4-7-11: cow ride, north dock, martin roby

No court. Adjourned. No dog barking charge last night. Yesterday I did my dialogue on this ridiculous charge, criminal dog barking...

Mom and Dad said no horse. So... German news.

Good picture from Art Omi. Hard to take a bad one over there.

There are a lot of these not so friendly signs in Hudson...

Court ruling about North Dock in Hudson that I don't understand. I think the residents wanted to claim ownership. I've always wondered what the deal was with this site, as I've seen it from the river when I'm out canoeing and it looks like something out of... a movie set in Louisiana in 1938.

The Hudson school situation is simply bleak. And the blog report from Unmuffled is very clear and well written.

Of course if you want a really great picture, try 600px. Columbia County photographer Ford Bailey bikes to Albany a lot.

Copake blog has a poll and comment thread grows.

Anti-Abortion activist/priest high speed chase story continues.

Environmentalist speaks at Bard about disrupting an oil and gas auction. Tim DeChristopher.

Judges don't like Cuomo's austerity budget.

As a U.S. citizen who has just returned from a decade in Europe, I can't report much good news about the relative standing of the American dream. My experience is that—despite their own economic crises—Europeans have far less reason to worry about job security, health care, or unpronounceable ingredients in their food. Their public transportation is better, their roads smoother. Their working hours, vacation, and parental leave are staggeringly more family-friendly. We're falling behind. Debts and wars, income inequality, a curdling political culture, and Charlie Sheen have knocked us off our national stride.

Martin Roby, the guy behind this site, I hear folks say "I think his language is too blunt" or "I wish he wouldn't be so confrontational" or "he should do X" or "I wish he were Y." I would note this: how many people do you know have convictions and act of them steadily, effectively and consistently? How many people are willing to sacrifice their time for their beliefs like Martin? What if there is someone or something that need confronting, when is it okay to confront it or them? He may mistakes. I know I make mistakes. But he honestly believes in good government and is willing to stick his neck out for it. That trait is far more remarkable than it should be. Thanks Martin.

4-6-11: court tonight, ethics in the news (lack there of), events coming up in the county you might not know about

Tonight I will be in court in Stuyvesant before Judge Bruno making motions regarding the false, impossible charge lodged against me based on a law that has never been enforced before in the history of the town (or even known) three days after bringing evidence of wronging doing of town employees to the attention of the town supervisor and chair of the county ethics board, Valerie Bertram. I could go to jail for up to 15 days for the same impossible, false charge that lead to the zoning and planning harassment you may have heard about.

Want to come? 6:30 PM Stuyvesant Town Hall.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to the make the play at Hawthorne Valley in which our friend and neighbor is performing.

Anti-abortion activist in jail. Wow.

Will Hudson jail be open for long?

Skate park moves forward. Ghent.

Big Up event in Ghent moves forward.

Do not miss this bike swap! Cool blog about it. Copake.

This is good. All these towns and villages do not need courts. I'll be in one of these useless courts tonight arguing against a politically motivated hit, so I should know.

Obituary:  Roy Edward "Bud" Cunningham Jr., 83.

Hudson mayor talks about what to do with empty or closed buildings... which we will have more of.

I was in Rhinebeck the other day and in the city on Monday. Everywhere I go I get a better internet connection than my Fairpoint DSL at home. We need better internet around here.

Sam Pratt finds signs of spring in the friendly city.

And then Sam Pratt puts some nails in the coffin of the idea of merging Greenport and Hudson.

Here is a blog by local radio personality about ethics at the state level. If the state can't get an effective ethics policy, I hope my federal suit will force some changes at the local level. I will argue that New York State has no system for enforcement of ethics at the local level now, assuming the judge allows the argument.

See you tomorrow if I'm not locked up.

"Whatcha in for?"

"Dog barking."

"You barked like a dog? You mean, you were high on crack, butt naked and standing in Times Square barking like a dog."

"No, I mean my dog barked."

"Your dog barked but they put you in jail? What did they do to the dog?"

"Nothing. The dog's home now sitting on the porch chewing a stick."

"They didn't make him spend a night in the pound or nothing?"

"Nope."

"Well, dogs are supposed to bark. I mean if he said Meow, then maybe they would lock him up for that."

"What you in for?"

"I grew a plant in my garden that if you smoke it, you feel nice."

"That's crazy! They locked you up for growing a plant!"

"Yeah, and I didn't even plant it. It just grew!"

"Crazy place. Police state."

"Well, I'll tell you what. If I were you, the first thing I would do when I got out of here would be to take that dog straight to Michael Vick. Here you go, Michael, here's your new dog."

