concerning Indelicato but no action was taken against Martorana at that time. The Lloyd Town Board indicated they will review the present situation with Martorana but did not elaborate on what action they will take in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hansut said that he hopes this entire matter is investigated.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“I hope Ray [Costantino] looks at this,” he said. “It is my understanding that this is the second time he [Martorana] spoke before the county board involving a project in the town.”</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-87858677035450533302015-09-03T12:14:00.002-07:002015-09-03T13:30:14.083-07:00Marlborough Project Requests Zone Change<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 20px;"><b>BY MARK REYNOLDS</b> | <b> </b> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Perhaps the economy is getting better - at least the developer of the Bayside project thinks so. After a long absence, representatives of this project recently returned to the Marlborough Town Board to request a needed zone change in order to proceed. The project is being proposed at the intersection of Route 9W near Purdy Avenue.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The project’s attorney, Dominic Cordisco, of Drake and Loeb along with engineers Andrew Fetherston and Joseph Dopico of Maser Consulting, brought the board up to speed on the present status of the project.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cordisco said the project is requesting a zone change from residential one acre [R-1] to simply residential [R]. He said the R district is “more lenient” and would allow the same project but not confine the developer to a senior, age restricted project.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cordisco said his client also wishes to amend his residential project to include 12,500 square feet of commercial space along Route 9W, which the parcel fronts. In addition, owners of an adjoining parcel, John and Joseph Amedeo, have joined with the developer in seeking the zone change for their parcel that runs to Birdsall Lane.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cordisco said the newest plan has been refined.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“We are not looking for a rush to judgment on anything,” Cordisco told the board. “All we are trying to do is to start the process that has been before you for a long time under the old petition.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Fetherston apprised the board on their revised plan. The proposed project is for 101 mix designed units of Duplex, Townhouses and some rentals above the commercial structure by Route 9W. The engineer said they are hoping to do a “perfect alignment” of their project’s road with the proposed traffic light at the Elementary School. Fetherston said he has discussed this with the Marlboro School Board, the Department of Transportation [DOT], Town Officials and has received comments from the Town Highway Department on this issue. Fetherston said there will now only be a gated entrance/exit out to Purdy Lane that will only be used by emergency vehicles and not by residents of the project. He added that the Duplex units along Purdy will be designed to reflect the architecture of the existing single family homes on the north side of the road.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On the south side of the parcel, which borders the Middle School, Fetherston said they have incorporated sidewalks to allow children to safely walk down to Route 9W and “all the way across to the Elementary School,” thus preventing the dangerous situation of children walking on the shoulders of this busy roadway. He said there will be more parking provided for the public in the new plan. Fetherston said they are “completely staying out” of the Federal wetlands on the back side of the property.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“This is a conceptual plan that is evolving and has evolved over time,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Supervisor Chris Cerone said no cars or garages will face Purdy to lessen the lighting impact to the existing homeowners there.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“There are no garages, no driveways entering Purdy,” Fetherston agreed. “They all enter the internal road [on the site],”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Councilman Dr. Anthony Pascale said the units will all be owner occupied and not be held by absentee landlords. He added that he believed the 2-story Duplex units may be 55 and older.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“We are open to that,” Cordisco said. “At this time we need to start the process to start the zone change.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cordisco said the plan is designed to meet the town’s zoning code.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“We’re saying take an existing zoning district that you already have in town, the R district and apply it to this site,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cordisco said the project is entirely within the water district but only partially within the sewer district, categorizing the extension of the sewer district as “still an open item.” He said he will have to calculate what the project’s fair share contribution to this district will be.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cordisco asked the board to circulate to the other involved boards for lead agency as a way to begin the process. He said this will indicate that the Town Board feels the project is “worthy of consideration.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“It is not giving thumbs up or thumbs down,” he noted. “But it is at least starting the process so that we can do a full environmental review. That is important because we are not trying to cut any corners.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A full review will take into consideration the impacts that Bayside will have upon traffic, water, and sewer, storm water, visual and financial upon the town.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Town Board made a motion to circulate as lead agency, as Cordisco suggested, and made it subject to the developer providing an escrow deposit.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In a follow up interview, Cerone said he will consider Bayside separately from the nearby Dockside project, who is also asking for a zone change to residential. Both projects have been sent to the Ulster County Planning Board for their comments.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“I am looking at them both at the same time, but I’m taking each project on its merits,” he said. “They are both going to have to do full traffic studies and long form Environmental Impact Statements [EIS]. They have to go through the whole process.”</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-15345473178590841382015-09-03T11:49:00.001-07:002015-11-08T13:58:40.880-08:00Walkway Over the Hudson Opens<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 20px;"><b>BY MARK REYNOLDS</b> | <b> </b> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Walkway Over the Hudson State Park celebrated its official Grand Opening with ceremonies befitting all of its former glory as the 1888 Highland-Poughkeepsie Railroad bridge, a key link from the northeast to the west for products and passengers and in the war years, for troops traveling east to bases on the Atlantic coast. The walkway is the centerpiece of the Quadricentennial Celebration, honoring explorer Henry Hudson’s voyage to the river in 1609.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif;">On Friday evening a Grand Illumination of the Walkway was held with a 1,000 points of light lantern release, followed by a fireworks display between the Walkway and Mid-Hudson bridges.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On Saturday, Gov. David Patterson arrived on the Highland side of the bridge to officially dedicate the structure as the 179th state park. It will be operated by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and will be open year-round, weather permitting, from dawn to dusk. The bridge, at 1.25 miles, is now the longest pedestrian bridge in the world, and stands 212 feet above the river.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“We have taken a forgotten and derelict structure and turned it into an urban park unlike any in the world,” he said. “The attention it has already attracted will be a catalyst for the continued revitalization of the Mid-Hudson Valley. Most importantly, this new park will connect people to the Hudson River.