News gathered and edited from many sources for Columbia County, digest of news and opinion, with wikicoco.com website by Will Pflaum. sunshineonthehudson.com for longer pieces
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
8-31-11: live at the county fair
Come by the open government booth... Look for the white on red dog sign.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
8-30-11: 1987 in copake...
This is interesting.
Paul Czajka... running for the job again. Hmmm.
The wrong was the Conviction without Trial of my son Frank. In 1987 my son was indicted by a Grand Jury on 13 counts for burning our own barn in the Town of Copake. The alleged motive was he was a pyromaniac, a physiological disorder. Shortly before the trial was going to begin the District Attorney, Paul Czajka, demanded my son take a series of psychiatric tests
Paul Czajka... running for the job again. Hmmm.
Monday, August 29, 2011
8-29-11: water
Water.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Ferry road: The water is rising incredibly fast on Ferry Road, even though my tide clock shows high tide at 5:30 pm. Can anyone confirm the time of high tide? If the water keeps coming like this, it will definitely flood the first floor of the house.
Boil water.
Lost dog.
My mom in VT: Bridges are closed on routes 30, 11, 9, 7, 121. Houses damaged in Jamaica and Grafton. Brattleboro is a mess with walls of water coming down streets. Chris and Mike are stranded. The little bridge they own to their house is pretty much gone.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Ferry road: The water is rising incredibly fast on Ferry Road, even though my tide clock shows high tide at 5:30 pm. Can anyone confirm the time of high tide? If the water keeps coming like this, it will definitely flood the first floor of the house.
Boil water.
Lost dog.
My mom in VT: Bridges are closed on routes 30, 11, 9, 7, 121. Houses damaged in Jamaica and Grafton. Brattleboro is a mess with walls of water coming down streets. Chris and Mike are stranded. The little bridge they own to their house is pretty much gone.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
storm hour by hour
This chart shows what will happen in the next few hours.
It looks like it gets bad at 2AM and stays bad until 5PM. The peak storm is 2 pm.
It looks like it gets bad at 2AM and stays bad until 5PM. The peak storm is 2 pm.
Friday, August 26, 2011
from the ZBA hearing this week
Here is the audio about the fence as not being a structure. Here is my point that a fence is a structure under town law.
Here is the audio when they vote on the issue of noise. This was the resolution: Should they restore the permit because Gerry Ennis failed to prove that my facility produces noise that exceeds that produced by a normal residence?
Jeff Jensen has to acknowledge that there was no noise. Votes yes.
Kent Kneller votes yes very quietly.
Bill William Vick votes no. Hard to understand that.More people said they don't hear squat and no one consistently even complained about noise. They complained about other stuff, not noise. No complaints of loud noise. Go back and check it out. Who said "loud noise" and stuck to that story? No one.
Next is Margaret Pino. She says the noise must be annoying to someone. She acknowledges that it is not loud. If it is not loud, there is no law that can possibly apply.
I jump in and say "annoying" is not in the law. The law says, "Unusual noise that exceeds that produced my a normal residence." We don't know what an unusual noise is. We don't know what a normal residence is. We have no evidence at all that there was ever any loud noise because that defies the laws of physics.
Annoying noise ordinance? You can play that CD you like but you have to skip track 3, the song that has that bell in it, because I don't like track 3? And you can listen to Fox News because I like Fox but if you play Aljazeera or the BBC at the same volume, you are in violation of the ordinance?
Amy Abatti votes yes. The resolution gets a majority of those present, 3 out of 5, but fails to carry because the majority is 4, out of a number of possible seats of 7 on the board.
So, two people voted no. They knew for a fact it is not loud when they made those votes. Pino said that it is not loud. Vick was here at the site and cannot possibly argue that it could ever be loud. Yet they think that Gerry Ennis proved that it is loud.
Did Ennis prove something? You stood there, heard nothing, you know it's not true, yet you vote that an officer proved something that you know is not true? You vote on some standard other than the law, "annoying" or merely citing the existence of a complaint without noting the existence of more letters not complaining and stating something you experience first hand: not loud.
You did not allow me time to demonstrate that the complaints are malicious. Then you base your vote on the same complaints, assuming they are valid when I was not allowed to show that that are not valid, again, ignoring the more numerous letters supporting your own personal experience of not loud.
Those are really, really bad votes. David R. Everett of Whiteman Osterman and Hanna, an Albany law firm with 80 lawyers, attorneys, specializing in municipal law, did not bother to re-read the law to clarify what it was they were voting on and seemed to have to problem with the "annoying noise" vote or the "complaint" vote.