"Naw, the dog didn't do anything but bark."

"Still, you took the fall for it. Better teach that dog to moo."

4-5-11: move over for cops giving tickets, crowd sourcing, bad news at Hudson school budget meeting

Motorist New Lebanon arrested for not changing lanes to make room for trooper to write someone else a ticket.

Here is the new president of Haiti.

Borders is out of business. The internet promises a pee-free future.

Hudson schools in big trouble.

Reservoir in Philmont. Nice photo.

Art fair comes to Hudson.

Hudson camera sign. Friendly city.

Prisoners to train to dogs.

Karl Rove has a good idea. I would like something like what he proposes for this County, a local wikipedia. Wikicoco is the local wikipedia. Write anything you want and wait and see if anyone adds/corrects/changes anything. Go ahead. Upload documents, write comments, create pages. Opinion, business, politics, whatever you want.

The Farm Stay at Kinderhook farm looks really nice.

Photo from Copake.

Sky Farm in Copake.

Hudson kid play.

4-4-11: saturn, trails, photos, comments

Last night would have been the best night of the year to see Saturn (we want to see the rings with our telescope). But it was too cloudy. We've got time to see it all month though, until the moon messes it up. The moons of Jupiter were great and we're hoping the rings of Saturn don't slip by us this month.

Back and forth in Copake.

"Oh no. Controversies. Hurt feelings. I better stay out of politics."

Another stranger comments argument on my other blog. Check the comments on this one. I'll respond if she writes in again.

Scenic Hudson has a nice brochure up.

This cool, modern house just keeps popping up.

Sweet potatoes and flowers, says our local photographer and gardener Starr Ockenga.

He escaped from prison yesterday. Today he's back.

I registered for this and forgot to go! Damn!

Don't miss Hudson school meeting like I did the trails.

If you can't get a good picture at Art Omi, you can't take a good picture... Cool shot.

How about a Hudson foreclosure? Pick something up cheap and renovate it?

Need someone to take care of your second home?

Why is Facebook becoming Wikipedia? Taconic State Park gets a nice write up.

We don't need a nuclear power plant. No kidding.

Obituary: A Van Buren from Kinderhook. RIP.

A letter from Martin Roby to Ron Knott I cut and pasted from the Stuyvesant Yahoo Forum:

Mr. Deputy Supervisor Ron Knott,

I am confused by your press release confirming that you will be running for Stuyvesant Supervisor. It makes no mention of the Federal Lawsuit.

The town is currently facing a major issue here; As a tax payer I would like this issue to be resolved as quickly as possible. As tax payers we have already spent tens of thousands of dollars on this issue. It seems that "common sense" would dictate that you at least address your view on how this issue might be handled.

A lot of people are pointing to our Zoning Enforcement Officer Gerald Ennis as the original source of the issue; seeing as how he revoked the permit given to Mr. Pflaum , by The Stuyvesant Planing Board without having the authority to do so. While their are now dozens of side issues; this seems to be the root of the issue. What is your opinion on this ?

You are not only on the Town Board; but also the Deputy Supervisor; I don't understand why you could not have worked on any issue you felt needed more attention. You have the ability to make motions at the Town Meetings; if you felt that something was wrong you certainly had the ability to work to correct that issue.

The last question I would like to ask you about is the indirect employment issue that was talked about, at the last planing board meeting by Mr. Shanahan. Mr. Shanahan claims that Mr. Pflaum has violated the terms of his permit because of a claim once made on an Internet group (the stuyvesantforum) that he provides employment to people indirectly. As a small business owner in Stuyvesant and a man offering to bring common sense to the town of Stuyvesant I am wondering if you could address this issue. I think the planing boardis so wrong it was painful to listen to the twisted logic they attempt to use.

For example Mr. Pflaum paid me $50 to serve papers; does that mean I work for him and his permit can be revoked? I then spent that $50 on Hay for my sheep at The Gibson's farm on County route 21, are they employees of Mr. Pflaum at that point? When I sell meat to The Honest Weight Food Co Op do they become employees of Mr. Pflaum? I don't think so , at least two members of the planing board seem to think this, but I would like to hear your opinion on the matter.

If you need to review the meeting you can listen to it online here: http://eichybush.com/STUYVESANT/constitution/

Best Regards.

Martin Roby

4-3-11: goat, pizza, runaway prisoner, Ron Knott

Prisoner escaped in Hudson! True?

I saw Spottiswoode & His Enemies at Club Helsinki last night. Nice show.

New Lebanon Business Association has a great newsletter but I don't see a URL link. So you SHOULD SIGN UP FOR THE MAILING LIST.

