Writog

OK, I See The Monster Spider But Where's Clint?

2012-01-24T03:50:00.001-05:00

Isn't there supposed to be truth in advertising?

I caught the 1950s creature feature, Tarantula, on the boob tube the other day, courtesy of the This TV network. It's one of the giant insect movies from that period like Them! (giant ants) and The Preying Mantis (guess giant what).

In a giant insect movie something -- usually radiation -- transforms an ordinary squishable bug into a carnivorous colossus on the loose. Tarantula is one of the better big bug films but it does have its stupid moments. For example, take the bedroom scene with the pulchritudinous Mara Corday who portrays a college student majoring in biology (how appropriate). The giant arachnid is leering through her bedroom window at night, his fangs pressed against the glass. Please note the monster's glowing eyes are about the size of Mac Truck tires.

Of course, as our heroine is retiring for the evening, she doesn't notice a 30-story Peeping Tom ten feet away emitting a weird insect sound and crunching up the ground outside. So while genetics has blessed her with the beauty of a goddess, she ended up with the observational powers of a box of rocks.

Mara's co-star is John Agar who made a number of other sci fi/monster films. But after the commercial breaks, what star did This TV feature when IDing the movie with banners at the bottom of the screen? Clint Eastwood.

Huh?

As one movie reviewer observed, don't blink or you'll miss Clint's very brief appearance at the end of the movie. The Air Force calls out its jets to stop the mutant tarantula. Clint portrays the squadron leader who takes out the monster with napalm. (Maybe his character was practicing for the upcoming Vietnam War.) With his face covered with an oxygen mask, Clint's recognizable more for his voice than his visage. By my estimate his total screen time is 15 seconds, if that.

I wonder how many Eastwood fans unfamiliar with this movie got suckered into watching the whole thing and were so distracted by the strafing napalm action that they didn't notice their hero? Clint's name doesn't even appear in the credits. At least his bit role in this project prepared him for portraying tough characters in cop and western films that established him as a Hollywood star.

Hey, you want to really see Clint in a monster movie? Check out Revenge of the Creature in which he has a small role as a lab technician. Clint as a scientific brainy type? Well, it worked for Mara Corday in Tarantula.

Jamming With The Jills

2012-01-23T12:47:00.000-05:00

PLATTSBURGH CITY -- 1/21/12

I've never been sports-minded* but I'm open to checking out something different, especially if it's an opportunity to hone my photo skills. So Saturday evening I attended my first roller derby event, a scrimmage held at the City Recreation Center (AKA the Old Base Gym).

If you're not familiar with roller derby, here's brief explanation using the black team - blue team analogy. (Considering how rough the sport can be, those are appropriate colors.) All the skaters race around an oval track. For each period of play there is a major grouping of players -- both black and blue -- forming a pack (blockers). Twenty feet behind that formidable array are two "jammers," one black, one blue.

When the whistle blows, everyone starts skating. Each jammer has to work her way through the pack, her teammates helping her along while her opponents block her from getting ahead and scoring points.

That's a very simplified explanation and this YouTube video does a better job:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T8izdlc-dY

The local team, the North Country Lumber Jills, started out strong, having a 30 point lead on the opposing team, the Black Ice Brawlers. The Brawlers' strategy seemed to be allowing the Jills to lead a bit, wearing themselves out. The Brawlers saved their strength for a push in the second half to win. Final score: Jills - 84, Brawlers 101.

(Man, I'm starting to sound like a rabid TV sports commentator. Where's the mouth wash?)

Like I said I was interested in seeing how well I could handle imaging an indoor sporting event with dodgy lighting. Jamming through a difficult shoot. Trying different methods, using available light or filling in that light with some flash or using flash as the dominate light source.

So I was paying attention to the game but from a different perspective. Even though I'm not into sports per se, I can appreciate the skill and determination of athletic competitors. I wanted to bring out through images the effort it takes to compete in roller derby, the forward drive to score, the fight through the pack, aided by teammates while being blocked by opponents. Not an easy sport, even with the helmets and padding. Sometimes hard falls are taken. But the players get back up and keep the momentum going. Just like life.

As competitive as it was, the scrimmage never got out of hand, either the players or the audience. No one got verbally abusive or violent, unlike some Little League baseball games I've heard about.

Below are links to photos I took during the event. The Jills are attired with red plaid team colors.

This link will take you to the entire set:

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjyf2QYx

And embedded below is a slideshow of the same images:

* One time an unidentified company used to run a classified newspaper ad under Employment that stated it was looking for "sports-minded" people. I never took the bait but I talked to someone who did. He told me the ad was for an insurance company.

The sports-minded angle was a way to sell insurance. An agent would meet a stranger and bring up the topic of last night's game. That was an opening to turn the stranger into a policy owner.

I'm glad I never wasted time checking out the story behind that job. I'm not insurance-minded.

More Dogtown Dooings

2012-01-20T03:29:00.000-05:00

Viewer discretion is advised.

http://dogtown12901.blogspot.com

ROTA: Players, Puppets, And Pure Fun

2012-01-17T06:23:00.000-05:00

PLATTSBURGH CITY -- 1/15/12

The Pure Fun Tour stopped in at the Rota Gallery And Studios Sunday evening. There was also a special appearance by local performer Adrian Aardvark.

Defying the frostbiting temps people showed up to enjoy puppets, magic, folksy (punk) tunes, and ukulele sing-alongs.

Located at 19 Clinton Street, Rota is a drug and alcohol free establishment that sponsors all-ages events. For more info on upcoming events:

Website: http://rotagallery.com/

Email: rotagallery (at) gmail (dot) com

If the embedded slideshow above doesn't work or to see larger images:

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjy7xyBK

Justice For Christopher: Update

2012-01-06T04:22:00.002-05:00

It's been a long journey for Christopher Rigsbee but he's closer to seeing a resolution to his case.

Back on November 19th, 2010, he and his girlfriend were brutally assaulted on Broad Street in Plattsburgh City by a group of men. Chris was stomped on, teeth knocked out. After an ER visit, he had to go to a dentist to have gravel removed from his gums.

City police were soon contacted after the attack and for some time the case seemed to be stalled in the system.

Jump to November 10th, 2011. As the result of grand jury proceedings one man was found mainly responsible for the assault. According to Chris in a recent interview, the others present during the attack testified against one man. That man's lawyer entered a guilty plea and all that remains is the man to be arrested and officially charged.

From what Chris has heard from a Plattsburgh Police Department detective, the man played on a local college team and is recovering from a sports-related injury in a Syracuse area hospital. According to the detective, when the man is released from the hospital, he will have to return to Plattsburgh and be formally processed. After that restitution will be paid.

Things are getting back to normal for Chris, as about normal as they can for a victim of a vicious beating. He found help through the Crime Victims Bureau at the Clinton County Probation Department which provided funds for dental work. Chris now has permanent implants to replace his missing teeth, thanks to the efforts of dentist Dr. Tom Gerner.

When Chris does receive restitution, that money will be paid into the Crime Victims Bureau fund to help other victims recover.

But for that to happen, one of the last steps has to be taken. So far Chris hasn't heard from the PPD regarding the formal charging of the one who pled guilty to the crime.

PPL: Jobs Spared The Ax But Problems Remain

2011-12-31T03:58:00.001-05:00

Common Council meeting, 12/28/11. It was midpoint during the holiday season but most seats were taken in the council chambers, many by library supporters.

I can hear the tired groans of some readers, mutterings about "He's yammering again about the Plattsburgh Public Library." I'm also sick of the topic but for a different reason.

The recent budget crisis didn't have to happen. It didn't have to play out the way it did. And unless certain problems are addressed, a replay might be in the future.

To paraphrase Benjamin J. Grimm: It's yammering time.

One of the biggest problem areas in the budget train wreck: communication. Specifically, the lack of it.

Mayor Donald Kasprzak has stated that he warned the PPL Board of Trustees three years ago that there were problems with the library's budget. Some library employees tried to pass on the same concerns to the trustees but were reprimanded.

And what happened over those three years? The finite contingency fund was used to meet increasing costs of operation. And the Library Board voted for another raise for Library Director Stan Ransom.

In an essay that appeared in the Press-Republican back on February 18th of this year, "In My Opinion: Library director's raise explained," the Library Board answered criticism from the mayor, justifying its position. If it was aware of the budget crisis back then as others have said, the board should have been writing a piece about the need for no one to get a raise, even the director.

As part of the recent deal to save four PPL jobs, employees are going to take home smaller paychecks: they are losing two hours each week, have to pay more for health insurance, and won't see any raises for the next three years.

I've known Stan Ransom for a long time; he has always treated me well. It seems that this is a case of a good man with good intentions who unfortunately ended up with bad results.

But he shouldn't burden all the responsibility.

As I've heard a few times before, the Library Board has a fiduciary responsibility to the public (and library employees). Yes, the trustees are unpaid volunteers and probably get more blame than credit overall. But that doesn't change the fact that they didn't keep a close eye on the budget situation, especially after a warning from the mayor, and that all they could recommend was to lay off people instead of considering other alternatives.

At a Common Council meeting Mayor Kasprzak said that he was annoyed that people were complaining to him about the library budget crisis, the plan to ax four positions. Instead, he pointed out, people should take their complaints to the Library Board because it operates as an independent governing body.

It's true that the board does operate with independence but the mayor forgot to mention one important detail: the trustees are appointed by him and the Common Council.

And if the board seems to be falling back into its old bad pattern as the new year rolls on, maybe it's time for the mayor to work on unappointments and better appointments if that's within his power. If not, whoever's in charge in City Hall when the appointments run out should pick carefully.

Anyway, enough yammering about problems. Let's take at a look at some suggestions, positive steps that can be taken.

Communication has to be improved among all parties. Councilor Tim Carpenter's plan includes the creation of a grievance committee to handle complaints. If employees have concerns, the board should listen, especially if the employees are aware the train is going to jump the tracks again.

Press-Republican acting as Personnel Office.

The trustees have to be less aloof. No more employees finding out that their jobs might be on the chopping block by reading it in the newspaper instead of hearing it at work. Less secrecy. Does the executive session option have to be invoked so often when the board meets, keeping the public and the media in the dark? And to make the meetings more accessible to the more of the public (those who work 9 to 5) why not move the meeting time to later in the evening like 6 or 6:30? 4:30 PM is too early for most people.

Does the board have to be so big? It has thirteen members now with some wards with only one representative while others have four. A smaller board might be more effective, giving more equal representation.

More oversight by both the board and the public is needed. A good step in the right direction was the addition of an accountant to the board. Also, let's all be on the same page, no more two or three versions of the budget floating around, playing the "Who's got the real budget?" game.

It's time -- right now, not later -- to look at other ways to fund PPL.

For example, Reference/Local History Librarian Kelly Sexton has an idea: operate the library as a special district so that not only the city but surrounding townships can support it. This has been done with success in the Glens Falls - Queensbury area and in other communities.

A few thoughts to consider.

I don't want to see history repeat itself when we can learn from it and not be doomed.

Doomed to more yammering.

And not from just me but also library supporters who showed up at public meetings and vocally pressed for a better solution than canning four people. Great job, people.

And if I may repeat myself...

There are two kinds of people you should never eff with: librarians and library patrons.

PPL: Four Jobs Off The Chopping Block

2011-12-28T19:21:00.001-05:00

The suspense was over tonight as the Plattsburgh City Common Council voted to approve additional funds to the Public Library 2012 budget, thus saving four positions.

By a unanimous vote the Plattsburgh City Common Council approved an additional $60,000 to the 2012 Plattsburgh Public Library budget, thus saving four jobs that at one point were in danger of being eliminated.

One could feel the collective sigh of relief. It's been a rough month for all library employees, not only for those whose positions were on the chopping block. The employees work together as a family and what affects one affects all. Also, such cutbacks would have added to the difficulty of an understaffed library running smoothly. PPL has seen a jump in usage due in large part to the bad economy that has forced many people to stretch their budgets by taking advantage of free materials offered by the library.