Bill William Vick of Stuyvesant heard nothing at all. He was right here. He knows. Margaret Pino admits that "volume is not the issue." But in the law, it is the issue.
Law. You are supposed to uphold the law. Not vote your prejudices. Jeff Jensen, Amy Abatti and Kent Keller knew that the truth matters. William Bill Vick and Margaret Pino should re-think the law and the evidence and give it another try.
Thank you.
And here is the magic window:
Now here are members of the board not caring particularly that the window and the noise don't exist... willful disregard of the truth.
And here is David R. Everett with his willful disregard of the law. Here Mr. Everett tries to confuse everyone with mumbo rumbo about irrelevant hypothetical situations. The ZBA does not have the authority to enforce civil actions based on New York Town Law. The fact that the town could file a civil suit in state court based on state law is entirely irrelevant to this board, which is a town board ruling on town law. The town could file a case in federal court. The town could vote to paint town hall green. So what?
The ZBA is here to rule on town law. New York law is not the issue before the board. There is no civil suit in New York town court. That is a hypothetical option the town did not take. The town chose to use town law to enforce town zoning violations only the town did it WRONG. State law does not come into this. The ZBA is here to rule on the town's zoning rules. Gerry Ennis, the town's zoning guy, did not follow the town law.
Amy is right about town law. Everett is wrong about town law. He just tried to throw legalistic smoke in everyone's eyes to ignore the clear language of the law that the ZBA is charged to enforce. Outrageous. What the hell is Everett thinking? Where is the public interest in paying taxpayer money illegally to David R. Everett to throw smoke in the board's eyes and prevent them from enforcing the law they are bound to enforce?
If I need legal advice in the future, I'm calling Amy. Any normal municipalities out there thinking of hiring David R. Everett or Whiteman Osterman and Hanna might consider that as a cheaper option as well. This is pretty shabby legal work. The law is not Mr. Everett's toy.
And speaking of law, here is Maraget Pino making up an annoying noise law... I mean, if you don't like the law you are sworn to enforce, why not just make up your own on the spot to fit your mood at the time? Isn't that what tyrants do?
Here is the audio when they vote on the issue of noise. This was the resolution: Should they restore the permit because Gerry Ennis failed to prove that my facility produces noise that exceeds that produced by a normal residence?
Jeff Jensen has to acknowledge that there was no noise. Votes yes.
Kent Kneller votes yes very quietly.
Bill William Vick votes no. Hard to understand that.More people said they don't hear squat and no one consistently even complained about noise. They complained about other stuff, not noise. No complaints of loud noise. Go back and check it out. Who said "loud noise" and stuck to that story? No one.
Next is Margaret Pino. She says the noise must be annoying to someone. She acknowledges that it is not loud. If it is not loud, there is no law that can possibly apply.
I jump in and say "annoying" is not in the law. The law says, "Unusual noise that exceeds that produced my a normal residence." We don't know what an unusual noise is. We don't know what a normal residence is. We have no evidence at all that there was ever any loud noise because that defies the laws of physics.
Annoying noise ordinance? You can play that CD you like but you have to skip track 3, the song that has that bell in it, because I don't like track 3? And you can listen to Fox News because I like Fox but if you play Aljazeera or the BBC at the same volume, you are in violation of the ordinance?
Amy Abatti votes yes. The resolution gets a majority of those present, 3 out of 5, but fails to carry because the majority is 4, out of a number of possible seats of 7 on the board.
So, two people voted no. They knew for a fact it is not loud when they made those votes. Pino said that it is not loud. Vick was here at the site and cannot possibly argue that it could ever be loud. Yet they think that Gerry Ennis proved that it is loud.
Did Ennis prove something? You stood there, heard nothing, you know it's not true, yet you vote that an officer proved something that you know is not true? You vote on some standard other than the law, "annoying" or merely citing the existence of a complaint without noting the existence of more letters not complaining and stating something you experience first hand: not loud.
You did not allow me time to demonstrate that the complaints are malicious. Then you base your vote on the same complaints, assuming they are valid when I was not allowed to show that that are not valid, again, ignoring the more numerous letters supporting your own personal experience of not loud.
Those are really, really bad votes. David R. Everett of Whiteman Osterman and Hanna, an Albany law firm with 80 lawyers, attorneys, specializing in municipal law, did not bother to re-read the law to clarify what it was they were voting on and seemed to have to problem with the "annoying noise" vote or the "complaint" vote.