Gillibrand has a lot of money.

IT at Columbia County. The county posted a newspaper article on it's website as its official statement?

What to do with hazardous waste in Columbia County.

Our congressman talks about his appearance in Chatham on his Facebook site.

More controversy in Copake.

More inside baseball: Ron Knott, of Stuyvesant, sent a lengthy press release announcing he's running for Supervisor. Here is the story.

Why not ask Common Ground services to come to Stuyvesant and make a presentation on mediation services for neighbor to neighbor disputes?


It's a no brainer. If Ron could simply invite them to speak and get a majority on the board to vote in favor, there might be some reason for him to be supervisor other than to do whatever, um, whatever it is, well, he wants to do.


What could be wrong with hearing a presentation on mediation services? Is that controversial? Why is Ron Knott against it when we sorely need it?


No one ever said why this proposal never took off.


I'd like to see that press release in full by the way. Hey, Ron, I'm a blogger. Send it over.

Track and field in Chatham.

Why did Fresco's in New Lebanon close? Seems like the owner had to defend his liquor license and ran out of money and the building was controlled a the bankrupt court. The business was fine. I don't like stories like that.

I got a goat!

4-2-11: underage drinking sting continues, piano, jurisdiction, bikes, summer rental season, Pflaum v. Stuyvesant

Veterans remember. CBS News video.

The sting continues! What is the underage drinking law for? Traffic safety. Remember that connection.

Nice shoes.

Old Bike swap is coming. Get out your old bikes!

News on WGXC. Nice show. Ask Francesca how that got in her inbox: I didn't send it! I was told not to. If she would upload it somewhere...

Spottiswood is playing at Club Helsinki tonight. "You won't regret it. Very original music, band of 7 and very english! We'll try to get there by 8.30 pm. Hope there's enough space." Friend of mine. 


Summer rental. 

Gossips has this cool post from 1886.

Bees.

Pflaum v. Town of Stuyvesant et al: Were it not necessary. “For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Don't get weary. Before August 2010 (too close to perfect) versus now (stressful): an unwanted obligation has appeared before me.

Accident on 203.

Classical at Helsinki schedule.

This guy in the Bronx hunts in Columbia County.

Recorded April 1, 2011:


Ollie playing Piano from glencadia on Vimeo.


Recorded a few weeks ago:


Jurisdiction: How a Fallen Tree Almost Brought on the Apocalypse from glencadia on Vimeo.

4-1-11: two copake controversies, nature takes care of the April fools obligations, Register Star controversy

April 1? Yes, I can resist... or can I... some pranks? Yes: I mean, snow should do it.


Snow in April. 


I had a couple of days of craziness so there is a lot to cover.


Little Town Life, a new and valuable blog, covers some local politics in their last post but don't miss the discussion of the Copake Police. About time someone takes a look at this issue. Congrats guys. Good. Keep it up.


There will be a PUPPET SHOW tomorrow. And this is VERY IMPORTANT to remember.


Criminal contempt charges. Paul Mossman, the county Department of Social Services commissioner. Hopefully this article is essentially fair and complete because I haven't found another one to compare it to.


Hudson Democrats made endorsements.


Funding for livestock farmers. Hey, I might qualify!


They found the cobra in the Bronx Zoo.




Jump off bridge story up on firefighter site.


Great breakdown of cuts to public schools.


Dogs in New Lebanon library tomorrow.


Martin Roby posts the audio of the March 28, Stuyvesant Planning Board meeting.


Bike trips, including around here. Here a couple Chatham bike rides I suggest to visitors from the city.


Wrong Hudson.


Article on our Congressman Gibson "man from Kinderhook." A puff piece.


Antique bike sale in Copake.


Photo gallery of bushes in and around Hudson.


When I think of the lives of the troops and their families you really can't complain too much about a little zoning harassment and some false charges in criminal court.


Andrew Wilfahr died in Afganistan. Rest in peace. Terrible.


Complaining and trying to stop the problem are two different things, mind you.




In Germany, a school decided to show the kids where their food comes from. Rather than taking a field trip to a farm, though, they asked the farmer to bring in a meat bunny and slaughter it: right in front of the children.


Glad to know other countries have stupid people too. I didn't want this to be another example of American exceptionalism.




Martin Roby also takes issue with the Register Star article about me.


It is odd to start with "the long running saga" which has never before appeared in the Register Star...

