Disagreement

 

The Eternal Hum: PlattInfo Kiosk

 

Years ago a number of informational kiosks were placed around Plattsburgh City and now they're obsolete, half-dead.  The screens are blank but this one keeps humming and rusting away.  A reminder of taxpayer dollars wasted.

Balloons Raised Corner To Corner

 

© 2020 Luke T. Bush

PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY – 9/12/20

Red balloons floated in the air above the Durkee Street parking lot during the noon hour. Down below protesters and counter-protesters displayed their signs, two sides of the issue on redevelopment of the parking lot.

Plattsburgh Citizens Coalition (PCC) raised the helium-filled balloons to demonstrate approximately how tall the proposed Prime Plattsburgh LLC building will be if built. Positions were taken at each spot where a corner would sit.

PCC is not against redevelopment. They think that citizens haven't been given enough voice in the choices made with the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant money awarded by New York State. They believe the building project being pushed by the city is a bad fit downtown, too big and taking up too much space.

Each balloon was raised by string coiled around a tube. Each tube was marked where the balloon should be raised and how high a corner would be.

PCC members displayed their VOTE NO ON PRIME placards that matched their red shirts. The counter-protesters held up their yellow signs: Support Progress VOTE YES ON PRIME. City employees and councilors were among this group.

Goldenrod Gone And Also Visitors

© 2020 Luke T. Bush

PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY -- 9/11/20

Last weekend some volunteers joined together to clean up downtown, removing weeds from sidewalk and curb cracks. A commendable job but in one case the cleanup went too far.

For weeks I've been photographing various insects visiting the goldenrod flowers at Macdonough Monument. The other day I went back and the goldenrod was missing.

I suspect a cleanup crew tore up the goldenrod thinking it was ragweed or that goldenrod caused allergies. Ragweed produces allergens, not goldenrod.

A variety of insects were visiting the goldenrod cluster for nectar and pollen. Now that source is gone.

So check out a plant before you uproot it. And when it comes to nasty plants that should be removed watch out for wild parsnip. The plant creates a sap that when mixed with sunlight on bare skin produces severe burns. Have someone familiar with the plant remove it.

And leave the goldenrod alone.

Migrations Mural: Final Touches

 

The Flock Keeps Growing

Today saw another sunny afternoon, perfect for local artists to keep adding to the bird mural in downtown Plattsburgh City.  More info: https://www.facebook.com/outsideartplattsburgh/

 

Art For The Birds

 A selection of avian images from Outdoor Art's latest mural.  More info in previous posts.

Bird Is The Word 2

 

© 2020 Luke T. Bush

PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY – 08-18-20

Work continued on the bird mural with the help of Plattsburgh State international student volunteers. The weather cooperated with sunny skies but cooler temps. More info: https://www.facebook.com/outsideartplattsburgh/

Bird Is The Word

Amy Guglielmo gives life to a barren Jersey barrier.

© 2020 Luke T. Bush

PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY -- 8/17/20

As soon as the bright sun cleared the rainy sky a trio of local artists started on a new wall mural, the latest in a series sponsored by Outside Art: Plattsburgh Art Project.  This one will feature birds of the world.  The work includes sprucing up a concrete barrier in the same driveway.  For more info:  https://www.facebook.com/outsideartplattsburgh/

With sturdy scaffolding Gharan Burton creates the tree pattern.

Kristen Larkin adds her touch to the project in progress.

Night Colors

 (Click on image to enlarge.)