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Governor made note of the unique partnership of private/public funding of the structure that made the rehabilitation possible. Ultimately the state contributed $18.7 million toward the $38.8 million final cost. Patterson also thanked U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-22nd District) for their early support and efforts in securing funding. Along the way state dollars were matched, starting with a $2 million gift form the Dyson Foundation, $1 million from Scenic Hudson, $500,000 each from the Jane Nuhn Foundation and from the Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency, $400,000 from Save America’s Treasures and nearly $1 million from other area foundations, corporations and individuals.<br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKQ3iXI1ix82RSQokE3Drq-rsdn-5_qxQ1ZfoQVWMDJDBG4C_lRpI7XxPdCvbl1nUJYPaawMdR4dsrNQkp9lsTNbWA6fJ-9MxLfIUnqErR6A3qWHu240spJrGgR-fYGtf1ZNUt7hzuv4n/s1600/News_WalkwayOpening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKQ3iXI1ix82RSQokE3Drq-rsdn-5_qxQ1ZfoQVWMDJDBG4C_lRpI7XxPdCvbl1nUJYPaawMdR4dsrNQkp9lsTNbWA6fJ-9MxLfIUnqErR6A3qWHu240spJrGgR-fYGtf1ZNUt7hzuv4n/s400/News_WalkwayOpening.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #666666; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 0px;">Gov. David Patterson [N.Y.] at Walkway opening.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Patterson said that when he was a very young student his teacher once asked the class for the name of Hudson’s boat. The closest answer was the quarter Moon, and no one correctly responded with the Half Moon.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“My teacher is still alive and she can no longer bug me about the Half Moon,” he joked. “She too can now walk across this wonderful bridge.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The governor’s wife, Michelle Patterson, has been the honorary Chairperson of Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“This incredible linear park will foster the rediscovery of the Hudson Valley, linking miles of trails and waterfront parks for exercise and recreation, and drawing visitors to its panoramic views for years to come.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Schumer said the bridge will prove a unique attraction for the area.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“The Walkway Bridge is poised to become one of the greatest and most innovative tourist attractions in New York State and across the country that will draw visitors from all over the world, delivering millions of dollars to the Hudson Valley region for years to come,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hinchey said this bridge has risen from the ashes of a fire in 1974 that ended any further rail service.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“When Henry Hudson sailed up this river 400 years ago, he never could have imagined that we’d be standing here today, nor could he have imagined all that’s taken place and been accomplished in the Hudson Valley since that time,” he said. “This bridge will serve as the crown jewel of the Hudson Valley and provide millions of New Yorkers and visitors with unparallel recreational opportunities and stunningly beautiful views of this majestic river.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Assemblyman Frank Skartados said there is a tangible feeling in the air, now that the bridge is complete.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Everyone is filled with excitement and anticipation to walk over the Hudson and observe the majesty of the Hudson River Valley from a unique point of view,” he said. “We invite the world to experience this unparallel destination point.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Robert Dyson is President of the Dyson Foundation.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“The Walkway has raised more than 750 individual contributions, making it a genuinely community effort from the beginning,” he said. “It is nothing short of miraculous that we are here today about to step out onto what I am sure will become one of the iconic parks in New York State if not the whole country.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fred Schaeffer, who chairs the Walkway Over the Hudson organization, has been waiting for this day for more than a decade and a half. In his self-effacing manner, he deflected the praise to those whom he feels deserve the real credit.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“This remarkable occasion would never have occurred if it weren’t for the dedication and perseverance of the Walkway Over the Hudson Board of Directors, who devoted countless days, nights and weekends to this effort,” he said. “For more than 16 years, they attended public events to promote the Walkway concept. They hauled brush away and worked to make the bridge safe to visit. They deserve a lot of credit.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After these official comments, an inaugural opening of the gates on both sides of the river commenced and, by invitation, a small crowd gathered at the center of the bridge to witness a ‘Tying of the Knot’ ceremony with Poughkeepsie Mayor, John Tkazyik, and Lloyd Supervisor, Ray Costantino. The Walkway Board of Directors and the Firemen who fought the 1974 blaze, which saved the bridge from complete destruction, were also officially thanked for their efforts.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Folksinger Pete Seeger, who has lived on the shores of the Hudson for nearly 60 of his 90 years, offered his praise of the river in a song entitled, “Sailing Down My Golden River.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In part Seeger sang: “Sailing down this winding highway/Travelers from near and far/Yet I was never alone/Exploring all the little by-ways/Sighting all the distant stars/Yet I was not far from home.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A ‘Walking on Air’ parade followed with puppets and flags representing all of the towns in Dutchess and Ulster Counties.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At 3 p.m. the bridge officially opened to the public and is accessed by Parker Avenue in Poughkeepsie and Haviland Road in Highland. The public was treated to a ‘Night Circus,’ a ‘Light Show’ and ‘Airwave Dances.’</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On Sunday a 5K run by the Mid-Hudson Runners started the day, followed by the a music festival held at the Bob Shepard Highland Landing Park and co-hosted by the Clearwater organization and the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association. Cruises were offered to the public and the Arm of the Sea Players presented a puppet show depicting the history of Hudson’s voyage to the New World and to the river that now bears his name.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dyson said that for the residents of the region, this Grand Opening Weekend was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will be passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation. He added that this project began at the grass roots level, even attracting the attention of a young student named Christian McGraw.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“I am 11 and I am donating $1.45 from my allowance,” Dyson said the young man wrote in a letter. “I think its cool your making a walkway.”</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-56275154189764096642015-09-03T11:42:00.001-07:002015-09-03T13:31:09.144-07:00Second Lawsuit Filed Over Highland Square<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-indent: 20px;"><b>BY MARK REYNOLDS</b> | <b> </b> </span><span style="text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A week after attorney Dave Gordon sued the Lloyd Town Board on behalf of his clients Madeline Labriola and Frances Raucci on issues surrounding the mixed use Highland Square project on Route 299; he filed a second lawsuit, this time against the Planning Board, alleging they abandoned their rightful jurisdiction over the project’s site plan.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On June 24 the Planning Board voted against approval of the Highland Square project 4-3 but on June 28, in a complete reversal, approved the project 5-0, with two board members absent.