Bill William Vick of Stuyvesant heard nothing at all. He was right here. He knows. Margaret Pino admits that "volume is not the issue." But in the law, it is the issue.
Law. You are supposed to uphold the law. Not vote your prejudices. Jeff Jensen, Amy Abatti and Kent Keller knew that the truth matters. William Bill Vick and Margaret Pino should re-think the law and the evidence and give it another try.
Thank you.
And here is the magic window:
Patricia Yerick discussing her window from glencadia on Vimeo.
Now here are members of the board not caring particularly that the window and the noise don't exist... willful disregard of the truth.
William Bill Vick of Stuyvesant arguing in favor of the magic window from glencadia on Vimeo.
And here is David R. Everett with his willful disregard of the law. Here Mr. Everett tries to confuse everyone with mumbo rumbo about irrelevant hypothetical situations. The ZBA does not have the authority to enforce civil actions based on New York Town Law. The fact that the town could file a civil suit in state court based on state law is entirely irrelevant to this board, which is a town board ruling on town law. The town could file a case in federal court. The town could vote to paint town hall green. So what?
The ZBA is here to rule on town law. New York law is not the issue before the board. There is no civil suit in New York town court. That is a hypothetical option the town did not take. The town chose to use town law to enforce town zoning violations only the town did it WRONG. State law does not come into this. The ZBA is here to rule on the town's zoning rules. Gerry Ennis, the town's zoning guy, did not follow the town law.
Amy is right about town law. Everett is wrong about town law. He just tried to throw legalistic smoke in everyone's eyes to ignore the clear language of the law that the ZBA is charged to enforce. Outrageous. What the hell is Everett thinking? Where is the public interest in paying taxpayer money illegally to David R. Everett to throw smoke in the board's eyes and prevent them from enforcing the law they are bound to enforce?
If I need legal advice in the future, I'm calling Amy. Any normal municipalities out there thinking of hiring David R. Everett or Whiteman Osterman and Hanna might consider that as a cheaper option as well. This is pretty shabby legal work. The law is not Mr. Everett's toy.
David R. Everett of Whiteman Osterman and Hanna from glencadia on Vimeo.
And speaking of law, here is Maraget Pino making up an annoying noise law... I mean, if you don't like the law you are sworn to enforce, why not just make up your own on the spot to fit your mood at the time? Isn't that what tyrants do?
here is margaret pino of stuyvesant legislating from glencadia on Vimeo.
8-26-11: road collapse, hurricanes past and future, that damn moon
Unicycle festival.
New York Times in the area.
Damn the moon:
Hurricanes of the past in New York.
The future:
Saturday Night: Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm, then rain after 8pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 65. Windy, with a light wind becoming east between 23 and 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Sunday: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 72. Very windy, with a northeast wind between 38 and 47 mph, with gusts as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts in excess of 4 inches possible.
Sunday Night: Rain likely before 2am. Mostly cloudy and windy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Football, Ichabod Crane.
Road collapsed in Hudson.
New York Times in the area.
Damn the moon:
Meteorologist Jeff Masters, director of the Weather Underground website, said flooding caused by Hurricane Irene could be worse than usual, because the storm will be making landfall during a new moon.
During new and full moons, the sun, Earth, and the moon are arranged in a straight line, with the sun and moon intensifying each other's gravitational pull on Earth. The result is more severe tidal fluctuations--low tides are lower than usual, but more to the point, high tides are higher.
Hurricanes of the past in New York.
The future:
Saturday Night: Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm, then rain after 8pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 65. Windy, with a light wind becoming east between 23 and 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Sunday: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 72. Very windy, with a northeast wind between 38 and 47 mph, with gusts as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts in excess of 4 inches possible.
Sunday Night: Rain likely before 2am. Mostly cloudy and windy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Football, Ichabod Crane.
Road collapsed in Hudson.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
8-24-11: hearings, hearings, hearings
Yet what exactly did I do wrong? Read the whole sad story here.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
8-21-11: james madison?
Here is an essay on a small upstate town and James Madison.
Here is a speech about the same stuff, sort of.
Making movies in upstate New York.
Like? How? Where is the like button?
Trying to blog, the state police came by to tell me a cow was in the road. It was my neighbor's cow but I went out and got her. Blog time is over.
Here is a speech about the same stuff, sort of.
Making movies in upstate New York.
Like? How? Where is the like button?