By having the vote tonight everything is wrapped up, said councilor Tim Carpenter. There had been concern by both employees and patrons that the uncertainty about the four positions wouldn't be resolved until January when the Common Council finalized the city budget. By voting tonight, said Carpenter who also serves as council liaison to the library, the last step was taken to assure that four PPL employees would retain their jobs.

Carpenter has been instrumental in saving the jobs. During the meeting he said he worked with 57 other people and he gave everyone credit for their efforts. But it was Carpenter who took the initiative and came up with an alternative budget plan. Representatives of the local AFSCME union also had an alternative budget proposal but it wasn't favored by the PPL Board of Trustees. Fortunately Carpenter's plan met with approval by the Library Board.

After the meeting Carpenter said that barring the closedown of a major industry in the city, meaning a severe cut in tax revenue, the jobs at PPL should be OK.

Despite the fact it was midpoint in the holiday season, most chairs in the Common Council chambers were filled. Before Carpenter’s plan was considered, Mayor Donald Kasprzak was surprised when he opened the meeting to public comment and none of the library supporters spoke. Sitting in the audience, I felt that people were anxious to hear the news, one way or the other, good or bad. Comments would only prolong the tension.

After the vote Library Board President Roland Lockwood commented to the council that he was glad that everyone worked together and made the compromises needed to keep the four jobs.

PPL: Library Board Reinstates Four Positions

2011-12-27T17:31:00.000-05:00

PLATTSBURGH CITY – Tues. 12/27/11 5 PM

The Plattsburgh Public Library Board of Trustees has reinstated the four PPL positions that were on the chopping block, going with city councilor Tim Carpenter’s alternative budget proposal.

Back on Dec. 5th, the board had voted to eliminate the four positions in dealing with a budget shortfall. Local AFSCME union representatives and Carpenter each presented alternative budgets to the board which after consideration favored the city councilor’s plan.

Yesterday library union members voted unanimously to accept Carpenter’s plan.

At this evening’s board meeting local AFSCME union president Denise Nephew was present. According to her, the decision to reinstate the four positions wasn’t official until she reminded the trustees that a motion had to be made and carried. The board promptly did this.

Following the meeting Tim Carpenter said that 58 people were involved in trying to save the four jobs. He added that everything was contingent on the Common Council accepting his plan and providing an additional $60,000 to the PPL 2012 budget.

Due to the holiday season, the Common Council meets tomorrow evening, one day earlier than its usual schedule. The council’s regular meeting begins at 5:30 PM, Wednesday, Dec. 28th in the City Hall second floor chambers. Library supporters are urged to attend this meeting.

Councilor Reports On His Plan To Save PPL Jobs

2011-12-21T18:45:00.000-05:00

PLATTSBURGH CITY – Wednesday, 12/21/11

A plan to save four jobs at the Plattsburgh Public Library is under consideration, its success contingent on various factors.

During the new business portion of this evening’s Common Council meeting councilor Tim Carpenter reported on what was happening so far with his alternative budget plan for the Plattsburgh Public Library. He said his proposal was favored by the library Board of Trustees at a special meeting it held the previous evening.

Due to a budget shortfall the Board of Trustees had recommended the elimination of four jobs. That action may occur if things don’t fall into place by December 28th.

Carpenter, who is also the council’s library liaison, said the union representing library employees, AFSCME, had to agree to the cuts in his alternative budget plan.

After the meeting AFSCME Vice President Karen Ricketson said the union planned to have PPL employees vote on Carpenter’s plan before the Common Council convenes again next week.

Also contingent on Carpenter’s plan being put into place is the city kicking in an additional $60,000 to the library’s budget.

PPL: All Ayes For Carpenter’s Plan

2011-12-20T23:31:00.001-05:00

The Plattsburgh Public Library Board of Trustees held a special meeting to consider alternative budget plans intended to prevent employee layoffs.

"From the common sense point of view and the ethical point of view, if there is a way, we have to find a way, to give four people who have been faithful servants not a Christmas present that says 'We're dumping you.'" – Harold Brohinsky, PPL Board of Trustees member

PLATTSBURGH CITY – Tuesday evening, 12/20/11

After comparing two alternative budget proposals the Plattsburgh Public Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously in favor of the one put together by Tim Carpenter.

Due to a budget shortfall the board had recommended on December 5th to cut four positions. Since that time library supporters have rallied and voiced their concerns, resulting in the formation of an ad hoc committee that met the previous night to listen to plans being offered by the local AFSCME union and city councilor Carpenter who is also the Common Council library liaison.

The deciding factor between the two plans was that Carpenter’s had a longer range and could provide stability beyond next year.

Board president Roland Lockwood felt the AFSCME union proposal only provided a short term solution with its year and a half contract; the board needed longer than that to get the library back in the shape it should be in.

While not favoring the AFSCME plan, trustee Harold Brohinksy said the union proposal was an excellent contribution in that it showed the union had a strong commitment to make sacrifices.

After the vote trustee Sally McSweeny said: "We should note that this vote [in favor of Carpenter's plan] is contingent upon receiving a union memorandum of understanding prior to December 28th and if not we have already voted in previous meetings to reduce staff... and it's also contingent on the city council voting on [December] 28th to kick in [additional funding]."

While the employees slated for layoff are glad there’s a positive initiative to save their jobs, there are still factors that might affect the outcome.

December 28th quickly approaches.

Tim Carpenter will report to the Common Council tomorrow evening regarding the results of his plan. The weekly council meeting has been moved up one day due to the holidays to Wednesday, December 21st. It starts at 5 PM with a work session and then the regular meeting follows at 5:30 PM in City Hall.

PPL: Overheard

2011-12-20T23:24:00.000-05:00

Killing time but comfortably.

I'm ensconced in a big chair with overstuffed cushions on the main floor of the Plattsburgh Public Library. Upstairs the PPL Board of Trustees is in executive session, meaning this blogger, other members of the media, and the public have to wait here until the meeting is open to all again.

With notepad in hand I scribble some notes. Behind me some library employees discuss various issues concerning the PPL budget shortfall, concerned about four jobs on the chopping block.

Closer to me I hear grumbling. A man sitting at one of the public access computers is thinking out loud to himself about taxpayer's money being wasted. But he's not reacting to a news item on his computer screen about District of Corruption drunken spending, but to the sight of the PPL employees -- who at the moment aren't on the clock -- just standing around and talking.

I can't help but overhear him complain about the apparent (to him) waste of his tax dollars. He talks on, saying that $8.00 an hour times X number of employees times so many work hours per week times 52 weeks in the year -- well, that was big amount of money wasted.

Yup, that's a lotta good money down the crapper IF every employee spent every minute of every work hour goofing off, as it were. But I've never seen that at the library. The PPL employees are already understaffed, trying to keep up as it is. Cut four positions and see how long it'll take for service.

Regarding the employees that triggered the man's personal tirade, one was on vacation and the others were either off-duty, done for the day or on break.

It's been a tense time for the library staff. Since they're human beings, not robots, they're allowed to talk about the proposed cuts hanging over PPL, relieving a bit of stress.

Of course, the man sitting at the computer is allowed to deal with his own tension and express himself -- within reason -- but still...

Two thoughts pop into my head.

First, if you're a guest in someone's home, don't be rude to your host.

Second, if the disturbed man at the computer turns out to be a Tea Party supporter against "socialism," how can he justify using a public access computer free of charge, paid for by taxpayer funds?

PPL: Good Meeting, Cool Heads

2011-12-20T04:30:00.000-05:00

AFSCME union Vice President Karen Ricketson (top left) and AFSCME union President Denise Nephew (lower left) confer before the commencement of the library ad hoc committee meeting with chair Harold Brohinsky (middle right). In the background a wall poster marks PPL's 110 years of service.

PLATTSBURGH CITY -- Mon. 4:30 PM 12/19/11

Digital thermometer readout: 82 degrees F. (27.7 C to the rest of the world.)

To compensate for underheating the recently fixed Plattsburgh Public Library boiler decided to crank up the temps in the second floor conference room. From freezing to frying. I was down to a t-shirt and still felt too toasty.

Despite the sticky conditions the tone of the ad hoc committee meeting remained cordial. The committee was formed to deal with the PPL budget crisis. Back on December 5th the library's Board of Trustees voted to eliminate four positions to deal with a shortfall.

Harold Brohinsky, a trustee, chaired the meeting. Sitting with him were trustee Don Moore and also Jamie Parrotte, PPL Administrative Assistant, who recorded the details.

In his opening remarks Brohinsky stressed the purpose of the committee was to listen to alternative budget proposals and comments by the public. The committee would make no decisions but would report back to the Library Board. (The Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday, 12/20/11, also in the PPL second floor conference room at 4:30 PM.)

Two budget proposals were given to the committee. PPL librarian and local AFSCME Vice President Karen Ricketson outlined a plan by the union where cuts could be made without laying off any employees. As she had publicly stated before she said the union was willing to work with the board to avoid jobs being eliminated. She mentioned that eleven grievances filed by the union could be dropped.

Tim Carpenter presented the second proposal. Carpenter is a city councilor who also serves as the liaison between the library and the Common Council. Despite the contentious nature of the budget crisis he has acted like a politician but not in the pejorative sense. He has been trying to bring all sides together -- the board, the Common Council, the union, and the library employees. He's been a voice of reason, one of the few during the situation.

In contrast to the union proposal, Carpenter's plan focused on a four year period, looking beyond 2012. Also trying to avoid staff reduction, he proposed different cuts and also the formation of a grievance committee for the library to save on legal fees.

The meeting was then open to public comments. Four library employees took to the mic, saying both proposals should be considered. Between the two the employees favored Carpenter's four-year plan because it worked towards a more long-term solution.

After the recent upheaval it's obvious employees want stability, not uncertainty, with the library's future. Two employees found it difficult to speak, the stress evident in each one's voice. Maybe the alternative budget proposals can lead to a way to provide stability and cut stress, not staff.

What was refreshing about the meeting was the emphasis by all speakers to compromise and work together.

During previous meetings where the budget crisis was discussed, both Library Board and Common Council, library supporters found their voice and spoke up, breaking what some thought was the cold silence by city reps. Sometimes participants on each side became too warm, getting hot under the collar.

But this evening the theme was trying to find a common ground.

No more extremes.

A theme that everyone -- including the problematic library boiler -- should take to heart.

ROTA Rocks: Plattsburgh's DIY Youth Center

2011-12-18T05:25:00.000-05:00

PLATTSBURGH CITY -- Sat. 12/17/11

Frostbite night. Inside 19 Clinton Street there's heat generation from amps, blast furnace music.

This event: Local bands playing too damn loud to a few young people (and adults), young people not wandering the streets, looking for something to do.

Years ago I approached a city councilor about Plattsburgh starting its own youth center. It was needed. I knew teens who said they weren't into the drug scene but what else was there? Smaller communities in the area like Saranac Lake and Lake Placid responded to the problem by creating hang-outs for their youth. Why not P-burgh? The councilor looked into the possibility, trying to get things in motion.

Time passed. There was some talk, some plans, but nothing came to fruition. Inertia.

But as the years rolled on places opened up where young people could hang around and make some noise. One of the latest is the ROTA Studio and Gallery on Clinton Street with its All Ages -- No Drugs Or Alcohol -- shows. ROTA sometimes serves as a Do It Yourself youth center, no city sponsorship.

And if ROTA and other such venues should disappear? Well, don't bitch about "today's youth" wandering the streets.

Energy needs to be channeled, expressed.

(Note: If the embedded videos below don't work or you want a larger view, use these links:

http://youtu.be/uC_st2LsKNo

http://youtu.be/da81W45ook4 )

PPL: Special Meeting Dec. 19th

2011-12-16T15:40:00.000-05:00

Pasted below is a copy of an item by library supporter Amy Bonn that she shared via Facebook.

* * *

Dear Plattsburgh Folks Concerned about the Library,

Mr. Lockwood, President of the Board of Trustees, just called to let me know that an Ad Hoc Committee of the Board will be meeting on Monday, December 19th at 4:30 pm in the Library Conference Room to discuss, with the Union, a new budget. All members of the community and welcomed and encouraged to attend this meeting.

On Tuesday, December 20th at 4:30 pm in the Library Conference Room the entire Library Board of Trustees will meet to review and discuss the proposal and feedback from the Union.