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In this new lawsuit Gordon contends that the Planning Board’ reversal to approve the project was done under the mistaken belief they did not have the jurisdiction to review the merits of the project. Gordon, instead, insists the Planning Board does have jurisdiction in this matter since the Town Board did not pass any resolution “restricting the Planning Board’s site plan or subdivision review authority over any category of development projects”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gordon wrote that “under New York State and Town of Lloyd laws, site plan and subdivision review jurisdiction includes the authority to review and determine whether characteristics of the development, including size, height, density, visual characteristics and induced traffic, among many other characteristics, are consistent with the surrounding community.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gordon added that under NYS Town Law [274-a] there is no provision for any sharing or division of [site plan review] authority and responsibility between the Planning and Town Boards.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Once a Town Board delegates approval authority over some or all site plan or subdivision applications to a Planning Board, the Planning Board has full authority to review such applications,” he wrote. “While the Town Board may remove the Planning Board’s authority entirely, it may not reserve portions of such authority to itself, or divide such review authority over an individual application between itself and the Planning Board.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When the revote on the project was held, several members of the Planning Board, who had originally voted no, cited the reason for their approval vote was because of local law #2. This Town Board approved law changed the parcel’s zoning to a Planned Unit Development [PUD].</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gordon pointed out, however, that this law does not “diminish” the Planning Board’s authority over the Highland Square project.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Zoning laws set forth the maximum development allowed on a particular parcel, which the Planning Board has authority to pare as necessary to protect users of the site and the surrounding community,” Gordon stated.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In the petition Gordon wrote that the Planning Board “questioned and criticized” several aspects of the proposed project – its size, height, density and failure to provide space for trash removal. Gordon stated that nothing new about the project arose in the 4 days between the two Planning Board votes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“An agency’s determination enjoys a presumption of validity [and] an agency may not overturn its own determination absent new information,” he stated.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In essence, Gordon contends that since the Planning Board did not discuss or publish any new reason for their change of heart, nor indicate there was anything substantially different that arose about the project, there was no justification for the Planning Board to reverse their original no vote on the project. That reversal, according to Gordon, was “arbitrary and capricious.” He stated that the Planning Board was only acting on the perception that they did not have the authority to review and perception is not sufficient “to reverse its prior determination on the facts and the law.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gordon also noted that the Planning Board’s original no vote indicated that after their 6 month review of the environmental aspects of the project, they did not accept the Town Board’s environmental Findings Statement on the project. He also pointed out that the Planning Board offered no new environmental information in the 4 day interim between the 2 votes that would justify their acceptance of the Town Board’s Findings statement. He said the only thing that changed is their interpretation of their own legal authority, which Gordon contends is not supported by law.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“For whatever reasons they [Planning Board] made an egregious error regarding their own legal authority…They came up with a new legal theory afterwards and that’s the basis of their actions on June 28 in approving these resolutions and it’s the basis of our lawsuit,” Gordon said in a following interview.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In his summary Gordon is asking the court to annul both the subdivision and site plan approvals the Planning Board gave the project and instead, reinstate the original rejection of the project that the Planning Board did on June 24.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gordon indicated he will be seeking to have the developer stop all work, including the land clearing that is presently underway on the site, by filing a preliminary injunction in Supreme Court in Kingston this week. He said a temporary restraining order may be the quickest legal avenue to achieve that goal.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-80770365166713376542015-09-03T11:24:00.001-07:002016-12-25T18:40:54.201-08:00Golden Anniversary | Like the Nation it Covers, American Heritage was Revolutionary at its Birth. And like that Nation’s Story, Ours is a Real Cliffhanger.<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-indent: 20px;"><b>BY MARK REYNOLDS</b> | <b> </b> </span><span style="text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is rare for any magazine to live half a century. This one’s unusual longevity has been immeasurably helped by the circumstances of its birth, when a brilliant array of people came together hoping to produce a publication for all those interested in our American story. 1, for one, have a personal stake in this account, as my father, Robert L. Reynolds (1924-81), was on the American Heritage staff—ending as managing editor—from 1958 through 1970. But even for those with no familial tie to the magazine, the story of how the founders and staff of Heritage brought it about is a fascinating one.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqY7nDWAywMeanaQPupon28TOzrQ0rrdz68E1-U29pA7_sMJgcqf_MQ-uqZ-cxYsUjIiuUay3ithliYEI3XHQ-FxmqqABeBzgRwyVU_go1BGZX0eHJfuKN8K0hiKjRTprKABEFKT3tczW/s1600/Founders3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqY7nDWAywMeanaQPupon28TOzrQ0rrdz68E1-U29pA7_sMJgcqf_MQ-uqZ-cxYsUjIiuUay3ithliYEI3XHQ-FxmqqABeBzgRwyVU_go1BGZX0eHJfuKN8K0hiKjRTprKABEFKT3tczW/s400/Founders3.jpg" title="The founding quartet already had a success on their hands when this photograph ran in Time Magazine early in 1958. From left, Oliver Jensen, James Parton, Bruce Catton and Joseph Thorndike." width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #666666; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-small;">The founding quartet already had a success on their hands when this photograph ran in <i>Time Magazine</i> early in 1958. From left, Oliver Jensen, James Parton, Bruce Catton and Joseph Thorndike.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was almost no story at all. Research published here for the first time reveals an undertaking that came within hours of complete failure. But the founders were as tough and persevering as they were gifted. Not only did they save an evidently doomed enterprise in its infancy, they passed on to their successors a tone and quality, set 50 years ago this month, that still rests squarely upon the shoulders of James Parton, Oliver Jensen, and Joseph J. Thorndike, Jr.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In 1953, Thorndike, then 40, Jensen, 39, and Parton, 41, were three very different individuals who nonetheless shared not only a New England Yankee background and Ivy League schooling at Harvard and Yale but most of all a love and respect for the written word that kept them together for two decades. All of them already had distinguished careers in publishing, but it was during those 24 crucial months between the autumn of 1953 and another autumn two years later that all three came to understand that what they’d made would last and would be the legacy they’d be remembered for.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Joseph J. Thorndike, Jr., had gone to Harvard with James Parton, and on the Crimson he began what would be a lifetime of writing and editing. After graduation Thorndike joined the staff of Time, later moving on to its fledgling off-shoot Life, where he became managing editor. But after 13 years he found himself restless to be on his own, so in 1950 he teamed up with his friend and Life colleague Oliver Jensen.