Here are Martin's Comments from the Stuyvesant Forum:

Here is Martin's opinion:

o Bob Green should not have included the statement about someone being drunk. It was not true and not news. Because he did and I was putting the meeting online I felt the need to defend the only person that has trouble collecting his thoughts and appears a little inebriated. I think he just had something going on at work, but hey a couple of beers might be the perfect thing before a Stuyvesant meeting. I find this odd because Bob Green refuses to print that Supervisor Val's property is next to the park. He feels that is "not news" but someone having a beer before a nutty Stuyvesant town meeting is?

o Bob Green quotes a lot of the more opinions then facts. The quote about the "hicks" was un-necesary. He can't print an article about Tom Shanahan, a Stuyvesant official, calling me "a god damm bozo: but he can print that?"

o Bob Green makes Will look like he is ranting about a federal lawsuit ; in fact Will does nothing of the kind.

o Bob Green Fails to point out the sound engineer has never been to the site.

o Bob Green Fails to mention the "lawyer switch trick"

o Bob Green Fails to mention the "letter reading trick"

o Bob Green Fails to mention the in-direct employee trick. A load of nonsense .

o Bob Green fails to mention facts such as Will agreed to go to the planning board, made a deal with the town attorney and was completely bamboozled.

I am no longer completely banned from commenting on stories at the Register Star site. If you go to this excellent story, (well written as usual) you see me asking if I am banned. After I found out that I was no longer banned from commenting (even when I wrote "good story guys"--  that was banned) I wrote back to say that now that I'm not banned I would like to comment... but that comment was not run.

Since I started this blog, I started to track my comments... like this one that never ran:

Thank you for including the link to my blog... I would quibble with the report of the case but I understand that a situation that has developed this far along is hard to summarize quickly. Thank you for covering county business Francesca.

But I am grateful that the Register Star ran this great comment from Andrew:

" Having not been familiar with the details of this neighbor issue, I attended the public hearing at Stuyvesant Town Hall on Tuesday night. The topic; loud and disturbing dog barking at the (sometimes up to) 50 dog kennel / “camp” on a rural side street in Stuyvesant Falls. Although there are no neighbors in close proximity, speakers who claim to be within ears shot of the kennel presented a mix of “hear no dogs barking at all ever” to “it’s non-stop all night”. The complaining neighbors assured supporters of the “dog camp” that if they were listening to barking dogs all the time, they too would be seeking relief. The substantial presence of supporters were quick to their feet speaking of good neighborly deeds and outstanding character of Pflaum. Also taking the podium were people from outside the town who came to share experiences with municipal sound ordinances that use a specific and measurable decibel point to base legal limits to noise. They maintained that otherwise, whether a sound is disturbing or not becomes a matter of subjectivity only. 

The standing room only audience became tense frequently. For example, when the Planning Board was poised to no longer allow public comment from those not living in Stuyvesant, there was an audible stir in the room. The Planning Board’s own attorney jumped in and diffused the situation by stating, “It’s a public hearing and anyone from the public can speak”. 

Board member, Sean Cummings spoke of his visit to the dog camp and findings of inaudible barking (while dogs were enclosed). Board member, Tom Shanahan grilled Pflaum’s attorney in a sarcastic power-play that was continuous and difficult to watch. At one point, both Shanahan and fellow Board member, Pat Casey stated in concert that Pflaum was in violation of having more than “two full time employees” which is all that’s allowed for a Stuyvesant “home business” permit. Casey and Shanahan believed that in Pflaum‘s own words, he had in avertedly confessed to this. From the behind dais, a section of a letter penned by Pflaum himself was read aloud to the room. In it, Pflaum states that his business in Stuyvesant is responsible for “directly and indirectly” employing six people. Pflaum maintains that the number represented both the two full time employees he has , and also other services to whom he in turn “indirectly” employs by nature of having a small business. What part of “directly and indirectly” do Shanahan and Casey not understand? Plaum’s attorney offered up payroll records to Stuyvesant Planning Board to demonstrate the two person payroll. The dog camp owner is offering his own compromises in order to work with the complainants. These measures include keeping the dogs enclosed from 7 PM until 7 AM each day. Midway through the speakers, it became evident that Plaum, although already given permission by this Board to conduct his business, was making his own concessions in an attempt to accommodate complaining neighbors, who in turn offered no solution other than shutting the dog camp down and restoring the values of their properties which they allege are now adversely effected. Ironically, two neighbors who have lived there for 35 years are Realtors disagree. They frequently walk the neighborhood and hear dog barking that is coming from the other households. They then listed neighboring homes to the few complainants that have dogs who are left out on leashes and enclosed in cages in other neighborhood yards. I see sloppy-speak on behalf of Planning Board Members that could add-up to some serious dollars in the tax-payer-funded “Stuyvesant Legal Defense Fund”. The town needs work with this local small business and hopefully attract more small businesses to town. "