Please try and attend these meetings and please share this information with others.

Thanks,

Amy

PPL: Mayor Shares His Perspective, Responds To Critics

2011-12-16T00:32:00.001-05:00

PLATTSBURGH CITY -- Tues. 12/15/11

At this evening's Common Council meeting Mayor Donald Kasprzak spoke out regarding the controversy over the proposed staff cuts at the Plattsburgh Public Library.

"I have some comments," the mayor opened his remarks, "that I have been withholding for months and months on the library. And you want some answers and I'm going to give you answers and you're not going to like to hear the truth."

He said when he first arrived in City Hall five years ago the city was experiencing financial difficulties. He knew what had to be done but when speaking with management and unions it was obvious to him that not everyone was going to cooperate. In dealing with the city's budget problems, the mayor said he was being represented in various media as someone not willing to listen to people and that wasn't true.

The mayor told Councilor Tim Carpenter, library liaison, that he hoped that Carpenter's endeavor would save jobs. Carpenter had announced that while he couldn't give details to the public at this point, there was an effort going on to prevent the job cuts.

Kazprzak said that it was important to him to save those jobs.

He said he took exception to a statement that appeared in a Press-Republican article that he felt unfairly criticized Library Board member John Prim. Local AFSCME union President Denise Nephew who represents library staff was quoted:

"What does he (Prim) know about running a library? They need to listen to those who have worked there for 30 years and know how to run a library and to the people who care about the library."

(Article: "Library Board to study union offer" 12/15/11)

Kasprzak agreed with a councilor who said the statement "besmirched" John Prim's name and that it didn't recognize the hard work Prim had put in as a board member.

The mayor said that part of the problem with the library involved difficult dealings with the AFSCME president and vice-president. It was his opinion that those two individuals cared more for themselves than the people they represented. He cited the problem of sick time being misused that drove up overtime costs, adding to the budget shortfall.

Kasprzak touched upon the problem of funding sources from the state and grants being cut.

"If I was making decisions over there [at PPL]," he said, "I would forgo state aid right now. 2012 wouldn't have any... If you think, if anybody in the world thinks, New York State in its present fiscal state is going to give more money to the libraries across this state, you're fooling yourself, folks. It's not going to happen."

Even Plattsburgh City, he added, wasn't receiving fiscal aid at the same levels. He recommended dropping the library's hours of operation to forty a week.

Another decision he would make if he could would be not to lay off the four positions requested by the Library Board but instead the employees who have been abusing sick time.

I recorded the video that accompanies this post to document the mayor's comments about the library situation. Unedited, it contains all of his remarks except for his opening statement.

PPL: Good Meeting, Bad Vibes

2011-12-14T04:20:00.006-05:00

PLATTSBURGH CITY - TUES. 12/13/11

With four jobs on the chopping block, about 45 library supporters attended the Tuesday evening meeting of the Plattsburgh Public Library Board of Trustees held in the PPL second floor auditorium.

Overall supporters maintained a positive tone, those speaking to the board offering suggestions, saying that people were ready to volunteer, ready to work with the trustees.

But as you can from my video accompanying this post, underlying tensions remain between some supporters and board members. PPL Librarian Karen Ricketson, who is also vice-president of the local AFSCME union, went into detail during her presentation how other areas of the library budget could be cut and ways to make up the shortfall. But when she asked the board president Roland Lockwood when he could get back to her about the alternate budget, he said he had no idea, not offering any time frame.

Two supporters in the crowd spoke up, asking why the board was being so negative.

Later on in the meeting Ricketson took exception to how a board member was categorizing her union. The member implied the union was a source of increased costs for PPL through its filing of grievances and the legal feels that ensued. Ricketson stated that the union had always preferred to work things out without the need for legal representation.

Board member John Prim snipped that all the union wanted to do was have everything given to it. Board President Roland Lockwood loudly rapped his gavel, ending the heated exchange. He empathically stated he would brook no arguments.

Plattsburgh residents Stuart Voss, Russell Puschak, and Amy Bonn spoke to the board, trying to keep things positive, offering suggestions in how to deal with the budget train wreck.

Former city councilor Voss said that while there was a 2 per cent tax cap, other communities went over that cap when needed.

Plattsburgh Middle School teacher/librarian Puschak cited the example of the Glens Falls - Queensberry area that created a special funding district for its library. Maybe some time in the future, he said, a similar arrangement could be made with Plattsburgh Town.

But for all the openness and willingness to work together, the board remained generally cool, it didn't return the positive vibes. Amy Bonn, advocate of an ad hoc committee to look at the library budget again, had to press the trustees a bit to get someone to say they would respond within five days. Bonn and other supporters didn't expect an immediate response from the board or even one in twelve hours. But they never expected the board to provide no time table at all.

Supporters stressed the need to take action because there was one month left to find other answers to the problem. Jobs might be saved. While the board made recommendations to eliminate positions, the city Common Council had the final say and wouldn't finalize its budget until next month.

From what I've seen from its last two meetings, I get the impression the PPL Board of Trustees is in a time stream that moves at a different rate than the rest of the world.

Signs Of The Times

2011-12-12T13:54:00.002-05:00

(Click on image to enlarge if needed.)

PPL Budget Crisis: Citizens Speak Out

2011-12-08T22:12:00.006-05:00

Former city councilor Stuart Voss addresses the council Thursday evening, recommending that creative means should be explored to deal with the public library's budget shortfall.

PLATTSBURGH CITY -- THURSDAY 12/8/11

City resident Kate Gardner is really upset about the Plattsburgh Public Library budget crisis.

How upset? She told the city Common Council that due to an apparent misappropriation of funds, PPL Director Stan Ransom should resign immediately.

Kate and other library supporters spoke during the open comment period at this evening's council meeting.

On Monday evening the PPL Board of Trustees voted to eliminate four positions at the library due to a budget shortfall. Apparently the problem started three years ago, involving the use of a finite amount of money in the contingency fund for expenses instead of raising the budget.

Suzanne Barton, a full-time PPL clerk whose position is on the chopping block, also spoke to the city council, questioning the supervision by the Board of Trustees. She asked what qualifications a board member had in overseeing a budget. The same point was raised by Kate Gardner during her comments. She told the board she had worked with a library board in another community and it had an accountant providing the needed financial oversight.

Speaking with Kate outside the City Council chamber, she said she had the impression that the Board of Trustees was basically a "rubber stamp board." Basically: What came in was just glanced at, stamped, and passed along.

I asked her for her reaction to what had happened (or didn't happen) at the last meeting of the Board of Trustees.

At that meeting, beside questioning the need for the trustees to go into a private executive session, a certain blogger (ahem) asked the board why the employees whose positions were on the chopping block had to find out through a newspaper article, not at a staff meeting the previous day.

Board President Roland Lockwood and others sat there; no response.

Deer in the headlights.

I had asked why didn't the board spot the budget problem sooner.

Deer in the headlights.

I wanted to hear someone else's POV about what had happened at that meeting, how the board responded.

So I asked Kate Gardner, who was also there, for her observation.

Without any prompting from me, she said: "Deer in the headlights."

There were no such stunned Cervidae* moments at this evening's Common Council meeting. At the beginning of the open comment period Mayor Donald Kasprzak said there certain rules pertaining to the forum. No questions could be asked. Questions about library matters should be directed to the Library Board. The council would only record comments. Councilors sat and listened.

Gee, I wonder if the mayor had heard about a certain blogger who had asked all sorts of pointed questions the other night at the Board of Trustees meeting.

Questions that others are asking. Questions that won't go away.

*Not familiar with that word? Ask a librarian.

Freezing Your Ass Off For Walmart

2011-12-08T00:32:00.006-05:00

A poster informs public bus riders of a new moronic policy put in effect by Consumer Square Plaza property owners.

You stand there, waiting for the bus, stomping your feet to keep the blood flowing. You're being pelted by cold rain or stinging sleet or icy snow or a combination of all three. The wind buffets you, sub-zero windchill temps piercing you to the bone. The scarf wrapped around your head is an ineffective shield: your face is going numb. Frostbite?

Winters can be tough here in the North Country.

But it's really tough for disabled and elderly people on limited incomes who don't have their own transportation. They rely on the bus system, Clinton County Public Transportation (CCPT). At some stops there is a shelter to protect them from the elements. At other stops such as the mall they can stay inside a warm building and watch for the bus.

That used to be the option for bus riders who shopped at Consumer Square Plaza. Many people living on low incomes stretch their few dollars at Walmart. They could wait inside at the main Walmart entrance and catch the bus when it made its stop out front.

But not anymore thanks to a new policy. The public bus must now stop in the middle of nowhere in the expansive parking lot, an unsheltered spot between Walmart and Sam's Club. But this policy wasn't handed down by Walmart or CCPT. It's a moronic move by the property owners of Consumer Square who control the parking lot.

The property owners say that the Walmart front entrance must be kept free for emergency vehicles. Understandable up to a point. Of course, leaving bus riders completely outdoors without any shelter -- especially the elderly and the disabled -- could end up with someone falling victim to the wintry weather. It won't be suprising if serious injury or even a death results.

Oh well, if it means extra calls for the ambulance, at least it won't be slowed down by a bus or other vehicles stopped in front of Walmart.

Maybe. I rode the bus yesterday evening and the driver had a problem making a turn because someone with a SUV was parked guess where.

Before I took my trip uptown a woman -- young and healthy -- was also waiting for the bus. She asked me how long it took to get to Walmart. I gave her what I thought was the ETA and then mentioned the new policy.

She decided to shop instead at Target in the mall. Where you can wait comfortably indoors at the rear mall entrance and catch the bus.

She became a satisfied mall, not Consumer Square, shopper.

Gee, I used the term "moronic" to describe the new policy, didn't I?

But things will be better after the six months of winter are over. Then bus riders can stand in the middle of the Consumer Square parking lot on a blazing summer day and suffer heatstroke.

PPL: What Happened?

2011-12-06T17:13:00.007-05:00

At the last PPL Library Board meeting, Denise Nephew, president of the local AFSCME union, addresses the board, saying that the union is willing to work with it in dealing with the library's budget crisis.

During a recent meeting the Plattsburgh Public Library Board of Trustees voted to eliminate three full-time and one part-time positions.

Library supporters plan to rally on, hoping to save the positions. There is a chance in that the final city budget isn't decided until January. Supporters will now be putting pressure on the city council, planning to attend its next meeting Thursday, December 8th, at 5 PM in City Hall.

So how did things end up this way?

Listening to various sources -- with different POVs and interpretations -- there seem to be two main problem areas: oversight and communication.

As one person observed, the Library Board is well-intentioned, wanting to do its best, but it isn't trained in the oversight of municipal department budgets. The budget problem should have been caught three years ago but it was overlooked until recently, snowballing to the point where cuts are needed. This shouldn't happen again as an accountant is now a board member.

PPL employees were aware of problems years ago and tried to communicate their concerns to the Library Board. This resulted in the employees being censured and receiving oral reprimands. Represented by the AFSCME union, the employees are considered by the board to be adversaries.

During the last board meeting AFSCME local union president Denise Nephew stressed the need for cooperation, that the union was willing to work with the board on the budget, finding other areas that could be cut. In the info she was given, she challenged the need for PPL to budget $48,000 for a lawyer to deal with union matters.

After the meeting it was mentioned that in the past a lawyer would represent the library pro bono.

There was also communication problems between the library director, Stan Ransom, and the city council, a misunderstanding about what money was being requested. It seemed the library director wasn't asking for an increase in the budget for the year and that he wanted to even cut part of it. But what he wanted to cut was really part of a requested increase in a certain part of the funds. Unknown to the director Mayor Donald Kasprzak had already removed the increase.

Listening to discussions about the miscellaneous items of the PPL budget, funds coming in from various sources, my head sometimes hurts trying to track it all. If I sat on the PPL Library Board I would need a big bottle of aspirin.

In fact, it seems that the budget information the union has access to isn't the same data used by the city council. It's like dealing with two different budgets at the same time. Both sides aren't on the same page of numbers. Maybe the accountant now on board can sort it out for everyone and help to eliminate headaches, not jobs.