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jensen had seen publishing at its most desperate while on the staff of the expiring humor magazine Judge and had served in the Navy and written a fine account of carrier war in the Pacific. Now the two young partners were scrabbling for editorial work for their freelance consultancy firm, Picture Press, finding stability when they won the contract to produce an elaborate fiftieth-anniversary book for the Ford Motor Company.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Picture Press became TJP when the two persuaded Parton to join them. Parton had started out at Fortune, moved to Time, and during World War II had become chief historian of the Mediterranean theater. While stationed in England, he spotted a series of illustrated war pamphlets selling for about 35 cents. Stunned to learn that each issue had a circulation of a million copies, he pitched to his superior, Gen. Ira Eaker, the idea of a similar publication brought out under the auspices of the Army Air Force. It was a hit, and after the war Parton went on to create a successful history called Target: Germany. The experience, he recalled in 1959, “made me feel strongly that there was a need and opportunity in this country for a revival of popular historical writing.… As little as five or six years ago, history was regarded as a dull, dead subject. Before World War II we were complacent, smug and successful. All of a sudden we’re faced with this great ideological conflict with Russia. It seems to me that uncertainty makes people look back to the rootsprings of how they got where they are, hoping to find guidance as to where they’re going from here.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">More than anyone else, it was James Parton who made American Heritage a practical reality. In November of 1953 he attended a board of directors’ meeting of his old prep school, Loomis, near Hartford, Connecticut. While there he spotted a slim publication entitled American Heritage sitting on the desk of the headmaster, who told him, “That is one of Winthrop Rockefeller’s struggling projects.” Minutes later, Mr. Rockefeller, also a board member, said this wasn’t true at all. He put Parton in touch with the publisher, the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), in Albany. Losing no time, Parton sent a letter on December 22, 1953—and traveled upstate two weeks later—to offer the services of TJP to the publication. This letter is the first documented step leading the three men toward forming a new company that would own (in 7 months) and publish (in 12) a very much more substantial American Heritage magazine.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the early months of the new year, Parton analyzed the editorial and financial aspects of the magazine and quickly reached the conclusion that rather than be advisers, TJP should take over the entire venture. Thorndike, Jensen, and Parton would be publishing in effect a third incarnation of American Heritage. The first had made its debut in January 1947 as a 32-page black-and-white publication selling for the then not inconsiderable price of one dollar a copy. Its editor, Mary E. Cunningham of the New York State Historical Association, targeted it to the secondary-school market, achieving a modest circulation of 800. This first Heritage was improved when taken under the wing of the AASLH beginning in 1949. Published as a quarterly under the editorship of Earle Newton, with expensive four-color illustrations and annual subscriptions selling for three dollars, it ran contributions submitted gratis by staff members or friends of the association; the high printing costs precluded any payments to authors. This true labor of love was carried on nobly for four years until Newton, near exhaustion both financially and physically, noted in the association’s newsletter of September 8, 1954, that the cost of obtaining new color plates for the past summer’s issue had been the straw that broke the camel’s back.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Parton invited Newton and some of his colleagues to New York in early March of 1954 and told them he would like to form a new corporation, entitled American Heritage Publishing Company, Inc., which would buy their magazine, take over all aspects of publishing it, and pay the association an annual royalty based on sales figures. (This amounted to $4,200 in 1955 and to a cumulative total of $744,295 by the end of 1969, the sunset of Parton’s tenure.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In a follow-up letter, Parton praised the association for what it had accomplished with its magazine and went on to lay out an ambitious plan. Describing American Heritage’s economic status as “frighteningly marginal,” he stated that three new ingredients were needed immediately: “a sound business formula, a professional publishing agreement and adequate capital.” To that end he urged the AASLH to have “no further thought of charitable endowments, borrowing printing plates, free articles or unrealistic staff salaries. The magazine must stand on its own two feet and earn its ‘keep’ entirely from circulation.” He specified that it should carry no advertising, because getting revenue that way made the small publication’s task doubly hard, and anyway he thought it doubtful they could get ads at all. But deep down he felt there was an inherent schism between this particular publishing venture’s editorial content and the rules of commerce, a “basic incompatibility between the tones of the voice of history and of advertising… the juxtaposition of a Raphael painting next to an ad touting the joys of tomato soup just would not work for Heritage.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Parton </span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">pointed out that the articles at the time were “a bit too devoted to the quaint, odd or the quizzical,” adding, “there ought to be at least one major piece of significant scholarship per issue.” American Heritage had never managed to break the 10,000 circulation mark, all the while teetering on extinction with a swollen annual budget of nearly $54,000. Sound financial footing in the future meant six bimonthly issues at the subscription rate of $10 a year, the highest to date for an American magazine. To justify this price to the public also meant each issue would be expanded to approximately 116 pages with four-color reproductions and high-quality black-and-white engravings, on the best paper available. To top it off, Heritage would be “enclosed within hard covers giving the entire project a first rate look.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Parton offered installment payments for subscriptions (a publishing first) and shrewdly calculated that any hesitation on the part of future subscribers would ultimately be counterbalanced by the perception that this “periodical in book form was a bargain all the way around.” (In fact, later Heritage questionnaires revealed that 96 percent of the readers held the magazine in such high regard that they kept all their issues, often displaying them on newly built bookshelves.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While negotiating with the association, Parton knew of an effort under way since 1950 to launch a hardcover magazine titled History, cosponsored by the Society of American Historians (SAH), headed by the esteemed Columbia University professor Allan Nevins. Though test mailings predicted History would be a success, its promoters continued to fall short of funding to launch the project, even after spending $40,000 on “dummy” issues. Fearing that two history publications simultaneously on the market would blunt the success of both, Parton contacted Nevins and asked: Why not merge these two historical groups to sponsor the new Heritage? They would end up with the best of both worlds, “the ^ grassroots, humble historians on one side (AASLH) and academia on the other (SAH).”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The first pressing order of business now was to obtain ownership from the AASLH. Parton asked to appear at their next meeting—in a month’s time on April 21,1954, in Madison, Wisconsin—for the sole purpose of requesting the association’s vote to sell their magazine. When he arrived at the Hotel Loraine, it was discovered, to the dismay of all in attendance, that with 12 members present they were one shy of a quorum. With the clock ticking, a frantic phone call went out to another member, Henry D. Brown of the Detroit Historical Society, imploring him to come immediately to Madison. Brown arrived at midnight, and his yea vote cleared the first hurdle in the eventual transfer of the magazine to the newly formed American Heritage Publishing Company, Inc.