Trying to blog, the state police came by to tell me a cow was in the road. It was my neighbor's cow but I went out and got her. Blog time is over.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
8-20-11: powerline story, anon hacking, fracking rules, fairs
Power line alternative story.
New Lebanon library. Poetry readings, nice website.
Home sales in Columbia and Greene counties.
Speaking of houses... this is cool.
Stage collapse in Belgium, local angle?
Fracking self-regulation proposal in congress.
DUTCHESS COUNTY FAIR.
This is a good article on how hacking cases get investigated. The comments mostly show proper disgust at abusing customer info and threatening people.
New Lebanon library. Poetry readings, nice website.
Home sales in Columbia and Greene counties.
Speaking of houses... this is cool.
Stage collapse in Belgium, local angle?
Fracking self-regulation proposal in congress.
DUTCHESS COUNTY FAIR.
This is a good article on how hacking cases get investigated. The comments mostly show proper disgust at abusing customer info and threatening people.
Friday, August 19, 2011
8-19-11: song issue on other blog
So I focused on the other blog today.
This would be the same money that Kinderhook bank is handing out in the story I reported before? I'll check on this, how to apply.
Robbery arrest.
This would be the same money that Kinderhook bank is handing out in the story I reported before? I'll check on this, how to apply.
Robbery arrest.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
8-18-11: pirate radio, small business loans
Pirate radio law. Waste of time.
Small business loans! Hey this is interesting.
I can't believe Stuyvesant voters approved that $500,000 salt shed...
Small business loans! Hey this is interesting.
I can't believe Stuyvesant voters approved that $500,000 salt shed...
The Board raised bogus objections (companies going out of business, lack of durability, lack of suitability) to a "fabric" covered structure like the ones at Gibson's on Rte 21 and other farms in the area. I gave them full information on a company with a successful 35-year track record that supplies these structures - for about 20% of the cost of their proposed project, finished, with poured concrete foundations.
Neither Bernie nor the Board even bothered to speak with the company nor check the references the company was prepared to supply, including an NYS DOT Salt Shed in E. Greenbush that's been in successful service for years. Does that seem like "due diligence" to you?
As has been noted here, Claverack built a compliant structure for their town (with quite a few more road-miles than we cover) for $125K. But Stuyvesant never bothered to inquire how they were able to do it. Again I ask: is that your idea of "due diligence?"
-- Ned
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
8-14-11: the town of Stuyvesant is insane
$57,000 to pursue dog barking complaint?
Yes, at least $57,000 to get me on a dog barking charge. Is this not the more insane thing possible? Is the town of Stuyvesant insane? What?
VOTE NO ON TUESDAY!!!! These people are insane!!!!!
Here is what I got through FOIL:
Tal: the town lawyer's fees relating to my case
August 2010 = 1562.50
September 2010 = 437.50
October 2010 = 937.50 (Hook Boat Club 7 hours to lower assessment)
November 2010 = 1406.25
December 2010 = 875
January 2011 = 593.75
February 2011 = 375 (Hook Boat Club meeting with county 2 hours)
March 2011 = 1125
April 2011 = 250
May 2011 = 312.50
June 2011 = 250
Total for Tal for 2010 and 2011: $8115
Whiteman Osterman and Hanna: big Albany law firm
March 2011: $11,811.53
April 2011: $7,141.56
May 2011: $6,694.17
June and July unavailable but likely well over $7000 per month. August will be much higher. So let's do 7, 7 and 10 for the three missing months.
Total legal expenses: $57,761
Yes, at least $57,000 to get me on a dog barking charge. Is this not the more insane thing possible? Is the town of Stuyvesant insane? What?
VOTE NO ON TUESDAY!!!! These people are insane!!!!!
Here is what I got through FOIL:
Tal: the town lawyer's fees relating to my case
August 2010 = 1562.50
September 2010 = 437.50
October 2010 = 937.50 (Hook Boat Club 7 hours to lower assessment)
November 2010 = 1406.25
December 2010 = 875
January 2011 = 593.75
February 2011 = 375 (Hook Boat Club meeting with county 2 hours)
March 2011 = 1125
April 2011 = 250
May 2011 = 312.50
June 2011 = 250
Total for Tal for 2010 and 2011: $8115
Whiteman Osterman and Hanna: big Albany law firm
March 2011: $11,811.53
April 2011: $7,141.56
May 2011: $6,694.17
June and July unavailable but likely well over $7000 per month. August will be much higher. So let's do 7, 7 and 10 for the three missing months.