EDITED 12/6/11 7:14 PM -- First sentence: corrected number of positions being considered for cuts, full and part-time. Revised last sentence.

Four For The Chopping Block

2011-12-05T23:43:00.001-05:00

Left to right: PPL Director Stan Ransom, Library Board member John Prim - Ward 1, and Library Board president Roland Lockwood listen during the comment portion of the meeting where it was decided to cut four positions at the city library.

PLATTSBURGH CITY, 12/5/11

Two librarians, one clerk, one page. To be axed.

The Board of Trustees for the Plattsburgh Public Library voted in favor of eliminating four positions (one trustee abstaining) at this evening's meeting.

The meeting was originally scheduled for the Clinton County Personnel Department conference room but due to so many citizens who wanted to attend it was relocated to the larger first floor conference room. Library supporters sat and stood outside the large conference table, using most of the available wall space.

At the beginning of the meeting the motion was made to move into executive session, meaning the public would have to wait outside. A blogger (ahem) in attendance asked why the first part of the meeting was being made private. The answer was given that "personnel issues" were going to be discussed and such discussion couldn't be shared with the public.

Democracy in the dark?

After the executive session was over the public was allowed back in the conference room to offer comments. Everyone who spoke at the podium urged the Library Board not to make any cuts. One person who whose position was going to be eliminated was distraught, almost in tears, telling the board how her husband's pay at his job had been cut and without the income from her own job it would be difficult for her family to make ends meet.

Board member Harold Brohinsky spoke, saying he understood how people were upset with the needs for cuts. But with tough economic times across the country -- less money coming in from federal and state sources -- there were no other options. He added if he wasn't a board member he would be on the other side, being one of the library supporters.

Brohinsky mentioned the movie, "Sophie's Choice," in which a mother had to decide which one of her two children would live, when describing the hard choices the board had to make. He stressed the board hated to take such drastic measures but there were no other options.

Other board members made similar comments about the difficulties they faced.

After the meeting I spoke with Roland Lockwood, President of the Library Board.

I asked him why did the bad news of the cuts came out without too much warning.

He replied that the Library Board was working hard to deal with the budget shortfall and didn't want to create undue concern if it could find an answer in saving the positions. But at the last minute the only option was to cut.

I asked why did the PPL employees and the public had to learn about the possible cuts through the local newspaper.

He replied: "I don't know." He added that when he was employed in private industry that someone would be let go without any warning, just enough time to clear out their desk.

So city government should treat its employees the same way as private industry?

Lockwood paused. "Well, not really..."

PPL: The Crux of the Budget Problem

2011-12-05T00:19:00.001-05:00

A display from July 2011 celebrating 110 years of service by the Plattsburgh Public Library.

As mentioned in a previous post employees of the Plattsburgh Public Library recently learned without any heads-up that six positions might be eliminated, the bad news being first heard through the newspaper, not from the Library Board.

So what caused the budget problem leading to the possibility of staff being axed?

There is a document posted on Facebook entitled "Script For Contacting Your Representative About The Budget Problems At Plattsburgh Public Library" that apparently provides the answer. The document is pasted below in its entirety but one sentence stands out:

"Here is the situation with the Plattsburgh Public Library, which is the central library of the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System--the use of a contingency fund (a finite amount of money) to balance the library budget for the last three years was allowed to happen by the library's Board of Trustees and the City Council and is now leading to a $150,000 shortfall for the budget year 2012."

Supporters of the library are scrambling before the next Library Board meeting that will be dealing with the issue. The meeting will be held today, Monday, Dec. 5th, in the Clinton County Personnel Department conference room, Margaret Street, at 4:30 PM. The timing of the surprise announcement gave supporters less than three days to organize. As one person observed:

"We need to get the word out to as many people as possible to call AND attend the meeting tomorrow! This is very short notice (deliberately so) and we need a LOT of support!"

A rally opposing the cuts will be held before the Library Board meeting.

* * *

SCRIPT FOR CONTACTING YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE BUDGET PROBLEMS AT PLATTSBURGH PUBLIC LIBRARY

I am contacting this office as a constituent of _______. Here is the situation with the Plattsburgh Public Library, which is the central library of the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System--the use of a contingency fund (a finite amount of money) to balance the library budget for the last three years was allowed to happen by the library's Board of Trustees and the City Council and is now leading to a $150,000 shortfall for the budget year 2012. There is a possibility of massive layoffs (more than 1/3 of the staff) and, potentially, the reduction of hours and the loss of New York State accreditation. I am asking for my representative to show support for local libraries by contacting the Plattsburgh City Council and asking to have the situation addressed in a way that preserves library service for the large number of communities that rely on Plattsburgh Public Library. There is a meeting today (December 5) at 4:30 to address this situation--can your office please contact our City leaders ahead of this meeting as a show of support?

Bill Owens: (518) 563-1406 (Plattsburgh office), (202) 225-4611 (DC office)

Janet Duprey: 518-562-1986 (Plattsburgh office), 518-455-5943 (Albany office)

Betty Little: (518) 561-2430 (Plattsburgh office), (518) 455-2811 (Albany office)

If you are a resident of the City of Plattsburgh, please contact your City Councilor as well:

http://www.cityofplattsburgh-ny.gov/About/CouncilorDirectory

* * *

Gharan Burton Exhibit @ ROTA

2011-12-04T03:33:00.001-05:00

The ROTA Studio and Gallery held a reception for artist Gharan Burton on Saturday evening. Some of his paintings feature Plattsburgh City scenes: familiar streets, buildings, and monuments treated with either traditional representation or abstract/interpretative views.

Artist Gharan Burton (right) discusses his work with two patrons.

Patrons browse through the works on display, paintings and sculptures.

A young volunteer watches the ROTA front desk.

Blindsided

2011-12-03T20:51:00.001-05:00

The bad news usually comes down through the channels at work: There might be layoffs.

But hearing the bad news initially through a newspaper article has some employees at the Plattsburgh Public Library upset. While they were aware that PPL was facing budget problems, they say they were completely left in the dark about the possible need to cut staff until they read it in a Press-Republican article.

Published online on December 2nd and then in print on December 3rd, the article discussed the retirement plans of PPL Director Stan Ransom and projects being completed at the library. ("City library director to retire" by Joe LoTemplio)

Some readers glancing at the article might not finish reading it, thinking that it was another story of a public servant looking back at his accomplishments before retirement. But towards the end of the piece, under the subhead JOB CUTS POSSIBLE, there is this statement:

"The Library Board is considering cutting six positions: two librarians, two clerks and two pages to make up the $150,000 shortfall."

This newsworthy detail rated its own article, at least a sidebar.

One commenter at the PR website, Natasha237, observed:

"Very sneaky.... Hide the part about cutting 33% of the library staff (and, therefore, services) in the next-to-last paragraph so NO ONE notices and NO ONE attends the personnel meeting on Monday. For shame, Press Republican! That is a CHEAP TACTIC!"

But someone did read the whole article and it didn't take long for the bad news to spread, especially through online channels. Getting the news that way has left some library employees feeling angry and betrayed. I heard the term "underhanded" used to describe how the situation was handled.

As one PPL employee observed online:

"We didn't even have a heads up on this one! We sat in all staff meeting yesterday and there was no mention of 6 of us being axed! We found out by reading the newspaper!"

The Library Board is holding a special meeting about the issue of axing jobs at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5th, but not at City Hall. The meeting will be held at the Clinton County Personnel Department on Margaret Street in its second-floor conference room.

Library supporters plan to rally before the meeting.

Screwed

2011-11-28T00:32:00.001-05:00

It should have been easy.

A digital weather station for home use made by Taylor Precision Products. Two units. The base station featuring a LCD display with indoor/outdoor temps and other elemental read-outs. The base can conveniently stand on your desk or hang on your wall. And the second unit, the wireless sensor to be placed outdoors -- right into the action -- that transmits info to the base.

Each unit needs a pair of batteries to function. So I open up the base station battery compartment and install the needed AAA cells. It's literally a snap: just press and open with your finger.

Now to install two AAA batteries to the remote sensor. Hey, what's this? Tiny screws, four of them, that have to be removed to open up the battery compartment.

They're crosshead screws requiring a small Phillips-head screwdriver. 99% of the homes across America don't have such a non-standard screwdriver. But I do have a jeweler's screwdriver to fix eyeglasses. It's made only for slotted screws but its tiny head seems to fit the sensor screws. So here I go...

And after fifteen minutes of frustration I give up. A stripped screwhead tells me my efforts are in vain. The metal screws are too soft to unloosen.

On back of the sensor a warning: MADE IN CHINA. I'm guessing the prison slave laborer decided to really tightened down the screws to get even with the commie dictatorship. I can't blame him.

The unit is a triple lemon: non-standard screws produced with junk metal, all permanently screwed in. Taylor Precision Products created a precise pain in the ass.

I check online reviews for the same weather station. One commenter said they kept the product and made it work by prying off the screws. Forget it. Prying off screws -- that defeats the purpose of having a weather-proof sensor. And I'm not to spend any more time and energy with a product that wasn't designed properly. Back it went to the store for a full refund.

So don't buy this Taylor-made piece of shit.

Metal Auras

2011-11-27T04:19:00.000-05:00

1/3 Lucid: Boats

2011-11-24T05:30:00.001-05:00

Two members of Lucid, Lowell Wurster and Kevin Sabourin, sometimes do gigs as a duo. Representing the other members in the band they appeared recently on WOMM - LP, a FM radio station across the lake in Burlington, VT. (theradiator.org) Lowell and Kevin performed some of their band's popular songs.

I was able to record the audio of the studio concert and wanted to use one of their songs to make a video. I was going to use photos of them performing as a duo, making a slide show. But I didn't have that many photos and I wanted to do more than a slow-moving parade of images.

Then the answer to the problem came to me in a flash...

ATTENTION: DO NOT VIEW if you have a problem with strobe effects/rapidly changing images.

Rally On A Raw Autumn Day

2011-11-18T03:24:00.001-05:00

PLATTSBURGH CITY - THURS. 11/17/11

A flock of crows fly overhead, dark wings flapping under a heavy gray sky. Winter bite in the air. What sunlight filters through the oppressive clouds is quickly fading; the days are now so short. Against the descending gloom the yellow glow of streetlights illuminate the "We Are The 99 Percent" gathering that began at 4 PM.

Despite the sucky weather they rally in Trinity Park to throw off a bit of heat and light. A chanting crowd of college students march down Margaret Street and join them, swelling the count to roughly 75 people.

Like the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators they're fed up, the vocal part of the 99% who think the elite 1% should share more. The ralliers hold up and wave homemade signs, pointed expressions on cardboard and poster board:

-- TRICKLE DOWN IS A HOAX! TAX THE RICH!

-- FAIR SHARE FOR MIDDLE CLASS WORKERS

-- I PAY NO TAXES SO I CAN MAKE MORE SWEATSHOPS IN CHINA

Some people portray the Occupy groups across the nation as spoiled rotten kids too lazy to get jobs. (What jobs?) But a number of grayhairs (besides yours truly) were present, some of them retirees like the former college professor I met. One middle-aged man held up a sign – A BETTER NY FOR ALL – a message from the union, AFSCME. Many of them grew up believing in "The System" and now they feel it has failed too many people, young and old.

After the rally I spoke with one of the organizers, Tavish Costello, at the ROTA Art Gallery. Inside with bright lighting and comfortable warmth.

At first glance a paranoid conservative might assume that Tavish -- in his mid-twenties, long dreadlocks and beard -- was one of those crazy young anarchists out to destroy America. But with his quiet demeanor and calm voice, his stress on non-violence, that stereotype doesn't apply. Tavish doesn't want to destroy the government; he just wants it to return to the time when it represented the all citizens, not a select few.

Tavish explained how the 99% movement began with Occupy Wall Street and its political action organization, the New York City General Assembly. The NYC General Assembly is a direct democracy group, allowing all voices to be heard. They discuss how to improve conditions, making the federal government become more responsive to the needs of the people, not the ultra-rich or corporations.