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now Parton faced an even more daunting task, raising $50,000 by June 30, only a little more than two months away, to capitalize the venture. Otherwise, said the contract, “the magazine and all its assets” would revert to the association. The clock was ticking even more insistently.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next nine weeks saw an outpouring of letters and phone calls from New York to potential investors. Touting the new publication as “a handsome, lively magazine devoted to our country’s history … aimed at a cross-section of intelligent Americans,” Parton received commitments from Marshall Field III of the Chicago real estate family, James Sachs of Wall Street, and Robert Strauss of the Macy’s fortune, all old friends of his.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But in mid-June, with the deadline two weeks away, he was still short $8,000. He approached his Loomis classmate Winthrop Rockefeller, asking him to invest. Rockefeller said he wouldn’t—publishing was outside the family’s usual business territory—but he would “lend” the money.Parton recalled that Rockefeller added cheerfully, “My family will think I am nuts,” but he sent the check out of loyalty to a friend, never really expecting to be paid back. However, finances were still very tight. In mind-July Parton took a second mortgage on his summer home in Vermont, bringing the total funds to launch the venture to $64,000. (In a coda to the Rockefeller “loan,” Parton was so concerned with honoring this commitment that even as Heritage began showing promise, he took out a $10,000 personal death policy naming Rockefeller the sole beneficiary, “should I step off a curb and collide with a bus.”)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now the larval magazine needed an editor. The position was first offered to Earle Newton of the AASLH. Newton accepted but soon withdrew. He did not wish to live in New York City and would have liked the New York crowd to relocate to New England (preferably Sturbridge, Massachusetts). After a second candidate, the Columbia professor John Kouwenhoven—whose magnificent newly published illustrated history of New York City might have served as a template for the magazine’s highest editorial aspirations—turned the partners down, their third choice proved the charm.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkVLSLzQf45HIm3N95afQDDmr6mJVz6cYYZmGrHaSliVF1CeXkbolBwtoEVsoi1zwsk-BPw1FXtsYOyJ0gA-0HJbuoDJgzI9fSm-El4r67Z5HCO1MddGrUxXl_58zTgwkley1TZ7fgDh3/s1600/cover1ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkVLSLzQf45HIm3N95afQDDmr6mJVz6cYYZmGrHaSliVF1CeXkbolBwtoEVsoi1zwsk-BPw1FXtsYOyJ0gA-0HJbuoDJgzI9fSm-El4r67Z5HCO1MddGrUxXl_58zTgwkley1TZ7fgDh3/s400/cover1ab.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-indent: 20px;">The inaugural cover bore an emphatically American vision painted by an unknown artist </span><span style="text-indent: 20px;">about 1840.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thorndike traveled to Washington, D.C., to make a formal offer to Bruce Catton. A former newspaperman, Catton had been born in 1899 in Petoskey, Michigan, and grown up in nearby Benzonia. World War I had interrupted his studies at Oberlin College, and though he tried twice afterward to finish, he found himself repeatedly pulled away to work for a succession of newspapers, the Cleveland News, the Boston American, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. (He was awarded an honorary degree from Oberlin in 1956.) Too old for active service in World War U, he put his formidable writing skills to work as information director for the War Production Board. He left the government in 1952 to begin writing A Stillness at Appomattox, which won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in 1954. After hearing Thorndike’s proposition, he had some reservations, thinking he would stand too much in contrast with the Ivy League founders. But these hesitations melted away when he met the three men in New York. He accepted on August 1,1954. With Catton aboard, Heritage immediately acquired a cachet that later attracted great writers, additional financial backing, and respect in the publishing field.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Catton put his stamp on Heritage on the first pages of the first issue: “We intend to deal with that great, unfinished and illogically inspiring story of the American people doing, being and becoming. Our American heritage is greater than any one of us. It can express itself in very homely truths; in the end it can lift up our eyes beyond the glow in the sunset skies.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Parton now directed most of the startup money into promotion, leaving Catton, Thorndike, and Jensen to put together the first issue. Weighing in one week after the sale with a seven-page memo, Jensen, as associate editor, spelled out how he envisioned American Heritage’s editorial content: There must be a balance, with stories that are “important,” “entertaining,” and “thoughtful,” with “regional variety,” and spanning various “periods in history.… We should look over every issue to see whether it offers a good look at how people lived in the past, what they wore, ate, looked at, laughed at and loved. There needs to always be good writing, one or two exciting discoveries, a few things to smile at mixed with plenty of nostalgia and solid information.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jensen described in his “treatise” what is essentially the magazine that exists today, one whose “beat” (as the newspaperman Catton called it) lies not only in the momentous but also in the minor—that is, what goes into the forming of any nation as well as any human being. The founders staked their success on a brochure describing this blend that went out to hundreds of thousands (and later millions) of people from lists they had begged, shared, borrowed, or reluctantly bought. Parton mailed the first piece in July 1954, saying, he later recalled, that “if it worked, we’d go ahead, if it didn’t we’d fold up our tents.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">To make this vision persuasive to the potential subscriber, Parton hired a promotional copywriter named Frank Johnson, who found the assignment so congenial he stayed with Heritage the rest of his working life. And to achieve the look that would help justify the magazine’s steep tariff, Oliver Jensen hired Irwin Glusker, who was Vogue magazine’s promotions art director, for the job of graphic designer. At first Glusker moonlighted, not fully convinced this new venture would make a go of it. (If he had not finally come on board, he wouldn’t have met his future wife, Lillian, who was then Oliver Jensen’s secretary.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Glusker had a good time. “It was an opportunity to play with guys I liked in a game I liked.” But he needed a steady paycheck. For the first mailing piece, he set out to create “what they call a bedsheet; the folding piece of paper that keeps on unfolding and unfolding, like an accordion.” This seductive origami, Glusker remembers, “later became the Heritage standard for direct mail—and was copied by others—for a long time thereafter. I don’t know if we invented it but we perfected it.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Within two years Glusker rose to oversee all of the company’s artwork and Murray Belsky stepped into his shoes. These two men achieved Heritage’s classic “look” by mixing three printing processes: letterpress (from a raised surface), offset (from a flat surface), and gravure (using etched plates or cylinders). It was all a matter of taking infinite pains. If anything went awry during the printing stage, Belsky said he immediately “stopped the presses,” something easier said than done, since they were the size of trucks. He would “bring up a little yellow in this section … pull back a bit there on the green… until George Washington really looked like George Washington.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even with the combination of great writing and beautiful illustration, it still took one more individual to bring Heritage out onto the national stage. Richard V. Benson joined the effort in late 1953. A 33-year-old economics graduate of the University of Maryland, he was given control of the magazine’s circulation. He thought the quality of the mailings had to reflect the quality of the magazine-to-be, and took a big risk to make sure it did. “Heritage spent nearly $110 per thousand instead of the more normal $60,” he recalled, “because we were the first to understand that cost per order was what mattered, not cost per thousand.