Total legal expenses: $57,761
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
8-8-11: party yesterday, hearing tomorrow
Between the open house at Glencadia Dog Camp yesterday and the the hearing at Stuyvesant Town Hall tomorrow, I can't check the links for news. Not to mention the referendum next week.
Tomorrow night, Tuesday, August 9 7PM, Stuyvesant Town Hall.
Tomorrow night, Tuesday, August 9 7PM, Stuyvesant Town Hall.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
8-4-11: yesterday on the other blog
On my other blog I update a busy day.
@TreeHugger
TreeHugger.com
Top Climate Skeptic Patrick Michaels Complains that Skeptics Can't Get on TV. On TV. (Video) http://bit.ly/r6usuh
@ScienceChannel
Science Channel
#nerdworldproblems: Man Arrested for Trying to Split Atoms at Home http://ow.ly/5UzYv
@TreeHugger
TreeHugger.com
Top Climate Skeptic Patrick Michaels Complains that Skeptics Can't Get on TV. On TV. (Video) http://bit.ly/r6usuh
@ScienceChannel
Science Channel
#nerdworldproblems: Man Arrested for Trying to Split Atoms at Home http://ow.ly/5UzYv
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
8-2-11: my now self versus my then self and then my mom's book
I'll be in Federal Court tomorrow. Suing my town. Civil rights action.
I bought a new suit for the suit. Haven't bought a suit since my wedding 11 years ago and I got a little thicker in the intervening years -- not really fatter. My now self could kick my then self's ass in throwing hay bales, if not running 3 miles.
But my now self and my then self do need different suits. I put in 50 fence post by hand and I could never get my wedding ring on my finger again: my now hand is not my then hand. It's not the 11 years so much as the change in work that seems to make stuff not fit anymore.
Oh, and Desmond Tutu blurbed my mom's book! Hope Amidst Despair (Pluto Press, to be published in a couple months):
SusannA W. GranniS founded and led, until 2010, CHABHA, Children Affected by HIV/AIDS. CHABHA partners with community- based children’s associations in Africa. She was Professor and Dean at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Queens College, CUNY, and at the Bank Street College of Education.
A real event on a fake site?
Hudson: A real sparkler. Take a peak at that.
Summer game bird survey. DEC.
In Ghent:
@nature_org
Nature Conservancy
Chinese billionaires chip in to protect the environment...& pandas, reports @MktplaceRadio http://nature.ly/pUGZXQ
I bought a new suit for the suit. Haven't bought a suit since my wedding 11 years ago and I got a little thicker in the intervening years -- not really fatter. My now self could kick my then self's ass in throwing hay bales, if not running 3 miles.
But my now self and my then self do need different suits. I put in 50 fence post by hand and I could never get my wedding ring on my finger again: my now hand is not my then hand. It's not the 11 years so much as the change in work that seems to make stuff not fit anymore.
Oh, and Desmond Tutu blurbed my mom's book! Hope Amidst Despair (Pluto Press, to be published in a couple months):
"This is an unsentimental and realistic assessment of the desperate situation of children in sub-Saharan Africa affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Thus when the author says there is hope despite the hopelessness we must believe her. We are indebted to Susanna Grannis for pointing to the light at the end of the tunnel."
Archbishop Desmond TuTu
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
SusannA W. GranniS founded and led, until 2010, CHABHA, Children Affected by HIV/AIDS. CHABHA partners with community- based children’s associations in Africa. She was Professor and Dean at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Queens College, CUNY, and at the Bank Street College of Education.
A real event on a fake site?
Hudson: A real sparkler. Take a peak at that.
Summer game bird survey. DEC.
In Ghent:
@nature_org
Nature Conservancy
Chinese billionaires chip in to protect the environment...& pandas, reports @MktplaceRadio http://nature.ly/pUGZXQ
Monday, August 1, 2011
8-1-11: economic development council, lawyers
Capital Region Regional Economic Development Councils. I read this about how you had to have an invite to hear the announcement of this new initiative. And then I saw this about the membership in the council.
I don't like the choice for co-chairs: the chairmen on Greene and Columbia boards of supervisors. Right there I saw this was more of the same old same old. No, I think, you need someone outside the box with a track record in business. Me, for example. How do I apply?
Ideas? See here.
You put me on the council and it'll be better.
Sam Pratt is right on about lawyers. Here is my discussion of ethics for these lawyers. They need some rules.
Underage drinking charge dismissed against official.
On my other blog: no million dollar garage.
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