While the NYCGA allows all voices to be heard, anything contrary to the basic ideas of the group will be rejected, especially advocating violence. During a GA meeting, explained Tavish, members use hand signals to non-verbally communicate reactions.

He demonstrated the various gestures. He held up his open hands, palms up, saying that it meant agreement with the speaker's viewpoint. Hands down meant disagreement. Arms crossing the chest to form an X meant complete rejection, time to move on to another topic.

Following the lead of the NYCGA, Plattsburgh has its own General Assembly (www.plattsburghga.org). The group meets every Sunday at 4:00 PM at the ROTA Gallery, 19 Clinton Street, Plattsburgh City.

Recently there were shutdowns and evictions of park occupations in various communities across the nation by local law enforcement. But while that aspect might be over, the movement lives on, even in the hinterlands of New York State.

Asked about media coverage, Tavish had praise for the Press-Republican newspaper and its reporter, Steve Bartlett. He said Steve's articles were fair. But some of the online comments to those articles on the PR website? Tavish said that living in a generally conservative area as the North Country does make it hard to get the message out, to have people understand.

Following up on his comment I checked the PR site and, yes, while some defended the movement, there observations such as:

"Youth is a great thing do not waste it on crying. When the play ground bully pushes you down. What do you do? If someone controls what seems to be everything look for another angle because this one does not work. Sorry the 60's faded out 42 years ago and this is not Kent state." (http://bit.ly/viziKC)

"Why are you communists not publishing negative comments on this anarchist movement?" (http://bit.ly/vwsFkz)

"Hold a Job Fair at these rallies and watch em vacate....." (http://bit.ly/viziKC)

"When is the Press Republican and the rest of the main stream media going to really report on these anarchist groups.

"Much is orchestrated out of the White House by the community agitator-in-chief in collusion with the SEIU, Acorn, George Soros and others...

"When the Occupy movement garners support from Venezuela's Cesar Chavez, the Ayatollahs from Iran and nothing is reported in the press, something is wrong." (http://bit.ly/vwsFkz)

People who live in a simplistic world of black and white. No confusing shades of gray allowed.

Even within the 99% movement one can find various shades of opinion and belief. While some criticize President Obama for not doing enough, not standing up to the conservative Republicans, Tavish personally believes that Obama is being bi-partisan to get re-elected for another term. It's the second term, Tavish believes, that will allow Obama to accomplish what he really wants as president.

That's why he thinks that Obama wasn't behind the police actions in various cities to forcibly remove Occupy demonstrators from their encampments. It's been reported Homeland Security and other federal agencies were behind the sweep, helping to coordinate it. Tavish says that Obama -- like JFK and other presidents -- have to deal with the NWO (New World Order) group.

It's not the first time I've heard someone his age voice this conspiracy theory.

Like they say, sometimes the left circles around and meets up with the right-wing.

If things don't improve and everyone really gets pissed off, then non-violence advocates like Tavish might be faced with the problem of chaos in the streets. And if that happens, left or right, Democrat or Republican, none of it will matter if mobs of citizens across the spectrum are rioting.

Tavish and others are trying to prevent such a disaster through peaceful means.

But as he observed regarding the recent sweep of Occupy sites, the 1% must be getting worried.

Giovanina Bucci @ Koffee Kat

2011-11-15T02:25:00.001-05:00

See the entire set:

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjwJN8mM

Art Of Displacement

2011-11-14T20:09:00.000-05:00

"The Monopoly" by Dominique Bass-Terpstra

Why's a gas pump stuck in a beautiful rolling landscape?

Metal pipe. Vacuum cleaner. Bathtub. Man-made objects contrasted with natural settings or abstract backgrounds.

It's the motif of the exhibition, "Objects of Our Time," featuring works rendered in oil, acrylic paint, pencil and charcoal. The artist, Dominique Bass-Terpstra, starts with an object and then dis-places it with her creative illustrations. The gas pump disturbs the serenity of the pastoral scene both physically and mentally. It symbolizes the age of the carbon footprint, too many vehicles upsetting the natural planetary balance.

Dominique, a senior at Plattsburgh State University, was inspired when she spotted a rusty gas pump on private property. Of course, law-abiding artists don’t advocate trespassing per se but sometimes a minor transgression must be made to get the details needed from an object.

While she has been trained in the en plein air method, Dominique finds that taking a photograph of a subject and working from an image inside a studio can work just as well. But two-dimensional photos can be limiting. With a smaller subject, such as a pair of pliers, she prefers to have the subject on hand. Holding, turning, and placing the actual object help her to grok it.

Her art will be on display for about the next two weeks at the ROTA Gallery, 19 Clinton Street, downtown Plattsburgh. For more info:

Email: rotagallery@gmail.com

Phone: 1 518.586.2182

Artist Dominique Bass-Terpstra and her work, "All We Had Left".

Arnie's Wet Neon

2011-11-12T18:26:00.001-05:00

View the entire set here.

Mystery Outage

2011-11-07T19:16:00.002-05:00

Hyperlocal. Covering local news, the strength of your hometown media.

A week later and still no explanation via Plattsburgh news outlets why the power went out for most of the city on Monday, 11/31/11, at around 1:45 PM.

On Halloween day everything was juiceless for approximately five minutes, especially traffic lights, businesses and factories. In the cosmic scheme of things, a minor incident, but not so minor that it didn’t rate a few words in the daily fishwrap.

Correct me if I’m wrong but there was no mention in the newspaper or other media about what caused the problem. I Googled and searched online, found references to an Oct.19th outage, but nothing about the more recent failure. I asked around if anyone heard anything via the local media or the grapevine. Zero. Zilch. Zippo.

After waiting a week I stopped by the offices of the Plattsburgh Municipal Lighting Department to satisfy my curiosity. The friendly PMLD staff explained that a breaker blew during a line switch. Time to get a new breaker.

I was going to ask if there had been problems lately with breakers or other parts of the system, meaning that other unscheduled outages might occur. But the PMLD people were busy and had other things to do instead of being sidetracked by an inquisitive customer/blogger. Anyway, such questions are the job of “official” media – or so one would assume.

I asked the helpful PMLD staff if the “official” media contacted them or gave out an explanation of what had happened. Zero. Zilch. Zippo.

I had tried calling PMLD first but didn’t feel like playing around with voice mail, leaving a message. Walking over to its office was quicker and easier.

Please note that it’s less than a two minute walk across the street from the back door of the Plattsburgh daily newspaper to the PMLD office. After all, a major power outage is “of interest” to those affected by it.

Hyperlocal, indeed.

Shawn Parotte Studio Showcase

2011-11-04T23:25:00.000-04:00

Student guitarists recital at the Koffee Kat. Friday evening, 11/4/11.

See the entire set here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29349242@N02/sets/72157628055362766/

Halloween Murder

2011-11-01T06:18:00.002-04:00

Eye-Pleasing Accent Plants

2011-10-30T08:22:00.003-04:00

The right type of plants can add so much to a downtown's ambiance. For example, check out these Plattsburgh smart examples that emphasize the supernalness of its main street.

Street Trash Installation

2011-10-30T08:14:00.006-04:00

The mess shown in the accompanying images has been lying around for a week on a Broad Street sidewalk. Why? Is it to add the supernality of downtown Plattsburgh, NY?

Maybe the answer can be found with this definition courtesy of Wikipedia:

"Installation art describes an artistic genre of three-dimensional works that are often site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space."

Indeed, the busted bottle shards in tandem with the litterbuggery Styrofoam cup does transform my perception of that sidewalk space.

Barn Dance: Pumpkin Carvin'

2011-10-28T00:53:00.001-04:00

From creation to finished product in use.

For larger view of slideshow go here.

To view individual images use this link.

Specters In The Stacks

2011-10-24T07:49:00.003-04:00

Strange doings at a certain North Country library.

Ask the employee who worked alone one night about such an incident. The library was closed for the day. She was cleaning downstairs when she heard footsteps overhead from the supposedly empty second floor. Someone -- or something -- walked from one end of the upstairs room to the other. The cleaner quickly wrapped up her work.

Sometimes other things are heard. Another employee was working one day when a voice said to her: "Lower." She looked around. No one was there.

The next day the message became clear. She stepped on an electrical cord and it shorted out, starting to smoke. A warning from beyond?

And the same employee will also tell you about the screaming woman. She and two co-workers were busy in the work room one night after the library had shut down for the day. Only the three people were in the building -- at least in the physical sense.

Suddenly the employees heard a woman screeching, the voice apparently originating from the main floor of the building. When the co-workers checked the security camera, the main floor was empty.

But things are also seen -- not the entities themselves but their effects on the material world. Security cameras have recorded the elevator operating on its own late at night, traveling between floors, doors opening and closing.

There's the incident with the rotating rack, one of those freestanding units that can hold a variety of paperbacks or CDs. One day a young girl was twirling the rack, nothing mischievous, just looking over what was available.

Nearby a library employee watched her. The rack slowed down to a dead stop. Suddenly the young girl said: "I hate ghosts."

And on its own the rack started to rotate again.

It is said that the young girl can sense when immaterial beings are about.

For years there were whispers that the spirit of a employee from the early days of the library was making her presence known. Someone concerned about the eldritch happenings privately invited a spiritual healer to perform a energy clearing/cleansing. Such rituals can involved smudging, the burning of certain herbs, or the use of dowsing rods when employing the art of Feng Shui.

And the result of the clearing/cleansing? While the lingering spirit of the former employee has been released, allowed to pass over to the other side, it seems other entities are about, young ones, children.

But not everyone believes the library is the site of occasional paranormal activity. When asked about incidents, one employee dryly observed:

"Well, it does make interesting stories."

Barn Dance: Reel Good Tunes

2011-10-24T07:25:00.003-04:00

"Hey, my uncle has a barn. Let's put on a show!"

So Mickey Rooney supposedly said to Judy Garland and the rest of the kids in a MGM movie from the 1940s. And while the quote may be apocryphal, the stuff of Hollywood urban legends, it does express the feeling of everyday people informally gathering to create their own entertainment.

It was a cool overcast day quickly turning to night but the barn provided protection from the elements and the darkness. The loft made a great dance floor for people young and old to whirl to the bluegrass sounds of the Blind Owl Band. In the spirit of the season most arrived in costume. Elves, a lucky leprechaun, winged humanoid insects and even a colonial squire were seen.

The event was hosted by Larry Dolan, his wife Les Cosgrove, and his mother, Sandy, up dere on Mason Street, a ways outside Morrisonville.

To view the individual photos in the set with a larger view, click on this link.

Chrome Flames

2011-10-20T05:41:00.001-04:00

Sparkling Tints

2011-10-20T05:01:00.006-04:00

Click on each image to enlarge.

Dragonfly: Crashed Or Just Crashing?

2011-10-08T01:35:00.003-04:00

I'm about to ascend the front entrance to the Plattsburgh Public Library when I notice an unusual item sticking out from under the edge of one step.

Upon further investigation I ascertain it's a dragonfly. At one point he does move his head. So I'm wondering if he's just taking a rest -- a short nap -- or is recovering from a head-on with the concrete. At least he didn't take off while I grabbed a few shots.

NOTE: Clicking on each image gives you a magnified view.

Evening Walk, Ethereal Encounter

2011-10-08T01:12:00.002-04:00

So what does the above title mean? Images at my bad blog, Dogtown 12901, shall reveal the answer. If you have a sensitive stomach, DO NOT click on the link below marked BEWARE.

BEWARE

Plattsburgh Smart

2011-10-05T01:06:00.002-04:00

Hobo Nook

2011-10-05T01:01:00.002-04:00

Library Leak: Compare The Difference

2011-10-05T00:32:00.004-04:00

See the improvement between these two photos?

You don't? Well, notice the image dated 3/23/10 only has three buckets. But look at the number of buckets in the second one taken yesterday, over a year later. It's a new record for buckets!

Yes, the Plattsburgh Public Library is still leaking. Mold is growing in the walls, even inside the elevator. And now the electrical system might be affected; lights are blowing out.

And if anything shows that the City of Plattsburgh cares about its library, it's having an obstacle course placed in the entrance area. Especially for disabled patrons.