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Benson’s business acumen lent order to impending chaos, as the numbers from the mailing lists that Heritage culled eventually neared seven million. In that precomputer age, Heritage, out of necessity, created “mail purge”—by successfully labeling the order cards, alphabetizing by post office, and removing duplicates—all painstakingly done by hand.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">By the late fall of 1954, prepaid subscriptions were coming in at the rate of 300 a day. Glusker recalls the sheer exuberance that met each day’s tally: “These guys [Thorndike, Jensen, Parton] started jumping up and down, flapping their wings over two or three percent returns.” Parton was quite clear on what these returns meant: “The $50,000 we spent on promotion brought in about $700,000 in pre-paid subscriptions … giving us in effect the capital to operate.” He put the money right back into more mailings. By the time the first issue appeared, Heritage had 40,000 prepaid orders; by the third issue that number had reached 100,000. American Heritage not only found itself widely popular but quickly attained the respect accorded such venerable journals as Harper’s, The Atlantic Monthly, and Scientific American. The three founders took equal satisfaction from the reviews: “An extremely promising project… the most ambitious attempt yet made to merge readability with historical scholarship … its auspices are distinguished,” Orville Prescott, The New York Times; “An extraordinary performance,” Joseph H. Jackson, the San Francisco Chronicle.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stephen W. Sears, then a young new employee, remembers an excited, exhausted staff gathered around that first issue, so recently off the press it was still unbound, laid out page by page across the office floor. Oliver Jensen’s article “The Old Fall River Line” led the table of contents, capturing the era of the big side-wheelers that plied Long Island Sound between New York and Massachusetts. What followed was the eclectic array of subjects readers would come to expect from American Heritage, from Allan Nevins’s profile of Henry Ford to a fondly sardonic look at some famous New York social clubs; from that “suburb of hell” Panamint City, California, during its boom days, to reminiscences of the late advertising genius Albert Lasker.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sears, who later became a celebrated Civil War historian in his own right, was hired straight out of Oberlin College, and at 22 he found himself working immediately under Catton and with the gifted picture editor Joan Paterson Mills. Joan Mills had roomed with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s daughter, Scotty, at Vassar and majored in child psychology; later she had worked a short reporting stint on Adlai Stevenson’s 1952 campaign. Her longest and only “real” job, according to her daughter, Ally, was at American Heritage.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Frequent “picture meetings” explored every possible way to illustrate the stories; Mills would then go to search the New York Public Library, the Bettmann Archives, Brown Brothers, the Culver Picture Service, and she would go far afield. She discovered in out-of-the-way historical archives much that has since become part of the visual canon of America’s past. Sometimes inspiration struck closer to home. Sears remembers being sent on a mission and returning with several battered doors from a junk dealer in Long Island City to provide a background for a photo to illustrate an article about the American West.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Parton put in an order for 80,000 copies for the first issue. They sold out in 10 days. But however careful the company was with every penny, Parton calculated that by the following June “our cash would be all gone because it would be time to renew our subscriptions, and until we could put out a renewal letter, we wouldn’t get any more cash flow in.” He “battened down our hatches, figuring we’d have a very grim summer.” Almost as an afterthought, Parton tacked a postscript onto his renewal letter offering a lower rate of $18 for two years, a savings of $2. To his amazement, half the subscribers chose this option, bringing in an unexpected, very much needed $100,000. One miscalculation, however, whose consequences were gathering like a storm cloud just ahead, seemed certain to wreck the newly launched vessel.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As it happened, the magazine, which drew its life from the U.S. mail system, fell under the more expensive parcel post rate once a postal ruling stated that “Heritage could not claim book rate [although] it had hard covers and neither could it use the periodical rate of a magazine.” The bill for mailing the first issue totaled $24,000. By the end of 1957 it hovered at $36,000 per issue, or $216,000 annually.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Parton asked to appear before Congress to rectify the situation. This long shot took three anxious years. On February 11, 1958, he appeared before the Committee on the U.S. Post Office and Civil Service. He’d had a long time to prepare his remarks, and he gave them forcefully. Heritage met all the postal requirements of a magazine with dated and sequenced material, he said. It had a regular list of subscribers, original content, and a set limit on its thickness. It failed being classified as a magazine in the government’s eyes only because its covers weren’t soft. The eloquent plea paid off with a ruling in American Heritage’s favor. Annual mailing costs for 1958 dropped by more than $150,000, to $52,650. The magazine survived. </span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And flourished. David McCullough remembered Heritage in its early maturity as “the best place I ever worked as an employee. There was a minimum of office bitterness, gossip, scandal, or jealousy. We had too much to do and too much fun doing it. People were enthusiastic about the magazine, about history, about the success of the publishing company. They were receptive to new ideas, with very high editorial standards, high accuracy, and quality of writing. They delivered in the sense that they provided to the subscriber a magazine that more than lived up to its advanced promises. As an employee you felt like you were cast in a hit show with great people.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">McCullough summed up the founding triumvirate succinctly: Thorndike, Jensen, and Parton “were interested in everything, humanists in the best sense. They were the result of good liberalized education with a sustained, accelerating interest in the world around them.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another frequent contributing writer of nearly four decades, Thomas Fleming, said of Heritage’s success: “They were right in tune with the times, because television was turning everybody into a visual consumer. Here was a magazine that was combining good visuals and some very interesting historical material. We had by the early fifties now become unquestionably the most powerful country in the world, and I think that made our history all the more interesting to a lot of people.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In five short years American Heritage had grown from a slim quarterly with 10,000 subscribers to a vigorous 120-page hardbound bimonthly, topping 310,000 in circulation. Later on, Parton occasionally liked to recapitulate how he and his partners had gone about things. Heritage knowingly violated all the conventional rules: It had little startup money and no advertising, charged the highest price, used expensive printing, sank twice the capital anyone else ever had into promotion, and, in the most audacious of editorial choices, picked history as its subject. American Heritage’s story is unique in publishing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In 1957, after his magazine was a success, Jim Parton gave a speech before the Annual Congress of Historical Societies, saying what had made it so: “The best way to refuel an American’s sense of purpose and place in the world is to put him in his ancestors’ footsteps for a little while. Nothing so lights up history as the electricity inherent in the phrase ‘This is the place’ or ‘Here he stood’ or ‘Your grandfather lived like this.’”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The magazine continues on today by reminding Americans that we all matter, that we all are part of an epic that is still unfolding and will be ready, one day, to be received and read by generations to come.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mark C. Reynolds is a freelance writer living in New York’s Hudson Valley.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-30318885933644728422015-09-02T20:42:00.001-07:002015-09-03T13:31:25.322-07:00No Engineering Contract on the Park Project<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />BY MARK REYNOLDS</b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> | </span><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </b> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-right;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-right;">Lloyd </span>Supervisor Ray Costantino admitted last week that he did not sign a separate contract with Hudson Land Design [HLD] for them to perform engineering work at Tony Williams Park project, despite the firm's representative, Jon Bodendorf, citing it in his Project Specifications booklet: "The Engineer may also furnish observation of Construction, subject to the terms of his contract with the Owner [town], for compliance of the work with the contract documents." [General Conditions of the Contract; Article 3; Engineers Duties and Status; 3.01 paragraph 2].</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Typical engineering contracts contain an Errors and Omissions clause, which in the case of a design error, the cost to fix it falls upon the engineer and not upon the town. When more than $30,000 in change orders and additions were discussed by the Town Board, no mention was made if they should be paid for by the engineer or corrected by the contractor. Instead they were paid for by the town.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Costantino said he received only a proposal from HLD.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"There was a proposal for so much cost to design the thing," he said. "There is no contract. We don't have a contract with [town attorney] Lew DiStasi. We don't have a contract with [town engineer] Bill Rohde. We don't sign contracts. These are hire and fire at will. We don't need to do anything but proposals."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Costantino said there were negotiations with HLD of a fee per hour to "do their thing and if we don't like it, they're gone . . . I don't remember any formal contract [with HLD]."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Costantino, however, did sign a contract with contractor Daniel Rosinski of G.DanRos and Sons, a copy of which is contained in the Engineer's Specifications booklet, dated Nov. 9, 2009 - entitled 'Agreement between Owner and Contractor, Tony Williams Park, New Garage, Pavilion and Associated Improvements.'</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Under another FOIL request, the town released monthly bills from HLD to the town dating from Sept. 18, 2009 through May 31, 2010 totaling $6,837.50 for their design work at the park. There appears to be 4 general categories HLD billed for: Master Plan Preparation; Bid Package Preparation; Construction Support Services and Mileage/Map Reproduction reimbursements. Each month's bill contains total billable hours; however there is no itemized breakdown to show exactly what was done by HLD.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Town Board also admitted they did not know if Rosinski met all of the requirements in HLD's Specifications book, especially on critically important soil compaction tests prior to placing the concrete for the garage, pavilion or dugouts, or tests on the concrete itself [slump test], or compressive strength testing. The board also has no evidence that prior to laying the asphalt, a town Field Representative and/or the Engineer was present to check and approve the soil compaction and witness Rosinski proofroll the subgrade, as is called for in HLDs plan. If done the town would have the assurance that the subgrade will support the pavement structure.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">These critical quality control tests determine if the concrete has achieved its specified design strength and if the asphalt subase was prepared properly so that the town can expect the project to have a reasonable life span.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">General Conditions of the Contract, Section 5.09 states that Rosinski is the one responsible for "All inspection and testing, as specified in the Contract Documents [and] shall be paid for by the contractor." It goes on to clarify that he is also "responsible for obtaining the required certificates of inspection, testing or approval and delivering same to the Engineer [HLD]." According to the Town Board, it appears Rosinski failed to perform this work since the Board admitted they have not seen any documentation attesting to their completion.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Costantino said for this project he relied on Bodendorf.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"That's why we hired Jon," Costantino said of the testing. "I don't have any. I haven't seen any [inspection reports]. That doesn't say there wasn't any done [but] if there was none done, then there was none done."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Costantino, however, said it was up to the engineer to certify the quality of the work.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"We rely on his expertise," he said. "If he approved the source of the contract, did he look at what was done? That's really up to him."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Supervisor's comments, however, run counter to HLDs plan, since they advised the board to appoint a Field Representative to act on their behalf and they did not.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Bodendorf, in a June 15, 2010 email response to a second FOIL request for all HLD inspections and testing reports, stated that his firm “did not perform any testing of any kind."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The agreement Rosinski signed indicates that he would perform all of the work in the HLD Specification Book for $159,350. The Change orders and additions pushed the total to $190,302. By not performing these tests, the town not only paid Rosinski for work he failed to perform, but the town accepted a finished product they are unsure meets engineering specifications.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To date, the town has not received an 'As-built' survey on the finished project. HLD indicated one will soon be provided; however, the HLD plan calls for a survey to be done by an independent firm hired and paid for by Rosinski, and not by HLD, at the close of the project.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-56313857184546338122015-09-02T20:36:00.002-07:002015-09-03T13:31:34.989-07:00Supervisor Questioned on Abandoned Subdivision<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-indent: 20px;"><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">BY MARK REYNOLDS</b><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> | </span><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </b> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Last September William Farrell, along with many of his neighbors in the Patura Gardens subdivision, asked the Plattekill Town Board for an update on their neighborhood, which they contend has been abandoned by the developer. Farrell returned once again to the Town Board last week seeking answers concerning the half-built community where he lives.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Farrell said nothing has been done by the developer to complete the work in nearly two years. The subdivision is lacking a final topcoat of asphalt on the road and needs drainage ditches cleared of weeds, debris and small diameter trees. In addition many of the un-built lots are overgrown with brush and have large piles of dirt scattered across them. <src a="" are.="" but="" did="" elaborate="" exactly="" img="lawsuit2.jpg>
<p>Supervisor Bruce Loertscher said the developer was supposed to meet with him and Highway Superintendent Bobby Wager the previous week but he failed to show up.
<p>Councilman Mark Jaffee said he remembered voting last year to pull the Letter of Credit. This credit was set up to allow the town to complete the roadwork and make necessary landscape improvements to the neighborhood at the developer's expense if he were ever to walk away from the project.