Of course, the city is tight for money. Can't spend money now. Wait until later. That way money will be saved because not only will the leak will have to be fixed, taxpayer money will have to be spent on mold removal and electrical work. That's assuming that an electrical fire doesn't break out, adding to the overall savings.

That's Plattsburgh smart!

Earthdance 2011

2011-09-30T01:47:00.008-04:00

There was a New Age vibe in Macdonough Monument park Saturday evening, September 24th. People came together to promote peace and celebrate the forests and nature. Unfortunately nature was biting, courtesy of the recent mosquito plaque.

Lively dancing helped to keep the blood-sucking pests at bay. The Blind Owl Band made the event festive with its catchy blue grass tunes. Evening soon gave way to the night, multi-colored candles scattered about the scene glowing bright in the darkness.

The event was held at the Lions Club "Bandshell." The circular cement foundation by the Saranac River provided a good dance floor but apparently one had to visualize the "shell." (If you call it a bandshell but there is no shell, then is it a bandshell? A question for great philosophers to wrestle.)

The 4th Annual Earthdance Plattsburgh was sponsored by the Red Hummingbird Foundation, a non-profit organization formed in 1999 by Don and Vivian Papson. It was one of many such events held around the world on the same date.

According to the Earthdance International Website since it was formed "Earthdance has been held annually in over 500 locations in 80 countries with all events simultaneously joining together in the Prayer for Peace – a powerful moment of coherent intention."

Don and Vivian Papson, co-founders of the Red Hummingbird Foundation, shake a leg.

(Note: The above image needed some extra photo-editing magic to make the jar in the foreground sharper. It's a composite of two different images.)

Monsters Outside My Door

2011-09-29T04:12:00.005-04:00

This is for my arachnophobic friends.

(All images taken at night. Equipment: Canon XS camera. EF-mount Vivitar 100mm f3.5 macro lens with matched life-size filter attachment. Bogen 3001 tripod with ballhead. Lighting from either built-in camera flash or CFL light bulb (the "porch light") with custom white balance setting.)

Lucid?

2011-09-26T05:05:00.003-04:00

Signs Of Conflict

2011-09-24T00:48:00.006-04:00

With both signs one would think that the lawn to the Westelcom Stage Park between Margaret and Durkee streets would be clean. Keep your dog out. If your canine craps on the lawn you must pick up after it with one of the supplied waste bags. But it seems the messages cancel each other out. Why else would this be still be found there?

And if the above censored image doesn't indicate the problem to you, then go to the disgusting uncensored version here at www.dogtown12901.blogspot.com.

(Putting up diametrically opposed instructions is what I called Plattsburgh stupid. Especially when both of them fail to stop the problem.)

Rockeater Race: Misc. Images

2011-09-22T04:40:00.003-04:00

What's a rockeater? And what is a Rockeater Adventure Race?

Rockeater is a slang term for a yokel with a low IQ and missing teeth (the teeth missing as if the person had been eating rocks). During a sketch on the TV "comedy" program Saturday Night Live people from Plattsburgh, NY were described as rockeaters. (And if you ever watch SNL you know why I put comedy in quotation marks. Plattsburgh bashing can be funny but somehow SNL pre-extracts humor from most of its sketches.)

To turn the pejorative into a positive city rec super Steve Peters used the term in naming a race held at the City Beach. Held on a sunny Saturday (Sept. 17th) the event was a combination costume party and 5-kilometer-long gauntlet with tough obstacles including concrete barriers, a dented-up car, fire and mud.

(For a better view of the images below, click on each one to see the full size.)

Rockeater Race: Ready, Set, GO!

2011-09-21T04:03:00.003-04:00

If the slideshow link below doesn't work or isn't visible, go here to view the show with a larger view.

And if that doesn't work, you can view the set as individual photos with this link.

Rockeaters Race: The Final Stretch

2011-09-19T00:51:00.002-04:00

What do you have when you combine Halloween with an obstacle course? The Rockeaters Adventure Race held at the Plattsburgh City Beach, Saturday, 9/17/11.

Click for the slideshow below. If it doesn't work or you want to view individual images in the set, go here.

Caring For Profit

2011-09-15T05:24:00.003-04:00

According to a newspaper editorial there is no reason why a private company couldn't provide the same quality of health services that a governmental agency gives to its citizens.

Yeah, right.

The problem: rising costs and taxes.

Case in point: Home health care services provided by the Clinton County Health Department.

The answer: privatization?

Not according to some home health care workers who were demonstrating outside the Clinton County Government Building Wednesday evening. Of course, they're worried about losing their jobs but at the same time they raise other issues such as continuing the same level of care.

At the website page for the Clinton County Home Health Care Program there's this statement:

"Sometimes we all need a little help...whether you or a family member have a chronic or acute illness, are in need of physical therapy, suffered an injury due to an accident, or are in need of understanding nutrition and your health."

It's explained that visiting workers can provide a range of services including Nurses, Home Health Aides, and Medical Social Workers.

The demonstrators outside the county building questioned whether a private company could provide the same quality of care while trying to maintain a profit. HCR Home Care of Rochester wants to purchase the license from the county for the home health care program. The county employees say that to hold its profit margin HCR might cut those services that don't pay enough or cut back on the frequency of visits. This could mean that some clients would have to use local hospital emergency rooms for treatment or even be forced to move into a institutional setting, losing the freedom of living at home. The public would end up paying anyway, the costs just transferred elsewhere.

I don't know about HCR, maybe it can deliver. The newspaper editor states it has a good reputation. But I'm bothered by an editorial that claims there is no reason to think that a private company wouldn't provide the same service as a governmental agency. Oh, there's reasons.

You have to be careful when someone claims he'll save you money. Back in the 1990s an "expert" named Jeffery Skilling said deregulation of California's energy market would save the state billions of dollars a year. Jeffery worked for a little company named Enron. (Gee, what happened to that company? Well, California saved billions, didn't it? Just like Jeffery predicted, California was able to triple its police force in four of its major cities and double the number of teachers.)

Don't forget the controversy over some types of Health Management Organizations. These HMO's keep costs down under "capitation." A doctor is given so much money for each patient and whatever isn't spent, he keeps. Fewer treatments and referrals results in more money in his pocket.

And what money is saved under that system can mean a rise in patient suffering and early deaths.

Health and quality of life shouldn't be based on profit.

It should be based on real caring.

Twin Towers

2011-09-14T04:23:00.001-04:00

The Collector

2011-09-14T04:22:00.003-04:00

Fractional Lucid

2011-09-14T04:18:00.004-04:00

Lowell Wurster (left) and Kevin Sabourin are 1/6th of the band Lucid. They perform as an acoustic duo Monday evenings at Olive Ridley's, 37 Court Street, in downtown Plattsburgh. Their gig usually runs from 10:30 PM to 1:30 AM.

Night People

2011-09-07T23:44:00.007-04:00

(All images taken Sept. 3, 2011, between 8:25 and 8:30 PM. Downtown Plattsburgh, NY.)

The Eyes Have It

2011-09-03T04:02:00.002-04:00

Late Evening Light Show

2011-09-03T03:55:00.002-04:00

I was walking along and it finally stopped raining, no need for the umbrella. As the clouds broke up and the sun ended another day journey, a light show ensued, photo ops with nature.

The following images were all taken on August 25th, 2011. Sunset for that day was listed at 7:45 PM for Plattsburgh. The following times are from my camera's meta-data which I assume is pretty accurate.

The eerie cloud was spotted over the Plattsburgh Plaza parking lot, upper Cornelia Street at around 7:38 PM. I'm guessing that the low sun, almost set below the horizon, was creating the Northern Lights effect on the underside of the cloud.

I caught this almost straight up rainbow at 7:44 PM, after sunset. This is the latest I've ever seen an evening rainbow.

This scene with the intense clouds was taken at 7:56 PM. It was quickly becoming dark at this point. Seen from the CVPH grounds.

Obama’s Problem

2011-09-01T00:58:00.002-04:00

Make promises, don’t keep them, piss people off.

When campaigning for the presidency Barack Obama promised change. He would close Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He would wrap up the dead-end wars.

But after he became president Obama went centrist, abandoning the liberal/progressive voters that helped to put him in office.

And most of those voters aren’t happy.

When G.W. Shrub was allegedly the POTUS, Plattsburgh area liberals/progressives gathered every Thursday afternoon in Trinity Park in the city to protest his policies. Now the same protesters are back, this time upset with centrist Obama.

After all, a leader should lead, not backpedal. (Mayve the word backpeddle is more appropriate in this case.) Obama compromises to the point of surrender, apparently thinking that his centrist strategy will get him re-elected.

With the next presidential election don’t be surprised if another lame Democrat incumbent enables another screw-up Republican to win the White House.

Booker's Ladybugs

2011-08-31T03:34:00.008-04:00

One of my friends said he didn't like either of my previous posts of close-up insect photos, the preying mantis or the Japanese beetles. But he did say he liked the ladybug images at my blog. The only thing is I haven't posted any ladybugs until now.

Unnecessary Problem

2011-08-30T22:49:00.003-04:00

Look familiar?

I realize that Plattsburgh City has more important problems on its mind after Tropical Storm Irene hit on Sunday than leaks at the public library. But the point that I've been trying to get across for years is that if you fix it right the first time, you won't have to worry about it again.

As you can see from the accompanying images, leaks have once again wrecked ceiling tiles near the main entrance. How much do those tiles cost? What about the problem with mold growing within the building? What will it cost to remedy that? And how much more will the carpeting take before it has to be replaced?

Apparently the leaks have been traced to outside walls that need repointing. When the wind drives the rain in a certain direction the water seeps through the damaged mortar between the bricks.

Is the city saving money by constantly ignoring the problem? Add up the replacement costs for ruined materials plus the expense of mold removal and it probably adds up over the years to more than finally fixing the leak.

Your tax dollars at waste.

Kevin's Mantis

2011-08-29T04:19:00.005-04:00

So called because Kevin found him in the Koffee Kat basement last night. Apparently it was seeking shelter from all of the wind and rain from Hurricane Irene.

(Click on the image for a larger and creepier view.)

"Don't Tell Me I Stepped In..."

2011-08-25T05:11:00.001-04:00

Learn how the quote ends and see the nauseating details over at my bad blog, Dogtown 12901.

Justice For Christopher: Big Story Now No Story

2011-08-19T22:25:00.002-04:00

"Anytime a crime is committed or someone is assaulted I absolutely am not pleased ... and always look for answers as to why it happened and aggressively pursue prosecution to the fullest." -- Plattsburgh City Mayor Donald Kasprzak, Press-Republican, December 27, 2010. Article: "Student speaks out after reported gang assault"

August 19th marks nine months since Christopher Rigsbee and his girlfriend were brutally beaten on Broad Street during the early morning hours by a group of cowardly thugs.

As detailed previously in other posts at this blog, the police were called soon after the incident and it wasn't long before "persons of interest" were on the cop's radar. It should have been an open or shut case.

Local newspapers carried the story and how Chris was raising awareness of the problem with violence in the community through a public demonstration. He had planned a second rally but was asked by the Plattsburgh PD to hold off because they were proceeding with their investigation and another demonstration might affect that probe.

So Chris decided to go along with the PPD and canceled the demonstration. His beating quickly dropped from the public's radar.

Time passed. Nothing happened. Repeated phone calls to the PPD by Chris and his mother, Samantha Rigsbee, resulted in no movement with the case.

Dr. David Keys, former professor at PSUC, heard about the situation and had his Criminal Justice students at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, write letters expressing their concern about the apparent indifference to resolving the case. He sent copies of the letters to the New York State Attorney General's Office which passed the matter on the Public Integrity Bureau which in turn passed it out to Clinton County DA Andrew Wiley.

At this point Chris and his girlfriend were contacted by the PPD; they were told the case was still active and that follow-up interviews would be conducted.

Then nothing. No follow-up interviews.

Pressing on David Keys contacted three Plattsburgh newspapers -- the same ones so quick to cover the story months ago -- making them aware of the his students' letter writing campaign and the lack of apparent action by the PPD.

Response from the newspapers? Silence.

Unless there's recent official activity that I haven't heard about, the case grows cold.