<p>When pressed for information, Loertscher stated " issues="" it="" just="" lot="" not="" of="" p="" s="" there="" those="" what="" with="">Farrell asked if the $600,000 Letter of Credit is still "viable." Loertscher said he had called the bank asking for an update on the Letter of Credit.</src></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">"I had issues of trying to get into the bank due to privacy issues," he said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Farrell, who is in the construction business, said if the subdivision eventually becomes the town's responsibility the cost to the taxpayers may be quite significant.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">"If you see the way the neighborhood was left, it's a mess, and this guy [developer] walks away," he said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Loertscher said he would call the developer again to which Farrell repeated "We have no faith in the developer, whatsoever."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Jaffee also thought it futile to pursue the developer, based on his track record.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">"Why are we still calling the developer?" he asked Loertscher. "I remember talking about this last year and pulling the Letter of Credit. What happened to that?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Loertscher implied that pulling the Letter was not a simple matter, but Jaffee reminded him that the town did exactly that on two other projects in the past.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Farrell said the town should take the lead.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">"The town should ask the developer what they've done, not in the last 6 months but in the last two years. Name one thing. It's nothing," Farrell said. "You can pull that [Letter of Credit] in 24 hours. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Call up the bond company and tell them we're pulling it. I don't understand why it's not being done. There is a Letter of Credit somewhere. It is not a matter of asking, it's a matter of notifying. I guarantee if you call the company holding that, something is going to happen."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Loertscher continued to insist there are privacy issues - "It's a bad situation."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Councilman Joe Croce said compounding the issue is that a long and confusing paper trail has been left by these developers. "But there should be a line," he agreed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Farrell said it is hard for him to justify paying $1,000 in highway taxes each year when his development "has no signs, no lights and we don't get any snowplowing."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Loertscher admitted later in the meting that he was unsure of the date listed on the Line of Credit but "believes" the name of a former Town Supervisor is on that document. Loertscher continued to stress that the bank is the roadblock on this issue.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Loertscher said that before a Letter of Credit can be pulled 51 percent of the lots must be sold, adding that he believes this particular 45 lot subdivision has only 20 homes that are presently completed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">In a subsequent interview Farrell disagreed with Loertscher, saying that pulling a Letter of Credit is not contingent upon how many homes a developer builds.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">"It could be two or 20," he said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Farrell pointed out that a second road from the development out to Freetown Road was also never constructed by the developer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Farrell said that if he finds out the Letter of Credit has expired, especially in light of his continued inquiries with Loertscher during the last 2 years, "you’re going to find one upset Irishman at the next Town Board meeting."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Farrell said he has tried to be proactive in this situation and seek a solution in order to avoid a worst case scenario of it "falling into the town's lap."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">"It would be an absolute shame if that Letter of Credit has been allowed to lapse," he said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Loertscher did not return several calls seeking comment on this subdivision's Letter of Credit for this story.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20.79px; text-align: -webkit-right; text-indent: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466776770778987179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3947743943882538069.post-45412526501465649682015-09-02T20:32:00.002-07:002015-09-03T13:31:43.883-07:00Bridge Standstill | Overturned Truck Snarls Mid Hudson Bridge<div style="text-indent: 20px;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">BY MARK REYNOLDS</b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> | </span><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </b> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="mailto:MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM">MREYNOLDS@TCNEWSPAPERS.COM</a></span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-right;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />Southern Ulster Times, Vol.7 No.29, July 21-27,2010</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">An 18 wheel 2007 Freight Liner semi tractor trailer that was operated by Michael J. Gammon, 47, of Brooklyn, Michigan, overturned just after 2:30 p.m. on Monday as he exited the Mid Hudson Bridge while traveling west on Route 44/55. The accident, which brought traffic in both directions to a complete standstill, took nearly 6 hours to finally clear.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gammon, who was hauling 42,500 pounds of crushed limestone for Haas Trucking from Connecticut to Morton, Ohio near Cleveland, failed to negotiate the exit turn to the right while leaving the bridge. He was in the slow lane and moved into the fast lane in an attempt to avoid crashing but the truck overturned and fell into the dividing concrete barriers, tearing the roof completely off his trailer and spilling his cargo out onto the roadway. A diesel fuel tank </span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was ruptured but was quickly neutralized by the Highland Fire Department, who arrived on the scene within minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gammon was the sole occupant of the truck and walked away with only a scratch on his wrist. He was later cited for Speed Not Reasonable, Move from Lane Unsafely, Failed to Obey a Traffic Control Device and the Environmental Conversation Law violation of Putting Noisome or Unwholesome Substances on roadway which is a misdemeanor. Besides the Highland Fire Company, the Lloyd Police were also assisted at the scene by Mobile Life Ambulance and members of the New York State Bridge Authority.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gammon said he knew the bridge was 25 mph.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Once I came over the bridge I started speeding up and going with the cars but I never saw a speed limit and the curve," he said. Gammon, who has driven trucks for 5 years, said he has never had a ticket before, calling himself a "perfect driver."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"When I came into the curve the cars were still pulling away from me, but it still didn't feel right. I knew it was rolling," he recalled. "You know you turn out of it, you don't turn into it to correct yourself." Gammon's voice cracked, saying he remembered the entire incident.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Oh my god, here comes the wall [and] I leaned away from the driver's door. I know it's going down," he said. "Next thing I know I'm watching stuff fly over my head and I crawled out the sunroof." No other vehicle was involved in the accident.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gammon turned the whole ordeal upon himself, worrying about his wife and the future of his livelihood.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"I am totally disgusted with myself as a human being," he said. "I am because I've never done nothing. I'm not that kind of a driver. I've never been on this road before but I never saw what the speed limit was for the curve itself." With tears in his eyes, a distraught Gammon said "I am just crushed as a human because I pride myself better than that."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He said he was sorry "for everything that this causes. I am so mad at myself." Gammon said another driver from his company was not too far away and he would be able to ride back home with him."</span></div>
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