And so months go by and for some reason the big story is nothing, despite the savage beating that Chris and his girlfriend suffered. Regarding the statute of limitations, time is running out.

Maybe someone wants it that way. Why? One of the attackers has connections? The college doesn't want the bad publicity? The PPD screwed up the case? Who knows?

Ask those questions and you will probably get only one thing for a response.

Nothing.

Sandwich Bored

2011-08-12T03:49:00.003-04:00

Where else but Supernal Downtown Plattsburgh?

Champy's South American Vacation

2011-08-12T03:12:00.003-04:00

It really gets cold in Lake Champlain during the winter. Why not head south?

Note: The movie source I used to create this video is much more rubber than blubber.

Munchies 2

2011-08-10T11:04:00.003-04:00

Plattsburgh's Diaper Service

2011-08-10T00:25:00.000-04:00

Disgusting details at my bad blog, Dogtown 12901.

Take Down That Damn Post!

2011-08-04T18:56:00.004-04:00

In a previous post, Facebooker Fingers Heckler, I documented how a musician/open mike host used Facebook to tell his story about being heckled by an off-duty Plattsburgh City Police officer at a downtown bar.

I gathered the information he posted before friending him. His posts about the incident were there for anyone to find through signing in to FB and doing a quick search. Anyone with a Facebook account -- including the police officer he says heckled him and then was escorted out by bouncers -- could find the same info without being his friend. It was public info.

The Facebooker, Mike Pedersen, has messaged me on Facebook to take down my previous post. I messaged him back and told him why I was in the right to keep it up. Also, I heard the story first offline; it's circulating among the meatspace public so it's not as if only a select few are aware of the matter.

While I consider Facebook messages more or less akin to email -- they should be regarded with some privacy -- I don't regard a post on my wall the same way when anyone can read it. Once again, it's public and I can republish it. Here's what Mike Pedersen wrote on my wall:

"Luke, I'm going to ask you one last time to take this down. Perhaps you like to read the first line of your own blog, of you have no idea what the hell your talking about, again. You add me as a "friend" and the next day you pull this shit with no consent from me. YOU ARE BEING A MORON. Why don't you post a picture of yourself and stop hiding behind your camera. Next time I see you in public I'll be sure to take your picture and post it in a blog for everyone to see. This whole issue is none of your god damn business"

I don't know why a photo of myself is germane to the issue. If Pedersen didn't want anyone to know what he looks like, he shouldn't have posted his visage on Facebook. Just because an image is on Facebook doesn't mean only a select few can view it, unless you have the proper privacy settings.

As for the issue being none of my business, it is. In the past on this blog I have mentioned some problems with the Plattsburgh City PD and also discussed how that department is perceived by the public. The intent of my post was to show how someone can use Facebook to address issues that the mainstream media sometimes won't cover. I also noted that while he wanted my post deleted his were still up at his Facebook page.

I friended Mike Pedersen because I couldn't find an email address for him. Facebook was the only way I could inform him that I had put up the post. I gave him the opportunity to add or comment to what I wrote as I did with the police officer. So far his only comment is to delete the post as if the whole thing will fade away from reality. Instead of venting at me, maybe he should be spending energy addressing the issue he says he has with the police officer, i.e., filing a formal complaint.

I stand by my words. Do you, Mr. Pedersen?

Facebooker Fingers Heckler

2011-08-03T16:08:00.005-04:00

Don't eff with Mike Pedersen.

That's the impression created after reading a couple of his recent posts on his Facebook page. Mike is a local musician who hosts an open mike night at the Monopole bar in downtown Plattsburgh. In a post dated July 28, 2011 he mentions a problem he says he had that night:

"Tonight I flashed my metaphorical badge and had the current and very bitter boyfriend of a recent ex kicked out of the Monopole for heckling me. Oh, did I mention that he's a police officer. He may have a badge and a gun, but I have a microphone and I know how to use it! Big thanks to the Monopole staff for looking out for me and standing up for what is right....you know who you are."

Then he added to his post in the comments section:

" http://pressrepublican.com/0100_news/x877132476/City-Police-officer-charged This is the asshole. City Police officer charged » Local News » Press-Republican"

The link takes the reader to an article dated November 19, 2010 that says Officer Robert Annis of the Plattsburgh City Police Department "was arrested by his comrades about two weeks ago" regarding an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend." Mike also posted the link in a second post on August 1 that generated some sharp comments from his friends.

As far as I know there was no follow-up by the Press-Republican about the outcome of this alleged domestic incident. I would like to hear Robert Annis's side of the story regarding this incident and the one at the Monopole.

(Note that the PR article says the alleged domestic incident occurred about two weeks previously to its story being filed. Once again timely reporting by the PR.)

Whatever the actual stories are regarding both incidents, Mike Pedersen has shown the power of Facebook as a communications medium. His posts about the alleged Monopole heckler have produced comments like these on his Facebook page:

--Nice to see that the blue code of silence didn't save this dipshit.

--he [Annis] breaks stuff, kicks his girlfriend, and gets a paid vacation ( while they figure out how to cover this up)?

--"suspension with pay" is only punitive for those with... personal pride I guess? something tells me we are lacking in that department.

--I love that you had him thrown out of the Monopole! I only wish I was there to witness it...and help kick him to curb.

Obviously the Plattsburgh City PD has another public relations problem due to this.

Of course, the Web cuts both ways, producing both information and misinformation. But on the side of information it shows that one person has an avenue to tell a story that the local mainstream media won't bother to look into. Or if the news media does look into it, it only happens weeks after the incident.

Warning

2011-08-02T01:13:00.001-04:00

I have just posted a real disgusting image at my bad blog, http://dogtown12901.blogspot.com . I can no longer ignore the constant problem with dog waste in Plattsburgh City. If you have a sensitive stomach, DO NOT look at the post entitled "Great Alfresco Dining," dated August 2, 2011.

NASA: Plattsburgh Streets Perfect For Lunar Exploration Training

2011-07-31T00:38:00.003-04:00

Maybe that's why the potholes -- actually craters -- haven't been patched up on Miller and other streets in Plattsburgh City. It's rough going when I'm on my bicycle; I would prefer the safety margin afforded by a lunar excursion module.

For months none of the craters have been touched, no patching, nothing. They just keep growing in size, bigger, deeper.

I wonder how bad the potholes are on the street where the mayor lives.

Is There A Dogshit Problem In Plattsburgh City?

2011-07-31T00:35:00.001-04:00

You can find the answer here at my bad blog. Note: Not recommended by the Chamber of Commerce.

Munchies

2011-07-28T23:44:00.002-04:00

1910 Building Discovers New Station In Life

2011-07-25T04:52:00.005-04:00

The heyday of train travel is long gone, especially all the whistle-stops along the tracks between here and there. So what's left for a small station in a small town?

How about a combination espresso bar and gift shop? The Station Cafe & Gifts sits off Route 9 on a short side road, right by the trestle, north of Chazy, NY. Drive up the hill and you'll see the building which has renovated from top to bottom, inside and out. It's bright, clean and comfortable. According to its Facebook page -- http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Station-Cafe-and-Gifts/370707920743 -- it features a summer happy hour with live music on Fridays starting at 4 PM.

And if you're in to photographing tags on train cars, it's a great spot for that, too.

More info: http://www.thestationcafeandgifts.com/

For a better view of the slide show go here.

Siesta

2011-07-23T22:57:00.002-04:00

Heatwave hits Plattsburgh City. This was taken around 8 PM on 7/21/11 on Clinton Street: an old analog thermometer that still gives fairly accurate readings.

The next day the high temp was a bit lower, less of an inferno, but it was still siesta weather for these nappers in beautiful downtown Plattsburgh.

Green Neon On Wet Purple

2011-07-23T22:55:00.001-04:00

Big Little Library

2011-07-22T02:34:00.005-04:00

The main library room was crowded. Seven people: four adults, including the director, and three boys sitting at the public access computers.

Frances Fairchild, Chazy Public Library Director, was ensconced behind her desk, coordinating the slow-motion maelstrom encroaching on her center of operations. Everything was organized as best as possible when dealing with a total area approximately sixteen by sixteen feet square. Books, DVDs, paperwork, snail mail -- the daily IN-OUT load concentrated. There was no room for chaos.

Key word: compact. The interior was maximized for shelving, the walls from floor to ceiling crammed with books. This was hobbit small: quaint but for a big guy like me, a little confining.

Camera in hand I moved into the adjacent children's room that happened to be empty at the moment. Ten active kids could easy fill up the room. I carefully inched back into a corner to get the best view. No telephoto shots here. Strictly wide angle all the way. And even then I couldn't squeeze it all in. Extravagantly rich women had walk-in closets larger than this. While neat and charming, the children's room couldn't accommodate the Imelda Marcos shoe collection.

Despite its overall physical size the little library was still providing a great service to the village of Chazy. The building was originally the law office of Julius Caesar Hubbell. According to A History of the Town of Chazy, Clinton County, New York by Sullivan and Martin, J.C. Hubbell was the first lawyer to pass the bar exam in the county way back in 1808. His office was built on property next to his home, opening for business in the spring of 1812. His house, also made of stone, still stands in the village.

Since the small library building is easy to miss while driving through Chazy -- even with a couple of signs outside explaining its function -- maybe more could be done to attract attention. For example, with his house next door, a billboard truthfully stating JULIUS CAESAR SLEPT HERE. Or a banner stretched across the library facade proclaiming: I CAME, I SAW, I READ. On second thought, maybe not...

It was a rough time back when J.C. Hubbell practiced law. Alcohol fueled many a fight among hard-working locals, thus leading to a brisk trade for J.C. with assault and battery cases. (Black-and-blue put him in the black.) Normal operation of the law office was interrupted during the War of 1812 with British or American soldiers occupying his building, depending upon who kicked who in the backside during battle.

One of J.C.'s grandsons, Edmund Seymour, initiated the effort in 1901 to establish the Chazy Public Library in the Hubbell Law Office. What worked well as an office became over the years too limiting for the needs of a growing library.

Returning to the main room I had a few questions for the director. I didn't ask her if she was claustrophobic. Sometimes people take my humor the wrong way.

If a movie casting director needed a bespectacled white-haired woman librarian, Frances Fairchild would fit the role. But only as a calm, friendly one (not one of those crabby "Shhh! Quiet!" - "You kids get off my library lawn!" types). Since 1988 she has been the anchor in the information/media ocean.

She explained a new library is in the works. A larger building in another nearby location was being renovated to provide three times the space. The historic building had been the office of Dr. George W. Clark who left it in his will to the Chazy Public Library Board of Trustees. According to Frances they hope the new library on Fiske Street will be open by Thanksgiving or Christmas this year.

In the past the library had to hold public events in the town hall, even outside in the town hall garden. The new location will eventually have a basement floor to handle such get-togethers.

But despite all the space limitations she has dealt with, Frances says she will miss the quaint smallness of the old library. It has a charm hard to duplicate in a bigger building.

Charming is never claustrophobic.

For more information: http://chazypubliclibrary.org/ or email Frances Fairchild: chazypl@twcny.rr.com

They’re Back

2011-07-22T01:08:00.004-04:00

Time’s up, Barack.

Almost every Thursday afternoon they used to gather on the west side of Trinity Park in downtown Plattsburgh, rallying against then-President George W. ~~Bush's~~ Shrub’s wars. Even on bone-freezing winter days they held up signs marked with aphorisms that challenged Shrub’s policies. -10 degrees Fahrenheit anyone?

January 2007

But the peace ralliers faded from view after Democrat Barack Obama won the White House. They did show up in January 2010 for another cold day protest against Barack's decision to continue waging the Afghani-nam war with a troop buildup. But the weekly anti-war protest lost its impetus, due in part to some ralliers deciding to give Barack a chance. After all, during his presidential campaign, he promised change. And his predecessor did have two full terms, eight years, to screw everything up.

July 21, 2011. A day for record-breaking high temps. Late afternoon: heat index 108 F. I'm walking along, half-dead from the blasting sun, when I see a familiar sight in the distance. A mirage? No. Guess who’s back protesting near the park? Same issues, different leader.

July 2011

It’s a good spot for the left-leaning group to publicly demonstrate. Next to City Hall, the local seat of government, with Macdonough Monument across the street, a defiant bronze eagle perched atop the obelisk, a symbol of freedom.

One of the ralliers, Kurtis Hagen, told me that’s he’s disappointed in Obama’s unfulfilled campaign promises. Guantanamo Bay detention camp hasn’t been closed. Besides the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq dragging on, Obama has involved the USA in a rebel conflict in Libya.

I asked Kurtis if the occasional criticisms in the Press-Republican about the peace ralliers motivated him to bring back the public demonstrations. Readers through Letters to the Editor and Speakout, the PR’s anonymous comment via email feature, had accused the group of being hypocrites. The point was that ralliers were out challenging Shrub’s war policies when he was in office but not a word during Obama’s presidency regarding the continuation of the same policies. (Apparently a few of these critics didn't notice the January 2010 protest, preferring to stay inside, warm and passive.)

Kurtis replied he was unaware of the criticism. On his own initiative he contacted the people who had rallied before, having decided that Obama was generally more of the same. He and the others decided that they wouldn't give Barack a pass; the President has had enough time to bring about some change.

The peace group hopes to return to its Thursday afternoon demonstrations, Kurtis added. For more information he can be contacted at kurtishagen@yahoo.com .

Lucid Rocks Woodstock Bar

2011-07-16T04:44:00.001-04:00

Exposure: Saturday at f8.

Mayor's Cup Fireworks

2011-07-15T02:18:00.000-04:00

Not An Earful

2011-07-08T20:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday evening I was near the grounds of the CVPH Medical Center on Cornelia Street when a couple told me a rabbit was playing with a squirrel in the park area. I missed that Kodak Moment but did manage to capture a few shots of the rabbit.

One of its ears has a chunk missing. Maybe a dog or cat created this feature during an encounter when it was a young rabbit. Or maybe it was done by an overly aggressive squirrel that doesn't know how to play nice.

Disgusting Image

2011-07-08T19:36:00.001-04:00

You've been warned.

http://dogtown12901.blogspot.com/2011/07/plattsburgh-city-decorates-for.html

Like I say: Watch your step and avoid a bad scrape.

Koffee Kat On Wheels Now On The Road

2011-07-06T23:58:00.005-04:00

Koffee Kat owner Patty Waldron (left) serves a customer from her new mobile facility during the downtown Plattsburgh 4th of July festivities.

After months of planning and preparation Patty finally put Koffee Kat On Wheels into operation. The van was located near Trinity Park, providing an opportunity to beta test the set-up and work out any last-minute bugs while still close to home base on Margaret Street.

See more photos: http://on.fb.me/qBHvOW

Lucid Street Party

2011-07-05T03:00:00.001-04:00

7/3/11. Sunday. 3 - 7 PM. The main drag in downtown Plattsburgh in front of Therapy Lounge was blocked off so that the band Lucid could rock its fans.

Almost No Mysteries With Author Julia Spencer-Fleming

2011-06-28T14:33:00.003-04:00

Julia Spencer-Fleming makes a point during her presentation.

PLATTSBURGH, JUNE 23, 2011 -- Outgoing and open during a recent speaking engagement mystery writer Julia Spencer-Fleming was unmysterious.

She is the author of the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne novels set in the Adirondack region of New York State. Not a surprising choice for a setting considering her local connection.

During her presentation at the Lake Forest Retirement Community Julia explained how her parents met at a mixer in Plattsburgh, her father a soldier, her mother a college student. Her parents were soon married and her mother returned from the honeymoon "with child" (to use a phrase from those days). Julia said her father had to speak with college officials who wanted her mother to drop out because a pregnant woman, albeit married, might excite the imagination of young students.

Julia shared many personal stories and insights during the luncheon sponsored by the Friends of the Plattsburgh Public Library. When she was growing up the local public library was one of her favorite places to hang out. She praised libraries for introducing young readers to the world of books and also for providing sources of information for research.

Along the way Julia caught the science fiction bug. She tried writing a SF novel but her first effort met with mixed reactions. Her prose was publishable quality but her style of science fiction was cliched, outdated.

So what started out as a murder mystery aboard a space station ended up as story set in the Adirondacks. Julia enjoyed stories about amateur sleuths and so created the character of Reverend Clare Fergusson, an Episcopal priest from the south who finds herself transplanted to the hinterlands of New York State.

During the Q&A someone asked Julia why she made her amateur sleuth a priest. Julia explained that such a character offered a different level of interaction with other characters. A religious person would know some of personal and spiritual problems of the congregation, thus opening up opportunities for plot development.

The first novel, In The Bleak Midwinter, also introduces Russ Van Alstyne, police chief of the fictional town Millers Kill. Throughout the series Clare and Russ have to deal with their attraction to each other, complicated by the fact that the police chief is married. This angle gave a different twist to the each novel in the series. While her SF attempt was considered old hat, readers became fans of her mysteries, responding to her fresh take on a man-woman duo pursuing clues and solving a crime.

Julia revealed that she was one of those aspiring writers who in some ways didn't know what she was doing. She didn't follow the same path to publication that most writers traveled. She entered her first Fergusson/Van Alstyne novel to a contest and won. When asked if she had a second novel, she indicated that she did, resulting in a scramble to create another plotline and full story.

And while Julia was open to answering questions from her fans, one mystery remained. Why was she wearing two eyeglasses, the second pair parked up in her hair? A new take on bifocals?

Writer Julia Spencer-Fleming signing books and chatting with her fans.

Paneters

2011-06-27T23:23:00.002-04:00

Some pane painters spruce up a Sawatdee Restaurant front window on Bridge Street in downtown Plattsburgh with a sailing boat motif. Part of the visual preparation for the Mayor's Cup Regatta & Festival that will run from July 7 - 10. (6/27/11)

Expectant Mother

2011-06-27T23:19:00.004-04:00

I was wondering why the Daddy Longlegs was hanging around my bathroom and I found out why after I did some macro shots. Daddy is really an expectant mother carrying around a bunch of eggs.

Daddy Longlegs spiders don't bother me. From what I've read they are poisonous but their mouths are too small to bite a human. Of course, I don't believe everything I read so I do err on the side of caution and use a long lens.

Some people hate all insects and bugs but I don't kill Daddy Longlegs because I prefer them over what they kill and eat. It's natural pest control.

Fire-Dancers - Video

2011-06-21T02:04:00.001-04:00

Fire In The Night

2011-06-20T03:03:00.003-04:00

A dynamic display of fire poi by Sugar Fire and her Fire Arts Troupe wrapped up the Inaugural Summer Shenanigans Block Party in downtown Plattsburgh, NY. Each dancer twirls around a pair of fiery orbs suspended from a chain.

For a larger view of the slide show go to http://www.flickr.com//photos/29349242@N02/sets/72157626878659679/show/.

Vermont Joy Parade Rotates ROTA

2011-06-18T00:31:00.003-04:00

On Friday evening, June 17th, the ROTA Gallery at 19 Clinton St., downtown Plattsburgh, NY, was sent spinning by the jumping sounds of the VJP's suspender fusion.

Mosaic Wows Packed House At Library

2011-06-17T04:34:00.002-04:00

Wednesday evening it was standing room only -- and at the end a standing ovation.

Mosaic, a singing ensemble of eleven women, had its first public performance on June 15th at the Plattsburgh Public Library. The program entitled "One Hundred Years of Broadway" presented a medley of show tunes with some choreography thrown in to a packed audience in the PPL second floor auditorium.

The name Mosaic reflects the diverse backgrounds of its members. As explained in a news release the group was created by Sue Carroll, a former music educator who brought together talented singers from around the area -- students, working women, and retirees -- whose singing and choreography background ranged from fist-timer to seasoned professional.

The performance provided an insight into how musical styles have changed over the years through such songs as "Jesus Christ, Superstar" and "There's No Business Like Show Business." When united in voice the Mosaic women projected a room-filling sound without the help of sophisticated speakers, amplifiers, and microphones. What one heard was real talent.

To show their appreciation the members of Mosaic presented director Sue Carroll with a bouquet of roses at the conclusion of the successful show.

Sue hopes that Mosaic will incorporate other musical genres with future appearances.

For those who need more information: telephone - 518-561-5933; email - peacelily44@charter.net .

(Want a larger view of the slide show? Go here.)

A Man And His Wild Van

2011-06-16T03:00:00.002-04:00

I'm sitting downtown at the Koffee Kat yesterday evening when some wild wheels parked across the street. I checked with the owner if I could take some photos; it was OK but he didn't want to be identified. When I asked him if he would pose next to his vehicle, the nameless man said it would be all right only if I took the shot with his hat brim down low to obscure his face. Ergo the unusual pose in the last shot.

Whoever he was I appreciate his allowing me to share his creation with others. Apparently his work is inspired by another vibrant vehicle, the school bus owned by the local band Lucid.

Cafe de Gato

2011-06-15T15:34:00.001-04:00

For a larger view go here.

Local DA Receives Complaint Regarding Investigation Of Brutal Beating

2011-06-13T02:19:00.001-04:00

The official complaint that Professor David Keys filed in regards to the savage beating of Chris Rigsbee and his girlfriend last November in Plattsburgh City has been referred to Andrew Wylie, Clinton County DA.

Keys, formerly of PSUC, now teaches criminology at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces. Disturbed by what he had heard about the apparent lack of action in the Rigsbee case, he submitted an official complaint form via the web to the New York State Attorney General's Office, the Criminal Investigation Division. That complaint was passed along to the Public Integrity Bureau, an unit in the AG's department that investigates allegations of government fraud, corruption, and abuse of authority on both state and local levels.

Early in the morning on November 19th, 2010 Christopher Rigsbee and his girlfriend were walking along on a sidewalk on Broad Street when some men on a front porch started to verbally harass the couple. Christopher didn't ignore the insults, he responded verbally, and the situation quickly escalated into violence on the part of the harassers. Christopher was suddenly attacked, kicked in the head, three teeth knocked out. The assault was so brutal that gravel had to be removed from his gums by a dentist. His girlfriend was also punched.

The couple went to a nearby friend's house and the police were called. There was no long period between the attack and the report. Christopher and his mother, Samantha Rigsbee, were hoping for a resolution to the case. After he recovered enough from the assault, Christopher held a public rally to make the community aware that such violence does occur in Plattsburgh.

After his rally drew media attention, Christopher was asked by the Plattsburgh Police Department not to hold a second one. The detectives, said Christopher, told him that such a public demonstration might affect their investigation.

Time passed and nothing was heard from the Plattsburgh PD. Christopher and his mother had to keep contacting the PPD to see if the case was progressing. So far no updates have been given by the PPD; no arrests have been announced. Christopher and Samantha Rigsbee are upset by the apparent lack of action almost seven months later.

David Keys recently received a copy of the letter from the PIB informing DA Wylie that the matter was being referred to his office. Oddly, the writer of the letter is only identified as Public Integrity Bureau, the signature just the initials P.I.B. The letter, dated June 1, 2011, reads:

* * *

Dear District Attorney Wylie,

The attached correspondence was received by the Attorney General's Office. After an initial review of the documents, we have determined that the issues mentioned pertain to your office. Accordingly, we are referring this material to you for whatever action you deem appropriate.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

Very Truly Yours,

P.I.B.

Public Integrity Bureau

* * *

More details will follow as this story progresses.

Batman Unmasked!

2011-06-07T23:22:00.004-04:00

Hey, Ronnie, cover up! We know your memory is a bit dodgy but c'mon -- you gotta maintain that secret identity!

Sure, That'll Work

2011-06-07T18:42:00.005-04:00

I hope that Plattsburgh City doesn't think its latest patchjob to the crumbling front stairway of the public library is a permanent solution. As you can see in the second photo, the patches are already cracking even though they're less than three days old.

Watch your step.

Putting All Your Ducklings In A Row

2011-06-07T17:33:00.001-04:00

If the slideshow link below doesn't work or you want a larger view, go here: http://bit.ly/lwWXJz

To view individual images, go here: http://bit.ly/jnfI6p